Bernal Author Emily Chang Tackles Silicon Valley’s Boys Club

February 15, 2018February 15, 2018 / Todd_Lappin / 8 Comments

If you keep up with the literary reviews in publications like the New York Times, the Financial Times, or the San Francisco Chronicle, you’ve probably noticed that Emily Chang’s new book Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys Club of Silicon Valley has been getting a lot of attention lately.

Brotopia examines the male-dominated workplaces of the technology industry and looks at how gender-based discrimination and sexism have become part of the culture of Silicon Valley. As technology plays an increasingly central role in our lives, the status of women in tech has become an important topic. As the New York Times put it, “This is more than a work force issue, and “Brotopia” is more than a business book.”

Brotopia has generated a lot of buzz, so we were pleased (but not at all surprised) to learn that Emily Chang is also a resident of Bernal Heights.

Neighbor Emily tells Bernalwood:

I started writing Brotopia two years ago, long before Trump and #metoo and had no idea this issue would explode in the public consciousness just as I was about to publish. I have been covering Silicon Valley for eight years on Bloomberg TV and, while tech has changed our lives in so many wondrous ways, I was perplexed by the staggering underrepresentation of women across this supposedly progressive industry. Women account for 25% of computing jobs, 7% of investors, and women-led companies only get 2% of funding.

As I began researching the topic, I discovered a lot that surprised me about how and why this happened. In fact, women were well-represented in tech’s early days and programmed computers for the military and NASA (think Hidden Figures, but industry-wide) and then, for various reasons — which you’ll have to read in the book! — they got pushed and profiled out. The book examines how and why women have been left out of the biggest wealth creation in the history of the world, why it matters and what we can do about it. It includes over 300 interviews with everyone from Sheryl Sandberg to Tim Cook and engineers at companies like Facebook, Google and Uber.

I spent many afternoons typing away at Progressive Grounds (chai tea latte and turkey/sundried tomato sandwich please!) and holing up in our Bernal bedroom listening to my three sons wreak havoc downstairs while my incredibly supportive husband tried to keep the peace. It wasn’t an easy endeavor — talking about sexism is kind of like walking the third rail — but I hope this book starts a meaningful conversation.

This is an industry that is controlling what we see and read, how we shop and communicate, making our children’s video games and social media. It’s not just tech’s problem, but everyone’s problem and I fully believe the people who changed the world can change this too.

See the Film Adaptation of Neighbor Clane Hayward’s Childhood Memoir

September 20, 2017 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

Still from Lane 1974, a film adaptation of Neighbor Clane’s memoir.

Neighbor Clane Hayward is a Bernal resident on Gates Street who wrote a memoir called “The Hypocrisy of Disco.” The book chronicles her chaotic childhood spent growing up with hippie parents while shuffling between communes in Northern California.

Neighbor Clane’s book was recently adapted into a film called Lane 1974, and the film will premiere on October 9 at the Alamo Drafthouse on Mission Street as part of the 2017 Litquake Festival.

Neighbor Clane told Bernalwood what it was like to have her book transformed into a film:

Seeing The Hypocrisy of Disco adapted for film and then becoming a whole new story as Lane 1974 has been SUCH a trip.

When SJ Chiro, the director, first got in touch with me, I told her that I always saw the book as a film. In my mind, the first page, in which a group of feral hippie kids jump off a porch, was set in slow motion like in Goodfellas.

To see it now in film after SJ put years of work into it, as an entirely new story, is — I can’t even find the right words — stellar. The stories are different. They’re both dark and visceral. The movie has its own pacing and the book has its own unique vernacular.

But where the book is a tale of a disintegrating center, the movie is the story of a girl who is forced to become her own center. The young actress, Sophia Mitri Schloss, is brilliant, speaking volumes with her face alone.

The best part about the movie is how truly good it is, despite being made with baling wire, luck, chewing gum, donations, and fervent prayers. The best part about my book is that it’s available at our Bernal branch library!

Alas, the debut screening for Lane 1974, at 7 pm on Oct. 9 is already sold out.. But you can still buy tickets for the 10 pm screening, right here. That’s also expected to sell out, so you’re advised to hurry. Hurry!

Bonus! Here’s the trailer for the film:

Thursday: Bernal Author Beth Reichmuth Reads at Pinhole

June 14, 2017June 14, 2017 / Todd_Lappin

You may recall that a few weeks ago, Bernalwood told you about Bernal Neighbor Beth Reichmuth, and her new book called I’m Jay, Let’s Play.

As you may also recall, I’m Jay, Let’s Play is a gender-fluid children’s book that models gender fluidity as a normal and delightful part of the lives of young children.

Now, on Thursday, June 15 from 4-5 pm, Neighbor Beth will do a reading from her book at the fabulous Pinhole Coffee (231 Cortland). Copies of I’m Jay, Let’s Play will be available for purchase at a discounted price of $15.

JoEllen Depakakibo, the much-appreciated proprietor of Pinhole Coffee, tells Bernalwood:

Pinhole Coffee is hosting an author reading of I’m Jay, Let’s Play by Beth Reichmuth this Thursday, June 15th 4p – 5p.

In addition, the weekend of June 17-18 and 24-25, Pinhole Coffee will be donating 100% of their revenue to LYRIC and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career trainings, health promotion, and leadership development with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities.

The National Center for Transgender Equality is a national social justice organization devoted to ending discrimination and violence against transgender people through education and advocacy on national issues of importance to transgender people.

PHOTO: Bernal author Beth Reichmuth, in situ at Pinhole Coffee, courtesy of Pinhole Coffee.

Sunday: Bernal Author Kelsey Crowe Reads at Heartfelt &

May 26, 2017May 26, 2017 / Todd_Lappin

This Sunday, May 28 at 5 pm, Miss Darcy Lee from the fabulous Heartfelt & store on Cortland (at Bennington) will host Bernal neighbor and author Kelsey Crowe for a literary event.

Neighbor Darcy says:

Bernal author Kelsey Crowe will be reading excerpts from her book “There Is No Good Card For This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love.”

I will host a question and answer session.

This event will be held on Sunday May 28th, 5:00 pm at Heartfelt &, 409 Cortland Avenue.

Please come early, as space is limited.

PHOTO: Top, Bernal neighbor Kelsey Crowe with her new book

Bernal Author Publishing Gender-Fluid Book for Children

April 13, 2017 / Todd_Lappin / 8 Comments

In June Bernal Neighbor Beth Reichmuth will release a gender-fluid children’s book she wrote, called I’m Jay, Let’s Play. Neighbor Beth tells Bernalwood:

The story itself is sweet, playful, and engaging to young children. The narrator, Jay, loves playing in the kitchen, driving dump trucks, twirling in skirts, and crashing tall towers. When a friend, Casey, notices Jay’s sparkly skirt with excitement, Jay surprises Casey by pulling an identical skirt out of their backpack to share. All of the children are then inspired to visit the dress up corner and have a party together.

I originally began writing I’m Jay, Let’s Play two years ago, when there were a couple of boys in my class that really liked wearing skirts and dresses, and the only books I could find that reflected them also addressed the teasing and bullying that, unfortunately, often happens in response. I wanted a book in my preschool classroom that simply showed that we should all get to wear the clothes that help us feel good– and one that modeled to all children a kinder (and more fun!) way to respond. Illustrator Nomy Lamm painted dynamic and energetic characters of varying skin tones and abilities playing together.

On June 3rd, I’ll be hosting a Book Launch and LGBT Family Pride Party at local San Francisco preschool, The Little School. Come hear a reading and celebrate with us! All are welcome and it would be great to see my Bernal neighbors there. Find more event info and reserve your free ticket here.

I’m Jay, Let’s Play will be available in June through local bookstores and on Amazon. To learn more, please visit ImJayLetsPlay.com .

PHOTO: Neighbor Beth Reichmuth

Wednesday: Celebrate Bernal Neighbor Kelsey Crowe’s New Book

January 17, 2017January 17, 2017 / Todd_Lappin

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Neighbor Kelsey Crowe from Anderson Street has a new book out today, and it’s very timely. Neighbor Mike, her husband, invites all Bernalese to the book party tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Books Inc.:

My wife and Bernal resident Kelsey Crowe’s event next week for her new book There Is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love.

Here’s the book summary:

Written in a how-to, relatable, we’ve-all- been-there style, There Is No Good Card for This isn’t a spiritual treatise on how to make you a better person or a scientific argument about why compassion matters. Crowe and McDowell have created an essential illustrated guide to active compassion that takes you, step by step by step, past the paralysis of thinking about someone in a difficult time to actually doing something (or nothing) with good judgment instead of fear.

Kelsey will be at Books Inc Opera Plaza (601 Van Ness Ave.) on Wednesday evening, Jan 18 for a reading and Q&A — it should be a really nice event and all are very welcome!!

PHOTO: Courtesy of Neighbor Mike

Tuesday: Rockstar Artist Michael Gillette Talks About Making Art for Rockstars

July 11, 2016July 11, 2016 / Todd_Lappin

stereo.GILLETTE

Last autumn, Bernalwood told you about Drawn in Stereo, the new book by Bernal neighbor Michael Gillette which showcases his remarkable work as an artist and animator. This Tuesday, July 12 at 7pm, you can meet Neighbor Michael in person as he talks about his book at the Bernal Heights library.

Neighbor Michael says:

Hello Bernal and beyond!

I am giving a talk on my book, Drawn in Stereo at the Bernal Heights Library on Tuesday 12th of July @ 7pm.

The book is a retrospective focusing on my music-related illustrations, graphics, animations, and paintings from the last 25 years.

I will be discussing projects for the likes of: The Beastie Boys, Beck, My Morning Jacket, MGMT, James Bond, and Paul McCartney, in the context of life as an independent artist, based initially in Britain, but in Bernal for the last twelve years.

All are welcome, and the curious can check out the book here.

IMAGE: Courtesy of Michael Gilette

New Book Celebrates the Visual Career of Neighbor Michael Gillette

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 / Todd_Lappin

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When we last heard from Bernal neighbor Michael Gillette, he had just completed a trippy new video for My Morning Jacket that showcased his formidable skills as an artist and animator. At the time, however Bernalwood hadn’t realized that Neighbor Michael’s output is so extensive, so amazingly creative, and so closely tied to the music industry.

Now Neighbor Michael the focus of a gorgeous new book called Drawn in Stereo that’s a visual greatest-hits collection of his work:

Filled with selections from his entire career, Drawn in Stereo shares an eclectic display of artistic approaches, including gallery shows, sketchbooks, music video animation stills, and magazine contributions for the likes of; Spin, MOJO, Q, & the New Yorker.

Projects showcased include work for the Beastie Boys, Paul McCartney, MGMT, & Beck—among many others— Drawn in Stereo highlights Gillette’s ability to channel music into compelling visual art.

Featuring a foreword by Fred Deakin and an interview by Elastica’s Justine Frischmann, Drawn in Stereo reveals an inspired life, ranging from Britpop London and rooming with the Aphex Twin, to fifteen years of creativity in San Francisco.

In a message to Bernalwood, Neighbor Michael also shared these local notes:

About half of my career has been spent on Lundys, and I’d guess about 90% of the work in the book was made here.

The book is a big deal for me as it gathers together work I’ve created over the the last 25 years. The focus is on music, as this has been a constant inspiration, and I’ve made a lot of imagery in service of that industry for folks such as Beck & The Beastie Boys to Paul McCartney and My Morning Jacket.

Also, a historical footnote: As a kid I loved Rick Griffin, and his work really helped set the course of my life. I found out not long ago, his purple patch designing Fillmore posters and the like took place on Elsie Street!

So much gorgeousness. Want a copy of Neighbor Michael’s sexxxy new book — for you, or for that special locavore on Santa’s list? Get it right here.

Fabulous Bernal Editor Creating Cookbook to Feed Your People

September 24, 2015September 23, 2015 / Todd_Lappin

Scientific fun-fact: Food tastes better when you enjoy it with other people. The reverse is true too: Sharing food is a great way to get know people in a way that makes you care more about them.

With those profound truths in mind, Bernal Neighbor and editor Leslie Jonath has a crowdfunding campaign underway to publish Feed Your People, a cookbook that will celebrate yummy food as a way to create stronger community.

(ROMANTIC DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: Neighbor Leslie is also my sweetie, and she’s asleep in bed upstairs as I write this now. Shhhhhh.)

Neighbor Leslie writes:

Feed Your People is a community-based cookbook with recipes for crowd-pleasing big batch cooking from warm-hearted cooks, chefs, community organizations, and grandmas for the foods we gather around — from backyard barbecues and soup suppers to hand-wrapped tamales, dumpling dinners, and seafood boils. Whether for a family reunion, a DIY wedding, holidays, memorials, non-profit fundraisers or a neighborhood block party, this book will inspire you and make cooking for your community a delicious, affordable, fun, memorable feast.

Despite the popularity of supper clubs, pop-up dinners, block parties, bake sales, and community dinners, there are very few books featuring recipes that scale for a crowd. Feed Your People will be co-authored with 18 Reasons, a beloved San Francisco based non-profit whose mission is to “empower our community with confidence and creativity to buy, cook, and eat good food every day” and published by Powerhouse Books.

If bringing great people together with great food sounds like your kind of thing, backing Neighbor Leslie’s campaign is just like pre-ordering a copy of the book — with the advance knowledge that the book will simply have with a loooooooooong delivery time.

Leslie explains what her book is all about in the video below, and you can contribute to Feed Your People here.

Celebrate the Book Neighbor Anita Wrote and Illustrated, “The Magical World of Abra”

September 11, 2015September 11, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Neighbor Anita Ellis wrote and illustrated a new book, called “The Magical World of Abra.” It was a ton of work, so now she wants to celebrate, with a big book release party and art show on Saturday night.

Neighbor Anita provides the rest of the details:

My name is Anita and I ‘m having a book release party. I’ve lived in Bernal Heights for 20 years.

The title of the book is called “The Magical World of Abra” and the book release party is Saturday, September 12 at Code and Canvas Gallery (151 Potero Ave.) from 6-9pm. There will be a children’s book reading at 6:30, live music, food and cocktails.

The backstory: My friend and co-worker at The Wild Side West in Bernal Heights had a story she wanted me to illustrate. And I should really thank her, or this project would have never happened. Her story was based on a little girl who was a collector/hoarder who took things she found home with her until her room is completely cluttered.

I have taken every painting and illustration class offered at city college and have been doing art since I was a little kid so I figured that it would be fun, and I was up for the challenge. I had done a handful of illustrations for her but she did not really seem to like the images I created, and I was not really following what she had in mind.

Friends encouraged me to work on it on my own when they saw the artwork I had done. So instead of writing about a hoarder, I decided to write about a little girl named Abra who sees the beauty of everyday objects and life. Hence the title, “The Magical World of Abra.”

I’ve probably spent over 10,000 hours on the illustrations, hand-written text, book-binding, art classes and the story created. I met Attaboy who is an amazing artist and one of the founders of Hi-Fructose magazine. One of the things he said that stood out to me was that you are what you do. Don’t do whatever it is you love half-ass; do it times 1000. Get into it, surpass your own and everyone else’s expectations. That is when you will know you are doing it right.

The message of the story is one for adults and children and we need to be kept aware of it daily: Look around you, there is beauty everywhere and so many things are working in our favor. There is always something special and magical there, even if it’s the darkest of clouds above you. Suck it up, inhale it and live it because one day you will not be here to enjoy it.

ILLUSTRATION: Courtesy of Neighbor Anita Ellis

Tonight: Celebrate the Amazing New Bikes-to-Books Map Created by Rebel Separatist Burrito Justice

March 18, 2015March 18, 2015 / Todd_Lappin

All these years of fomenting insurrection and geopolitical intrigue among the La Lenguan peoples have enabled rebel propagandist Burrito Justice to develop some very formidable cartographic skills. Yet sometimes, he uses those skills to support worthy causes.

In the latest case, Burrito Justice has created a rather gorgeous bike-touring map of San Francisco’s literary history, and there’s a party tonight, March 18, at the fashionable Bender’s Bar in The Mission to celebrate its publication:

Bikes to Books Beer Social and POSTER RELEASE party!

Wednesday, March 18, 7-9 pm
Benders Bar and Grill
806 S. Van Ness, SF

Join Nicole Gluckstern and Burrito Justice, the creators of literary bicycle tour “Bikes to Books,” for our annual beer social where we’ll be unveiling our latest iteration—an expanded poster version of the Bikes to Books map now with more authors, more historical context, and more nifty visuals. We’ll be talking up our collaborative mapping project and tour and fielding questions while enjoying some tasty adult beverages at our fave neighborhood watering hole, in the first of a series of “Bikes to Books” events planned for 2015.

Combining San Francisco history, art, literature, cycling, and urban exploration, “Bikes to Books” began as an bike ride homage to the 1988 street-naming project spearheaded by City Lights founder and former San Francisco Poet Laureate, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, in which twelve San Francisco streets were renamed for famous artists and authors who had once made San Francisco their home. First published in The San Francisco Bay Guardian and then in October 2013, with the generous assistance of City Lights Books, the physical map has been available ever since in many of San Francisco’s finest book emporiums, and is appropriate for use as a navigational tool, a history lesson, and a unique work of art in its own right.

ALSO: 7×7 just published a celebrity interview with Burrito Justice, which you can read right here. An excerpt:

Quick-fire round:

(7×7): Precita Park or Bernal Hill?

(Burrito Justice): Bernal

Bike or MUNI?

Muni. (OMG do I have Stockholm syndrome?)

Capp or Bartlett?

Capp. Tough love but Capp

Three words that describe SF to you:

Plus ça change.

IMAGE: Burrito Justice

Bernal Literary Celeb Jandy Nelson Wins Fabulous 2015 Printz Medal

February 11, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 4 Comments

Bernal Heights is thick with literary celebrities. You pretty much can’t throw a rock on our little rock without hitting someone who’s written a few brilliant books, or gotten some rave reviews, or won a closet full of writerly prizes. Because that’s the kind of glamorous we are.

So here’s a hot celebrity tip: The newest, most glamorous Bernal Heights literary superstar is Bernal neighbor Jandy Nelson.

Neighbor Jandy’s acclaimed young-adult novel, “I’ll Give You the Sun,” just won the Michael L. Printz Award, which “honors the best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit.”

Publisher’s Weekly (!!) describes the awesome tale of how she learned about the accolade:

Jandy Nelson had to keep a very big secret – for two whole days. Last Saturday she found out she’d won the Michael L. Printz Award for her second novel, I’ll Give You the Sun, but the announcements were not being made until Monday. “I was so taken by surprise when they called,” Nelson said, reached by phone at her home in San Francisco. “They must have thought they were giving the award to a raving lunatic. I remember hearing it was the Printz Committee, and then I started screaming. I remember they were all clapping, and that made me burst into tears. They said a lot of nice things about my book, and I screamed some more. It was one of the happiest, most exciting moments of my life.”

I’ll Give You the Sun is told through the alternating perspectives of twins Noah and Jude, which thread their way to the event that drove the once-close siblings apart. The author says the book took her three and a half years to complete. “It was very much like writing three novels in total,” she said. “I wrote Noah’s story start to finish, and I locked the file [that contained] Jude’s story. Then I wrote Jude’s story start to finish. I didn’t want their voices to blend. And I wanted each story to have its own propulsion so it would work when I combined them. Then the last year I spent interweaving their stories, and working on the book as a whole.”

Citizens of Bernalwood, you know the drill: If you see Neighbor Jandy in the ‘hood, please give her some robust congrats and make sure she gets a big high-five.

Sunday: World’s Most Awesome Book Editor and Producer Explains How the Magic Happens

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

There comes a moment in every neighborhood blog editor’s career when he must embrace life’s conflicts of interest, face up to reality, and toss any pretense of objectivity aside like some sort of useless, depleted husk.

For your Bernalwood editor, that moment is right now…

Neighbor Leslie Jonath lives on Precita Avenue. She is a very talented book editor, producer, and packager who specializes in creating highly visual coffee table- and gift-style books that are both fun to read and gorgeous to look at.

In addition, she is your Bernalwood editor’s sweetie. In fact, we live together. In fact, we sleep together, and do the full gamut of life-partner activities together. In fact, as your Bernalwood editor writes this now, at 11:16 pm on Thursday night, he can even confirm — EXCLUSIVE SCOOP! — that Neighbor Leslie is downstairs at this very moment, watching her favorite legal-procedural drama on TV.

So, with all that fully and properly disclosed, Bernalwood is extremely proud to tell you that Neighbor Leslie will be giving a little talk at the Heartfelt Pop-Up Store at 301 Cortland on Sunday, November 16 at 4 pm to reveal how you go about creating beautiful coffee table-style books, and why (somewhat counter-intuitively) these kinds of books are now more popular than ever.

Neighbor Darcy Lee from Heartfelt says:

We are thrilled to announce that local author Leslie Jonath will be schooling us all on how to create a book, at Heartfelt’s newly curated Pop-Up location.

If you haven’t already heard Leslie’s the real deal!

Here’s a little more about her:

Leslie Jonath has been producing cookbooks, art books and kid’s books for over 20 years. Some of her favorite projects include The Pleasures of Slow Food, Miette, The Model Bakery Cookbook, Arts for the City, Postmark Paris, and The Dictionary of Extraordinary Ordinary Animals. Bee & Me, a book she co-wrote under the pen name, Elle j. McGuinness, sold over 150,000 copies. and was on both the New York Times best-seller list.

Before launching her book packaging company, Connected Dots Media, she was a creative director and editor at Chronicle Books for 18 years. Upcoming titles include three books on floral design, two cookbooks, and an inspirational journal called Give Yourself a Gold Star: Celebrating Life’s Little Achievements.

Yummy surprise refreshments will be served!

PHOTO: Neighbor Leslie Jonath in Paris, by a totally biased Bernalwood editor