San Francisco is famous for famous photographers

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

Reynolds Rap

Grow up, Airbnb

You’re a big business now — time to follow the rules

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

Last fall, Airbnb was embroiled in a nasty battle to beat Proposition F, which would have strengthened regulations on the short-term home rental start-up and its competitors. The company spent more than $8 million on deceptive ads to scare the daylights out of anyone using the service ("Don't let the government in your bedroom!").... 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

Reynolds Rap

Some of the homeless people you pass have been in your shoes

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

A few months ago I came across a letter to the San Francisco Business Times. The author, an understandably frustrated San Francisco resident named Richard Kales, went on at length about the perils of working downtown with its throngs of drug addicted, mentally ill, and sometimes violent denizens.... Read More

North Beach Journal

Homeless people: Yes, they are our problem

By Ernest Beyl

The last time I saw Alphonsus McCourt was at the memorial for his celebrity bartender brother, Michael. Alphie, as everyone calls him, came out from New York and read one of his p... Read More

North Beach Journal

The Clooney caper; an ode to the perfect bloody Mary; the osso buco episode; and Amanda, the deputy sheriff

By Ernest Beyl

POLITICALLY INCORRECT AND THE CLOONEY PROTEST This paragraph should have appeared in my May Sketches column but monthly deadlines being what they are, I missed it. However, I think... 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

Bellingham by the Bay, Features

Altogether, shout it now

By

This California primary election on June 7 will be the most important in many years. So say the local politicos who are beating the drum for a big turnout this month. That drumbea... Read More

Reynolds Rap

Paradise Cost

Affordable San Francisco? Are you kidding?

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

This month San Francisco residents will vote on Proposition C, which would raise the affordable housing requirements for developers from 12 to 25 percent and set aside some of that... Read More

North Beach Journal

The Tubes, Irene’s musical comedy, saloon art, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti

By Ernest Beyl

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

Reynolds Rap

You can’t be shot in the back if you’re charging forward

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

In April 2014, I received a call from someone inside the San Francisco Police Department. “You should look into the shooting of that dog at the projects,” he said. R... Read More

North Beach Journal

The town hall brawl, the gold Ferrari, and an ode to grappa

By Ernest Beyl

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

Reynolds Rap

My love/hate relationship with Uber

After three years chatting up their drivers, I am not alone

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

Three years ago, headed down to the studios of radio station KGO to guest host on a Saturday afternoon, I had grown weary of giving up my prime parking space in the Lower Haight an... Read More

Reynolds Rap

We built this city: Post-Super Bowl shantytowns show the city doesn’t know how

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

In less than a month, San Francisco built a city for the Super Bowl and tore it down as if it never existed — an amazing feat. Yet, on a recent drive down Division Street, my fri... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

The helpful elf and the compassionate politico

By

I need that eclectic mind of yours, Brucie.” So said Herb Caen on the phone about a hundred years ago. “You know what eclectic means, Herb?” I asked. “It me... Read More

Features