And All That Jazz

So, yesterday was quite an eventful day. I woke up, got dressed, and headed out to Fillmore by late afternoon. At around 4 p.m., I stopped by Cafe International and listened to jazz for about an hour. It's interesting to see how much places like Cafe International come alive with music.

Cafe International wasn't incredibly packed, but there were enough people for the concert. A lot of the musicians were unknown, too, and when I went up to try and interview one of the musicians, they were too shy to talk to me. Oh well. Nothing I can do if they don't want to talk to me!

Fillmore Street is known for the jazz movement here in San Francisco. It's an experience within itself. So many musicians, including Louis Armstrong have made their way to San Francisco to perform jazz during the movement.

Just thought I'd share a little blurb about my experience there.

South Park (not the show) and China Basin

South Park, between 2nd and 3rd Street in South Beach is amazing. Snuggled between a variety of apartment and business buildings and a few restaurants, this park has a kid's play center and plenty of benches and tables to relax at. Maybe it's just me, but not enough places have benches for everyone.

This park attracts everyone from young professionals, to families and hipsters. I visited the park my second time in South Beach, and I've been back nearly every trip. South Park is crowded most days, especially when it's a nice day, and everyone is friendly. It's clear that locals come here to get a bit of greenery amidst the towering skyscrapers a parking lots of South Beach. I love this park...it's cute, it's friendly, and it's unassuming. If you're in the area, go visit there. I guarantee you will meet a friend.

I visited the China Basin last week for the first time in my three years living in San Francisco. It's like another world across the 3rd Street bridge. As I walked past the proud AT&T Park displaying World Series posters, I was greeted by vast parking lots and grande residential and corporation buildings.

There is little to no foot traffic, a rarity in the city, and hardly no noise. There is only one Muni train that ventures out there. It's much quieter in the China Basin, and slightly underdeveloped, although there are several constructions sights in progress.

The best part was walking along Mission Creek Park. It was a beautiful day when I visited, and people lined the Mission Bay canal. The house boats located there are beautiful and diverse, but gated and i've had little success meeting anyone who live there.

All in all I really enjoyed this area. China Basin is like the best of both worlds. Although there are hardly any eateries or shopping centers there, all are accessible just a bridge away.

THIS JUST IN!

I'm sure most of you are doing well gathering information on your beat, as am I. Just wanted to inform all of you of celebrity sightings until the 19th! Two days ago, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and other celebrities began filming part of the movie "Contagion" here in S.F.

Here's a listing of the streets that are going to be closed off and I know I will try and sneak in there to get some action shots or possibly interviews! (The interview is a long-shot and I realize that)

-- Today: Grove Street from Larkin to Polk streets, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Laguna Street from Hayes to Fell streets and Linden Street from Octavia Boulevard to Buchanan Street, 3 to 8 p.m.

-- Saturday: Sansome Street from California to Pine streets, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Minna Street from Fifth to Mary streets, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.

-- Sunday: Taylor Street from Filbert to Union streets and Aladdin Terrace from Taylor street to the Easterly Terminus intersection, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/10/BA0L1HLI5H.DTL#ixzz1Dfd5Sq00

Helpful hints.

Ladies (and gentlemen) with ponytails, if you keep a pen hidden in your hair, it's much easier to get contact information/notes on the fly.

I'm having fun developing my ninja skills, hope you share yours too!

P.S. I'm attending a gallery opening (at the Slingshot Gallery), and a show with street performers and artists at Sub-Mission later tonight. Fun stories to come.

Join if you can!

I love extra credit: News Forum

On Tuesday there was a News Forum featuring editors from local news organizations. The panel consisted of Eugenia Chien from Muni Diaires, Lydia Chavez from Mission Local, Michael Stoll from SF Public Press, Pueng Vong From Yahoo! News and Queena Kim from Bay Citizen News. The forum gave students a chance to read real perspectives from real people in the journalism industry.

Chien is a San Francisco State graduate that started Muni Diaries as in her reporting class and blossomed into a website with mostly user-generated stories about transportation. Vong was an advocate for citizen journalism allowing anyone to report stories within their neighborhood.

The San Francisco Public Press, represented by Stoll, was very different from the other publications in their approach to journalism. It mostly uses interns and students to create their content. In contrast to Yahoo! News, The San Francisco Public Press vigorously fact check and are a non-commercial publication. They model their publication after public broadcast.

Chavez says that Mission Local's is also mostly student generated. Chavez says that Mission Local is mostly used as training for journalist in the Berkeley and the rest of the Bay Area. However, she doubts how the publication will be doing in a couple of years if they don't find funding for the program.

Kim says that the Bay Citizen has greatly benefited from corporate sponsorships to keep their publication funded. However, she still hesistates to recommend going to graduate school for journalism. She argues that unlike law school, an advanced degree will not yield the return you would expect to pay back for school.

Overall, the forum gave students a chance to learn more about the current status of the industry and network for future opportunities for internships and jobs.

Union Janitors Demonstrate after being Replaced

There was a demonstration in front of 1 Market St. in front of the Bank of America on February 1st, 2011. The demonstrators from SEIU Local 87 were protesting the building owners move to oust unionized janitors and replace them with a corporate cleaning service.
The building not only houses Bank of America but also the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency offices. This building requires regular maintenence and janitorial services that are now filled by Aim to Please, Inc. 

"'Aim to Please' was brought in on Monday," said Patty Guzman, one of the janitors protesting the new corporation. She is now without a job and says she won't be able to pay her rent.

Although the protest consisted of about 20 people, the demonstrators used drums, megaphones and a large inflatable rat to rally and get attention to their plight. The demonstrators consisted mostly of minority groups with many Spanish speakers.The group was especially loud and disruptive to customers entering and exiting the Bank of America.

According to SEIU advocate John Solis, there are about 12 families that will be affected by the move.
Guzman, like others affected, believe that it is corporate greed that has cost her the job. Guzman vows that she will continue to protest until her old job is back.

First impressions

When I first checked out SoMa, I was unsure what to look for.  As soon as I exited the Civic Center metro station, I quickly went on the defense.  There was a bunch of people on Market St., mostly men, looking like their up to no good, just standing around, scoping out the scene.  I few Hispanic men where shooting quarters.  Some crackheads were talking to themselves.  I wonder if this was the spot my father wound up when he came to explore the city by himself.  He said he thought he chose the worst stop to exit the train, and I agree with him.  

San Francisco Federal Building
Photo courtesy of Morphosis

But the further I ventured into the neighborhoods, the more my perspective changed.  The streets and buildings were well kept and seemed vintage.  Hardly any of the homes had fresh paint on its facade, but the vibrant colors they were painted made them stand out, especially as they were aligned  near industrial warehouses and dull offices.  The federal building stands out the most, especially after business hours, making the tall concrete building seem stern and cold.  

Noticing the businesses that were being run, I saw a community trying to empower itself.  Episcopal Community Services runs three charities in the neighborhood.  Their slogan is "Building Community. Developing Skills. Enriching Lives."  The West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center runs an after-school program.  There elementary kids fill the hall with loud laughter, the contents of their backpacks all over the tables, and certainly not using their "inside voice."  Around the block, the South of Market Community Action Network organizes the low-income, mostly people of color community.  In the back of the office, youth are having a meeting to propose ways they can have more influence in the nearby recreational center, which often closes them out.  Down the street, United Playaz gives a space where for the urban youth to go hang out.  They believe "it takes a hood to save the hood."  

One-way streets run throughout SoMa

And this is just what I noticed.  I am aware of the wide variety of "scenes"  SoMa has to offer: art galleries, restaurants and eateries, an array of bars and clubs, and even the businesses that offer more than just their services, like the California Institute of Integral Studies displaying a Chicana art exhibit.  

Being new to this city, I entered SoMa without any prejudice.  I have heard a lot about this neighborhood, but not really knew why it was so popular.  Now I understand why.  I am looking forward to learning more about this community, and what stories the people have to tell.