MSSF Fungus Fair

[Mark Thomsen]

NEWS RELEASE
_______________________________________________________________________________
Contact: Mark Thomsen						5 November 97
	 Publicity Chair
	 Mycological Society of San Francisco
         2525 Piedmont Ave. #7
         Berkeley, CA
         415-786-7552


The Mycological Society of San Francisco presents the 28th annual San Francisco 
Mushroom Fair on Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7th in the Presidio of San 
Francisco.

This year's fair features exciting speakers.  Paul Stamets will give a 
talk and slide show on Saturday and Sunday on  psilocybin-active 
mushrooms of the world and on medicinal mushrooms.  Paul's lecture is 
rich with good tips and precautionary advice.  David Arora, author of 
Mushrooms Demystified, the most widely used 
mushroom id book in North America, will  give a lecture and slide show.  Taylor 
Lockwood will present his fabulous "Treasures From the Kindgdom of Fungi" 
multimedia presentation on both days. Bill Freedman, MD will speak on "Death 
Caps Invading the USA. "  Frances Wilson of Lalime's, Sunita Dutt of Chinook, 
Erick Tucker of Millenium and Patrick Hamilton, mycochef extraordinaire, will 
be giving cooking demonstrations with wild mushrooms.  Joe Powell will lecture 
on mushroom diversity and evolution. Presentations on finding and identifying 
wild mushrooms, mushroom walks, toxicology slide shows, wild mushroom displays, 
food booths, cultivators, and lots of mushroom kitsch will also be on hand.  
Thousands of mushrooms will be displayed and identified in the exhibition hall. 
 In addition 4 local restaurants will be holding mushroom nights with menus 
designed around wild mushrooms.  Bradley Ogden of the Lark Creek Inn in 
Larkspur on 11/12, Frances Wilson of Lalimes in Berkeley  on 11/13, Sunita Dutt 
of Chinook in San Rafael on 11/25, and Eric Tucker of Millenium in San 
Francisco throught the week of December 1-7.  

As part of the fair we will offer organised forays around the Bay Area on 
Friday and Saturday, December 5-6th to gather mushrooms for display.  If you've 
ever wanted to go on a mushroom hunt,  this is your chance.  If any press would 
like a personalised tour I will arrange one.
 
The 28th Annual San Francisco Mushroom Fair:
Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7th.
11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Herbst International Exhibition Hall
385 Moraga Ave at Montgomery St.
The Presidio in San Francisco (near the Main Post)
Admission $6.00/$3.00 students and seniors

For foray information call the Mycological Society hotline at 415-759-0495.
For press information contact Mark Thomsen at wk: 415-786-7552 or hm: 
510-540-1288 or send e-mail to mthomsen at eng.sun.com .