Corned beef and cabbage and green beer for Saint Paddy’s Day? Not so much in Ireland …

San Francisco has a large Irish-American community, so large in fact, that its annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade and festival at City Hall is the West Coast’s largest Irish cel... Read More

Back Story

Valentine’s Day and chocolate: A curious coupling

By Julie Mitchell

What are you hoping to get from your sweetie on Valentine’s Day: roses, jewelry, or dinner at a romantic restaurant? Certainly, chocolate. In the weeks leading up to Valentine’... Read More

Back Story

Levis: The pants that changed the way the world dresses

By Ernest Beyl

U.S. PATENT NUMBER 139121 Jacob W. Davis, of Reno, Nevada, Assignor to himself and Levi Strauss & Company, of San Francisco, California. Improvement in Fastening Pocket-Opening... Read More

Back Story, Features

San Francisco is a hall of fame city for photographers

By Ernest Beyl

San Francisco has long been a haven for photographers and fine photography. Almost from its Gold Rush beginnings, it has attracted photographers who have documented life in this dr... Read More

Back Story

San Francisco is famous for famous photographers

Part 1 of 2

By Ernest Beyl

These days everyone is a photographer. Have you noticed? If you are a 21st-century photographer with a cell phone, you’re posting your photos on Facebook, Instagram, and Phot... Read More

Back Story

The San Francisco private eye and the Maltese falcon

By Ernest Beyl

Authors have always loved to write about San Francisco and have set the action of their novels in the city. A few that come to mind are McTeague by Frank Norris; A Girl of Forty by... Read More

Back Story, Features

Alcatraz: It all depends on your point of view

Hard times on the island in the bay

By Ernest Beyl

San Francisco is a city that likes it views. I’m not referring to points of view on city politics, neighborhood gentrification, or restaurants. There are plenty of viewpoints on ... Read More

Back Story

The ‘nude’ girl in the fish bowl

By Ernest Beyl

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

Back Story

The reporter who interviewed an Irish setter

By Ernest Beyl

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

Back Story

The copyboy: How an ex-Marine got his start running books

By Ernest Beyl

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

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

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

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

Back Story

Moviemaking in San Francisco: A love affair with Hollywood

By Ernest Beyl

This is the second of a three-part series. Here’s an overview of Part 1: San Francisco narrowly missed becoming the film capital of the world. Perhaps it’s just as well... Read More

Back Story

Moviemaking in San Francisco: A love affair with Hollywood

By Ernest Beyl

This is the first of a three-part series. San Francisco narrowly missed becoming the film capital of the world. Perhaps it’s just as well. The city has enough narcissism and ... Read More

Back Story