Kamkiriad : The Authentic, Genuine, Original Valley Guy

You can take me out of LA, but you can't take the LA out of me. Although I’ve lived in the Bay Area for 36 straight years (and a few years running before that) I still consider myself a Southern Californian. Northern Cal?  Do you know the difference between being a citizen and being a resident?  A long-term resident is all I'll admit to. I miss every aspect of living in LA except the traffic. I especially miss the restaurant scene, which has changed drastically throughout the decades. So much so, that I’d be lying if I said I was still on-top of it. Try as I might to review each year’s Los Angeles Magazine’s Restaurant issue, not living in the area precludes one's ability to stay in the know. As I’ve returned to my home town as a visitor, I try to hang on to the restaurants and dining experience of yesteryear, with scant success. Changes occur to well-run restaurants, some have been sold but retain the original name, recipes have changes, and some have simply shut th...

I typically rely upon my iPod to furnish music in the car when not listening to news or sports talk. Why listen to a commercial station when I have my own dedicated one with thousands of songs, all preferential to my taste and selection?   Even with the iPod, I’ve still on occasion burned my own playlist CD’s, usually on a whim or to provide friends with requested tunes. The other day, while searching for auto insurance credentials in my glove compartment (no, I didn’t get stopped for a traffic violation), I came across a single blue Maxell CD with a Sharpie-written question mark upon it. Clearly, I recognized the writing form of the question mark and determined it to be mine, although I had no memory of what might be on it or when it was burned. Since a road trip to Southern California was a day away, I would take it along and review what gems or otherwise I had selected for this mysterious play list. My good friend “Neighbor” is the CEO of burning discs. He has prov...

Authors Note – In 2003 I traveled to the farming community of Paso Robles, California to see Steely Dan in concert. I was so certain it would be their last tour that I attended 3 shows in 3 different cities on that tour. They didn't play live between 1975 - 1995 and my thinking was that this tour was the "pension plan" for the duo, providing that last nest egg to see them through retirement. Boy was I wrong. They’ve been one of the most active touring acts over the subsequent 15 years. It also appears Donald Fagen will continue the band’s legacy without partner Walter Becker, who passed away in late 2017. The following is a look back on a great show held at a, shall we say, interesting venue. Being a big fan of the jazz-rock band, Steely Dan I was excited about the prospects of an upcoming summer tour. The new CD, Everything Must Go, hit the shelves in early June, and, after oh, maybe 200 listens, I’m ready to venture far and wide to see them play live. In fact, ...

To say that I experienced a generation gap with my parents over the music I preferred is a gross understatement. I constantly heard “turn that garbage off!” anytime the volume on the family stereo went above a whisper. Receiving my own stereo as a gift only solved half the battle; a good quality pair of headphones brought true peace to the household. Going away to college didn’t hurt matters either. One thing I was sure of: my own children would not only appreciate my music, but I would relate to theirs. My musical coming of age was the British Invasion of the early to mid-60s. Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Cream, Who, and the Moody Blues were the bands that made a huge impression on me. My parents, in their very early 30s at the time, seemed to appreciate the music as much as I did. We all gathered around the television on that Sunday night in February 1964 to watch the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. They took me to both A Hard Day’s Night and Help! movies and seemed to enjoy it. I’m certai...

I’m a Parisphile; guilty as charged. The city is my hobby. In many Arrondissement (districts) I’ve walked every street. There are only a couple of neighborhoods in the city I haven’t ventured to, and those are in the far northeastern part of the city. I try to blend in and not appear too touristy, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of accomplishing it. I steer clear of places like the Champs Elysees and boat excursions down the Seine. While I truly love the Eiffel Tower , I never stop to gawk at it, but admire it from afar. My favorite Tower vista is on the Metro line # 6 from Bir Hakeim to Passy. As soon as the train departs Bir Hakeim, look out the right side for a glorious view, especially at night. I’m constantly asked for tips on what to see and do in Paris . I’ve decided to list my personal Top 10. In no specific order, these are things that have brought me the most enjoyment, and can act as a road map to other treasures in the greatest city in the world. Remember...