Fear and Loathing On the Force: The Problem With Our Police July 19, 2016 The recent police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge have raised the stakes in the national debate over police violence. I’ve been reluctant to write about this topic, because it seems like the moment you say anything remotely critical of … Read the rest
Venture Philanthropy: Harnessing Capital For Good July 18, 2016 The rise of social responsibility and its core principles has been transformative at every level of the business world, and lately it has been making noise in the world of venture capital. Case in point: Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK), … Read the rest
Losing Faith: The NBA, The DNC And Why It Matters July 7, 2016 Confidence. Faith. Trust. Whatever term you prefer, it is a prerequisite of all healthy economic and political systems: a belief in the integrity of the institutions that figure so largely in our modern lives. This sense of confidence is part … Read the rest
Vagabonds, Lunatics And Scoundrels in San Francisco History, Part 2 July 3, 2016 San Francisco loves all of its children – especially the eccentrics. To speak of our city without mention of the confidence men, embezzlers, reconstructed losers and spit-shined derelicts that populate its history is to somehow miss the point of why … Read the rest
A Conversation With Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe June 27, 2016 Situated on the busy corner of Union Street and Columbus Avenue in North Beach, Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe has been at the center of this historic San Francisco neighborhood since the early Seventies. Originally founded by Mario and Liliana … Read the rest
Orlando, Assault Weapons And The Mean World Syndrome June 15, 2016 We witnessed the worst mass shooting in United States history on Sunday morning, a bloodbath that took the lives of forty-nine victims at Pulse, Orlando’s most popular gay nightclub. A horrific crime, this tragic event has once again cast a … Read the rest
Brain Fag Syndrome, Or What Happens In Jerusalem Stays in Jerusalem June 12, 2016 We live in a deeply mysterious world. To be sure, one hears a lot about how much we know as a species; we are told that human knowledge is now doubling every thirteen months, and will soon double every twelve … Read the rest
Carol Doda: North Beach’s Most Famous Daughter June 7, 2016 In June of 1964, San Francisco was a play between acts. The Summer of Love had yet to descend upon our fair city; Kerouac, Ginsberg and the beats had already departed. Something was in the air, an unease deepened by … Read the rest
10 Things To Eat at Ferry Plaza Right Now May 31, 2016 As the preeminent culinary destination in America’s #1 food city, San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza sits at the center of the food universe. Essentially an upscale food mall, it has gone from an abandoned relic to some of the most expensive … Read the rest
Brick And Mortar History – The Bars Of North Beach, Part 1 May 24, 2016 As any seasoned traveler will tell you, San Francisco’s North Beach is one of America’s quintessential drinking neighborhoods. Sure, there’s some steep competition out there: The French Quarter of New Orleans, Key West, Williamsburg….the list goes tipsily on. But North … Read the rest