The Darwin Awards, sauerkraut juice cocktail, U.S. Restaurant reopens, and the best free ice cream

In this month’s column, I’m serving up a little of this and a little of that, plus a few loose ends. THE DARWIN AWARDS These days North Beach is full of Segways — you... Read More

Appetites and Afterthoughts

Saga of the salad

By Ernest Beyl

Before I delved mouth-first into the subject of salads for this story, I thought (perhaps understandably) that they were created by the French. Sounds logical, doesn’t it? Ho... Read More

North Beach Journal

Capp’s Corner rebirth, a penny dreadful, book launch, Rube’s Lab, praise for reporters, and neighborhood gossip

By Ernest Beyl

Today your personal philosopher (nose always pointed into the wind) will amaze and titillate you with news, notes, gossip, and wild rumors about the North Beach scene. But first, h... Read More

Back Story

Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Grand Vision: The Poets Plaza

By Ernest Beyl

As I write this, plans are being made for a Friday, Oct. 2, groundbreaking for Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s visionary Piazza St. Francis, The Poets Plaza in North Beach. The date ... Read More

Appetites and Afterthoughts

With apologies to Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Coltrane: Here are a few of my favorite things

By Ernest Beyl

Usually when I write one of these Appetites and After-thoughts columns, I write only about food. But there are other appetites not necessarily related to the stomach. So here IR... Read More

North Beach Journal

Street names from Brannan to Green, the restaurant scene, Deadheads, and remembering Ornette Coleman

By Ernest Beyl

This month’s North Beach Sketches includes a bit of this and a bit of that — Mormons, vigilantes, escaped convicts, some recollections of a rock ‘n’ roll jam ba... Read More

Back Story

Remembering Jimmy Lyons

By Ernest Beyl

This Back Story is a paean to an old friend, Jimmy Lyons. His name may not resonate with some of you unless you have attended the Monterey Jazz Festival. Jimmy was the founder and ... Read More

Appetites and Afterthoughts

For the city that has everything: A new San Francisco dining trend?

By Ernest Beyl

San Franciscans are said to be discerning diners, but they will eat anything, kale for example, and they will adapt to the next new food craze with religious zeal. But just what is... Read More

North Beach Journal

It’s the season of the itch

By Ernest Beyl

Just as The New York Times always reminds us on its front page, here’s “All the News That’s Fit to Print” this month. Actually, it’s all the news I co... Read More

A & E

Miles, Mingus, Mozart and murder: A conversation with Howie Becker

By Ernest Beyl

When I read the lengthy profile on Dr. Howard Becker in a recent issue of The New Yorker, a few things stopped me cold. Writer Adam Gopnik said Becker played jazz piano (boogie woo... Read More

Appetites and Afterthoughts

The third annual Ernestos: Best of North Beach Awards

By Ernest Beyl

Who would have thought it? Here we are in the third year of my Ernestos: Best of North Beach Awards. The Ernestos started out in 2013 as an idea for a column. Now it’s an ins... Read More

North Beach Journal

The times they are a changin’ in the old neighborhood

By Ernest Beyl

A REQUIEM FOR CAPP’S CORNER The evening of Tuesday, March 31, I sat in the bar at Original Joe’s in North Beach with my friend, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Carl N... Read More

Back Story

Hollywood’s San Francisco roots: The enduring love of SF film

By Ernest Beyl

This is the third of a three-part series. Here’s an update from Parts one and two: San Francisco narrowly missed becoming the film capital of the world. Perhaps it’s ju... Read More

Hungry Palate, Reviews

Sam’s Grill and Seafood Restaurant

By Ernest Beyl

Last summer, Sam’s Grill, that historic fixture of San Francisco downtown dining at 374 Bush Street, was on life support. Then it closed and remained dark until October. Sudd... Read More

North Beach Journal

Cheers to Capp’s Corner

By Ernest Beyl

UPDATE: A SHORT REQUIEM FOR CAPP’S CORNER The evening of Tuesday, March 31, I sat in the bar at Original Joe’s in North Beach with my friend, San Francisco Chronicle columnist ... Read More

Ernest Beyl