Meatballs and other strange and scholarly pursuits in the old Italian neighborhood

I’m a lover of meatballs, and I suppose I spend an inordinate amount of time checking them out here and there. And perhaps there’s no place better to do this research t... Read More

Reynolds Rap

It’s time to tax foreign homebuyers

In one of the most unaffordable cities on earth, overseas cash drives prices higher

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

On April 24, 2017, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house located at 1531 25th Avenue in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset district sold for $1.55 million — a half-million over the... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

A muttering instinct

By

I was wondering what happened to those famous parrots of Telegraph Hill. “They’re gone,” quipped Tony Gantner. “They can’t afford the rents.” An... Read More

North Beach Journal

Nostalgia all over again

By Ernest Beyl

In a recent column, i got all weepy for the good old days in North Beach and quoted a passage from a Stanton Delaplane San Francisco Chronicle column — his final one before he di... Read More

Reynolds Rap

Living in la-la land

San Francisco keeps spending while pension disaster looms

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

Last month, the San Francisco school board voted unanimously to offer Vincent Matthews a three-year contract paying $310,000 per year, $60,000 more than the $250,000 he made at his... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

The fast and the spurious

By

It slays me when people say “happy” memorial Day as we approach this country’s most solemn holiday. Believe it or not, I heard a news anchor on MSNBC gush, “... Read More

North Beach Journal

Plebian food for plain folks and my favorite vegetable

By Ernest Beyl

In a recent column, i attempted to entertain readers by repeating a few lines I picked up while eavesdropping in North Beach. I was probably entertaining only myself, but never min... Read More

Reynolds Rap

The peculiar priorities of Mayor Ed Lee

Highest paid mayor in America more out of touch than ever

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

According to recent data compiled by American City Business Journals, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee is the highest paid mayor in America with an annual salary of $289,000. I guess wit... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

Confessions of a paper boy

By

Once a paper boy, always a paper boy. I still love delivering the Marina Times in scattered fashion — dropping copies off in stores and bars from hither to yon. Yes, I was a pape... Read More

North Beach Journal

A farmers’ market for North Beach? Not so fast

By Ernest Beyl

OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN ACTION If you’re not terminally fatigued by watching our country’s democratic process in action, you may want to turn your attention to North ... 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

North Beach Journal

Eavesdropping in the neighborhood

By Ernest Beyl

I’m an ardent eavesdropper. One might even say as a columnist I’m a professional eavesdropper. Nothing wrong with eavesdropping as long as you’re open about it. S... Read More

Politics as Usual

San Francisco in the age of Trump

By John Zipperer

During the inauguration of Donald Trump as the country’s 45th president, District 2 Supervisor Mark Farrell took to Facebook to comment, “I have the biggest knot in my ... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

What you see is what you get

By

As my mentor, Herb Caen, used to say, “gawd, I love this town.”… For example, here comes the Belli Belles and the great gals that they are. They had a party the ... Read More

North Beach Journal

Happy New Year: Resolutions and revelations

By Ernest Beyl

As i was writing this new year’s Sketches column, I realized I had written more than 50 of these columns since 2012. Who knew? I intend to write at least 50 more. Then I̵... Read More

Features