Michael O'Connor--Running for Supervisor of District 5... [continue]

Well no, not really. However, according to SmartsCo's new SexSmarts game we are. San Francisco-based SmartsCo, founded in 2002 by Jennifer Elias and Julie Tucker, has created informative, fun games about wine, food, chocolate -- and now sex. SexSmarts consists of having players or teams answer questions having to do with all areas of sexual pleasure. The cards used fall into one of four categories -- Bodies, Dirty Talk, Carnal Culture, and Wild Card. The... [continue]

Well, the Pixies have reunited, and are in town for three weekend shows at UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre. The Friday and Saturday nights shows are sold out. Tickets do remain for the Sunday afternoon show, and are available through Ticketmaster. Have fun everyone!... [continue]

SFist feels promoting is something everyone should be involved with. Yes, we read alot, but we wanted to do more than that. So, we became a volunteer.... [continue]

Last week, Chris Brennan posted an Internet warning regarding Kryptonite bike locks.... [continue]

In Defense of Animals, an animal rescue and advocacy organization based in Mill Valley, issued a news release on its website yesterday regarding our own UCSF.... [continue]

It looks like San Francisco middle schools will be getting more full-time armed campus cops, courtesy of a $4 million federal grant awarded to SF last week.... [continue]

A federal retrial began in San Francisco today over police use of pepper spray on nonviolent demonstrators.... [continue]

Tiny Nibbles is a blog dedicated to sex education, and the goings on of one Ms. Violet Blue.... [continue]

EssEffist is always looking for an excuse to laugh.... [continue]

SFist has been seen wandering the wine aisles at our Trader Joe's many a day and night. We mainly shop for wine by price - not for what may be added to the wines we drink. Not for long! The newly passed Food Allergen Labeling Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) will mandate clear and consistent labeling of foods containing known allergens, starting in 2006. Since we are on our way to Napa this weekend, we found... [continue]

SFist has always been interested in the whole world of 'zines. We have worked in the publishing industry, and are fascinated with the idea of do-it-yourself (DIY) publishing. All you need is an opinion, some creativity, and there you go! Cellspace, located at 2050 Bryant Street, is hosting San Francisco Zinefest 2004 this Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free to the general public from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. If you wish to exhibit your... [continue]

The Curiosa Festival rolled into our very own SBC Park on Saturday. We were originally horrified at the choice of venue. Um, death rock and Barry Bonds? However, upon entry to the stadium, we realized that two stages (a small one for lesser known acts and a large stage for the others) were placed at second and third base. The festival purposefully did not sell seats behind the stages, or in the highest nosebleed sections. This allowed for a much more intimate feeling in what could have been just another big arena show. The Cure wasn't set to appear until 9:00 p.m., which left plenty of time for the other acts to wow us. We missed the first act on the small stage, Scarling. However, we did arrive in time for Mogwai on the large stage. We were pretty impressed by these Scots (and the accent never hurts!). Their lush instrumentals would have been better served under a clear, dark sky. However, we made a mental note to drop by Amoeba as soon as possible. Head Automatica, dressed in retro pink and black suits, did a great job of keeping the crowd going after Mogwai. Each band on the second stage played for exactly a half-hour sandwiched between the more known bands. We loved how each group made the most of their half-hour by not wasting any time between songs. Why can't more shows be like that? New York's The Rapture made obvious the definite 80's feel to all of the bands - a tribute to The Cure's far-reaching influence on today's artists. The Rapture definitely had that NY art-school vibe. Next, the The Cooper Temple Clause was up on the second stage. The one thing that we noticed about this band was the lead singer would pretty much stand in one place and sing, though his deep voice was haunting. Finally, one of the bands we had been intent on seeing came on - Interpol. Their 2002 debut, Turn on the Bright Lights, sucked me in right away. The vocals of Paul Banks have been heavily compared to that of Joy Division's Ian Curtis. It's not a comparison to be taken lightly. They ripped through their set, interspersing some new songs from their upcoming disc. We were so very happy. Next up was Cursive on the second stage. Two things we noticed about this band: one, they play an upright bass and two, the lead singer sounds like Bobcat Goldthwait. This provided endless amounts of laughter from our cohorts at the show. Cursive played their hearts out. We just couldn't get the Bobcat reference out of our heads. Then, it was time for The Cure. We had never had the opportunity to see them, or Robert Smith's infamous hairdo, live. They came roaring out with Plainsong from their Disintegration album. We can't begin explain how amazing it was to be under the full moon, listening to the soundscapes of their music, and watching the beautiful light show. Such perfection. The show only intensified with oldies such as "Shake Dog Shake", "A Night Like This", "Inbetween days", "Lovesong", "Pictures of You", and "Disintegration". People danced in the aisles to their favorites, dispelling the myth that Cure fans are all gloom and doom. We were so happy to hear songs from our favorite Cure album, Pornography--"The Figurehead", "A Strange Day", and "One Hundred Years". Robert's wailing voice came pouring out of the lights as an entity all its own. Songs from their new album, The Cure, were played as well--"Us or Them", "Before Three", 'End of the World", and "Alt.End". Apparently, SBC Park has an 11:00 p.m. curfew; the band couldn't play one of their epic three-hour shows. They ended with one upbeat encore which included "Close to Me", "The Lovecats", "Let's Go to Bed", and "Why Can't I Be You?" All in all, we'd say the Curiosa Festival was a success. We just can't wait till the next one!... [continue]

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The city of Bunol, Spain hosted its annual Tomatina festival on Wednesday. 20,000 drunken participants wore goggles {insert beer goggle joke here} in preparation for the onslaught of 130 flying tons of tomatoes. The festival started in 1944, when Dr. Paco Garces Sanchez and some friends tried to throw tomatoes into the trumpet of a passing musician. The following year they threw the tomatoes at balloons launched for Bunol's town fiesta. The year after that... [continue]

Just when SFist thinks they have seen it all, something else crazier shows up. Keeping with our recent cat theme, "Cat Man" is a man who actually believes his ancestors are cats; he would like to look as similar to a tiger as possible. Cat Man has spent 20 years "becoming" a cat, and has spent over $200,000 to become one. Wow. That's ALOT of plastic surgery including eyebrow implants, silicone injections, tattoos, ear... [continue]

The indelible "Polly Jean Harvey" rocked "the Great American Music Hall" Thursday night. The sold-out show was a must see for PJ fans, who have only dreamt of seeing her in such a small and intimate setting--and with no opening act! Ms. Polly arrived onstage in a bright yellow dress (with her name embroidered on the back), and pink stillettos. The dress marked this burst of sunshine's entrance with rousing applause by the salivating... [continue]

SFist adores animals. In fact, if we could own 10 cats without the stigma of being "a crazy cat lady", we would. The San Francisco SPCA has a larger number of kittens than they normally do. So, the SF/SPCA is offering specials for potential parents, with the hopes of it helping some of the kitties. During August and September, qualified adopters who attend a free, one-hour "Kittengarden" class before they choose a kitten, will be... [continue]

San Francisco supervisors Tom Ammiano and Bevan Dufty have introduced a resolution urging the city attorney's office to draft legislation allowing domestic partnership status for those whose marriages were invalidated by the state Supreme Court on August 12. According to the County Clerk's office, domestic partnerships allow couples many legal, medical, and work benefits. They have also proposed the creation of a "marriage equality fund", where couples could donate their marriage license refunds. Those donations... [continue]

SFist first brought this story to you last week...Bay Area bridge costs are way over budget. We aren't talking a few hundred or thousand dollars here. The San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge is "reportedly" $2.54 billion over budget. Yesterday, Governor Schwarzenegger said the Bay Area is to blame for the Bay Bridge costs, and that residents should foot the bill. This doesn't include any state money, even though the bridge IS part of the interstate highway... [continue]