2016: a Year of Profound Change Is Another Nonsensical Belief System,” Halls Responded
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MARINATIMES.COM CELEBRATING OUR 32ND YEAR VOLUME 32 ISSUE 12 DECEMBER 2016 Reynolds Rap My annual guide to gifts that give back BY SUSAN DYER REYNOLDS heard from a lot of readers about last month’s Reynolds Rap (“The me-me-me millionaires”), mostly positive (the folks at Salesforce) and some Isurprisingly negative (tech folks who don’t believe they should have to share). Some of the letters confirmed my lack of faith in humanity, like the one from William Halls titled, “Bums and dogs.” Halls wrote, “I really don’t give a damn about bums or dogs. … If you care about bums and dogs, you and your friends should all get together and contribute to bums and dogs. Don’t wait for others to do the contributions. … You do it.” Halls assumed that I don’t contribute to causes, but in fact I do. Thanks to my The Grim Reaper won no fans in 2016 by taking Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, and Leonard Cohen. Apple stock, I’m able to make donations each month to PHOTOS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS; LEONARD COHEN PHOTO: TAKAHIRO KYONO charities I care about. I responded to Halls and reminded him about a little thing called karma. That didn’t set well either. “Karma 2016: A year of profound change is another nonsensical belief system,” Halls responded. “Keep on contributing to your priorities and understand BY JOHN ZIPPERER you hope will be a much better 2017 mic horizons were expanded by not everyone shares those priorities. And stop begging after a bad 2016? major missions to Mars and new and guilt tripping for the sympathy and money of others. hen the time comes to The year did see some major unmanned craft throughout the It is unseemly.” Ebenezer Scrooge couldn’t have said it put on a silly paper hat, high points. For the first time in solar system. any better. blow into a toy noise- our history, a major national But there were many low points To be honest, I feel sorry for people like Halls. I agree Wmaker, and raise a glass of cham- party nominated a woman to be that will make many people feel that with Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff, who said pagne on New Year’s Eve, will you president of the United States. they can’t be done with 2016 fast of his fellow tech community’s lack of empathy, “You’re not be doing it to celebrate the end of a The Nobel Prize in literature was enough. really going to get the great feeling of life. The real pleasure wonderful year or to welcome what given to Bob Dylan. Our cos- YEAR END, continued on 20 REYNOLDS RAP, continued on 4 Bellingham by the Bay The Art World al fascination between father and son. Crafted from fabric scraps, We can be heroes found objects, paint, and papi- er-mâché, the puppets combine BY BRUCE BELLINGHAM the central theme of Klee’s work — the idea of play, with his love hristmas is about music. it’s also about of theater. (The puppets’ stylized, generosity of spirit, whether you can play an angular forms appear influenced by instrument or sing. But anybody can sing — as Bauhaus theater.) Clong as you want to sing. The only requirement for In his home, Klee invented sto- membership is a desire to do something sweet for ries, stage sets, and backdrops to somebody. And make a little joyful noise. bring his puppet theater to life The holidays are traumatic for some. They’re a joy purely to entertain his child, and for others. Sometimes the events coincide. That’s the although the puppets contain the irony of life — a continuing dichotomy. It also marks same dreamlike whimsy of Klee’s the end of the year. And some year it was. More tur- paintings, they have only recently bulence than any bad trip on an airplane could pro- been considered as art objects. vide. Shouldn’t mention that. Too many people crowd Paul Klee, Laternenfest Bauhaus 1922 (Bauhaus Lantern Festival 1922), The viewer’s imagination finishes into the airports this time of year. 1922; extended loan and promised gift of the Djerassi Art Trust. the story: clowns, ghosts, poets, It’s also a time to reflect on how this dear, beautiful, PHOTO: DON ROSS and specters — it’s easy to imagine beleaguered, battered city of St. Francis keeps us here. the puppets, now still and silent, Sometimes I think living in San Francisco is like living animated by the hand of the artist in a bad marriage. I’m sticking with her for the sake of Paul Klee at Play through who created them so many years my own intransigence. ago, and the joy they brought to I am heartened as the kids — linked together with life in the private world of Paul innocuous ropes — are trundled through the Ten- May 14, 2017 at SFMOMA and Felix Klee. derloin by dedicated guides. Just to keep the children Paul Klee at Play: Fri.–Tue. 10 from all harm. … These teachers, these volunteers, Puppets reveal playfulness a.m.–5 p.m. & Thursday 10 a.m.–9 they are real heroes. … p.m. through May 14, 2017; $25; KJ Landis is an angel in her own class. And that is BY SHARON ANDERSON ings, and prints alongside the SFMOMA, 151 Third Street, 415- first class. I recall Christmas trees with the dangling handmade puppets he created for 357-4000, sfmoma.org angels — all filigree and magic. KJ believes in spread- s part of an ongoing his son, Felix. While looking for ing the word of wellness. She’s published three books series dedicated to the art- frames at the Munich flea market, Sharon Anderson is an artist and on the topic. Her heart is a deep well of beauty. ist’s work, SFMOMA pres- Klee dropped off his son at the writer in Southern California. She BELLINGHAM, continued on 5 Aents Paul Klee’s paintings, draw- local puppet show, creating a mutu- can be reached at mindtheimage.com. Contents In This Issue 23 13 12 News Calendar Around the city December events News briefs on the good and bad news The holidays are hot and heavy this month, so about recent crimes in the city, plus a note it's time to break out the good party clothes about a possible hate crime at Fort Mason, and fill up your schedule. 14 and Mayor Lee says the city will stand reso- lute against Trump. 3 At Home Urban Home and Garden Northside Julia Strzesieski gives advice on indoor and The Marina and Cow Hollow outdoor holiday trees and plants. 16 Lynette Majer’s Marina-Cow Hollow Insider Real Estate goes holiday shopping; and Supervisor Mark Farrell says San Francisco must pro- Houses and housing tect its residents and its values under a Carole Isaacs explains the value in paying Trump presidency. 6 attention to your old furnace and water heater; plus the Roundup reports on Airbnb, North Beach and Telegraph Hill George Lucas's stalled affordable housing 17 Ernest Beyl wishes happy holidays to project, and more. everyone he's come across this year; and Supervisor Aaron Peskin recounts his Beauty achievements in 2016. 8 Looking good for the holidays Moanalani Jeffrey and Valerie Demicheva Food & Wine on putting your best face forward for the holidays. 21 Autumn eats The Tablehopper highlights the new Family Saratoga in the Tenderloin; and Susan Dyer MomSense Reynolds presents a Fab Five of gift-worthy Liz Farrell offers advice on holiday family cookbooks this holiday season. 10 time. 22 Travel Pet Page Another wine country Political Animal Patty Burness visits the rich wine-producing Susan Dyer Reynolds reports on on CNN land of Portugal. 12 Top 10 Hero Muttville and SFMTA's service dog ignorance. 23 Arts & Entertainment ONLINE SPECIALS Food, music, books Sharon Anderson on Bruce Conner Michael Snyder reviews two new movies: at SFMOMA, Evalyn Baron, complete Manchester by the Sea and Lion; plus the archives, and more. Marina best sellers. 13 marinatimes.com Like us on Facebook.com/MarinaTimes Follow us on Twitter.com/TheMarinaTimes Sign up for our newsletters at MarinaTimes.com marinatimes.com | 3053 Fillmore Street #104, San Francisco, CA 94123 Editorial: (415) 931-0515 | Fax: (415) 931-0987 | Letters to the Editor: [email protected] Advertising: (415) 815-8081 [email protected] Calendar submissions due by the 15th of the month to [email protected] Publisher Executive Editor Layout Designer Earl Adkins John Zipperer Sara Brownell [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Editor in Chief Managing Editor Web Designer Susan Dyer Reynolds Lynette Majer Joe Bachman [email protected] [email protected] MARINA TIMES IS A TRADE MARK OF JASMINE BLUE MEDIA LLC. COPYRIGHT ©2015 JASMINE BLUE MEDIA LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ABRIDGE FOR SPACE, CLARITY AND CIVILITY. 2 DECEMBER 2016 MARINA TIMES MARINATIMES.COM News News Briefs Police report, hate crime, Trump Crimes and misdemeanors THE CRIMES THEY Can the city find a way it is indeed found to be a ARE A-CHANGIN’ to pay for better protec- hate crime, I urge the full Between August and tion out of its $9 billion penalty for the individual September, San Fran- annual budget? who committed this dis- cisco saw an increase in gusting act.” some high-profile crimes HATE CRIME AT FORT in the city, with homi- MASON MAYOR LEE ON cides going from zero A Nov.