jakit

Genova Deli is Overrated

I first went to Genova about 15-20 years ago when I was a teenager. I don't remember much, except that it was small and cramped and that there was a lot of meat hanging from the ceiling. The meat thing alone gave me the sense of authenticity; it wasn't what you saw at the other, tamer, delis.

Years later the deli moved down the street into a brand new, and much larger, space. Since then, I've eaten there many, many times, and they always seem to be busy. The place is very much an East Bay landmark.

But the other day, while eating a mediocre salami and cheese sandwhich, I started to question just why the hell this is.

I think that I, personally, was attracted to the old Genova authenticity and that's why I continued to go. Likewise, I think most people who go there do so because of reputation. But that authenticity isn't really there anymore. Hell, most of the employees are no longer even Italian.

But what really sticks out the most to me is the blandness of the food. I think that the most important characteristic of a deli should be the quality of the ingredients. Recipes don't really mean anything; after all, how many different ways can you make a salami and cheese sandwich? Genova makes them just like everybody else.

Which is fine. But what isn't fine is that their ingredients are just like everybody else's as well (the bread is particularly average.) All their sandwich food seems to be commercially processed and from huge companies. No different then what I would get from a deli in a mall.

Then there's all the imported packaged food that they sell. Olives from some huge pesticide-using conglomerate in Spain are still crappy olives, even if they are imported from Europe. This is California for crying-out-loud, why on Earth would we need to import crappy olives from Spain? I suppose they think that the imported olives lend them a sense of authenticity, but to me it just makes them seem fake.

Genova may be old-school, but unfortunately only in the negative way. They don't seem to be hip to the local, organic, fresh-food revolution that's been happening around them for the last 30 years. They could be selling Niman Ranch salami, Vital Vittles bread and Strauss Cheese. Then they would truly have great sandwiches.

And that's authenticity, not some newfangled California-thing. That's how deli's used to be. The food they sold was local, organic and fresh by default.

So avoid the lines at Genova and go find something truly great. Better yet, get a crispy taco down the street at the new Mexican joint. They have high-quality ingredients and authentic employees.

Sudden Tree Death

Another tree mysteriously bites the dust in front of 3907 Piedmont Avenue. Whereas before there were two trees getting in the way of whatever the owners thought they were getting in the way of, now there are none.

I suppose this tree death will be ruled an "accident" just like the last one. Just like the last time the owners "accidentally" rammed their truck into the poor, innocent, woody plant.

What's up? Why do the Roses hate trees? Is there something about nature that bothers them? I know some members of the family find it perfectly alright to steal from their tenants, but why do they need to kill trees as well?

But honestly, this should come as no surprise. Seeing the utter lack of respect with which they treat that beautiful old building is shocking in itself. Obliterating the surrounding nature must surely follow.

I hope somebody buys that building soon and saves it before it "accidentally" burns down and some people collect a fat insurance settlement.

The Hard Loftstyle

Having trouble with the loft design. Who would've figured?

I guess I thought we could just move in and throw all our stuff around and- blamo... we've got a cool pad. Any other idea was far too materialistic for me; after all, I couldn't tolerate the idea of having to buy new furniture just for our new loft. How incredibly wasteful. The furniture we have is still perfectly useful.

But alas... it doesn't feel right. It's uncomfortable. Our feng-shui is all messed up. I don't know if that means that we need different furniture, if we need to rearrange what we have, if we need less or more stuff, if we need to paint the walls, throw down rugs or what- but it's totally whack right now.

I know we can make it better, more comfortable and warm, but we just haven't figured out how yet.

Anybody got any suggestions?

Goodbye 3907

We're leaving 3907.

I can't believe it. It's actually harder than I thought it would be. Suddenly, the amount and intensity of memories I have here have become fully aware.

This place has changed me. I've grown here. In fact, this is where I've become who I am.

This is where I found Hemingway and Dylan. This is where I learned that art is so much more than mere entertainment. This is where I created my first substantial work.

This is where I was when I met Erika. I lived here through both graduating college and getting married.

I love this place and I know that I'll miss it forever.

Movies & Comics

Just the other night Erika and I were sitting and pondering the history of our apartment. We were wondering who lived in our place before us. Considering how old our apartment is, there were folks living here in the 19th Century, during the 06' Earthquake, through WWI, the Jazz Age, WWII, the fifities and some crazy hippies in the sixties.

So we were curious... just who lived here?

Well, I did a Google search and it turns out some guy lived here in 1994 named Yong Yi who made a comic called When My Brother Was God and he self-published it right out of this apartment with this address.

So, now I'm on a mission to find it.