Alex Hurt, Rod Gnapp, Daveed Diggs, and Melissa Quine perform this month at SF Playhouse in Martin McDonagh's 'A Behanding in Spokane'.

A rock musical starring the first “populist” President and founder of the Democratic party, a beautiful witch with a conscience struggling in Manhattan to weild her powers morally, and a play with a NSFW title are just a few of the plays coming to San Francisco.

SF Playhouse announced its tenth season, 2012-2013 season. The line-up includes 6 plays, and kicks off this October.

The mainstage season opens with rock musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, an election time visit with our first “populist” President, founder of the Democratic party, a rock star of his time, who left an indelible imprint on our American character.

For the Holiday season, a seldom performed American comedy, Bell, Book and Candle byJohn Van Druten takes the audience to mid-century Manhattan, where a beautiful witch with a conscience struggles to weild her powers morally.

Next up, Stephen Adly Guirgis’ – who more than any other playwright, has defined what San Francisco Playhouse has become – The Motherf***** With the Hat, a hit Broadway comedy of 12-step programs, personal responsibility and haberdashery.

Reasons to be Pretty, another Broadway hit by Neil LaBute (which we last saw at San Jose Stage Company), follows the rocky path of a working class guy who casually remarks that his girl’s looks are “just OK.”

Turning to the unique voice of Mike Leigh comes Abigail’s Party, an all-night drink-a-thon set in 1978 with a motley crew of social climbers.

A revival of Arthur Miller’s seldom performed first play, The Man Who Had All the Luck closes out the main-stage season with a look at the depression years and a man with a lucky break who may be broken by his own luck.

MORE SF PLAYHOUSE: News, Reviews, Videos

In addition SF Playhouse announced the Sandbox series of world premieres, which feature its own commissions. In the Fall, Bauer, by Lauren Gunderson, will shed light on a gifted artist, a contemporary of Kandinski, who mysteriously stopped painting, just as he was becoming well-known. Rounding out the eight-show season, the second Sandbox show will be selected from commissions currently in development by playwrights Steve Yockey, Dan Hoyle, Bill, Bivins, and Aaron Loeb.

SF Playhouse 10th Season: 2012-2013

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Written by Alex Timbers, Music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, Directed by Jon Tracy

October 9th to November 24th, opens October 13th

He may or may not have used his blazing Stratocaster to drive the Indians West or force the Spanish out of Florida – the history is unclear.  But we know for sure that ti was his controversial presidency doubled the size of this, our fair country, and set the stage for a fabulous Broadway Musical.

Bell, Book and Candle

By John Van Druten, Directed by Bill English

December 4 to January 19th, opens December 8th

Bewitched, bothered and bewildered. That’s what happens when you fall in love with a witch. But is it worth it?  Our good witch (well, fairly good) Gillian risks everything – if she falls for him she could lose her magical powers forever. A romantic, Christmas Eve comedy from the 50′s.

The Motherf*****with the Hat

Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, Directed by Bill English

March 26th to May 11th, opens March 30th

This high-octane, verbal cage match about love, fidelity, and misplaced haberdashery comes straight from the playwright of Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, Den of Thieves, and Our Lady of 121st Street.  Jackie and Veronica have been in love since the eighth grade.  Nothing can come between them. Except a hat.

Reasons to be Pretty

Written by Neil LaBute, Directed by Susi Damilano

May 21st to July 6th, opens May 25th

You.  Me.  America.  This bristling comedy confronts our collective obsession with physical beauty.  See what happens when Greg, a working-class guy in a long-term relationship, inadvertently remarks to a friend that, compared to a pretty coworker, his girlfriend is “regular.”

Abigail’s Party

By Mike Leigh, Directed by Amy Glazer

January 29 to March 16th, opens February 2nd

A biting, disco infused satire of British suburbia in the 70′s is a party only Mike Leigh could conceive. Stolen straight from real life, these friends test the strength of the ties that bind.

The Man Who Had All the Luck

By Arthur Miller

July 16 to September 14th, opens July 20th.

What do you do when everything goes right for you, while those around you suffer?  Maybe you deserve it.  Or maybe you’re just lucky, and it’s only a matter of time before your luck runs out.   This little known Arthur Miller gem explores fate and freedom, and asks how much of our lives really belong to us.

By Monica Turner. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

Lenovo claims that, at only 3 pounds, the X1 Carbon will be the lightest 14-inch ultrabook when it goes on sale this summer.

Lenovo gave us a peak at it upcoming X1 Carbon. Scheduled to arrive this summer, it’s being touted as the world’s lightest 14-inch ultrabook. And – I’ll be damned – if it doesn’t remind me of the best ThinkPad designs of yesteryear, and question whether the upcoming MacBook Pro will really be king of the hill.

Based on what I’ve seen so far the X1 Carbon could very well be a sleeper. Quality is top notch, there’s that killer world-beating keyboard (MacBook Pro is a close second), and that redhead track pointer tempts with its on-keyboard convenience. Oh, ThinkPad how I miss you!

In 2010 I made the jump to the MacBook Pro. I gave up some things, like the aforementioned trackpoint and superb keyboard, but in return gained a few; namely Apple’s awesome display. Aside from the fact that I’m not a fan of that glossy reflection, I can’t find a single laptop screen (or desktop monitor for that matter) that bests the contrast, clarity of those on offer by Apple.

But a summer showdown looms.

2012 MacBook Pro

Apple will likely update the MacBook Pro range in June at WWDC. Although it will represent the first re-design in 4 years, the updated models will likely be evolutionary. Expect faster, smaller… but, knowing Apple, not necessarily cheaper.

If you’ve bought into iTunes, and enjoy purchasing your content such as movies, music, books there, then chances are you also own an iPhone and/or iPad. In that situation the MacBook Pro would be the favorite.

If you’re like me, and prefer Amazon MP3 or, better still, Google Play (with 320kbps encodes!), then there’s no benefit to iTunes. In fact, I find the software to be cumbersome and in much need of a makeover.

That aside, does Apple know design or what?

Take that anodized aluminum chassis, a brilliantly machined unibody. You won’t find flex, or any sort of shimmy here. Oddly, though, the lid of my 2010 does creek occasionally when adjusted. When it comes to gestures, no one beats Apple. I find two finger gestures on Windows-based laptops (even the newer ones) dodgy at best.

Lenovo X1 Carbon

We don’t know the price yet. Suffice to say, it will be hefty, likely placing the 14-inch ultrabook near the top end of the scale. I haven’t seen it in person, yet, but I’m hoping Lenovo nails the display – it’s a key point of differentiation for all of Apple’s products. Reportedly the X1 comes with a 1600 x 900 resolution panel with 300 nits of brightness. Good on paper; real world, we’ll see. I like that you can rapidly charge to 80% full battery in only 30 minutes. That’s convenient for the jetset.

Best of all is its size: 3 pounds, 18 millimeters thick (at its thickest point).

Countering Apple’s robust built is Lenovo’s choice of carbon fiber for the frame. We see the material used in racing. It  sheds weight, but not at the expense of stiffness. Typically, it’s also expensive. Again, expect the pricetag of the X1 Carbon to match.

I used to think that 14-inchers were no man’s land. Lately with the somewhat cramped screen on my 13″ MBP Pro causing lots of two finger scroll action, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that bigger could be better.

2012 MBP Pro or Lenovo X1 Carbon?

If Apple puts the 15-inch MacBook on enough of  a diet, and if that “Retina” display delivers the goods, then I’m designating it the incumbent. Sure, it’s not categorized as a true “ultrabook” but there’s no question many will cross-shop the two products.

If the Lenovo’s battery life can match or at least come close to Apple’s best, and if that trackpad (Windows drivers notwithstanding) can give us the kind of gesture responsiveness we see on the iPad and MacBook then I think we have a winner and a possible upset. Enterprise buyers will likely add the X1 Carbon to their internal price lists, and it will sell like hotcakes.

By Clinton Stark. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

Apple is set to revamp the MacBook Pro, and it’s looking like this upgrade cycle — the first major re-design in 4 years — will be significant. Competitive threats include the emerging “ultrabooks” which we’re seeing from Lenovo, Samsung and HP. The iPad itself is likely already cannibalizing sales from those that are interested primarily in consuming content. Hard luck, but profits do apparently cure all.

Although the MacBook Pro is the smallest volume play in terms of units shipped (“only” 4 million Macs shipped last quarter vs. 35 million for the iPhone) and sales only grew 6%, the product is an important part of the Apple ecosystem. Many, like myself (2010 MBP), regularly upgrade their laptops in two year cycles. Those that buy one typically already own or plan to buy an iPhone and/or iPad. Then there’s the content sales via iTunes. No small chicken that; a remarkable $1.9 billion in Q2.

I’ve been scanning headlines, browsing forums, and basking in the rumor mill. Anything and everything related to the MacBook Pro I’d click through over the last few weeks. Last time I took to these pages about my anodized aluminum friend, I put together a combo pragmatic/dreamy list of 10 things the MacBook Pro needs. This time I’m rounding up the most solid rumors. So, here are the 10 things we (think we) know about the impending 2012 MacBook Pro:

1. Intel Ivy Bridge

File this under slam dunk. Intel’s new line of Ivy Bridge processors – follow-ons to the well regarded Sandy Bridge range – have already hit the market, in desktop form at least. Model naming convention is the same: Core i3, i5, i7. As is always the case, Intel promises speed, energy efficiency, smaller footprint. Early benchmarks that I’ve seen bear this out with a typical 10-20% jump in overall performance. I remember Apple disappointed many a few years back when the 2010 MBP shipped with a dual-core instead of an expected Sandy Bridge. So, anything is possible, but I’ll be stunned if we don’t see the new chips this time around. [Tom's Hardware]

2. Retina Display

Another high probability rumor is the inclusion of a “Retina” display. We’ve already seen it on the iPhone, then followed by the iPad (2012), so it would make sense that the Mac range would receive the upgrade next. However, the challenge here is clearly the size of the display. It’s one thing to manufacture a 4- or 9.7-inch high resolution panel; but at 15-inches it would be quite the engineering feat. Keep in mind that the term “Retina” doesn’t necessarily mean a consistent ppi (pixels-per-inch) between devices. Surely we’ll see a smaller pixel count on the MBP then we’d see on the iPhone or iPad. Regardless, sources are saying this is the biggest Mac innovation in years. I expect resolution to be at least 1920 x 1080. [9to5Mac]

3. No: Optical Drive

Many won’t like this, but I can’t see why on earth why. I haven’t used the optical drive in years. It adds weight, makes weird noises, and drains battery. Bad, bad, bad. That space could be better utilized too. Possibly a bigger battery? Secondary hard drive? [Cult of Mac]

4. No: MacBook Air Design

Many speculated Apple would use the gorgeous MacBook Air design as the baseline moving forward, including for the new MacBook Pros. Turns out, at least if the rumor mill is accurate (and it usually is) this will not be the case (yet). While the new MBP will be thinner, and lighter, it’ll likely look like a shrunken version of its former self than it will a razor thin Air.

5. Yes: USB 3.0

Not much else to say here. USB 3.0 is faster, offering read/write speeds up to 5GB/s. It’s also a hedge, and admission that Thunderbolt, though far faster, may not be the industry standard that Apple had hoped for. [MacLife]

6. Bye-bye AMD (ATI), Hello NVIDIA

I’ve always preferred NVIDIA graphics chips – I use them in all my desktop builds for video editing. I probably risk life and limb by admitting as much. Graphics boards are akin to Pepsi/Coke, Christopher Hitchens/Douglas Wilson, and Mustang/Corvette debates. There’s no winner (except Hitch), but plenty of passion. Word is that we could see the GeForce GT 650M. [The Christian Science Monitor]

7. OS X Mountain Lion

At the launch, Apple is expected to launch an OS X upgrade, called “Mountain Lion.” This one is still iffy, however. Some suggest it could be a stretch to see this happen in June, even though last time Apple did release a new version of OS X alongside its processor upgrade (Sandy Bridge). [Ars Technica]

8. Power button on Keyboard (instead of case)

Okay, this is a minor one, but it’s related to #3 above. With the optical drive gone, that pesky eject button can now be used for something else. Odds on favorite guess is the power button — that gorgeously sunken bit of art at the top right — will make its way to the keyboard, and take the eject button’s place. A bonus to Apple will be cost savings. Unfortunately, if the rumor holds true, the change does take away some of the artistic quality of the design. [Mashable]

9. SD Card Slot

Laisse faire (though a flush, spring mount would be preferred). [Digital Trends]

10. Launch: WWDC in San Francisco (June 11-15)

By  my guestimation this one is split amongst the prognosticators. Many say the Macs, along with OS X Mountain Lion, will bow at the upcoming World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, which is about a month away. Seems realistic to me. Back-to-school is a big sales driver, and this launch window would give Apple plenty of time to score student sales. [eWeek]

What we absolutely don’t know:

– Will the 17-inch model survive? Many are suggesting Apple gave it the axe due to poor sales.

– Pricing? Apple charges more. Be it the $499 entry iPad, the $199 iPhone 4S, Apple’s products famously command premiums over the competition. Give the rise of the ultrabook, and the upcoming launch of Windows 8 later this year, will Apple throw a curve ball and try to capture some of the price-sensitive market?

Oh: so long Google Maps. Good thing I still have trusty OG Droid for that!

By Clinton Stark. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

The Napa Valley team consists mainly of expatriates mostly brought to The Napa Valley because of the wine industry from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India the UK and Ireland.

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world after soccer and The Napa Valley will now join the global cricketing community as the latest member.

The Napa Valley Cricket Club has announced its arrival on the world scene with its ground inauguration game – The Napa Valley World Series of Cricket, America & Australia vs. The Rest of the World – on Sunday 20th May 2012 from 10.30am at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga.

Cricket is played in over 100 countries worldwide and close to home the game has a strong and passionate following in the South Bay area. It is gaining in popularity and recently a United States national stadium was built in Florida.

The Napa Valley team consists mainly of expatriates mostly brought to The Napa Valley because of the wine industry from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India the UK and Ireland. The club has also attracted a number of “local” Americans who play with the team having made the transition from baseball to cricket!

West Indian Brian Lara holds the record for highest score in both Tests and first-class cricket.

Club President Phil Bourke, an Australian, who works at Treasury Estates says “two year ago a group of us expatriates from Treasury Estates played a casual “scratch match” against the Cricket Club in Davis. From there the desire to play cricket has grown and in 2011 we played 5 games outside of the Napa Valley and realized that we had the support to start a club proper here in the Napa Valley. We are incredibly grateful to Carlene Moore and the Napa County Fairgrounds at Calistoga where we will make our home from this year. With the Calistoga Community Pool located right next door, our ground is located perfectly for a day out for the family. We’ve had a lot of interest and support from the people of Calistoga and we’re looking forward to introducing them to the second most popular sport in the word. The format for our ground opening game will pit club players who hail from America and Australia against players from the Rest of the World in our own version of a World Series. Families and children are welcome to attend this occasion and we’ll do our best to make sure that everyone leaves with a basic understanding of the game, just ask one of the players”

Club Vice President Andrew Healy, an Irishman, who runs 3 rock marketing says “since moving to the Napa Valley in late 2008 it has been my dream to play cricket here in my adopted home. It has taken a huge team effort to get to where we are today and I want to give credit to the many members of the club who have made this dream possible. We have formed a not for profit club and it is our desire to be a positive contributor to our incredible community here in the Napa Valley. On top of attracting teams from the Bay Area we hope to invite teams from out of state and out of country to visit and play once we are established. We play a shortened format of the game, not the 5 day Test Cricket that many Americans are aware of. Our games last from 3-5 hours with a civilized break between the innings for lunch!”

By Monica Turner. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

The Kronos Quartet never ceases to blow my mind because the work they perform is so widely disparate. Every CD of theirs has pieces I detest, and pieces that remain my go-to music. Tonight’s concert was no different. The only commonality shared by these pieces was they were composed by women – hence the name, women’s voices. Among them were pieces I had to immediately go out and buy, pieces I dug for their performance value (but would never make the transition off the stage), and others that I’ll happily never hear again. No other group delivers such as disparate program – which makes their concerts always worth checking out. On the off chance it is not entirely obviously, their performances are some of the best new music around

The evening began with Nicole Lizee’s “Death to Kosmisch.” Lizee writes that this work reflects her “fascination with the notion of musical hauntology and the residential perception of music.” Her explanation goes on, but I think you get my drift: this music has the feel of being a purely intellectual construct. The mish-mosh of collected sounds (which include various hand held games, LP scratches, etc) was aggravating to hear. The performance felt more like a conversation that one anxiously tries to escape. The next piece – “Flow” by

Flow, by Laurie Anderson, was the polar opposite of Death to Kosmisch. Even on CD, this piece is an exquisite little gem that so effectively holds you in its grasp that you don’t realize where it’s taken you until the music comes to an end. As a performance piece, Flow comes into its own and positively shimmers, much like the edges of a Rothko painting. The long rests between the short musical gestures give the listener breathing space, which is a rarity in any concert hall. It has the feel of the first measures of Ives’ Unanswered Questions. Unlike every other attempt to achieve a similar affect, this piece leaves you hankering for more.

Mosaic was an assemblage of music from the late musique concrète composer Delia Derbyshire. I confess, I was unfamiliar with Derbyshire, in part because my understanding of musique concrète never really made it past the infamous Beatles Number Nine. Here the usual lifts from radio and turntable static, combined with other sounds, were pieced to a traditional, rhythmically pulsating melody driven carried the work forward. While I can’t speak to the quality of the underlying pieces, they were so effectively strung together that the piece didn’t suffer from excessive fragmentation suggested by the title Mosaic.

Tagaq produces a startling series of rhythmic sounds, upon which are overlaid bird calls, caribou hooves, and the call of nature.

The center of gravity of the evening was Van-Ahn’ Vo’s All Clear. This lengthy, serious piece went to the heart of the Vietnamese experience of the war. Designed as a performance piece, this piece integrated visual, olfactory, and audial elements. Every physical motion was carefully calculated, be it the descending of the gongs, the pace of the musicians from instrument to instrument, the removal of a shawl, or the speed at which the incense burned. While the many disparate parts of this were interesting to watch, the entire pieced could have been better paced. The parts leading up to the crescendo stomping of bamboo into the ground was intensely moving. While the parts after this moment were interesting, they could have been integrated.

After intermission, the Kronos Quartet was joined by Inuit throat-singer Tanya Tagaq for a piece written by Derek Clarke titled Tundra Songs. This fundamentally hopeful piece speaks to the Arctic seasons. Tagaq produces a startling series of rhythmic sounds, upon which are overlaid bird calls, caribou hooves, and the call of nature. This piece brought the audience out of the crisis created by All Clear, with it’s cutting gestures from the US national anthem and bugle call of Taps. Here the only limitation was the elements. It was the perfect place to end the evening.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the subtle lighting effects that moved the entire evening forward. Enormous changes occurred so slowly that I could barely detect them. However, the lighting created one new world after another, matching the musical pyrotechnics perfectly.

I’ll be queuing up next time the group is in town. In the meantime, I put my son on notice that the group visits Royce Hall at UCLA regularly. Kronos Quartet is not to be missed.

By Cy Ashley Webb. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx: Kevlar on the back and Gorilla Glass on the front give it surprising robustness. A 3300 mAh battery give it endurance (21 hour rated talk time).

Arguably the best Android smartphone now available in the U.S. just received a 33% drop in price. Motorola’s hot Droid Razr Maxx, the phone with long battery life (up to 21 hours) and impossibly thin design, is now going for only $199. As always, that requires a two-year contract from Verizon.

If you’re in the market for an upgrade, or making the switch from iPhone (there have been many!) the Razr Maxx should be near the top of your list. About the the only other phone that could warrant consideration is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. But if you value extended talk time, and give your phone a workout day and night, then the Maxx’s is your choice; it’s the King of Battery, no doubt.

Here’s the spec run down: 4G LTE, Dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display (960×540 resolution), 8MP camera with 1080p video record, 16 GB memory + 16 GB microSD card, GPS nav, 5.1 ounces, 5.15 x 2.71 x 0.35 inches, micro USB and HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0, 3300 mAh lithium-ion battery (21 hour talk).

Not bad at all. About the only thing we’d like to see is a quad-core processor, but given how slowly they’re making their way from overseas, and given the blazing performance of the new dual-cores, that may not be the must-have that some have predicted.

Thin is in!

Here’s what one user who made the switch from iPhone 4S said about the Razr Maxx:

“I thought I would upgrade to the iPhone 4S when I was eligible, but I felt blah about it. Everyone around me has an iPhone, which they love, but there were things that excited me more about with the new Android phones … I love how it feels. Much more comfortable that the Razr. I’m not using a cover on it yet, and may not put one one due to the great build quality (Kevlar, Gorilla Glass) … And finally, BATTERY: Fantastic. I was so conditioned by my old phone — and even by two days with the Galaxy Nexus — to constantly worry about the battery, but I worry no longer. I easily get through a day with moderate to heavy use, and the batter has yet to go below 30%. For me, it’s worth it.”

There you have it. Click here (via Amazon Wireless) to order your own Motorola Droid Razr Maxx.

By Mike Carrall. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

Rex Pickett, author 'Sideways'

Rex Pickett’s wine-soaked roadtrip Sideways has been adapted for the stage. The new play will premiere this month at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica.

Adapted by Rex Pickett from his own novel, Sideways is the story of two friends – Miles and Jack – and their journey across the Santa Ynez wine country, on one last blowout trip before Jack gets married. Miles and Jack must face their uncertain futures … just as soon as they figure out how to survive their chaotic present.

Previously adapted as a major motion picture it garnered numerous nominations and awards, including an Academy Award win (best adapted screenplay). Rex is currently writing a pilot for HBO and a script for Barbara Schock called On Tour with Max.

“I hate the dispiriting nature of development – i.e. screenwriting, but the stage is a fresh vehicle for audiences to experience the original story,” said Picket. “This team at the Ruskin was so passionate about theater, so certain that ‘Sideways’ based on my novel — not the film — would lend itself to the stage, that this time the development process became truly rewarding.”

A spokesperson told us performances will feature — fitting enough! — wine tastings. Wineries on offer will include Sonoma Coast Vineyard, Dunstan Wines, Sharp Cellars, Silver Mountain, Carlton Cellars, Domaine Gerbuaut, Gioia, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards, Roots Wines, Leucadia Red, Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Alysian, among others.

Sideways the Play opens May 18, 2012. Amelia Mulkey directs. Jonathan Bray (Jack), John Colella (Miles), Julia McIlvaine (Maya), Cloe Kromwell (Tera), and Hamilton Matthews (Brad-The Boar Hunter) star.

Sideways the Play

World Premiere Staging

May 18, 2012 through July 22, 2012

Ruskin Group Theatre

Santa Monica

ruskingrouptheatre.com

By Monica Turner. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg sans hoodie.

The hot conjecture this week (and surely next as well) surrounds Facebook’s IPO price. Is it too high?

With a range of $25-35 the top end valuation would be around $96 billion, possible more if the company pushes the price even higher. I read that one analyst refers to the upcoming stock as “muppet bait.” According to a BusinessWeek article, many institutional investors have shied away, and 79% in a poll said the IPO is overvalued. 337 million shares are expected to hit the open market.

Oddly, despite the institutional skepticism, the subscription remains oversold; which makes one wonder if Zuckerberg’s strategy of opening up the stock to lower-end retail (E-Trade for instance) was a sincere effort to include the everyday FB user, or a way to ensure demand would shoot through the roof.

Some predict the stock will skyrocket on the first day (or two) of trading, before “burning” investors. Others say it will be a solid, long-term play. So which is it?

 The case for:

– Facebook is just getting started in mobile (could they launch a phone?) and the ad opportunity is huge

– It has an unassailable lead; upstarts such as Google+ (with the tech set) and Tumblr (with teens) may make small inroads, but no one is likely to catch the juggernaut anytime soon (the Microsoft of the 21st century?)

– Extending its open graph could pave the way for high volume, high margin fees for services such as e-commerce

– Many thought (myself included) that at $85 GOOG was overpriced in 2004 – how did that one turn out?

– The Hoodie

The case against:

– Growth is slowing, sales may climb “just” 64% to $6.1bn this year, the third year of slowing growth (rationally I don’t how we could expect otherwise given the law of large numbers)

– FB is seeking a valuation at 24X revenue; Google sits at 5X

– The market for social network users is saturated. With FB pushing 1B users everyone is already on the network, and international growth is likely to encounter strong local headwinds (try China)

– Facebook currently has a value higher than 90% of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

– Mark Zuckerberg is not “mature” enough to run such a large company (as heard on Wall Street)

– We’re in a tech bubble, and a crash is imminent

Hype alone will likely push the stock up 50-100% on the first day or two, maybe higher over the ensuing weeks. Many will bail, the stock will surely lose its luster, and come back down to earth. The hangover won’t be much fun. Regardless I missed out in Google last decade. It’s a mistake I vowed not to repeat.

By Clinton Stark. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

Cabaret in a Box: With BBQ season upon us, it's time to think Zin.

Photo of the day is this trio of Zins sent to us by Rosenblum Cellars (Alameda). Sumptuous presentation; it’s as if they know BBQ season is almost upon us. I’m likely not among the originals when I suggest that zesty grilled chicken is an agreeable partner for the spicy, fruity notes of the Zinfandel varietal.

Look for the reviews shortly, where we’ll pick a favorite.

I’ve actually not been to the Rosenblum tasting room before, but I understand it’s atypical because of its urban location (a ferry ride across from San Francisco). That’s not completely uncommon. But when I picture tasting rooms I’m usually thinking of that artsy barrel room at Turnbull, or the gorgeous stonework inside the barn at Ehlers Estate or the floating-on-cloud-nine view one gets at the modern (and also artistic), glass lined Artesa tasting room in Carneros. Speaking of glass, if you get a chance don’t miss the cutting edge architecture at the newly built William Selyem tasting room in Sonoma – you could do (far) worse too for Pinot!

About that Zin grape, in a word: robust. It’s planted in about 10% of the vineyards here, and is known as California’s grape. According to Wikipedia, the zinfandel grape was first planted in Oak Knoll vineyard just north of Napa in the mid-1800s. Hence, those storied old Zin vines you read about; photos of their knotty, twisting branches are fascinating, and a perfect excuse to hang some vineyard art around the home.

While we’re on the topic of wine and art, don’t forget to stop in to San Quentin. #YOLO.

By Clinton Stark. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.

Charles Ross, One-Man Lord of the Rings - comes to San Jose this summer.

This summer one of the hottest tickets in town will likely be Charles Ross’ ambitious One-Man Lord of the Rings. The talented, Canadian performer, who previously tackled the Star Wars trilogy, swings into town this July at San Jose Rep.

From what we know the show is a “loving comic send-up” of Tolkien’s fantasy with a “true geek’s slavish” attention to detail.

A self-proclaimed “professional geek,” Ross began performing in 2002 and he has now performed One-Man Lord of The Rings over 1,200 times in more than 180 cities across four continents.

Sanctioned by the Tolkien heirs, who granted Ross a license to use characters and story elements, the show has been receiving strong reviews from audiences (including the likes of Vin Diesel and Sir Ian McKellan) and critics since he began touring it in 2004.

Last summer at San Jose Rep, Ross entertained with his solo take on the Star Wars trilogy. This time, Ross shoehorns 11 hours and 23 minutes of Peter Jackson’s epic films into a 70-minute show packed with 42 characters, theme music, and sound effects.

Charles Ross first performed his One-Man Star Wars Trilogy in Toronto, Ontario in January of 2001. Recent television appearances include The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Today Show, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. His Off-Broadway debut in August 2005 was a success, and had many praising Ross’ intensity.

By Monica Turner. Stark Insider - All Things West Coast.