PRIME TIME AND THE TUBES You may recall that I like to hang out at Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store and Cafe. If you join me there sometime you may meet a Deadhead, a city superv... Read More
THE DISTRICT THREE DUDE Aaron Peskin is one cool dude — the big progressive Lebowski of District 3. He demonstrated his cool dudeness last month when more than 200 people showed ... Read More
There was rejoicing in the streets of North Beach late last year when the Original U.S. Restaurant reopened after it was forced to close at its previous site. The reopening was a m... Read More
The other day I had lunch at Original Joe’s with Maxine Maas, 90 years old, great legs with trim ankles and a face that reminded me of Ursula Andress, the Bond girl in the mo... Read More
THE HABERDASHER Gentleman haberdasher Wilkes Bashford missed my deadline last month. He died just after I turned in my February column. I counted Wilkes a friend, and patronized hi... Read More
As I write this, Gino and Carlo, my favorite North Beach saloon, is looking for a cook to replace Denise Sabella, who died over the Christmas holidays and is sorely missed by all o... Read More
For the past several months, our attention has been riveted on the sensational drama of Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow, whose attorney, Tony Serra, has been displaying a cou... Read More
Curry is a sauce served over meat, fish or vegetables, and usually with steamed rice. Curry powder is ground from a wide variety of dried leaves, roots, twigs, berries, seeds, and ... Read More
Yes, I know, food writers in December issues are supposed to write about turkey and roast beef for those year-end holiday dinners. But I’m going to write about curry. I’... Read More
“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” — Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, The Leopard I’m on a rant. So I hope you won’t mind i... Read More
A few months ago, I reported that an Irish pub would open in North Beach. And it has. It’s called BarNua and it’s located at 561 Columbus Avenue. My informant tells me ... Read More
When I think back, I was not a very good reporter. Neverthe-less, in the early fifties, after nearly six months as a copyboy, I became a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. I... Read More
This month, a little of this and a little of that goes a long way. So please stick with me. MARRIED SEX Lest you think the above subhead is an oxymoron, let me tell you about Jesse... Read More
I just finished reading Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s latest book Writing Across the Landscape: Travel Journals 1960-2010 (Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2015, $35). Usually I a... Read More
Many years ago, when I was fresh and tender, but a bit prickly like a young artichoke, I was a copyboy for the San Francisco Chronicle. Today, more than 50 years later, a bit tough... Read More