"I'm looking out over that Golden Gate Bridge, out on another gorgeous
sunny Saturday, not seein' that bumper to bumper traffic." - Starship
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04/27/04
We built this city on the best of the rest
by
Hank Donat
When
I heard that Starship's "We built this City" was named Worst Song Ever
by Blender music magazine, I remembered a line I once heard Ruth Gordon
say on television. "I accept all superlatives," said Gordon, the actress
who made Harold and Maude and
Maxie in San Francisco.
San Francisco may be home to the worst song, but Rob
Murray of Collingwood Street notes that when "We Built this City"
came into the number one Billboard spot in November of 1985, it knocked
out the Miami Vice theme by Jan Hammer. The Starship song should be
spared one place on the list just for that. Surely it's better than
"Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus.
In naming it Worst Song Ever, Blender said "We Built this City" amounts
to "the truly horrible sound of a band taking the corporate dollar while
sneering at those who take the corporate dollar."
Following are some other superlatives. Most have been named by Heart
of the City readers. Your choices don't always appear in so-called Best
of the Bay articles, but they are the truly lovely sound of people who
enjoy the City enjoying the City.
Buffy, who emails via SBCglobal, says the Mandarin Villa on Oak Street
has the yummiest Chinese food in Hayes Valley. "Incredible crab rangoons
and super fast service," says Buffy.
Rob Myers recommends Bok Choy Garden on Clement Street between 19th
and 20th avenues for the best vegetarian and kosher Chinese food in
the Richmond.
Ted Fry says Tad's Steakhouse on Powell
has the "best hearty, basic grub" in town. Ted and Tad are both from
Philadelphia. Tad is here but no longer there, vice versa for Ted. Got
that?
Audrey Cole's neighborhood best goes to Rustico, the great Italian restaurant
at 300 De Haro Street. I'll second that - best panini on Potrero Hill.
Hot 'n' Hunky on 18th Street proclaimed
it had "possibly the best hamburger in the world." If it really did
have, the place might still be open. Besides, native San Franciscan
Mike Getman knows the best burgers are at Bill's Place on Clement between
24th and 25th. Joe's Cable Car Restaurant
on Mission is Jeff Halpern's favorite.
Sadly, having a superior product is no guarantee for longevity. Don't
even mention the former Spinelli coffee shop on Fillmore Street to Angela
Alioto unless you want to hear a lamentation!
Marina Submarine at Union and Steiner streets boasts "the best subs
in San Francisco." Marina of the Marina works across the street at the
1887 Dance Shop. She says it's true; Marina Submarine has the best Italian
sausage sub in town. Don't tell my friends at Martinelli's in North
Beach.
Moving away from gastronomy, cable car grip operator Byron
Cobb nominates California and Jones as the windiest corner in town.
Byron should know - he works on the California line.
An adult shop off Broadway doesn't mince words. Its marquee bluntly
promises, "Nastiest Videos in Town."
Grace Cathedral has the best spirituality web site. That's why gracecathedral.com
has been nominated for a Webby for the second time in two years. The
Webby is the best surviving icon of 1997!
Lisa Geduldig remains the best lesbian comedy promoter in the city after
more than a decade. Her 6th annual Funny Girlz show goes up at the Herbst
Theatre on May 15. Visit koshercomedy.com.
Former police inspector Dave Toschi says the late 1960s haunting of
Pat Montandon's house
at the foot of the crooked section of Lombard Street was his most bizarre
case - and that's from a man who investigated the Zodiac killer!
The Convention and Visitor's Bureau touts San Francisco as "The World's
Favorite City." I'll buy that. It's my favorite city, anyway, and yours
too, I'll bet.
Unfortunately, San Francisco deserves a superlative for being the most
defensive city, too. I said "Good morning," to a guy the other day and
he actually said, "No problem."
We are also the worst fashion city in America. I am convinced of this
after attending the presentation of the Key
to the City to King Abullah II of Jordan at Davies Symphony Hall
last week. It's may be news to some members of the World Affairs Council,
but even here it's not appropriate to wear jeans, sweatshirts, and sandals
to an appearance by a foreign sovereign. (And now I am the City's youngest
curmudgeon.)
As for Ruth Gordon, Mike Sullivan
says Harold and Maude is the best movie made in San Francisco. Many
agree. Maxie is certainly among the worst.
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