Che Cosa? What’s Happening At Sotto Mare July 23, 2020 | Joe Bonadio Regular visitors to North Beach were recently greeted with a confusing sight at the popular Sotto Mare on Green Street. To the befuddlement of many, a matching blue awning has been erected over the entrance of the former Pasta Pop-Up … Read the rest
North Beach’s Al’s Attire Reopens With A Flourish June 22, 2020 | Joe Bonadio After over three months under a mandated shelter-in-place order, San Franciscans are eager to get back to their normal lives. And it can’t happen quickly enough for Al Ribaya, who has operated North Beach’s Al’s Attire on Grant Avenue … Read the rest
Hallowed Space: Real Old Paper Returns In North Beach June 15, 2020 | Joe Bonadio After nearly three months of limping along on online sales and curbside pickup, San Francisco retail reopens today. Retailers are breathing a heavy sigh of relief, and judging by the numbers that came out over the weekend for newly-reinstated outdoor … Read the rest
Full Court Press: China Live Prepares For The Return June 11, 2020 | Joe Bonadio Serial restaurateur and founder/chef of San Francisco’s China Live, George Chen knows a few things about challenges. Back in 2017, when Chen and wife/cofounder Cindy were preparing to open their sprawling, ambitious Chinese marketplace and dining hall, opinions ranged … Read the rest
As Lockdown Drags On, Beloved North Beach Restaurants Return June 2, 2020 | Joe Bonadio Today marks the beginning of the eleventh week of lockdown here in San Francisco, and we’re all beginning to grow weary of it. The demonstrations and riots of the last week have only added another layer of frustration and pain … Read the rest
North Beach Restaurants Adapt As They Weather Covid Crisis April 28, 2020 | Joe Bonadio San Francisco loves its restaurants, and that’s no secret. Our eateries, from the grandest to the most humble, are a fundamental part of our lives, and have for decades been a cornerstone of our city’s identity. And seven weeks into … Read the rest
Virtual Tip Jar North Beach: Do Your Server A Solid March 25, 2020 | Joe Bonadio As San Franciscans wade into our second week of lockdown, like many of you I’ve been doing my best to stay as active and useful as possible. And being locally geared, I’ve been trying to support our small businesses here … Read the rest
Lockdown In SF: Protect Yourself, Protect Small Business March 23, 2020 | Joe Bonadio “May you live in interesting times.” -Chinese Proverb The transformation that we’ve undergone in San Francisco in the last 13 days has been jarring, to say the least. With the exception of those few blithe souls who believe they breathe … Read the rest
My Favorite Shirt, And Other Reasons You Should Visit Al’s Attire March 2, 2020 | Joe Bonadio As much as the neighborhood has changed, North Beach is still crowded with creative types. You can’t swing a dead cat in these parts without hitting a poet or a painter or a chef, or maybe knocking over someone’s guitar … Read the rest
The Salesian Club Crab Feed: North Beach’s Party Of The Year February 14, 2020 | Joe Bonadio If there is any one neighborhood in San Francisco known for its parties and celebrations, that neighborhood must be North Beach. Since the days of the Barbary Coast, this well-situated parcel of land has always been at the center of … Read the rest