The latest jazz news
One of SF State’s coolest cats—John Handy—will soon receive the SFJAZZ Beacon Award for lifetime achievement. Past recipients include such luminaries as drummer Eddie Marshall, critic Philip Elwood, vocalist Mary Stallings, percussionist Pete Escovedo and pianist Rebeca Mauleón. To read more about Handy’s impressive musical career, visit SF State Magazine online. And to listen to him discuss his memories of SF State, check out our Alumni Reflect video here.
Did you know that the founder of SFJazz is an SF State alum? Read the great Q and A with Randall Kline in today’s San Francisco Chronicle.
Tennessee who?
Alumnus Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s play boom is the most produced play this season. For more on the talented playwright, visit SF State Magazine online.
And the Emmy goes to…
SF State alumnus Rod Holcomb helped ER go out with a bang. He took home an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for ”And In The End” (NBC, Constant c Productions, Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Television).
Check out what else Holcomb has done during his impressive career in television, here.
Let it glow
This just in: Professor of Biology Dennis Desjardin has discovered seven new glow-in-the-dark mushroom species!
Taste of the Bay
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
6:00 to 9:30 PM
San Francisco Belle
Pier 3, San Francisco, CA 94133
$125 for single tickets
$100 for each additional ticket
You’re invited to the 13th annual Taste of the Bay on Wed., October 21, 2009, at 6 p.m., aboard the beautiful San Francisco Belle at Pier 3. This festive evening, benefiting the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at San Francisco State University, will feature delectable culinary creations by renowned Bay Area chefs, tastings by acclaimed Northern California wineries, and live and silent auctions.
To buy tickets or to view a listing of the participating wineries, breweries and restaurants, please visit: http://www.tasteofthebaysfsu.com/
Entertainment options
Alumnus Dana Carvey’s next stand-up appearance is sold out but just learned there is another entertainment option for fans of impersonation: alumna Amy Kelly is performing in “All About Walken” Saturday in Sacramento. Kelly is one of eight actors who impersonate actor Christopher Walken during different periods of his life and in various movie roles, including those he never had.
Sunday through Friday, tune in to PBS to see the much anticipated Ken Burns’ documentary series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” narrated by alumnus Peter Coyote.
You may have only one chance to see “The Recess Ends,” a documentary about how the recession is affecting Americans, in a theater. According to this San Francisco Chronicle article, alum Brian Chu and his brother, who produced the film, only had enough money for one screening Wed., Sept. 30 at San Francisco’s Victoria Theatre. For more information, visit www.therecessends.com
He took a job marketing for Zipcar while Brian edited their film. Finding a place for their premiere was much tougher than finding places to stay on their road trip.
“I couldn’t sleep for the month of August,” says Austin, who checked out every theater in San Francisco before booking the Victoria, a 100-year-old vaudeville house with 500 seats for $1,200.
“We only have money for one screening,” he says.
The Recess Ends: 8:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th St. San Francisco. Free, but $5 donation requested. RSVP at www.therecessends.com.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/24/MVG819O8U9.DTL#ixzz0SAGkdJQ7
A salute to an SF State centenarian
Happy Birthday to Lurline Bird, who turns the big 1-0-0 next week! Read more about this lively alumna and learn how she found the love of her life at SF State in The Union Democrat.
Toothpicks and technology
Alumnus Steven Backman’s toothpick art has found a new home in Carmel and alumnus Jose Antonio Vargas has found a new journalistic home at The Huffington Post.
Bening vs. Swank, Round Three?
Word on the tinseltown street is alumna Annette Bening and Hillary Swank “could be facing off for a third time in the best actress race, something that appears to happen every five years like clockwork.” Read more in The Envelope.
Calling all foodies: Don’t miss this event at SF State
A Who’s Who in Food: Four Bay Area Food Alumni Dish
A discussion moderated by
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009
Time: Check-in 6:15 p.m.; panel discussion 6:30 p.m.; reception 7:30 p.m.
Place: SF State Campus, Seven Hills Conference Center, 800 Font Blvd., San Francisco
Cost: $20/general admission, $10/students
Frequently quoted as an authority on a wide variety of food, restaurant and hospitality topics in major publications nationwide, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and Crain’s New York, Clark Wolf has been called the “slam dunk, hit city food consultant.” Wolf ’76, brings together cookbook author Vanessa Barrington ’89, and the owners of Foreign Cinema restaurant, John Clark ’85, and Gayle Pirie ’91, for an energetic discussion on good food and entertaining through a multidisciplinary lens. Hear these hospitality aficionados share their thoughts on current culinary trends and how their very diverse backgrounds at SF State in art, cinema, English and communications brought them to the forefront of their craft.
Be sure to stay afterwards for a Q&A session followed by a reception catered by San Francisco’s Foreign Cinema restaurant. Wolf will sign copies of his book (available for purchase at the event).
