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If you're a big fan of ramen – and I mean freshly made noodles with complex broth, not Maruchan instant –you'll want to get over to Japantown on July 19 and 20 for Ramen Street. As part of the J-Pop Summit, this event will feature six ramen purveyors from LA (Tatsunoya, Fujin Ramen, Mattou Seimen), Las Vegas (Monta Ramen), SF (Men Oh), and Japan (Horaiya)  setting up shop along Post Street hawking their unique noodley offerings, including a ramen burger. Check out the poster below for who's participating and what they'll be serving.

Ramen Yokocho Association has held similar events in LA and Vegas, but this will be the first of its kind in SF. Admission is free, but ramen is $8 a bowl.

Marching bands are having a pop culture moment! Videos have been popping up of some wildly impressive routines from college football marching bands highlighting music from Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and Beyoncé. This past weekend, Ohio State University's marching band - locally nicknamed "The Best Damn Band in the Land" - put on a tribute to Hollywood blockbusters. The music is great, but the skilled formations in the shape of moving dinosaurs and Harry Potter on a broom are just crazy and amazing. Take a look at the performance, as well as the other recent shows that made headlines!

Ohio State University's Tribute to Hollywood Blockbusters

Starting with Superman's iconic logo and theme music, the OSU band made its way through several Hollywood classics, including Jurassic Park, at the school's Oct. 26 game. This is worth watching simply because they make a dinosaur - that walks!

Michigan Marching Band's Tribute to Beyoncé

Though Beyoncé couldn't make it to Michigan's Sept. 7 game, the pop star recorded a very special message for the fans, which they played right before the band's homage to her catalogue. It's impressive because it was a night game, so there's also a stupendous light show happening.

Watch more after the jump.

Purse snatching, Apple picking, pickpocketing, and other street crimes are a sad reality of living in any major city. In 2012 the FBI reported that 1 in every 30 people in the U.S. was hit by one of these crimes. What can you do to reduce the odds of these things happening to you? The answer lies with any PBS nature program. Think of pickpockets as opportunistic carnivores sneaking around outside a herd of peaceful, law-abiding herbivores – you can't afford to appear to be the weakest herbivore. Here are 12 commonsense personal-safety tips to keep predators at bay, as well as real-life tales of folks who learned these lessons the hard way.

Why? If you're oblivious to your surroundings, you won't know what hit you when a predator strikes.

Life Lesson: At lunchtime, a man is texting while walking on a crowded Financial District sidewalk when he's suddenly punched in the face and robbed. He can't even tell the police his attacker's gender.

Why? Just because your coworkers leave you alone when you're on the phone doesn't mean a predator will: Distracted prey is what's for dinner.

Life Lesson: One sunny afternoon, a coed talks on her phone while walking home from school. She's abruptly shoved from behind and knocked down. A two-women team grabs her purse and phone and runs. She "never saw it coming."

Why? In the urban jungle, dangling a purse is akin to teasing a cat with a string toy. Add a phone call or another distraction and most predators can't help but pounce. Tuck your purse against your body or secure your valuables elsewhere.

Life Lesson: A woman is walking her dog when a man springs out of nowhere, knocks her down, snatches her purse, and runs. An eyewitness offers to chase the mugger. She says, "Please don't. That'd be dangerous. Besides, the only thing I keep in the purse is my dog's poop that I pick up on our walks. All the good stuff is in my body wallet."

Why? When something brushes against a sea anemone's many arms, it'll pull them all in until the coast is clear. When someone bumps into you, resist becoming an anemone. Predators interpret this freezing up as fear and weakness and are drawn to it. Keep your head up and walk with confidence. Only by seeing predators coming do you have any chance of avoiding or escaping them.

Life Lesson: A woman lies in the ER after a brutal sexual assault. When asked what she remembers, she keeps repeating, "I don't know what he looks like. He kept telling me not to look at him so I kept my eyes down even when he was hitting me."

Why? Just as in the wild, humans take direct eye contact as a challenge. If you look down to avoid a predator's eye contact, you're signaling submission. Plus, you'll never see his next move. Hold any eye contact for a second, nod slightly in acknowledgment, and scan to the side, an interaction expected of equals (looking above the person’s head may come off as snootiness, which can provoke a predator). Also use eye contact to deflect potential negative engagement.

Life Lesson: An older woman is sitting at a bus stop when two unsavory characters come snooping around. The woman looks at the leader until he snarls, "Whatcha looking at, ol' lady?" She replies animatedly: "You look just like my grandson. He's in the army and is on leave. He said he was going to visit me this week and I was hoping...." The woman maintains a stream of conversation until the bus arrives.

Why? It's pouring and you're trying to get maximum coverage with your umbrella. Unfortunately, you sacrifice your ability to see what's happening around you, making you easy prey. The colder and wetter it is, the more aware of your surroundings you should be. Everything on you can be warmed and dried later.

Life Lesson: A martial arts black belt walks home in the rain with his backpack on, hoody up, earbuds in, and umbrella open and leaning on one of his shoulders. Three guys jump on his back, smash him into the ground, and take his iPhone and backpack. "I never heard or saw them coming!” he exclaims.

Why? When convicted bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, his apocryphal response was, “Because that's where the money is.” Predators have a fondness for ATMs and the inattentive folks who use them. They tend to strike after they're out of the security camera's range, though, so be especially careful leaving an ATM.

Life Lesson: At 10 p.m. on a Friday night, a woman has her friend drop her off on a bustling street opposite her bank so she can get some cash. There's no parking so her friend circles the block. Within two minutes, she finds her friend on the ground bleeding with a few bystanders staring at her.

Why? Predators prefer slow, unsteady prey, so if you're strapped into an unwieldy pair of heels, you become a prime target. Wear your shoes wisely (or carry them until you reach your destination).

Life Lesson: A well-dressed woman in high heels embarks on a Union Square shopping spree. As she navigates a congested street, she's struck hard from the side and knocked down. Stunned by the fall, it takes her a moment to realize that her shopping bags and purse are gone.

Why? If you freeze in the face of danger, you're the perfect prey. Learn to do something to disarm a predator when confronted. Perhaps loudly expound on some nonsensical topic with grand hand gesticulations, or boisterously burst into your favorite Disney song. Doing anything, even acting loony, could be your sanest move.

Life Lesson: A grad student leaves the school library when it closes at midnight. He walks toward a hot-dog joint for a snack when a street person pops up brandishing a knife, yelling, "I'm gonna fuck you up!" The student launches into a rousing recitation of the many uses of lug nuts as he slips off his backpack in case he needs it to block the knife. Curious onlookers soon gather and the attacker leaves in a cloud of swear words.

Why? Predators know just as well as you do that valuables shouldn't be left in plain view in a car. So don't let them watch you stow your stuff in the trunk and then disappear down the block –predators have poor impulse control. Put your valuables in the trunk before you get to your destination, or scope out your surroundings beforehand. If there are too many eyes, take your goods with you or find another parking spot after everything's in the trunk.

Life Lesson: A man flies into Oakland, rents a car, and drives to his favorite sushi bar. He parks between two cop cars, throws his overnight bag and computer bag in the trunk, locks the car, and heads into the restaurant. Two minutes later a guy runs in, shouting, "They're busting into a car in the parking lot!” Everyone runs out and the man finds that his car’s trunk has been crowbarred open and both of his bags are gone.

Why? The passenger seat is a convenient place to rest your purse or laptop bag as you drive yourself around. Unfortunately, predators commonly pull the sneak-and-snatch at gas stations and in parking lots (the police call these predators "sliders"). Predators have also been known to smash passenger-side windows at stoplights and grab what they can.

Life Lesson: A woman drives to a gas station and parks in front of a pump. She extracts a credit card from her purse on the passenger seat and hops out to pump gas. She hears a noise and sees a man on the other side of her car running away – after he's flung open her passenger-side door and snatched her purse.

Why? A laptop sitting open in a cafe will make any predator lick his chops. Most cafe patrons are so engrossed in their own devices that no one will notice when a predator plucks a laptop and exits; if the laptop's still unlocked, the password can be easily changed. Take care when using a laptop in public. Carry it and other valuables with you, even if it means losing your spot.

Life Lesson: A man working on his laptop at a table in a busy cafe gets up and stands in line to buy a muffin. While there, he watches as a man grabs his laptop and BlackBerry and runs. He chases the thief until he jumps into a nearby waiting car and takes off.

Makes 10 muffins (or 10 servings).
Approximate cooking time: 30 minutes

The post Raspberry Almond Muffins appeared first on Paleo Plan.

Shred zucchini (ring dry with paper towel) In a large bowl, beat eggs together Sift coconut flour into eggs and beat together Note: coconut flour often has clumps, which is why sifting is important Mix shredded zucchini, sea salt and ground pepper together, and combine with egg mixture Meanwhile, set a skillet over medium hear. When hot, add coconut oil to coat bottom Spoon the mixture into the pan in desired sized fritters Serve warm

Served only by the liter and just one day a week, the Monkey Head Arboreal Ale makes Triple Rock the place to be on a Thursday night. The Berkeley brewpub’s co-owners, brothers John and Reid Martin, are considered the founding fathers of the industry, and their beers have the taste of something well aged to perfection.

Pyramid was founded in the Pacific Northwest and set up shop in a warehouse in Berkeley in 1997 before adding another location in Walnut Creek in 2002. The Single Hop IPA is unique to the Berkeley location and is just one of the delicious choices to be found at this alehouse. The brew is a robust beer, so pull up a chair and enjoy the ride.

The citrus notes in Elevation 66’s East Bay IPA make it perfect for the Golden State. The El Cerrito brewery always features six in-house beers and a rotating menu of other Bay Area microbrews, so something is sure to catch your fancy.

Trumer Pils, the maker of a traditional pilsner brewed in Austria for more than 400 years, opened its only U.S. brauerei in Berkeley in 2003. The Berkeley Trumer is made with traditional ingredients imported from Austria, but it’s mixed with fresh water from the Sierra Nevadas. Since its creation, the East Bay beer has won the World Beer Cup Gold Medal three times. Enough said.

If the city is SF, then the town is Oakland. Linden Street Brewery tips its hat to its home turf with this lager, suitable for all occasions. Just like the Gold Rush pioneers, Linden Street makes this light beer with lager yeast, but it’s fermented at ale temperatures so it’s naturally carbonated and unfiltered. You’ll never find this beer outside of Oakland. The brewery serves its brews only on draft. Even better, it transports its products to local bars in a custom-made bicycle that can hold two kegs at a time.

Pacific Coast Brewing Company’s house pale ale – with its perfect combination of bitter and sweet – is sure to provide a whale of a good time. Perfect for the adventurous drinker, the Pacific Coast brewpub also offers more than 24 beers on tap. Plus, it’s furnished with old treasures acquired from the Oakland Museum, including an elaborate stained-glass window, an ornate bar, and a vintage bar cooler. Having a beer here is the closest you’ll ever come to Oakland in its glory days.The Jolly Rodger started out as an American barleywine, but since its inception, it has changed its color and form every year, returning to its original state in 2012. Make sure to visit Drake’s on the first Friday of the month, when the brewery opens its outdoor lot for a party complete with beer, live music, and a foray of food trucks. Proceeds from the party benefit local schools and nonprofits, so you can tell yourself you’re drinking for the good of the neighborhood.

Buffalo Bill’s in downtown Hayward has been making its amber Pumpkin Ale every autumn since 1985. The brewery was the first to revive the old American tradition of making beer from the orange gourd, a technique that founding father George Washington used. Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale is light in body, spiced with cinnamon, and refreshingly effervescent. No Halloween or Thanksgiving is complete without it.

Jack’s is one of the best sports bars in the East Bay, housing 20 HD TVs and a ginormous 10-foot screen. But what should really bring you here is the Penalty Shot Porter. A very dark beer that’s heavy on the chocolate and black malts, the Penalty Shot goes down thick and is best accompanied with one of Jack’s delicious burgers. This beer is perfect for a weekend spent cheering on the A’s or the Raiders.

Brewed with clover honey and fresh whole-leaf basil, this beer makes for a unique drinking experience. It’s floral and virtually hopless, with hints of caramel, a pleasant basil aftertaste, and a crisp finish. Upon receiving certification in 2003, Bison Brewing became one of the first completely organic breweries in the world. Sadly, it's the only brewery on the list you can't visit, but it's worth seeking out its beers where they're available. 

In the heart of downtown Berkeley, Jupiter’s outdoor patio and solid selection of house craft beers keep the bar packed on any night of the week with locals and Cal students alike. Jupiter even has gluten-free beer on tap (it is Berkeley, after all), but its home-brewed Honey Wheat stands out for the sweet aftertaste of locally grown wild honey.

It’s hard to choose just one drink from The Trappist, an amazing beer oasis that’s located in Old Oakland, since its selection is so grand and changes so frequently. The best thing to do is come to this tavern at least once a week to sample what specialty brews they’ve got on their 28 rotating taps that day; and don’t forget that the front bar and the back bar have different selections.

Ledger’s isn’t the fanciest liquor store, but it’s been faithfully serving a wide array of brews for more than 75 years. After Prohibition, Grandma and Grandpa Ledger were granted the 14th liquor license in California, and they’ve been accumulating an amazing selection of beers ever since. The Casey Jones Imperial IPA, from Iron Springs Pub & Brewery in Fairfax, is just one of the rare finds you’ll come across here. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, just ask owner Ed Ledger; he’s always willing to help.

Most famous for its giant produce selection and organic bulk bins, independent supermarket Berkeley Bowl also has an impressive selection of microbrews hidden between all that granola. From Calicraft Brewing Company in Walnut Creek, Buzzerkeley, a Belgian strong ale, is the perfect nightcap to pick up from the Bowl, along with your dinner.

Having one of the best selections in the Bay Area, Oakland’s Beer Revolution offers hundreds of different bottled beers, in addition to its impressive array of 48 different taps. For Beer Rev’s second anniversary, Arne Johnson of Marin Brewing Company created the delicious Saison de Revolution, perfect for sipping on any given night of the week while perched on a wooden barrel in this cozy tavern.

Cato’s on Piedmont Avenue changes its tap brews on the regular so that they’ve always got a good selection of more than 20 local craft beers. Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliny the Elder is a Bay Area staple, perfect for Cato’s Monday trivia nights or its performances by live bands on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The much anticipated Pink Drank was released just in time for summer festivities in 2013. A sour blonde ale aged in oak barrels and topped with Cascadian raspberries (yum!), this delicious brew is reason enough to head to the East Bay suburb and is sure to help you beat the heat – or fog – all summer long.

With the closing of UC Berkeley’s on-campus pub, The Bear’s Lair, in 2012, Pappy’s – named after Cal’s most famous football coach and conveniently located two blocks away from campus – stepped up to fill some pretty big shoes. What solidified its position in Berkeley beer patrons’ hearts was the adoption of “Beat the Clock.” Starting at 4 p.m., pitchers are $6 and get $1 more expensive with every passing hour.

There's so much great beer in the East Bay that we couldn't possibly fit them all into one story (or poster). We had to leave off a few noteworthy places, either because they weren't open at the time the story was created, or because we wanted to represent a larger diversity of spots in the East Bay. Just in case this wasn't enough beer for you, though, here's a few more brew hubs to check out on the other side of the bay: 

Telegraph, Oakland

Moxy, Berkeley

Brotzeit Lokal, Oakland

Albany Taproom, Albany

510 Brewing, Fremont

Commonwealth Cafe and Public House, Oakland 

Coming Soon: 

Hog's Apothecary, Oakland

Sierra Nevada, Berkeley

Rare Barrel, Berkeley 

Did we miss any? Do you know of a cool new beer spot coming to the East Bay? What are your favorite local brews? Let us know in the comments section. 

Want a copy of this map for your very own? Brad Amorosino designed a special East Bay Beer Map poster that we're selling in the shop. Or if you're looking for the San Francisco Beer Map poster, designed by Loren Purcell, you can find it in the shop, too!