Ben Fong-Torres
Former all kinds of stuff in media and music
The real Ben Fong-Torres recently wrapped up three years on Netflix with the documentary, Like a Rolling Stone. The fake Ben was in the now-iconic Almost Famous, portrayed by Terry Chen.
When Rolling Stone, where he was an editor and writer for a decade, moved to Manhattan, Ben stayed put in San Francisco, where he’s still writing, broadcasting (Moonalice Radio), singing Trumped-up songs at El Rio with Los Train Wreck, reminiscing (via Airbnb’s Experiences) and, now and again, getting out.
He may have slowed down, but San Francisco hasn’t.
Venue Picks
As Willie Nelson, among others, put it, “Don’t get around much anymore.” But on occasion, for a special occasion—or just for a drinkie-poo, we hit the Mission, Aquatic Park, the Tunnel Tops in the Presidio, North Beach, Dogpatch, Hayes Valley, Mill Valley, Cole Valley—even Frankie Valli.
From the couple who brought us the Beat Museum, Estelle and Jerry Cimino, comes the Counter Culture Museum, in the heart of the Haight. Exhibits on the Beats, the Summer of Love, the women’s movement, civil rights, and the underground press, including the psychedelic paper, The Oracle. When I was editor of the daily at SF State, we put out a parody, The Orifice. It, too, is on display. Plus books and guest speakers like Dr. David Smith, founder of the Free Medical Clinic.
counterculturemuseum.org
1485 Haight Street
Between the Chinese Culture Center and the CHSA Museum, you’re pretty well covered on Chinese history. But only CHSA has Bruce Lee. Take in his story, which went far beyond his movies and his kung fu mastery. As the museum shows in its exhibit, “Who Is Bruce Lee?”, he was a visionary, a combo athlete/dancer, a thinker who blended east/west thought, and unifier. He was no “Number One Son.” Just Number One.
chsa.org
965 Clay Street
Ben Fong-Torres photo credit: Nob Hill Gazette