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Jialin Luh Managing Editor When she isn't nerding out, Jialin enjoys art openings, crate digging, crafting, listening to music in pulsating headphones, watching skate videos and cutting rugs.
With an ear to the ground, this sneaker fiend/bass enthusiast seeks local designers and artists to shine the spotlight on. |
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 | A Cheery Treasure Trove There are plenty more pleasant holiday shopping experiences to be had than knocking elbows with competitive chain store shoppers. Rather than steering for the mall, there are plenty of local shops and boutiques to set your course for. One of the newest destinations on your list should be the new Chronicle Books store that opened Nov 8th on Union Street. Hitting its fortieth birthday this year, the San Francisco publishing house has finally expanded beyond its cozy floor space in the Metreon into a full-fledged bookstore and the results are to cheer for.More |  | Beauty: When Hacking Occurs Some of the most fascinating works of art come as a result of experimentation and endeavors in non-fine-arts related fields. Electrical engineer and “hardware hacker” Joe Grand has been dabbling with electronics for years, tweaking archaic computer systems and breathing new life into obsolete equipment. Though he’s been commissioned to create badges for computer security conventions, invents and designs consumer electronics and video gaming accessories, Grand has never thought of exhibiting his pieces as art. Now for the first time he’s displaying his work as an installation aptly named “When Electronics Become Art” at 20 goto 10.More |  | Good Stuffs Rather than writing disdainfully about Halloween’s descent into the masses’ sorry excuse for getting away with as much skank as possible in public, I’ve opted to write about something much more pleasurable: the opening of San Francisco’s very own Rare Device. Blossoming in the space formerly known as National Product on Market Street, Rare Device is Rena Tom’s West Coast treat of a shop that originated in Brooklyn.More |  | Delights for the Wondrous-Minded When fellow Banana Slugs Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom met at UC Santa Cruz over a decade ago it was a recipe for magic. The San Francisco natives fell in love and after graduation packed their bags and set sail for New York. Nearly eight years later they decided it was time to leave the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple to return home and channel their creative energies toward what has now become the Curiosity Shoppe: a magical collection of vintage and modern treasures topped off with a lovely window display currently inhabited by… bats!More |  | Communications and Inspirations in the Modern Age Unless you live in the rural countryside, chances are that you use email and/or a cell phone to stay in touch with people and to keep up-to-date with goings on in the world. Instant messaging programs and text messaging have morphed communication today into an often context-less space with lack of intonation and increased probability of mixed messages and miscommunication. SF Camerawork’s current exhibition, "There is Always a Machine Between Us", explores these new modes of communication propelled by the advent of the Internet, in methods and mediums that promise an intriguing visit and provide ample fodder for discussion in the aftermath.More |  | Shopping For a Cause I’ve never been one to drop money on logo-patterned handbags a la Louis Vuitton, Coach, Fendi, Gucci, etc. No, I’m more of a Dutchy, Balenciaga, Ferragamo, Marc Jacobs kind of girl. That being said, I have trouble justifying spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on handbags. Imagine if proceeds from your luxury handbag purchase could benefit a local charity. Regardless of your style preference, the upcoming [b]This Old Bag[/b] event at the W on October 19th presents exactly this opportunity.More |  | Making You Wish For Endless Winter Spend your winters here and summers in the Southern hemisphere and you can ride the slopes all-year-round. Alright, so we may not all have the luxury of chasing snow, but we ARE very fortunate to have Mountain West, a cozy gem of a shop at the junction of Division and 10th. This independently owned and operated joint stocks just about anything and everything you might need on your next expedition to Tahoe or, say, the slopes in Chile, and it’s never too early to start preparing.More |  | Luxurious Haircraft I have long looked forward to haircuts with childish glee and anticipation. However, it wasn’t until I converted to Mr. Pinkwhistle that I began to look forward to my cut and color appointments as a lavish, pampering visit in a luxurious, superbly designed space. Named after the storybook character Mr. Pink-whistle of English children’s writer Enid Blyton’s creation, this Nob Hill salon draws a varied clientele who have at least one thing in common: the desire to keep their style fresh and impeccable, and to enjoy the experience of getting there.More |  | Beautiful Revolution [b]Babylon[/b]: in Jamaica, this term is an all-encompassing euphemism for oppression and those who oppress. Take it from Jamaican native Sean Stewart, proprietor and mastermind behind Babylon Falling, a newish joint in the Tendernob district. With an overarching theme of revolution, this shop houses a unique and winsome combination of books, toys, skate decks, clothing and collectibles that provides one more reason to love San Francisco.More |  | The Art of Reverse Engineering What do disassembled wireless presenters, oscilloscopes, graphical representations of ones and zeroes, and destroyed muscle cars have in common? Reverse Engineering was probably not the first common thread to come to mind, but this theme is intriguingly explored in the fourth installation to grace the white walls of 20 goto10 gallery in Nob Hill. Spanning two long walls, this exhibit features the work of two local artists: Luis Miras and Spencer Mack.More |
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