Saturday, June 8, 2013
Missed having Apple Front Row, so I installed XBMC and Plex. Tried to install the Rapier theme for XBMC and failed—the instructions were not very clear and I gave up on the manual install when it mentioned dependencies but didn't say how to install them. Stopped at Rex Garage to get some issues resolved, talked with Jackie. The engine check light on was due to repeated problems from before with the catalytic converter. He adjusted clips on the right door guard—they had been coming loose. He recommends 4 new clips. He suggested I order some other parts I needed: a BMW emblem for the back (which was flaking) and a new clock (whose display was not displaying correctly). Drove to Bevmo Colma, bought a lot of items, particularly those part of their 5-cent sale—buy one bottle at regular price and get the second for 5 cents. In the store they had a wine tasting in which I chose to participate for $2. While talking about New York City, one of the other participants suggested that I check out Woodberry Common Premium Outlets—great for shopping, a unique selection of stores, some of which do not typically have outlets. Stopped at Chipotle for a late afternoon meal: sofritas salad, pom-cherry Nantucket Nectars, chips: $10.90. Sara took my order. The outdoor seating at Chipotle is poorly situated adjacent to the cars waiting in line for the drive-thru. I realized later I should have taken my food to the unused, sunny Starbucks tables on the other side of the building. Home. 45-minute nap. Dressed. Checked NextBus: I just missed an L train and the next one was in 18 minutes. Drove to the Castro, got there in 10 minutes, found a parking space on Eureka easily. Met a Tony new to me for drinks and a night out: Toad Hall, The Mix, OMG, QBAR. Encountered Jeff N, Rob C, Josh A, and Chris N in the Castro on the sidewalk on our way to OMG, chatted briefly. The OMG event was the inaugural night of Folsom Invades OMG by Folsom Street Events. We drove there in Tony's car and got pizza slices at Pranzo Pizza after trying to eat at Miss Saigon, which had closed at 10 PM. We chatted briefly with Coung at Miss Saigon. The OMG event ad boasted a "spectacular audio-visual dome ceiling" and "like nothing you've experienced" and it was correct. The dome is formed perfectly of white mesh and five projectors display various images on it which makes for an interesting and unusual dance floor. The crowd was friendly, reaching about 40 people at its largest. We drank a saffron martini and an unusual cocktail that included chai spices called a Hi Chai and met and chatted briefly with michael, jesse, and alton. Many men were dressed in leather or other Folsom Street Fair outfits. Drinks were about $8 each, coat check was $1, cover was $5. The DJ's name was not advertised, and whoever they used did an excellent job. I liked the music a lot. The only two issues: (a) there weren't enough guys, probably due to (b) the location, adjacent to one of the seediest intersections in San Francisco at 6th and Mission. We left and returned to the Castro. The lines for Badlands and Toad Hall were longer than we wanted to wait, so we ended up at QBAR where they were having an underwear dance party with DJ Brian Maier. Encountered David N and Leo. Music was excellent, and the crowd was mixed. I met blake, sebastian, robert f, paul, will. At closing, I chatted for a bit with Robert F in the clothes check. Tony had left around 2. While walking back to my car I encountered a stranger Timothy who needed directions to the Haight. I helped him but in doing so realized that he wouldn't be able to get there easily since he could not afford a cab, so I gave him a ride in my car. He was very polite and appreciative. To bed very late.