Storied: San Francisco

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S2E34, Part 2: Elly Simmons on Specs 12 Adler Museum and Café Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

Specs is special. In a city with a history of providing safe harbor (literally and figuratively) to so many over the years, the bar encompasses the spirit of San Francisco perfectly.

In this podcast, Elly Simmons, whose parents Specs and Sonia opened the bar in 1968, talks about the documentary movie she's making about the place, its history, and her folks. If you love Specs and want its history documented for future generations, please consider donating to Elly's fundraiser for the film. Go to the Last Call: The Specs Film website and donate at whatever level you're able to.

If you missed Part 1 of this episode, go back to hear Elly talk about how her parents met and her own childhood in San Francisco.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E34, Part 1: Specs Co-Owner Elly Simmons on How Her Parents Met Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

North Beach is still alive. And one of its best and longest-lasting watering holes, Specs, is still a San Francisco treasure.

In this podcast, the current co-owner of the bar, Elly Simmons, tells the story of how her parents got together. Elly's dad, Richard "Specs" Simmons, and her mom, Sonia, met at Vesuvio across Columbus Street in 1952. It's a wild ride that takes us all over the neighborhood (and the country and city) in the 1950s.

Elly is raising money to help fund a documentary she's doing on her dad and the bar. To contribute, please head over to theGoFundMe page for Last Call: The Specs Film.

Join us Thursday for Part 2, when Elly will talk more about Specs and Sonia opening their bar, her childhood in San Francisco, and more.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E33, Part 2: William Rhodes on Juke City and Threaded Memories Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

In this podcast, artist William Rhodes talks about the 3.9 Art Collective and how it influenced his latest show, Threaded Memories. The exhibition, up at the African-American Art and Culture Complex now through Aug. 2, celebrates the community that lived in the Fillmore during that neighborhood's "Harlem of the West" days. To kick off the show, William held a party called Juke City in which he invited folks to dress up in Jazz Era clothing, see a burlesque show, and be treated to a few numbers by none other than Fillmore Slim.

William will be giving an artist talk as part of the exhibition at the AAACC on July 25 at 6 p.m. You can check out the 3.9 Collective website and follow them on Facebook.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E33, Part 1: William Rhodes on Art in the Mission District Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

In this podcast, artist William Rhodes talks about growing up in Baltimore, some similarities between there and San Francisco, moving to the city, the art of the Mission, and establishing his own art experience here.

Williams's show, Threaded Memories, is up at the African American Art and Culture Complex now through Aug. 2. He'll be giving an artist's talk there next Thursday, July 25, at 6 p.m. Through various media, the show celebrates the now-diminishing African American population of San Francisco.

Check back Thursday, when William will talk more about the ongoing exhibition as well as the party that launched it.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E32, Part 2: Joy Ng on Using Hip-Hop for Social Justice Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

At SF State, Joy Ng's senior thesis covered the history of hip-hop as resistance and using the art form to make something out of nothing. Since graduating, she has run a website of critical essays with the tagline, "Hip Hop x Asian America."

In this podcast, Joy discusses the cultural context that gave rise to hip-hop, the history of the genre, local artist Ruby Ibarra, and her deep dives into Asian-American identity, empowerment, history, and how they intersect with music.

If you missed Part 1, please listen to hear all about Joy's childhood being born and raised in San Francisco.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E32, Part 1: Joy Ng on the Documentary that Changed Her Life Jul 09, 2019

Show notes

Joy Ng is a born-and-raised San Franciscan. In this episode, Joy talks about her childhood, in Chinatown, North Beach, and a couple other neighborhoods. She ends with her time at SF State, where she changed her major and got involved in community organizing. A large influence in that shift was Curtis Choy's documentary, The Fall of the I-Hotel.

FoundSF has more info on the story of the International Hotel eviction and demolition.

Join us again Thursday, when Joy will talk about her work as a hip-hop blogger.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E31, Part 2: Joe Bagale's Musical Journey in San Francisco Jul 05, 2019

Show notes

We're not quite sure how Joe Bagale keeps up with all the music he's created or been part of performing or recording. In this podcast, he takes us through his journey after arriving in San Francisco back in 2003. It involves several living situations with in-house studios, his first visit to the Boom Boom Room, a serendipitous date, playing and touring with Mickey Hart, joining Jazz Mafia, and eventually, creating his alter ego—Otis McDonald. Otis's music has been in this podcast since we launched two years ago.

Look for Joe's new record, People Music, coming out this fall.

And if you missed Part 1, please go back and listen to see the unusual way that Joe made the move to San Francisco.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E31, Part 1: Joe Bagale on His Musical Upbringing Jul 02, 2019

Show notes

It's kinda fitting that this is the 80th episode overall for this podcast (49 in Season 1; 31 and counting in this current season, Season 2). Through all but two episodes so far, the intro and outro music has been by the subject of this episode.

Joe Bagale moved to San Francisco from New York State in 2003. In this episode, Joe talks about his life back east, which centered heavily around music. He tells the story of his first band, first show, first time to get paid to play music, and so much more. The podcast ends with Joe's truly unusual premise for moving here.

Check back Thursday, when Joe will pick up where he left off and tell stories of all the musical projects he's been a part of in San Francisco.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E30, Part 2: Project Open Hand Volunteers on What It Means to Them Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

In Part 1 of this podcast, Project Open Hand volunteer Dana Dawson took us through the history of the non-profit and told us all about what it does for the sick and dying of San Francisco and the Bay Area today.

In this episode, Dana is joined by four of her fellow volunteers who've become like a second family for one another. They talk about meeting through their volunteer work and what it means to them, as individuals and as a group.

We recorded this podcast in Bernal Heights in May 2019.

L–R: Jill Morrison, Lynn Wilkinson, Darryl Forman and Romo, Craig Smith, Dana Dawson, and Robert Pucci. Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E30, Part 1: Dana Dawson on the History of Project Open Hand Jun 25, 2019

Show notes

Project Open Hand, which today feeds more than 2,500 sick and dying people, started in 1985 when Ruth Brinker made meals for her friends and neighbors who were "wasting" from AIDS. In this podcast, POH volunteer Dana Dawson takes us through that history, talking about how the operation that started in a residential home today serves healthy meals and groceries with the help of more than 125 volunteers like herself.

Join us Thursday, when Dana and a few of her fellow volunteers will talk about what working with Project Open Hand means to them.

We recorded this podcast in Bernal Heights in May 2019.

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