SF Weekend(s) - The New Guide

As my mother says, I've been gallivanting around like an idiot, mostly up and down the state of California. There are probably too many reasons to lay out for you why I need to be not here and rather up there,* or perhaps anywhere. Instead of delving into my maniacal mind, which is a terrifying and yet fruitless journey, Imma just give you a list of shit that's fun in the City.**

Reunited with my lucky charm - she's still not into selfies.

Coffee:
Four Barrel, The Mission: Obvs I go here every morning I'm in SF, unless someone (ahem, Joe), convinces me to go elsewhere. Its a tried and true iced Americano, with shaded outdoor seating and a plethora of San Francisco characters, including a man who looked oddly like a Keebler elf this past weekend.

Me without coffee - terrifying

Snowbird, Inner Sunset: My favorite coffee shop near Rob, where we meander down when getting in a car is more trouble than its worth. Lots of seating, hot baristas and a delish latte.
Ritual, The Mission: Bright and airy. Some of the best espresso, but my venture into this particular Ritual cafe was marred by a recovering BAC level and a hot, bright sun designed to torture me.
Craftsman and Wolves, The Mission: Just ranked by New Potato as one of the top spots to get coffee, I'd walked by this artisanal, beautifully pretentious cafe but never ventured inside (because, well Four Barrel - #creatureofhabit.) Had the opportunity to try their coffee and a ridiculously delicious croissant with tomato jam and bacon and basically died of satisfaction. The company wasn't bad either.

Tawsh singing Prince

Food:
Saiwaii Ramen, Outer Sunset - After a weekend with a total of 6 hours of sleep over three days and lots of partying, one needs life-giving food. I hadn't properly eaten for about a day and a half when we made it to this Outer Sunset spot. After I had that first sip of broth, suddenly my organs starting working again. It was that feeling of drinking water when you're hot and dehydrated and feeling the cool liquid spread through your chest? In hindsight, slightly disconcerting.

Probably the best ramen I've had in a minute

Hillside Supper Club, Bernal Heights - Super cute spot in Bernal Heights (Carrie's old stomping grounds!). I'd like to go back here for a proper brunch. Due to extenuating circumstances, I could only manage the ricotta lavender-honey(!!!) toast the morning we went, but the quality, service and ambience were great.
Kitchen Story, The Mission - Hit up this place for an extended brunch with Rob and Evan. Korean fusion brunch, with an amazing bulgogi and belly rancheros (pork belly tacos with avo and poached eggs). I thought Outerlands was my fave place for brunch in the city, but Kitchen Story might be the winner (the BMs help lol).

Things to do:
Dolores Park - But you knew this already. Grab some wine and cheese at Bi-Rite and chill the eff out - while watching outdoor movies, mime performances, hula-hoopers and musicians.

Dolores

The Mint Karaoke Lounge - It's my weakness. And everyone at this place is genius. Mint fans take their karaoke so seriously and it is so much fun. We hit up this place with a group of ten of us. The highlight was a Prince cover by Tawsh and Jackson, which I tots instagrammed but apparently Prince was the original Taylor and has all that stuff copyrighted.
Folsom Street Fair - This year was the second year I'd been to the world's largest leather fair. Lol, my friend was like "oh, I can wear my leather jacket." - hmmm, it not's that kind of fair, unless the jacket is the only thing you're wearing. It was soooo crowded this year, but equally intriguing, exhibitionist and crazy.
Buckshot Bar - old school hip-hop, plenty of room to dance, a photobooth, and huge PBRs - you had me at everything.

Ladi, Sophie and me at Folsom

*If you're a reader of this blog, you know that SF is my favorite city and I've been trying to make the move up there for ages. Now, or rather in the very near future, is the time. But more on that later. It will suffice to say that I'm just trying to keep my head on straight during this process, so bear with me (and my panic attacks, random texts, and contact requests).

**To give you an example of how loopy I've been, I texted someone wanting to lay down the law. I legit was like "I'm laying down the law:" and then I couldn't figure out what I wanted to actually say that wouldn't make me sound like a psychotic amoeba. So I just left the colon there hanging out and avoiding conversation. Communication at its best.

The best men I know

Dinner at Mine: Vegan Asian-Inspired Meal

I went to SF this weekend, but I'm still processing everything (hello, Folsom Street Fair, karaoke, and talks with a view), so that post will come later. However, I did have a chance to introduce Jaimie, Jeff, Sam, Grant and Elisa to each other when they came over to Evan's and mine for dinner.


I've been oh-so-bored with the same bloody food everyday so I wanted to challenge myself for this dinner party, without resorting to a 27-step French dish. It's been terrifyingly hot recently, so I thought a light, vegan meal that was actually filling would do the trick. I made Kung Pao Chickpeas, an Asian Cruciferous Vegetable Slaw (I really wanted to say cruciferous), and an Avocado Cucumber Salad. Thankfully, I managed to execute everything moderately well, but let's be real, we were all there for the great company (and the seven bottles of wine) anyway.

There are times when it hits me, and hits me hard, about how gracious, intelligent, and wonderful the people are in my life. I can often be frenetic and it distracts me from recognizing how very lucky I am to have people in my life that a) have the patience to deal with my neuroses and b) sacrifice time and effort to trek 50 miles to eat an extremely experimental meal and listen to me sing the new Beyonce song like 73 times.
And as you already know, my recipes are more like guidelines. It isn't hard to fuck up these recipes, unless you don't have tastebuds.

Kung Pao Chickpeas
Marinate three cans of (rinsed!) chickpeas with
- few tablespoons of rice wine vingar
- the same with soy sauced
- four cloves minced garlic (give or take)
- a splash of oil
- an inch or so of minced ginger
- the juice of one lemon
- 2 tablespoons of flour or cornstarch as a thickener
Leave for about an hour, then add
- chili flakes
- sriracha - a couple of tablespoons to taste
- your favorite spicy szechwan or kung pao sauce (enough to coast the chickpeas)
- salt and pepper
Sautee all that for 8-12 minutes over medium heat
Then garnish with
- crushed roasted cashews
- sliced thai chilis
- cilantro

Avocado-Cucumber Salad
6 small ripe avos - diced
6 small persian cucumbers - diced
toasted sesame seeds - a tablespoon or less
a few sheets of nori - crumbled
lime juice - enough to coat
splash of - olive oil
salt and pepper
Combine


Asian Cruciferous Slaw 
- TJ's cruciferous salad mix (contains kale, shredded brussels and cabbage)
----> mix in the juice of a lemon and some rice wine vinegar and massage it to break it down
- shredded carrots (a 6oz package)
- sliced red onion (one small)
- one diced red bell pepper
Combine
Then mix this dressing*:
- three cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 inched minced ginger
- 1/4 c. low sodium soy sauce
- two tablespoons sesame oil
- two tablespoons olive oil
- one tablespoon honey
- salt and pepper
Dress salad and top with cilantro

*To be honest, when I mix dressings up, I just pour stuff in and taste it and adapt the recipe depending on my mood. These are just rough guidelines.

Overall, I was happy with the meal, although in retrospect, the chickpeas could be a little less spicy and the avocado salad could have a bit more lime, and I wish I had time to make dessert, but alas c'est la vie.

HACK FOR LA: Civic Hack Night: Housing LA's Homeless

THE LA TIMES/9.22.15

Yesterday, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and council members declared that Los Angeles was in a "state of emergency" and stated they would donate $100 million to help solve the problem.

Homelessness is LA has risen 12% since 2013 and only continues to increase.

“It’s time to get real, because this is literally a matter of life and death,” said Councilman Mike Bonin. He spoke of a “collective failure of every level of government to deal with what has been a homeless crisis for generations and is exploding and exacerbating now.”

These public statements coincided with the Civic Hack Night I attended with Machiko last night, which allowed for panelists ranging from non-profits to government leaders to discuss why and how LA has developed this epidemic and how we can help. Through monthly Civic Hack Nights at Impact Hub, Hack for LA brings coders, designers, entrepreneurs, students, government agencies, activists, and other civically engaged individuals together to solve the LA region’s biggest civic and social challenges.

"How do you fix homelessness? You give someone a house." 

Chris Ko, United Way

Los Angeles has the largest homeless veteran population in the United States. In addition, Skid Row based in on the eastern side of DTLA only houses about 10% of the homeless population in Los Angeles. If you have been there,  then to think about the staggering number of homeless in LA is heartbreaking. To preface the rest of this, I am operating on the assumption that readers understand that homelessness is not a choice. (Substance abuse, mental health issues, including PTSD, marginalization, abuse, the economic downturn, physical health issues, lack of rehabilitation services, etc. are just some of the reasons that any of us could lose our homes.) 

The panelists last night, which included leaders from United Way, Downtown Women's Center, and Jovenes, spoke of the economics of "Housing First." Essentially, based on public services, hospitalizations, law enforcement interventions, etc., keeping someone on the street costs roughly $40-60k a year. However, providing housing options, whether it start with rental subsidies and going to permanent housing, and cost 20k-40k LESS than that. [Reading Malcom Gladwell's Million Dollar Murray for more insight on this.]

The simplest way to put it, for me at least, is using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Without shelter, food, water, a human being physically cannot function. Expecting a person without a home to "go out and get a job," is impractical, uneducated, and insensitive. How do you show up to an interview without having an opportunity to shower? Without a mailing address? After sleeping on unsafe streets, exposed to elements and without support? (This doesn't even address more nuanced issues of, for example, transgender youth, an over-represented population, who are stigmatized, marginalized, and are not even provided an opportunity to apply for work because their identifying documents do not match the gender they are OR veterans suffering from PTSD, who need immediate health care options.)

Another point raised during the panel was preventing homelessness. In an ideal world, we would be at that point. For instance, Salt Lake City has reduced its number of homeless from roughly 1900 to 200-300, almost eradicating the issue. However, in LA, there is a scaling issue. There are currently an estimated 30,000-50,000  homeless individuals in Los Angeles. That is the crisis NOW. There are initiatives that attempt to prevent homelessness. For instance, studies show that if you were homeless as a child, you have a heightened risk of homeless as an adult. LAUSD has an initiative to identify at-risk families and provide support. That is great work. But it isn't addressing the current issues.

Currently, from what I heard last night, non-profits, government agencies, and advocates are working on:

1. resource allocation to address chronic homelessness (i.e. homelessness lasting over one year or four bouts of homelessness over three years)
2. coordinated entry systems (linking and collaborating service providers so there are always options open for clients - something that I work on in violence prevention programming. 
3. innovative housing options: rapid rehousing, permanent housing development for youth similar to a dorm situation, rental subsidies, etc.

I loved my experience at Impact Hub last night and I look forward to more events. Not only was the panel eye-opening, but it demonstrated to me the multiple access points for people across sectors to collaborate on to provide services to those in need. It was also inspirational because there are aspects of homelessness that link directly to my work in violence prevention programming that I didn't know before and I hope to expand on some new ideas in that area.

So please check out the links I provided and let me know if you'd like to talk further on any of this! xx

Oh Hai. Foods, Words and Things I Sing in The Shower.

Whoops. I sort of fell of the face of the earth, but being a lawyer kind of sucks all the life out of you. Just kidding. (No, but seriously.) That being said, I've had an amazing last few months, which I'll slowly fill you in on once I get more of my shit together. But at the behest of my gorgeous friend Ladi, who also happens to be incredibly demanding, I thought I'd take my lunch break to fill you in on the happenings of Amber and Sophie Lee - I know you've been waiting with bated breath.

New Food and Drink – Los Angeles (I’ll be doing a Seattle, Palm Springs and SF version soon!)

Aline and I dressed up for dinner out.

Wolvesmouth – A double-digit course tasting menu, beautifully served in a renovated Craftsman bungalow buried in a Silverlake adjacent neighborhood. Unique flavor pairings, BYOB and hot chefs running around = best girls’ night ever. You have to basically apply each week via email and the cost is donation based, but you’re in the three-digits – AND IT IS TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Terrine – French inspired with a gorgeous outdoor patio, killer service and a foie gras burger that instantly clogged my arteries. Also check out the charcuterie board and the handcrafted cocktails for a summery afternoon.

Blue Bottle – I die. One of my favorite coffee places from SF opened up just down the block and I’ve been having to actively limit myself from inhaling their New Orleans cold brew, which contains milk, sugar, chicory and the meaning of life.

Preux and Proper – Southern style glammed up gastropub with po’ boys and remoulade up the wazoo. Dark wood, dim lighting, and plates to share = great date place… or one to drown your sorrows in with your best friends.

The girls at Malibu Wines

Malibu Wines – Finally, after years, checked this place our with my college posse. We loaded up on picnic supplies (read: cheese) and spent a warm summer afternoon on the grass doing wine flights and bottles. Parking is ample they provide a little shuttle and its an oasis in the middle of the Malibu Mountains. Also grrrrreat people watching (i.e. girls in inappropriate shoes and sheer dresses stumbling around screaming for more rose.)

Milkfarm – It totally makes sense that after doing an hour-long spin class at Revolutions in Eagle Rock on a Saturday morning, one should amble over to a cheese store and BUY EVERYTHING. Milkfarm has an extraordinary selection of imported and domestic cheeses, including Neal’s Yard Stilchelton – my favorite from London!

 The Books:


1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot

• Okay, so a totally unique and beautifully fashion narrative of how a woman's "abandoned" cells became the starting block of most cell-lines and cell-based research, and she had no idea. And neither did her children. It's a loaded legal issue, but Skloot does a fantastic job of interweaving personal narrative and description into what could be a dry science book. Sort of like true crime, without the gore and some Bill Nye.

2. The Meaning of Human Existence, Edward Wilson

• Oddly enough, I've been having crazy, philosophical discussions about free will, determinism and the meaning of life with random people over the last couple of weeks. After listening to Brian Greene's podcast on On Being, I'd settled into a deterministic and not at all romantic view of human existence. But I picked this book up the other day, and the focus of human evolution, the need for belonging and altruism are all explained in a way that make human consciousness not mutually exclusive to a determinist view point -> somewhat romantic.

3. The Secret History, Donna Tartt

• Same author as The Goldfinch, this novel tells the story of a motley crew of intellectual students a couple decades ago, who get wrapped up in hedonism and murder. Sort of leaves with you a bad taste in your mouth, as Tartt skillfully demonstrates the complex nature of love and hate.

4. Modern Romance, Aziz Ansari

• Um, literally the best thing that's ever happened to bullshit relationship books, not that, I have, ahem, read any. Ansari pairs with great minds, including Columbia sociology professors and the founds of online dating (the sadistic individuals they are), to thoughtfully discuss the evolution of relationships with the advent of technology, social media and swiping. Hilarious, thoughtful, scientific and so many conversation starters. Except for the emphasis on the futility of finding your soulmate, I was pretty into this.

5. People Who Eat the Darkness, Richard Lloyd Parry

• Crazy, creepy, sleep with your lights on, and say a prayer kind of book. True crime at its best. Parry tells the story of a blonde-haired naive British "hostess" in Japan who goes missing. Her background, the disappearance, the investigation and the stuff that will give you nightmares is ridiculously well-told, complete with angst, anger, guilt, psychosis and desperation. I had to hide this book somewhere, just so I didn't have to be reminded about how bloody scary it was. 

6. Sweet Tooth, Ian McEwan

• One of my favorite authors, takes on a female "spy" in the 40s as she falls in love with her subject. Heartbreaking, complex, and wrought with tension, a total escapism novel. Perfect for a cloudy day in bed. 

What I'm listening to:

1. Elle King - Love Stuff - soulful, southern, and perfect for me to embarrass myself while strolling home with an iced coffee. Plus, like damn this girl owns her shit, and I'm so into "Exes and Ohs" (such an accurate reflection of my poor relationship choices) and "Where the Devil Don't Go."
2. Ryan Adams covering Taylor Swift's 1989 - two favorites together. I cried listening to this, and I wasn't even hormonal. Pretty good stuff.
3. Runnin', Naughty Boy Featuring Beyonce - if you get a voicemail from post midnight, its probably me singing this to you. And I'm not going to apologize. Just enjoy it, k?
4. Roses, Couer De Pirate - my favorite breathy, poppy French Canadian makes perfect Sunday brunch cooking music.