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.
For someone who lives in the downtown corridor — all right, the Tenderloin — the idea of going to Ocean Beach for pizza is rife with potential pratfalls: high Uber fares, lengthy Muni trips, ever-present fog, jet lag.
So you went out last Saturday night and wore those new dark-wash, skinny leg jeans that you just bought despite the fact that it's the end of the month and you should be saving that money for your rent check.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 5:30 PM
It may not be easy being green. But it was very easy for San Francisco's Democratic Party to give the official thumbs-up to a state proposition that would legalize the green.
Proposition 19, aka Tax Cannabis 2010, won an overwhelming endorsement after San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee president Aaron Peskin told voters to raise their hand and "raise 'em high." Tracked down today, Peskin says this was the vote San Francisco values dictated.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 4:59 PM
'Judge Walker is not a dummy...'
Judge Vaughn Walker's decision today to officially overturn Proposition 8 -- but stay that action until next week -- left a lot of same-sex couples statewide feeling like the rug had been pulled out from under them.
PostedByPeter Jamison
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 4:19 PM
A resident of San Francisco's Kean Motel was acquitted yesterday on charges that he forced his way into a neighbor's room, ate his Snickers bar, sprayed him with air freshener, and threatened to urinate on him.
Prosecutors said Willie Smith, 42, pushed his way into the room of a 73-year-old neighbor, Gordon Gantz. After allegedly slapping Gantz in the face and demanding money, Smith began eating a Snickers bar he found in Gantz' apartment. He then sprayed him with air freshener and threatened to urinate on him, Gantz told police.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 1:39 PM
Joe Eskenazi
It's uncertain when Rod Wood and Roger Hunt will use these wedding rings.
No guarantee same-sex couples can wed next week, when Prop. 8 is officially overturned
For 10 whole minutes, Thom Watson was a happy man.
The 30-odd same-sex couples crammed into a balmy corridor of City Hall awaiting the word on whether Judge Vaughn Walker would give them his legal blessing to be married that day erupted into screaming, hugging, crying pandemonium when it was announced that Walker had lifted the stay on his ruling overturning Proposition 8. Watson described the feeling as "complete joy." He could have been speaking for everyone.
Ignorance truly is bliss -- and there was no shortage of bliss in this building. But it'll have to wait until next week. Or, perhaps, forever. No one ever had a chance of getting married today.
PostedByWill Harper
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Thom Watson and Jeff Tobaco in their matching suits.
Rod Wood and Roger Hunt, ready to wed.
UPDATE (12:45 pm): Hold everything. Now we're told that the judge's ruling doesn't go into effect until Aug. 18. There's a press conference being held now to explain the ramifications of the latest decision. We'll update you when we know more.
UPDATE (12:30 pm): US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has declined to stay his ruling overturning Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiated that banned gay marriage in California. That means same-sex couples who went to City Hall today will be able to wed could be able to wed next week.
The announcement was met with cheers, hugs, and tears.
"My initial reaction ... was complete joy," said Thom Watson, who was in line to marry his partner, Jeff Tabaco. "I don't even want to think about what's next. We're getting married. But the fight is still raging, not just here, but all over the United States. We don't want to take this for granted."
Coverage From Earlier Today:
Same-sex couples gathered at San Francisco City Hall this morning hoping to get hitched, but prepared to go home without a marriage certificate. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker is expected to announce whether he will stay his ruling overturning Prop. 8 before noon today.
The miraculous return of Jack Daniels, the bi-coastal, visually impaired kitty has brought plenty of press attention to the San Francisco's SPCA. Adoption applications for Jack Daniels -- who was abducted from San Francisco last year, then identified by a microchip in Harlem last week -- have been flying in. It's got policy-makers at the non-profit animal rescue thinking.
Thanks to the spring being kitten season, and the crappy economy that's left some former house pets to fend for themselves, the SPCA has a cat glut. "It's the perfect cat storm," said SPCA communications manager, Jennifer Lu.
PostedByPeter Jamison
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Coming to San Francisco: Ernest Hemingway
San Francisco will be the backdrop for an original HBO movie that chronicles the romance between Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn, officials at the mayor's office and San Francisco Film Commission announced today.
The film, Hemingway & Gellhorn, stars Clive Owen and Nicole Kidman in the title roles. It narrates the world travels of "Papa" with Gellhorn, a journalist with whom he enjoyed a turbulent courtship and marriage later in life.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 8:05 AM
A 26-year-old man fell to his death from the roof of a four-story apartment on the 2100 block of Bush Street in what police believe may have been a drunken mishap.
Jordan Anderson apparently stepped backwards off the side of the building at Bush and Fillmore while hanging out on the roof with a group. "He appeared to be intoxicated," said police spokesman Sergeant Troy Dangerfield.
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.'"
