Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Most of the time, Cheryl Burke Dance (1830 17th St., at DeHaro; % 415/
252-9000; www.cherylburkedance.com; $12-$24 for 45-90 min.) keeps busy by
programming four-week dance classes, but several times a week, it offers drop-in
classes for those who'd like a one-time introduction to a variety of dance styles.
Also popular are its parties, an informal atmosphere (as cheap as $5) where true
neophytes won't feel singled out. You don't have to bring a partner because you'll
be paired with another guest, which makes this activity a terrific way to meet and
mingle with locals. It's also gay-friendly. Until the spring of 2008, the facility was
known as Metronome Dance Center before the Dancing with the Stars two-time
winner, a Bay Area native, saved it from financial ruin with the help of investors
that included her mom. Have a look at its events calendar to see how the pro-
gramming changes as Burke asserts her vision.
COOKING SCHOOLS
The excellent Tante Marie's Cooking School ( % 415/788-6699; www.tantemarie.
com) does cooking demonstrations of full menus on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Sometimes, the topic is simple but necessary to good cooking—“Purchasing
Meat” was a good one—however, most of the time, courses are based around an
ethnic food type (Malaysian, Chinese) or an international cooking method (Asian
steaming, Asian stir-frying). Events are not cheap—$65 for most, $80 for dessert-
based events—but they're well-received. Tante Marie does both participatory
events, in which you do more than watch, and multi-day cooking courses that
might fit into your vacation schedule, such as a 3-day Italian course and a 3-day
run on herbs and spices. These, too, are not cheap ($575), but they take the full
day and ingredients and tools are included. The full stable of 25-odd chefs who
do the teaching are listed, with biographies, online; they're all established writers,
professional restaurateurs, and educators.
Similar prices ($55 for a few hours; add $25 for wine pairings) are charged by
First Class Cooking (www.emilydellas.com; emilyd@gmail.com), an outfit run out
of its leader's Pacific Heights home. The focus is on quality ingredients and on meals
with strong nutritional value. Lessons usually are in preparing a full meal, which
participants—only 12 at a time, maximum, because there aren't individual cooking
stations—then sit down and enjoy at Emily's dining room table together. It sounds
slapped together but, in fact, Emily has been studying food for years, has a huge and
accessible knowledge of food and technique, and has been doing this as a career
since 2004. Past students praise her accessibility and breadth of knowledge. Bring
your own wine—it's not as if a setup like this comes with its own liquor license.
Check to see if The Chronicle Cooking School ( % 415/777-7759; www.sfgate.
com/food/cookingschool), located at the Ferry Plaza and sponsored by the city's main
newspaper (its writers are the prime teachers), is back up and running. This popular
event shut down, probably temporarily, in early 2008, but its popularity means it's
likely to make a reappearance. Events are usually $60 for several hours.
LECTURE SERIES
Responsible for more than 50 evenings a year, the superlative City Arts &
Lectures ( % 415/392-4400; www.cityarts.net; most tickets $19) books contem-
plative speaking appearances by some of the most brilliant minds in thought and
in the arts, moderated by another well-respected figure (usually, a journalist).
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