North Beach Classic: A Local’s Review Of Sotto Mare April 27, 2018 I’m a food guy, and as anyone in my orbit can attest, this is nothing new. I’ve always been this way, largely due to my Italian grandmother’s influence. For Grandma, food was the primary activity; when I was growing up, … Read the rest
Zaycoven Henderson, Pro Day & Johnny Manziel: Texas A&M Fumbles The Ball April 23, 2018 As a sports fan, like many of us I’ve got a natural aversion to the persistent taint of corruption in the leagues. This springs from my belief that in athletic competition, of all things, basic fairness should never be in … Read the rest
Respect The Craft: Suiting Up At Al’s Attire April 5, 2018 In North Beach, a neighborhood that makes dressing down an art form, bespoke fashion might sound like a nonstarter. But for Al Ribaya, custom clothing has proven to be anything but. Al’s Attire, the shop the clothier opened on … Read the rest
Pho Gough Brings Sacramento Noodlers To Cow Hollow April 1, 2018 In a neighborhood that has seen more than its share of restaurant closings recently, there’s a new noodle house on the horizon: Pho Gough. Due to open in Cow Hollow this Friday, the restaurant is the first San Francisco … Read the rest
Pick A Pair Of Pretty Packards: Local Restaurateur Makes Lucky Find March 20, 2018 I understand collectors. My mother was a collector, but she had her own name for it: she called herself a “picker.” What this meant for me as a child was a lot of time spent at garage sales, estate sales, … Read the rest
St. Patrick’s Child: One Bartender’s Crooked Path To Tupelo March 18, 2018 As an enclave that has always been chockablock with bars, North Beach is, not surprisingly, a place where bartenders are held in high esteem. The neighborhood’s barkeeps have an outsized place in our hearts and in our history, as should … Read the rest
Steve Kerr & Family Pay Visit To Al’s Attire March 8, 2018 Here in North Beach, we see our fair share of celebrities, as one would expect: this is where everyone wants to be these days. But like most San Franciscans, here in the Beach we tend to play it cool in … Read the rest
Rigatoni Della Fattoria: A Baked Pasta For Everyone March 6, 2018 In the event this is your first visit to the blog, allow me to acquaint you with one of my salient features: I love food. I’ll qualify that for you: As a writer and (sometimes) musician, I understand the difference … Read the rest
Limited Time: Dazzle Bar Pop-Up Breezes Into North Beach Tomorrow February 28, 2018 Everyone is different, but we’ve all got rituals when it comes to looking our very best. Whether it’s a straight-razor shave, a shoeshine or getting your curls blown out, its always good to know we’ve got these things in our … Read the rest
George Chen’s Chinatown: A Walk With The Owner Of SF’s China Live February 14, 2018 It all started with a phone call last Tuesday morning. It wasn’t a number I recognized, but I picked up anyway. “Joe? George Chen.” A pleasant surprise: I had reviewed Chen’s genre-redefining restaurant China Live in September, and spoken to … Read the rest