Wayne Shorter & Brian Blade

Will always do what I can to see Brian and finally got a chance to see Wayne. The show was part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival. I love the idea of the venue, the nob hill masonic center, but the sound in there is not the best. Wayne’s rhythm section was exceptional with Brian dropping the bombs. My sweetie loved it too.

Raconteurs

Yes. These guys are fantastic. I love the new album and have probably listened to it twenty times and its still revving me up. I caught them live at Bimbos 365 when they swung through. The show was sold out and I had back up tickets to see them in Vegas if I was not able to find a ticket to the SF show. I did pick up an SF ticket for a cool two benjis. Over all with drinks, the parking tickets and the severe mark up I paid on my ticket I dropped $400. Probably my most costly one concert outing. It was totally worth it.

Here is a few samples of the goodness.

Mountain Biking in SF

I’ve spent the past few weekends biking around the SF bay area.  El Corte de Madera open space preserve is brilliant, but now that the season has arrived is getting a bit crowded.  Recently, I have been a bit addicted to the Resolution – Northleaf trail combo.

In addition to Skeggs, I finally ventured down to Henry Coe state park.  I was down there on a 90 degree day.  This might not seem hot, but that heat for 4 hours on your bike with no cover ends up beating you down a bit.  Thanks to a recommendation by the BikeMapDude, I found a great route with 5 miles of single track down.  You take Coit Road up about 6 miles from the Coyote Creek entrance. Its all up hill but nothing so steep you have to hop off your ride.  To get down, take wasno to cattle duster to grapevine and then follow anza all the way back.  Don’t do the ride in the summer.  And bring lots of water.  3 liters kept me alive.

Willowbrook – 2005 Pinot

It looks a bit light in the foot and sets you back half a c-note, but the Willowbrook 2005 Pinot Noir from the Kastania Vinyard in Sonoma is a treat.  Its seductively delicious. You don’t want to stop drinking it and when you think you are finished, you want more.  I highly recommend this juice.

Paul Mathew – 2006 Russian River Pinot

Another recommendation by the folks at Napa Valley Wine Exchange. Not my favorite, but certainly noteworthy.

Skeggs – Weekend of Joy

Spent a great weekend on my bike in El Corte de Madera open space preserve, aka Skeggs. On Saturday, I hit up Manzanita and Crosscut trails. The terrain was muddy fun. On Sunday, I tackled South Leaf, Virginia Mill and Giant Salamander. South Leaf is a standout trail, perhaps the best in the park.

Halleck Vineyard – Pinot Noir

My friends at the Napa Valley Winery Exchange recommended the Halleck Pinot as a less expensive yet comparable wine to the William Seylem.  Difficult to say if the Halleck is quite as good, but at half the price its an absolutely delicious wine.

Joseph Swan 2005 Pinot… a yummy pricey grape juice

Had a bit of the Joseph Swan 2005 Pinot from the saralee vineyards in Russian River Valley.  Its quite sweet from the fruit, very drinkable, a bit bodyless and the coloring is a bit murky.  A well made wine but a bit too fruit juicy for my taste.

Vetiver – SF based black folk

Vetiver… My baby turned me on to these guys. Looking forward to seeing them live at the Fillmore later this month.

Vintage Bourbon

Vintage Bourbon is yet another gift bestowed by the friends at Bourbon and Branch, who happen to be opening a retail outlet, cask, in the coming months.