Nonogirl Radio

La Plebe

For some people, music is a companion while working out at the gym or driving over the bridge. For others, it's an obsession as they follow the musical "family tree," first pressings, lost singles, etc.

For me, it's like a religion. Music is where my belief in humanity is affirmed. It's where I find inspiration. It's where I remember that I'm part of something larger. And right now, there is no better band to take me to that talking-in-tongues kind of euphoria than La Plebe.

They have a big show coming up at Bottom of the Hill on Wednesday, May 24. Kultur Shock, led by Gino Yevdjevich (a Bosnian Serb and former Yugoslavian pop star), is coming all the way from Seattle to help kick off La Plebe's Eastern European tour! We need to show up and support the bands as La Plebe goes to explore what a Latinos from San Francisco has in common with Romanians, Serbians, and Macedonians!

Crossing East at KQED

Folks, the day is finally here!

Crossing East, the eight hour radio series that I've poured my heart into over the past year and a half, is starting to air!

And I invite people in the Bay Area to a special preview event held at KQED on Tuesday, May 2. There will be a reception followed by a short preview of the series and a panel discussion with the scholars who helped with the series: Judy Yung, Bill Hing, Catherine Choy, and Nguyen Qui Duc.

Tuesday, May 2 6-8 pm
KQED: 2601 Mariposa Street
* reservations required
call 415-561-2160 or email info@aiisf.org

Experimental Films

I know, they can be tedious. You may squirm. You may wonder what the point is or why aren't things ever in focus. Does there have to be that high pitched noise?!

But I'm excited about two films that may or may not be considered experimental, but are definitely worth catching:

First, is Dolissa Medina's Cartography of Ashes. I caught a preview of this at last night's Hybrid Project at Intersection. I find it hard to describe but the soundscape is amazing, layered and with a narrative that weaves different parts of the city together. The images are both archival and perhaps modern images that are treated to provide a century-old look. It's playing in several places, but I'm going to catch it Friday projected on to the Folsom Street fighter training tower.

Also, I'll finally get to see a full Alan Berliner piece. I first learned about his work at the Third Coast Festival for audio producers. Sure, he created an installation of drawers that, when opened, activate up to 108 different audio sounds. But I think primarily he's a filmmaker. Thanks to my useless memory, I completely forgot what made his films so compelling, but I remembered his name. And his latest film, Wide Awake, is screening at the SFIFF!

It's Festival Time!!!

March is my second favorite month in San Francisco (October being first because of our San Francisco summer). Why? Because that's when the San Francisco International Asian American Film Fest is on!

Here's my line up:

Thursday
Opening night (party only) thanks to Winnie

Friday
Directions in Sound: I heart FMTM!

Saturday
The Crimson Kimono with James Shigeta in person!
Punching the Sun
Citizen Dog (recommended by many people)

Sunday
Grassroots Rising (gotta support the VC crew)
Kieu (glad I got my ticket to this local film before it sold out)
The Achievers (because I liked his previous film, Roads and Bridges)

Monday
Conventioneers (another recommended film. it was shot on location at the RNC and it just won an Independent Spirit Award)

Tuesday
Colma: The Musical (I have high expectations for this one)

Wednesday
American Fusion (an adorable romantic comedy poking fun at Asian families and with a cameo from Pat Morita!)
Linda Linda Linda (Asian girl rock band--why not check it out?)

Thursday
REST!

Good Eats

Recommended by Rommel:

• Nepenthe in Big Sur (his mouth watered for the sweet potato pecan fritters and the Ambrosiaburger)
• TJ's Gingerbread House in Oakland for "down home with sass and class" as oakland.com says (be sure to check the menu and order ahead of time)

We Jam Econo

I assumed you'd have to be a fan to enjoy the Minutemen documentary, but it was just here in SF and it moved people I know enough to inspire long emails of encouragement to see it. I'm still in deadline hell, so I'll have to catch it on DVD...

Jericho's Echo

About punk rockers in Israel, made by a local filmmaker. Missed it at the Jewish Film Festival, but hope the Red Vic or Roxie will help me out.