Interview: Patrick Kavanagh

Name
Patrick J. Kavanagh

Introduce yourself in one sentence
I am a graphic designer and printmaker who uses his powers for good --
such as helping other artists accomplish their design and printing needs. Or helping mega retailers sell products via the internet (George W. Bush tells me that's good for the economy).

Age and Occupation
32 years old. Graphic designer.

Home Town
Mechanicsburg, PA. NOT to be confused with Mechanicsville, PA, which is closer to New Jersey.

How long have you lived in the Bay Area and Where?
I've been in the Bay Area for 6 years now. I currently live in West
Oakland. Initially, I moved to Oakland to get more space for less rent. But I work in SF every day, so I really appeciate the "best of both worlds." And the neighborhood where we live is changing quickly, with a great emerging art scene, centered around Mama Buzz coffee shop and gallery. http://www.mamabuzzcafe.com
Some other great cultural stuff in the neighborhood include 21 Grand,
EgoPark, the Stork Club and the Cafe Van Kleef.
http://www.21grand.org/
http://www.bestofthebay.com/2002/nightlife5.html
http://www.storkcluboakland.com/
http://www.screenlight.com/cvk/
A lot of these organizaions have co-curated a show that's still up at
the Richmond Art Center.
http://www.therac.org/html/new_exhibitions.html

Favorite website
I do some letterpress printing, so I really like www.briarpress.org.
They have a lot of great printing information and services, and I check their "for sale" listings several times a day.

Favorite local business
I love 826 Valencia and the whole McSweeney's/Believer publishing
empire. Totally inspiring.
http://www.826valencia.org/
http://www.mcsweeneys.net/

What I’m currently Reading
I just finished The Cloud Garden - a true story about 2 British men who get abducted by guerillas while trying to cross the notorious Darien Gap into Colombia. Despite the horrible predicament of being held captive in the jungle, the men develop a hilariously absurd relationship with their captors and find subversively funny ways to keep their spirits high. I'm trying to read something besides fiction for a change. Now I'm on to The Corrections,which is back in the fiction realm. I was skeptical because of how popular it's been, but it is a shockingly brutal portrait of a disfunctional American family.

Best Deal in San Francisco
Free sewing! You can get your clothes fixed for free by the roving
tailor. Artist Michael Swaine sets up his sewing cart in the Tenderloin on the 15th of every month. From noon to 5 pm at 509 Ellis Street.
http://www.headlands.org/Programs/swaine_06_2003.shtml
http://www.soex.org/untetheredhtml.html
http://www.luggagestoregallery.org/luggage/index.php?page=noflash

Favorite mode of transportation
I love my new ACTransit transbay bus commute! It rocks.
www.actransit.org

Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
I've really been enjoying Journey lately, so I have to say Gravy
Train!!!! Honorable mention goes to Numbers.
http://www.rapbitches.com/
http://www.numbersmusic.com/

Favorite local hangout
Mama Buzz Cafe.
http://www.mamabuzzcafe.com

SF has the BEST:
Duh, burritos.

You’ve never lived in SF until:
You've explored the incredible cheap restaurants and stores along
Clement Street.

Favorite Bay area politician of past or present:
I've really come around to Gavin Newsom. I think he's off to a much
Bolder start than I had ever expected.

Best solicitation from a pan handler:
I met this guy Rodney -- he has been using this line for a couple years where he tells women they look like fried chicken. My best interpretation is that means they look finger-lickin' good. However, it might be the worst solicitation, because I don't think anyone gets it, and I've never seen anyone give him any change.

You can tell someone is a local here IF:
Do you mean local as in "born and raised?". In that case: You can tell someone is a local IF you never meet them. I rarely meet people that are FROM Esseff. I think they become jaded by all these transients from elsewhere who live here for a few years and then go buy a house somewhere more reasonable. I think the locals fear getting attached to these temporary SF residents.

SF would be soooo much better if only:
Rents and houses were affordable.

Best Burrito:
Tacqueria Cancun at 19th and Mission. Sorry El Farolito -- your quality level has slipped!

Best Restaurant:
Zante's Indian Pizza. They make Indian food. They make Pizza. They make an INDIAN PIZZA. Unbelievably good. Plus you never have to wait for a table and the music's good.

Best movie scene filmed in or about SF:
So I Married an Ax Murderer. The Alcatraz scene with Phil Hartman.
http://new.wavlist.com/movies/270/maam-followme.wav

I want all the EssEffists out there to know:
You can call the Mundane Journeys hotline 24/7 for a fresh somethin'
somethin' to do. 415-364-1465.
http://www.mundanejourneys.com

Tell us a San Francisco Story:
When I first visited San Francisco, some friends picked me up at the
airport and we went to see Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil" at the Castro Theater. After circling endlessly for parking, my friend finally wedged his car halfway into a small spot. We all got out and lifted the bumper and moved the front of the car the rest of the way into the spot. And that was just my FIRST parking experience in San Francisco. (I was tired from the cross-country flight and fell asleep during the movie. The week I moved to SF a year later, "Touch of Evil" was playing again at the Castro. so the second time I went to the Castro Theater was to see the same movie.)

Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:
Are you now or have you ever been a DJ?