I came here last week for a Security class sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security. I…read morecan't tell you what the class was about, otherwise I would have to kill you. :) I should also confess that my Father is a Mason and Shriner, my Mom belonged to Eastern Star and was a Mother Advisor for the Rainbow Girls for many years. Alas, that strong record didn't translate to their Son, who couldn't even be bothered with a DeMolay invitation. I will say though that the good folks who volunteer at the San Francisco Scottish Rite facility tried their best to recruit me at this "late" age. I'm not sure about that, but I will say that the culture here felt very comfortable. Anyway, this building is fabulous and with a good supply of parking spots underneath. The neighborhood is a little busy, which makes the peaceful interior of this cool retro facility all the more enjoyable. The class was also well worth the drive and maybe a repeat visit using a BART/Muni combination to West Portal.

Great venue to accommodate our growing Polynesian Showcase. We had a blast utilizing the space -…read moreincredible backstage to accommodate different dressing rooms for a variety of groups of children, teens, young adults, older adults and musicians. I really don't think there is a bad seat in the house - honestly. And the acoustics are incredible. I don't really know, first-hand, how things went with our main point of contact (theater/sound technician, administrators, etc.), but overall, things seemed to run very smoothly. Some side-notes: - the facility itself is pretty "dated" but how could I "not" appreciate a place which still labels things with "ladies lounge" and "powder room" !? - underground parking, but for our full-house performances, it was a bit tricky for some guests who had to park on adjacent streets; - they have some shower stalls in the uni-sex bathrooms in one dressing room area (don't tell anyone, but I think the Grand Poo bah Fred Flintstone and his counterpart Barney Rubble spend some weekends here). 760 seats - visit their website for more information.

It's not a business, it is a social club with rules. But it is the best place for community,…read morecamaraderie, and most importantly: fraternity. For once in my life, I feel like I'm a part of something bigger than myself. Thank you to the Moose Lodge #1944 for welcoming me in and feeling like I am seen and valued in Pacifica and beyond. Looking forward to the journey.

The greatest!! I have been a with the Pacifica Moose Lodge since I was a teen, when my parents…read morewere members. This lodge has the most delightful, generous people. Please drop By sometime. We have steak nights on Thursday nights. And Friday night dinners. Membership is with every cent!! They have supported me and my friends and family with MS. Have done events there and I am so grate

Wonderfully entertaining and touching stories and support to develop your own public speaking and…read moreleadership skills in a fun, safe, setting. Awesome

One of the best Toastmasters clubs, which is also an advanced one, in the Bay Area too! With…read moreexperienced leaders, who clearly know how to tell stories as evident from their website, contests, workshops, and bi-weekly meetings, how can you not visit this club to learn and adopt best practices? They are organized, efficient, and helpful in empowering the public master the art of telling stories that enable you to be remembered by others. Even their website tells a story. Visit this club if you're near San Mateo to level up your communication and leadership skills!

I have been a member of Fightin' 49ers for almost 3 years now. The culture has maintained being…read morefun, educational, supportive and an oasis in ours day. One of my personal goals and reasons for joining Toastmasters is to improve my leadership skills. Within my time here I have been a club officer and a District officer in 2 different roles. That was all made possible but the support and encouragement from the club. On top of my own personal and professional growth. I have the privilege to see others grow as well. The majority of members we lose are to new jobs and promotions. Lucky for me, in my professional growth, I haven't had to make that choice yet. Even with my own job change.

I joined this club in the summer of 2017. This club has helped me developed from a person that is…read morefearful of speaking in front of a crowd to a confident person that can deliver meaningful speeches. The club is very supportive and respectful. They will always offer feedback to help take your communication skills to the next level. The club also encourages having mentors, I have a mentor that checks in regularly to ensure I'm progressing in Toastmaster's program called Pathways. I would highly recommend going to this club if you would like to get over the fear of public speaking or if you would like to sharpen your communication skills on a professional level.

Well, it's not a business. All dancing and music is free…read more It's well established fun for years. Don't be shy and enjoy, everybody is friendly and forgiving.

Post-COVID update is in order. This is still an excellent outdoors swing dancing venue that occurs…read moreweekly (weather permitting). However, this is now the only regular dance party in the SF that I know of. Big change is: bring your mask and, preferably, the proof of vaccination (new etiquette details are below). Finding the place is easy: upon entering the Golden Gate park from Fulton around the 10th Ave, just listen for the music and move in its direction. Logistics: - free parking in the neighborhood (8th-9th-10th-11th Ave with the entrance from Fulton) is possible but hard to find. Be prepared to park somewhere closer to the Clement St. and walk many long (but nice) SF blocks to the park; I have found my spot at 11th and Clement. Note that the parking meters are off on Sundays; budget at least 15 minutes for free parking. For the spare-no-expense types, there is a parking garage for the de Young museum right under the dancing place (entrance from Fulton St. at 10th Ave) that charges about $5 per hour. You can also park in the adjacent Music Concourse garage, somewhat more crowded and with 200 extra yards to walk; - bring your mask! The use of masks is very much encouraged, some partners will ask you to put it on as a condition for dancing. That said, many people will agree to a maskless dance; - if you would show the DJ both the proof of your vaccination and your photo ID, you will get a coveted green button, indicating to the potential dance partners that you are vaccinated. This helps to negotiate the tricky mask business; - the sidewalk surface is as bad for dancing as it gets, so leave your dance shoes at home and be nice to your (and your partner's) knees; - there is no nearby water fountain, so bring your own water bottle; - the nearest restroom is inside the de Young museum (a 1 -2 minute walk); - the shade provided by the trees is not adequate, so sunscreen is highly recommended on the sunny days; - the dance party starts at 11AM and goes to approximately 2:15PM (about six "last" dances are being announced after 2PM). The free dance lessons start at 12PM, but the dance party keeps going on simultaneously. The crowd grows as the time goes on, and by the end of the party includes about a hundred people, greatly varying by age, plus a lot of onlookers. The skills are also anywhere  between absolute beginners and very advanced. The dance/follow ratio is OK, with slightly more follows. Tip for the leads: inviting an onlooker to dance is an interesting test of your leading abilities. As it always happens at the large swing dance parties, there is a "jam" time when the special people (birthday girls/boys, out-of-towners, etc.) are dancing with a lot of partners in a rapid succession with the rest of the crowd cheering (see the photo); if you qualify, register with the DJ. There is also time for a brief "routine" - a group synchronized dance.

"It's nice to have a crush on someone. It feels like you're alive, you know?" - Scarlett Johansson…read more I'll be flying into København via Scandinavian Airlines as my entry point to Europe. This decision was based in November when I searched for fares and my typical British Airways into London was ridiculous due to UK mandates at the time and probably the decision for the UK to leave the EU. No politics, just came down to cost and safety. And yes, Scandinavian Airlines is in the top tier for safety! So I'll leave some tips for all you, Young Scandinavians, or anyone who wants to wanderlust overseas. COVID was/is a hot mess and now that dictator up north is stupid AF, but you know what? I decided to live my life fully no matter what's out there. Hibernation is done! I don't want to wake up and suddenly I'm... an Old Scandinavian on Netflix! Pro Tips on Traveling to Europe (or anywhere overseas) during COVID times: 1. Expect changes in flights, delays, etc. Expect it! so there's no oh oh moment! 2. Be as flexible with dates as can be: +1 or -1 in days or more if possible. 3. Travelers Insurance! This is mandatory in today's uncertain times. Trust me! 4. Hotels, B&B's: make sure it's changeable and fully refundable before booking reservations! 5. Euro currency! Get it before flying out! Almost everyone takes CC nowadays but a small amount is best to carry for hotel taxes or even small souvenirs. For me, 300 Euros is plenty. Just carry what's needed because the US dollar is still king! 6. Documents! Make sure Passport is up to date, Vaccination Certificates up to date. And copies of everything, including itinerary! Make life easy! 7. Register electronically per country as needed! For example, Italy & France requires you to register on the EU-PLF website. Be detailed and honest! 8. COVID Test! Be prepared to get tested within 24-hours of leaving the US. Also it's not as strict as before, however be prepared to be tested as needed during your travels, too. Bonus: If you're fully vaccinated it might not be needed! Ask! 9. Travel as light as possible with only what you need. If possible, bring only carry-on, or at the most, one extra checked baggage. Just note if you travel to multiple countries, mobility is so important! 10. Health precautions! Wear a face mask during the duration of flight, on any public transportations, and as needed per mandate in each country! Always have extras on you. Wear gloves in public areas, latex or even personal gloves. Take boost immune vitamins! Stay hydrated! 11. Safety! When walking the streets or in public spaces keep wallets and valuables in front of your body. Carry only what you need. Be street smart! 12. Learn! Basic phrases of each country. At the very least, greetings, thank you's. Never forget you are the foreigner when you land! Oui! Oui?! ;D 13. Enjoy! Be kind and positive everywhere you go. It's a big world out there but kindness is universal! 14. Be open minded in cuisine and that glass of vintage '45 Domaine De La Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru! You're welcome! ;) And yes, I have a crush on Scarlett Johansson! See you over the pond! Well in a week or so... Skål!

I am an active member of the Young Scandinavian Club and I love the club. I attend most of the…read moreevents such as monthly happy hours around SF, Parties at the Waterfront Clear Lake cabin during the summer, Christmas parties, the HUGE Halloween party, Canoe trip and the yearly Yosemite trip. If you join you will meet a lot of awesome people who are affiliated with Scandinavia in one way or the other, many of us are born and raised in Scandinavia, some have lived there for a while and others are second generation Scandinavians. Yearly membership is only $35! See you soon!

I work as a college advisor and as such sometimes encounter students struggling to come to terms…read morewith their sexuality, wherever along the spectrum it lies. To help support those students in accepting who they are and finding appropriate support resources, we received a very informative presentation from the staff of TransGender San Francisco (TGSF) about the different types of transgender issues. Some are people who want to physically be the other gender; some are homosexual but many are heterosexual; for some, transvestism (cross-dressing) is sexual and for others it's not. There is a LOT of ignorance, confusion, and misconception about transgender issues, and almost none of it is positive. It's human nature to fear what we do not understand, and it's normal to not understand things (and people) that we rarely see. Even those of us in counseling and advising roles are unconsciously guilty of that ignorance and misconception sometimes. The staff who presented to my office, Allison and Bonnie, were very open and honest about transgender issues. They were also excellent about making the presentation clear, comfortable, and humorous. They answered all of our questions without prejudice, including some that blatantly showed our ignorance. The staff served as a very positive, accessible face for the transgender community. Given the quality and professionalism of the education and outreach staff, I have little doubt that their social and advocacy programs are similarly excellent. TRIVIA: 70% of female-to-male transsexuals and 43% of male-to-female transsexuals retain close contact with their families. Yet sadly, 5% of female-to-male transsexuals and 21% of male to female transsexuals have made a suicide attempt. [From data in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, December 1988.] The rainbow flag representing the LGBT community originated here in San Francisco in 1978. In 1986, William Hurt became the first actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of a gay character in the film Kiss Of The Spider Woman.

i approve of transgender people. kthx.read more

This named mural is on the 88th Ave. side of a building that hosts the East Bay Dragons, an East…read moreOakland social club & motorcycle bike club. Feisty green dragon has red fins & yellow flames erupting from its body. Ai Overview: "East Bay Dragons are Oakland's oldest iconic Black motorcycle club founded in 1959. Evolving from a car club into a brotherhood known for riding Harley-Davidsons, community activism, and fostering positive identity for Black men, navigating racism & stereotypes while providing support with a legacy of leadership..." Creators: Vogue, TDK, KUFUE Sponsor: East Bay Dragons.

These guys are living legends and a great bunch to hang around with, be sure to show up whenever…read morethey have an event or if you can catch up with them peeling rubber down the mean streets of East Oakland. Shot out to Tobie, Pac-Man and Tugboat! LLH&R.