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.
More than 30 years after she fronted the Avengers — regarded by many as the best of San Francisco's early crop of punk bands — Penelope Houston is couching her lyrical razor blades in much prettier, softer music.
PostedByMatt Smith
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Racial Injustice at Juvie Hall?
Asian and Pacific Islander employees of the city's Juvenile Probation Department filed a class-action lawsuit complaining of a pattern of racial discrimination. The suit, which the employees filed last week without representation by an attorney, claims that hiring, promotion, and employee discipline at the department is guided by an unspoken system of racial preferences that puts Asians and Pacific Islanders at the bottom.
"We're trying to secure an attorney right now," said Alfred Lam, a Juvenile Hall counselor and one of the plaintiffs. "Once we get the attorney, we can give you more information. But the complaint speaks very clearly."
PostedByLauren Smiley
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 5:15 PM
With confidentiality laws, hospitals are usually loathe to hand out identifying information about patients.
Yet today, General Hospital is actually giving out all sorts of identifying information about a pint-sized unknown patient in critical condition who is unable to identify herself. Actually hospital officials are even circulating a rather disturbing picture of her in hopes that someone will come forward with some information about her. (Warning: photo after jump.)
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Locals long ago wrote off the dueling "Free Johannes Mehslerle" and "Justice for Oscar Grant" boats in McCovey Cove as part of what makes San Francisco San Francisco.
Yet national audiences watching today's Phillies-Giants contest in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series were likely confused by the massive Mehserle banner hogging the screen during the seventh-inning stretch.
PostedByPeter Jamison
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 3:30 PM
It's not unusual for news organizations to be accused of bias or political agendas in their coverage. But seldom do professional journalists find themselves in the position of actively helping specific political campaigns recruit volunteers in the run-up to a hotly contested election.
Yet according to some accounts, that's exactly what The Bay Citizen, a nonprofit, online newspaper that reports on the Bay Area in conjunction with The New York Times, will be doing this evening at The Chieftain, an Irish-themed pub on Fifth Street. The event will feature drink specials, pub trivia in which contestants can challenge The Bay Citizen's lead editor and reporters -- and an active volunteer drive conducted by the San Francisco Young Democrats on behalf of three specific candidates in races for the Board of Supervisors.
Certainly, many longtime baseball fans were reminded of little-known Atlanta infielder Mark Lemke's monster postseasons in 1991 and 1992 (though Ross is a better hitter than Lemke with far more power).
Another major difference between 1992 and today: Countless Twitter-users can now wax philosophically on all things Cody Ross in real time:
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 1:59 PM
San Francisco manages to land on ever so many Top-10 lists; if ever a Top-10 list was assembled of cities that crack the most Top-10 lists, it's a good bet we'd make the Top-10.
Our calls to the site and its marketing people have not yet been returned. Here, by the way, are the locales deigned pet-friendlier than San Francisco:
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 1:25 PM
The pregame flyover jets rattled Mission Bay, heroes of the 2002 World Series team -- including one Barry Lamar Bonds -- tossed out ceremonial first pitches, and Matt Cain has just retired the side in order.
It's day baseball -- and much of San Francisco will either not work, half-ass it at work, or otherwise deplete the city's productivity.
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 11:59 AM
An apparent Chevron ad campaign decrying the oil giant's years of polluting Third World locales and pledging to change its ways was the spitting image of the real thing. But Scrooge-like changes of heart are only for the movies. The San Ramon-based oil giant has, in fact, launched a touchy-feely ad campaign based on the theme "We agree." But It turns out the most provocative parts of the "We Agree" campaign were a clever hoax that fooled a number of media outlets.
Chevron is the latest target of The Yes Men, a group of "corporate raiders" who shame businesses via pranks of this sort. Here's how it works:
PostedByJoe Eskenazi
on Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 8:30 AM
Ashkon Davaran hasn't stopped believing
Make no mistake about it, Ashkon Davaran is enjoying his time as an internet celebrity. But he's not enjoying it nearly as much as what put him there: an extended San Francisco Giants playoff ride.
The Bay Area-born actor and musician's Giants-themed takeoff of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" has clocked just shy of 700,000 YouTube hits. Calls are coming in from possible movers and shakers, he'll be on KNBR radio today, and, perhaps, he'll even be working with the Giants -- if the team's postseason run continues. All in all, good times for a long-suffering Giants fan.
"If you were to ask me how George Weber would go, I would not say he'd
be murdered in his apartment by a 16-year-old," said a shell-shocked
Claudia Lamb, a KGO producer who knew Weber since her "first day in
radio" in 1989. "If you asked me, I always thought the cigarettes would
have gotten him."
The trial of that teenager, John Katehis, started yesterday in New York. And his lawyers claimed he was only trying to pick up $60 moving boxes -- not answering a sex fetish-for-money ad.
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.'"
