Photograph of investigation at Times Square recruiting center by kerfuffle & zeitgeist on Flickr Gothamist found that an explosive set off outside the Times Square army recruiting center may be similar to five past bombings in New York City.Seattlest worried when severed right feet and bottles of rat poison started washing up on local beaches.Shanghaiist was surprised by Bjork's rooting for Tibetan independence at her concert (see video), and the political fallout has only......

Leaving a label and starting a new one (with her new husband), Charlotte Martin finally has the musical freedom she has craved. Since her last release, On Your Shore (2004), Martin left RCA Records and created Dinosaur Fight Records with co-producer and husband, Ken Andrews. With this newfound freedom Martin has released two EP's, Darkest Hours and Veins and her latest full-length album, Stromata. Critics have lauded her latest efforts saying, "Stromata follows adventurous suit...reveling......

Queer rights groups freaked out, threw a tizzy (understandably), and nixed their support for a workplace discrimination civil rights bill "after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., pulled transgender people from the legislation that would protect gays and lesbians from workplace discrimination." And since nothing says action like an angry missive or online petition, a letter signed by gay groups was sent to Congress yesterday demanding them to......

You'll have to keep borrowing free wi-fi from cafes and the unsecured accounts of your neighbors for now -- Earthlink's backed out of the public-private free wifi deal with San Francisco because of its recent financial woes. Gavin Newsom says he's committed to finding another private company to set up the whole system, and blames the Board of Supervisors for the deal falling through because they wanted more information before approving the agreement; the Board......

A photo of the Barry Bond public celebration ...

" . . . and with the 18th pick, the Golden State Warriors take . . . Marco Belinelli."

Uhhh, come again?

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 67. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize: 4 (including Molly Sims and her BFF Jennifer Siebel.) Minority count: 4 (5.8%). Getty v. Traina: 1-0 (counting Gavin's sister as a Getty) Number of countries visited by Denise Hale to celebrate her April birthday: 3 (India, Serbia, Italy). The age of children being compared to "a natural phenomenon where a river comes in and......

Number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 55. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 2 -- Charlotte Maillard Shultz and a way-too-skinny-looking Vanessa Getty. Minority count: 6 (10.9%). Getty v. Traina: 1-7. Big ups to C.Big for the comparison of the Steel-Traina family to the von Trapps! So long, farewell, auf wiedersein, good night. Number of hot dog hats pictured: 1, and it rocks. Days until the Barneys SF opens: 107......

SFist Rita is out of town for work, so we are donning our tiara and gown for this weeks Swells analysis. Tra-la-la! Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 57. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize/know: 23. This high number is because of the SF Library event with lots of writers, including Amy Tan, Vendela Vida, Dave Eggers, Stephen Elliot, Ben Fong-Torres, Michael Lewis, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Sam Barry,......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 65. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize: 9 (including George Shultz, Dianne Feinstein's husband, and Spike Lee). Minority count: 6 (9.2%). Getty v. Traina: 2-2. Gavin holds down the fort for both points scored by Team Getty. Years between visits with Queen Elizabeth for Charlotte Maillard Shultz: 24. "She absolutely radiates like a queen," Ms. Maillard Shultz raves to Swells. Percentage of......

(A little late, because we're fixing our servers around here today.) Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 70. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 8 (including Charlotte Maillard Shultz, Stephan Jenkins, and a certain precious Bumblebee!) Minority count: 7 (10%). Getty v. Traina: 1-3, with Gettys represented by Swells stalwart Gavin Newsom. Bumblebee sightings: 2! Ms. Jennifer Siebel attended a benefit party/auction for Tipping Point, and will also be......

It's been forty-nine years of great cinema for the SF International Film Festival (SFIFF), and starting April 26 through May 10 2007, it'll be fifty! To celebrate their gold anniversary, the SFIFF is not only presenting the always-dazzling film festival itself, but hosting a huge array of events as well: from tributes to Spike Lee (and a screening of When The Levees Broke), and awards to locals George Lucas and Robin Williams, an address about......

We're back from vacation! Number of heartfelt thank yous from us!: One! Thanks, SFist Mary, for covering for us last week! We're bummed we missed the Vanessa Prada turban, though. Number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 57. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 8 (including one awesome picture by C.Big of George Shultz with Naomi Campbell. It's probably too much to hope for that Naomi Campbell swatted the tiger tattoo......

Editrix Rita is globe trotting, so we donned our tiara, cape, and jewels to fill in this week. Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 78. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize in the pictures: 25 (including George Schultz, Swells standby Charlotte Maillard Schultz, Vanessa Getty, Kamala Harris, Heather Fong, Lars Ulrich and Connie Nielsen.) Our college pal Katherine Calvert and her husband Gray were mentioned in print, too.......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 56. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 4 (including Ben Fong-Torres and Mark Fainaru-Wada). Minority count: 11 (19.6%, mostly jazz musicians). Hats, capes, tiaras: 6 (4 fezzes, as requested by the SF Jazz party), 0, 0. Getty v. Traina: 3-0. SFist staffer count!: 1! Whoooo SFist Mary! Stanlee Gatti count: 2 -- one in the text and one in the pictured (Gatti pictured......

Orange Photography just posted these pictures of Gavin putting on a green tie for the Irish National Day Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall. We love how he goes back to his preppy, frat boy roots by popping his collar. (FYI Gavin: Popping your collar is so 2004.) ...

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 58. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 12. (There's a big party for the Legion of Honor's "Masterpieces of French Jewelry" show with all the Swells A names, along with Ross Mirkarimi and a bunch of Asian-Americans at a party for Norm Mineta.) Minority count: 24.1% (14). Getty v. Traina: 3-4 (not counting multiple mentions. Counting every mention, it's 11-8, with Dede and......

If you were born after 1994 you have no idea what it's like. If you're a long-time fan, you might have a hazy, vague recollection of it. If you come from places like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Miami, you desperately miss it. We're talking a big game -- more specifically, a Warriors big game. An important game. A game that means something besides wrapping up a Lottery pick or nudging out Seattle or Memphis for the 11th overall spot in the Western Conference.

Tonight the Warriors play the Indiana Pacers in their biggest, most important game of this season or possibly the last 10 seasons. If the Dubs win, their slight hopes for the last playoff spot in the WC remain on life support; if they lose, consider the plug pulled on yet another failed season.

-The Warriors lost to the Charlotte Bobcats last night, 98-90. You can't really get too upset about the game as the Warriors are on the longest road trip of the season and played a game in Philly the night before. Most teams in that situation would lose. Not so good is that they are 1-3 on this road trip. -Sharks beat up on the Blackhawks 4-2. They're still having problems with their power play (0-6)......

Hip, hip, HOORAY! Hip, hip, HOORAY! Catherine Bigelow, the Chron society columnist, is back from vacation, and here with a special report on Wednesday night's SF Ballet Opening Gala! Number of people pictured: 24. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 3 (the Shultzes and Jerry Yang, though we did also recognize Angelique Griepp's Oscar de la Renta dress from SFMike's blog). Minority count: 3 (12.5%). Getty v. Traina: Too bad Gavin's in Davos this......

Some group out there with the name NewTithing Group got their hands on some 2004 tax returns, crunched some numbers, and determined that our rich people ain't that giving. In fact, LA's rich people totaly kicks our rich people's asses when it comes to giving, like twice as much. And we all know how much it hurts when LA kicks our asses in anything....

Fist Rita is on a well-deserved holiday break so we apologize ahead of time for this week's suckage. Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 48...

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 67. Number of people pictured whose names we recognize: 8 (Trainas, Gettys, and figures in local politics only, including on-the-way-out Steve Kawa). Minority count: 4 (6%). Hats, capes, tiaras: 0, 0, 0 (but Gavin's hair looks a little funny). Getty v. Traina: 6-12. It's Dede Wilsey's Christmas party, that's why!!! Dede had laryngitis but wore Chanel and had the best hors d'oeuvres in town......

First the heartwarming - George Mark Children’s House and UCSF Children’s Hospital present a sneak preview screening of the live-action remake of Charlotte's Web at the Loews Metreon Theater (4th and Mission). The screening benefits GMCH and UCSF, each of which offer unique contributions to the continuum of care for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The remake of Charlotte’s Web features an all-star cast including Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Kathy Bates, Robert Redford......

We missed you last week, Swells! Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 59. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize: 8 (including Tracy Chapman, Dianne Feinstein, and... hey! Welcome back, Charlotte Maillard Shultz!) Minority count: 3 (5%). Getty v. Traina: 3-1. Al Wilsey is counted as a Traina. Hats, capes, tiaras: 0, 0, 0. Stanlee Gatti count: 2. The number of square feet that Dianne Feinstein says former Petaluma......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 54. Number of people pictured whom we recognize: 8. We are now conceding that we probably don't "recognize" any of the Gettys or Trainas (except Gavin, who does not appear this week). Minority count: 10 (18.5%). Getty v. Traina: 7-10. Hats, capes, tiaras: 6, 0, 1. We've classified Cynthia Bowman's halo as a tiara. Stanlee Gatti count: 1. (in a forthcoming W Magazine spread.)......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 59. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize: 6, though we must confess that if it didn't say "former mayor" in front of Art Agnos's name, we probably wouldn't recognize it. Minority count: 2 (approximately 3%). Getty v. Traina: 2-3. Hats, capes, tiaras: 1, 0, 0. Ranking of this week's benefit parties, from most money raised to least: San Francisco Parks Trust ($275K),......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 73. Total number of people pictured whom we recognize: 11. Minority count: 11. Not the same 11 whom we recognized. (15.3%) Getty v. Traina: 6-1. Some Gettys went to two parties. Hats, capes, tiaras: 2, 1, 0. This doesn't count the mention of Brittanie Mountz in a newsboy cap, accompanying Gavin to Denise Hale's Ritz-Carlton party. Number of times Brittanie was caught drinking: 0.......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 51. Number of people pictured whose names we recognize: 2 (Susie Tompkins Buell and Mollie Stone). Minority count: 4 (approximately 8%). Getty v. Traina: 1-0 (Newsom scores for Team Getty). Hats, capes, tiaras: 2, 0, 0. Amount bid by Susie Tompkins Buell on behalf of the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy Trails benefit auction for dinner with caterer Paula LeDuc at Fort Point, causing......

Total number of people pictured in this week's Swells society column: 61. Number of people pictured whose names we recognize: 8 (including 2 mayors (Gavin twice) and Manolo Blahnik). Minority count: 6 (approx. 10%). Hats, capes, tiaras: 2, 0, 0. Getty v. Traina: 3-0 (all Newsoms). Gavin -- gelled vs. non-gelled: 1-1 (plus a non-gelled picture in Matier and Ross). Number of mohawks: 1. Number of trumpets: 1. Number of Wilkes Bashford stores in the......