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SLICE Let’s just have a look inside, shall we?

What is a Turducken?

by Daedalus Howell on November 25, 2020 at 12:28PM

The Frankenstein monster, that crude assemblage of body parts stitched into an ill-fated attempt to recreate life, has at least one counterpart in our nation’s kitchens—the “turducken.” More than mere portmanteau, the legendary dish comprises a whole turkey, stuffed with a whole duck, which, in turn, is stuffed with a whole chicken, all in a manner that recalls Russian nesting dolls.

WRITE ON Cafes and writing pair perfectly.

Writing in Cafes

by Daedalus Howell on November 18, 2020 at 9:48AM

Remember writing in cafes? My own obsession began with Christine’s Cafe in Petaluma in the mid-’80s but quickly metastasized into San Anselmo’s Cafe Nuvo and finally into San Francisco’s North Beach.

Home De Coeur

By Daedalus Howell on October 28, 2020 at 5:42PM

This issue is ostensibly "home decor" themed, which at any other moment in our collective social history is perfectly fine. But with less than a week before the most epochal election since the one that resulted in Lincoln's second term, I'd have to be tone deaf to focus on Chez Nous when the nation is crumbling.

ACTION Zach Woods’ debut directorial effort, ‘David,’ is part of the 12th Annual San Jose International Short Film Festival.

Zach Woods Delights at San Jose Int'l Short Film Festival

by Daedalus Howell on October 21, 2020 at 8:53AM

There comes a time in every reporter’s career when an actor must be interviewed because they’ve directed a short film. These moments are fraught with anxiety because the films are often vanity projects created for the sake of showcasing some nascent talent the actor believes has been overlooked, without ever questioning why.

A pumpkin decorated in tribute to firefighters.

Pumpkin Fest Goes Virtual

By Daedalus Howell on October 14, 2020 at 2:34PM

If this era has taught us anything, it’s that three simple words can mean the world in the face of adversity. Are they A) I love you.

YAY! Aidan Park's new book is by turns poignant and hilarious.

Comedian Aidan Park Shares The Art of Being YAY!

by Daedalus Howell on October 7, 2020 at 2:34PM

Grammarly, the online writing assistant, says I’m a “vocabulary virtuoso,” which is just a polite way of accusing me of thesaurus abuse, to which I readily admit. Hence the tweet-ready stat provided to me that reads, “This week, I used more unique words than 98% of Grammarly users.” There are two words I didn’t use, however, which I’ve just learned.

Nietzsche Is Peachy

By Daedalus Howell on October 1, 2020 at 3:43PM

If you’re reading this, I will presume that you’re still alive. Congratulations.

Nearly 75 percent of American adults now live within 10 miles of a brewery, according to the Brewers Association.

Beers for Fears

By Daedalus Howell on September 16, 2020 at 2:29PM

No word yet if smoke taint will obliterate this year’s wine grape harvest, but the tri-county area has brewed up a backup plan in case 2020 proves to be a year without a vintage. As tempting as it is to say that we have a “Plan B for Beer,” the fact is this has always been the region’s Plan A. Before Vineburg there was Hopland and before you look that up to prove me wrong, consider that we are on the eve of October, which means Oktoberfest is coming soon.

An illustration from the 1913 edition of ‘The Wind in the Willows.’ On Saturday, writer-performer David Templeton will recite the entire chapter ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn.’ Painting by Paul Bransom

A Recitation for the River

By Daedalus Howell on September 9, 2020 at 3:05PM

When it comes to quarantine hobbies, binging Netflix and day-drinking on Zoom top the list. Writer-performer David Templeton had something different in mind—he committed the entirety of the seventh chapter of Kenneth Grahame’s seminal work, The Wind and the Willows, to memory.

This is the end ... my only friend, the end.

The End Is Meh

by Daedalus Howell on August 26, 2020 at 5:33PM

Any other Gen Xers remember, back in the ’80s, when the Gipper was going to push the Button, causing the world to bloom with mushroom clouds? We didn’t know how good we had it.

North Bay Bohemian