BIMBO

It was unusual to go into San Francisco in a long summer tank dress with only a sweater. Normally, even in the "summer", we dress like it's fall, a wool jacket, long pants and a sweater. Last night was an exception. We Bay Areans were treated to a rare summer warm trend (that's more than one day), where the mercury rose over 65 degrees. It was 90 in Oakland and I could barely pull myself off of the couch after a short bike ride.

At 4:30 I hopped in the car to get to BART. The trains were full as people were crowding in to go to PacBell Park to see the Bay Bridge Series, the A's played the Giants (Giants won-Again!) I was on my way to North Beach to see Salif Keitah, a Malian musician here on a rare appearance.

I walked straight through from the Financial District up through the edge of China Town and into North Beach. Having spent time on the East Coast and in Europe in the summer, last night reminded me of that. The sidewalk seating is normally barren, or heat lamps are scattered to keep the tourists warm as they shiver in their shorts in June. But last night the outdoor seating was full and tourists and natives alike enjoyed the warm city night.

I


love African music, the drums, the polyrhythms, the melodies. Salif, without speaking to the packed audience the entire night, put on a rousing show. There was no "type" at this show, and the only disappointment was for the people who arrived early enough to get a seat at a table. Their views were blocked during the hour and a half performance as the dance floor became packed and people moved and swayed to the music.

After the show we went back to La Trappe (we had been there earlier for dinner) and grabbed another Belgian brew downstairs in the cave, again reminding me of something distinctly European - Le Caveau in Paris. Like a good bridge-n-tunneler, I hopped back on BART for my ride home, my sweater draped lightly over my shoulders, still enjoying the warm, summer night.