HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Here’s what people have been writing about, as well as what people have been writing about us, for February/March 2013:

E.B. Boyd looks at Nextdoor, a new social network that connects you with your neighbors. http://w.sanfranmag.com/san-francisco/story/defend-your-startup-nextdoor

Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman on some surprising differences between how men and women approach competition:  http://www.salon.com/2013/02/17/why_are_men_so_foolish/

Chris Colin tells the unlikely story of a tiny cattle town, settled in part by family, in the current issue of Afar: http://www.afar.com/magazine/a-lone-star-story

Christopher Cook explores the economics of San Francisco’s minimum wage in The Public Press: http://www.sfpublicpress.org

Mark Decena’s short film, “Where We Live” premieres in the nation’s capital at the DC Environmental Film Festival:

http://dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org/films/show/977

Laura Fraser on Patagonia, Writer-in-Residence, Victoria magazine: March/April issue on the stands.

Alastair Gee on the drones taking to American skies in The Economist: http://econ.st/Xbjbmx

Alexandra Kostoulas’s short story, “Kalavrita: A Lament in Five Parts” appears in Œ¶œâŒΩŒ≠œÇ or Voices of Hellenism Anthology:  http://www.voicesofhellenism.org/current-issue.html

Jessica C. Kraft proposes using your brain’s natural patterns to change negative behaviors and create healthy new ones in Esperanza Magazine: http://www.hopetocope.com/Item.aspx/939/making-breaking-habits

Ethel Rohan reviews Stephanie LaCava’s intriguing memoir at Black Warrior Review: http://bwr.ua.edu/?p=987

Julia Flynn Siler profiles the designer behind the iconic wine labels of Harlan Estate, Opus One, and Domaine Chandon for the Wall Street Journal: http://www.juliaflynnsiler.com/articles

Lavinia Spalding explores the benefits of a primarily plant-based diet in the March issue of Yoga Journal, online and on newsstands now: http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/3196

Bonnie Tsui looks at what turns Crip gang-leaders and Hamas freedom fighters to non-violence, and what can come of it:

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2013/02/what-ex-gang-members-and-former-political-extremists-have-common/4681/

Ethan Watters on the strangeness of the western mind in Pacific Standard Magazine:

http://www.psmag.com/magazines/pacific-standard-cover-story/joe-henrich-weird-ultimatum-game-shaking-up-psychology-economics-53135/

DON’T MISS READINGS FOR PO’S NEW BOOK AT BERKELEY ARTS & LECTURES AND BOOK PASSAGE

Grotto co-founder Po Bronson’s newest book is on fire! Copies of “Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing” are selling out at bookstores, excerpts from the book are appearing everywhere, and Po and his co-author Ashley Merryman are in the midst of a tour of readings booked all over the country.

Just in case you missed Po’s reading and talk about his new book at the Commonwealth Club last week, he has two more literary evenings coming up in the Bay Area in the next couple of weeks.  The first is at Berkeley Arts & Lectures, on March 7, at 7:30; the second is at Book Passage in Corta Madera, on March 13, 7 p.m.   More details on these events as well as other local presentations can be found on Po’s blog at http://topdogbook.com/

CHECK OUT ETHAN’S LATEST – THE FEATURED COVER STORY FOR THE PACIFIC STANDARD

Don’t miss Grotto co-founder Ethan Watter’s latest, a fantastic featured cover story for the Pacific Standard. As one commenter remarked, “Outstanding perspective on a sensitive subject. I have long thought that focusing on an insistence on commonality between race because of guilt for colonial history was missing the point that there are cultural differences which do influence behavior. Now we have a valid framework to examine how cultural differences can collide and, through a proper examination of cultural difference, to begin to resolve problems that we have not had any mental equipment to figure out solutions to. These are groundbreaking ideas with so much promise to help us understand our divided world better.” (Jeremy Slawson) As Ethan notes, “It’s about how strange the western mind is.”  Read more about it here: http://www.psmag.com/magazines/pacific-standard-cover-story/joe-henrich-weird-ultimatum-game-shaking-up-psychology-economics-53135/

SPRING WRITING CLASSES – HOT OFF THE PRESSES!

We have just (and we mean just) finished uploading our brand-spanking new selection of spring writing classes – all taught at our fabulous workspace in South Park. Lots of cool stuff – whether you’re looking to finally start that novel, want to dabble in flash fiction, work on memoir, or begin a nonfiction book. We’ve even got a couple of classes on just getting words on the page.

Our spring session officially opens on Sunday, April 14. But we advise you visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster, look over our classes, and sign up now. Grotto classes fill fast.

Just check out what they say about us on Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/san-francisco-writers-grotto-classes-san-francisco

HE WRITES AND HE SINGS! HELP CHRIS COLIN’S BAND WIN UPCOMING BATTLE OF THE BANDS ON MARCH 14!

Your life — something’s missing, right? Come solve all your problems on Thurs., March 14, as Baby & the Luvies compete to win the Haight Ashbury Street Fair Battle of the Bands. If they get the most and loudest support that night at the Milk Bar (1840 Haight St), they get to play at the actual Haight St Fair this summer. Stupid system? Totally! Is 11pm awfully late to hear a nine-piece soul band? Yes! Come on out. Big fun show. Chris will buy the loudest cheerer the drink of his or her choice.

http://www.facebook.com/events/316015605187104/

SHE WRITES AND SHE SINGS, TOO! DON’T MISS ZOE AT CAFE LEILA ON MARCH 30TH

Grottozian Zoe FitzGerald Carter will be performing original songs (and some covers) at Cafe Leila in Berkeley from 7:00 to 10:00 on March 30th with her new band, Do Wrong Right.

Cafe Leila’s web address: http://cafeleila.com

STILL A FEW SPOTS IN LAURA’S WRITING ADVENTURE IN UMBRIA, ITALY

La bella vita: There is still room in Grottoite Laura Fraser’s writing workshop and culinary adventure in Umbria, Italy, May 4-11. Special discount if you are share a room with a friend or two. Intimate setting, fabulous meals, cooking classes, 16th-century villa in the rolling countryside for hikes. http://www.eat-write-travel.com/umbria.html

LAST CHANCE FOR A BED ON THE BEACH: MOKULE’IA WRITERS RETREAT APRIL 7-12

Dream new narratives as the waves lull you to sleep. Write stories you didn’t know were in you, under the gentle guidance of Laura Fraser. Craft your pieces with the tips shared by University of Hawai‘i poet Steven Goldsberry. Let Connie Hale help you invent new structures for your stories. Listen to Puakea Nogelmeier recite poems in the Hawaiian language, and translate them into beautiful English. Travel back in time with musician Aaron Mahi, who shares legends about O‘ahu’s North Shore. All this plus meals, yoga, a remote beach, sea turtles, hikes to sacred sites, and the fellowship of other professional writers. April 7-12, 2013. $500-1000, all inclusive. Read the write-up in the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/alohafriday/article/Hawaii-camps-for-creativity-Island-settings-4298461.php

More information at http://www.campmokuleia.com/specialevents.html Be there. Aloha.

SAVE THE DATE FOR REGRETURATURE III – APRIL 25!

Everybody has to start somewhere – this is what happens when good writers start bad. Join us as we sheepishly read work that probably should never see the light of day, all for a good cause.

Thursday, April 25. 8 pm at the Swedish American Hall in SF. More embarrassing details to come…..

http://www.facebook.com/events/404300406311628/

And in case you missed it last year, here’s some shots capturing just how much fun it was last year‚Ķ
(shot of course, by the fabulous Chris Hardy)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lit-quake/sets/72157629452023856/

JULIA TALKS ABOUT “A THOUSAND LIVES” ON ON BAY SUNDAY AND GETS A GLOWING REVIEW IN SALON FOR “JESUS LAND”

Grotto dweller Julia Scheeres was interviewed on Bay Sunday about  A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Jonestown, which was recently released in paperback,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdSnGp7C4O4&list=UU_q32MIuxh3rjawg5iHteCQ, and Salon published a glowing review of the new audio book for her memoir, Jesus Land: http://www.salon.com/2013/02/14/losing_her_religion.

LOOK OUT FOR THE NEWEST FROM CHRIS IN THE SF PUBLIC PRESS AND THE PROGRESSIVE

Grottoite Christopher Cook has pieces coming out soon in the San Francisco Public Press and The Progressive. Meanwhile, he’s building up his communications consultancy, Progressive Message and taking on new clients. He’s currently helping Food First with its communications. Chris is getting promising praise for his new road memoir, Postcards for Kerouac, and is seeking the right agent or publisher for it (any tips welcome!). Chris is also now working as a professional tutor, and welcomes more clients. If you (or your kid) need help with writing, editing, proofreading or coaching, get in touch with him through his website, http://www.christopherdcook.com/

JD AWARDED THE JOHN H. HAUBERG FELLOWSHIP, LAUNCHES A NEW ARTS COMMISSION BOOK, AND MORE

Grottozian JD Beltran was just awarded the prestigious John H. Hauberg Fellowship for a studio residency at the internationally renowned glass arts Pilchuck School, north of Seattle. Initiated in 2001 to honor Pilchuck founder John H. Hauberg, the Fellowship brings established professional artists to collaborate, experiment, and create a professional body of work during two weeks in the spring. During the first half of May, JD will create new work combining film and video imagery with glass, and collaborate in projects with fellow residents. All of the fellows subsequently will exhibit the work in a show in San Francisco in the Fall. More information on the Hauberg Fellowship is here: http://pilchuck.com/residencies/hauberg_v2013.aspx

JD also has just been selected to be the curator of the Public Art Master Plan for the Yerba Buena Community Benefits District. She will be responsible for the selection of major permanent and temporary artworks for the Yerba Buena District, affecting the permanent city landscape in the main arts and museum district of the city of San Francisco.

In April 2013, the San Francisco Arts Commission will launch their new book publication “Arts for the City: Civic Art and Urban Change, 1932-2012,” by HeyDay Press (Berkeley 2013). JD Beltran co-authored the Foreword and authored the Postscript for the book, and as Interim Director and subsequently, President of the San Francisco Arts Commission, curated the featured photographers and co-edited and co-produced the book. See more about the book here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16670272-san-francisco

JD and collaborator Scott Minneman will launch their latest project, the Cinema Snowglobe, at the opening of the new Exploratorium on April 17th. This project also will be featured at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art during its closing weekend on June 1-2, 2013. Listen to an audio interview by The Kitchen Sisters about the making of the Cinema Snowglobe that was featured on KQED/NPR: http://blogs.kqed.org/makingof/stories/the-cinema-snowglobe/

More on recent news and information on JD’s work is at http://jdbeltran.com/news/news.html

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JD’s Art Picks for March 2013

FIRE SALE AT JAKUB CALUSEQUE’S OAKLAND STUDIO

Jakub Calouseque, the artist who did the fantastic mural at the Grotto and two paintings in Laura Fraser’s office, is having a kind of fire sale at his Oakland studio. Don’t miss it if you want to snag one of his fabulous pieces of art at a stupid price. March 16 and 17 – Saturday and Sunday Jakub‚Äôs open studio and Oakland Film Center Liquidation sale with 30 studios closing and disposing unwanted inventories. Come and join the fun that will culminate with John Behrens electrifying performance with Tesla coil arcing (Saturday at 6 PM only). More info at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oakland-Film-Center-Liquidation-Sale/513075368711455
or http://www.facebook.com/events/427639553981394/

GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING AT THE DEYOUNG MUSEUM

Don’t miss a rare showing of one of the most beloved paintings in the world. “The heavily anticipated “Girl With a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings From the Mauritshuis,” which opens Saturday at the de Young Museum, does not disappoint. It will remind visitors how great artworks can unstring our sense of time.” (Kenneth Baker) An intimate show that’s sure to be popular, you should get your tickets soon! Through June 2. De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, S.F. (415) 750-3600. http://www.deyoungmuseum.org.

“ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24 EXTENDED

“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space. “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity. By advance appointment only. More information at http://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

Guilty Pleasures: The Asian candy selection (and selection of Asian groceries in general) at Manila Oriental Market in the Excelsior District; the garlic shrimp plate and the chorizo tostada at La Corneta, some of the best Mexican food in the Mission; a heavenly slice of Meyer lemon pie at Mission Pie; and gawking at the woman who with plastic surgery turned herself into Barbie at http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/04/23/the-real-life-ukrainian-barbie-doll/;

A good half of the art of living is resilience.

Alain de Botton

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Here’s what people have been writing about, as well as what people have been writing about us, for January/February 2013:

Elizabeth Bernstein has a strange little story in Tin House online: http://www.tinhouse.com/blog/21575/the-bear.html

Monica Campbell profiles San Francisco’s new archbishop, aka the “Godfather of Proposition 8.” http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/the-archbishop-of-no

Christopher Cook reviews new food book in The Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Foodopoly-by-Wenonah-Hauter-4158193.php

Laura Fraser on the kindness of strangers while traveling, Writer-in-Residence, Victoria magazine: Jan/Feb issue on the newsstands.

Vanessa Hua’s excerpt from her novel set during the Cultural Revolution, B O D Y Literature:

http://bodyliterature.com/2013/01/08/vanessa-hua/

Lee Daniel Kravetz considers Lance Armstrong and the trappings of hero worship in Psychology Today:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/supersurvivors/201301/zero-worship-did-surviving-cancer-make-armstrong-hero

Mac McClelland explores how PTSD can be contagious in the latest issue of Mother Jones: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/01/ptsd-epidemic-military-vets-families

Peter Orner confesses in the New York Times: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/writing-about-what-haunts-us/

Caroline Paul advises on when to use email, skype, text, or even the phone: http://techpageone.com/uncategorized/contemplating-friday-communication-101/#.UQaus45Gp_A

At New York Journal of Books, Ethel Rohan reviews Martha Long’s memoir: http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/ma-he-sold-me-few-cigarettes-memoir-dublin-1950s

Julia Flynn Siler profiles third-generation beekeeper Hector Alvarez for the Wall Street Journal: www.juliaflynnsiler.com/articles/

Bonnie Tsui finds solace in surfing after a life-altering event, in an essay for the February issue of O the Oprah Magazine.

Ethan Watters on exporting depression to Japan: http://www.madinamerica.com/2013/01/exporting-depression/

JD Beltran and collaborator Scott Minneman’s Cinema Snowglobe project at the Workshop Residence was featured in the January issue of Sunset Magazine.

Louise Nayer writes about a superman vet saving her pooch, Penny, in the San Francisco Chronicle in Pet Tales:  http://www.sfgate.com/pets/pettales/article/Superman-vet-saves-Penny-with-surgery-4160041.php

PO’S NEWEST – TOP DOG:  THE SCIENCE OF WINNING AND LOSING – DEBUTS THIS MONTH!

Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing, the new book from Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, hits stores Feb 19th. Look for an adapted excerpt in the Sunday New York Times Magazine on February 10th. Integrating wisdom from politics, the arts, genetics, military training, sports, economics, and education, Top Dog offers counterintuitive insights into the nature of competition. Po’s tour starts on the East Coast; his first event in the Bay Area is on Thursday Feb 28th at the Commonwealth Club’s SF location.

For more information on Top Dog, see http://topdogbook.com/

Details about the Commonwealth Club’s SF event are at:

http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2013-02-28/po-bronson-science-winning-and-losing

STILL A FEW SPOTS IN LAURA’S WRITING ADVENTURE IN UMBRIA, ITALY

La bella vita: There is still room in Laura Fraser’s writing workshop and culinary adventure in Umbria, Italy, May 4-11. Special discount if you are share a room with a friend or two. Intimate setting, fabulous meals, cooking classes, 16th-century villa in the rolling countryside for hikes. http://www.eat-write-travel.com/umbria.html

THERE’S STILL TIME TO CATCH MID-WINTER WRITING CLASSES AT THE GROTTO

If you hurry, you can catch these mid-winter classes – The First 10 Pages (Nonfiction) and Writing and Publishing the Travel Essay – both beginning Feb. 7.

Later in the month, join us for 642 Things to Write About: How to Jumpstart Your Writing and Truth, Likes & Storytelling: A Users Guide to Memoir. Also Flash Fiction: Little Stories with a Big Kick.

And don’t forget our mid-winter one-day workshops: The Art of the Profile and How to Write a Nonfiction Book Proposal, Short Story Bootcamp. Also How to Get an Agent – taught by a NY agent.

For full class descriptions and information on how to register, visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster

To subscribe to Grotto Class Notes, our monthly e-newsletter which includes the latest class listings plus writing tips from our teachers, visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/contact

MAC, LAVINIA AND PETER READ ALONG WITH MARY ROACH AT THE KICKOFF OF STORYFARM ON FEBRUARY 9

Join Grottoites Mac McClelland, Peter Orner, and Lavinia Spalding along with NYT best-seller Mary Roach and Tamim Ansary, at the kickoff of StoryFarm, a new literary arts nonprofit in San Francisco.  Saturday, February 9, at Intersection for the Arts. You can buy tickets online here: http://www.storyfarmsf.org or, for $5 extra, at the door.

ZOE ON WRITING MEMOIRS AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WRITERS CONFERENCE

Grottoite Zoe FitzGerald Carter will be talking about the do’s and don’t's of writing memoir on February 15th at the10th annual San Francisco Writers Conference.

https://sfwriters.org

ZAHRA SAVES HER MOM FROM HELL AT A STORYTELLING EVENT IN THE MISSION ON FEBRUARY 24

Grotto dweller Zahra Noorbakhsh tries to save her mother from hell in “Hijab & Hammerpants,” at Solo Sundays – a storytelling event in the Mission. Stage Werx Theater, Feb 24th at 7pm. Zahra@ZahraComedy.comfor tix.

BREADLOAF ON THE BEACH WITH CONNIE IN HAWAII, APRIL 7 – 12

Grottoite Connie Hale is leading a writers retreat on Oahu, joined by Laura Fraser, University of Hawaii Creative Writing instructors, and Native Hawaiian poets, composers, and musicians. Writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays are invited to the 30-acre Camp Mokule‘ia. The high-level program comes at a low-level cost: between $500 and $1000 for six days and five nights on the beach, including lodging, meals, workshops, evening programs, and extra activities like yoga, snorkeling, kayaking, beachcombing, a lu’au, a hike to a sacred rock, and a visit to an ancient Hawaiian temple. Families and companions welcome. Contact connie@sinandsyntax.com for info or if you’d like to contribute in some way. Registration and information: http://campmokuleia.com/specialevents.html

RACHEL’S WRITES ABOUT THE “WE” OF SINGLE MOTHERHOOD IN THE RUMPUS

Rachel Lehmann-Haupt has a piece in the Rumpus called The “We” of Single Motherhood (http://therumpus.net/2012/11/the-we-of-single-motherhood/). The piece is about the conception and birth of her son Alexander in July, 2012, and how surprised she was that her community of friends rallied around her with so much enthusiasm.  She was never quite satisfied with the anti-climatic ending of her 2009 memoir In Her Own Sweet Time: Unexpected Adventures in finding Love, Commitment and Motherhood (Basic Books) This piece is the ending she wishes it had. It’s not a fairytale ending in which she is rescued by a prince husband, but instead she chooses to become a mother independent from a man.  But rather than having a dark lonely experience on her own, she is overjoyed by the intense love and support she receives  from her community of friends and family.

LIT CAMP UPDATE!

When we closed the Lit Camp submission site at midnight on December 31st, we had 205 applications for the 40 opens spots at our April writers conference. Our jury has spent the past month reading, and we’re very impressed with all the fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir that’s been submitted.

We’re still deep in the reading process. We’ll be getting in touch with everyone who submitted by February 11.

CONNIE TACKLES ACADEMESE AT TUFTS

On a very chilly January 30, Connie Hale lead an all-day seminar with professors at grad students at Tufts University, bringing ideas about great writing to the academy. Abstractions we banished included “industry-specific public goods” and “mereological essentialists.” We also focused on how to define readers and speak to them on the page—whether peers, students, or the public. And we explored how every writer should work simultaneously on two parallel tracks: improving the professional writing we must do and building our muscles for writing we dream of doing.

OUR FRIENDS AT 826 VALENCIA ANNOUNCE THE NIGHT WRITER SOCIETY

The good people at 826 Valencia have just launched the Night Writer Society – a group of proud literary arts enthusiasts (and aspiring writers) – who will gather once a month at convivial literary workshops & soirees.

While most of these gatherings will be held on Friday evenings, the inaugural event will be on Tuesday, February 5th at 7:30 with Six Word Memoir Maven Larry Smith.  Tickets are $30, with proceeds going to fund 826′s educations programs. For more info visit http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1767&EID=14115

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT BOOKSMITH ON HAIGHT STREET – SOME MUST-SEE EVENTS

Tuesday, February 7 — Boing Boing’s CORY DOCTOROW delivers the sequel to Little Brother, HOMELAND, co-hosted by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/cory-doctorow-homeland

Wednesday, February 13 — DAVID SHIELDS on How Literature Saved My Life, co-sponsored by The Believer
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/david-shields-how-literature-saved-my-life

Tuesday, February 19 — KRIS SAKNUSSEMM with Sea Monkeys: A Memory Book
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/kris-saknussemm-sea-monkeys-memory-book

Thursday, February 21 — Launch Party for KEVIN SMOKLER’s Practical Classics
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/kevin-smokler-practical-classics-launch-party

Wednesday, February 27 — Launch Party for ANDREW LAM’s Birds of Paradise Lost
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/andrew-lam-birds-paradise-lost-launch-party

Thursday, February 28 — A John Cage Retrospective with Salon97
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/john-cage-retrospective-salon97

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JD’s Art Picks for February 2013

LAST CHANCE FOR “ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24

“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space. “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity. Through February. By advance appointment only. More information at http://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

A WHIMSICAL ART SCAVENGER HUNT FOR NUDES AT THE LEGION OF HONOR

This month, acclaimed scavenger hunt organizers Watson Adventures (as in “Elementary, my dear …”) host a romp through the Legion of Honor in search of blushing bathing beauties, unclad warriors, and Venus and Aphrodite au naturel at the Naked at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt. Search for nudes through the centuries while sleuthing out clues like San Francisco’s own Sam Spade or a nouveau Nick and Nora Charles. It’s the perfect Valentine’s Day date for the art-loving or mystery-solving couple in search of a new adventure in a familiar place. Once you see the museum through the eyes of a detective, the art will never look the same again. No previous experience with art of nudity is required.  Whom to expect: Art lovers, amateur gumshoes, museum regulars and irregulars. No word on whether the infamous Castro nudists will be making an appearance.  Details: 2-4:30 p.m. Feb. 9, and Feb. 16. $20 per person (does not include museum admission), Legion of Honor Museum, 100 34th Ave., San Francisco. Advance payment is required for all hunts online at http://www.watsonadventures.com or via OvationTix at (866) 811-4111.

GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING AT THE DEYOUNG MUSEUM

Don’t miss a rare showing of one of the most beloved paintings in the world.  “The heavily anticipated “Girl With a Pearl Earring: Dutch Paintings From the Mauritshuis,” which opens Saturday at the de Young Museum, does not disappoint. It will remind visitors how great artworks can unstring our sense of time.” (Kenneth Baker)  An intimate show that’s sure to be popular, you should get your tickets soon!  Through June 2. De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, S.F. (415) 750-3600. http://www.deyoungmuseum.org.

Guilty Pleasures: The nostalgic candy selection at the Bristol Farms Grocery store in the San Francisco Center:  Big Hunk, Bit-O-Honey, Abba-Zaba, and Chocolate Flicks!   Will Ferrell in “Blades of Glory” or “Talledega Nights.”  Egg Egg Noodles at Mission Chinese.  A hilarious Facebook prank at http://www.sadanduseless.com/2012/11/fb-troll-king/

When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.
Mark Twain

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Here’s what people have been writing about, as well as what people have been writing about us, for December 2012/January 2013:

Monica Campbell remembers reporting on the U.S.-Mexico border and how easily guns can get into criminal hands. PRI’s The World:

http://www.theworld.org/2012/12/guns-and-the-us-mexico-border-what-atf-agents-see/

Chris Colin considers a lavish Caribbean resort from both sides of its tasteful, socioeconomically insane walls, in the latest issue of Afar:

http://www.afar.com/afar/the-great-escape

Christopher Cook on seniors fighting Wells Fargo home foreclosures:

http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/5302/senior-and-disability-groups-protest-wells-fargo-evictions-shutter-accounts/

Laura Fraser on why you should wash your hands of antibacterial soaps, in OnEarth:

http://www.onearth.org/article/antibacterial-soap-triclosan-fda

Constance Hale stirs up debate on Grammar Girl–about “tuxedo verbs” no less:

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/tuxedo-verbs.aspx

Lee Daniel Kravetz writes in the Huffington Post about Dave Eggers’ ScholarMatch program, which closes the scholarship gap for first-gen, low-income college students:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-daniel-kravetz/dave-eggers-scholarmatch_b_2365307.html?utm_hp_ref=san-francisco.

Going to Tahoe? Rachel Levin tells you how to avoid paying $104 for a lift ticket and find fresh snow — plus! where she likes to eat nachos: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/tahoe-tahoe-buffs

Louise Nayer‚s piece on her pooch was moved from Dec. to  Jan. 2nd in the San Francisco Chronicle in Pet Tales:

http://www.sfgate.com/columns/pettales/

James Nestor uncovers “history’s most insane around-the-world adventure” in the new minibook, Half-Safe. (for Kindle and Atavist app):

https://www.atavist.com/stories/half-safe/

Janis Cooke Newman reacts to the Russian adoption ban in the Daily Beast:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/28/with-u-s-adoption-ban-a-mother-fears-for-russia-s-abandoned-kids.html

Ethel Rohan interviewed at SFWeekly:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/exhibitionist/

Justine Sharrock makes the Daily Beast’s list of best long reads on gun violence:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/15/the-best-longreads-on-gun-violence-and-policy.html

Julia Flynn Siler uncovers a Honolulu where the ghosts of a surfing legend, a tobacco heiress, Charlie Chan and a deposed queen still linger for the weekend WSJ:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323777204578189993668649014.html?mod=WeekendHeader_Rotator#articleTabs%3Darticle

Lavinia Spalding’s very short piece “Finding Spells,” appears in Tin House’s Flash Fridays:

http://www.tinhouse.com/blog/20825/finding-spells.html

Bonnie Tsui finds out what naughty things our digital selves are up to, for her feature story in the Jan/Feb issue of Pacific Standard:

http://www.bonnietsui.com/articles/pacific-standard/its-10-p-m-do-you-know-what-your-avatar-is-doing/

Anne Zimmerman interviews New York Times food writers Kim Severson and Julia Moskin to see who really won their Cookfight (the name of their newly released cookbook) and what competition in the kitchen really means:

http://www.culinate.com/articles/features/cookfight_interview

WECOME TO THE NEW GROTTOLITAS A.J. AND CASPER!

This month, Grottoite Lorraine Sanders and her family welcomed daughter A.J. (officially Ada Jeanne-Ann) Grabowski on December 10th. And Grottoite Chris Collin and his wife, Amy welcomed to earth Casper True Wolf Colin, born a little before noon on December 15th.

Huge congratulations to Lorraine and Chris and their families – and welcome to our world, A.J. and Casper!

LAST CHANCE TO APPLY FOR LIT CAMP!

The submission website for Lit Camp closes at midnight on December 31st, so this is your last chance to apply for the Bay Area’s first juried writers conference.

Open to 40 writers of fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir, Lit Camp is sponsored by the Grotto and Litquake and will be held at Mayacamas Ranch in the rolling hills near Calistoga.

Lit Camp main faculty includes Adam Johnson (author of The Orphan Masters Son), Ethan Nosowsky (Editorial Director, McSweeney‚s Publishing), Amy Williams (Literary Agent at McCormick & Williams), T.J. Stiles (Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner for The First Tycoon), Oscar Villalon (Editorial Director, ZYZZYVA), and Janis Cooke Newman (LA Times Book Prize Finalist for Mary). Adjunct faculty includes Isaac Fitzgerald (The Rumpus), Andi Mudd (The Believer), and Nicole Dewey (Little Brown & Company).

Lit Camp conference dates: April 4 – 7, 2013
Submission deadline: December 31, 2012
Details and application information at http://www.litcampwriters.org.  Follow us on FB http://www.facebook.com/litcampwriters

REGISTER NOW FOR THE GROTTO’S WINTER WRITING CLASSES

Our winter writing classes being the week of January 21 – but several classes have already filled.

This winter we’ve got lots of new offerings – including weekly Sunday afternoon and evening classes, a master class in nonfiction, the art of the profile, political writing, as well as classes in the novel, short story, memoir, flash fiction, and the return of our popular finding the story workshop. But don’t delay, these classes are filling fast.

Visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster for full descriptions and to register – and find out more about our partnership with Dave Eggers’ Scholar Match.

CONNIE GIVES A BIG “SMOOCH” TO VERBS

Grottoite Connie Hale crisscrossed the country on her tour for Vex, Hex, Smash Smooch, talking about how Hawaiian Creole shaped her views on language, how “experts” battle over who owns English, and how verbs enliven even the most demure sentence. In New York City, she taught invited teenagers at TEDYouth to act out Hamlet’s action words. In Seattle, she played Grammar Speed Dating at Elliott Bay Book Company. At SF’s Mechanics Institute, she mused on the five questions that led her to write a book on the heartbeat of the sentence. Reviews of the book have appeared in Library Journal (“a romp for the language obsessed”), the Louisville Journal-Sentinel (“Hale‚s passion is the book‚s charm”), and Copyediting (“you don’t need a PhD in linguistics”). In-depth interviews ran on KERA’s “Think” in Dallas, Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Veronica Rueckert Show” and Nieman Storyboard. A profile in The Writer magazine cut the deepest, exploring the writing life as well as the life of words. Links to these articles and interviews: http://sinandsyntax.com/news-reviews-and-interviews/

JAMES’ NEWEST, “HALF-SAFE,” JUST RELEASED ON ATAVIST

Grottoite James Nestor celebrates the release of his new book/feature/minibook/story or whatever they call these things nowadays by Atavist! It’s a tragic, very sad, and freakish tale — in other words, perfect for the holidays.

Half-Safe: A Story of Love, Obsession, and History’s Most Insane Around-the-world Adventure: In 1948, an Australian miner, Ben Carlin, set out across the Atlantic in a reject U.S. Army amphibious jeep, determined to be the first person to circumnavigate the world by land and sea in the same vehicle. (Yeah, he tries to “drive” across the ocean in a car.) The freakish, heart-wrenching, insane [insert your favorite adjective here] story of what happens next has been lost for 60 years. In November 2011, I went to Perth, Australia to find out what I could about Carlin. . .and got a lot more than I ever bargained for. The iPad/iPhone/Web version contains photos, video, free audiobook, maps, and more. Read more at The Atavist at https://www.atavist.com/stories/half-safe/

JULIA’S “LOST KINGDOM” NOW OUT IN PAPERBACK!

The paperback of Julia Flynn Siler‚s Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure (Grove Press) will be published in January. A San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and winner of the 2013 Ella Dickey Literacy Award, Library Journal’s starred review called it “A sweeping tale of tragedy, greed, betrayal and imperialism…”

Julia will be speaking at the University Club of New York on Tuesday, January 15th about Lost Kingdom at a book talk followed by a dinner. She will also be speaking at Book Passage in Corte Madera on Sunday, January 28th, starting at 7:00 p.m. with a reception to follow, and again at Book Passage on Monday, January 29th, for a “Meet the Author” event. For more information, please visit: http://www.juliaflynnsiler.com/events.

CHRIS COMPLETES HIS LATEST, “POSTCARDS FOR KEROUAC”

Christopher Cook is now shopping his new book, Postcards for Kerouac — a literary and philosophical road adventure — with agents and publishers. (Any referrals welcome!) Chris is teaching political writing at the Grotto this winter (http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster/political-writing-getting-your-opinions-published-with-chris-cook-917-108). He is also continuing his political and communications consulting after an against-the-odds victory against Berkeley’s sit-lie Measure S. Check out his consulting site: http://www.theprogressivemessage.org/

THE GROTTO PARTNERS WITH DAVE EGGERS’ SCHOLAR MATCH

The Grotto is proud to announce our partnership with Scholar Match, an organization which uses crowd-funding to help send underprivileged high school students to college. (Here’s a link to the HuffPo story about it:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-daniel-kravetz/dave-eggers-scholarmatch_b_2365307.htm). The Grotto has chosen Nicolas Soto, a senior at Leadership High School in SF, to be our Grotto Scholar. Nicolas wants to be an English teacher, and says in his essay “Writing is everything to me.”

The Grotto is committed to raising $5000 to help Nicolas go to college next year. We are encouraging all of our Grotto Notes subscribers to donate to Nicolas’ fund.  If you haven’t done your charitable giving for 2012 yet, this is a perfect time to donate to our Grotto Scholar.

If you’d like to help, it’s easy. Go to  https://scholarmatch.org/donate/ . Answer the question ’I would like my tax-deductible donation to support:’ by choosing Student Scholarship. Then type ‘Grotto Scholar’ in the box that asks you to provide guidelines about the type of student you’d like to support.

You’ll even get credit for your donation. Within a day or so of donating, your name will appear on the Scholar Match website on the Grotto Sponsor page http://scholarmatch.org/the-grotto-scholar/ .

FIND INSPIRATION AT AN APRIL WRITERS RETREAT IN HAWAII

Grottoites Connie Hale and Laura Fraser will be joined by UH writing professor Steven Goldsberry at the Mokule’ia Writers Retreat, April 7 through 12. The faculty also includes musician/composer Aaron Mahi and Hawaiian-language poet Puakea Nogelmeier. Writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and memoir to are invited to find creative sanctuary over days and nights at the 30-acre Camp Mokule’ia on O’ahu’s North Shore. The program includes daily workshops, private writing time, and one-on-one meetings with faculty. Optional activities – available to family and companions staying at the camp – include yoga, snorkeling, kayaking, and beachcombing. Other highlights are a lu’au, a hike to a sacred spot at Ka’ena Point, and a visit to Pu’u O Mahuka Heiau, an ancient Hawaiian temple.

Registration begins January 7. Information and updates: http://sinandsyntax.com/mokuleia-writers-retreat/.

RECOMMENDED BY JANIS: DISCOUNT TICKETS FOR TRACY KIDDER AT THE JCCSF

The SF JCC is offering $15 tickets to the January 23 appearance of Tracy Kidder, author of Mountains Beyond Mountains. He will be discussing his latest book, ‘Good Prose: The Art of Nonfiction,’ in which he shares the secrets of his writing success and provides insight for aspiring writers. Be sure to ask for the student price.

More information at https://www.jccsf.org/arts-ideas/lectures/literary/tracy-kidder/

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JD’s Art Picks for January 2013

THE THIRD WAVE AT GARDEN GATE CREATIVITY CENTER, BERKELEY

Check out some truly amazing and novel artworks created by IPhone art applications, of all things, in the exhibition “The Third Wave,” at the Garden Gate Creativity Center in Berkeley. Artists include DIY types and professional photographers, and contributors have made images from fantastic animals to painterly landscapes to provocative nudes. Garden Gate Creativity Center, 2911 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley. Through January 30. More info at http://www.pixelsatanexhibition.com

JAY DEFEO AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
“Even the earliest and slightest works in ‘Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective,’ exude a fearlessness characteristic of her sensibility,” writes art critic Kenneth Baker about this influential and gifted Bay Area artist. Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective: Paintings, sculpture, photographs and collage. Through Feb. 3. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., S.F. (415) 357-4000. http://www.sfmoma.org.

“ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24
“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space. “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity. Through February. By advance appointment only. More information at http://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

Guilty Pleasures: New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. Enough said.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Albert Einstein

Happy New Year!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Read Elizabeth Bernstein’s short story, “Safekeeping,” in the latest issue of Paper Darts Magazine: http://www.paperdarts.org/literary-magazine/fiction-elizabeth-bernstein.html

E.B. Boyd writes about the Martha Stewart of the app-tapping crowd: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/the-making-and-marketing-of-domestic-diva

Christopher Cook’s interview with former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, now available at: http://christopherdcook.com/Portfolio.html

Julia Flynn Siler profiles Marina Hall Phillips, who oversaw the raising of about 10,000 puppies as head of Guide Dogs for the Blind‚s breeding department, for The Wall Street Journal’s Saturday review section: http://juliaflynnsiler.com/articles/

Constance Hale looks around the globe to trace how linguistic invention runs deep in the DNA of English: http://www.latitudenews.com/story/inventing-english-not-just-america/

Holly Jones closes out the presidential campaign season with a piece on Washington, D.C.: http://therumpus.net/2012/11/last-city-i-loved-washington-d-c/

Jonathan Kiefer revisits the documentaries of Shohei Imamura for the Village Voice: http://www.villagevoice.com/2012-11-14/film/the-opposite-of-vanishing-documentaries-by-sh-ocirc-hei-imamura/

Jessica Carew Kraft proposes three green solutions to rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy:

http://www.learnvest.com/2012/11/life-after-sandy-three-bold-proposals-to-rebuild-the-cities-she-hit-123/

A rabbi, pastor, and zen monk walk into a bar with Rachel Levin, for a discussion that appears in San Francisco magazine’s December issue: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco

Louise Nayer’s short piece on her pooch, Penny, is coming out in the San Francisco Chronicle in Pet Tales, Dec. 12th: http://www.sfgate.com/columns/pettales/

Peter Orner has a new story in the Winter issue of the Paris Review: http://www.theparisreview.org/current-issue

Bridget Quinn‚s memoir of swimming and sibling rivalry, „At Swim, Two Girls,‰ now in the Winter 2013 ŒBest of the Best‚ print edition of Narrative Magazine: http://narrativemagazine.com/node/192881

Ethel Rohan‚s New York Times‚ Op-Ed Essay on a Tragic Death and Ireland‚s Antiquated Abortion Laws: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/opinion/an-antiquated-abortion-law-in-ireland.html?_r=0

Lorraine Sanders sizes up custom women’s apparel startup Bow & Drape for FastCompany.com: http://www.fastcompany.com/3002574/bow-drape-takes-bespoke-e-commerce-approach-tailor-made-women

Shanthi Sekaran’s “Aubade”, an imagining of Catherine, Heathcliffe and breakfast in the Mission. Now in Canteen Magazine. http://www.canteenmag.com/posts/shanthi-sekaran

Bonnie Tsui interviews graphic-novel genius Chris Ware about his new work, Building Stories, for The Atlantic Cities: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/11/intimacy-apartment-living-captured-graphic-novel-box-set/3779/

Meghan Ward has 9 SEO Tips for Authors: http://meghanward.com/blog/2012/10/23/9-seo-tips-for-authors/

JULIA’S “A THOUSAND LIVES” NAMED BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2012

Grottoite Julia Scheeres’ book A THOUSAND LIVES: THE UNTOLD STORY OF JONESTOWN was released in November. Named the Best Nonfiction Book of 2012 by the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, it was also called a best book of the year by the Boston Globe and the San Francisco Chronicle, which described it  as ”riveting…You will not be able to look away.” Huge congratulations to Julia! Check it out here: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Thousand-Lives/Julia-Scheeres/9781416596400

MAC SELLS HER BOOK TO PENGUIN PRESS

Mac McClelland sold her second book, a journalistic memoir about suffering from PTSD while covering conflicts and natural disasters, to Penguin Press at auction this month. Congratulations to Mac!

ONLY 4 WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY TO LIT CAMP!

Only 4 weeks left to get your submission in to Lit Camp, the Bay Area’s first juried writers conference. Co-sponsored by the Grotto and Litquake, and open to 40 writers of fiction, narrative non-fiction, and memoir, Lit Camp faculty will include T.J. Stiles (Pulitzer Prize winner for The First Tycoon), Ethan Nosowsky (Editorial Director, McSweeney’s Publishing), Adam Johnson (author of The Orphan Master’s Son), and Amy Williams (Literary Agent with McCormick & Williams in NYC).

Lit Camp will be held at Mayacamas Ranch near Calistoga. Mayacamas Ranch features a salt-water pool, jacuzzi, spring-fed pond, hiking trails, and organic garden.

Conference dates: April 4-7, 2013
Submission deadline: December 31, 2012
For more information visit www.litcampwriters.org
Follow Lit Camp on FB facebook.com/litcampwriters

REGISTRATION FOR WINTER WRITING CLASSES NOW OPEN

Now is the time to sign up for our Winter Session of writing classes – before they fill up. This winter we’re offering a new batch of fiction and nonfiction classes, plus a few new twists – weekly Sunday afternoon and evening classes.

Visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster to see what we’ve got in store for the wintery months. The Winter Session begins the week of January 21.

JULIA AT THE RING MOUNTAIN BOOK FAIR ON DECEMBER 12

Grotto dweller Julia Flynn Siler, author of the bestselling histories “Lost Kingdom” and “The House of Mondavi,” will be in conversation with book group moderator Liz Epstein of Literary Masters on Wednesday, December 12th as part of the annual Ring Mountain Book Fair. For more information, please visit www.juliaflynnsiler.com/events or www.literarymasters.net. The paperback edition of Lost Kingdom is forthcoming in January of 2013.

ALEXANDRA FEATURED AT THE TONGUE AND GROOVE IN HOLLYWOOD ON DECEMBER 16

Grotto member Alexandra Kostoulas will be a featured reader at Tongue and Groove at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, CA. She’ll be reading fiction from a longer work-in-progress. „Tongue & Groove‰ is a monthly offering of short fiction, personal essays, poetry, spoken word + music produced by Conrad Romo and this month features: Claire Vaye Watkins ”Battleborn,”, Adrian Todd Zuniga, Danny Romero “Calle 10″, Khadija Anderson ”History of Butoh”, and Alexandra Kostoulas. Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 Address: 1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90026. (323)-461-2040.  $6. 21+

Alexandra Kostoulas holds an MFA in English & Creative Writing from Mills College in Oakland. She received her B.A. in Literature from the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. She writes non-fiction, poetry, short stories, and is working on a novel that weaves themes of the immigrant experience, stolen artifacts, and the Persephone myth.

ALEXANDRA’S FICTION IN THE VOICES OF HELLENISM LITERARY JOURNAL

Grotto member Alexandra Kostoulas also has a piece of short fiction called, „Kalavrita: A Lament in Six Parts‰ in The Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal which debuts December 15, 2012.

The Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal is a new literary and cultural journal that preserves history and Modern Greek literature by bridging the gap between Modern Greek academia and Greek communities across the world. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the journal includes work from writers from all walks of life and includes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, novel excerpts, artworks that are avant-garde in nature, and scholarly essays. Phonés  (Φωνές in Greek) or Voices (in English) includes poems by renown Greek poet, Constantine Cavafy that have been translated into English as well as family stories about the Greek Diaspora. It is a celebration of Hellenic culture that values literature, history, and art. But it is not just for Greeks. Many non-Greek writers and poets have submitted work, making Voices a well-rounded journal with diverse content. Please consider subscribing to Voices of Hellenism or sending a submission for next year‚s annual journal by June 1, 2012. In addition to publishing the annual journal, the Voices of Hellenism Literary Society is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes literature, poetry, and literacy in various Greek communities throughout the world by holding readings, book signings, and cultural events.

For more information, or to submit a story or subscribe, please contact:
Annamarie Buonocore, Publisher, Founding Editor
Voices of Hellenism Literary Journal and Literary Society
P.O. Box 1624, San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone: 650-504-8549
Fax: 650-358-9254 http://www.voicesofhellenism.org info@vhpprojec.org

DON’T MISS ZAHIR’S WASHINGTON POST PIECE ON HIS UNCLE’S ASSASSINATION

Former Grotto Fellow Zahir Janmohamed, currently in India working on lis latest book, just published a piece in the Washington Post about his uncle’s assassination in Karachi, Pakistan.

The article can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/my-uncles-assassination-in-karachi/2012/11/28/897e3a82-39be-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_blog.html

JD’S WORK FEATURED IN THE ZERO ONE BIENNIAL SHOW “THE FUTURE, IMAGINED” WITH A PANEL ON DECEMBER 13

Grottoite JD Beltran’s latest work (a collaboration with photographer Nigel Poor) is featured at The Performance Art Institute in the exhibition “The Future, Imagined,” part of the 2012 Zero1 New Media Biennial. Open from 1:00 – 8:00pm, Thurs-Sat, at 75 Boardman Place, San Francisco, through January 15. In conjunction with the exhibition, JD also will moderate a panel entitled, “Women, Art and Technology: An Uneasy Access?” on December 13th at the Performance Art Institute from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. For more information, see http://thefutureimagined.com/ and http://thefutureimagined.com/programs/panel/

LAURA ANNOUNCES HER WRITING EXPERIENCE DATES FOR 2013

Laura Fraser has announced the dates for her fabulous writing (and eating) experiences in Italy and Mexico this year:

May 4-11 An Italian Writing Affair, Umbria, with culinary adventure
August 3-10 Laura‚s Mexican Writing Fiesta, San Miguel de Allende
Sept. 29-Oct. 3, Torcello, the Veneto, Italy, with a culinary adventure
October 27-Nov. 3 Laura‚s Mexican Writing Fiesta, Day of the Dead, San Miguel de Allende
For information go to http://www.laurafraser.com

Also, Laura has been named Writer In Residence for Victoria Magazine, where she will write columns on travel in each issue.

THE GROTTO HELPS STEPHEN ELLIOTT MAKE A MOVIE

Grotto emeritus, founder of the Rumpus, and member of SF’s Cultural Mafia (according to this month’s SF Magazine), Stephen Elliott has started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to make of movie of his novel ‘Happy Baby.’ And the Grotto is helping with the SF Writer’s Grotto Package.

Those who pledge $375 will receive feedback and support with a short story or section of a novel, magazine feature article, or memoir in progress, from San Francisco Writers Grotto members in the relevant discipline, including E.B. Boyd,  Louise Nayer, Stephanie Losee, Ethel Rohan, Peter Orner, Rachel Howard, Janis Cooke Newman and Ethan Watters.

But you can always pledge less – even a dollar.

Here’s the link http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/706884381/happy-baby-the-movie

JANE GANAHL TEACHES A PROFILE WRITING CLASS AT THE GROTTO ON FEBRUARY 10

Litquake co-founder & friend of the Grotto, Jane Ganahl will be teaching a one-day profile writing class at the Grotto on Sunday, February 10. Jane has published dozens of profiles – even won awards for them.

Here’s the link http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster/class-the-art-of-the-profile-how-to-write-a-dazzling-profile-by-breaking-some-rules-with-jane-ganahl-sunday-feb-10.

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JD’s Art Picks for December 2012

LAST WEEK!! BARRY MCGEE AT THE BERKELEY ART MUSEUM
“Throughout his career,” writes Alex Baker in the exhibition catalog, “Barry McGee has continued to surprise and contradict expectations.” Including rarely seen early etchings, letterpress printing trays and liquor bottles painted with his trademark cast of down-and-out urban characters, constellations of vibrant op-art painted panels, animatronic taggers, and an elaborate re-creation of a cacophonous street-corner bodega, along with many new projects, this first mid-career survey of the globally influential San Francisco-based artist showcases the astonishing range of McGee’s compassionate and vivacious work. Through December 9. More information at http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/mcgee

THE THIRD WAVE AT GARDEN GATE CREATIVITY CENTER, BERKELEY

Check out some truly amazing and novel artworks created by IPhone art applications, of all things, in the exhibition “The Third Wave,” at the Garden Gate Creativity Center in Berkeley. Artists include DIY types and professional photographers, and contributors have made images from fantastic animals to painterly landscapes to provocative nudes. Garden Gate Creativity Center, 2911 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley. Through January 30. More info at www.pixelsatanexhibition.com

JAY DEFEO AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
“Even the earliest and slightest works in ‘Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective,’ exude a fearlessness characteristic of her sensibility,” writes art critic Kenneth Baker about this influential and gifted Bay Area artist. Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective: Paintings, sculpture, photographs and collage. Through Feb. 3. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., S.F. (415) 357-4000. http://www.sfmoma.org.

“ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24
“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space. “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity. Through February 2013. By advance appointment only. More information at http://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

Guilty Pleasures: Keeping a stock of Bud’s Egg Nog (the best!) in the fridge (you can usually get it at Safeway or Walgreens); digging into the latest issue of “The Week;” fresh prawn burritos at La Corneta; spending a lazy Dogpatch afternoon on 22nd Street at 3rd (beignets, chocolate, clothes, art, crafts, coffee, wine, and more at Just For You, Michael Ricchiuti, Chocolate Lab, Workshop Residence, Piccino, Modern Appealing Clothing, Rickshaw Bags, and more∑); laughing at “Tropic Thunder.”

I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up – they have no holidays.

Henny Youngman

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Christopher Cook interviews former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich for The Progressive:

http://www.progressive.org/node/178893

The Redford Center releases Mark Decena’ film, “Watershed” on DVD:

http://watershedmovie.com/buy-watershed-the-movie/

Laura Fraser on keeping San Francisco weird:

http://www.sfbg.com/2012/10/16/sf-stories-laura-fraser

Connie Hale reflects on our love of new verbsˆwhether poet John Clare‚s “soodle” or today‚s “google”:

http://sinandsyntax.com/blog/free-verse-free-verbs/

Jessica C. Kraft finds profundity in tchotchkes at San Francisco estate sales:

http://www1.sfbg.com/2012/10/16/sf-stories-jessica-ckraft

The Biggest Rock Star You’ve Never Heard Of. Rachel Levin interviews him, for The Rumpus:

http://therumpus.net/2012/10/the-rumpus-interview-with-chad-stokes-urmston-of-dispatch/

Louise Nayer is the guest speaker for the Burn Survivor’s Reunion at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill on 11/3:

http://www.med.unc.edu/burn/aftercare-programs-temp/events/adult-burn-survivor-reunion

Janis Cooke Newman visits her old neighborhood for the SF Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Nolita-protects-N-Y-s-neighborhood-feel-3923529.php

Ethel Rohan reviews Allen Learst‚s debut story collection, Dancing at the Gold Monkey, winner of the Leapfrog Fiction Contest, 2011, for the New York Journal of Books:

http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/review/dancing-gold-monkey

Lorraine Sanders finds Wall Street tricks may net you better snowboard pricing, in Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3002333/buystand-uses-wall-street-tricks-find-you-better-price-snowboard

Julia Scott has a report on Marketplace about Mi Pueblo, a Latino-run grocery chain that has run into trouble from the feds:

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/latino-grocery-chain-faces-immigration-audit

Julia Flynn Siler profiles S.F.’s Bonnie Fisher, the designer of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. for The Wall Street Journal’s Saturday review section:

http://juliaflynnsiler.com/articles/

Just in time for Halloween, Lavinia Spalding’s essay about finding peace after her father’s death among the ghosts of Alamos, Mexico, is included in the The Best Travel Writing, Volume 9, in bookstores this month:

http://www.besttravelwriting.com/btw-blog/great-stories/travel-memoir-gold-winner-the-ghosts-of-alamos/

Julia Scheeres will be discussing “A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Jonestown” in conjunction with the paperback release at Book Passage in Corte Madera on 11/13:

http://bookpassage.com/event/julia-scheeres-thousand-lives-untold-story-jonestown

Bonnie Tsui investigates how the science of recall is finally helping us to learn other languages, for Pacific Standard:http://www.psmag.com/science/lingua-step-rosetta-stone-and-the-secrets-of-learning-a-language-48600/

Matthew Zapruder’s poem Lamp Day illustrated by Laura Scroggs, at The Rumpus: http://therumpus.net/2012/10/lamp-day/

JULIA GUIDES A CONVERSATION BETWEEN T.J. STILES AND ADAM HOCHSCHILD: RIVETING HISTORY ON NOV 10

This Saturday, November 10, don’t miss prize-winning authors Adam Hochschild and Grotto dweller T.J. Stiles comparing notes on the high art of taking historical facts and transforming them into potent narratives. The American Academy of Arts and Letters honored Hochschild for his work, which has ranged from depictions of a fraught relationship with his father to brutality in colonial Africa and opposition to the First World War. Stiles won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt.  He has also written about Jesse James, and is now researching the life of George Armstrong Custer. Grottoite Julia Flynn Syler, a veteran Wall Street Journal writer and herself the author of two narrative histories, will guide the conversation. This event is open to the public and sponsored by UC Berkeley Extension.

Adam Hochschild and T.J. Stiles: Riveting History. When:  Saturday, November 10,  8:00 PM. Where: Sibley Auditorium, Bechtel Engineering Center. For more information, please visit: http://extension.berkeley.edu/catalog/course2717.html

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! CHRIS WRITES ABOUT BERKELEY’S SIT-LIE MEASURE ON ALTERNET

Grotto dweller Christopher Cook has been campaigning to defeat Berkeley’s sit-lie Measure S, which would make it illegal to sit on a sidewalk in commercial areas. See his AlterNet piece on why sit-lie is the wrong way to go: http://www.alternet.org/liberal-berkeley-may-fine-homeless-75-sitting-down?paging=off. Chris’s essay for The Progressive on a Romney extremist in Virginia caused quite a stir, including the resignation of a Romney volunteer and the disabling of a county GOP website. Check it out if you missed it: http://www.progressive.org/meet-romney-extremist-in-virginia. He’s also got an interview with Robert Reich in the current issue of The Progressive. Contact Chris through http://www.christopherdcook.com for his November election recommendations!

PETER’S LOVE AND SHAME AND LOVE OUT IN PAPERBACK THIS MONTH!

Grottoite Peter Orner’s novel Love and Shame and Love is just out in paperback. A New York Times Editor’s Choice Book. “Elegant yet intimate, this is a book that gets into your head and stays there.” NY Times. More information at

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/books/review/love-and-shame-and-love-by-peter-orner-book-review.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

CAROLINE’S “LOST CAT” GIVEN A SPARKLING REVIEW BY PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Grottoite Caroline Paul’s latest, “Lost Cat: A True Story of Love, Desperation, and GPS Technology,” debuting in April, just received a glowing review from Publisher’s Weekly. “The self-deprecating author’s note sets the stage for this hilarious, and moving, account of Paul’s relationship with her two cats. In the note, the 40-ish Paul (East Wind) qualifies the accuracy of her story by noting that she was on painkillers for some of the time (while recovering from a plane crash) and asking the reader to also take into account “normal confusion for people our age.” The author’s note is followed by a New Yorker–like map of San Francisco, as seen by a cat, divided into areas of Fear, Large Threat, Total Death, Other Cat, Food? and Home. Her experiences with Fibby and Tibby (full names Fibula and Tibia) range from farce, as she attempts to track Tibia’s travels out of the home by means of a GPS device, to tragedy. The humor of the opening continues throughout, augmented by diagrams such as one of an animal shelter volunteer, with an arrow pointing to the woman’s “kind, crazy eyes.” Even non–cat lovers will find this an engaging read, charmingly illustrated by Paul’s partner, Wendy McNaughton, as Paul easily makes her strong emotions for her pets accessible and universal.” Read the review at http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-60819-977-8

Congratulations to Caroline and Wendy!

KATHRYN MA’S LATEST ACQUIRED BY HARPER COLLINS

Congratulations are also in order for Grottoite Kathryn Ma, who just sold her latest novel to Harper Collins! Read more about Kathryn here: http://www.kathrynma.com/pages/events.html

CHECK OUT CONNIE’S LATEST BOOK FOR MORE ON SMOOCHABLE SENTENCES AND HER MECHANICS INSTITUTE TALK ON NOVEMBER 15

Connie Hale continues to celebrate verbs from the East Coast to the West, with her final Bay Area appearance on November 15, at 6 p.m., at the Mechanics Institute Library to celebrate her latest book, ŒVex, Hex, Smash, Smooch.‚ Her talk will trace the grand sweep of English „from the Swamp to Squidoo‰ and will include insight into literary lines from Shakespeare to Shake N Bake. If you are curious about some of Connie‚s iconoclastic ideas but can‚t make it to the talk, Zyzzyva gave a good picture of the book in „Everything Pivots on the Verb‰ [http://www.zyzzyva.org/2012/10/19/everything-pivots-on-the-verb-constance-hales-vex-hex-smash-smooch/]. And an interview with Krys Boyd on „Think,‰ a long-format radio show in Dallas, allowed for in-depth conversation and questions from callers. http://www.kera.org/2012/10/24/the-power-of-verbs/

THE LATEST LITCAMP NEWS

We at the Grotto are celebrating the nomination of Dave Eggers‚ A Hologram for the King as a National Book Award Finalist. Might be because Dave‚s editor, Ethan Nosowsky is a workshop leader at our upcoming writers conference Lit Camp. Ethan will be joining Adam Johnson (author of The Orphan Master’s Son), Amy Williams (literary agent at McCormick & Williams), T.J. Stiles (Pulitzer Prize winner for The Last Tycoon), Oscar Villalon, (Managing Editor, ZYZZYVA), and long-time Grotto teacher, Janis Cooke Newman (LA Times Book Prize Finalist for Mary). Grottoites Ethan Watters (Crazy Like Us), Chris Colin (Blindsight), and Isaac Fitzgerald (Managing Editor, The Rumpus) will also be on hand.

Join us April 4-7, 2013 at Mayacamas Ranch near Calistoga for Lit Camp. Applications are now being accepted. Application deadline is December 31, 2012. For more information and to apply visit http://www.litcampwriters.org Follow Lit Camp on FB http://www.facebook.com/litcampwriters  or Twitter http://twitter.com/litcampwriters

COMPLIMENTS FROM THE SUBJECT FOR DIANA’S SAN FRANCISCO MAGAZINE PIECE ON THE “IT GIRL”

Don’t miss Grottoite Diana Kapp’s SF Magazine piece on the wannabe “It Girl” of the tech blogosphere Sarah Lacy: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/it-aint-easy-being-queen. Featured in the Letters section of this month’s San Francisco Magazine is Lacy’s email response to Diana, where Lacy states, “This is probably one of the more flattering and on-point pieces that’s been written about me. I come across pretty much as I am, whether that’s good or bad. I would like to have seen more credit given to genuinely big stories that we’ve broken, but no entrepreneur I’ve written about ever feels like it’s fair either. That’s just the game. The most valuable thing is that it is clear how hard we are working on this. I really appreciate the work you put into it, given that very few people do that level of reporting these days.”

Read Lacy’s full response here: http://pandodaily.com/2012/09/13/well-at-least-they-called-me-queen/

JD’S NEWEST ARTWORKS HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS MONTH’S DWELL AND 7X7 MAGAZINES

Grotto dweller JD Beltran and collaborator Scott Minneman’s artwork created at The Workshop Residency is featured in both 7 x7 and Dwell magazines this month. 7 x 7 highlights their latest iPad art application “LIMN,” soon available on iTunes: “[A]n iPad app called LIMN is something of a multidisciplinary miracle. Riffing on Beltran’s 2010 ‘Material Language’ series, LIMN renders a single image in four formats at the same time: it is also something of a hometown homage: Download the app and use your fingers to interact with San Francisco street scenes depicted in Super-8 film, photography, painting, and video.” And Dwell magazine highlights their other new creation – the Cinema Snowglobe, which features film, video, and moving imagery in the palm of your hand. Just in time for Christmas! More information at http://www.theworkshopresidency.com and http://vimeo.com/46062279 and

http://www.buzzfeed.com/reyhan/what-happens-when-you-cross-an-animated-gif-and-a

DAVID FEATURED IN THIS MONTH’S DISCOVER MAGAZINE

Grottoite David Ewing Duncan has a feature this month in Discover: “Your Cancer, Your Cure: How Genetic Tests Are Saving Lives” - http://discovermagazine.com/2012/nov/08-your-cancer-your-cure-how-new-genetic-tests-saving-lives

ONE LAST GROTTO WORKSHOP BEFORE THE BREAK – WRITING A GREAT MEMOIR ON NOVEMBER 17

We’ve got one last weekend workshop on our schedule before the holiday break, Writing a Great Memoir: What You Need to Know with Louise Nayer, Saturday (11/17). For more information, visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster.

Nearly all of our Fall Session classes sold out this time around. We’ll be announcing our Winter Session classes, which will begin in January, next month. To be the first to hear about them, subscribe to Grotto Class Notes, our monthly e-newsletter, which includes writing tips from our teachers, tips on useful books on writing craft, and recommendations on what we’re reading now. http://www.sfgrotto.org/contact

TOM’S STORY ON “SELECTED SHORTS”

Grottoite Tom Barbash’s story, “Balloon Night,” was featured recently on the show “Selected Shorts.” You can listen to the podcast of that “Selected Shorts” Episode here: http://ec.libsyn.com/p/4/3/2/432ea9afb72fdde2/Pcast_SS201203.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d01cd8735d7c85f6725&c_id=5036386

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR MAY 4-11 TO JOIN LAURA IN UMBRIA, ITALY

An Italian Writing Affair–May 4-11, Umbria Italy. Join longtime Grotto dweller Laura Fraser to experience la bella vita in Italy! Medieval town, world-class cuisine, an intimate writing group, rolling hills to wander∑ When not writing, we‚ll experience the best of farm-to-table Italian cuisine, such as hand-rolled ravioli, fried zucchini blossoms, gnocchi with shaved black truffles and famed Chianina beef drizzled in an red wine glaze. This workshop is a collaboration with Kris Rudolph, an experienced chef and tour leader who knows Umbria and its food intimately.

Laura Fraser is the bestselling author of An Italian Affair, and speaks fluent Italian. She has taught writing at the University of California at Berkeley‚s Graduate School of Journalism, Stanford Continuing Education, the San Francisco Writers‚ Grotto, and her own Laura‚s Mexican Writing Fiestas. Information is here: http://www.eat-write-travel.com/umbria.html

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JD’s Art Picks for November 2012

JAY DEFEO AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
“Even the earliest and slightest works in ‘Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective,’∑exude a fearlessness characteristic of her sensibility,” writes art critic Kenneth Baker about this influential and gifted Bay Area artist. Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective: Paintings, sculpture, photographs and collage. Through Feb. 3. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., S.F. (415) 357-4000. http://www.sfmoma.org.

BARRY MCGEE AT THE BERKELEY ART MUSEUM
„Throughout his career,‰ writes Alex Baker in the exhibition catalog, „Barry McGee has continued to surprise and contradict expectations.‰ Including rarely seen early etchings, letterpress printing trays and liquor bottles painted with his trademark cast of down-and-out urban characters, constellations of vibrant op-art painted panels, animatronic taggers, and an elaborate re-creation of a cacophonous street-corner bodega, along with many new projects, this first midcareer survey of the globally influential San Franciscoˆbased artist showcases the astonishing range of McGee‚s compassionate and vivacious work. Through December 9. More information at http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/mcgee

“ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24
“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space. “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity. Through February 2013. By advance appointment only. More information at http://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

Guilty Pleasures: Skipping work to celebrate the Giants win at the parade; raiding the Halloween candy pumpkin for Reeses and Twix, according to the Candy Hierarchy at http://boingboing.net/2010/10/22/the-candy-hierarchy.html; the finest in pumpkin art at http://www.sfgate.com/living/article/Incredible-and-freaky-pumpkin-carvings-2319287.php, hysterical send-ups of that ridiculous Brad Pitt Chanel ad at http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/10/22/brad-pitt-chanel-no-5-parodies/; old-fashioned Strauss soft-serve ice cream twist cones at Super Duper Burger at Yerba Buena Gardens or in the Castro.

The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.
Aristotle

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

E.B. Boyd takes a second look at Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s pregnancy: http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/the-mother-of-all-misconceptions

Monica Campbell reports on Oakland International High School for PRI’s The World:

http://www.theworld.org/2012/09/back-to-school-at-oaklands-international-high

Christopher Cook interviews a Romney extremist in Virginia: http://www.progressive.org/meet-romney-extremist-in-virginia?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+progressivefeed+%28The+Progressive+Main+Feed%29

Laura Fraser writes about taking time to grieve, in Whole Living: http://www.wholeliving.com/185568/long-goodbye

Constance Hale explains her crush on the English verb:

http://sinandsyntax.com/blog/my-crush-on-verbs/

Rachel Levin writes about the future of pastrami-on-rye, as discussed at the inaugural Deli Summit:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2012/09/deli_summit_notes_from_the_first_ever_gathering_of_the_new_guard_of_jewish_food_.html

Mac McClelland conducts an important investigation about how French people think you suck in bed: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mcclelland/french-people-think-you-suck-in-bed

Zahra Noorbakhsh will be joining a panel of comedic writers at Verbal Calisthenics: An Evening with Four Funny Women (Oct. 6th at 8pm) as part of this year’s Litquake:

http://litquake.org/calendar-of-events/verbal-calisthenics-an-evenings-with-four-funny-women

Bridget Quinn writes about brothers and brokenness in Narrative Magazine: http://www.narrativemagazine.com/issues/fall-2012/smokehouse

Ethel Rohan published her short-short story “I Love You!” at Hobart: http://www.hobartpulp.com/web_features/i-love-you

Julia Flynn Siler profiles master surfboard shaper Dick Brewer for the Wall Street Journal: http://ow.ly/e5esn (or full link is http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358804578018810843152512.html)

Lavinia Spalding learns from Chez Panisse and Zuni Cafe chefs how to make the perfect salad:

http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/3154

Bonnie Tsui swims as fast as she can to an Italian island monastery on a bet, and writes of victory in the New York Times:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/travel/the-secret-little-sister-of-the-italian-lakes.html?ref=travel

Meghan Ward asks the $64,000 question: Does Social Media Sell Books?:

http://meghanward.com/blog/2012/09/25/does-social-media-sell-books/

Anne Zimmerman writes about restaurants in San Francisco’s hip and hungry Mission neighborhood for Portland, Oregon’s MIX Magazine: http://www.oregonlive.com/mix/index.ssf/best-restaurants-outside-portland/dining_in_san_francisco_the_mission_district_draws.html

JD Beltran’s son, 9-year-old photographer Sebastien, featured in the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/art/article/9-year-old-wins-PUC-photo-contest-3883974.php#photo-3484306

CELEBRATE CONNIE’S NEW BOOK, “VEX, HEX, SMASH, SMOOCH,” STARTING WITH A WORKSHOP THIS THURSDAY OCTOBER 4

Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch débuts Oct. 15! In her latest book on the mysteries of great writing, Connie Hale marches through linguistic and literary history to paint a layered picture of language—from, as she puts it, The Swamp to Squidoo. She draws from Shakespeare and Susan Orlean, Joan Didion and Junot Díaz, but she also culls from snappy tweets, advertising slogans, and Facebook status updates. “Hale is a razor-sharp prose stylist and a top-notch writing teacher,” writes language maven Charles Harrington Elster, the author of The Accidents of Style. Bay Area readings and workshops include the Book Passage on Thursday, Oct 4, 7 pm: Book Passage/51 Tamal Vista Boulevard/Corte Madera … Oct 29, 7:30 pm/The Booksmith/1644 Haight Street, SF … Nov 15, 6 pm/Mechanics Institute Library & Chess Room/57 Post Street, SF. A complete list of readings on West Coast and the East is available athttp://sinandsyntax.com/book-related-events/.Congratulations to Connie!

JULIA’S NEW RADIO DOCUMENTARY DEBUTS ON THE BBC WORLD SERVICE!

On September 29, the BBC World Service debuted BON VOYAGE, a 23-minute radio documentary by Grottoite Julia Scott. BON VOYAGE brings the listener along on the intimate, emotional journey of a same-sex couple coping with mortality. Paul Perkovic and his husband, Eric Trefelner, have lived in style for 36 years. When they find out that Paul has inoperable pancreatic cancer, they decide he should go out in style, too. Eric plans a lavish, quarter million-dollar “Bon Voyage” party at a fine arts museum in San Francisco. Paul and Eric aren’t just planning a party; they’re trying to choreograph a death. But the couple soon discovers that death has its own agenda. Listen here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yc3q9

BON VOYAGE is part of Real America, a new series from the BBC World Service that enlisted four American producers to tell stories found only in America. Congratulations to Julia!

LITQUAKE BEGINS THIS SATURDAY!

This year’s festival features 163 events, more than 850 authors — and most of it free! Don’t miss this internationally renowned literary celebration! October 5-13, 2012. More information at http://litquake.org/

THE GROTTO AT LITCRAWL – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 7:15-8:15 AT THE BLUE MACAW

You’re in love. You’ve got shame. Sometimes they’re one in the same. Come hear tales on these themes and more from the lovable, shameful San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. Hosted by Rob Baedeker and Janis Cooke Newman. Featuring Peter Orner, Louise Nayer, Ethan Watters, Melanie Gideon, and Jason Roberts. More information athttp://litcrawl.org/sf/events/love-shame/

Peter Orner’s novel Love and Shame and Love is just out in paperback. A new collection Last Car Over the Sagamore Bridge will be published in 2013.

Louise Nayer‘s book Burned: A Memoir won the Wisconsin Library Association Award. She’s done readings on NPR and teaches at theGrotto.

Ethan Watters is the author of Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche among other books. He is co-founder of the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto.

Melanie Gideon is the author of the memoir The Slippery Year: A Meditation on Happily Ever After, and a novel, Wife 22.

Jason Roberts is the author of the forthcoming Two Shipwrecks, as well as A Sense of the World, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist.

Rob Baedeker is a writer, performer, and founding member of the comedy group Kasper Hauser, and author of three books, including SkyMaul.

Janis Cooke Newman is the author of the novel, Mary, and the memoir, The Russian Word for Snow. She runs the Grotto’s writing class program.

LIZETTE AWARDED A GRANT FROM THE CENTER FOR CULTURAL INNOVATION

Grotto dweller Lizette Wanzer has been named a grantee for a $2,500 Investing in Artists Grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI). Lizette was awarded in the Literary Arts category. This year, CCI received 388 applications from artists across California, and 29 were selected to receive grants.

“CCI could not be more pleased to support such an outstanding and diverse roster of California artists in this round,” noted CCI President and CEO Cora Mirikitani. “We are excited to be able to recognize these 29 artists and the excellence of their work.” The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) was founded in 2001 as a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Its mission is to promote knowledge sharing, networking, and financial independence for individual artists and creative entrepreneurs by providing business training, grants, and incubating innovative projects that create new program knowledge, tools, and practices for artists in the field. Congratulations to Lizette!

HELP PETER AND MATTHEW CELEBRATE THE NEW LOCATION OF PRESS, AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOP

Friday, October 5th at 6pm, Grottoites Peter Orner and Matthew Zapruder will be reading (along with Hoa Nguyen, Cedar Sigo and Kim Addonizio) at a celebration for the new location of local independent bookshop Press: Works on Paper. Come by for drinks and food and all the amazing books, paper, bags, notebooks in their beautiful new space at 3108 24th Street (at Folsom). Details athttp://pressworksonpaper.com/blog

JULIA TALKS ABOUT “LOST KINGDOM” THIS SATURDAY AT LITQUAKE’S OPENING WEEKEND PANEL, OCTOBER 6

Grottoite Julia Flynn Siler will be at Litquake’s opening weekend panel, “Round the World On the Page” to talk about her new book, Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure, on Saturday, October 6th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Variety Preview Room Theatre, 582 Market Street, First Floor, San Francisco.http://litquake.org/calendar-of-events/around-the-world-on-the-page. On Sunday, October 28th, Julia  will be joined by three colleagues, authors Allison Hoover Bartlett, Katherine Ellison, and Susan Freinkel, from her long-running writing group to discuss Writing Groups: Lessons from North 24th Writers on how to form and run a writing group at the California Writers Club meeting at Book Passage on Sunday, October 28th, 1-3 p.m.,http://bookpassage.com/california-writers-club

DAVID AND THE GROTTO HOST “THE SALON ABOUT FOREVER” AT THE GROTTOON OCTOBER 10

David and the Grotto are hosting the first ever Litquake Festival event at the Grotto on October 10 at 6 pm: “The Salon About Forever: Eternity, Death, and the Science of Radical Life Extension”. David (author of the new “When I’m 164″) is moderating a panel that includes futurist Paul Saffo and author Sonia Arrison. Humans may soon be able to radically extend lifespan through genetics, stem cells, and bionics. Drawing on art, lit, and tech, the panel asks: what happens if this succeeds? Location: The Grotto, 490 Second Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, CA. For more info (the event is free), seehttp://www.facebook.com/events/471587442873338/

CONNIE AND ZOE AT THE “FIRST PERSON PLURAL: CRAFTING STORIES FROM OUR LIVES” WORKSHOP IN VERMONT ON OCTOBER 9-10

In this intimate workshop in the Northeast Kingdom, held October 9 and 10, writers will work under the guidance of Grottoites Zoe FitzGerald Carter and Constance Hale, who have published memoirs and first-person essays in Vogue, Health, Honolulu, The Atlantic, and O. The workshop begins Tuesday night, at The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, where Connie will talk about her new book (Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch) and share insights about what makes writing come alive on the page. After breakfast at the Carter’s lakeside cabin, Zoe and Connie will spend Wednesday working with writers on their pieces, in a mix of guided writing, critique sessions, coaching, and private writing time. The day will close with a dinner at Claire’s restaurant in Hardwick, and a reading by all participants at the Galaxy. The workshop fee is $100, and lodging is available for an additional fee.http://www.sinandsyntax.com/greensboro-writers-retreat/

LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR A FALL WRITING CLASS

Many of our fall classes are full or have already begun, but there are still a few opportunities left to take a Grotto writing class. Our new Sunday Afternoon Advanced Writers Workshop which begins at the end of October has a couple of spots left, as does the Mechanics of Voice class, beginning October 11, and the Dark Art of Pitching, beginning October 17.

A few of the weekend half-day classes still have space, including Writing the Book Review, Short Story Bootcamp, Writing the Personal Essay, and our popular Yoga 4 Writers with Mark Morford.

But visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster soon. This has been a big fall for Grotto classes!

ELIZABETH, JANIS, AND JANE GANAHL HONOR THE FEMALE AUTHOR ON OCTOBER 12

As George Bernard Shaw aptly suggested, “If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” For better or for worse, family themes find their way into many books every year. Step inside for some revealing readings by some remarkable women authors. Emceed by Litquake co-founder Jane Ganahl and Grottoite Elizabeth Bernstein, with ten great readers including Grottoite Janis Cooke Newman. At the Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street, Friday, October 12, 6-8 pm. Tickets at: http://tinyurl.com/994xqxl

JOIN ZOE AT CREATIVITY EXPLORED AT THE LITCRAWL ON OCTOBER 13

Grottoite Zoe FitzGerald Carter will be joining a panel of musician/writers at Creativity Explored on October 13th (7:15-8:15) as part of this year’s Lit Crawl. For more information, see

http://litcrawl.org/sf/events/writebeat-musicians-who-write-writers-who-play/

HAVE MATTHEW TEST YOUR WITS AT VIRACOCHA, ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13

On Saturday, October 13th, as part of Litcrawl, Grottoite Matthew Zapruder will be reading at Viracocha (998 Valencia @ 21st) along with Amelia Gray. The reading, hosted by Daniel Handler and presented by McSweeney’s, will include “games to test the wits of the audience.” More information athttp://litcrawl.org/sf/events/matthew-zapruder-amelia-gray-and-daniel-handler/

ANNOUNCING THE GROTTO’S ‘HAIR OF THE DOG’ WORKSHOPS – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

This is the perfect way to wrap-up Litquake. If 8 day’s worth of exposure to some of the world’s best fiction and nonfiction prose has inspired you to get started on some of your own, hop out of bed the Sunday morning after Lit Crawl and come on down to the Grotto for one of 4 different writing workshops.

You’ll start with bagels and coffee at 10:30 am. Then head off into one of these 3-hour classes:

A Pang in Your Heart: Writing the Short Story with Peter Orner

Getting Your Nonfiction Published: The Basics with Ethan Watters

How to Start a Novel (and not stop half-way through) with Janis Cooke Newman

It’s (Not) All About Me: Personal Essay and Memoir with Laura Fraser

Afterward, we’ll all gather for mingling and Bloody Marys.

We’re calling it Bagels & Bloodies. $75 with a portion of the proceeds going to fund Litquake.

Advance tickets required – we expect this to sell out! To get your ticket, visithttp://litquake.org/2012-festival-schedule

PETER’S WORK IN THE PARIS REVIEW – DON’T MISS HIS READING, WITH DANIEL ALARCON, AT TOSCA ON OCTOBER 18

Peter Orner has a new story in the current issue of Paris Review. You can read it at

http://www.theparisreview.org/fiction/6173/foleys-pond-peter-orner

Also, on October 18th, City Lights Booksellers in conjunction with Tosca Cafe, The Paris Review, and Picador Books are pleased to present: The Paris Review@Tosca Cafe, Moderated by Paris Review Editor Lorin Stein with readings by Daniel Alarcón and Peter Orner. Opening words from Peter Maravelis (City Lights). The Paris Review visits Tosca Cafe, Thursday, October 18, 2012, 7:00 P.M., Tosca Cafe, 242 Columbus Ave. SF, CA 94133. More information athttp://www.citylights.com/info/?fa=event&event_id=1601

DON’T MISS DIANA’S SAN FRANCISCO MAGAZINE PIECE ON THE “IT GIRL”

Grottoite Diana Kapp’s SF Magazine piece on the wannabe “It Girl” of the tech blogosphere Sarah Lacy prompted a lengthy response — big surprise from a blogger. Read what Lacy had to say about Kapp’s analysis of her new blog Pando Daily, including that “It’s probably the most accurate thing I’ve read about myself. It captures all the reasons people hate me as well as the reasons some people like me.” Lacy response here: http://pandodaily.com/2012/09/13/well-at-least-they-called-me-queen/

LIT CAMP ADDS AND AGENT & A COCKTAIL

Here’s the latest on Lit Camp, the writers conference sponsored by the Grotto and Litquake. NY literary agent, Amy Williams of the McCormick Williams Agency has just been added to the Lit Camp faculty, joining Adam Johnson (The Orphan Masters Son) and Ethan Nosowsky (Editorial Director at McSweeney’s) among others.

And, famed Brooklyn bartender, Jon DeRosa, has agreed to create the Official 2013 Lit Camp Cocktail. Naming rights for DeRosa’s cocktail will go to the highest bidder on the first night of Lit Camp, with all proceeds going to the educational programs of 826 Valencia.

Join us April 4-7, 2013 at Mayacamas Ranch near Calistoga for Lit Camp. Applications are now being accepted. Application deadline is December 31, 2012.

For more information and to apply visitwww.litcampwriters.org
Follow Lit Camp on FBhttp://www.facebook.com/litcampwriters  or Twitter https://twitter.com/litcampwriters

———————————————-
JD’s Art Picks for October 2012

“MAN RAY/LEE MILLER: PARTNERS IN SURREALISM” AT THE LEGION OF HONOR
One of my all-time favorite artists and a pioneer in photographic processes, Man Ray revolutionized photography with his blending of the surrealistic aesthetic with the darkroom black and white photograph. Don’t miss this gorgeous show, which includes his iconic images, as well as the equally compelling works of his artistic contemporary and muse Lee Miller. Through October 14. More athttp://www.legionofhonor.org

RE(COLLECTION) – A COLLABORATION WITH LOST AND FOUND: FAMILY PHOTOS SWEPT BY THE 3.11 EAST JAPAN TSUNAMI
After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake hit, a massive tsunami swept away houses, and everything that was inside them. As the search for survivors ended and attention turned to the clean up mission, Self-Defense forces, firemen, and policemen who were in Tohoku to help survivors began to pick up photos they found in the mud, and to store them in an elementary school gymnasium. Two months after the earthquake hit, a group called the “Memory Salvage Project” began to sort out the more than 750,000 photos and prepare them for return to their owners. The images were cleaned and digitized by volunteers who came from Tokyo and other parts of Japan. The photographs you see here are part of photos recovered from the city of Yamomoto. Presented alongside new work by Mark Baugh-Sasaki, Ariel Goldberg, Mayumi Hamanaka, Taro Hattori, Sean McFarland, Kari Orvik and Kelli Yon. Through October 27. More information at http://theintersection.org/2012/07/visual-arts-lost-and-found/

INTERNATIONAL ORANGE AT FORT POINT
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, The For-Site Foundation’s “International Orange” – named in honor of the unique paint color of the span – offers fresh perspectives on an enduring landmark. This exhibition at Fort Point presents new work by contemporary artists responding to the bridge as icon, historic structure, and conceptual inspiration. Contributing artists – Anandamayi Arnold, Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, Bill Fontana, Andy Freeberg, Doug Hall, Courtney Lain, David Liittschwager, Abelardo Morell, Cornelia Parker, Kate Pocrass, Jeannene Przyblyski, Allison Smith, Stephanie Syjuco, Camille Utterback, and Pae White – approach the bridge with diverse and distinctively individual aesthetics, materials, and points of view. Some investigate the bridge’s history – real or imagined – while others contemplate the natural history of the environment around it, exploring the conditions of water and weather particular to the Golden Gate. Some convey the grandeur of this monumental structure; others document the everyday details that bring it down to human scale. Many works consider a combination of these factors, either directly or metaphorically. Through October 28. More details at http://www.international-orange.org/

BARRY MCGEE AT THE BERKELEY ART MUSEUM
“Throughout his career,” writes Alex Baker in the exhibition catalog, “Barry McGee has continued to surprise and contradict expectations.” Including rarely seen early etchings, letterpress printing trays and liquor bottles painted with his trademark cast of down-and-out urban characters, constellations of vibrant op-art painted panels, animatronic taggers, and an elaborate re-creation of a cacophonous street-corner bodega, along with many new projects, this first midcareer survey of the globally influential San Francisco–based artist showcases the astonishing range of McGee’s compassionate and vivacious work. Through December 9. More information athttp://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/mcgee

“ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24
“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space. “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity. Through February 2013. By advance appointment only. More information athttp://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

Guilty pleasures: Stocking up on tiny Kit Kats and Twix bars to savor long after Halloween is over; falling over laughing while watching “Spinal Tap;” Chocolate pot de cremes at Whole Foods; Two Dogs Dining athttp://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EVwlMVYqMu4

Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.

Charles Darwin

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Here’s what people have been writing about, as well as what people have been writing about us, for August and September 2012

Peter Orner on home ownership in San Francisco:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/who-owns-that-house/

Monica Campbell reports on press freedom in Venezuela for the Committee to Protect Journalists:

http://cpj.org/reports/2012/08/after-years-of-assault-venezuelas-independent-pres.php

Chris Colin spots a stranger $50, and recounts the ridiculousness that followed in the New York Times:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/i-o-u-and-u-and-u/

Christopher Cook on Congress’ plans to cut billions from food stamps: http://www.alternet.org/food/congress-set-take-food-aid-away-millions-hungry-americans

Laura Fraser writes about finding herself becoming too judgmental, in Spirituality & Health magazine:

http://www.spiritualityhealth.com

Jessica Carew Kraft reviews the Phantoms of Asia exhibition at the Asian Art Museum for Art AsiaPacific:

http://www.artasiapacific.com

Janis Cooke Newman travels down-under in search of true Aussie cuisine:

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/12/travel/la-tr-adelaide-20120812

Lorraine Sanders sizes up wearable technology for her latest Style Bytes column in the SF Chronicle:

http://www.sfgate.com/style/stylebytes/article/Pebble-focuses-on-building-a-better-smart-watch-3794372.php

Julia Flynn Siler writes about Hawai’i’s “Forbidden Island” of Ni’ihau: http:

http://juliaflynnsiler.com/2012/08/how-an-1863-petition-from-niihau-re-surfaced-in-san-francisco/

Meghan Ward interviews the editor of Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women:

http://meghanward.com/blog/2012/07/19/love-inshallah-the-secret-love-lives-of-american-muslim-women/

Anne Zimmerman’s essay, “Love With A Side of Ketchup” published in Remedy Quarterly:

http://remedyquarterly.com/

DAVID’S NEW BOOK “WHEN I’M 164″ LAUNCHES THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7!

Come to the launch party for longtime Grottoite David Ewing Duncan’s new book on September 7!  The book is “When I’m 164: The new science of radical life extension and what happens if it succeeds” (TED Books – ebook). The party is at Modernism, 685 Market Street in San Francisco, 5:30-7:30pm. For more details on the party, press, and reviews, and on the book itself, go to: http://www.whenim164.com. Also, check out David’s recent essay “How Long Do You Want to Live?” on the book in the New York Times Sunday Review: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/sunday-review/how-long-do-you-want-to-live.html?_r=2

FRESH FALL WRITING CLASSES FROM THE GROTTO START THIS MONTH!

Take your writing back to school with these classes – all taught by working writers. From political writing to the mechanics of voice, honing your memoir to flash fiction, the dark art of pitching to screenwriting, how to write a novel (and not quit half-way through) to the personal essay - Writers’ Grotto classes are the BEST OF THE BAY (as voted by SF Magazine).

With more than 15 classes a week, plus weekend workshops, there’s something for every fiction and nonfiction writer.

Visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster to see all their class descriptions. But hurry, the fall session begins September 17 and classes are filling fast!

AND IF YOU CAN’T WAIT TO TAKE A CLASS — LAURA TEACHES NARRATIVE NON-FICTION STARTING WEDNESDAY!

Get a jump on the fall classes with Grottoite Laura Fraser’s 4-Week Narrative Non-Fiction Toolbox class, beginning Wednesday, September 5.

Info here: http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster/narrative-non-fiction-toolbox-with-laura-fraser-95-926

PAUL READS FROM HIS NEW BOOK “HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED” ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Former Grottoite and New York Times Magazine contributing editor Paul Tough returns to the west for two readings of his new book.  ”How Children Succeed” is an in-depth probe into what allows some children to succeed where others fail. Tough questioning whether success is driven more by  intelligence or by more complicated, immeasurable aspects of a child’s character.  Wednesday, September 12, 7:00 p.m. at Books Inc. 601 Van Ness, San Francisco, and Saturday, September 15, 3:00 p.m. at Kepler’s Books, 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park.  More information at: http://www.paultough.com/
LAURA, ANNE, JOHN, CONNIE, AND JD FEATURED AT “EAT MY WORDS” AT THE MCLOUGHLIN GALLERY ON SEPTEMBER 27

Don’t miss a fascinating, one-of-a-kind experience at “EAT MY WORDS,” on Thursday night, September 27th – a taste of art, stories, film, and food.  On the menu are the delectable writings of Grottoites Laura Fraser, Anne Zimmerman, Connie Hale, and Frank Norris (read by John Engell), accompanied by new films by JD Beltran, a cooking performance by Justin Hoover, and a tasting menu with the subject food cooked and served to the audience during the readings.  Courses include scrambled eggs with tabasco, scones with butter and jam, fried Spam, and selections from the gluttonous MCTEAGUE wedding banquet.  Don’t miss this sensory feast at the McLoughlin Gallery at 49 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA, Thursday, September 27th, at 7:00 pm.  Details to come at http://www.mgart.com/exhibit-detail.php?id=246&title=PERFORMANCE+EVENTS

WRITE AT THE GROTTO — THE GROTTO FELLOWSHIP READING PERIOD IS THIS MONTH!

Would you like to be a writer at the Grotto for six months? September is the reading period for the 2013 Grotto Fellowship program. The fellowship program is a new program dedicated to fostering emerging writers. It is open to writers of every genre, including fiction, nonfiction memoir, journalism, poetry, dramatic writing, etc.  Writers who have demonstrated a commitment to their craft, but who are not yet widely published, are invited to apply for one of up to three low-rent workspaces reserved for fellows. If interested, see details on our website http://www.sfgrotto.org/grotto-fellowship

CAROLINE READS AT THE “WHY THERE ARE WORDS” SERIES ON SEPTEMBER 13

Grottoite Caroline Paul and six other writers will be reading at “Why There Are Words,” recently voted Best of the Bay Reading Series 2012, on September 13th at 7 pm.  Studio 333, 333 Caledonia Street, Sausalito, CA.  More information at http://whytherearewords.com

JULIA A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE HAWAIIAN HISTORY CONFERENCE ON SEPTEMBER 15

Grotto dweller Julia Flynn Siler, author of “Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Adventure,” will be a keynote speaker at the Distinctive Women in Hawaiian History conference at Honolulu’s Mission Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, September 15th. This event is sponsored by the Hawaii Council for the Arts. Julia will also be a guest on Hawaii Public Radio’s “The Conversation” morning talk show on September 14th, which streams live at http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/jwplayer/listen_kipo.html. She will address students and teachers at the Kamehameha Schools, the leading institution for educating native Hawaiians (http://www.ksbe.edu/), as well as to speak at the University of Hawaii and the Bishop Museum (http://www.bishopmuseum.org/.) “Lost Kingdom,” a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller, is due out in paperback in January 15, 2013. Please visit http://juliaflynnsiler.com/events/ for more details.

LAVINIA KICKS OFF “WEEKDAY WANDERLUST” TRAVEL READING SERIES ON SEPTEMBER 24TH

Grottoite Lavinia Spalding, along with partners Kimberley Lovato and Don George, are pleased to present WEEKDAY WANDERLUST, a new travel reading series. The monthly event takes place at the REX hotel at 562 Sutter Street in downtown San Francisco, and will feature prominent travel writers as well as newer voices. The first event kicks off on September 24th, from 6-8 pm, and features four readers: AFAR Magazine’s Editor in Chief Julia Cosgrove, San Francisco Chronicle Travel editor Spud Hilton, Travelers’ Tales editor Larry Habegger, and Lonely Planet editor Don George.

This event is free to the public. There will be complimentary light appetizers, giveaways, a cash bar, and good times.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weekday-Wanderlust/301859366574962

Twitter: @sfwanderlusters

CONNE AND ZOE AT THE “FIRST PERSON PLURAL: CRAFTING STORIES FROM OUR LIVES” WORKSHOP IN VERMONT

In this intimate and unusual workshop at Greensboro and Hardwick, Vermont, held October 9 and 10, writers will work under the guidance of Grottoites Zoe FitzGerald Carter and Constance Hale, who have published memoirs and first-person essays in Vogue, Health, Honolulu, The Atlantic, and O. The workshop begins Tuesday night, at The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, where Connie will talk about her new book (Vex, Hex, Smash, Smooch) and share surprising insights about what makes writing come alive on the page. After a Vermont breakfast at the Carter’s lakeside cabin, Zoe and Connie will spend Wednesday working with writers on their pieces, in a mix of guided writing, critique sessions, coaching, and private writing time. The day will close with a dinner at Claire’s restaurant in Hardwick, and a reading by all participants at the Galaxy. The workshop fee of $100 includes breakfast, lunch, and the readings. Lodging is available for an additional fee. http://www.sinandsyntax.com/greensboro-writers-retreat/

CALLING ALL ARTFUL JOURNALISTS!  JOIN TOP EDITORS AND GROTTO WRITERS AT UC BERKELEY ON NOVEMBER 10

Registration for the “East Meets West” conference, organized by Grottoite Connie Hale, is now open to writers eager to explore the urgent questions facing literary journalists: How can I tell better stories? How can I pitch ideas so that editors will snatch them up? How can social media and multimedia enhance long-form writing? Which parts of “the craft” can I practice more expertly? The conference will be limited to 60 participants to ensure meaningful connections.

Editors include Alan Burdick (The New Yorker), Tom Curwen (Los Angeles Times), Whitney Dangerfield (The New York Times), Vanessa Mobley (Random House), Peggy Northrup (WorkReimagined.org), Evan Ratliff (The Atavist), John Tayman (Byliner), Osacar Villalon (Zyzzyva), Bill Wasik (Wired). Writers include Grotto members Monica Campbell, Chris Colin, Laura Fraser, Connie Hale, Rachel Howard, Yukari Kane, Laura McClure, and Bonnie Tsui. In a bonus evening program (free and open to the public), Grottoite Julia Flynn Siler will lead authors Adam Hochschild and T.J. Stiles in a conversation about writing riveting history.

“East Meets West: A Gathering of Literary Journalists”
Nov. 10, 2012, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Evening program 8 to 9:30 pm.
Information and registration: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/events/details/757/

CHRIS RUNNING COMMUNICATIONS FOR BERKELEY’S MEASURE S

Grottoite Christopher Cook’s Progressive Message is running communications for Berkeley’s campaign to defeat Measure S, which would make it illegal to sit on a commercial sidewalk in Berkeley, the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement. He just got coverage in the Daily Cal: http://www.dailycal.org/2012/08/29/controversy-arises-from-sit-lie-measure/.  On Twitter: @righttositdownn. Chris also just finished the full draft of his next book, Postcards for Kerouac, and is seeking agents now.

JOIN LAURA IN ITALY FOR WRITING AND FOOD THIS SPRING IN MAY

Longtime Grotto dweller Laura Fraser is teaching An Italian Writing Affair in Umbria, Italy in May, 2013. Start planning that spring sojourn to Italy and come have a taste of la bella vita with Laura with a combination writing workshop and culinary adventure. http://www.eat-write-travel.com/umbria.html

THIS MONTH AT BOOKSMITH

Noteworthy Events from our Friends at the Booksmith:
Monday, September 10, 7:30 PM
SETH ROSENFELD
SUBVERSIVES: The FBI’s War on Student Radicals and Reagan’s Rise to Power
in conversation with Oscar Villalon
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/seth-rosenfeld-subversivesin-conversation-oscar-villalon

Wednesday, September 12, 7:30 PM
SYLVIE SIMMONS
I’M YOUR MAN:The Life of Leonard Cohen
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/sylvie-simmons-i%E2%80%99m-your-man-life-leonard-cohen

Thursday, September 13, 7:30 PM
T. GERONIMO JOHNSON
HOLD IT ‘TIL IT HURTS
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/t-geronimo-johnson-hold-it-til-it-hurts

Friday, September 14, 7:30 PM
RICHARD KADREY
DEVIL SAID BANG
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/richard-kadrey-devil-said-bang

Thursday, September 20, 7:30 PM
A CELEBRATION OF DAVID FOSTER WALLACE
D.T. MAX
EVERY LOVE STORY IS A GHOST STORY: A Life of David Foster Wallace
Read more: http://www.booksmith.com/event/d-t-max-every-love-story-ghost-story-life-david-foster-wallace

———————————————-
JD’s Art Picks for September 2012

“ABOUT FACE” AT PIER 24
“About Face,” an exhibition now showing at the stunning Pier 24 photography gallery, focuses on the tradition of portrait-based photography. On view are nearly one thousand photographs drawn primarily from the Pilara Foundation’s permanent collection. “Revelations” – the Diane Arbus retrospective at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – inspired the purchase of the Foundation’s first photograph, a portrait from her challenging and emotive “Untitled” series. The emotional intensity characterizing this photograph has informed subsequent acquisitions for the collection, which are aptly highlighted by the huge, meditative gallery space.  “About Face” encompasses wide-ranging approaches to portraiture from the mid-nineteenth century to present-day, from August Sander’s “Face of Our Time” to Richard Avedon’s “The Family,” to Jim Goldberg’s “Rich and Poor” and Larry Sultan’s “SF Society,” all of which consider the socio-economic divide in San Francisco. Through a series of 66 self-portraits by Lee Friedlander from the past 50 years, one encounters many of the themes that have come to characterize his practice. Self-examination is also the focal point in selected works by Cindy Sherman, Gillian Wearing, Yasumasa Morimura, and Tomoko Sawada, in which the artists alter their appearances to challenge traditional notions of identity.  Through February, 2013.  By advance appointment only.  More information at http://www.pier24.org/exhibition/current.html

BARRY MCGEE AT THE BERKELEY ART MUSEUM
“Throughout his career,” writes Alex Baker in the exhibition catalog, “Barry McGee has continued to surprise and contradict expectations.” Including rarely seen early etchings, letterpress printing trays and liquor bottles painted with his trademark cast of down-and-out urban characters, constellations of vibrant op-art painted panels, animatronic taggers, and an elaborate re-creation of a cacophonous street-corner bodega, along with many new projects, this first midcareer survey of the globally influential San Francisco–based artist showcases the astonishing range of McGee’s compassionate and vivacious work.  Through December 9.  More information at http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/mcgee

RE(COLLECTION) – A COLLABORATION WITH LOST AND FOUND:  FAMILY PHOTOS SWEPT BY THE 3.11 EAST JAPAN TSUNAMI
After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake hit, a massive tsunami swept away houses, and everything that was inside them. As the search for survivors ended and attention turned to the clean up mission, Self-Defense forces, firemen, and policemen who were in Tohoku to help survivors began to pick up photos they found in the mud, and to store them in an elementary school gymnasium. Two months after the earthquake hit, a group called the “Memory Salvage Project” began to sort out the more than 750,000 photos and prepare them for return to their owners.  The images were cleaned and digitized by volunteers who came from Tokyo and other parts of Japan. The photographs you see here are part of photos recovered from the city of Yamomoto. Presented alongside new work by Mark Baugh-Sasaki, Ariel Goldberg, Mayumi Hamanaka, Taro Hattori, Sean McFarland, Kari Orvik and Kelli Yon.  Through October 27.  More information at http://theintersection.org/2012/07/visual-arts-lost-and-found/

DAVID SHRIGLEY AT THE YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The work of David Shrigley effortlessly infuses a comedic sensibility into a serious fine art practice. “David Shrigley: Brain Activity” showcases the diversity of the artist’s work – seemingly amateurish, crude drawings, sculptures made of unusual materials, and installations characterized by incongruities of scale – offering insightful and often surreal commentary on the absurdities of life, death and everything in between. Irreverent and mischievous, Shrigley’s art presents the kind of odd scenarios you never come across in real life, but wish you did. “David Shrigley: Brain Activity,” curated by Cliff Lauson of the Hayward Gallery, London, is the largest survey of the artist’s work to date, and features groupings of drawings and paintings on paper, a variety of sculptures, several installations, sets of photographs and a selection of animations. Organized by Hayward Gallery, London and curated by Cliff Lauson. Through September 23. http://www.ybca.org/david-shrigley

“MAN RAY/LEE MILLER:  PARTNERS IN SURREALISM” AT THE LEGION OF HONOR
One of my all-time favorite artists and a pioneer in photographic processes, Man Ray revolutionized photography with his blending of the surrealistic aesthetic with the darkroom black and white photograph.  Don’t miss this gorgeous show, which includes his iconic images, as well as the equally compelling works of his artistic contemporary and muse Lee Miller.  Through October 14.  More at http://www.legionofhonor.org

INTERNATIONAL ORANGE AT FORT POINT
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, The For-Site Foundation’s “International Orange” – named in honor of the unique paint color of the span – offers fresh perspectives on an enduring landmark. This exhibition at Fort Point presents new work by contemporary artists responding to the bridge as icon, historic structure, and conceptual inspiration. Contributing artists – Anandamayi Arnold, Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, Bill Fontana, Andy Freeberg, Doug Hall, Courtney Lain, David Liittschwager, Abelardo Morell, Cornelia Parker, Kate Pocrass, Jeannene Przyblyski, Allison Smith, Stephanie Syjuco, Camille Utterback, and Pae White – approach the bridge with diverse and distinctively individual aesthetics, materials, and points of view. Some investigate the bridge’s history – real or imagined – while others contemplate the natural history of the environment around it, exploring the conditions of water and weather particular to the Golden Gate. Some convey the grandeur of this monumental structure; others document the everyday details that bring it down to human scale. Many works consider a combination of these factors, either directly or metaphorically. Through October 28. More details at http://www.international-orange.org/

Guilty pleasures: Old “Mission Impossible” episodes (especially the fantastic fashion of actress Barbara Bain); a $10 shopping spree at See’s candies (California Brittle, Marzipan, Molasses Chips, and Kona Mocha, yumm); almost any film at the Embarcadero Theaters; a trip to the Camera Obscura (hopefully open) by the Cliff House on a sunny day; San Diego’s entire Fourth of July Fireworks show accidentally all set off at once (a 30 minute show ignited, and done in 15 seconds) at http://instagram.com/p/Mr-nJqKJBv/

Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.

Clint Eastwood

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!

Here’s what people have been writing about, as well as what people have been writing about us, for July and August 2012

Jessica C. Kraft visits Stanford’s Calming Technology lab and class for the New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/education/edlife/students-at-stanford-work-on-apps-that-alleviate-stress.html

On Marketplace, Julia Scott profiles three homeless citizens in the city by the bay, who share how easy it is to lose the roof over your head.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/wealth-poverty/downward-spiral-homeless-san-francisco

Lorraine Sanders explores the bra market’s new e-commerce breast friends for Fast Company.

http://ow.ly/cvcD6

E.B. Boyd looks at how employee influence will be part of the performance review of the future.

http://www.fastcompany.com/1842019/evaluating-employees-based-on-influence

Rachel Levin zens out at Tassajara, like all the technoholics are doing these days.

http://www.sunset.com/m/travel/california/tassajara-zen-center-00418000078196/

Monica Campbell explores Cuba’s book world above and below ground for PRI’s The World.

http://www.theworld.org/2012/07/cuba-underground-books

Laura Fraser offers videos on writing dialogue…

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=FLZdBx6RhSDBm1mRsrRKow6g&feature=mh_lolz,

…and handling scene, summary and musing.

Meghan Ward learns five things about memoir. http://bit.ly/MJ234d

Anne Zimmerman writes about her grandfather’s famous BBQ sauce and a boyfriend who turned up his nose at the recipe in the Summer 2012 issue of Meatpaper Magazine.

Bonnie Tsui enrolls at cocktail flight school at Hangar One for The Boston Globe.

http://t.co/Vhf3mNFV

THE GROTTO’S 642 THINGS TO WRITE ABOUT TO BE FEATURED AT 826 VALENCIA’S 8/26 DAY!

Help us raise money for 826 Valencia by rounding up pledges for 8/26 Day (yes, people will pay you to write!), then join us at 826 Valencia on Sunday, August 26 at noon for a fun, fast-paced one-hour free-write class based on the Grotto’s book, 642 Things to Write About. $25 with all proceeds going to 826 Valencia. When you’re finished writing, pick up a copy of the book – 826 Valencia, gets a portion of the book cost as well. Get all the details here http://826valencia.org/826-news/third-annual-826-valencia-write-a-thon/

DAVID’S NEWEST “WHEN I’M 164,” OUT ON AUGUST 15!

Grotto dweller David Ewing Duncan’s new book is coming out on August 15. It’s a TED Books “short” titled, “WHEN I’M 164: The new science of radical life extension, and what happens if it succeeds.” Updating the classic Beatle’s song for the 21st century, the book goes over the pluses and minuses of life at age 164, and talks about the science that might make this possible. This eBook will be available through the TED Books app – and on Amazon, Nook, and the Atavist. Also check out the website http://www.whenim164.com, and answer the question: “How long do you want to live, and why?”   Kudos to David!

LAVINIA’S NEW COLLECTION OF TRAVEL WRITING OUT THIS MONTH

Grottoite Lavinia Spalding’s new collection, “The Best Women’s Travel Writing, Volume 8,” comes out this month. The annual award-winning series published by Traveler’s Tales showcases outstanding nonfiction travel essays by women. This is the second year Lavinia has edited the anthology. The 32 essays in this edition includes one by long-time grotto dweller Laura Fraser.  For more information, see http://www.travelerstales.com/catalog/bwtw2012/ and www.laviniaspalding.com .  Congratulations to Lavinia!

OUR FABULOUS FALL SESSION OF CLASSES OPENS THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17!

(visit http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster for details and to register for all classes)

In the meantime… close out summer with one of these 4 terrific weekend workshops…

Short Story Bootcamp (Sunday, August 5)

Writing a Great Memoir: What You Need to Know (Saturday, August 18)

Sunday Morning Fiction Intensive (with bagels & coffee!)  (Sunday, August 19)

Yoga 4 Writers with Mark Morford (Saturday, August 25)

Then get a jump on fall with this 4 week class…

Narrative Nonfiction: Toolbox, Wednesday evenings beginning September 5th.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR CONNIE’S UC BERKELEY CONFERENCE ON NARRATIVE JOURNALISM

On November 10, 2012, the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley will host a groundbreaking conference on narrative journalism. Called “East Meets West: A Gathering of Literary Journalists,” it will bring together top editors and award-winning writers from both East and West Coasts for a high-powered, high-octane conversation about where to find – and how to write – ambitious nonfiction storytelling, from New Yorker features to Kindle singles to book-length memoirs. The audience is limited to 60 seasoned writers, at a cost of $250. The mix of keynotes, panels, small workshops, and chances to talk over lunch and cocktails is intended to foster not just conversation, but meaningful connections. Grottoite Connie Hale is the chair of the conference, and The Grotto is a co-sponsor. Registration begins September 15. For more information: http://www.sinandsyntax.com/classes-and-events/.

CHRIS WRITES ABOUT FOOD STAMPS, AND MORE

Grotto dweller Christopher Cook writes about the economic and humanitarian disaster of cutting food stamps: http://www.alternet.org/food/congress-set-take-food-aid-away-millions-hungry-americans

Christopher also is promoting his new consultancy, Progressive Message, offering communications and research consulting for individuals and institutions. Drop him a line and visit his new site, http://www.theprogressivemessage.org.  Chris is almost done writing his road adventure book, Postcards for Kerouac, and will be scouting for an agent soon!
JD AND SCOTT CREATE A CINEMA SNOWGLOBE

Grotto dweller JD Beltran and her collaborator Scott Minneman are in the final stages of creating two new projects for The Workshop Residence – a new iPad art application and a Cinema Snowglobe!  Check out the marriage of traditional art forms with new technology at
http://www.theworkshopresidence.com and watch this space for the announcement of their opening reception at The Workshop in September!

———————————————————————————–
JD’s Art Picks for August 2012

LAST CALL FOR THE INCREDIBLE JEAN PAUL GAULTIER EXHIBITION AT THE M.H. DE YOUNG – ENDS AUGUST 19
“The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier” sounds like it might be another fashionista dress show, but it’s hugely more than that – Gaultier is, at heart, an artist, and the fashions he creates exhibit at times astonishing invention and craftsmanship (including some for mature audiences!)  The grand staged entry to the show is particularly compelling, with its take on video artist Tony Oursler’s technique of projecting disturbingly realizing talking video faces on blank cloth doll fashion models.  Don’t miss it!  Through August 19th.  http://www.thinker.org

“MAN RAY/LEE MILLER:  PARTNERS IN SURREALISM” AT THE LEGION OF HONOR
One of my all-time favorite artists and a pioneer in photographic processes, Man Ray revolutionized photography with his blending of the surrealistic aesthetic with the darkroom black and white photograph.  Don’t miss this gorgeous show, which includes his iconic images, as well as the equally compelling works of his artistic contemporary and muse Lee Miller.  Through October 14.  More at http://www.lefionofhonor.org

“PHANTOMS OF ASIA” AT THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM
Highlighted by a giant breathing lotus flower installed at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, 60 other contemporary pieces play off and connect with the museum’s prized historical objects in “Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past,” an expansive and ambitious show that is open through September. “Ancient Chinese and Indian devotional sculptures, created by anonymous artisans to access the divine, and 19th century Tibetan thangka paintings depicting the cosmos share space with contemporary works such as the sublime-seeking minimalist abstract paintings and light boxes of Tibetan-born artist Palden Weinreb. A section of the show about death and the afterlife brings together the 17th century Korean scroll painting “A King of Hell” – which portrays the underworld and the cyclical Buddhist view of death and reincarnation – and a seriocomic video by Thai artist Araya Radsjarmrearnsook called “The Class.” It shows the artist talking about death to a group of shrouded corpses.” (Jesse Hamlin, San Francisco Chronicle). Through September 2. $7-$12. Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St, S.F. (415) 581-3500. More at http://www.asianart.org.

DAVID SHRIGLEY AT THE YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The work of David Shrigley effortlessly infuses a comedic sensibility into a serious fine art practice. David Shrigley: Brain Activity showcases the diversity of the artist’s work – seemingly amateurish, crude drawings, sculptures made of unusual materials, and installations characterized by incongruities of scale – offering insightful and often surreal commentary on the absurdities of life, death and everything in between. Irreverent and mischievous, Shrigley’s art presents the kind of odd scenarios you never come across in real life, but wish you did. David Shrigley: Brain Activity, curated by Cliff Lauson of the Hayward Gallery, London, is the largest survey of the artist’s work to date, and features groupings of drawings and paintings on paper, a variety of sculptures, several installations, sets of photographs and a selection of animations. Organized by Hayward Gallery, London and curated by Cliff Lauson. Through September 23. http://www.ybca.org/david-shrigley

INTERNATIONAL ORANGE
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, The For-Site Foundation’s International Orange – named in honor of the unique paint color of the span – offers fresh perspectives on an enduring landmark. This exhibition at Fort Point presents new work by contemporary artists responding to the bridge as icon, historic structure, and conceptual inspiration. Contributing artists – Anandamayi Arnold, Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, Bill Fontana, Andy Freeberg, Doug Hall, Courtney Lain, David Liittschwager, Abelardo Morell, Cornelia Parker, Kate Pocrass, Jeannene Przyblyski, Allison Smith, Stephanie Syjuco, Camille Utterback, and Pae White – approach the bridge with diverse and distinctively individual aesthetics, materials, and points of view. Some investigate the bridge’s history – real or imagined – while others contemplate the natural history of the environment around it, exploring the conditions of water and weather particular to the Golden Gate. Some convey the grandeur of this monumental structure; others document the everyday details that bring it down to human scale. Many works consider a combination of these factors, either directly or metaphorically. Through October 28. More details athttp://www.international-orange.org/

Guilty pleasures: Toasting marshmallows at a summer campground (and eating the crusty outside, then re-toasting the gooey inside); Trader Joe’s chocolate-covered potato chips (milk chocolate, salty, crunchy bliss); re-visiting a screening of Spinal Tap; testing your speed and vocabulary skills with a game of Boggle; the “Good week for…” and “Bad week for…” sections of The Week; any episode of “Breaking Bad.”

A mistake is simply another way of doing things.

Katherine Graham

The latest monthly news and highlights from what’s been happening at The Grotto lately:

HOT OFF THE PRESSES FROM THE GROTTO!
Here’s what people have been writing about, as well as what people have been writing about us, for May and June 2012

E.B. Boyd takes a look at how, in 8 short years, Facebook changed everything we do:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1837657/facebook-innovation-how-the-social-network-changed-everything-you-do-in-8-short-years

Chris Colin learns on a thousand-mile bike ride that they they lie to us about travel, too…

http://www.7×7.com/arts-culture/what-happens-when-your-epic-journey-ends-and-all-thats-changed-scenery

Christopher Cook examines “The Wages of Words” in The Progressive: http://progressive.org/wages_of_words.html

Michael Coren reports for The Economist that crowdsourcing is transforming the science of psychology:

http://www.economist.com/node/21555876

Isaac Fitzgerald writes about being in love in San Francisco: http://www.berfrois.com/2012/05/isaac-fitzgerald-love-in-san-francisco/

Constance Hale writes about elegant–and inelegant–phrasing, for the New York Times:http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/turning-a-phrase/

Rachel Levin dubs NoPa the next Mission, without burritos:

http://nyti.ms/KdJeJ4

Lorraine Sanders writes about 3D printing technology’s arrival on fashion runways in Digital Style Digest:http://www.digitalstyledigest.com/2012/05/meet-the-worlds-first-3d-printing-fashion-shows/

Meghan Ward interviews author Melanie Gideon about her new novel, Wife 22:http://meghanward.com/blog/2012/05/29/author-interview-melanie-gideon/

CELEBRATE PETER’S AWARD AT THE 81ST ANNUAL CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARDS ON JUNE 7

The 81st Annual California Book Awards ceremony will be held at the Commonwealth Club next Thursday, June 7. The Grotto’s own Peter Orner will be honored with the Silver Medal in Fiction for his wonderful novel, Love and Shame and Love. Jack Boulware is the emcee. It should be a fun evening – more information athttp://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2012-06-07/81st-annual-california-book-awards. Congratulations to Peter!

MARK RELEASES HIS NEW FILM “WATERSHED: A NEW WATER ETHIC FOR THE NEW WEST”

Grottoite Mark Decena has released his new film “Watershed: A New Water Ethic for the New West.”  The film, produced by the Redford Center and Kontent Films, and narrated by Robert Redford, is being used as part of a larger grassroots effort to save the Colorado River delta and gain support for communities throughout the river basin.  It tells the story of the threats to the once-mighty Colorado River and offers solutions for the future of the American West.  You can view the trailer here: http://watershedmovie.com/trailer/ Find out about future screenings here: http://watershedmovie.com/get-involved/find-a-screening/ Congratulations to Mark!

ANNE HIGHLIGHTS WORKS OF M.F.K. FISHER IN HER LATEST BOOK

Grottoite Anne Zimmerman selected and introduced the pieces in the new book, M.F.K. Fisher: Musings on Wine and Other Libations. One of the greatest 20th century food writers, M.F.K. Fisher produced a legendary body of work that contains many references to wine. Her passionate declarations of the pleasures of good food and drink were culture changing, and she elevated the status of wine in the United States. But a collection of Fisher’s writings about wine and other libations had never been published in one place until now: http://www.booksmith.com/book/9781402778131Congratulations, Anne!

THE RUMPUS PROUDLY PRESENTS: “LETTERS IN THE MAIL: A CELEBRATION OF WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE” ON JUNE 4

The Rumpus is having a Celebration of Written Correspondence on Monday at the Verdi Club. It’s going to be fun with readings, comedy, music, and a performance of famous letters! Readings by Lorelei Lee, Ariana Reines, D.A. Powell, and artist MariNaomi! Comedy by Nato Green! Music by David Berkeley! A performance of literary letters by The Rumpus Ensemble Players! Plus typewriters to type your own letters! We’ll even mail the letters for you! Come early (doors at 6:30pm) and pound some keys! Also chances to win great prizes in our porn raffle! $10, cheap! You can’t afford not to go. Hosted by Rumpus editor/Grotto alum Stephen Elliott. Monday, June 4th at The Verdi Club (2424 Mariposa Street), 6:30pm. More info at http://therumpus.net/2012/04/a-celebration-of-written-correspondence/ and tickets athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/242084

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SUMMER WRITING CLASSES! CLASSES BEGIN JUNE 20TH

Writing the Travel Memoir…. Poetry…. Personal Essay…. Biography…. Short Story Workshop…. our first MFA-level Fiction class…. the Non-Fiction Doctor…. Writing for Political Advocacy…. Getting Noticed in the Publishing World… Yoga 4 Writers

The Grotto has a whole new collection of classes for summer – classes begin June 20th!

Find them here http://www.sfgrotto.org/classes/current-class-roster

CONNIE TELLS STORIES WITH HANDS AND HIPS IN NYC ON JUNE 21

On June 21, Grottoite Connie Hale joins Kamy Wicoff, the founder of She Writes, and other dancing scribes on stage in Manhattan to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Girls Write Now, an award-winning afterschool program that combines mentoring and writing for girls. Wicoff will lead a hip-hop number to the music of Missy Elliott, sharing the stage with Amy Ferris, Amy Brill, Deborah Siegel, and Martha Southgate. Hale will hula, Alexandra Enders will tango, kids from St. Ann’s will do a Bollywood number, and Suzzy Roche will sing about how she always wanted to dance. A dance party will follow the show. Dancing With the Scribes: Thursday, June 21, 2012, 6:30 to 10:30 PM (Eastern) at Santos Party House, 96 Lafayette Street, NYC.

Almost 100 percent of ticket price goes to Girls Write Now, and you can donate even if you can’t attend: http://dancingwiththescribes.eventbrite.com/

JOIN TEAM LAURA, MARY ROACH AND JEFF GREENWALD IN A GAME OF DICTIONARY AT THE BOOKSMITH ON JULY 10

Words& Pizza–Game night at The Booksmith, July 10, 7:00 p.m., $20. Join Team Laura (Grottoite Laura Fraser, Grotto alum Mary Roach, and Jeff Greenwald) battle out Team Pireeni (Pireeni Sundaralingam, Ken Grobe, Elise Proulx) in a rousing game of Dictionary with plenty of audience participation–and pizza. www.booksmith.com

LAURA’S MEXICAN WRITING FIESTA BEGINS IN AUGUST

Laura’s Mexican Writing Fiesta, August 5-12. Join Grottoite Laura Fraser for a workshop in a luxurious colonial villa with a pool in sunny, safe, high-altitude San Miguel de Allende. Daily nonfiction writing workshop in intimate setting, cooking class, folk art, margaritas. http://bit.ly/KX7UmB

CHRIS LAUNCHES “THE PROGRESSIVE MESSAGE,” HIS NEW COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE

Grottoite Christopher Cook has launched a new communications consulting service called The Progressive Message! Chris has new articles out in California Lawyer, National Nurse, and OnEarth — check out “A Chemical of Concern” (http://www.onearth.org/article/a-chemical-of-concern). Chris organized a national statement of support for Occupy the Farm (http://bit.ly/JAFpMB), featuring dozens of nationally-known food writers and groups. He also organized an event at Mission Pie about the Farm Bill, featuring city supervisors and others. See his new website, http://www.theprogressivemessage.org for more on his editorial and communications services.

ISAAC AND WENDY MACNAUGHTON LAUNCH PEN & INK, A CELEBRATION OF THE TATOO

Grotto dweller Isaac Fitzgerald has launched Pen & Ink, a collaboration with artist Wendy MacNaughton that features tattoos and the stories behind them. Read more about it at http://penandink.tumblr.com/

MELANIE’S NOVEL, “WIFE 22,” ALREADY IN ITS SECOND PRINTING!

Grotto dweller Melanie Gideon’s novel, Wife 22, hit the shelves on May 29, and is already in its second printing. Sold in thirty countries and optioned by Working Title Films, Publishers Weekly calls Wife 22 a “superb first novel . . . with a nuanced emotional storyline” that makes “Gideon’s fiction debut shimmer.” Go tohttp://www.melaniegideon.com for more details on events and other information. Watch the book trailer for Wife 22: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOVmxKPzdcU

JD AT THE WORKSHOP RESIDENCE THROUGH JULY

Grottoite JD Beltran and her partner and collaborator Scott Minneman will be the artists-in-residence at The Workshop Residence, a new residency program in the Dogpatch neighborhood and the brainstorm of art philanthropist Ann Hatch (who launched the Capp Street Project, and the Oxbow School in Napa). Beginning in late June, JD and Scott commence working on two new interactive art projects, and will be exhibiting their past work at the Workshop Residence studio through July. More information at http://theworkshopresidence.com/

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE BOOKSMITH

Monday, June 4   7:30 PM
JUSTIN (Sh*it My Dad Says) HALPERN
I SUCK AT GIRLS

http://www.booksmith.com/event/justin-sht-my-dad-says-halpern-i-suck-girls

Tuesday, June 5   7:30 PM
WAJAHAT ALI and BARAKA BLUE
ALL AMERICAN: 45 American Men on Being Muslim

http://www.booksmith.com/event/wajahat-ali-and-baraka-blue-all-american-45-american-men-being-muslim

Thursday, June 7   7:30 PM
DANIEL (Robopocaylpse) WILSON
AMPED

http://www.booksmith.com/event/daniel-robopocalypse-wilson-amped

Monday, June 11   7:30 PM
DAN ARIELY
THE (HONEST) TRUTH ABOUT DISHONESTY: How We Lie to Everyone—Especially Ourselves

http://www.booksmith.com/event/arielyjune2012

Tuesday, June 12   7:30 PM
UK Reporter LINDSEY HILSUM
SANDSTORM: Libya in the Time of Revolution
(She was there.)

http://www.booksmith.com/event/lindsey-hilsum-sandstorm-libya-time-revolution

Wednesday, June 13   7:30 PM
STEPHANIE REENTS
THE KISSING LIST

http://www.booksmith.com/event/stephanie-reents-kissing-list

Monday, June 18   7:30 PM
AN EVENING ALL ABOUT OBSESSION WITH
SARAH TEREZ ROSENBLUM and ANNA PULLEY

http://www.booksmith.com/event/evening-all-about-obsession-sarah-terez-rosenblum-and-anna-pulley

Tuesday, June 19   7:30 PM
OWEN EGERTON
THE BOOK OF HAROLD: The Illegitimate Son of God

http://www.booksmith.com/event/owen-egerton-book-harold-illegitimate-son-god

Wednesday, June 20   6:30 – 8:30 PM
NOTES FROM A REVOLUTION: COM/CO., THE DIGGERS, & THE HAIGHT

http://www.booksmith.com/event/notes-revolution-comco-diggers-haight

Tuesday, June 26   7:30 PM
An Evening of Poetry & Stories with Friends and Colleagues
D.A. POWELL
USELESS LANDSCAPE, OR A GUIDE FOR BOYS
CATHERINE BRADY
CURLED IN THE BED OF LOVE

http://www.booksmith.com/event/da-powell-and-catherine-brady-evening-poetry-stories-friends-and-colleagues

Wednesday, June 27   7:30 PM
THE ART OF MEMORY for Names, Faces, and Pretty Much Everything Else
A Short Workshop with BRENT SVERDLOFF

http://www.booksmith.com/event/art-memory-names-faces-and-pretty-much-everything-else-short-workshop-brent-sverdloff

———————————-
JD’s Art Picks for June 2012

FRANCESCA PASTINE AT ELEANOR HARWOOD GALLERY

Continuing her brilliant body of work in repurposing old magazines, artist Francesca Pastine transforms ArtForum editions into gorgeous sculptures by painstakingly carving them with an x-acto knife. Don’t miss her latest show at Eleanor Harwood Gallery. Through July 7. 11-6 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Eleanor Harwood Gallery, 1295 Alabama St., S.F. (415) 867-7770. http://www.eleanorharwood.com.

WAYNE THIEBAUD AT JOHN BERGGRUEN
One of my all-time favorite painters, Wayne Thiebaud (now 91) is most well known for his gorgeous paintings of rainbow-hued San Francisco streetscapes as well as his luscious renditions of cakes and cookies, with paint as thick as frosting. Berggruen stages a retrospective of sorts of this internationally renowned painter in its latest show (which includes many paintings borrowed back from their owners, and only a few for sale). Wayne Thiebaud: Paintings and Pastels: Through July 7. John Berggruen Gallery, 228 Grant Ave., S.F. (415) 781-4629. More information at http://www.berggruen.com.

“PHANTOMS OF ASIA” AT THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM
Highlighted by a giant breathing lotus flower installed at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, 60 other contemporary pieces play off and connect with the museum’s prized historical objects in “Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past,” an expansive and ambitious show that is open through September. “Ancient Chinese and Indian devotional sculptures, created by anonymous artisans to access the divine, and 19th century Tibetan thangka paintings depicting the cosmos share space with contemporary works such as the sublime-seeking minimalist abstract paintings and light boxes of Tibetan-born artist Palden Weinreb. A section of the show about death and the afterlife brings together the 17th century Korean scroll painting “A King of Hell” — which portrays the underworld and the cyclical Buddhist view of death and reincarnation — and a seriocomic video by Thai artist Araya Radsjarmrearnsook called “The Class.” It shows the artist talking about death to a group of shroudedcorpses.” (Jesse Hamlin, San Francisco Chronicle). Through September 2. $7-$12. Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St, S.F. (415) 581-3500. More athttp://www.asianart.org.

INTERNATIONAL ORANGE
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, The For-Site Foundation’s International Orange — named in honor of the unique paint color of the span — offers fresh perspectives on an enduring landmark. This exhibition at Fort Point presents new work by contemporary artists responding to the bridge as icon, historic structure, and conceptual inspiration. Contributing artists — Anandamayi Arnold, Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood, Bill Fontana, Andy Freeberg, Doug Hall, Courtney Lain, David Liittschwager, Abelardo Morell, Cornelia Parker, Kate Pocrass, Jeannene Przyblyski, Allison Smith, Stephanie Syjuco, Camille Utterback, and Pae White — approach the bridge with diverse and distinctively individual aesthetics, materials, and points of view. Some investigate the bridge’s history — real or imagined — while others contemplate the natural history of the environment around it, exploring the conditions of water and weather particular to the Golden Gate. Some convey the grandeur of this monumental structure; others document the everyday details that bring it down to human scale. Many works consider a combination of these factors, either directly or metaphorically. Through October 28. More details at http://www.international-orange.org/

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR AT FORT MASON ON JULY 21-22
The quirky and fun Renegade Craft Fair returns to Fort Mason Center from 11am – 7pm each day, where you’ll find 250+ of today’s very best indie crafters, fun and creative hands-on workshops, music, food, booze + plenty more. More information athttp://www.renegadecraft.com/sanfrancisco-info

Guilty pleasures: The laugh-out-loud O Fortuna Misheard Lyrics piece at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIwrgAnx6Q8&feature=youtu.be
An afternoon playing the vintage arcade machines at Musee Mechanique. Contemplating the mesmerizing imagery of the Camera Obscura (http://www.giantcamera.com/ ). Hysterical high-speed photography of dogs under water athttp://www.sadanduseless.com/2012/02/dogs-under-water/ “Missed Connections” in Craigslist. A six-pack of Vernor’s tasty ginger ale.

People just think they have all the time in the world, but I have never thought that. I have it written into my will that my gravestone is going to say, “Fun! Fun! Fun! Death.”

Kara Swisher

The San Francisco Writers’ Grotto & Booksmith present: Grotto Nights!

Sunnyside Up: An Evening of No-Holds-Barred Optimism Friday May 18,  8 p.m. at the Historic Red Vic Movie House.

Spring fever’s in the air! Flowers and good reads are cropping up everywhere – it’s time to look on the sunny side…

Join the SF Writers’ Grotto, Booksmith & friends for a literary cabaret night filled with prose, hijinks, hula, comedy, rock and clown foolery.

Featuring:  Words by Beth Lisick, booty shaking rock by Baby & the Luvies, the Hawaiian hula charms of Constance Hale, sultry siren songs by Laura Fraser and Zoe FitzGerald Carter, poetry-inspired rhythms by Jason Roberts, comedic delights by Kasper Hauser and Gretchen & Dr. Schmidtt of Literary Clownfoolery, the one-man, one guitar madness of Larry Gallagher, storytelling by Rachel Lehmann-Haupt, Maw Shein Win, and Isaac “The Rumpus” Fitzgerald and more secret surprises….

*Popcorn
*Pop up bar
*Interactive audience storytelling
*Portion of proceeds to benefit 826 Valencia!

The nitty gritty:
Where: The Red Vic Movie House,1727 Haight Street, San Francisco
When: Friday May 18, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $10

get your tickets now:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/244730