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, it’s a good core workout. If you’re 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.
Because not everyone can shell out a week's worth of rent on the edible art of a hand-tweezed tasting menu, veteran restaurateur Kash Feng (owner of Michelin-starred Omakase) and consulting chef Shin Aoki (formally of Michelin-starred Kaigetsu) bring you Okane — legit Japanese fare for epicures of the 99 percent.
The lawyer representing the mother of a man who last year fell to his death in a downtown elevator shaft acknowledged today that he may have sued some of the wrong people.
Attorney Ian Zimmerman yesterday filed suit against Coast Counties Management, Inc. and the Kone Elevator company along with Scott and Elisa Stephens -- the scions of the Academy of Art University Empire. Zimmerman's investigator, J.A. Stevenot, had informed him that 55 New Montgomery was part of a larger parcel of real estate owned by the Stephenses; the family and Academy own dozens of buildings throughout the city and are one of San Francisco's most prolific land-holders. But it turns out this is apparently one building they don't own.
SF Weekly's trip to the Assessor's office -- a magical realm where microfilm is still bountiful and, apparently, Jimmy Carter is still president -- revealed that the city believes the owners of the building, since 1993, have been the Bernheim family and their trust. A spokeswoman for the Academy says neither the school nor the Stephens family has ever owned 55 New Montgomery.
Zimmerman now says he may not have sued the right landowners.
PostedByPeter Jamison
on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Marion Cope -- the 73-year-old widow of Newton Cope, former co-owner of the swanky Huntington Hotel in Nob Hill -- was seriously injured last month when she was attacked by an off-leash dog in Huntington Park, according to police records reviewed by SF Weekly.
This is not only sad but something of an odd coincidence. The park where Cope was attacked was donated to the city in 1915 by the family of railroad baron C.P. Huntington, after whom the Huntington Hotel -- a property owned by Cope's late husband and his former wife -- is named.*
Cope was walking her leashed Irish terrier, Clancy, on the evening of Nov. 11 when several off-leash dogs cavorting in Huntington Park attacked the dog, according to a San Francisco Police Department report on the incident. Cope sought to intervene, but the dogs were "relentless," according to the report. One of them bit her on the calf of her right leg, resulting in a 10-inch wound.
PostedByAndy Wright
on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Wet paint or an obstacle course?
Huzzah! San Francisco cyclists can rejoice that the city's first bike lanes in three years have finally been laid down. A lawsuit initiated by a man named Robert Anderson against the city (who argued that bike lanes actually hurt the environment) had kept the creation of new lanes at a stand still until now.
As this press release (pdf) from the S.F. Bike Coalition handily explains, the injunction hasn't totally been lifted, but the city has approved the striping of 10 new bike lanes. This particular swath of bik- friendly asphalt races down Waller Street near Steiner. It's not actually a bike lane, but a "sharrow," a piece of road that is meant to be shared by motorists and cyclists alike.
The first lanes were laid down yesterday, on Scott Street, and many cycling enthusiasts were on hand to celebrate the occasion with champagne and cigars, although Mayor Gavin Newsom was not able to put in a scheduled appearance. He was slotted to paint a green "bike box" -- an advanced stop line that gives people on bikes a priority waiting area at stop lights -- at the corner of Scott and Oak. But as SF Citizen reported yesterday, he double-booked bikers and India, and India won, postponing the "greening" of Scott Street.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 8:30 AM
Joe Eskenazi
More than a gallon per second. Impressive.
We've written a couple of articles about the city flushing the water mains down here in Mission Bay. It's a procedure more graceful in the abstract than the concrete; in fact, all it involves is countless gallons of water swirling over the concrete via gushing fire hydrants.
City employees explained they cracked the hydrants and let them emulate Old Faithful for the better part of three hours for a couple of reasons: To ensure sediment doesn't gum up fire hoses and to also ensure sediment doesn't brown up your glass of agua.
We were wondering, however, how much water went down the drain during a three-hour purge. No one seemed able to answer our question. So we called the fire fighters.
Sullivan, 46, is facing a murder charge for allegedly knifing fellow San Franciscan William Quinn, 40, shortly before 2 a.m. Monday in the Cadillac Market on Hyde and Eddy. With enhancements for using a deadly weapon, Sullivan is facing a term of 26 years to life, if convicted.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 6:30 AM
Gavin Newsom -- all alone
At tomorrow's Rules Committee meeting, a measure will come up for debate about how city officials should be mandated to reimburse the city for security costs when they travel out of town. Gavin Newsom's name isn't mentioned in this bit of Ross Mirkarimi legislation -- fittingly, Newsom is out of town -- but, then, his name is all over it.
Mirkarimi has long chided the mayor for refusing to reveal his security costs -- as do other mayors. The cops won't budge, either. They say to give away dollars-and-cents figures compromises the mayor's safety (Mad Wild Terrorist No. 1: "He spends only $300,000 on security costs!" Mad Wild Terrorist No. 2: "He is a dead man. A dead man, I say!").
So, along with Supervisors David Campos, John Avalos, and Chris Daly, Mirkarimi has introduced what my colleague Benjamin Wachs has christened "Gavin's Law." And while the sight of Newsom perambulating around City Hall is something of a rarity -- and the notion of him wandering by himself nearly unthinkable -- a recent trip to City Hall resembled a petting zoo. But with supes substituting for goats and lambs.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 5:30 AM
Ideally, when you stare into your new bride's eyes, you may not be thinking it but you will be feeling it: I love thee, I love but thee;
with a love that shall not die; till the sun grows cold
and the stars grow old. That's Shakespeare. He was good.
You never think that things will go so badly you'll have to call the police and they'll file a report and send it out on a newsletter to journalists. And yet -- it happens.
On Sunday morning at not quite 7 a.m., a Visitacion Valley man "awoke to the sound of his ex-wife yelling outside his house." That's a terrible thought right there, but it got worse.
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.'"
