Toto, I Have a Feeling We're Not in San Francisco Any More!

Perhaps only Buddy Beaverhausen can fly out where the pilot announces in his Jamaican accent on the flight headed from Charlotte to NYC, "Hello, this is your captain, Donald Duque" Pronounced Duck, I kid you not. Either his parents were sadists or never watched a single Disney cartoon in their lives. Off, into the Wild Blue Yonder! Was this going to be a Mickey Mouse flight of just a little Goofy?

I went on another epic Coast-to-Coast journey and returned to Brooklyn in fine fettle except for my derriere, which arrived very numb. Who knew the hardships wrought by sitting for the large part of 6 and 1/2 hours! (And by "large part," I'm not referring to my bubble butt, thank you.)

Steve drove me to the airport in SF for 7am; my flight was at 9:15. SF security is not as intense as that in the NYC area. One needn't remove one's belt for one thing and things move along quicker with more cursory examination. I was left with plenty of time for breakfast and boarding.

I did not want to take American again after the fiasco flying out of Newark, therefore I booked my flight on SF via Phoenix via Charlotte to Brooklyn on United. I showed up at the gate with an American logo. Wouldn't you know the two airlines just merged. Buddy's lucky that way, duckies.

Nonetheless, service this time was first-rate. Now, I was left thinking about those American Airlines check-in folk when I left New York and how they were, perhaps, facing sudden lay-off, hence the "incompetent" job performances.

I was on the plane so long today, it felt like my second home. And, hey, is everyone influenced by Beaverhausen these days? When a flyer asked the stewardess nearest me, "What kind of jet is this?," the stewardess quipped ~ without missing a beat ~ "A big one. A really big one!" And no, she wasn't Pam Ann, though just as riotous! Stand-up comedy on a flight is wonderful.

I schmoozed with the people who got on to clean the cabins, took intensive interest ~ looking out my window ~ in the baggage handlers at each airport, and chatted up the flight attendants. Charlotte in Charlotte confided in me about recently returning from disability after surgery due to her diverticulitis! Not to be sniffed at. And can we get any more intimate than that on a flight? Maybe it was my groovy SF haircut that made me feel so free. Who knows!

I took a NYC cab at LGA and, at long last, I'm finally home. And oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home!

Travels with Beaverhausen: A Fond Farewell to San Francisco!

I spent my last day in San Francisco taking a boat cruise up and down the bay, among other things, all on a sunny afternoon. According to the forecast, I'll be bringing the cooler temperatures back to NYC tomorrow.

It was an ambitious agenda that started at the Embarcadero business district. The streets are very clean and, along with the large banking centers and other corporate business offices there, the Embarcadero includes numerous chic eateries and boutiques, where I purchased a few souvenirs. Closer to the bay, there are artisans selling their homemade wares at outdoor kiosks. At the pier, I boarded the sight-seeing tour up and down the Bay. It was a beautiful, breezy day for riding on the water, passing under the Golden Gate Bridge and over to Alcatraz.

There were Muni delays on my return ride from Embarcadero as bad as anything I've encountered on the NYC subway. Finally, I got off at Folsom Street (where the world-reknown fetish fair is held annually) to transfer to an L to Castro once more before I leave. There were plenty of friendly faces happy to help me find my way to the L station, I'm happy to say.

In the Castro, I ate at Orphan Andy's, a gaily decorated diner with a killer jukebox. Mostly pop and folk music from the '60s. While having lunch, I heard Janet Joplin ("Piece of My Heart"), Grace Slick ("White Rabbit") and other classics of the era. I passed out a few of my blog's Buddy B business cards. My three-course, comfort-food meal was delicious but humungous. I ate all my salad and still took home almost 2/3 of my entree.

I then made it back to Wild Cards, the large gay-owned and oriented gift shop for last minute items. I told the owner about my blog and they put a large stack of them next to the register.

I hailed a taxi. My driver was a very cool guy and a good conversationalist for my 1/2-hour drive, helping to bide the time. He was my age (actually, a month younger right to the day) and a Jersey Boy as well. Synchronicity; this held promise. I gave him a blog promo card. I told him about Sally Kellerman at Feinstein's. It turned out he loves "Hot Lips!" He was very impressed to hear I interviewed her.  Does it get any better than this in a cab?

I'll miss the hipness of SF, the summer weather, the people, the laid-back groove, the fact that the Sixties are still alive in the culture at large, but especially I'll miss hanging with Steve, Ilene and Katie. Ah, well, there's always next time.

Golden Gate Bridge from the ferry

Directly underneath the iconic Bridge on the train

Travels with Beaverhausen: The Castro

New haircut, in front of Castro Theatre

Went to Castro Street on the Muni (train) today. Got off at Harvey Milk Plaza. I went to Nice Cuts, right around the corner from the Castro. The Asian woman who cut my hair did a good job, I thought. Afterwards, I bought a souvenir t-shirt and hat, plus gift cards, fridge magnet and a pack of SF map napkins.

The owner of the gift shop had a British accent. He's a long-time SF resident but moved here from Stratford, London, England.

Of course, going home, I had to do the tourist thing. That means getting totally and completely lost. It took me almost two hours to get back to Steve and Ilene's place. But I returned with a new hairstyle and a bagful of things to remember my trip by.

Wild Cards gift shop

Harvey Milk Plaza

I might go back tomorrow. I will definitely visit Chinatown. I'll try to ferry on the bay, try to hit Haight-Ashbury by foot and hop on a cable car. Wednesday morning, I leave for NYC, a mixed blessing.

Castro St.

Travels with Beaverhausen: This'n'That About San Francisco

When San Francisco residents tell you they have a "green card" these days, it most likely has nothing to do with immigration. It's the new, government-issued card that permits the owner to smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes. There are a lot of prescriptions in this city and, hence, active cards.

One sight not on yesterday morning's tour was seen in early evening. As our sedan took us to Feinstein's, the driver went through the Tenderloin district. This part of town is just south of Nob Hill and the theater area. It is similar to what NYC's Bowery was like before gentrification set in. Lots of drunks, druggies, streetwalkers, the homeless and some obvious psychos. I do not recommend traversing the Tenderloin by foot, especially after dark.

My autographed copy of Sally Kellerman's latest cd, from last night's outstanding show at Feinstein's, is sensitively produced by Val Garay and contains a lot of the material from her cabaret shows, including the Leiber & Stoler pop classic, "Love Potion #9," Nina Simone's "Sugar in My Bowl," and the wonderful "Somebody Call the Cops." The jazz arrangements suit Sally's gravelly baritone perfectly throughout. Simply titled Sally, this is a wonderful addition to my album collection that will always remind me of my summer visit to Baghdad by the Bay.

Where NYC tends to be more 24/ 7 industrious, SF tends to be more mellow-yellow, though Levi-Strauss, The Gap, Airbnb, Pacific Gas and Electric, Yelp. Pinterest, Twitter, Mozilla, Wikipedia, Craigslist have their main offices here.

Rents and real estate in SF are even more expensive than in NYC. SF is the most densely populated city in California and the second most densely populated in the US, after NYC.

SF has a pay-what-you-can policy for its subway, which means the indigent can get aboard free. This would so not fly in NYC because people there would be in one's face, telling one about him/herself. I can just hear it inside my head: " ExCUSE me?! I have to pay $5.00 round-trip and YOU're riding free?" Frisco's fare is nearly as expensive, by the way. It just underscores the city's more docile, accepting and tolerant attitudes. Blame it on the green cards?

Tomorrow, Buddy B will be visiting Chinatown & the Castro.




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Travels with Beaverhausen: Sally Kellerman @ Feinstein's @ the Nikko

Sally Kellerman was every bit as awesome at Feinstein's (set inside the glamorous Nikko hotel) in San Francisco last night as she was when I saw her in NYC at 54 Below in January. Her set was basically the same http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2015/01/on-town-with-buddy-b-sally-kellerman.html, though extended with at least two additional songs, including Sarah Gazark's heartbreaking "The Lies of Handsome Men" and the pop classic, "Story of Love," her finale.

Her West Coast show found her in hippie mode, much looser and more glib than she was in Manhattan. She was dressed in faded jeans and a casual Jean Paul Gaultier top. She conducted an impromptu Q&A with the audience. Someone asked a question I didn't consider in our q&a http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2015/01/exclusive-q-with-sally-kellerman.html, and that was about working with the late Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School (1986). Mss K said it was a very pleasant memory for her and that Mr D was quite the soft-spoken gentleman when he didn't have to be "on." She was further pressed as to why she chose to quote poet Dylan Thomas in that film. "Chose?" Sally chuckled. "Hey, I'm just an actress. They give me a script, I recite the lines. But ok, now I know it was Dylan Thomas!"

The star w/ Buddy B

After the show, Sally and I met in the lobby. I bought her latest cd this time, and she autographed it for me. I explained I brought my friends that just moved to SF with me to her show and that I was not doing a creepy stalker thing as it was a coincidence she was performing at the time. Sally laughed, saying "Stalk away! Actually, it's kismet!" as she gratefully signed the cd.

Thank you, Ms Kellerman! My extended family, Steve and Ilene, loved the show. They were very touched, being parents, by Ms K's rendition of Paul Williams/ Kenny Hirsch's "I Still Miss You." The show was, each and every moment, a precious pleasure. How often is that the case?

Ilene & Steve @ the Nikko bar 

Sally's autographed cd

Travels with Beaverhausen: Touring Fog City in Style

Today, Steve took me on a tour of San Francisco in his car. Home of the hippie counterculture, Sexual Revolution, Anti-war Movement and the Summer of Love, all these influences on the city were very much in evidence as we drove through.

The tour officially kicked off on Embarcadero Drive, pretty much starting at the Port of San Francisco and the huge, relatively new sports stadium in that area. Embarcadero is the main avenue running through the city.

There were many good views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and of Alcatraz across the Bay. Spectacular homes, many colorfully painted throughout. Tasteful-looking mansions and villas as well. 

The exterior of The Palace of Fine Arts was indeed very impressive, perhaps just less than the majestic shoreline views of the Pacific Ocean. There were several parks and gardens all along the way. 

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We ended up in Haight-Ashbury. It has become very yuppified and exclusive since I first visited in the summer of '69 with my friend, Michael Stein. We both had graduated high school that year. Still, its flower-power feel has remained intact. Lots of groovy boutiques, especially vintage clothing stores. I'll have to return.

Here I am on the corner of Haight and Ashbury, in front of Ben & Jerry's ice cream store. 

Travels with Beaverhausen: Chillin' in the City by the Bay

Daytime temperatures in San Francisco have ranged from the low 60s to the mid 70s during my stay. Overnight lows into the 50s make for good sleeping weather. Having left the swelter of New York City, I treasured the much milder weather.

I tried to sleep on Thursday's long flight but couldn't, envying those around me that could. Sleeping the first night in Frisco was sporadic. My cell phone reset itself for Pacific time but my body was stuck in EST! At about 10 am on Friday, I finally submitted to sleep, not waking up until 3 pm, putting me in sync, at last, with the time difference.

I suggested to my hosts, Steve and Ilene, that we postpone sightseeing on Friday night and just chill at their home. It was a cloudy day with some drizzle. For residents of the drought-beleaguered city, the rain came as good news. I hung out on my hosts' patio, walking around the housing complex, viewing the exotic West Coast flora and taking in the cool, fresh air. It was a nice mellow diversion, getting into the San Francisconess of the city.

After dinner, we watched the boob tube and chatted on the sectional sofa before calling it a night. But basic bonding is a beautiful thing. Unlike yesterday, following my arrival, there was no wine, no partying, no schmoozing with houseguests; just chillin'.

Today, Saturday, I am reset, refreshed and ready to see the city during the day, culminating in Sally Kellerman's performance at Feinstein's at The Nikko tonight.

But that, everyone, will have to be another story.

Travels with Beaverhausen: Buddy B Hits Frisco!

An SF Patio Where I'm Staying

Oh, the ordeal of flying out of JFK (a/k/a "Private Hell 36")! 36 should have been my gate number this morning.

I arrived at American Airlines ticketing and baggage claim. It was incredibly disorganized and slow going. Everyone on the long line was grousing about how they were obviously going to miss their flights because of how long things were taking. When I got up to the counter, I was told it was too late to check my suitcase but it was small enough to bring aboard, which I really didn't want to do. (I intended to only bring my laptop bag on the plane.) Though I arrived at 6 am for my 8 am departure to the West Coast, by the time I got through security, I had about 15 minutes to board. My gate was #1. I entered the concourse starting at #37. I missed my flight.

I was then put on a 10 am flight to San Francisco. At that time, a rainstorm grounded us for 1/2 an hour.

The staff on the flight were very friendly, attentive and courteous. Honestly, I don't know how they do it! The attendants aboard were all blonde women. I didn't even know that was legal! I was reminded of Tina Turner who said (to Rolling Stone, I believe) that she always envied stewardesses for having such a glamorous job until one day she observed them and had this epiphany: "My God! They're just waitresses!"

I was seated next to a retired New Zealand couple just a little older than me and they were marvelous company that helped pass the 5 -1/2 hour flight time. We were in the typically cramped coach section, three abreast on either side. AA's first-class is private seating on either side. A chaise lounge with desk basically. Their business class is two seats with a small desk in-between.

It was a short taxi ride to my hosts, Ilene and Steve's, home by taxi. The temperature was 67. A nice respite from the heat and humidity in NYC! And, so, I ultimately got to relax after my airport ordeal. We also shared a little wine. Neighbors came by. They also shared the wine. Ilene and Steve's daughter, Katherine, was here with her grade-school friends as well.

Frisco is very easy and breezy. Very not NYC. A mixed blessing. For example, at the airport's taxi pick-up stand, there's no "stand here" sign. When I asked where the line began or ended, I was told, "Wherever. It's kind of free. But everyone eventually gets a cab." Gulp!

Where the Emmys Are.

Steven arrived for dinner about 7 pm Pacific time. He's an equity plan consultant who was able to give me some much-needed financial advice. Ilene is a two-time Emmy-winning producer for Guiding Light and for a sports network. Her dinner tonight was delicious and award-worthy in itself. We three planned my itinerary for the week over dinner. Expect lots of cool stuff from Buddy B coming direct from the Barbary Coast over the next few days!

Travels with Beaverhausen: San Francisco, Here I Come

I'm off to San Francisco tomorrow! I've decided to pack light, hoping to buy some new threads during my visit. The Gap has its headquarters there, by the way, which I take as a positive sign.

I'll be staying for almost a week with my friends-cum-relatives, Steven and Ilene Frankel Lott. My close friend of over 40 years now, Tracey, is Steven's sister. She was once married to my cousin. That's how we met. I'm still very close to the Lott family, many of whom live in Connecticut. Ilene and Steve lived in Stuyvesant Town in the East Village, but moved when Steve was offered a job in SF. Got all that? (There may be questions later.)

Among the things I must do today before I leave  -- packing, arranging car service to JFK (my flight's at 8 am; car at 6; bedtime 10-11 pm tonight's a must), etc. -- I've decided not to get the haircut I really need. I've been trimming my own hair over the summer and by now I have a modified mullet with poofy sides, a combed-back, uneven front and the frizzy blues!  I thought it might be fun to get my haircut in Frisco. Something smart, maybe around Castro Street way!

This is my third visit to SF, so I basically know the lay of the land, which was once my nickname in NYC, but never mind all that!. My first trip was with my best friend from high school, Michael Stein. That was 1969, the Summer of Love. Haight-Ashbury was as you might imagine it then. I was recently reunited with Mike for the first time since the summer of '69. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2015/06/travels-with-beaverhausen-parties-in.html In the 1990s, I visited SF again with my friend, Greg. Things hadn't changed all that much it seemed to me.

So, I'm ready for take-off and will be blogging about my adventures that I expect will include going with my hosts to Feinstein's at The Nikko to see Sally Kellerman perform, hopefully a trip to Fisherman's Wharf, visiting the Castro Theatre and trying out some restaurants. Now, where was that place that served the shrimp and avocado omelette?

San Francisco: high on a hill it calls to me. And one must be high if that what one's hearing! So, in honor of a previous California governor, I'll just say Hasta la vista, babies!

P.s.: Did I mention San Francisco is my disco?