We found ourselves involved in more than one “what’s going to happen to our country?” conversation this weekend and more than once someone mentioned the word “depressing.” It doesn’t take WebMD to tell us that in times of crisis or periods of emotional depression, people look for ways to escape, or for opportunities for comfort, and a lot of times food is the answer. Nonetheless, here’s what WedMD has to say about “Emotional Eating”:

“Depression, boredom, loneliness, chronic anger, anxiety, frustration, stress, problems with interpersonal relationships, and poor self-esteem can result in overeating and unwanted weight gain.”

Ain’t it the truth? And there hasn’t been a more recent time in history when we can think of depression, anxiety and frustration so fiercely bubbling up the surface with every new news headline.

But you know, while it’s true that “Emotional Eating” can pack on the pounds, we remembered that once upon time the good fury creatures of Sesame Street gave us permission to eat away our sorrows, to which we say, right on. Anyone remember this clip?

Emotional Eating [WebMD]

So Zagat's got a list of Bay Area restaurants where you can catch some live entertainment with your dinner. It's not exactly comprehensive, but there it is.

For one thing, they forgot jazz joints Les Joulines and Pier 23, not to mention venues like Thee Parkside and Bottom of the Hill, where you can get bar food while you catch a rock show. And if you know anything about MPSF, you know we're all about entertainment. In particular, we love live music, so this list was frankly a bit disappointing.

Also, you may have noticed, by way of music, we have kind of a thing for fay British pop star Mika. Remember that awesome video we found of those French students eating at the Crepe House? Well, just cause it's Friday, here's a video of the man himself performing Big Girls at the Fillmore Feb. 3. Makes you want to dance, no?

After the jump: An encore live performance of Love Today. God bless you nanisummer

That's Entertainment: Where To Go For Dinner And A Show [Zagat]
Les Joulines [Menupages]
Pier 23 [Menupages]
Thee Parkside [Menupages]
Bottom of the Hill [Homepage]
Crepe House [Menupages]

Continue reading "There's No Business Like The Restaurant Business" »

This is a sad day for the Bay Area and for independent music fans everywhere. We just got word that Skankin' Pickle guitarist Lynette Knackstedt died last Friday. She was 37. No word on the cause of the death yet. The SF Weekly reports that Knackstedt died at her practice space.

Skankin' Pickle was a staple of the 90s Bay Area punk scene, and was also one of the major bands of the third-wave ska revival. All our sympathy goes out to Knackstedt's loved ones. We know we promised a break from the videos, but we really want to show you this fantastic live footage, in which Knackstedt sings some great backing vocals and there is a rap in tribute to Oakland native son MC Hammer:

Skankin' Pickle guitarist Lynette Knackstedt dies [SF Weekly]
In Memoriam: Lynette Knackstedt of Skankin' Pickle (1970-2007) [Punknews.org]

Here's a great piece of amateur video, set in San Francisco, that covers all the highlights of this time of year: Togetherness, tropical drinks, adultery...
It's really quite good. Woever these people are, they've obviously been waiting to be discovered. And now they have been:

Finally this week, we leave you with some eye candy, shoreside, where you can watch the boats go by. We had to add our own soundtrack, but we think it fits. You have to turn the sound off on the video, otherwise it's weird. Enjoy!

We found a pretty good slide-show of the Cosco Busan crash and oil spill. Please enjoy our suggested soundtrack while you look at it. The song's a little longer than the slide-show, so you might want to start the slides a few seconds ahead. Or not. Whatever.

We were told about this video by a friend of Miss CKC as we sat in a too-loud bar. Hearing every third word or so, we just nodded politely and promptly forgot about it. Amazingly, that same friend followed up with an e-mail and we're glad she did, because now we can proudly premiere what may be the first junk-food rap video to grace this site in Menupages history. Observe:

Looks like the opening a little over a week ago of two new Trader Joe's stores and a new Whole Foods in Oakland has relieved some pressure on the East Bay grocery scene.

A thread on Chowhound indicates that, even at peak weekend grocery store hours, the Rockridge location is nigh on empty. If anything, the laws of fluid dynamics must apply to the throngs of TJs fans that previously had to cram themselves into the sole East Bay location in Emeryville.

Also, the new Whole Foods in the Adams Point neighborhood generated a lot of buzz, with commenters debating on whether it actually was a paradise on earth, or was just shiny like one.

We found a barely-related video montage that really has more to do with our insatiable Monday hunger for reggae than with anything in the realm of grocery stores. Except maybe that they sell Red Stripe:

So.... This is interesting. We found this YouTube regular with twin passions for celebrity chefs and British indie rock. Check this Moz-tage (sorry):

After the jump: Gordon Ramsay to Belle and Sebastian and Thomas Keller to Al Green. Who is this guy?

Continue reading "Unite And Take Over" »