August 17, 2009
I left my heart in San Francisco…
You know, I love that I live in the Bay Area. I don’t live in San Francisco itself, but I’m two minutes away from my local BART, and a short train ride later, I’m smack in the middle of the Mission. There’s restaurants, there’s shopping, there’s theater. There’s everything I want to remind me what a rich, diverse world I really live in.
This was driven home recently when I talked my husband into trying out an event I heard about on Twitter. It’s called Writers With Drinks, and basically, it’s a public reading night of every imaginable kind of writer under the sun, as well as the occasional comic, media personality, and artist. The night I went, the two “big” names were Adam Savage, of Mythbusters fame, and Dorothy Allison, the author of “Bastard Out of Carolina.” I sat in the audience at this tiny bar, sitting on the floor because there was very little seating, with other lovers of the written word also sitting and drinking, and listened to them and three other writers read some of their work.
It was absolutely amazing. I laughed, I got introduced to some new authors, I got my heart caught in my throat at some truly gorgeous writing. I got to hear a room FULL of people cheer when Adam Savage said one of the things he wanted most in the world was a library with vaulted ceilings, floor to ceiling shelves, and one of those ladders that slides along to let you reach the top shelves. You know how affirming it is to be surrounded by so many other booklovers? In a lot of ways, it was better than going to conventions. Everything that night was heightened – temperatures ran hot because of all the bodies packed into such a small place. Presenters are only given twelve minutes, so you get super intense readings – and let me tell you, Dorothy Allison is one of the most dynamic personalities I have ever had the privilege of witnessing.
I’m going back. Writers With Drinks is a monthly affair. There is no way I’m not getting that experience again.
Oh, and the other reason why I had so much fun that particular night? My husband and I got into the city early enough to go to the adult store, Good Vibrations, nearby. Nearly an hour and $100 later, we walked out the door, holding hands and smiling.
I love where I live. For more reasons than these. But what I want to hear about is why you might love where you live. Share what makes your hometown area special, and at the end of the day, I’ll randomly choose one commenter to win a free LSB book, either one of my solo titles or any of the available Jamie Craig titles (that’s my pseudonym for everything I write collaboratively with Pepper Espinoza).
Filed under: Contests, Life, Writing
3 Comments
August 17th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I complain about my hometown almost every day. It’s cold most of the time, we don’t have a mall (I KNOW!!) and the big thing to do around here involves line dancing and beer drinking. Not that I complain about that so much.
But really, there is a mall in the next town over, about 40 miles away, I’m about 3 minutes from nationally ranked rock climbing. We have mountain bike trails, fly fishing that brings tourists from Europe, camping etc. Also I’m in the home of the state university, so we do have all of those cultural events that very few small towns can boast. We’re about 2 hours from Denver, Colorado, so we have unlimited activities there.
When I do come off this mountaintop and head south to the metro, I gotta tell you, coming home to the 27K population town in the 7.2K high altitude, really reminds me what “home” feels like.
If only it were 75F year round….
August 17th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I’m totally jealous. I would love to go to writing events like that! Sadly I’m nowhere near your area.
However I DO love where I live, mostly because its amazingly beautiful. Funnily enough I think its a big town South of the first commenter.
Its also a college town but the place is its own little haven, with some big ideals and lots of things to do. We have a great street mall that’s always worth checking out. I love to go walking on the many walking/bike paths and dd I mention how amazing the view is? Every day I am thankful for the beauty of the place I live. Not to mention more sunshine than almost anywhere in the world and the weather is usually mild, but there are still seasons.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Oh what a great topic. I live south from you Vivien, in the good ole Orange County, right by the beach. We have wonderful weather 90 percent of the year. The dress code is shorts, t-shirt and flip flops (Sometimes even when it rains we still wear that!) Everything is near by from the Arts, to the Mall, to great places for food and night life. Also, where we are located there are a ton of restaurants around that serve gluten-free food so my youngest daughter who is 8,can enjoy eating out too.
We have the mountains about an hour away, the desert is just about 2 hours and the beaches well, we can bike ride there in just a smidgen of time.
What I don’t like is the traffic. So many people want to live here so we are living in small houses with tiny lots and darn, Friday nights can be a pain if you choose to go to the same theater everyone else and their brother chose to go to as well.
My hubby has a 20 year plan. He is going to finish his years at work, retire and move somewhere rural. Of course he expects me to come along. I think its going to be difficult though because I grew up here, my family is here and everywhere else has seasons with hot, cold and such actually happening. It means having to buy a jacket and mittens I bet. GRRR.
Well, I like Southern California for my home. But, I might end up counting those 20 years down if the congestion gets any worse here.
Thanks for sharing,
Christa