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Exploring the Neighborhood with Gregangelo Herrea and Marcelo Defreitas
SF native Gregangelo Herrera is the Founder and Artistic Director of the most magical place one could visit– the Gregangelo Museum. Together with his Creative Director Marcelo Defreitas, Herrera has created a fantastic immersive arts experience in his own home on the west side of the city. Local and international artists alike help create this technicolor acrobatic dreamscape, with 27 unique rooms each telling a different story of time and space, the human psyche and life itself. Herrera spent over 40 years building this artistic oasis, so we were thrilled to be able to get insight from him and Defreitas on their incredible artistic journey. Fall into the rabbit hole with us and enjoy this week’s episode!
For more information and stunning photos of the Gregangelo Museum, please visit: https://www.gregangelomuseum.com/
Meet Gregangelo Herrera and Marcelo Defreitas!
A Special Interview with Carolyn Tyler
Carolyn Tyler is most famously known in San Francisco as a reporter and news anchor on KGO ABC7 News. She had an outstanding 32 year career chronicling some of the most important moments in SF history. Tyler detailed the long fight for marriage equality starting in 2004 and brought stories of social justice for African Americans to the forefront. She also reported extensively on the impacts of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, for which she and her team won a Peabody Award. Over the years Carolyn earned the reputation for being one of the most fair-minded and hard-working journalists in the field.
Since retiring, Tyler has been blending journalism with her other passions. A fierce Golden State Warriors fan and board member of the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Company, Caryoln is currently producing a unique discussion between Warriors Coach Steve Kerr and Alonzo King on the intersection of ballet and basketball. It will be held on September 16th at SF Jazz and hosted by Carolyn herself.
We were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Carolyn and hear about her wonderful career and latest endeavors. In the Fall, tune in to our Classical Performance series with Tyler as our guest host!
For more information about Carolyn Tyler, please visit: https://www.kqed.org/news/11696365/tv-anchor-carolyn-tyler-bids-farewell-to-three-decades-covering-san-francisco
Meet Carolyn Tyler!
Exploring Berkeley with the Sisters Blanche, Julia, Ginger, & Dolores
The Vitero Sisters are a very creative bunch— and they happen to be our host ,Susan’s family! Her mother Blanche Brown and aunts Julia Vitero, Ginger Irwin, and Doloros Presely. They grew up in Berkeley, California when things were quite a bit simpler. Yet they were lucky enough to also grow along the tidal wave of magical thinking, and freedom of expression of the mid-20th century. We welcomed the opportunity to hear how this time changed the Vitero Sisters, along with the wild stories that come with it.
Meet The Vitero Sisters!
Exploring the neighborhood with PJ Johnston
PJ Johnston is one of SF’s top crisis communications specialists and political strategists. From former journalist and Press Secretary for Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. to speech writing for US Senator Kamala Harris, PJ Johnston has helped many influential people achieve their goals. He is the Principal of PJ Johnston Communications, where most of his high profile work is done. He likewise serves on the board of several non-profit organizations and is a strong advocate for women and African Americans.
PJ is a smart, curious, and very invested man who loves his family and city deeply. Above all, he strives for the betterment of mankind. Please enjoy our interview with him.
For more information about PJ Johnston, please visit: http://pjcommunications.com
Meet PJ Johnston!
Exploring the Haight with Stan Flouride the Haight Ashbury Historian
Stan Flouride (alias cum art-name of Kevin Kearny) is the unofficial historian of one of the city’s most eccentric neighborhoods, the Haight Ashbury. Stan gives historical walking tours that cover everything from the 1870’s to today, with great focus on its role as a pivotal location for the cultural revolutions of the 1960’s.
Teresa Goines & Old Skool Cafe ~Bay View Hunters Hidden Gem
Beyond The Fog Radio Season 4 begins NEXT WEEK! We're so excited to begin sharing all of the great new interviews we've conducted in the past few months. But, to tide you over until then, we have one more re-release episode to present: our interview with Teresa Goines (Season 3 Episode 10), the founder and executive director of Old Skool Café in San Francisco's Bayview District.
Formerly a juvenile probation officer, Teresa made a career change to give troubled youths a chance at community and purpose, instead of imprisonment. With the help of volunteer chefs and builders, Old Skool Café went from a small pop-up in Teresa's home to a beautiful 1920s-style supper club in its own building — complete with velvet curtains, luxurious booths, and ornate chandeliers.
While Old Skool Café has a delicious international menu, its sense of community is its greatest strength. Kids cook, clean, wait tables, and entertain guests to learn important life skills within a healthy and supportive environment. After meeting Teresa in-person, we knew right away that her interview would be one of our favorites to date. Join us as we revisit our heartfelt conversation with the one and only Teresa Goines.
(For more information about Teresa and Old Skool Café, please visit oldskoolcafe.org .)
S2: Ep 13: Jo Schuman Silver & Beach Blanket Babylon
Season 2 Episode:13 Jo Schuman Silver
Jo Schuman Silver was the producer, director, and writer of the legendary Beach Blanket Babylon.
A gem of the city's culture, Beach Blanket Babylon was the world's longest-running musical revue in live theater history, and was started by Jo’s late husband, Steve Silver, in 1974. Beach Blanket Babylon was often described to be “as San Francisco as it gets,” with elaborate costumes and extravagant hats featuring city landmarks such as mechanical cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Transamerica Pyramid. Audiences were entertained with original comedy sketches and political satire. In the San Francisco-style, no subject was off limits, but everything was performed in good faith and good taste.
After taking over the company for her late husband Steve in 1995, Jo not only maintained the company’s high standard of performing art, but created new sketches to stay up to date with current events, all while using her husband’s original drawings for sets and costumes. In this way, Jo kept her husband’s legacy alive while allowing it to change and grow. Jo closed Beach Blanket Babylon on New Year's Eve 2020, not because of lack of funds, but because it was time. It had a prosperous run at Club Fugazi for 45 years. We were thrilled to get to speak with Jo about her and Steve Silver’s work and the legacy of the show. We hope you enjoy it as well.
For more information about Beach Blanket Babylon and Jo Schuman Silver, please visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_Blanket_Babylon;
https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/theater/jo-schuman-silver-wants-beach-blanket-babylon-vision-to-live-on-after-show-closes
Meet Jo Schuman Silver!
S2: Trailer 2 History of Music in The Bay Area
S2 Trailer 2: History of Music in the Bay Area
The history of music in the Bay Area could not be a larger or more exciting topic for us to explore. Music is the life blood of our city and it may be one of the biggest reasons why so many people have found themselves here over the years. It colors our world and is what keeps San Francisco going.
In the 1950’s, Jazz was everywhere. San Francisco became known as the Harlem of the West as musicians on tour would often come straight here after New York City. The City was also the home of free love, free expression, anti-war and anti-establishment movements in the 1960’s. From these movements and San Francisco’s Summer of Love in 1967 came artists like Janis Joplin from Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Grateful Dead, Earth Wind and Fire, Green Day, Carlos Santana, Joan Baez, Crosby Stills & Nash, MC Hammer… the list goes on and on.
The collection of phenomenal musical artists still grows today, and we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing several of them for this season’s second series. The first is prolific Jazz singer Paula West. Up next we have:
Erik Recinos– also known as hip-hop DJ Mind Motion,
“Big Russ” Russel Gatewood– a versatile DJ, producer, songwriter, arranger and musician,
Raz Kennedy– a veteran music and vocal educator, vocalist, and producer,
Skyler Jett– a Grammy-recognized vocalist and founder of Music For Global Change,
Gregory Cole– Director of Touch of Class Choir,
and Ian Robertson– Director of the San Francisco Opera Chorus and former Artistic Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus.
This is only the tip of the iceberg of an enormous community of music and music artists who call the San Francisco Bay Area their home. Stay tuned weekly to learn more.
Enjoy the History of Music series!
Ep: 20 Chef Arnold Eric Wong
Arnold Eric Wong
Our guest this week is a chef, restaurant and two-time bar owner, a baker, a cheesemaker, and a beloved San Francisco native. Arnold Eric Wong has been a leading revolutionary in San Francisco culinary innovation for more than two decades. He studied at the California Culinary Academy, and after opening his first restaurant EOS Restaurant and Wine Bar in Cole Valley, Wong went on to be rated as one of five “Rising Star Chefs of the Year under 30” by the San Francisco Chronicle. In 2000, Wong opened his second and also very successful restaurant Bacar. Since then, he’s opened two excellent bars: The Treasury in one of San Francisco’s notable Beaux Arts skyscrapers in 2016, and The Beehive, a 60’s style cocktail bar that, according to him, “exudes modern Mad Men vibes.”
Wong’s culinary expertise extends beyond restaurants and bars to also bakeries and cheesemaking. In 1994, Wong founded a wholesale artisanal bakery called Raison D’etre. Starting in the deli of his family’s corner grocery store Ashbury Market, Wong and his brother Richard continued to cultivate the bakery into a South San Francisco facility that now delivers pastries to Peet’s Coffee and Tea nationwide as well as local independent markets and cafes. Likewise, Wong has invested himself in cheesemaking and founded Joyfull Bakery through his family business. Their products include parmesan cheese crisps that can be found in grocery stores like Whole Foods, Raley’s, Safeway, Andronico’s and more nationwide.
Arnold has received acclaim on both a national and international scale from reputable sources like The New York Times, USA Today, Wine Spectator and more. Nevertheless, he is a humble and kind man who is very family and community oriented. Throughout his work, Wong strives to maintain integrity and attention to detail in order to make his customers feel as if they are home.
Meet Arnold Eric Wong!
Ep:19 Marc Capelle & The Mission
Marc Capelle & The Mission
This week Susan and Michaela sit down with native San Franciscan Marc Capelle to talk about his artistic career and the city’s sunny Mission District. A musician, composer, producer, educator and entertainer, Capelle has performed with the American Music Club, Tommy Guerrero and The West Coast Spiritual Corinthians for decades. He’s even had guest performances with artists like The Plastic Ono Band, Rodriguez, Grandaddy, and Kelley Stoltz. Capelle founded SFO’s live music program “ You Are Hear,” and remained the programmer and producer of it for nine years. Likewise, Capelle is the founder and musical director of the Red Room Orchestra and the soul and pop dance ensemble Marc & the Casuals. He studied at Columbia College at Columbia University, and since returning to his home city, Capelle has taken advantage of the deep concentration of arts and music that the city offers.
Such concentration of the arts can be found in Capelle’s own neighborhood, The Mission. In the mid 20th Century, artists and musicians flocked to The Mission to find affordable housing, thus spawning an explosion of creativity that spilled out of every bar and restaurant. Its cultural history fueled the district’s colorful character, first by its inhabitance of the city’s Native American population, to the Irish, and now to the cherished Latinx community. Today, not only is the neighborhood dominated by an abundance of the arts, but the food, music, and culture has a vibrant Mexican and Latinx flare. There was even a time when Spanish could be heard more than English on the neighborhood’s streets.
The Mission has had its fair share of challenges, such as increased gang violence in the 80’s and rising costs from the growing tech industry of the last 20 years. Nevertheless, it maintains its lively artistic spirit, and who better to tell its story than Mission musician Marc Capelle, who can be found making music on The Mission’s streets or at various venues like The Chapel on Valencia St.
Check out Capelle’s compositions and sound design in the Bay Area art scene documentary “Tell Them We Were Here,” or read more about him on the local news website Mission Local: https://missionlocal.org/2021/06/people-we-meet-a-san-francisco-musician-who-never-left/
Meet Marc Capelle!
Ep 18: Nina Clima and the Gang & North Beach
In the beloved Italian North Beach neighborhood, three San Francisco natives Nina Clima, Charles Farruggia, and Don Di Basilio join Susan and Jae to reminisce on the rich cultural history North Beach offers the city. Nina, Charles, and Don grew up together in North Beach and are all 2nd or 3rd generation Californians. Now 80 years young, the three friends boast healthy, independent, and active lifestyles. They remain dedicated residents of this incredible neighborhood.
Ep 14: David Lei & Chinatown Part II
David Lei is an active participant with several nonprofit organizations including The Chinese Performing Arts Foundation, the Asian Art Museum, the Chinese American Community Fund, Chung Ngai Dance Troupe, Academy of Chinese Performing Arts, World Arts West - San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, the Bancroft Library, and the Center for Asian American Media.
Ep 13: Jay Xu, The Asian Art Museum & Civic Center
This week we are honored to bring you our conversation with Dr. Jay Xu, the CEO and Director of the Asian Art Museum! Dr. Xu spoke to us about the Museum, located directly across from San Francisco’s City Hall, as well as the surrounding neighborhood, Civic Center. Civic Center is in the center of the city, and host to many important arts buildings as well as civic ones. In addition to City Hall and the Asian Art Museum, the neighborhood is home to the famed Bill Graham Auditorium, San Francisco’s Superior Court, the Davis Symphony Hall, the Hearst Theater, the San Francisco Opera House, and the Norris Auditorium. We’re so pleased for Dr. Xu to share his neighborhood and his Museum with us, and to help us continue our celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.
Meet Jay Xu!
Trailer 2: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage in San Francisco
May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, and Beyond the Fog Radio is celebrating by bringing you interviews from some incredible AAPI San Franciscans. With the rise of racism, xenophobia, and hate that AAPI people are facing in this country right now, and have faced for decades, we know that it is more important than ever to highlight the stories and voices of our AAPI brothers and sisters.
This diverse city is home to at least 300,000 people of Asian decent. We as a city must stand with our AAPI neighbors, against hate, and for justice and equity for all San Franciscans.
Join us as we hear from David Lei, Claudine Cheng, and Jay Xu: coming soon to Beyond the Fog Radio!
Ep 06: Reverend Amos C. Brown & The Fillmore
The Western Addition, better known as The Fillmore, is one of the most vibrant and unique neighborhoods in San Francisco. Historically, it has been one of the three predominantly African American San Francisco neighborhoods, and from the 1950s to the 1970s it was known nationally as The Harlem of the West. The Fillmore lived up to this moniker, as was reflected in the music, food, and culture, unique to the vibrant neighborhood and her inhabitants. Third Baptist Church has been, and still remains, the hub of The Fillmore, and Reverend Amos C. Brown is its esteemed and beloved reverend. He is also a lifelong Civil Right leader, and President of the San Francisco Chapter of the NAACP. Reverend Brown sat down with us in September 2020 to tell us all about The Fillmore, and his life there.
Meet Rev. Brown!
Trailer: San Francisco and Social Justice
Social Justice has always been an integral part of San Francisco’s culture, the Bay Area’s very fabric is built on a long history of fighting for the rights of its people.
San Francisco’s diversity means many different groups come together to fight for their rights here, from Civil Rights, Indigionous Rights, LBGTQ Rights, to Labor Union Rights, Teachers Rights, and United Farm Workers Rights, San Francisco is a city with the will to fight for the disenfranchised. In this new series we focus on social justice with interviews from
Rev Amos C. Brown, Sunny Schwartz, Judge John Dearman and Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr.
Join us as we explore San Francisco’s social justice!
Ep 05: John Konstin & Union Square
John’s Grill has been an essential San Francisco restaurant since it opened in 1908. John Konstin spoke to us about his neighborhood, Union Square, and his restaurant, John’s Grill, which has been in his family since the 1960s.
Ep 04: Ellen Schumer & City Hall
Our third interview is with Ellen Schumer. She is the City Hall Historian and Head Docent. Ellen spoke to us about the History of San Francisco City Hall. We cannot wait to share this unique look inside San Francisco’s city hall.
Meet Ellen Schumer!
Ep 02: Rodney Fong & Fisherman’s Wharf, North Beach, & Chinatown
Rodney Fong is the CEO and President of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Fong is a fourth generation San Franciscan whose grandfather started the Fisherman’s Wharf Wax Museum in 1962; Rodney discusses what it was like to grow up in the Wax Museum, as well as in the neighborhoods of North Beach and Chinatown.