Females of San Francisco, this is how it's done.

A sad week for LAist as they lose their trusted and amazing editor Tony Pierce to the LA Times, but what a blast his last week was. He shared his 25 Favorite CDs of 2007 and wrote a great review of just a good movie, No Country For Old Men. At UCLA, thousands of students celebrated the end of their quarter by running around campus in their undies (lots of photos in a two-part photo essay, one, two). That wasn't the only photo essay either: Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy friends and Star Trek actors all joined in at the Writers Strike and KROQ's Almost Acoustic Christmas brought two nights of amazing bands that included Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park (Part I), Modest Mouse, Muse, Spoon and The Killers (Part II). Not only is L.A. a great music town, it has just been named the best city for bookish types. For those who are looking for something a little more active, American Gladiators are back (yes!) and if that's not enough, how about a Christmas gift of action and adventure?

Phillyist is counting down to 2008 (and really enjoying it - yes, in that way!), leaving them exhausted, disoriented, and irritable.

Hey, have you seen all those annoying "Let's meet at Starbucks" adverts? Quite irritating.

Well, SBUX is indeed bringing folks together -- in a way they may not be too happy about. Many businesses and residents in the Inner Richmond are protesting an invasion by one of Starbuck's nigh ubiquitous stores via petition.

Bryan, one of the lead anti-Starbuckians, has a blog, stoprichmondstarbucks.blogspot.com, with many of the details.

He says to us in an email that:

"The Board of Supervisors for San Francisco has agreed to hear our appeal to the Planning Commision's decision to allow a Starbucks into the neighborhood. It was not hard to convince them that their was significant neighborhood opposition when Jesse Fink (the owner of Toyboat Desert Shop) walked into City Hall on July 9th with over 1,000 signatures in protest. We filed our appeal on the 11th and AUGUST 7th at 4:30 PM there will be a hearing to decide whether or not to overrule the Planning Commission's decision. The Board of Supervisors will
decide whether or not another Starbucks move into the Richmond."

He suggests that if you agree with his position, you can sign the petition at one of the following places: Toy Boat (5th and Clement); JavaHolics (6th and Balboa); Q (Clement betw. 3rd and 4th); Blue Danube Cafe (Clement near 4th); Green Apple Bookstore (Clement betw. 6th and
7th); Cafe Velo Rouge (Arguello at McAllister); Cafe du Sol (Lake near 6th); or Cafe Muse (8th near Fulton). He also says that if you would really like to help call you should your supervisor and let them know what you think. Finally, it seems that anyone that wants to can speak for three minutes at the Aug. 7 meeting -- so, if you care to, let your voice be heard!

(But if you're going to do so in a song parody, please make sure you film it, put it on YouTube, and send a link to SFist, thanks. Maybe something to the Hollies "Bus Stop?" "Starbucks, Starbucks, please stay a-way from the Inner Riiiiich-mond . . .").

Our top 5 moments at Feist's Fillmore show on Tuesday, June 26th:

     5. Hearing a cash register clang at the back of the venue in the middle of the set, and realizing that the sold-out crowd was perfectly silent. San Francisco concertgoers can really take their music seriously. You stay classy.
     4. Instead of playing to the crowd, Feist literally played the crowd by dividing us into three sections (by type of shoe sole: leather, rubber, wood) and then giving us three notes to harmonize on, which she caught like a surfer on a wave and rode right into the first song.
     3. When Feist asked if anyone in the crowd was a pianist, and audience member Melisssa stepped onstage without warning to play the piano beautifully to cheers and hollers.
     2. The second time Feist ordered the stage lights dimmed and spotlights trained to the giant disco ball in the middle of the room. It made us marvel at all those times we've been to concerts at the Fillmore and the bands didn't take advantage of that giant disco ball!
     1. The point during the extended jam at the end of "Sea Lion" when Feist broke into the riff from The Constantines' "Nighttime/Anytime (It's Alright)". You didn't have to recognize the song to acknowledge it's a monstrous guitar riff, but the semi-obscure reference to one of our favorite bands was a real thrill.

There are no less than three different shows tonight that we would love to see. It's a testament to the insane amount of entertainment served up to us in this city. A moment of silence for our good fortune...and on to this week's show recommendations:

Two bands that are playing tonight - As Tall As Lions and Fair To Midland - reminded us of a blog post we wrote last August. As Tall As Lions were on heavy rotation for us, and we'd just heard Fair To Midland highly recommended (and blasted at deafening volume) by none other than Jason Newsted. Fair To Midland are dynamic and grandiose, like Mew or the subdued sides of Tool or Mars Volta. As Tall As Lions' sounds are more mellow, but still melodic and complex. The singer reminds us so much of Craig Wedren it's uncanny; they don't list Shudder To Think in their influences on their MySpace page, which is probably an oversight or it means that someone's gonna blow this guy's mind by handing him a copy of Pony Express Record. See Fair To Midland on the Angels Love Devils tour tonight at Slim's, and Popscene presents As Tall As Lions at 330 Ritch. Speaking of beautiful voices, also playing tonight are The Veils at Cafe Du Nord. Singer Finn Andrews' voice is rumored to channel both angels and demons, and these rare Stateside live shows have proven him to be a captivating character.