I Left My Cellphone… In San Francisco (sing to the tune of the Tony Bennett song)

February 23, 2008

Not really, I actually lost my cellphone at the college where I teach, but that didn’t have the same ring to it (no pun intended, really). Maybe I should have called this post, I Bought a Crappy Temporary Cell Phone in San Francisco, (because I did). Anyway, it took the person who found the phone on campus 4 days to turn it in to the lost and found. The person had even called my best friend, Eduardo (they re-dialed the last call I had made), to find out who owned the phone.

Eduardo, bless him, told them (i’ll try to recreate his Mexican accent): Ju better turn in that phone. It belongs to Rob Williams (he thankfully remembered at the college level, my name is not BOBBY), he ees a professor dere, at the school.

So much for scare tactics.

Well, by the time I left school on Thursday it still hadn’t been turned in. (yes, the person DID turn it in but I was already on a plane to San Francisco at the time). Why would they not turn it in? It totally bugged me for those four days. What numskull would hold onto a phone that they know belongs to an instructor at the college where they are attending and where they found it? Who doesn’t understand how frustrating it is to not have your cell phone when you need it?

Ok, i’m done with the rant. Now on to San Francisco.

Ahhhh. San Francisco.

I’ve decided I DO love it there. I mean, i’ve always liked it. I’ve always had fun there. But this time I think I really fell in love with the city. Probably because we didn’t do the typical ‘tourist’ things this time (not that I have anything against it). But we hung out in neighborhoods, went to local galleries, went to a party of famous drag queens (who were out of drag, actually), saw some great performance art, met up with old friends, TALKED to people.

I’ve also decided that The Mission is now my favorite neighborhood in San Fran.

In the Mission we visited City Art Gallery– a coop art gallery that our friend Kevin had a couple of pieces in. His pieces were the best (and no, i’m not biased).

Here’s one of them.

It’s called “Boys”

In the Mission is also where Ted bought these:

Authentic, indestructable (and probably deadly) Sing-Sing Dinner Trays. Ideal for eating in front of the telly! You can buy them here.

In the Mission we also met up with Ted’s longtime friend (and former Newsweek office mate) Tom. We had drinks and apps at Medjool Restaurant/Lounge, on the sky terrace which overlooked the city.

Incredible.

We did venture into other areas of SF. In fact, we stayed in SOMA, South Mission (he he). Thanks to our lovely friend Jon, we had a super apartment all to ourselves all weekend (Jon was out of town).

We were also close to our friends, writer K.M. Soehnlein and his fabulous actor/performer/all around wonderful guy fiancee, Kevin, who welcomed us to the city the first night with an amazing dinner and desert and conversation (as we gave them some ideas for their upcoming nuptials).

The next night we were VIP guests (not officially but we got in anyway) at the opening of the Gilbert and George exhibit at the De Young Gallery in Golden Gate Park.

Kevin was performing as a living sculpture (something Gilbert and George are famous for) at the gala opening and so we got to follow them around, even enjoying chi-chi appetizers in the green room and standing not two feet away from the legendary artists (and long time companions Gilbert and George). Kevin and his crew walked around the entire G&G exhibit, holding portable iPods with little speakers, lip-synching to songs; Kevin’s was Rufus Wainwright’s “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise,” and I have to say, it WAS paradise seeing him perform– he’s effing brilliant. Look for him as a featured extra in Gus Van Sant’s upcoming bio of Harvey Milk, “Milk.”

This piece, called Dusty Corners No. 13, from 1975 is probably one of my favorite of theirs. They often feature themselves in the art and utilize this grid format.
After the show we went to a birthday party thrown (and attended) by some of the most legendary drag queens in the business. The thing is, they were all out of drag! But it didn’t stop us from recognizing icon Lady Bunny.

We had a great dinner at Bossa Nova in S. Mission– a hip, loud, Brazillian lounge and restaurant that seemed to have an abundance of hot looking people. Definitely the place to go if you want to feel like a superstar.
At Bossa Nova we tried a tasty new drink: Caipirinhas (with Leblon Cachaca, Lime, Agave Nectar). It was like a Margarita crossed with a Mojito. Delish. Check it out.

Naturally we hit up the Eagle Beer Bust on Sunday– it was something called Bear Rendezvous this weekend so it was PACKED. Saw our friends from Lazy Bear, Derek and Kevin (yes, another Kevin, who they say looks like he could be my younger brother). He’s on the right in the pic.

We also got KM and his Kevin to meet us out and hung out with new friend Sean (who’s moving to LA in a few weeks).

Monday before we left we had lunch with my high school (actually we met in junior high school!) pal Sloane and her hubby Ron and their two ADORABLE blonde/blond twins. Sloane was my theater buddy (and has a featured role in my first book, the one I wrote in grad school).

Here’s a pic of us on “Nerd Day” in high school. And then one of us today, 22 years later. Sloane is still as beautiful, smart, zany, and fun as she was in high school– and she’s found a great guy who really seems to appreciate what a gem she is.

Sloane’s family: Ron, Sloane, Michael and Ellie.

Here’s a pic of me chasing after Michael. (hmmm, is this foreshadowing my future…?).

We came back tired and broke but it was such a good time. And probably the only vay cay i’ll get this Spring (during my Spring Break I start teaching at UCSD, so no Daytona Beach for me).

To see all of the pics from our SF trip go to my Flickr on the right.