Wish I were in the bay area -- this almost looks like an Irish bar!

Fun little spot for a quick lunch -- right next to the tanning salon so you can see folks age themselves via the magic of UV technology.

A long time haunt for techies working in neighboring companies.

A great film that is equal parts Coen Brothers and morality play, remixed with Upton Sinclair's distinctive brand of anti-capitalism ethos. An amazing performance by Daniel Day-Lewis but equally impressive work by Paul Dano (from Little Miss Sunshine). Wonderful support from Ciaran Hinds as a quietly menacing but loyal henchman to Day-Lewis's relentless character.

If you're visiting fisherman's wharf this is a fun little side trip. Highly recommended.

This is a great movie but it is challenging on many levels. On one level it is a flawlessly acted and scripted action drama and on the other hand it is a studied and careful statement about the nature of the American character. Mesmerizing performances from all the players.

Take someone special here for big occasions and you'll remember it forever. Wonderful experience!

Good hours and great value make this a notable "hole in the wall" for the south park area. Need breakfast in the south park area early Sunday morning? Head on down to HRD -- get a good breakfast for you and a couple of friends for less than $20!

Kabul is a fun and semi-formal restaurant serving up tasty afghan cuisine. A reasonable selection of wine -- great kabobs -- highly recommended.

Amazingly satisfying film with tremendous talent and story telling through out. Small, almost cameo, roles by great actors all through the film keep your eyes riveted to the screen. Truly scary and realistic portrayals of the bad old days of police corruption in the big city. Don't miss it...

Or is he just a figment of the internet's imagination: a construct of our collective unconscious populating our deepest hopes and dreams into the canonical representation of 'tortured genius' artist in its truest form. Indeed, the question becomes not just whether or not he exists but in what version of our universe *could* he possibly ever exist??!

Chris Rock is a serious comic: his comedy is based on hitting power structure and established institutions from political parties to marriage. At any given performance you might think he's going too far or "he can't possibly be saying that...", etc. but in the end you will have laughed so hard it won't matter.

Skillfully mixing elements of John Carpenter's "The Thing", 28 Days Later, Zach Snyder's remake of "Dawn of the Dead" and gothic horror themes, 30 Days of Night really delivers the goods. Well chosen cast with solid, gritty, performance, from all the actors makes this a real treat for the horror movie enthusiast.

Absolutely the most ineresting pop science exhibit you will find in the bay area. It's a no holds barred presentation of the inner workings of human biology -- guaranteed to stimulate the inner scientist in everyone who sees it. Highly recommended.

If you liked "Heat" and wanted "Miami Vice" to be better you won't be disappointed by "The Kingdom". If you go expecting any kind of political angle to the movie then you'll enjoy it less. It is moving at points in the same way that Michael Mann's films can be and it has really good action sequences and solid acting by Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, and Jennifer Garnet. Ashraf Barhom, who plays Jamie Foxx's counterpart in Saudi Arabia, steals the show and is an actor to watch.

Really funny and somewhat profound version of "Meet the Parents" in Paris. Solid writing and acting with truly inspired support cast. See it if you dare.

This is really a western updated for our time. Well acted and written with lots of dark comic twists and great action. Much better than the trailer lets on it's a sure crowd pleaser.

Can be a bit uneven at times but good margaritas and excellent enchilada specials. A safe bet for a good lunch or dinner -- very festive and great service.

A must see film that provides a meticulously crafted update on our presence in Iraq, how it has developed, and ultimately why we can expect to be there for a long time. It is highly moving yet thoroughly objective with interviews from many of the people who were involved in the early implementation of what turned out to be a fatal lack of planning.

I went in with high hopes but found it to be somewhat unsatisfying. Each of the ten stories had a funny or surprising moment or two but seemed a bit random and pointless.

A cross between Napoleon Dynamite and Wayne's World! It is a "laugh, snort, and spit popcorn" movie customized for fans of shock comedy with heart.

His first novel was "The Beach"

Michael Moore creates a film that genuinely explores the American character through one of our country's most glaring issues: the problem of making sure that everyone has reliable access to health care.

And, it is the word "care" in health care that is fully explored -- through classic footage Moore builds a case that the biggest obstacle to improving our country's approach to health care is getting the richest and most powerful citizens of our country to care about their fellow citizens.

Finally, the film is entertaining and not as jarring as his earlier work -- ultimately, it is uplifting and even hopeful. One realizes after seeing it that these issues, seemingly so daunting, are actually quite manageable given a democratic, rather than corporate control, approach to the problem.

No trip to Berkeley is complete without a stop at this venerable game store. Don't miss it!

I found this store while stuck at my kid's gymnastics tournament across the street. They have great in-store events and a deep game inventory -- try them out especially if you're a serious gamer. Best East Bay store.

In the past they had other stores in the South Bay that alas have gone away. But, the San Francisco store is flat out the best game store in the bay area.

Absolutely the best coffee in Noe Valley -- skip Starbucks and go for the local favorite.

Chloes is an institution in Noe Valley -- the food is great and the people watching feels like Paris. Watch out for very long waits on weekend mornings but this one's not to be missed.