Friday, December 27, 2019
Festa di Lupercus 2020 - Part I
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant (San Francisco)
Swiss Louis Italian and Seafood Restaurant
Swiss Louis Italian and Seafood Restaurant
A tradition in San Francisco since 1936, our waterfront dining rooms, provides a magnificent view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the always entertaining Sea Lions. We offer a casual dining experience that includes delicious Traditional Italian fare and fresh seafood at reasonable prices.
Swiss Louis Italian and Seafood Restaurant
Pier 39 Suite #204 San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 421-2913
http://swisslouis.com/
*************************
It's been a good while since I visited Swiss Louis', so I can't really review it now. I can say--at least--that parking is excellent, as you can just park in the Fisherman's Wharf parking garage and just take the walking-bridge over and you're right there.
.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Reflections upon the Full Pink Moon
Live stream from Thursday evening from 5:00 to 5:45 PM pst
April Full Moon Names
April’s Full Moon, the Full Pink Moon, heralds the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon.
'Green moon on April 20, 2016? Not true'
No, there won’t be a green moon on April 20, 2016 … or on May 29. Some possible origins of this latest urban legend.
There are several versions this (completely untrue) story, and we’ve gotten many questions about it from within our community, from people wanting to know if it’s true. Here’s the main version: the moon will appear green for the first time in 420 years on April 20, 2016.
con'd
"Torvi" - hazel eyes, Viking face..
'Notorious Lola Montez kept the men in S.F. panting'
Lola Montez already had a racy global reputation when she landed in S.F.
Gary Kamiya - San Francisco Chronicle - June 1, 2014
On May 21, 1853, the most notorious woman in the world arrived in San Francisco by paddle-wheel steamer from Panama. Her name was Lola Montez.
She had come unannounced, so no one was there when she stepped off the ship at Long Wharf and made her way into the city. But her erotic exploits, political intrigues, violent temper and extraordinary beauty had made headlines throughout the world.
con'd
31 gets a release date and new distributor
Rob Zombie’s much anticipated release ‘31‘ has now got a release date. Stick September 16 in your diaries folks.
After a small issue with previous distributors Alchemy, the film has also secured Saban Films to help distribute the movie for it’s theatrical release.
“After meeting with Saban, it was obvious that this was the perfect home for ’31,’” said Rob Zombie. “They have a true understanding of the genre and how to handle it. I am very excited to work with them.”
The Bastard Fairies-We're All Going To Hell (Official Video)
The Bastard Fairies
THE NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE www.bastardfairies.com
Some Atheist podcasts use this catchy song from a few years back.
God's Angry Man - Werner Herzog [1/6]
Nick Paulsen
God's Angry Man - Werner Herzog's documentary on Dr. Gene Scott. Part 1/6.
Those outside of California may not remember the very zealous Glendale-based Dr. Gene Scott. He occupied one of the old UHF channels just prior to the great increase of cable networks. He would rant and rave to the point where you might end up just watching him to see what was up. He had a true cult following I think. The rest of it is on YouTube.
Myths: Lilith
Thomas LeRoy
The Sect of the Horned God presents a video series of great myths. (If you are looking for porn, this is not your video.)
Music: Strange Ways -- Silent Partner (Youtube Audio Library)
Cat stands up to aggressive Boxer dog
Сat fight with dog/Very brave cat 2013-09
Cats VS Dogs
'View From Space Hints at a New Viking Site in North America'
Ralph Blumenthal - New York Times - March 31, 2016
A thousand years after the Vikings braved the icy seas from Greenland to the New World in search of timber and plunder, satellite technology has found intriguing evidence of a long-elusive prize in archaeology — a second Norse settlement in North America, further south than ever known.
con'd
Lighthouse of Alexandria - The ancient Egyptians had massive unknown energy/light source
The Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Ancient Port of Alexandria
Ancientvine
Alexandria, Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great in April 331 BC ,and became the capital of the Graeco-Egyptian world. The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria also was called "The Pearl of the Mediterranean". The ancient port city was home for one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Pharos of Alexandria (The Lighthouse of Alexandria).
Scarborough Fair - Nox Arcana
Nox Arcana
"Scarborough Fair" by Nox Arcana from the album Winter's Majesty. Original lyrics and musical arrangements by Joseph Vargo. Vocals performed by Jeff Endemann.
Interesting cover of 'Scarborogh Fair' by gothic band Nox Arcana.
.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Caffè Como: "Russian Hill's new hotspot"
Monday, October 18, 2010
Evening of Ticinese Culture in San Francisco: Monday, October 19
Settimana della lingua italiana: Evening of Ticinese Culture
The Consulate General of Switzerland and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco invite guests to celebrate the art and architecture of Ticino. Note: Presentations given in the Italian language.
19 Oct 2010 from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM Pacific Time
Practical Information:
Location:
730 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94111
Free. Advance RSVP required.
In celebration of the tenth Settimana della Lingua Italiana nel Mondo, Week of the Italian Language in the World, the Consulate General of Switzerland and the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco cordially invite you to an evening celebration of Ticinese culture, hosted by swissnex San Francisco.
The program includes two presentations in Italian, "Il Ticino: terra di artisti," from by Marco Cameroni, and "Antonio e Giuseppe Sardi da Morcote - Architetti ticinesi nella Venezia del Seicento,” by Paola Piffaretti.
Questions? Contact vertretung@sfr.rep.admin.ch or call 415.788.2272 ext 102.
Organized by the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco and the Italian Cultural Institute, with help from swissnex San Francisco.
Program:
6:30 pm doors open
7:00 pm presentations and Q&A
8:30 pm reception
9:30 pm doors close
****************************************************************************
See above link for more information, to register online, and for directions.
.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
San Francisco photographer J.B. Monaco's 1908 pilgrimage to Ticino

From the J.B. Monaco website:
"In 1875, nineteen year old J.B. Monaco arrived in the United States from his native Switzerland and immediately joined his older brother Louis in his Eureka, Nevada City Photo Gallery. For J.B., this would be the start of a distinguished sixty two year photographic career.
"The photographic collection of J.B. Monaco (1856-1938) includes a body of work impressive in scope and content. Not only did Monaco photograph the world around him, he painted, sketched, wrote and preserved a good deal of what he created. Thankfully, many of these images have been passed down and archived to the present.
"His unique Earthquake and Fire compositions convey not only drama but also the sense of a moment captured in time: a single frame of a larger moving picture. His recorded account of the disaster takes on an equally human dimension as it describes the saving of his own home from the approaching fire by means of a back yard well and a neighborhood bucket brigade. Even Monaco's hand-drawn map remains, pointedly displaying where the fire was turned back and his block of Russian Hill saved.
"In his lifetime, Monaco was considered the "Dean of North Beach photographers" and was most appreciated for his studio portraiture work of prominent San Franciscans and families, many of whom were neighbors in the City's Italian center. But his reportorial work stands out equally and impresses even more with the test of time. He used camera, pen and brush to document much of early Nevada and Northern California history.
"What Monaco leaves is a tangible legacy, both comprehensive and personal. Thousands of original prints and negatives are preserved. The Earthquake images have been used in numerous documentaries, photographic collections and historical publications. In all, what he left surpasses the work of one man and the detailing of his life and times. It is the story of a people as they endured and enjoyed experiences that would shape a bit of American history.
"In 1908 J.B. Monaco and his brother in law Domenico Battistessa visited '"The Old Country." They were both born in the Swiss Italian province of Ticino, J.B. in Verscio and Domenico in the small village of Collinosca next to Cerentino. J.B. chronicled the trip with over three hundred photos of Switzerland. Most of their time was spent in Vallemaggia where they still had family and friends. This section includes approximately fifty images from the trip."
J.B. Monaco website
About J.B. Monaco
Photos of San Francisco photographer JB Monaco's 1908 pilgrimage to Ticino
The website has many old photographs of San Francisco, including the 1906 Quake and North Beach.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Camunari Circle - San Francisco Metro

[Left: The beautiful Camonica Valley in the province of Brescia]
From the CCSFM website:
"STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
"The Camunari Circle (CCSFM) is a private social circle for people of Camuno/Camunian descent, who live in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Camonica Valley is located in the northern part of the Brescia province in Northern Italy, and also in four communes of the Bergamo province. The circle, although private, is openly active through Bresciani nel Mondo - Northern California."
Sunday, June 10, 2007
San Francisco Cable Cars from Milan

It's nice to know that there is something truly Lombardian in San Francisco. Well, there is the famous Lombard Street, named after the Lombard Street in London, where bankers from North Italian regions once had a foothold. There's a curious little item that I would like to share. Once I saw a listing in the business white pages for a business on Lombard Street named "Lombardia." There was no reference as to what type of business this was. Once, while I was in the area, I looked up the address just to take a look at what it was. It was at night, and I came upon what looked like an ordinary apartment building. On it was a gold colored plaque of some type, and engraved on it was the word "Lombardia." It's possible that this was merely the name of the building, but why was it listed in the business section of the phone book?
I once briefly met an old lady who was born in Lombardia, and lived in a house in what is now a very high crime area of San Francisco. She was over one hundred years old! I feel bad that there wasn't anything I could do for her. She passed away some years ago. I wish I could have organized an effort to move her to another area, perhaps in San Mateo or somewhere like that. She was a widow with no family. Very sad. Perhaps she had even outlived her children. We've failed if we can't address these types of community issues. There is a public service that has been around a long time called Italian-American Community Services that helps elderly people of Italian descent. That could be one area that we can look into in the future. Actually someone I knew was looking after her, so it wasn't all bad.
While on the subject of all things Lombardian in Northern California. It bears mention that the traditional "Swiss" of California are culturally Lombardian. While there have been few Lombardians in our local history, there have been many Italian Swiss or "Ticino Swiss." This is a subject to be explored in greater detail in another entry. Ticino is a very small Swiss Canton, and the only one south of the Alps. The inhabitants are of Northern Italian descent, but they ended up on the Swiss side of the border long ago. Ticino isn't really very far from Milan, although it's basically a mountainous area.