For me, King Tut's traveling exhibition is forever linked to the Tutankhamun rage of the late 70s -- which included pop culture spin-offs like Steve Martin's tribute to the boy king.

The upcoming Tutankhamun exhibit at the de Young (June 2009) is linked to the original Treasures of Tutankhamun tour of the 1970s. This will be the first time in 30 years that King Tut's treasures will be on display in Northern California -- the first time since the original Tutankhamun exhibition opened at the de Young in 1979.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs debuts on June 27, 2009 and runs through March of 2010. More than 130 artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb and the tombs of his predecessors comprise this exhibition.

Advance tickets will go on sale in early 2009. Sign up for the newsletter at the de Young website for an e-mail alert, once tickets become available.

^{Canopic Stopper of Tutankhamun - Dynasty 18, reign of Tutankhamun (1332-1322 BC)
Photo: Kenneth Garrett © 2008/National Geographic
Image Courtesy of the de Young Museum}

Yelpers are usually spinning a place's opening within minutes of the doors cracking open. Professional food reviewers tend to give places a few months and a few visits -- time to work out kinks and get a fair overview of operations.

Somewhere in between, the rest of the city meanders in and around the new venues that spring up almost as fast as the world population tickers announce new births.

If you're an in-betweener who hasn't yet wandered through the double doorway of Four Barrel Coffee, here's what to expect:

• San Francisco lineage in the form of Jeremy Tooker (Ritual Roasters)
• Rustic-slash-modern ambiance, with minimalist vibe plus wood beam tables and high-beamed ceilings
• In our encounters, great, hospitable baristas
• An almost tangy cup of Hairbender roast with origins at Stumptown in Oregon
• Dynamo Donut offerings, including the chocolate spice

Four Barrel is at 357 Valencia (at 15th) in the Mission.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

1000 Words: The Bay Area in Photos

Taken from Agua Vista Park, the Star Princess is undergoing a $14 million maintenance and upgrade in the Port of San Francisco. According to the SF Chronicle, the newly expanded dry dock at Pier 70 is the largest on the west coast of North or South America, and is employing 1000 workers in this particular service of the Star Princess. The ship is set to sail with passengers on October 11.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}

It's not quite a sonic boom, but you can't miss the Blue Angels' arrival over San Francisco. Since 1981, Fleet Week has been an annual event in the Bay Area, bringing with it some of aviation's most accomplished aerobatic pilots -- and, an element of controversy surrounding the urban fly-overs. The linked article refers to previous efforts to curb the Blue Angels' practice sessions over the city. This week, the San Francisco Bay Guardian posted additional commentary on this issue.

For now, the Blue Angels continue to fly over San Francisco, and people continue to attend the annual exhibitions of aerobatic skill. I've seen the aerial maneuvers from several points around the bay, and I highly recommend ear plugs if you plan to watch any of the Blue Angel passes over areas like Treasure Island. The planes fly in low, which makes for a unique vantage point. But the decibel level transcends anything your naked ears (or your dogs' ears) should hear.

This year's events taking place from October 9 to 14. The Fleet Week Airshow on October 11 and 12 will once again feature performances by the Blue Angels, along with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, Sean Tucker and the Oracle Challenger, and other aerobatic teams.

The Parade of Fleet Week Ships is on Saturday, October 11, followed by two days of ship tours. Other Fleet Week events this year include Festival at the Fort (Mason), Fleet Week at Pier 39, and the Italian Heritage Parade.

More Fleet Week Information:

• Fleet Week 2007 Airshow Photos
• Fleet Week Website & Schedule
• Airshow & Performers

^{Pictured: Blue Angels Over San Francisco Bay
Photo © Ingrid Taylar}