‘Belle’: Breakout role for Mbatha-Raw as Dido

Even if you’re suffering from docudrama fatigue or are skeptical of the assertion (or disclaimer) “inspired by a true story” that precedes so many films these day... Read More

Back Story

A resurgence of the arts and artists in North Beach

By Ernest Beyl

From reading my monthly column, Sketches from a North Beach Journal, one might get the impression that poet, painter, and free-range radical Lawrence Ferlinghetti so dominates the ... Read More

Book Notes

Sigmar Polke, founder of Capital Realism art movement

By Sharon Anderson

"You can't exist in a vacuum, you are rooted in time."... Read More

Appetites and Afterthoughts

Another Unlikely Heroine in the Gastronomic Trenches

By Ernest Beyl

Some readers may recall my occasional pieces in this journal called “Unlikely Heroes (and Heroines) in the Gastronomic Trenches”— short profiles of writers on foo... Read More

New & Notable

Welcome back to Castagna on Chestnut

By Julie Mitchell

Occupying a prime spot on Chestnut Street, Castagna was forced to close for a year after an electrical fire in the attic ravaged much of the restaurant. But last month, the bistro ... Read More

The Tablehopper

Fun springtime events at the Presidio; a new chef for Elite Cafe

By Marcia Gagliardi

After a winter hiatus, Off the Grid returns to the Presidio (Main Post Lawn) with both their Sunday Picnic at the Presidio and their Thursday Twilight at the Presidio. On Sundays f... Read More

Humor

It’s just like riding a bike

By Sandy Fertman Ryan

It seems that bicyclists have overtaken the streets of San Francisco. Though I hadn’t ridden in years, I decided it was time to hop on the bike wagon. Being a native San Fran... Read More

The Adventures of Skylar Grey

Jazzy never had any interest in fetching unless I threw her toy in the ocean. She swam like a champ, using her tail as a rudder to keep her big butt from sinking below the surface. People were always amused: "I didn't think pit bulls liked to swim," they'd say. ... Read More

Sky’s Buys

Hear Doggy ultrasonic toys

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

I must admit I was skeptical when Steve and I came upon Hear Doggy ultrasonic toys at Pet Food Express — until I squeezed one from behind my back and Skylar and Blue started cock... Read More

Political Animal

Homeless dogs of Golden Gate Park: A tragedy waiting to happen

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014 at 10:40 p.m., San Francisco police responded to a 911 call about a dog attack in progress at 25th Avenue and Lincoln Way at a homeless encampment near Go... Read More

The Wild Wild Web

With extortion-style ad sales, Yelp is barking up the wrong tree

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

I co-host the Cooking with Ryan Scott show on KGO Radio (810 AM) Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m., and whenever we have chefs on as guests, review website Yelp inevitably comes up, and u... Read More

Northsider

Space for lucky moms

By John Zipperer

HELP FOR MOMS Just a few days before you celebrate Mother’s Day by letting your mother know how lucky you are to have her, you can help some of the city’s most vulnerab... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Open data: endless possibilities

By Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

What has the possibil-ity to create $3 trillion in global economic value annually, promote greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency in government and the private sector... Read More

News Briefs

If You Don’t Like Young People, Stay Out Of Cow Hollow

The best San Francisco neighborhood for Millennials is our own Cow Hollow, according to Niche, a young adults-focused data research firm. Millennials (people aged 25–34) make up ... Read More

News Briefs

Pay More For Muni

In April, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board voted on its next budget and approved a number of hikes in fines, fees and ridership tickets. Most of the ... Read More

Issue May 2014