BAGUETTE QUARTETTE
For a breath of French air...accordionist Odile Lavault and her group perform the popular music of Paris, circa 1920 - 1940. Their valses musettes, tangos, pasodobles and "realistic" songs are often heard at the Baltic, Freight & Salvage and other venues. To be on their mailing list, write Baguette Quartette at P.O Box 7685, Berkeley, CA 94707.

BLACK TIE JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Featuring vocalist Ann Gibson (Theresa LaQuey).
For information about upcoming engagements, call (650) 856-3104.CATS & JAMMERS
A vocal swing trio (profiled in The Sophisticate, Fall 1998)
For information about upcoming engagements call (510) 534-4683.

CYNTHIA GLINKA
San Francisco's "Roll Up the Carpets" dance diva, offers private and public dance lessons that can turn anyone into Astaire & Rogers.  She also produces dance events with the San Francisco Starlight Orchestra (see below). Hot line: (415) 485-5500.

DANCE THROUGH TIME
Vintage dance lessons, dance parties and occasional events.
Located in San Francisco. Call (415) 621-3627 for information.

FOURTH STREET FIVE JAZZ BAND
Traditional hot jazz.   For more info call (707) 769-9527.

THE HOT CLUB OF SAN FRANCISCO
"Gypsy swing" in a Django Reinhardt vein. For more information call (415) 931-0909.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LINDY SOCIETY
Lessons and events. Call (510) 893-1519 to leave a message.

METRONOME BALLROOM
Swing, Lindy and Jitterbug lessons, dance parties and occasional events. Located in San Francisco. Call (415) 252-9000 for information.

MUSICAL THEATER LOVERS UNITED
This group of enthusiasts has sing-along events with a pianist, almost every month, around the Bay Area.  Handouts of sheet-music and lyrics from Broadway and Hollywood musicals are provided.  Admission is $5 for MTLU members, $8 for non-members; and all attendees are asked to bring pot-luck food or beverages to share.  Call the MTLU Hotline (415) 552-2222.

ZEENA QUINN
This jazz vocalist, influenced by Carmen McRae and Keely Smith, performs what she calls "Sweet 'n' Sour Swing" in local clubs.  Call (415)460-6444 for more information.

SUZANNE RAMSEY (KITTEN ON THE KEYS)
A versatile and fun pianist with a diverse period repertoire; available for parties, receptions and weddings.  Call 415 242-2482 for more information.

ROYAL SOCIETY JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The Bay area's premiere big band. Pick up a few of their many essential recordings at the (twice a year) Deco-to-'60s Show in June and December.  For information about upcoming engagements, the RSJO Hot Line is (707) 765-0631.

SAN FRANCISCO STARLIGHT ORCHESTRA
This 15-piece orchestra (complete with a string section) presents dances at the Strawberry Recreation Center, Mill Valley, on the first Saturday of each month. For other SFSO engagements call (707) 973-6107.

SARA & SWINGTIME
Pianist and vocalist Sara Klotz de Aguilar leads her 1930s dance band in all your favorite tunes.
Available for parties and events - call 510-541-1069.

SWING FEVER
Classic Swing of the '30s - '40s. For more information, call (415) 459-2428.

BIX
This retro-Deco setting is a perfect place to sip the perfect martinis they mix. The food is classic too: steaks and chops. Reservations recommended.
56 Gold Alley, S.F. (415) 433-6300.

THE CLIFF HOUSE
Fabulous Art Deco decor in the main dining room and bar and a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. The food is good, too. For something different, try brunch on the weekends. 1090 Point Lobos Avenue, S.F. (near Ocean Beach), (415) 386 - 3330.

ELITE CAFE
A comfortable combination of '30s vintage and retro, with many private dining booths, the Elite Cafe features New Orleans and Creole-style.  It's a perfect place to end up after a walking tour of Pacific Heights.
2049 Fillmore at California, SF. (415) 346-8668.

THE FAR EAST CAFE
The kind of place Sam Spade might have gone for Chinese food and mysterious clues, this venerable establishment still has private, curtained booths for atmospheric intrigue.  They make a mean Manhattan, too!
631 Grant, S.F. (415) 982-3245.

JOHN'S GRILL
Sam Spade really did eat here -- in "The Maltese Falcon."
Author Dashiell Hammett, who worked next door, was a regular patron of the restaurant.  So, upstairs, there's a exhibition (open to the public) of Hammett-related and other private-eye memorabilia, including a replica of the Falcon itself.
63 Ellis St., S.F.  (415) 986-0069.

THE REDWOOD ROOM
Until 2001, this cocktail lounge in the Clift Hotel, had one of the Bay Area's ultimate Deco interiors, designed by G.A. Lansburgh and Anthony Heinsbergen and built in the mid-'30s.  The beautiful redwood paneling and vintage light fixtures remain.  But new hotel owner Ian Schrager and designer Philippe Starck have replaced the old bar with a modern (albeit ornate) bar, and electronic "plasma" screens that display a variety of images, including those of the Gustav Klimt reproduction paintings (themselves a 1970 addition) that previously hung there.  What was an elegant, relaxing space, perfect for pre- or post- theater cocktails, is now a hybrid curiosity, neither truly vintage nor modern -- nor retro.  Oh, and there's a TV in the lounge now, too.
Clift Hotel, corner of Geary & Taylor Sts., (415) 775 - 4700.

HOTEL REX
This new hotel near Union Square sports a 1920s "club-like" interior, featuring vintage furnishings and original salon portraits by San Francisco artists of the 1920s and 30s.  It's a very cozy spot for a drink and there is now a charming small restaurant as well.
562 Sutter St., San Francisco.  (415) 433-4434.

SAM'S GRILL
Established in 1867, Sam's has been at its present location since 1946.
Curtained private booths are available for that discreet dining party (If you re planning your next big crime, or you don t want your wife to meet your girl friend, then this is the spot.
374 Bush Street, S.F, (415) GArfield 1-0594.
Note: In a long-standing tradition, Sam's is not open on Saturday or Sunday.

SCHROEDER'S RESTAURANT
This cozy, vintage German restaurant was a 1998 ADSC Preservation Award winner.  It sports a 1936 neon sign outside, and atmospheric, 1930s murals of Middle-European life inside.  (The murals' restoration was done by David Boysel -- the leading restorer of the Oakland Paramount Theater -- who won an ADSC Preservation Award for his work at Schroeder's.)
240 Front St., SF. (415) 421-4778.

SHANGHAI 1930
A sleek, moderne space, Shanghai 1930  features a lounge for cocktails and music, and impeccable gourmet Chinese food
133 Steuart St. (between Mission & Howard), S.F. (415) 896-5600.

TADICH GRILL
Established in 1849, it is probably the longest-continuously-operating restaurant in San Francisco.. It has retained much of its vintage decor and (like Sam's Grill) also offers private dining booths.
240 California, S.F., (415) 391-1849top

COIT TOWER
The tower on top of Telegraph Hill has an observation deck with an unbeatable view of the city.  (The elevator is the only way up, and there's a modest admission fee.)  But free of charge, inside the ground floor, you can see the most extensive Deco-era murals in San Francisco.During 1933-34, a dozen artists in a Public Works of Art Project produced these frescos -- that is, they painted them right on the wet plaster walls.  And what they depicted was the entire panoply of life in San Francisco and Northern California during those years: everything from agriculture to industry, street life (including street crime!) to politics.The Coit Tower is open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day of the year.  But if you possibly can, go on a Saturday at 11 a.m.  That's when they open the second floor, where there are "home life" murals in an entirely different style, which you get to by climbing a narrow stair -- on either side of which a mural shows what you would have seen if you were walking up Powell St. in those days.  For history buffs, as well as Deco enthusiasts, the Coit Tower is a must-see.
1 Telegraph Hill Blvd.,  San Francisco  (415) 362-0808

THE BEACH CHALET
The ground floor of this ADSC award-winning San Francisco landmark, built in 1925, has extraordinary murals of recreational activities in San Francisco, which were painted during the '30s. Whereas the Coit Tower's murals were executed by many artists with multiple points of view, all of the Beach Chalet murals were painted by one artist: Lucien Labaudt.
Upstairs is an excellent microbrewery and restaurant.
1000 Great Highway, near the Cliff House, San Francisco, (415) 386-8439.

DECO BY THE BAY
Deco By The Bay (Vintage Studio Books, 1995, $24.95) is the definitive book on Deco architecture (and period neon signage) in the Bay Area.  Written by architectural historian and preservationist Michael F. Crowe (founder of the ADSC), it includes maps for self-guided tours throughout San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda.
Regrettably, it is now out of print but copies can be found by used bookstore search. Try www.abebooks.com.

S.S. JEREMIAH O'BRIEN
One of only two World War II "Liberty Ships" still afloat and seaworthy, the Jeremiah O'Brien is open to the public every day, at Pier 45 in San Francisco.  Almost everything from the engine room to the bridge, from the crews' quarters to the cargo holds, is just as it was in Wartime.  The Jeremiah O'Brien was at Normandy on D-Day, helping to supply the Allied invasion, and was the only ship able to return for the 50th anniversary.
Self-guided tours cost $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and military, $3 for children under 18 (under 6, free).  Guided tours for groups of ten or more can be reserved three weeks in advance.  And a few times a year the ship leaves the dock and takes passengers on round-the-Bay cruises; reservations are required.    415-441-3101.top

LARK THEATRE
Reopening as a community venue. Repertory films and an annual Oscar party.
549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur, Marin County.  (415) 924-3311.

ORINDA THEATRE
A beautifully restored (and ADSC Preservation Award-winning) Moderne building that shows some vintage films and is the site of other events.
Downtown Orinda, Contra Costa County.  (510) 254-9060.

PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE
The PFA generally showcases rare and/or early films.  In 1999 it featured eight of G.W. Pabst's works from the 1920s and '30s, the French 1919 serial, "Barrabas," and Marcel Pagnol's early-'30s "Fanny Trilogy." Silent films are usually presented with live piano accompaniment. Their website features Cinefiles, a searchable database of reviews, press kits, festival and showcase program notes, newspaper articles, and other documents...
In the Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant, Berkeley.  (510) 642-1412.

PARAMOUNT THEATER
The epitome of the Deco movie palace, splendidly restored in 1973, and an early ADSC Preservation Award winner, the Paramount does more than merely show films.  Public tours of the theater are conducted at 10 a.m. on the first and third Saturdays of each month. 
2025 Broadway, at 21st St., Oakland.  (510) 465-6400.

OAKLAND FOX
Restoration is moving forward for this mighty movie palace, opening scheduled for late 2008. The Fox Oakland Theater, on Telegraph Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets, operated as a first-run movie house from 1928 until 1962. During the next decade, under different owners and managers, it operated as both a first- and second-run movie house, closed briefly several times, and hosted various special events.

CHRISTOPHER B. SMITH RAFAEL FILM CENTER 
The Art Deco facade of the Rafael Theater has been carefully restored; the interior holds three state-of-the-art screening rooms, and the facility is now home to the California Film Institute.  An ADSC Preservation Award-winner, the Rafael Theater features independent films, premieres, restored classics, rare films and retrospectives; it's a year-round film festival. For information, or to become a Center member, call (415)383-5256.
Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center 1118 Fourth Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
Rafael Info Line - (415) 454-1222, CFI Home Office - (415) 383-5256, CFI Fax - 415.383.8606

ROXIE THEATRE
Occasional vintage film festivals are held at this small Mission district theater.
3117 16th St., SF.  (415) 863-1087.

SEBASTIANI THEATRE
Established in 1934. Live entertainment and occasional vintage films.
476 First Street East "On the Plaza", Sonoma. (707) 996-2020.

STANFORD THEATRE
A vintage movie palace within walking distance of the Stanford University campus.  Built in 1924, restored and maintained by the Packard Foundation, the Stanford Theater is almost exclusively devoted to Hollywood films made up to and through the 1950s.  Devoted to film preservation, the Foundation will sometimes strike a print for an exclusive Stanford Theater engagement; so sometimes, the films shown there literally can not be seen anywhere else.
And there's a mighty Wurlitzer there, too!
221 University Ave., Palo Alto,  Call (650) 324-3700.

SUTTER CREEK THEATER
It's north of the Bay Area, in Amador County, but considered a real gem. Gary Schmieding, of Sutter Creek Entertainment Co. reports that "It was built in 1919 as a silent movie house, with a crowned Art Deco ceiling and other appointments.  It's in close-to-original condition, and we are starting to paint and fix up the building.  The theatre is currently open and we are home to the Main Street Theatre Works (it was the Claypipers, from San Francisco, who put the theatre back in operation for plays in the 1980s).  The last movie shown here was "Bambi" in 1952.  We plan on putting the original screen back up and showing silent and foreign films."
Sutter Creek Theater: 44 Main Street (mail address: PO Box 1417) Sutter Creek, CA 95685; phone 209-267-5737 or 916-765-6627.top

BOOKS OF THE CENTURY CLUB
Study Oakland's history, decade by decade, in literature, architecture, industry, sports and the arts, with readings and panel discussions on the works of the Century's finest writers.  Sponsored by Oakland Heritage Alliance and Barnes & Noble.  Jack London Square, Oakland. Call for current schedule: (510) 763-9218.

THE ALICE STATLER LIBRARY
Vintage cookbooks and menus from Bay Area restaurants are highlights of the permanent collection at this library, located at City College of San Francisco.  It's a great place to research your Gatsby Picnic, although -- being a school library -- it's closed during the summer.
50 Phelan Ave., room 10., S.F.  Call (415) 239-3460 for hours.

THE BLACKHAWK MUSEUM
Don't miss the Blackhawk Automotive Museum's permanent collection of fabulous vintage automobiles, including Rudolph Valentino's 1926 Isotta Fraschini roadster.
$8 general admission; $5 for seniors and students.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville. (925) 736-2277.top

WESTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM
A must for trolly and streetcar enthusiasts. You can ride one of the original Key System cars that used to cross the Bay on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge; the car even has vintage advertising cards above the windows! And there are literally miles of track to ride, plenty of cars to explore, displays of rail and "traction" memorabilia, and special seasonal excursions on 1920s-vintage trains.
Rio Vista Junction, Solano County.  (707) 374-2978

NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN
An elegant dining experience in restored vintage dining and lounging cars.
Napa  (707) 253-2111.

CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM
Located in Old Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum offers lavishly restored trains, engaging exhibits, and unique special events such as the popular Railfair, last held in 1999. Open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.  (916) 322-8485

THE TAMALPAIS
A beautifully restored 1923 private railcar, the Tamalpais was built for Southern Pacific Railroad executives to travel and work in.  It is extensively paneled in oak, elegant and comfortable, genuinely evocative of the pre-War era -- but not ostentatious.  It's available for short trips, and for excursions to Reno and/or Los Angeles.
1-800-783-0783

GOLDEN GATE RAILROAD MUSEUM
The prize display here is a fully restored steam locomotive: No. 2472, formerly a Southern Pacific P-8 Class, 4-6-2 Pacific Type, high-speed passenger steam locomotive. Admission is free, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. But because the museum is located inside the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, visitors will need to telephone (415) 822-8728 in advance, to arrange for an entry pass. And on arrival, visitors must show a valid driver's license, current vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
Building 809,  Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, at the end of Evans St., S.F.

SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR MUSEUM
At the historic Cable Car Barn and Roundhouse you can see the machinery that actually runs the city's cable car system, plus exhibits of antique cable cars, mechanical artifacts and photographs. (Although MUNI fares are $1, cable car fares are $2.) Museum admission is free; through September 30, the museum is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
1201 Mason St., S.F.  (415) 474-1887top

KCSM JAZZ91 FM
The Bay Area's Jazz Station. Check out profiles for on-air personalities, including the legendary Mal Sharpe. Mal can be heard every Sunday at 11 p.m. on KCSM FM's Back on Basin Street.

KPFA 94.1FM
Jazz programs are featured on many evenings and Saturday afternoons.

KCEA 89.1 FM
On the SF Peninsula, seek out this fine 24-hour big band (and more!) station run out of Menlo-Atherton High School. If you have big bandwidth computer connection, you can listen to streaming audio online at: http://kcea.realfx.net:8000/listen.pls"

The Big Broadcast." Since 1973, Rich Conaty has played nothing but 1920s and 30s records on Sundays from 8 to midnight EST on WFUV in NYC. The stream is heard worldwide at www.wfuv.org. The website also has more than two years of archived shows available 24/7. Direct link. http://www.wfuv.org/wfuv/bigbroadcastfull.htmltop

ART DECO TO '60s SHOW & SALE
First weekends in June and December
Produced by Deborah and Peter Keresztury, this huge twice-a-year show and sale gathers over 100 dealers under one roof. You can outfit yourself and your home in deco style. It's a must for anyone interested in the era. A highlight is the vintage Fashion Show coordinated by Fashions of Yesteryear collector Deborah Rush.  Admission discount for ADSC members (bring your card).
Concourse Exhibition Center, 8th & Brannan Sts., S.F.   (650) 599 3326

VINTAGE FASHION EXPO
Mid-March and mid-September
Couture, historical, collectible, wearable, jewelry, accessories, and textiles. Held at Nob Hill Masonic Exhibit Hall, 1111 California Street, across from Grace Cathedral. Ticket good for both days. Parking rebate with ticket purchase. 707-793-0773
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