Binky

Tango, my tango

(San Francisco, CA 2005)

I was flipping through the old palm and noticed this datebook event. Holy jeepers, I've had a singular love affair that has lasted this long. Fencing, Krav Maga, Shintaido, Amma, Aikido, nor textiles has lasted this long.

We are indeed lucky in San Francisco to have such great teachers. There is a new tango studio opening up in San Francisco in the mold of the Konex practicas in BsAs. Roberto Riobo's Barrio Tango is putting forth a bold initiative to bring Tango to the community day and night. It will be a place to learn and enjoy this wonderful dance that has tranced the world all over.

Go and check it out!

I first met this great Maestro in 2002 as his student. An old post says it all...

The obvious under our feet, stays true...

I remember a comment from a travelling dancer at Portland's
Tangofest, "Man, you guys are so lucky!"
We are....
SO lucky to be grace with magnificent tango teachers here in the Bay
Area: Felipe, Kat, Rosa, Homer and Cristina, Miller and Claudia, Nora
and Ed, Glenn, Gary and Nirmala, Chelsea, Christy, Marcelo, Mayumi,
Dom, Chris and Carol, Steven and so on…
Not to forget all the other travelling tango glories that past our
floors: Oscar, Jean Sebastien, Luciana, and so on...
One could spend the rest of their lives devoted to tango with all
these vast riches?! (ooo don't tell my girlfriend)

Do you remember the teachers that you loved?
The ones who sparked something special in your heart by giving of
theirs?
With energy and passion, they moved and inspired you bestowing gifts
more invaluable than mere knowledge. Now imagine that you can return
to one of these beloved teachers and experience that joy once again.
Such a special teacher exists and his name is Roberto Riobo.

He is spreading his love tirelessly and generously here in the Bay
Area.
Where the bright melodies of Biagi or Calo echo from the far reaches
of Golden Gate Park on Sundays, you will find him there in the center
of the throng swirling like a conductor, the joy of tango discovery
freely to the curious and eager.

He's also teaching at highway dancing Demetrius' Jingletown on
Tuesdays and at The Beat also in the East Bay on Thursdays.
For more info check: http://www.barriotango.com/

Yelena and I had the pleasure of taking his 2 hour Saturday class in
the Castro this weekend and for me it as exciting and refreshing as
those past joys at the Italian club.

With a bit of history and old skool rote stepping, we fumbled our way
on the basics of Milonga for the suggested donation is $5/person(!).
The previous review class of ganchos and cadenas was a bit
overchallenging for me, but it was just an honor to be graced with
his enthusiastic instruction once again even if it was how to unleash
your inner tango child with 360 colgadas to Di Sarli.

Whether you're an adherent to traditional milonguero or salon, nuevo
tango or tango bango schwango, the door is open with endless rewards
to those with an open heart and beginner's mind.

Come take a step and rediscover 'beginning' again with this treasure
of tango.
Thank you so very much to all those for helping Roberto be here to
teach us.

The best Cantonese-Chinese food in Chinatown

(San Francisco, CA 2005) Tucked away in the restaurant minefield of Kearny Street, lies our favorite Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Good ol' 12 years running,  Cheung Hing, means "Good Business" to be exact. Located at  708 Kearny Street  near Clay and nestled at the mouth of Portsmouth Square just pass the giant Holiday Inn overpass, this venerable dive serves up delicious cheap hot Chinese fare of the old skool kind. Raised in Chinatown in the 70's and by a Grandpa who was a chef, Cheung Hing is indeed the real deal. The place actually is 2 restaurants in one. There's the dark side where few sit and the lit side where old regulars, haggard financial district types and large family chow. Since moving back to North Beach, we've been enjoying the old flavor for 2 years and in six sigma fashion the cooks have not missed a beat to provide consistent tasty luscious hot food. The wait staff is usually very smiley and low key. Round tables with the rotating lazy susan center seats large families, and the square glass topped tables can seat 4. Don't be fooled by the scenery, if you're into good food at a terrific value. Menus for the specials are still hand written in marker. They recently renovated so the menus have been reprinted.  Most rice plates are under $5. Family style entrees go to $6.50 to 8 range from all forms of meat and seafood.
The house wonton special is so good it harkens back to Tong kee days, a once famous won ton place where old timers plied two hand kung fu to won ton bowls. We also enjoy the rock cod fillet with black bean or eggplant rice plates. So if you're near Broadway and don't have a clue, come try the best food in Chinatown and forget the long lines at House of Nanking.