Brick And Mortar History – The Bars Of North Beach, Part 1 May 24, 2016 As any seasoned traveler will tell you, San Francisco’s North Beach is one of America’s quintessential drinking neighborhoods. Sure, there’s some steep competition out there: The French Quarter of New Orleans, Key West, Williamsburg….the list goes tipsily on. But North … Read the rest
10 Things To Eat In North Beach Right Now May 1, 2016 Located at the bustling nexus of Chinatown, the Financial District and Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood has long been a food destination. As our city’s designated Little Italy, North Beach is a magnet for sightseers, and that foot … Read the rest
Living on $2 a Day – The Impact of Microfinance April 25, 2016 Microfinance gets a lot of press these days, for good reason. It is a powerful tool that puts financial resources in the hands of the poorest, and the impact of microfinance has been shown to transform impoverished communities. It is … Read the rest
On the Loss of a North Beach Regular April 13, 2016 This past Sunday brought the very sad news of a friend’s sudden death. Randy Hernandez was a spirited, generous and kind soul. A talented musician and dedicated surfer, he seemed to know everyone in my adopted North Beach neighborhood, and … Read the rest
Batali, Bourdain to Open Atop San Francisco’s Fairmont April 1, 2016 San Francisco, CA – Almost 30 years after leaving California to apprentice in Italy, Mario Batali has penned the lease on Animale, a 250-seat restaurant and enoteca planned for the top of Nob Hill’s historic Fairmont Hotel. Batali, host … Read the rest
Bernie Sanders’ Easter Sweep And The Real Upset March 29, 2016 Senator Bernie Sanders had a heck of an Easter weekend. Dealing a serious blow to Hillary Clinton’s delegate lead, Sanders swept all three primaries, taking Washington, Alaska and Hawaii – all by landslide margins. This late surge has a lot … Read the rest
Vagabonds, Lunatics and Scoundrels in San Francisco History, Part 1 March 19, 2016 One morning in the Spring of 1841, Pennsylvania businessman Paul Geddes was on his way to the bank to deposit $7,000 for his employers. Geddes must have been feeling lucky that day; he decided to stop and play a few … Read the rest
Party Politics: Will of the Voters Be Damned March 9, 2016 This week we read in the news that 2012 presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has filed paperwork in preparation for a 2016 presidential run, with Paul Ryan listed as his running mate. Coming in the wake of a string of primary … Read the rest
Notorious Belle: The Story of Belle Cora March 7, 2016 Born Arabella Ryan in 1832, Belle Cora was the daughter of a Baltimore minister and a doting mother. She rose to become one of San Francisco’s most celebrated madams. Along with her paramour Charles Cora, Belle opened her first San … Read the rest
Bernie and Hillary: Gloves Off in New Hampshire February 7, 2016 At Thursday’s Democratic debate in New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton went head-to-head (sans third wheel Martin O’Malley) on the stage for the first time. It was a slugfest relative to earlier debates, signaling an end to the congeniality … Read the rest