California Honeydrops at Cheeseboard

Headed over to Cheeseboard for the California Honeydrops kickstarter show.

The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective is one of my favorite places to eat in Berkeley. A worker-owned pizzeria, they serve one kind of pizza all day, always vegetarian and no substitutes. They tend to add things you might not normally put on pizza, but it's always delicious.  Wednesday's was Roasted potatoes, Roasted onions, Gruyere, Mozarella, Fresh herbs, and Garlic olive oil. They also have live music everyday. When I was still in college we would grab pizza to go and eat it on the grass on the street median.

Awhile ago I went with my friend Alex and the live music was a group called the California Honeydrops. I instantly fell in love with their blues/gospel/jazz/R&B flavoring and bought their CD on the spot! The next day I was telling my sister about them, and small world, her roommate Case Conover had designed the cover art for their album and they had played at her house... how did I miss out on this?!

The California Honeydrops started as a street band playing in the Bart stations and now have formed into a full time band that perform shows across the US and in Europe. They are independent and need some help raising money for their next album and all the studio time, travel and marketing involved, so they have a kickstarter going trying to raise the $25K necessary to make this happen. They hosted their kickstarter campaign show at Cheeseboard.

Again, they didn't disappoint, with a great crowd of literally ALL ages: babies, children, college kids, parents, yuppies, to the well aged. And everyone was enjoying the show.

Some were up and dancing, some were clapping their hands, and some were in there own lil world,  tapping their foot with a smile on their face!

Cheeseboard tends to get a long, but fast moving line of pizza fans, but people were getting their pizza to go and then found themselves sticking around to keep listening. The great thing about the layout of Cheeseboard is that the windows open completely, so the people out on the street had just as good of seats as those inside.

And the street was crowding with passerby folks who decided to stay.

I originally planned to go by myself, when you have a camera you're never alone. But ended up running into an old Berkeley friend who now lives in Oakland, a Berkeley friend I knew from Tri-team, an old Vacaville friend who went to UCSB but was in Berkeley for the evening and of course Case who was definitely enjoying the show, haha.

And any band who incorporates a washboard in what was probably my favorite song for the evening, Pumpkin Pie (youtube clip) from a show in Bialystok, Poland) is a win for me!

At the end of the show, Cheeseboard still had some salads leftover so they were offering them for free to anyone who donated $1 to the band.

All in all a great night that makes me feel so blessed to live in such a cool little corner of the world =)

I highly encourage you to check out their music and support their kickstarter campaign!

Cal Men's Basketball defeat McNeese State 73-57

Headed over to Haas Pavilion for Cal Men's Basketball vs McNeese State

Cal struggled in the first half. But thanks to a buzzer shot by Allen Crabbe that sent them into the locker rooms with a 28-26 lead, and I'm sure a less than enjoyable talking to from Montgomery, Cal came out strong in the second half.

Jorge Gutierrez posted a season high 26 points.

But everyone was really putting up the effort, haha

There were two scary moments when Allen Crabbe hit the base of the basket (perhaps Cal should switch to hanging baskets?)

And another when Harper Kamp was fouled mid air and landed right on the ground.

Thankfully both players were able to continue playing, but I'm sure they are feeling it today.

The bears pulled away with 73-57 win over the Cowboys.

Festival of the Trees - Beary Christmas!

Headed back to Vacaville for a few hours to put up our mini tree for Festival of the Trees!!

Festival of the Trees is one of the largest fundraisers for the Opportunity House in Vacaville (In addition to their thrift store  where my mom volunteers and was awarded volunteer of the year!) The Opportunity House provides shelter, food and clothing for Vacaville homeless for up to 60 days while they assist with permanent employment and housing.

I've been involved with festival of the trees since I was in junior high. Every year my sister and I decorate a mini tree which this year is on display starting November 29th for silent auction until December 1. Our tree is #210 and titled "Beary Christmas" So to anyone near Vacaville, go check it out and bid on our little tree, or someone else's, and support this great event for a great cause!

Oakland Raiders defeat the Chicago Bears 25-20

Headed over to O.co Coliseum for the Bears vs the Raiders

I always arrive early to set up the DSL cables I transmit from, claim a good spot to sit in the dugout, get some food, etc. It's funny because the pathway to the field goes right by the visiting team locker room, so a lot of times they are heading down the stairs for the field to warm up at the same time as me. Once I had a player offer to carry my bag down the stairs for me (such a gentleman, but I carried it myself... girl power!) this time I got to witness, won't name any names, a player in front of me trip down the stairs and almost fall. He caught his footing without realizing anyone saw him and stepped onto the field chanting about what a great game he was going to have because he so quickly recovered his stumble down the stairs. Haha. Silly boys.

As the players were warming up, Coach Hue Jackson was having a great time dancing to the music.

I also liked DeMarcus VanDyke whose mouthguard looked like a pacifier ;-)

But my favorite moment of pregame was Aaron Curry returning to the locker room...

Then hearing a girl call his name he gave this coy lil smile. haha.

Then it was game time.

Bears were without quarterback Jay Cutler,

I'm sure much to the dismay of Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith.

Last Raiders game I photographed, I made an image of Carson Palmer getting sacked and it was my very first photo published in Sports Illustrated (yay!) with the article "Give Him Time" Well, Carson Palmer's had time, and did a great job avoiding tackles and getting the ball down the field.

Only problem was he brought them down the field, only to be stuck kicking a field goal as Sebastian Janikowski scored a record 6 field goals.

Finally in the fourth, Michael Bush was able to run it in for a touchdown thanks to some great blocking!

Bears answered with a late touchdown of their own.

Bears tried for the onside kick.

But Raiders were able to gather the ball for the 25-20 win over the Bears much to the excitement of Marcel Reece.