Marina Times -

Eat, drink, and be merry

The Eat Drink SF festival is a great place to get your food and drink groove on. Now in its ninth year, Eat Drink SF is San Francisco’s premiere food and drink event. With four days of curated programming, the festival kicks off with the legendary Taco Knockdown at The Pearl on Aug. 24 followed by a weekend of signature Grand Tastings at Fort Mason on Aug. 25–27. Each Grand Tasting features more than 30 top Bay Area restaurants that rotate at every session. This year’s bar program will be the biggest yet with more than 70 bars, distilleries, breweries, and wineries hand pouring tastes and batch cocktails. Guests will watch culinary demonstrations on the main stage and attend drink-focused programming in the beverage classroom. The main stage operates throughout the weekend. This year... Read More

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's vision of the Piazza St. Francis-Poet's Plaza. illustration: Piazza St. Francis-Poets Plaza Committee

North Beach Journal

Perhaps a compromise on the Piazza St. Francis-Poet’s Plaza plan?

by Ernest Beyl

It was my intention in this sketches column to give readers some positive news on the Piazza St. Francis-Poet’s Plaza, Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s visionary plan to turn a short se... Read More

Cure for the summertime blues

by Lynette Majer

It’s not too late (as of press time) to get your tickets ($149.50 and $375) for Outside Lands (Friday–Sunday, Aug. 11-13, sfoutsidelands.com). This eco-friendly music-comedy-va... Read More

Reynolds Rap

Why some San Francisco landlords don’t want to rent

(And no, it’s not always about Airbnb)

by Susan Dyer Reynolds

“So your Airbnb tenant now has Airbnb tenants?” — Erlich Bachman to Jared Dunn upon learning an Airbnb tenant is squatting in Jared’s San Francisco condo on HBO’s Silico... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Fighting for more female representation

by Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

Despite comprising half of the population in the United States, women at the most comprise 20 percent of elected officials, media figures, and private sector leadership roles acros... Read More

Police Blotter

An update on the long-lasting Taser debate

Tasers or guns? that has been a volatile argument over the years, with one side wanting to arm police with Tasers to cut down on the deaths from police shootings, whether intention... Read More

The Tablehopper

Julius’ Castle will return to its perch on Telegraph Hill

by Marcia Gagliardi

TELEGRAPH HILL I never thought I’d see the day that I could write that the long-closed (since 2007) Julius’ Castle (302 Greenwich Street) will reopen on Telegraph Hill. (My g... Read More

The Best of Books

The Marina Books Inc. best-seller list

by Brian Pettus

The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life, by Chris Guillebeau (paperback) The Couple Next Door: A Novel, by Shari Lapena (paperback) Crazy ... Read More

Left: Robert Alexander, John Reed, Wallace Berman, Juanita Dixon, and Walter Hopps in the alley next to Ferus, c. 1957. photograph by Charles Brittin. The Getty Research Institute

Book Notes

The life of curator and eccentric raconteur Walter Hopps in ‘The Dream Colony: A Life in Art’

by Sharon Anderson

Many of us can’t remember a world where Andy Warhol’s soup can paintings and Roy Lichtenstein’s ben day dots weren’t a ubiquitous part of modern art’s visual landscape. O... Read More

Southern Oregon's scenic Applegate Valley. photo: Bo Links

Weekend Traveler

Explore Oregon’s scenic coast and Applegate Valley wine region

by Patty Burness

Depending on when you visit, Oregon is dotted with snow-covered mountains, azaleas and rhododendrons, and lush green vineyards. During a recent trip, we experienced all that beauty... Read More

Transcendence Theatre Company. photo: Chris Hardy

Enter Stage Left

Broadway: Under the Stars and under my skin

by Evalyn Baron

I simply cannot help it: Take certain people out to the ballgame, buy them some peanuts and Crackerjack, and they’re happy as can be. But take me out under the stars to see a gro... Read More

Don't worry, it's pronounced "freez-koh." photo: Alejandra Quintero Sinisterra

New & Notable

Locally distilled Frísco brings a new spirit to the city

by Julie Mitchell

The idea for the new San Francisco-crafted, grape-based spirit Frísco (pronounced “freez-koh” because nobody calls it ‘Frisco) was born in Argentina. Marina resident Charlie... Read More

Start planning and planting now so you can eat this in the fall. photo: dreamstime.com

Home & Garden

Dig into fall gardening

by Julia Strzesieski

While the days are long and the soil is warm, it’s time to plant a fall vegetable garden. The term “fall garden” is a bit misleading, because plants need to be sown in mid to... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Digging the roots in grand ole fashion

by Michael Snyder

For many years, a chain restaurant used the advertising slogan, “When you’re here, you’re family.” That’s canny salesmanship for a business eager to p... Read More

Supervisor's Report

San Franciscans want happy trails — not rocky roads

by Aaron Peskin

Budget season has drawn to a close, and the city has made a significant investment in our city streets with the Board of Supervisors approving an additional $90 million in road wor... Read More

Real Estate Reporter

The wealth gap

by John Zipperer

HALL OF SHAME As much as I am an advocate for aggressively building enough housing to accommodate everyone in San Francisco, at some point, the news is just piling on. We know it�... Read More

A & E

Suzanne Ramsey: Blithe keyboardist, ukulele-player, and singer who performs as Kitten on the Keys is a San Francisco treat

by Michael Snyder

There’s a certain brand of talent laced with eccentricity, humor, and sometimes genuine beauty that seems specific or, better yet, peculiar to the Bay Area — a place where a co... Read More

Middle school is a time for many big changes. photo: istockphoto.com

MomSense

Surviving middle school: Tips for parents

by Liz Farrell

Summer always seems to go by too fast. As we think about heading back to school, I always pause and ponder what the year ahead will bring for each of my children. What new challeng... Read More