Steven Baker

Profile Updated: January 22, 2021
Steven Baker
Residing In: Santa Rosa, CA USA
Spouse/Partner: Melania Kang
Occupation: Cafe owner - San Francisco
Children: Adrian, born 1992
Laurel, born 1994
Noah, born 1998
Yes! Attending Reunion
Comments:

My wife and I have been together since 1979. In 1983, we started a movie catering company based out of the Dallas area. We provided the food for the cast and crew. We were mainly working for film companies that were based out of New York and Los Angeles and were filming in Texas. In early 1986, we catered the Coen Brothers movie "Raising Arizona", and then, later in the year, were asked to cater a movie to be filmed in Lake Lure, North Carolina - "Dirty Dancing". I had been a good friend of Vicki Swayze (Waltrip and College) and her Mother Patsy and had known her younger brother Patrick (Buddy) since he was fourteen, so it was fun to see him. Small world.

After we finished that job, we opened a cafe in San Francisco in 1987. In 2017, the City of San Francisco awarded us it's "Legacy Heritage" status. We recently sold the business after 33 years of operation. It was a good, long run.

We live in Sonoma County, about an hour's drive north of the Golden Gate Bridge.
School Story:

As a joke, my brother Ronnie nominated me for "Most Handsome Senior". I went down to the office to pay the $3.00 fee, and the clerk told me the one other person who had been nominated had dropped out, so I was automatically the winner by default. My friends really got a laugh out of that. The final note: my last name in the photo is printed as "Bakey" instead of Baker....

Another memory: I was friends with Gary Barton, who was Vicki Swayze's boyfriend at the time. Gary called me one Friday night and asked if I'd like to join him in "egging" Coach Burton's house in the Oak Forest neighborhood near Waltrip. Gary drove a green Volkswagen at the time, and I drove a blue Volkswagen. We stopped by a local "U Totem" store and bought eggs. We drove up across the front yard of Coach Burton's house, and our friends who were "riding shotgun" (passenger side) threw the eggs at the house. Louis Calderera was riding in my car.....

Vicki Swayze happened to read the "minutes" each morning in the main office before classes started. That following Monday, she heard from the faculty that the Coach's house had been egged, and that whoever had done it had been driving a Volkswagen. A baby-sitter at the Coach's house had seen a Volkswagen speed across the front lawn. Vicki alerted Gary and me that we were going to be called in and questioned. On Tuesday, Assistant Principal Burch called me in to his office. He said someone driving a Volkswagen had "egged" Coach Burton's house, and wanted to know if I knew anything about it, especially since they had the names of any kid who drove a Volkswagen. I told him I had been at home studying, and that i didn't know anything about the incident. Gary made up some story, too...

Vicki passed away in the 1990's, and I found out that Gary Barton also passed away recently....they were good friends.

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Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message.
Jul
24
Jul 24, 2021 at 1:30 PM

Hope you have a great birthday, Judi! Don't these years fly by? I noticed you live in Lockhart - the essence of a classic, small town in Texas that has lots of charm. I almost did my student teaching in Lockhart my senior year at Southwest Texas State U, but instead did it in San Antonio. My sister and her husband used to live in an old 1920's farmhouse in Martindale on 20 acres - they had goats, pigs, chickens, a few horses - nice farm life. I miss that area. I have great memories of floating down the San Marcos river with friends on hot summer days. And tubing on the Guadalupe river, too. (Hmmm..might just have to get a second home back in that area!)

When visiting Austin years ago, I remember making trips over to Black's BBQ in Lockhart. I just looked it up, and they ship nationwide, so I'm ordering some!

Anyway, all the best to you on your upcoming birthday!

Steven

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message on Robert Lynn Midkiff's Profile.
Jul
17
Jul 17, 2021 at 4:09 PM

Hi Robert - I noticed you enjoy doing some covers of Merle Haggard. That's great. Have you ever thought of posting any of your singing on YouTube? I know everyone would enjoy seeing it. If you like Merle, you should check out a few videos: One is from his "Bluegrass Sessions" recorded in a small studio with a few guys sitting in, including Marty Stuart on mandolin. ("Holding Things Together") Another video is a great version of "Lonesome Fugitive" done by Marcus King and Billy Strings, two fantastic young players. Also, have you ever checked out any songs from the late Texas singer-songwriter Blaze Foley? Watch him singing "Clay Pigeons" while he's out on his back porch. Real down-home stuff. And finally, for some real good pickin' check out Leo Kottke, Doc Watson and Chet Atkins in a wonderful impromptu get-together performing "Last Stream Engine Train"

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message on Gary Moeller's Profile. New comment added.
Jun
19
Jun 19, 2021 at 2:01 PM

Posted on: Jun 18, 2021 at 12:10 PM

Hey Gary - first of all, Happy Birthday...hope it's a good year for you. I noticed you were into muscle cars and speed. Me too. I was a Mopar guy, and owned two 1970 'Cuda's. Both 383 engines-one factory Hurst pistol-grip, 4 speed with a Dana rear and the other 727 Auto. It was fun on Friday nights to take those out on the streets and race. Different friends had Fords and Chevy's. I liked 'em all.

Friends and I used go to the old Meyer Speedway on Friday/Saturday nights, then hit Playland Park after the races. Sundays would find us down at the quarter mile drag strip in Dickinson. Lots of "B gassers" and "Funny cars."

Two of my friends had Pontiac GTO's (389) It was a blast to ride in those.

My parents owned a beach house in Baytown, so my cousin and I would take his '64 Falcon Sprint down and race guys on an old road outside of town at night (Tri City Beach Road.) Man, those were the days. Grab a 6 pack, crank up "Walk, Don't Run" by The Ventures, and hit the streets.

Anyway, "keep the pedal to the metal!"

Steve

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message.
May
31
May 31, 2021 at 12:10 PM

Happy birthday, Margaret! I hope it's the start of a great year for you and that you keep on painting.

I, too, had classes with Betsy Curry and Lourena Cook, both of whom I really liked. I enjoyed watercolor and drawing, and when I see your work, it inspires me to start again!

In 1979, I went as the staff artist on an archaeology project to Israel organized through the University of Texas. I went with a team of about thirty for six weeks. (I had been working on a "dig" near Georgetown with North Texas State-Denton, was sketching in my spare time, and was approached by a staff member from UT and was asked if I'd like to go to Israel as the staff artist - I immediately said "Yes!") We stayed in a youth hostel one block from the Galilee, which I swam in every day after work. The team would excavate a site and then bring back artifacts for me to draw. It was amazing to hold 2,000 year old pieces in my hand! On weekends, I'd hike up into the hills around Tiberias and explore caves or go into Jerusalem and wander around the "old city" section. It was a wonderful, meaningful experience.

Anyway, hope it's a great day for you!

All the best-

Steven

Ann Bommarito Armstrong
Ann Bommarito Armstrong posted a message on Steven Baker's Profile.
May
26
May 26, 2021 at 11:06 AM

Thank you so much for the birthday wish!!! I will celebrate tomorrow!!! Hope all is well with you and your family ~ we survived this past year in great shape. We should be having another reunion in 2022 hope to see you there!!! All the best!!!

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message on Ann Bommarito's Profile.
May
20
May 20, 2021 at 11:32 AM

An early "Happy Birthday" to you, Ann! All the best to you and your family.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message on Lynn Smith's Profile.
May
19
May 19, 2021 at 11:41 AM

Happy birthday Lynn! I hope things have been going well for you and that it'll be a great year ahead! Always lots of great memories from many years ago - wow - time flies! I hope to see you again at the next reunion!

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message on Martha Presnall's Profile.
Mar
20
Mar 20, 2021 at 11:37 AM

Happy Birthday, Martha. May you enjoy good health and happiness this year.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message.
Mar
13
Mar 13, 2021 at 12:11 PM

Happy Birthday, Billy. Many fun, wacky memories of you, Ronnie and I blasting around in your red/white 1958 Ford. Remember having a speech/debate class with Mr. Hirsch at Fonville? Anyway, I wish you all the best this year.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message. New comment added.
Mar
02
Mar 02, 2021 at 7:55 PM

Posted on: Mar 02, 2021 at 12:05 PM

Another birthday, Glenn! I hope it's a good day for you!

Steven Baker
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Jan
22
Jan 22, 2021 at 11:16 PM
Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message. New comment added.
Jan 22, 2021 at 6:36 PM

Posted on: Jan 19, 2021 at 12:01 PM

Another Birthday, Butch! Hope you enjoy the day, and that you and your family stay safe during these uncertain times.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message.
Nov
12
Nov 12, 2020 at 4:44 PM

Here's an early photo of my wife and I - can't believe it's been over forty years ago!

Steven Baker
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Nov
15
Nov 15, 2020 at 4:46 PM

Posted on: Nov 12, 2020 at 4:37 PM

In the summer of 2018, I and one of my sons joined my brother Ronnie and friends with their sons on a two-day, overnight fly fishing trip down the lower section of the Snake River in Idaho. (I'm in the bottom of photo in blue cap) Flew into Jackson Hole, then a short trip to Victor, Idaho. Spectacular scenery, great fishing, and lots of fun. A bonus was to check out the Grand Tetons after the trip.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message. New comment added.
Nov
08
Nov 08, 2020 at 6:19 PM

Posted on: Nov 08, 2020 at 11:57 AM

Hi Glenda- I noticed you used to work at the Sadler Clinic in Conroe. Did you by any chance know Dr. Leslie Schoppe, who worked there for many years? He was an old friend of mine from the 1960's. He later moved the practice to Brownwood, but is now retired.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message. New comment added.
Nov
03
Nov 03, 2020 at 8:58 PM

Posted on: Nov 03, 2020 at 1:32 PM

Hi Kathi- all of your hiking adventures sound wonderful! That four week, 225 mile trek in 2018 in France and Spain sounds like an incredible adventure. Wow. Walking through villages and open spaces and taking in the sights and sounds and food that various cultures have to offer sounds most rewarding. This reminds me of a bike tour my wife and I did in the summer 1983. We shipped our bicycles over to England, and spent six weeks biking and camping in England and then Northern France in the Loire River Valley region. Every night, we'd get into a campground and meet people from throughout the world. Prior to that, we spent six weeks hitch-hiking in the Yucatan Peninsula and Guatemala. In Guatemala, we camped each night on the shores of Lake Atitlan for a week with other travelers from throughout the world. Days were spent hiking the region and exploring the quaint village of Panajchel.

Have you ever hiked into the Grand Canyon? What a spectacular place. The last time I had hiked in was 1986, so this past Spring when one of my sons (who had never been in) wanted to go, I decided to try and get a permit for this fall. I finally got the permit, and we backpacked in for two nights to Indian garden campground last month. Incredible scenery and colors as we descended into the canyon, and the stars at night were unlike anything I've ever seen. Now my other son wants to go next April with me, so I'm applying for another permit at the end of the month for April.

For future hiking trips, have you considered doing some sort of blog or travel diary where you could share photos and experiences? People would enjoy seeing that.

So keep on hiking! And may all of your journeys be safe and rewarding.

Steven

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message. New comment added.
Nov 03, 2020 at 2:45 PM

Posted on: Nov 02, 2020 at 11:44 AM

Happy birthday John! All the best to you and your family!

Steven Baker
Steven Baker posted a message. New comment added.
Sep
21
Sep 21, 2020 at 3:13 PM

Posted on: Sep 21, 2020 at 12:34 PM

Happy birthday, Pat. May you and your family enjoy good health and happiness in the coming year.

Martha Presnall Hill
Martha Presnall Hill posted a message on Steven Baker's Profile. New comment added.
Sep
20
Sep 20, 2020 at 2:45 PM

Posted on: Sep 20, 2020 at 6:46 AM

A Very Happy Birthday, Steven. Enjoy your day.

Steven Baker
Steven Baker has a birthday today. New comment added.
Sep 20, 2020 at 2:49 PM

Posted on: Sep 20, 2020 at 4:33 AM