Junior Giants: Teaching life lessons through baseball

Members of the Junior Giants, an organization that teaches not only baseball, but also how to become good citizens and contributors to society. Photo: S.F. Giants

While the Giants’ on-field fortunes can ebb and flow though the course of a season, one part of the franchise remains ever on the upswing. We refer to Junior Giants, the flagshi... Read More

The-view-of-Cape-Kiwanda-from-the-Headlands-Coastal-Lodge-_-Spa-photo-Bo-Links

Weekend Traveler

The Northern Oregon Coast: Pacific City and Nye Beach

By Patty Burness

Part 3 of a three-part series exploring Oregon’s north coast Recently, my husband and I took a week to drive the 130 miles south on Highway 101 from Astoria to Nye Beach alon... Read More

Sports Corner

Murph’s special day

The former clubhouse manager gets his due

By Richard Keller

On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 27, the Giants threw a party for Mike Murphy at Oracle Park, and tens of thousands of well-wishers came to celebrate. Besides the paid crowd of 31,047 fa... Read More

The-view-from-our-room-at-the-Surfsand-Resort, Photo by Bo Links

Weekend Traveler

The Northern Oregon Coast: Cannon Beach

Part Two of a three-part series exploring Oregon’s north coast

By Patty Burness

Recently, my husband and I spent a week exploring Oregon’s spectacular north coast. It’s an easy drive south on Highway 101 from Astoria to Nye Beach (130 miles). Along the wa... Read More

The pizelle Italian waffle cookies can initiate time travel for thoughtful eaters. Photo: GrammarFascist/Wikimedia Commons

Coastal Commuter

Sweet and savory memories

Our Coastal Commuter turns Coastal Connoisseur, aided by an unexpected pizzelles encounter

By Michael Snyder

On a recent Saturday, I departed my Russian Hill apartment and moseyed on down to Cheese Plus at Polk and Pacific, where I could grab a fresh Acme Bakery mini-baguette as part of ... Read More

Cannery-Pier-Hotel-_-Spa_-Photo-Courtesy-of-Cannery-Pier-Hotel-_-Spa

Weekend Traveler

The northern Oregon coast: Astoria

By Patty Burness

Photos by Bo Links except where indicated. Part one of a three-part series exploring Oregon’s north coast Recently, my husband and I spent a week exploring Oregon’s spec... Read More

Summer in San Francisco is a time of layering and keeping warm. JenDigitalArt/Unsplash

Coastal Commuter

Summer winds blow hot and cold

By Michael Snyder

The California summer conundrum is in effect on the coast — and on display in the two cities I call home. Only one of them seems to regularly embody the “hot town” o... Read More

DJ, record collector and archivist Curtis Lindersmith. Photo: Michael Snyder

Coastal Commuter

Dancing through time and space

By Michael Snyder

As much as I glory in the unique experience of a transcendent concert by accomplished musicians, there is also something special about hitting the right dance club when the disk j... Read More

A youthful visit to the City of Lights instilled in the author a life-long love of Paris. And berets. Photo: edmondlafoto/Pixabay

Coastal Commuter

Frankly Francophile

By Michael Snyder

I wear a beret . . . frequently. In addition to it being somewhat stylish (in a Euro/Boho way), it’s more than a vain affectation or silly gimmick for me. Years ago, I realized ... Read More

Sports Corner

The outlook for the Giants’ 2023 season

By Richard Keller

So the Giants struck out trying to sign free agent outfield star Aaron Judge, who decided to remain a Yankee. They balked at their multiyear deal with shortstop Carlos Correa over... Read More

The fans’ new best friend: The pitch clock. Photo: Evan Davis

Sports Corner

Are the Giants & A’s worth your money?

By Steve Hermanos

Are the Giants and A’s worth your dollars? That’s the question I eagerly sought to answer as I headed to spring training. Last year, the Giants were a gigantic mass of disappo... Read More

San Francisco’s skyline greets first-time visitors to the city and longtime residents alike. Photo: tealyea/Pixabay

Coastal Commuter

First looks

By Michael Snyder

The first time I saw San Francisco was when I emerged from the Waldo Tunnel (now known as the Robin Williams Tunnel) going south on Route 101. It was a late afternoon in mid-Septe... Read More

Catch-a-faint-glimpse-of-Mt.-Rainier-through-the-Murray-Morgan-Bridge. Photo: Bo Links

Weekend Traveler

Head up north to experience the best of Tacoma

By Patty Burness

Portland and Seattle are the usual cities people think of when the Pacific Northwest is mentioned; often overlooked is neighboring Tacoma. Situated along Puget Sound, Tacoma is le... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Loving animals in their unnatural habitat

By Michael Snyder

By now, the story of P-22 — the mountain lion also known as the Hollywood Cat — has spread far and wide, especially since his demise in mid-December. This cool cougar’s fame... Read More

It was a year of ups and downs. Photo: geralt/Pixabay

Coastal Commuter

Looking back and looking out

By Michael Snyder

“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” I generally abide by that quote, which is attributed to the savvy Negro League and Major League Baseball pi... Read More

Travel/Sports