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UPDATE: Westbound Lanes of the Masonic Tunnel Closed Temporarily

Brock Keeling — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:11:44 GMT

According to AlertSF, "Be advised, the westbound lanes of the Masonic Tunnel on Geary Avenue have been closed temporarily. Timetable for re-opening unknown." Will update as soon as we know more. Plan your ride home accordingly. (Sent to SFist at 3:56 p.m., 8/6) Update: All lanes are now open.

Jazz at Pearl's Sings the Blues

Brock Keeling — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:15:05 GMT

We see that Jazz at Pearl's--singer Kim Nalley's nightclub devoted to the dead sound of jazz, noted by both the Chron and the New York Times as one the best blues venues--is closing. Again. (It closed shop four years ago only to re-open later...and then close again.)

Miss Nalley is a sweet songstress, and the club was a comfy and quiet place to go on a cold weeknight, so this is sad news for the SF nightlife scene. Her letter about the news, which we found over at All Shook Down, is equally depressing:

Greetings,
It has become clear that despite my best efforts I will be unable to gain sole ownership of Pearl's and the lease. Jazz at Pearl's will close at the end of April.

While it is in human nature to blame someone or something for this tragedy, I would prefer to direct everyone's attention instead to the wonderful run that we have had, the staff of Jazz at Pearl's whose hard work and loyalty helped keep the club doors open, the great musicians and patrons that have stepped through the door and everyone that helped make this venue wonderful.

SF Zoo Emergency Procedures Not Followed, Says the Chron

Brock Keeling — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:01:27 GMT

Uh oh.

According to the cats over at the Chron, an "18-page 'Emergency Procedures' manual, written in 2006, spells out what zookeepers, guards and even the receptionist in the main office are supposed to do if a 'Siberian tiger is out of its enclosure' or any other dangerous animal escapes." (It's always the receptionist's fault, isn't it? The fall guys of the modern world, really.)

Basically, such emergency procedures as a "Code One" call, a shooting team, and a veterinary staff that is supposed to "' gather chemical immobilization equipment in preparation for anesthetizing the animal'" were not followed on Christmas Day's fatal tiger attack.

The Chron also goes on to report that some SF Zoo visitors claim that "that they were inside the zoo at the time, unaware that a tiger was loose until after the animal was dead." And that the most closely followed course of action was the one in which all "zoo custodians, handymen and popcorn vendors ... 'remain inside (and) close the door.'"

SF Zoo Closed Tomorrow. Again.

Brock Keeling — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:44:21 GMT

The San Francisco Zoo will remain closed on Friday, December 28, 2007.
Please visit www.sfzoo.org for information as to when the Zoo will reopen to the public.

According to their site, the zoo claims to be closed "out of respect for the victims of Tuesday's incidents," although we imagine that their reverence for said tiger attack victims has waned considerably. Just saying. In all reality, the continued closure is most likely due to the ongoing investigation as to how Tatiana escaped her pen and went on a fatal beatdown.

Or, perhaps, they need to get to fixing their too-short tiger grotto wall. Oops.

SF Zoo to Remain Closed Tomorrow, December 27

Brock Keeling — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 18:08:43 GMT

Just like the headline says, folks. The SF Zoo will stay shut tomorrow, Thursday, December 27. (And we promise you some tiger-free news shortly. We've run this so far into the ground, it's in China by now.) Getting all-cappy on us, SF Zoo's site shouts out:

THE ZOO IS CLOSED THURSDAY, 12/27, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS OF TUESDAY'S INCIDENTS, AND WHILE A PUBLIC INVESTIGATION CONTINUES. WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE ZOO WILL BE OPEN FRIDAY, 12/28, BUT PLEASE CHECK THIS WEB SITE FOR UPDATES.

So, animal lovers and the morbidly curious will, presumably, have to wait until Friday to get into the zoo. Yeah. And, like, we feel bad for everyone in this situation: Carlos' family, the brothers, Tony, the good folks over at SF Zoo, Father Christmas, boxes of Frosted Flakes...

Sigh.

Day Around the Bay

Brock Keeling — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:34:12 GMT

-- Fallout from yesterday's tiger-ian death of 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. continues. [CBS 5, SFGate, Spotswood, FCJ, SF MetBlog, Peta (cuckoo!)]

-- We simply refuse to believe that One Rincon Hill is anything less than perfect. But? Alas. [Curbed]

-- Search for Alameda boater suspended. [ABC 7]

-- West Oakland shooting victim identified. [Oakland Tribune]

-- Buy! Buy! Buy! [SF Gate]

-- Where to tango dance in SF. [Gridskipper]

-- Did you know that Mark Robinson, senior editor at Wired, doubles as a jazz singer? Sultry. [ValleyWag]

SF Zoo's Official Statement Released

Brock Keeling — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:00:05 GMT

(Why, yes, we do plan on running this into the ground. Thank you for asking.)

SF Zoo just released an official statement about yesterday's attack, expressing their "deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the victim killed in the December 25, 2007." They also mention that it "is anticipated that the Zoo will reopen tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For information please visit www.sfzoo.org."

While this fatal and accidental meeting of man and beast is devastating, we can only hope -- guiltily, of course -- that yesterday's tiger attack results in an appearance by four-on-the-floor Neda Ruiz on behalf of Tatiana. Really, no fatal mauling story would be complete without her.

Anyway, check out the SF Zoo's full statement after the jump.

Update: The SF zoo will remain closed tomorrow, December 27.

Update: Fatal Bay Bridge Accident Inconveniences Westbound Traffic

Brock Keeling — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:29:13 GMT

Update: all lanes are now open. It seems that "a box truck, from a business called 'Diet to Go'...drove directly into the back of the big rig," killing the box truck driver. Very sad. Sigh.

According to SFGate, "three lanes of the upper deck of the Bay Bridge are blocked by a fatal accident, the California Highway Patrol says."

Did you hear that? How awful. Just terrible. Three whole lanes of traffic have closed down! Unbelievable.

Anyway, after the deadly accident happened around 1:15 p.m. this afternoon, the number 3, 4 and 5 lanes have closed east of Yerba Buena Island, according to the Oakland Tribune. We'll update with info on the accident victim, accident when we know more.

PS, since we don't drive (well) and rarely visit the other side using the bridge, are drivers really speeding that fast on the bridge to cause so many fatalities?