Election 2014 hot topics

As California voters prepare to fill out their ballots in person at the polling booth or by mail, one of the biggest challenges is making sense of all of the different candidates, ... Read More

Movie Reviews

The Two Faces of January

By Michael Snyder

Since enthusiastically devouring a few of Patricia Highsmith’s dark, exotic and suspenseful novels, I’ve been excited about the film adaptations and a little skeptical ... Read More

Movie Reviews

Whiplash

By Michael Snyder

Virtuosity is more than just a fancy word suggesting excellence in one’s field. It’s a life goal for many aspiring, dedicated musicians. As such, the drive to be great ... Read More

Humor

Fall into the positive

By Sandy Fertman Ryan

The fall season always feels like a new beginning to me. That probably began in grade school when I was lucky enough to buy some new clothes, a binder, pens, and a pair of snappy s... Read More

Enter Stage Left

My earthquake preparedness kit

By Evalyn Baron

On Sunday, Aug. 24, I was asleep at 3:31 a.m., when suddenly a large truck rolled by our house, waking me. What was such a monster truck doing on our street? Or were the techies to... Read More

The Best of Books

What you’re reading

By Brian Pettus

Best-seller list Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, by Daniel Brown This Is Where I Leave You, by Jonathan Tropper City of... Read More

Appetites and Afterthoughts

Three more reasons to hang out in North Beach — just in case you need them

By Ernest Beyl

I enjoy hanging out in joints – restaurants and bars of humble and modest stature. And I do not use the word “joints” in the pejorative sense. I use it as homage ... Read More

New & Notable

Causwell’s on Chestnut Street combines bar and bistro in style

By Julie Mitchell

It’s not easy for a restaurant to combine a lively bar scene and excellent food and table service in a small space, but Causwell’s, which took over the old BechelliR... Read More

The Tablehopper

Great coffee in Cow Hollow and new life in the former Purple Onion

By Marcia Gagliardi

COW HOLLOW Fans of Wrecking Ball Coffee (2271 Union Street) — you may have encountered it at Firehouse 8 or Marla Bakery — will be pleased to know they have their very own new ... Read More

Sports Corner

Wicked seesaws for the Giants & A’s

By Steve Hermanos

Let’s look at the bright side: As of this writing, the Giants will make the playoffs. They’d play Pittsburgh in a one-game playoff game at our ballpark by McCovey Cove ... Read More

North Beach Journal

Popcorn, pasta, Poets Plaza, Puccini, Joe DiMaggio Playground … and a kick in the ‘calzoni’

By Ernest Beyl

A POET’S DREAM REALIZED? Recently, I received an invitation from Angela Alioto, international director of the Knights of St. Francis (an unofficial Catholic lay organization ... Read More

Union Street Scoop

A month of Sundays

By John Zipperer

One Sunday in September we took a stroll down Union Street to enjoy the weather and people watching, visit the shops, and get some food. It was a sunny day, with people mostly dres... Read More

Supervisor's Report

Public safety in our neighborhoods

By Supervisor Mark E. Farrell

The safety of our neighborhoods will always be a huge priority for me personally; it affects residents of every age, and I believe it is one of the core services our city governmen... Read More

Police Blotter

Halloween safety tips

At the end of this month, people will be celebrating Halloween. In addition to the dress-up parties and pumpkin pies, many people will participate in the annual tradition of trick-... Read More

Real Estate Investor

Airbnb goes legit?

Home-sharing service begins collecting mandated hotel tax as city clarifies regulation

By John Zipperer

Short-term residential rental companies such as Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway might be the biggest disruption to hit the real estate market since public online listings took away the ... Read More

Issue October 2014