When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, its a good core workout. If youre sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More
Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More
December is almost over - the New Year is coming up and everyone is busy drying off from the rain or holiday shopping. Let's take a look at what's happened this month.
There's no secret to helping you focus better — unless you count Adderall — but studies have shown that listening to music before or while performing a task can improve attention, memory, and even your ability to perform mental math.
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
The 49ers have ejected defensive lineman Ray McDonald following new sexual assault allegations that surfaced earlier this week. On Tuesday, police served a search warrant to the player's Silver Creek Valley home, after receiving reports from an alleged assault victim…
After receiving multiple reports that Oakland students will stage another anti-police brutality walkout today, school superintendent Antwan Wilson tried to preempt the protest by robo-calling their parents. In a message left on voicemails throughout the district last night, Wilson said that,…
San Francisco's bid to host the 2024 Olympics remains a divisive issue at home, even as Mayor Ed Lee, Giants CEO Larry Baer, and venture capitalist Steve Strandberg gear up to make their pitch in Redwood City. They'll be sparring…
Update 3:15 p.m.: Both BART stations have been reopened. Update 3 p.m.: Fruitvale and MacArthur stations are closed due to "civil disturbance." Update, 2:19 p.m.: According to a press statement from Oakland Police, this morning's crowed comprised between 150 and 200 people,…
An anonymous collective of "queer and people of color" artists has claimed responsibility for three lynching effigies that were strung around UC Berkeley campus on Saturday, the same day that thousands of people marched through the downtown corridors of cities…
Update below. Kids might have rejoiced over yesterday's school closure in San Francisco — even as their parents scrambled to find child care — but the district itself took a huge financial wallop. Per KQED education reporter Ana Tintocalis, closing schools…
Update, 1:57 p.m.: We got a first-hand account from Michael Short, an Oakland-based freelance photographer who was taking pictures for the San Francisco Chronicle last night. Read it below. Update, 5:34 p.m.: In a press conference with reporters, CHP Golden…
Update, 2:22 p.m.: San Francisco Unified School District announced this afternoon that indeed, schools will close tomorrow due to rain. Original story: After months of protracted summer, followed by months of listless, balmy fall, it's little surprise that Bay Area…
As though you needed another reason to distrust Ron Conway — Airbnb investor, Ed Lee financier, backer of a campaign to smear David Campos, and all-around political Svengali — get this: he's now emerged as an apologist for CIA torture. On…
Anyone wanting to resurrect the #QuanGoneWild Twitter hashtag, here is your opportunity. Oakland's outgoing mayor Jean Quan climbed into a stranger's car during a safety walk on International Boulevard last Friday, thinking it was her ride home. According to witnesses,…
Body-mounted police cameras got a spate of publicity after the March shooting of Alex Nieto in Bernal Heights Park, which inspired Supervisor John Avalos to stump for the devices. At an April Board of Supervisors hearing, he argued that they'd…
After a weekend of tear gas, riot squads, broken windows, and road blockage, police and clean-up crews are bracing for yet another night of protests in Berkeley. According to ABC News, hundreds plan to demonstrate tonight over a grand jury's…
It took all of a few minutes for political organizers in Oakland to rally the troops, after a Staten Island grand jury voted not to indict the white police officer who held Eric Garner in a choke-hold, resulting in the…
@The Snitch
by Rachel Swan
December 3, 2014 @ 2:21 pmTags: Video
A 2005 class action against Apple got underway in Oakland federal court today, with plaintiffs' attorneys arguing that the tech company's late founder Steve Jobs conspired with other top executives to attain a virtual monopoly over the music downloading market. Jobs…
Of the 79 people arrested at last Friday's melee in Union Square, only 30 percent were San Francisco residents, according to stats released by today by the SFPD. Fifty were from elsewhere in California, and 6 had come in from…
Perhaps last week's Thanksgiving sideshow was engineered as a crime of opportunity, held on a night when Oakland police were obviously distracted by a protest melee in downtown Oakland. Nonetheless, it went hopelessly awry. "The sideshow people were thinking we'd…
Uber's recent descent into the PR maelstrom did wonders for its cloesst competitor, Lyft, which just boasted its biggest week ever, according to Business Insider. Better yet, the famously peppy, pink-mustached company no longer has to brand itself as the anti-Uber.…
Casting aside, for a moment, the time-held tradition of the strip club toy drive, nothing rings in the holidays in San Francisco like a drag queen on ice skates. Or rather, a drag queen on ice skates with a bevy…
Sad news: Marian Brown, the 87-year-old society dame who was famous for roaming the streets of San Francisco in orthopedic sandals and leopard print coats alongside her twin sister, Vivian, has reportedly died. The Brown twins were known for wearing…
Update, Thursday, 9:02 a.m.: Uber issued a statement this morning, saying that it has hired data privacy expert Harriet Pearson to conduct an in-depth review of its privacy program and recommend changes. The company will respond to Senator Franken's questions…
The dirtiest alley in San Francisco lies at the periphery of North Beach and the Financial District, flanked by upscale cigar bars, a paella restaurant, a cosmetology school and the Academy of Art college — an incongruous display of wealth…
@The Snitch
by Rachel Swan
November 19, 2014 @ 4:16 pmTags: SF Oddities, Tech, Video
On Monday, Buzzfeed rattled the internet by revealing Uber executive Emil Michael's plans to launch smear campaigns against journalists who don't toe the Uber company line. Michael floated the idea on Friday, during a dinner at Manhattan's Waverly Inn. He…
The days are shorter, the wind is nippier, the reindeer and Christmas lights are popping up in window displays along Powell Street. And over at the Penthouse Club in North Beach, a small chorus line of exotic dancers are preparing…
Green Cab, the city's carbon-neutral, worker-owned taxi cooperative, shut its doors Thursday at midnight, the moment its insurance policy runs out. With accidents on the books and ever-diminishing financial reserves, the company has struggled to find a new insurer that…
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"