San Francisco in mid-March

[najla86]

Hey all you California girls-

I'm most likely going to be in San Francisco this mid-March, somewhere in the range between the 15th and the 21st. Any recommendations for bellydance classes/shows/workshops/shopping or other general SF fun?

much appreciated :)

[JeanneLF]

Well, to start with, you've got Rakkasah, or is that what you're coming in for?

[LarryH]

YES ! Rakkasah is one of the largest Middle East dance festivals in the US.

Check out:

Rakkasah - Middle Eastern Folk Festival and Fantasy Bazaar

There are workshops all week up the the main weekend of Saturday and Sunday March 15 & 16 which has all-day workshops, vending, food, and dancing.

The dance group I play for, SaJa, will be performing Sunday afternoon.

Besides that, "The City" is a great place for shopping at Union Square. Park at the parking lot next to the Kezar Pavillion on Stanyan Street and walk up Haight Street - visit Amoeba Records...who knows...you might see Rachel Brice shopping there...

[najla86]

oh man....i was just planning to go to visit a friend! didn't even realize that Rakkasah was going on....I had to miss Rakkasah East last year, and am not usually on the west coast.

thanks for the clueing-in ;)

[najla86]

so I'm not going to be able to make it to Rakkasah (no car, boo), but does anyone know who teaches on Sundays (the 16th, to be specific)? I'll have a few hours to kill that day...

[Azhia]

As a frequent visitor to SF...so easy to get around! My favorite restaurant there is Medicine Eat Station near the Financial District. I had a favorite cafe (3 Dollar Bill at the LBGT Center) and gourmet pizza place (on Valero??) but I can't remember exactly where...
Suhaila is also a short BART ride away from downtown.

[najla86]

that's really good to know! I have a few hours to kill by myself while the friend I'm visiting has work---I had horrible visions of getting totally lost :(

hopefully someone will pop up on google that teaches on Sundays

if I can't find any classes---any good places for bellydance/regular shopping anyone can suggest?

[Azhia]

Regular shopping:
Berkeley~Telegraph Avenue.
SF~Haight/Ashbury
If you've got a chocolate fiend: Girardhelli Square
Then there is the crookedest street in the world for sightseeing/exercise (!): Lombard
Magana Baptiste might teach on Sundays, if she's still teaching
I can recommend a really good tattoo artist if you're planning on getting some ink! hee...

[bananarchy]

The Scharffen Berger chocolate factory in Emeryville (just across the bay bridge) has free tours! And Free samples! I also recommend a tea tasting at Vital Tea Leaf on Grant St. in Chinatown.

[Monica]

Originally Posted by najla86

so I'm not going to be able to make it to Rakkasah (no car, boo), but does anyone know who teaches on Sundays (the 16th, to be specific)? I'll have a few hours to kill that day...

Lorna Zilba used to teach on Sundays at a studio in the Outer Richmond (Ballet Russe). She does not have a website, but you used to be able to email her at questions@danceofthegoddess.com . No idea if that email still works, though. Drop me a line if you want her phone number. She is a really good teacher, in my opinion. I realize this is a labor intensive recommendation, but while she is sadly somewhat under the belly dance radar, I think she is really something special as a dancer and instructor.

And otherwise I don't know of any Sunday classes in SF! Let us know if you find any.

Enjoy our fair city.

M.

[najla86]

Originally Posted by Azhia

I can recommend a really good tattoo artist if you're planning on getting some ink! hee...

oddly enough, I am!!! but I'm saving up for ink from High Voltage in LA (which is the shop on TLC's LA Ink)...it's actually going to be a bit bellydance related, an old-school style gypsy

did some fun shopping in Haight-Ashbury (yummy chocolate colored leather jacket) and actually met a Bhuzzer (Jewelsdances!) at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur...small world :)

[Azhia]

Sounds like you had fun!
Is Kat doing your ink??

[najla86]

I would LOVE her to, her or Hannah....I'm going for something very colorful, so I could lean towards Hannah---I haven't solidified when I'm going out yet, so I haven't made an appointment yet

[Azhia]

New ink is so exciting!!!!
One of my artists recently covered his body. I don't envy him and that process.
But I still love getting ink...Now I'm digressing when this is supposed to be "travel to the lands of dance", not "travel to the lands of ink".

;0)