For my birthday last year, I asked my friends and family to get tickets for a Demolition Derby in Dixon, CA, which is a small town about 75 miles east of San Francisco.

I will admit that after making this plan I realized that I actually didn’t even know what a Demolition Derby was- I mean, I guess I could have figured it out if I thought about, but I didn’t. I think that’s because I couldn’t have imagined how utterly fun and awesome it is to watch cars crash into each other. So now I know: more or less, a bunch of cars drive around in dirt crashing into each other, until only 1 car is able to move. Pretty straightforward.

Some things we learned:
1. You’re not allowed to hit the driver’s side door on purpose. Anywhere else is OK.
2. Drivers wear helmets and they only carry a small amount of gasoline to prevent fires.
3. If you’re driving in dirt, you don’t actually need tires or wheels- you can do pretty well even when you’re down to the axle.
4. Ideal demographic for DD is Y chromosome, age 3-10. Not to say the adults and females didn’t enjoy it, since everyone did LOVE it. But nothing matched the unbridled, nay, unhinged, enthusiasm of the little boys who were in our group.
5. If someone invites YOU to this type of event, you should definitely try to make it, because it’s pretty much insanely fun and awesome and different.

(These photos are about half mine, and half from my friend Carolyn Laub, who was kind enough to share.)

The DD was a special attraction of the Dixon May Fair. Previous night’s entertainment: ZZ Top.

The cars and trucks line up on the dirt to show themselves off before the crashtastic action starts.

The dollar bill car was an early favorite, until he was decommissioned by a busted radiator.

Try as he might, 68’s driver can’t resuscitate this victim.

Dead cars pile up on the berm while the remaining vehicles continue to smash around.

At the end, since only 1 car is still able to drive, heavy machinery carts the remaining carcasses off the dirt in preparation for the next round.

Mmm… delicious dancing corn dogs.

The pickup truck round about to begin. The announcer is so excited and keeps saying “in my 30 years of doing this, I have NEVER seen a pickup derby, so folks, this is really something special!” So special!

A truck smokes after a front hit and his radiator blows.

When a winner is declared, the drivers take off their helmets and climb out of their trashed trucks.

After 2 rounds, this incredibly tough car finally died- but not before driving around on 1 perpendicular tire, 1 diagonal tire, and 1 bare axle.

Exhaust combined with fire extinguisher blowback flooded the open-air arena with choking smoke.

The event came to an abrupt and unceremonius end when the smoke became so overwhelming and obscuring that patrons ran from the arena coughing and covering their faces.

The stretch of Telegraph Avenue around the 50s in Oakland is home to an eclectic mix of businesses and buildings, and since the area is rapidly gentrifying it’s unclear how long some of these uniquely Oakland, uniquely ramshackle spots will be around. Hence, I felt the area merited a mini photo journal. Enjoy!

The Original Steele’s Skin Diving Supplies has been out of business for quite a while- but what I wouldn’t give to hang that decrepit sign in my house. What’s the skin diver doing anyway- harpooning a whale? The Miami color combo stands out against the mostly gray and brown tones of the ‘hood.

I love the name and font of this laundromat- for all of your jive-talkin’ laundering needs.

This bizarre faux windmill is wedged between 2 houses. What is it? The trash room? A secret clubhouse?

The tiny triangle-shaped Kasper’s Hot Dogs is no longer in business, and the boarded-over building falls a bit more into disrepair with each passing year.

However, just down the street from the defunct Kasper’s (with a ‘k’), Casper’s (with a ‘c’) will still sell you a hot dog, representing with the nostalgic graphics and the 1970s color scheme.

This highly personalized truck is often parked across from Kasper’s.

This sign used to point to a bunch of great stuff, I’m sure, but what?!!? Inquiring minds want to know. At the present time it marks the edge of a parking lot for a Chinese restaurant.

The pink confection of an estate that houses Hooper’s Chocolates has got to be one of the most stylistically and architecturally incongruous things around. It’s set back from the street and looks every bit like your Granny’s house.

The all-caps Hide A Way is a funky diner nestled among the trees.

Gotta love a drive-in liquor store!

today in Haiku Reviews:

ICE CREAMS OF THE WORLD

Haiku Reviews: They’re baaaa-aaaaaaack! I had a fierce urge to put some haikus together today, and I have to tell you, the haiku muse has been conspicuously absent for the better part of 6 months now, so I thought I should go with it. The timing is unfortunate, since I just posted a recipe earlier today after not posting for like a week, but what can I say? I can be an undisciplined blogger. (I’m working on it, though, in therapy. Or I would if I went to therapy.) At any rate, I’ve decided to strike while the muse-iron is hot and wax poetic on some ice creams of the world!

I could have gone on all day, but then it would be one in the afternoon and I’d still be in my pajamas. Oh wait! That happened already. Add your suggestions/disagreements in the commments and tell me what creamy delights I’m missing out on!

this ice cream in Dubrovnik, Croatia looked pretty, but sadly it did not taste that good.

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BASKIN-ROBBINS (Everywhere)
Ah, the old standby.
gold medal ribbon kicks a**.
thirty one-derful

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MITCHELL’S (San Francisco)
San Francisco treat!
I admit, I never try
the purple yam though.

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BEN & JERRY’S (Everywhere)
it’s a hearty scoop
it reminds me of college
cookie dough is king

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GELATO (Anywhere in Italy)
there’s nothing better.
throw down as much as you can
before you die. word.

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MASHTI MALONE’S (Los Angeles)
ice cream from Iran?
well, it is really hot there.
this place is AWESOME.

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MR. SOFTEE (Northeast U.S./China/HK)
summer in New York
hearing the tune, I’m consumed:
plain dip with jimmies

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HUMPHRY SLOCOMBE (San Francisco)
you’re a bit much, dude.
salt, pepper, chili, and such?
get “secret breakfast”

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FENTON’S CREAMERY (Oakland, CA)
love the old-time biz.
fun for the whole family!
sundaes are required.

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CHRISTINA’S (Cambridge, MA)
so many flavors!
(folks will say “Toscanini’s!”
C-Money’s better.)

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BI-RITE CREAMERY (San Francisco)
can be uneven,
but salted caramel IS
as good as they say

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LOARD’S ICE CREAM (Oakland, CA)
a cool, old skool joint
big creamy cones to drool for
they have candies too!

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BERTHILLON (Paris, France)
the best in Paris
it’s famous for a reason.
oui, c’est bon bon bon!

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COLDSTONE CREAMERY (Everywhere)
it’s too much pressure.
I always feel sick after.
mix-ins overwhelm

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CARVEL (Northeast U.S.)
hi, fudgy the whale!
now you taste artificial.
better as a kid.

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Here’s why I do them in haikus.

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