Like The Phoenix, The Squat And Gobble Rises (Another Memory, Starring Woody Allen As Himself)

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feeling good

~Leslie Bricusse, The Bricusse Songbook



Okay, so I warned you the other day, I am going to be reminiscing about my, I mean our, fun surrounding our stalking, I mean following, of Woody Allen as he made movie magic filming Blue Jasmine last year in San Francisco. LOL. Okay, so what exactly does the current construction on a building have to do with all the misadventures last year? Well, it's a funny story, and at the same time, a tragic story, but in the end the story comes full circle... not unlike a Woody Allen movie! LOL.

It Went Like This...

If you have been reading me for any length of time, you already know about my Woody Allen adventure last year. I won't rehash the whole thing, but I will share that right in the middle of the story came a moment of abstract surrealism. You see, on August 25th of last year, Alan and I tracked Woody Allen's filming schedule, mostly by way of social media, around San Francisco. On the 28th we learned he was filming in the Haight/Ashbury neighborhood, so off we went. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, there was no Woody to be seen. He was done and done.

But fear not, social media came through again, and we found out he was merely a few neighborhoods away in the West Portal. There wasn't an exact address, so it was a bit like looking for a Woody... um... needle... in a haystack. Finally we found out where the technical trucks would be parked. When we got there, we saw plenty of trucks, some marked wardrobe, but there didn't seem to be any film service trucks, or any tell tale signs of filming going on, like sandwich boards marked "No Parking" and there was no police presence. Hmmm.

So, with nothing else to do, we decided to drive around the neighborhood, and see if anything could be found. We checked out about 7 or 8 streets, when finally we hit pay dirt! A young, well dressed man, walking down the hill with a camera in his hand. EUREKA! By Woody, I think we had it! And yes, we did! A short drive up West Portal, and onto Ulloa, and there it was, the camera crew, the catering truck, and of course, Woody Allen's town car, parked on the corner of Claremont and Ulloa.

As you might imagine, there was no place to park on our first pass around the neighborhood, so once around again. And that's when it all happened!

With my cameras responsibly stored in their proper cases, and my cell phone, with the awesome camera, equally responsibly placed at the bottom of my purse, where everything in my purse goes, lol, I had no distractions from not just looking for a place to park, but to also check out the neighborhood stores and restaurants. Excellent. I was calm, and well prepared. Good for me! So, on our second time around the block, as we turned onto Ulloa from West Portal, I noticed a cute restaurant called The Squat And Gobble. What an interesting name! My amusement of which only lasted about 3 seconds, no kidding, because coming out of that restaurant, all by himself, with no entourage was... Woody Allen!

LOL. As you can see from the pictures above, the distance between the restaurant entrance, and the curb is not very far! Woody Allen was literally 5 feet away from me, if that much, and where were my cameras? Why they were responsibly put away of course! OMG. It would have been a really terrific, candid shot of him, and I had make a really rookie mistake of not taking at least one camera out after we located the filming sight. All photographers, professional or amateur, have a memory of at least one "shot that got away," for me, Woody Allen will always be "the one that got away!" LOL.

Anyway, like a good little diabetic, I had packed my lunch for the day before I left the house, so we decided to check out the Squat and Gobble during our upcoming vacation which was scheduled for October. In fact, we reasoned, why not come and have dinner on our wedding anniversary, which would be on October 13th. It would be a fun way to spend the day, laughing about our Woody Allen misadventures, and we could take some time to just check out the neighborhood properly! It was a plan!

Unfortunately, not unlike a plot twist in a Woody Allen movie, the Squat and Gobble burned to the ground on October 12th, that's right, one day before our anniversary! It burned down so completely, that it managed to take a couple other businesses with it! It was a total loss! I felt really bad for the restaurant, and the businesses, but I have to admit, I felt really bad that the memory I hoped to make was gone as well.

But hey, good news came along earlier this year, when it was announced that the Squat and Gobble will rise like the phoenix later this year! And no matter when, Alan and I will be there to support them in their grand reopening. We will be making a new memory. Sure, it won't be the exact restaurant Woody ate in, but it will be close enough, and besides, it's the total ambiance of the area. The street. The people. The time you spend with someone you love, in this case, Alan, and the surreal turn of events that I can't help but feel a tiny bit responsible for on some odd level. LOL. Which of course is completely neurotic of me, but hey, it was a Woody Allen movie that brought me here... right?

Congratulations Squat And Gobble On Your Rise From The Ashes!We Will See You Later This Year!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 155~Just Yesterday Morning

"If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."

~Woody Allen

Yesterday morning I awoke to the strangest news. The restaurant the Squat and Gobble had burned down over night, damaging two other businesses on either side. You might remember that restaurant from the posts late last summer about my stalking... errrr... following... errr... admiring of Woody Allen, while he was filming his upcoming movie which is till only titled at this point WASP. Woody Allen's Summer Project.

The was the restaurant that Woody Allen was jumping out of... errr... walking out of... when I got my closest to him during that few weeks of filming. He was only about 8 feet away at the most, and of course no camera ready to go. Alan, still laughs his butt off about my obvious distress, the naughty man, but if I am telling the truth, I am kind of laughing a bit to. It was a Woody Allen moment. The whole two weeks, in retrospect, kinda played out in places like our very own Woody Allen movie.

From the first day of admiring, when I couldn't find any of my SD cards, to the last day of filming when my prophesy of Woody jumping out at me from some shadowy place. Or maybe even a restaurant. I told Alan that day on 20th st... "I am not dressed right, why did I choose to wear black pants and grey top? I mean... who pairs THAT together? He could just jump out at any time!" Alan said that was a silly notion, but somehow I just knew... and sure enough... eventually he did!

I wanted to visit this restaurant later this month on Family Day. That is our own made up holiday that we celebrate each October 23rd. We took a look at the menu and agreed that would be our treat for that day, but now, well, it is gone if not for a long time, then perhaps forever. Oh there are other Squat Gobbles about the city, but it just wouldn't be the same. He visited this one, and now it's gone.

Sigh. (4 Alarm Fire Leaves Small Businesses In Ruins) KGO 7

I am again reminded... take not one moment, place, opportunity, stalking or admiring for granted. Grab life, fun, and adventure and hold on tight.

Today is Alan's and my 22nd Wedding Anniversary... and it's been the best adventure ever!

 

"Life is full of misery, loneliness and suffering... and it's all over much too soon."
~Woody Allen

LOL

I love you Alan!

~Me :)

Now, go have a look see at what our friend JR is up to.

JR
 http://jrclinephotography.blogspot.com/2012/10/apadf6-153.html

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 116~ As Seen In San Francisco

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade windows in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

~H. Jackson Brown., P.S. I Love You.

Today's posting is a bit of randomosity, but there is one thing that unites the photos... all of the them were taken during my time in San Francisco the last couple weeks. Ahh San Francisco... I love you!

Photo One... The Octopus

 

I spotted this octopus on 24th Street, just across the street from the little market, Casa Lucas, where Woody Allen had filmed a scene for his new movie. I didn't make it in time to capture a picture of them at work, but I didn't pass up the opportunity to walk around the neighborhood a bit and check things out.

Photo Two... Sally Hawkins As Herself



I was looking through my files from the month of August, and to my happy surprise, I found a photo of actress Sally Hawkins among my "To Edits." I had completely forgotten I got a photo of her as well. She will be playing the sister of Cate Blanchett's character. She came down the red stairs really quick, and scooted around the corner onto Lexington really quick. I was lucky to capture this photo! I wish I could have taken more pictures of her, but the opportunity just didn't present itself again.

Photo Three... Listen To This Wall

 

This wall caught my eye as Alan and I were searching around Haight/Ashbury searching for Woody Allen. I wasn't sure what it was about, but upon searching around on the Internet I found out is a new and innovative approach to improving the urban landscape. A decluttering of sorts. Cool. I will be looking forward to seeing more!

Photo Four... Dr. Who?

 

See the guy on the right? The one in the dark blue shirt? He is one of the dentists that occupies the professional building that was featured in Woody Allen's movie project. I didn't get a chance to speak with him much, but he seemed to enjoy his day off, watching the filming going on. I imagine there are worse ways one could spend an August day. LOL.

Photo Five... The Squat And Gobble.

 

I don't know a lot about this restaurant, except that the have a menu that makes my mouth water! LOL. This is the front of the restaurant that I saw Woody Allen walking out of. See, like I said, I was only about five feet from him, and where was my camera? Sigh. That missed opportunity is gonna bug me for a while methinks. :(

Now, about the picture at the top. Doesn't the face just about say it all? I think someone got their car towed... which is a terrible feeling... I think. I makes me want to be a really good citizen, and follow all DMV rules and regulations. Not that I don't already... but you know... just sayin!

"Longed for him. Got him. Shit!"

~Margaret Atwood

:)

~Me