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Indybay Feature
UC Berkeley- academic freedom forum- w/ Ward Churchill
on March 28th, a forum on the topic of academic freedom was held at UC Berkeley. There was a disproportionate focus on the case of Ward Churchill at University of Colorado at Boulder, and he and Natsu Saito were on this panel along with Prof. Carlos Munoz, dean of arts and humanities Ralph Hexter, and the head of the ethnic studies department Ling-chi Wang. This was the day right after Spring break, and the student newspaper did not advertise the event, so there were relatively few students, even though there is a sizable Young Republicans club on campus which advertised against him.
Listen now:
In the first sound file, Churchill starts talking at 7 minutes, and Dean Hexter starts at about 28 minutes.
The audience had quite a few older people, as well as a number from the elaborate Berkeley mental illness community - such as the tipi guy who stands by BART. Seeing someone flipping through a David Horowitz book in the front row, we had speculated that there might be a disturbance, in contrast to the character of the audience at the Bookfair appearance on Saturday. However, there turned out to be minimal disagreement and no disturbance. Churchill described the distinction between first amendment freedom and academic freedom. He also repeated his explanation of the Eichman comment, talked about a bar in the financial district that displays the teeth that Custer knocked out of his indian sex slave's mouth, and touched on his opinion of Thomas Brown, John Lavelle, concern over his ethnicity, and his income. The Dean commented on the difficulty of prescribing 'balance' in the classroom because how would one define the center of balance. Should classes be determined by a committee so each possible viewpoint be presented equally - so the LaRouche, communist, libertarian perspective etc. should be given equal time in a political class, or should time be allocated proportional to their estimate of that perspective in society.
Saito covered a few legal topics relating to academic freedom, and discussed personal political expression by professors, and what speech isn't covered by first amendment.
During the question and answer session, a number of people had long comments. There were really only one or two disagreeable questions.
In my opinion, Churchill should think about why people continue to misunderstand his Eichman statement. He wrote a well-known book on comparative genocides that discusses a long list of instances of genocidal activity, and also arguing that the World War II german genocide should not be considered exceptional. Yet, the reason he selected 'Eichman' as his example of a powerful manager of deaths and misery of others, but who got to keep his hands clean, is because of this german exceptionalism - everyone is familiar with World War II, but can be fuzzy about these other areas of history and other world regions. As a professor, wouldn't he be helping us out a lot more if he called immoral corporate managers 'little Lewis Cass' (of the 1830s department of War who denied smallpox vaccine to specific tribes as punishment, and arranged the trail of tears from Washington DC) and then proceed through the list of different massacres through history. People would learn something and start to get his point perhaps, although he would be less famous.
The audience had quite a few older people, as well as a number from the elaborate Berkeley mental illness community - such as the tipi guy who stands by BART. Seeing someone flipping through a David Horowitz book in the front row, we had speculated that there might be a disturbance, in contrast to the character of the audience at the Bookfair appearance on Saturday. However, there turned out to be minimal disagreement and no disturbance. Churchill described the distinction between first amendment freedom and academic freedom. He also repeated his explanation of the Eichman comment, talked about a bar in the financial district that displays the teeth that Custer knocked out of his indian sex slave's mouth, and touched on his opinion of Thomas Brown, John Lavelle, concern over his ethnicity, and his income. The Dean commented on the difficulty of prescribing 'balance' in the classroom because how would one define the center of balance. Should classes be determined by a committee so each possible viewpoint be presented equally - so the LaRouche, communist, libertarian perspective etc. should be given equal time in a political class, or should time be allocated proportional to their estimate of that perspective in society.
Saito covered a few legal topics relating to academic freedom, and discussed personal political expression by professors, and what speech isn't covered by first amendment.
During the question and answer session, a number of people had long comments. There were really only one or two disagreeable questions.
In my opinion, Churchill should think about why people continue to misunderstand his Eichman statement. He wrote a well-known book on comparative genocides that discusses a long list of instances of genocidal activity, and also arguing that the World War II german genocide should not be considered exceptional. Yet, the reason he selected 'Eichman' as his example of a powerful manager of deaths and misery of others, but who got to keep his hands clean, is because of this german exceptionalism - everyone is familiar with World War II, but can be fuzzy about these other areas of history and other world regions. As a professor, wouldn't he be helping us out a lot more if he called immoral corporate managers 'little Lewis Cass' (of the 1830s department of War who denied smallpox vaccine to specific tribes as punishment, and arranged the trail of tears from Washington DC) and then proceed through the list of different massacres through history. People would learn something and start to get his point perhaps, although he would be less famous.
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I lack the ability to do that with my computer and software
Does anyone know what bar he is referring to and if its true, it would seem like something there should be protests around.
There are 200 bears within a few miles of a location I picked in the FInancial District and none has a name that sounds like Yester Year or has that in it that I can find:
For more information:
http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypResults.py?&&...
There are 200 bears within a few miles of a location I picked in the FInancial District and none has a name that sounds like Yester Year or has that in it that I can find:
There is a bear named "Smokey" somehwere in California, not sure if you'll find him in the financial district.., He's usually out huffun' and a puffin' and a sniffen the air...
There is a bear named "Smokey" somehwere in California, not sure if you'll find him in the financial district.., He's usually out huffun' and a puffin' and a sniffen the air...
Ward lied about the bar but the SF financial dictrict is full of sexy bears
Where on campus? Hiding in the creek somewhere?
California Republicans
'shock and awe' Berkeley
Stars and stripes fly over People's Park
By Steve Sexton
Photos by Ashley Rudmann
3:47 PM, 4/27/2003
On the eve of the 34th anniversary of the People’s Park riots, a new generation of activists took over the hotly contested plot of land, yesterday. The slumbering homeless who call the park home were awakened from their midday naps by a crowd of flag waving, U-S-A-chanting Republicans in town for the first Berkeley-hosted California College Republicans Convention.
The more than two-hundred republican college students from across the state marched down Telegraph Avenue, on the sidewalks mind you, hoisting dozens of American flags and pro-America signs in the air.
Marching past a few dissenters and many more passersby, standing still in stunned disbelief, they reached the spot in Berkeley considered to be as much a symbol of liberal 1970s activism as Sproul Plaza where they rallied before spontaneously taking to the streets.
The parade of Republicans, which included the immediate past chairman of the state party, Shawn Steel, and other dignitaries, shouted the virtues of freedom and democracy on streets that hadn’t seen such a conservative presence since Gov. Ronald Reagan sent in the National Guard to quash the 1969 park riots, which left one killed and a dozen injured.
At People’s Park, the Republicans encountered some resistance from locals, but were undeterred as they sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” There was aggressive shouting between the two sides but no physical violence and no arrests, setting the rally apart from liberal Bay Area protests of late.
“I never thought I would live to see this day,” said Steel, who rallied the crowd on UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza before the impromptu march began. I can’t believe we’re doing this in Berkeley.”
After claiming to “liberate People’s Park,” they turned back to the relative safety of campus in a stream of red, white and blue that extended for blocks. As they chanted, “U-S-A, U-S-A,” one bystander inserted, “sucks,” in time with the chant. Others signal their disagreement in varying degrees of civility, but many cheered them on. Car horns on Telegraph Ave. blared in a show of support as the marchers passed. Others hung out their apartment windows, mouths gaping open.
For an hour and a half, they rallied in south Berkeley, before dispersing.
“It was liberating to take our republican message-to take our fight into the belly of the beast,” said Jessica Ochoa, a college Republican from California State University at Long Beach. “Like the Marines rolled into Baghdad a few weeks ago to liberate the city, we rolled into Berkeley ready for a fight.”
This year’s convention theme is “Behind Enemy Lines,” and leading state Republicans speaking to the students throughout the first two days of events repeatedly praised the bravery of the students who converged on the liberal bastion.
From State Senate Majority Leader Jim Brulte to Congressmen Doug Ose and George Radanovich, the republican legislators also impressed upon the young activists the importance of the role they will play in “re-electing President Bush” and “sending (California Senator) Barbara Boxer back to Marin in 2004.” California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim told the students that the days of massive television ad campaigning are over and that grassroots activists making phone calls and door-to-door visits will be the key to carrying the state for President Bush.
The convention, which continues today, is being heralded by its director, Michael Davidson, and hosts, the Berkeley College Republicans, as a sign that the campus complexion is shifting away from the radical liberal one that characterized it three decades ago. The Berkeley College Republicans boast more than 500 members, which they say places them as one of the largest student groups on campus, second only to an asian-American student group.
A recent study of Americans of all ages conducted by UC Berkeley and University of Alabama professors shows that this current crop of college students is more conservative than their parents on some key issues of the day, like school prayer, abortion, and public funding of church groups.
But as a state party leader from Berkeley noted in an address to the students, Berkeley still votes nine-to-one Democratic and on many of the nation’s campuses, Republicans are still in the minority.
The march did pale in comparison to the size of recent anti-war marches, which draw activists from across the Bay Area, including many of the same faces that protested People’s Park in 1969.
Davidson says he takes solace in knowing this year’s convention attendance doubled and that the California College Republicans has grown from just 16 chartered groups on campuses to over 50, with 25 campuses represented at the convention.
“I think Berkeley, itself, was an attraction,” Davidson said.
As the convention continues today, the young conservatives leave open the possibility of returning to People’s Park to confront the liberals they blame for the university-owned land remaining undeveloped.
“It was supposed to be a student dorm,” says Kelso Barnett, a Berkeley College Republican. “Even our current chancellor wanted the lot turned into housing, but then they got him to back down.”
“How about calling it the ‘Ronald Reagan Student Housing Center’,” Barnett quipped, adding, “that’s not too likely.”
'shock and awe' Berkeley
Stars and stripes fly over People's Park
By Steve Sexton
Photos by Ashley Rudmann
3:47 PM, 4/27/2003
On the eve of the 34th anniversary of the People’s Park riots, a new generation of activists took over the hotly contested plot of land, yesterday. The slumbering homeless who call the park home were awakened from their midday naps by a crowd of flag waving, U-S-A-chanting Republicans in town for the first Berkeley-hosted California College Republicans Convention.
The more than two-hundred republican college students from across the state marched down Telegraph Avenue, on the sidewalks mind you, hoisting dozens of American flags and pro-America signs in the air.
Marching past a few dissenters and many more passersby, standing still in stunned disbelief, they reached the spot in Berkeley considered to be as much a symbol of liberal 1970s activism as Sproul Plaza where they rallied before spontaneously taking to the streets.
The parade of Republicans, which included the immediate past chairman of the state party, Shawn Steel, and other dignitaries, shouted the virtues of freedom and democracy on streets that hadn’t seen such a conservative presence since Gov. Ronald Reagan sent in the National Guard to quash the 1969 park riots, which left one killed and a dozen injured.
At People’s Park, the Republicans encountered some resistance from locals, but were undeterred as they sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” There was aggressive shouting between the two sides but no physical violence and no arrests, setting the rally apart from liberal Bay Area protests of late.
“I never thought I would live to see this day,” said Steel, who rallied the crowd on UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza before the impromptu march began. I can’t believe we’re doing this in Berkeley.”
After claiming to “liberate People’s Park,” they turned back to the relative safety of campus in a stream of red, white and blue that extended for blocks. As they chanted, “U-S-A, U-S-A,” one bystander inserted, “sucks,” in time with the chant. Others signal their disagreement in varying degrees of civility, but many cheered them on. Car horns on Telegraph Ave. blared in a show of support as the marchers passed. Others hung out their apartment windows, mouths gaping open.
For an hour and a half, they rallied in south Berkeley, before dispersing.
“It was liberating to take our republican message-to take our fight into the belly of the beast,” said Jessica Ochoa, a college Republican from California State University at Long Beach. “Like the Marines rolled into Baghdad a few weeks ago to liberate the city, we rolled into Berkeley ready for a fight.”
This year’s convention theme is “Behind Enemy Lines,” and leading state Republicans speaking to the students throughout the first two days of events repeatedly praised the bravery of the students who converged on the liberal bastion.
From State Senate Majority Leader Jim Brulte to Congressmen Doug Ose and George Radanovich, the republican legislators also impressed upon the young activists the importance of the role they will play in “re-electing President Bush” and “sending (California Senator) Barbara Boxer back to Marin in 2004.” California Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim told the students that the days of massive television ad campaigning are over and that grassroots activists making phone calls and door-to-door visits will be the key to carrying the state for President Bush.
The convention, which continues today, is being heralded by its director, Michael Davidson, and hosts, the Berkeley College Republicans, as a sign that the campus complexion is shifting away from the radical liberal one that characterized it three decades ago. The Berkeley College Republicans boast more than 500 members, which they say places them as one of the largest student groups on campus, second only to an asian-American student group.
A recent study of Americans of all ages conducted by UC Berkeley and University of Alabama professors shows that this current crop of college students is more conservative than their parents on some key issues of the day, like school prayer, abortion, and public funding of church groups.
But as a state party leader from Berkeley noted in an address to the students, Berkeley still votes nine-to-one Democratic and on many of the nation’s campuses, Republicans are still in the minority.
The march did pale in comparison to the size of recent anti-war marches, which draw activists from across the Bay Area, including many of the same faces that protested People’s Park in 1969.
Davidson says he takes solace in knowing this year’s convention attendance doubled and that the California College Republicans has grown from just 16 chartered groups on campuses to over 50, with 25 campuses represented at the convention.
“I think Berkeley, itself, was an attraction,” Davidson said.
As the convention continues today, the young conservatives leave open the possibility of returning to People’s Park to confront the liberals they blame for the university-owned land remaining undeveloped.
“It was supposed to be a student dorm,” says Kelso Barnett, a Berkeley College Republican. “Even our current chancellor wanted the lot turned into housing, but then they got him to back down.”
“How about calling it the ‘Ronald Reagan Student Housing Center’,” Barnett quipped, adding, “that’s not too likely.”
For more information:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/9...
yeah - I thought that anecdote wasn't right. I understand the power of giving symbolic anecdotes rather than speaking in purely abstract terms. I decided that this is why my father was taken by Rush Limbaugh's show which is all isolated anecdotes, after doing antivietnam war stuff and voting democrat for decades - but now he has the idea that there is reverse racism abounding and people will carjack you if you drive into the cities, due to listening to these stories.
The thing is, that is definitely horrifying, but Churchill's academic area and activism area is so important that he can't afford to lose the audience that is now listening to him for once. There are many other stories relating to extreme poverty in the U.S. and internationally. He could have talked about specific corporations that have resulted in a real body count.
In Colorado, they have all sorts of things named after Chivington, who ran the Sand Creek Massacre. People have said that that guy was acting outside of the law and didn't represent the sentiment of the time, but why would they name things after them.
Also - people always go on a trip when people want the Washington Redskins or things with the word 'squaw' in the title, or Chivington Street to be changed and say that political correctness is just taking over - but so why doesn't this "that's just PC" apply when Churchill says Eichmann. I want to get some bumper stickers and go rename Chivington Street to Goerring/Goebbels/Eichmann street - because only the politically correct should care.
Anyway - searching, here is a restaurant review seeming to describe such a bar called 'Eddie Rickenbacker's'
http://www.sfsurvey.com/profile.asp?id=1080&n=reviews
and one site that seems to talk about a bar called 'Indian' downtown that has motorcycles in it, except it's a fictional story that is set in a real place - like why would they happen to come up with a bar named that with motorcycles.
http://www.clamcity.com/june2003/pg11morons.html
The thing is, that is definitely horrifying, but Churchill's academic area and activism area is so important that he can't afford to lose the audience that is now listening to him for once. There are many other stories relating to extreme poverty in the U.S. and internationally. He could have talked about specific corporations that have resulted in a real body count.
In Colorado, they have all sorts of things named after Chivington, who ran the Sand Creek Massacre. People have said that that guy was acting outside of the law and didn't represent the sentiment of the time, but why would they name things after them.
Also - people always go on a trip when people want the Washington Redskins or things with the word 'squaw' in the title, or Chivington Street to be changed and say that political correctness is just taking over - but so why doesn't this "that's just PC" apply when Churchill says Eichmann. I want to get some bumper stickers and go rename Chivington Street to Goerring/Goebbels/Eichmann street - because only the politically correct should care.
Anyway - searching, here is a restaurant review seeming to describe such a bar called 'Eddie Rickenbacker's'
http://www.sfsurvey.com/profile.asp?id=1080&n=reviews
and one site that seems to talk about a bar called 'Indian' downtown that has motorcycles in it, except it's a fictional story that is set in a real place - like why would they happen to come up with a bar named that with motorcycles.
http://www.clamcity.com/june2003/pg11morons.html
Actually, can anyone over there drop in and take a picture of these teeth?
The more I think about it, this shouldn't stand.
My family is german and I'm thinking of two visits to old concentrations camps over there. The worst death camps were actually in Poland, but Sachsenhausen was a long work/death camp with the 'arbeit macht frei' sign.
There were rules for decorum at those places, and at museum-type exhibits, they show things like shoes that were taken away, and teeth knocked out of people's heads in order to get gold fillings out. When a visiting american youth basketball team came and they were acting silly and some were running around yelling and giggling, everyone else stared at them, because you aren't allowed to act like that around horrible historical evidence like that. People need to show respect. So the teeth at Eddie Rickenbacker's (if the owner isn't rotating the exhibits in and out) really need to go - they shouldn't be thrown out but they should be given to a museum with appropriate gravitas.
Just think about that a minute - it is a serious double standard. At first someone might say, oh, just get over it, or you could even convincingly say that a display of Civil war or WWII weapons shouldn't be shown in a flippant manner because they could have been used to kill people.
But how come some historical crimes count a lot, and with others, they barely get a second glance.... or how come people barely blink at 'redskins' but would with slurs against white or black people. It's as though consciousness for indian issues is at the level people were at in the early 70s in the U.S.
Also, western films are always showing some trapper or cowboy guy coming out and then tribes leap to worship him and offer the chief's daughter as his wife. I'm sure some academics in anthropology or history who aren't listened to like Churchill have done work in this area, but how widespread was this sex slavery that Custer apparently did. The japanese sex slaves of WWII finally got their issue aired recently 50 years later. The burning of the black neighborhood in Tulsa in 1928 has finally recently been dealt with. I think the U.S. could really be benefitted by a lot more self-examination like the german middle and working class was forced to do after WWII where they did have to account for what they let their government do.
The more I think about it, this shouldn't stand.
My family is german and I'm thinking of two visits to old concentrations camps over there. The worst death camps were actually in Poland, but Sachsenhausen was a long work/death camp with the 'arbeit macht frei' sign.
There were rules for decorum at those places, and at museum-type exhibits, they show things like shoes that were taken away, and teeth knocked out of people's heads in order to get gold fillings out. When a visiting american youth basketball team came and they were acting silly and some were running around yelling and giggling, everyone else stared at them, because you aren't allowed to act like that around horrible historical evidence like that. People need to show respect. So the teeth at Eddie Rickenbacker's (if the owner isn't rotating the exhibits in and out) really need to go - they shouldn't be thrown out but they should be given to a museum with appropriate gravitas.
Just think about that a minute - it is a serious double standard. At first someone might say, oh, just get over it, or you could even convincingly say that a display of Civil war or WWII weapons shouldn't be shown in a flippant manner because they could have been used to kill people.
But how come some historical crimes count a lot, and with others, they barely get a second glance.... or how come people barely blink at 'redskins' but would with slurs against white or black people. It's as though consciousness for indian issues is at the level people were at in the early 70s in the U.S.
Also, western films are always showing some trapper or cowboy guy coming out and then tribes leap to worship him and offer the chief's daughter as his wife. I'm sure some academics in anthropology or history who aren't listened to like Churchill have done work in this area, but how widespread was this sex slavery that Custer apparently did. The japanese sex slaves of WWII finally got their issue aired recently 50 years later. The burning of the black neighborhood in Tulsa in 1928 has finally recently been dealt with. I think the U.S. could really be benefitted by a lot more self-examination like the german middle and working class was forced to do after WWII where they did have to account for what they let their government do.
I remember that. It was entertaining to see you guys "storm" down Telegraph, stopping at all traffic lights (I guess your spokescouncil chose not to burn down the Bank of America, this time) as you walked down to peoples park and sang god bless america.
But again, the question remains: where is the large republican club on campus? The great majority of people who were there in 2003 didn't go to Berkeley. Lots of them, in fact, were wearing sweaters from other universities, like UCSD and Santa Clara, to name two that I remember. Lots of them were also older, like Jim Brulte (sp?), or that guy who had a sign with a picture that read "peace=swastika".
In my three years at Berkeley I've never seen more than 15 college republicans at any event. You could only muster that many the day the war started. And I do give those 15 credit; they seem like a dedicated core of activists. You write a nice looking magazine because of the access to large chunks of money from rich conservatice foundations who fund college republicans. But as for a large republican club on campus... just like there were lots of WMD in Iraq, right?
But again, the question remains: where is the large republican club on campus? The great majority of people who were there in 2003 didn't go to Berkeley. Lots of them, in fact, were wearing sweaters from other universities, like UCSD and Santa Clara, to name two that I remember. Lots of them were also older, like Jim Brulte (sp?), or that guy who had a sign with a picture that read "peace=swastika".
In my three years at Berkeley I've never seen more than 15 college republicans at any event. You could only muster that many the day the war started. And I do give those 15 credit; they seem like a dedicated core of activists. You write a nice looking magazine because of the access to large chunks of money from rich conservatice foundations who fund college republicans. But as for a large republican club on campus... just like there were lots of WMD in Iraq, right?
"Actually, can anyone over there drop in and take a picture of these teeth? "
Which bar exactly is it where these are supposed to be? He first said the bar was 60 Indians or something like that and then corrected himself in his next talk to say it was a bar that had "yester-year" in the name. Looking in the Yahoo Yellow Pages for the financial district I dont see either. If there is a bar with motorcycles hanging from the ceiling you would expect that to who up on a Google search since you would expect it to appear in some review of SF bars.
"where is the large republican club on campus?"
They have a large mmembership but only a dozen or so hard-core people who show up to protest or staff their table. Their membership is mainly economic conservatives who probably disagree with many Republican Party core beliefs (including the war).
Alameda County had 132,260 Republican registered for the Nov 2004 election (see http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/sov_pref_pg5_6_ror.pdf )
I would guess that maybe 20% of UCB students vote Republican but thats still several thousand.
Which bar exactly is it where these are supposed to be? He first said the bar was 60 Indians or something like that and then corrected himself in his next talk to say it was a bar that had "yester-year" in the name. Looking in the Yahoo Yellow Pages for the financial district I dont see either. If there is a bar with motorcycles hanging from the ceiling you would expect that to who up on a Google search since you would expect it to appear in some review of SF bars.
"where is the large republican club on campus?"
They have a large mmembership but only a dozen or so hard-core people who show up to protest or staff their table. Their membership is mainly economic conservatives who probably disagree with many Republican Party core beliefs (including the war).
Alameda County had 132,260 Republican registered for the Nov 2004 election (see http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/sov/2004_general/sov_pref_pg5_6_ror.pdf )
I would guess that maybe 20% of UCB students vote Republican but thats still several thousand.
Eddie Rickenbacker’s
133 2nd Street
Tel: 415-543-3498
This pioneer South of Market joint is the creation of ‘normal’ Norman Hobday, better known to generations of San Franciscans as Corporal Henry Africa, a bar where singles crushed together for many years in a celebration of Tiffany lamps, oriental rugs, premium drinks in the smoothest, most sophisticated ‘action’ bar to hit this City since the gold rush. Henry Africa’s is where Harry Denton, Kevin Sullivan and a host of Dartmouth Grads cut their teeth in this City. After a lengthy and costly battle with his sibling who went on to open the Balboa, Norman opened Eddie Rickenbacker’s in the just awakening SOMA area, and it’s been a hit since then. It’s kind of like a grown up FAO Schwartz, with electric trains circling the large rectangular room hosing the bar and dining rooms. The ceiling is adorned with countless Tiffany Lamps, a bunch of historic motorcycles and memorabilia from wartime flying ‘ace’ Rickenbacker. A great bar, a kitchen that turns out truly great pub food, a young, well trained and handsome staff make this a perennially busy spot that the neighborhood has grown up around. Like all great pubs, the heart and soul of Rickenbacker’s menu is the ‘burger’, and it’s a great one. The meat is a hand formed patty about 7 or 8 ounces of very flavorful chopped sirloin, served on a lightly buttered and toasted sourdough bun with all the right accompaniments and some great French fries. There are several other excellent sandwiches on the menu, some well prepared entrée items, good salads, including one of the best Cobb Salads I’ve ever tasted. Check out the daily ‘blue plate specials’ running the gamut from meatloaf and mashers to old fashioned turkey platters, a hearty beef stew, chicken fricassee, and some simple, well prepared pasta dishes. There’s a beautiful hand crafted oyster bar that turns out some sensational appetizers in addition to the well-treated bi-valves.
The ursine appearing proprietor is fond to a fault of gaming and can often be found playing an intense game of liar’s dice, a true tradition of the San Francisco saloon, and one that seems to be dying out unfortunately. On the minus side of Rickenbacker’s is the closeness of tables in the dining room,--it’s loud and very hard to carry on a conversation, but fun. It’s great people watching and eavesdropping, and the food and drinks are really great.
Prices are moderate with most sandwiches and specials in the 7.00-10.00 range and substantial in the portions served. The desserts are housemade and can be excellent, as are the soups and some really tasty appetizers that can be had until late in the evening. This is primarily a weekday, financial district saloon that serves a great lunch, but does on occasion serve dinner, but call before taking the chance. I highly recommend a visit to Eddie Rickenbacker’s. It’s history in the making, and it’s fun.
133 2nd Street
Tel: 415-543-3498
This pioneer South of Market joint is the creation of ‘normal’ Norman Hobday, better known to generations of San Franciscans as Corporal Henry Africa, a bar where singles crushed together for many years in a celebration of Tiffany lamps, oriental rugs, premium drinks in the smoothest, most sophisticated ‘action’ bar to hit this City since the gold rush. Henry Africa’s is where Harry Denton, Kevin Sullivan and a host of Dartmouth Grads cut their teeth in this City. After a lengthy and costly battle with his sibling who went on to open the Balboa, Norman opened Eddie Rickenbacker’s in the just awakening SOMA area, and it’s been a hit since then. It’s kind of like a grown up FAO Schwartz, with electric trains circling the large rectangular room hosing the bar and dining rooms. The ceiling is adorned with countless Tiffany Lamps, a bunch of historic motorcycles and memorabilia from wartime flying ‘ace’ Rickenbacker. A great bar, a kitchen that turns out truly great pub food, a young, well trained and handsome staff make this a perennially busy spot that the neighborhood has grown up around. Like all great pubs, the heart and soul of Rickenbacker’s menu is the ‘burger’, and it’s a great one. The meat is a hand formed patty about 7 or 8 ounces of very flavorful chopped sirloin, served on a lightly buttered and toasted sourdough bun with all the right accompaniments and some great French fries. There are several other excellent sandwiches on the menu, some well prepared entrée items, good salads, including one of the best Cobb Salads I’ve ever tasted. Check out the daily ‘blue plate specials’ running the gamut from meatloaf and mashers to old fashioned turkey platters, a hearty beef stew, chicken fricassee, and some simple, well prepared pasta dishes. There’s a beautiful hand crafted oyster bar that turns out some sensational appetizers in addition to the well-treated bi-valves.
The ursine appearing proprietor is fond to a fault of gaming and can often be found playing an intense game of liar’s dice, a true tradition of the San Francisco saloon, and one that seems to be dying out unfortunately. On the minus side of Rickenbacker’s is the closeness of tables in the dining room,--it’s loud and very hard to carry on a conversation, but fun. It’s great people watching and eavesdropping, and the food and drinks are really great.
Prices are moderate with most sandwiches and specials in the 7.00-10.00 range and substantial in the portions served. The desserts are housemade and can be excellent, as are the soups and some really tasty appetizers that can be had until late in the evening. This is primarily a weekday, financial district saloon that serves a great lunch, but does on occasion serve dinner, but call before taking the chance. I highly recommend a visit to Eddie Rickenbacker’s. It’s history in the making, and it’s fun.
We need to think strategically about this. I fear that the teeth and other artifacts will disappear if we go about it the wrong way. I've been contacting Native American friends and friends..... This is a good opportunity to strenghen ties and spotlight the racist behavor, to draw links between Occupation over there and Occupation over here. What better way for the movement to demonstrate that we know exactly what Occupation is.
~Respect!
~Respect!
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/04/1733271_comment.php
Someone might want to add this to the Education Category.
Someone might want to add this to the Education Category.
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