Café de los Brujos

As it has been over one year since I’ve been here in Buenos Aires, I started to think about some of the things I miss about the SF Bay Area. Aside from New York City, San Francisco is one of the most diverse places I have lived. According to the 2006 census, 29.6 percent of the population of the Bay Area (the 9 counties surrounding the SF Bay) were foreign born. I think that being exposed to different cultures as a child affects how you think and view the world. Usually it allows you to think with a more open-minded mentality. For me foreign born demographics information is more interesting than ethnic demographics information and it’s the next best indicator to whether people have been exposed to different cultures.

Keeping with the diversity is the access to so many great cuisines of various nationalities. I had my favorite Thai, Indian, Sushi, Ethiopian, Fusion, etc, places. Places where I go for ice cream, deep dish pizza, crepes, noodle soup, kabob, and even the mobile tacco stand across from the climbing gym. About the only thing that I couldn’t find in my time living there was a good Portuguese restaurant. So, if you know of one, please send me an e-mail.

With diversity of world class cuisine comes the access to parts of various cultures through music, dance, and art. Free concerts in Stern Grove, Golden Gate Park, Dolores Park, etc. Various clubs and bars hosting local and traveling artists. The dance scene ranks among the top in the country in terms of argentine tango and salsa. Access to great martial arts instructions including capoeira. Various festivals going on throughout the year. The list goes on.

Of course everything comes with a price and not all is rosy. It’s practically cost prohibitive to actually live and own a property in San Francisco. And there are lots of other drawbacks too. But the one thing I miss the most is the access to diversity. Having lived in several places throughout the world I realize how unique that is and it’s something that should be embraced and celebrated.  

Having played in a few ensembles I am beginning to understand how important chemistry really is. The way you feel about the people in your group as a person, as a colleague, and as a musician. First and foremost there must be mutual respect. Without it nothing will get done. If you’re lucky and the people in the group genuinely love and care for eachother, then you have a strong foundation to create something really beautiful. The rest is left to talent, hard work, and dedication. I am sure it’s the same in any art where you are constantly working closely with a group of people trying to create something magical. Ultimately, chemistry or lack of chemistry will come through in the performances.

It recently occurred to me that my best drawing and most creative pieces of artwork are done when I am on the phone. Since I had cancelled my cell phone when I took a sabbatical in Argentina, I have been using the phone booths here at work to make personal calls. Most of my phone numbers are written on a book which I take with me to the phone booths. During long conversations, I tend to simultaneously draw things without being completely aware of what I am drawing or having any intention to specifically create anything. There seems to be another part of my mind untapped which takes over, while I am complete involved in a conversation and this part of the mind draws. The things it creates are absolutedly astounding. It is simply amazing what you can create when you are not focus on creating anything in particular, but just letting your inner self create & express itself. Interesting…