Interview: Elbert Chang
One of the weirdest shopping experiences ever to be had is to hit a Fry’s Electronics (affectionately known as the "nerdery") anywhere in the Bay Area, but especially in Silicon Valley. When we first moved out here one of our friends gave us a speech about how there was no reason for women to be single in this area since ALL they had to do to get a date is wear a mini skirt into Fry’s. We’ve never resorted to that, but we do go to Fry’s an awful lot. As we see it there are three main reasons to go to Fry’s. First is the deals—seriously the best anywhere. The second is the nerd watching/ baiting opportunities to be had. The third is the décor. Seriously. Each Fry’s has a special theme for the decorations. Our favorite is the Fry’s in Palo Alto which has gone hog wild with a Western theme. Hewn log walls, saddles, and mannequins that are panning for gold. So creepy. So good.
Today’s interview subject, Elbert Chang, appreciates Fry’s. Which is what you might expect from someone who will repair friend’s guitar amps for free. When he’s not winning friends and influencing people thusly Elbert can probably be found at the El Grullense Taco Truck, E.14th @ 29th Ave Oakland.
Name
Elbert Chang
Introduce yourself in one sentence
I owe it all to the internet.
Age and Occupation
28, 1st year pharmacy school student
Home Town
Palatine, IL
How much time have you spent in the Bay Area?
5 yrs. First came out for Cell Biology grad school, dropped out, worked in Biotech for a while, now in pharmacy school. Played bar chords, hit percussive cylinders with sticks.
Favorite website
http://www.harmony-central.com/User_Reviews/
Favorite local business
YOUR BEST BUYS ARE ALWAYS PSHEW PSHEW PSHEW AT FRYS GUARANTEED
What I'm currently Reading
Lake Wobegone Summer 1956 (Garrison Keillor), Radiotron Designer’s Handbook
Best Deal in San Francisco
I do minor/major guitar amp repairs for almost free or burritos--the real compensation is that you have to BE MY FRIEND.
Favorite mode of transportation
Sidesaddle on the back of a Lambretta scooter driven by a period costumed MOD slave
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
hm... I saw this band Say Bok Gwai recently that were totally killer. 2 guys, thrash and hardcore with Cantonese lyrics. or San Francisco's first and only rock n roll band, CRIME.
Favorite local hangout
Desk
SF has the BEST:
Pinoy rock scene
You've never lived in SF until:
You’ve thought about then dismissed the idea of selling pot as a profitable endeavor
Favorite Bay area politician of past or present:
Ron Dellums
Now that Gavin Newsom is single, who are you going to set him up with?
A New Folk-y incestabulous date with Joanna Newsom
You can tell someone is a local here IF:
They never wear shorts
SF would be soooo much better if only:
It were Oakland
Best Burrito:
El Grullense taco truck, E.14th @ 29th Ave Oakland
Best Restaurant:
El Grullense taco truck, E.14th @ 29th ave Oakland
The Fifth Floor will never recover from the departures of Chef Laurent Gras and Sommelier Belinda Chang
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF:
Bullitt car chase scene. Vertigo--the whole movie.
Best thing to do in the city in the summer:
Midnight Mass with your host Peaches Christ
Favorite artist to come out of the bay area:
The super crime fighting duo, Hellen Jo and Natalie Roland, artists gone awry!
Favorite author to come out of the bay area:
Bukowski I guess? Tied with Derek Kirk Kim. They're both violent, insensitive drunks working in different media.
Place you always tell visitors to check out:
El Grullense taco truck, E.14th @ 29th ave Oakland
Favorite Bridge in the area:
I despise all of the bridges, their high tolls, and their excruciating congestion
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
15 $1 hooker-bots
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
Nearly everything I own
I want all the SFists out there to know:
Book whatever band I’m playing in on awesome shows so we can all have lots of fun
Tell us a San Francisco Story:
Somebody smashed the passenger side window of my car outside the AMC on Van Ness, ignored the hundreds of dollars worth of drum hardware in the trunk, and took my CD wallet. Which was full of CDR’s. Of music nobody would care about, much less pay any money for. I would like to recruit like-minded victims to assault certain booths at flea markets around the bay area.
Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:
Area of expertise?