You may not be into leather or the BDSM scene, but if you live in San Francisco you've probably breezed through Folsom Street Fair once or twice. Call it what you will, but it is the largest event of its kind in the world, and the third largest single-day outdoor event in California -- behind SF Gay Pride and maybe Long Beach Pride? (We think these numbers are hard to nail down, but suffice it to say the gays like to party outdoors.) more ›

Amdist threats of a crackdown on fun (and nudity, and lewd behavior), the fetishy gays and their fetishy friends gathered under an unseasonably warm sun on Folsom Street on Sunday for the annual Up Your Alley fair. It could be described as a dirtier, and gayer Folsom Street Fair, and this year's fair was no less dirty, and no less naked. But to the SFPD's credit, with the large crowd that gathered (estimated at 12,000), it was a lot harder to spot the exposed genitalia until it was too late. Here are a few pictures (several NSFW!), including a shot of our beloved State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano Senator Mark Leno in conversation with friends while wearing his trusty leather pants. more ›

Attention all gays and super-fetishy others: It's Up Your Alley (a.k.a. Dore Alley) fair weekend, and despite threats of a police crackdown on nudity, we're pretty sure it's going to be as sleazy as ever. Fair organizers have promised a three-tiered disciplinary system when it comes to exposed genitalia and the like: First, a warning; second, an escort out of the fair grounds and a discount pass to Blow Buddies; third, you're handed over to the SFPD. Because of the threat of losing their license for next year's event, organizers are likely to be pretty strict with this, but if things get crowded one can imagine the rules will be difficult to enforce. more ›

Defective Yeti came up with a handy clip 'n' save pamphlet for you to take to the polls. Easy and breezy. more ›

Well, well, well. Well. It turns out that after a recount and by a mere three votes, according to the scroll across the screen on during the People's Court, the new Vallejo Mayor is actually Osby Davis. The Folsom Street Fair-phobic Gary Cloutier, it seems, doesn't get the title. According to the CBS5 site,"[f]ollowing a recount, former Solano County supervisor Osby Davis has defeated Vice Mayor Gary Cloutier in the Vallejo mayoral race." Daivs... more ›

But that's the entire point! Anyway, RicardoSF tells us in the comments section here that: more ›

O! What we wouldn't give to attend this press screening in Washington DC tomorrow! DCist has the pleasure of reporting on the anti-invert, pro-missionary sex group called Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH). Tomorrow they will unveil "raw and unedited" footage that they shot during this year's Folsom Street Fair for the National Press Club. "Raw" footage, you say? Oh my. You may remember that there was a scant bit of controversy due to... more ›

Image: EFF more ›

Photo of the long long line of people standing around waiting to get their passports. Still more ›

Many who fear him/her/it -- that is to say, loathe media as a civic institution -- cry out for zombietime's head on a platter, because there's ample room for disagreement. Such pearls as "[r]eliable impartial statistics on this topic are simply impossible to come by" regarding homosexual reprogramming (the American Psychological Association has loads of research on the futility of such experiments), or that participants going to the fair "are agreeing to be 'visually raped'" (not much of a rape if it's consensual), turn heads but also make zombietime so much fun and such a fascinating read. more ›

Oh what's that you say? You enjoy the company of sweaty fisters, and you enjoy a spot of Earl Grey (hot)? Well today's your lucky day, and by "today" we mean "tomorrow." more ›

-- Magic Bullets: Along with Bonde do Role and JuiceBoxxx, this local outfit (heavy on the bass lines, rhythmic keyboards, and melancholic vocals) performs tonight at 9 p.m. at The Independent, 628 Divisadero; $13. more ›

Un-American group the Catholic League, the nation's largest Catholic civil rights sect, has called for a boycott of Miller Beer ever since The Last Supper got the parody treatment from the Folsom Street Fair folks. more ›

Closeted homosexual Journalist Randy Hall of Cybercast News Service got his feathers all ruffled over this not-so-clever Folsom Street Fair (which he describes as a "multi-city block party for homosexuals") ad, which tamely parodies Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. Confusing the work of art painted by a probable homosexual over one's fantastic belief in Christ, the ad is decried as anti-Christian. Which? Well, all dildos point to yes. more ›

Sorry for the delay in getting SFist Tonight out. This afternoon was steeped in several fun-filled return trips to CompUSA, dealing with customer service. So much fun was had, folks, that we felt like putting our face through a window several times. more ›

San Francisco and the Bay Area are getting ready to throw a big (albeit somewhat belated) celebration for Philip Glass’ 70th birthday with concerts all over the place and, of course, the premier of Glass’ new opera Appomattox. And the kick-off is this Friday night with a very special and rare intimate recital courtesy of San Francisco Performances. Mr. Glass will be playing several of his pieces with cellist Wendy Sutter and percussionist Mick Rossi at Herbst Theater. more ›

Four blocks of Bernal Heights have no water service right now: a cement truck doing repairs on Folsom Street tipped over earlier this morning, injuring the driver and damaging the water line. more ›

Frameline -- purveyors of the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival and many hosted-bar opening- and closing-night parties that we’ve crashed (but we hear the films are great, too!) -- needs your help. This year they will receive funding from the profits of the Up Your Alley Fair -- happening on Sunday, July 29 -- if they bring in a certain number of volunteers. more ›

The artists in We, Asian Sex Workers want to make it clear that they are not slaves or victims. They don't need to be "saved," but they would like some respect, or at the very least, sensitivity. more ›

Today's story about Oakland having trouble recruiting cops brings to mind a story that ran in last Sunday's Chron about the SFPD having trouble recruiting cops. How desperate are they? They set up a recruitment booths at the Folsom Street Fair. more ›

Admit it, the weather has been outstanding. No one can claim our high-rentian bargain of getting spectacular September weather has not been delivered in full. The beaches, parks, trails and sidewalks are the place to be weekend after weekend this month. The Love Parade was lovely and the Folsom Street Fair was crotchless chapirific. Some nights has even been warm enough to remove the long sleeves and leave the windows open overnight while the mornings have been great for swimmers, surfers, runners and sleeper-inners. more ›

--Another successful Folsom Street Fair! more ›

Opening Benefit Reception: Fri., Aug. 25, 6-9 p.m. more ›

Okay, we finally got out of the house and picked up a hard copy of the Bay Guardian. And yes -- we're in it! Your SFist editors are right behind the guy making what looks like a less-than sign with his right hand, and right in front of what looks like a giant inflatable beer, on page 53. more ›

There actually is a local component to this whole NSA wiretapping/eavesdropping scandal, one that is about to make the scandal more scandal-y. It involves AT&T and the claims of former AT&T technician Mark Klein that sometime in 2002, AT&T allowed the U.S. Government to build a secret room in their Folsom Street office for the express purpose of eavesdropping not just on phones, but the internet too. And yes, whenever we read about this, we picture guys in black suits, black ties, and black shades running around the AT&T offices led by a mysterious figure smoking a cigarette. more ›

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Remember that totally awesome scene in where the Witch King was leaving Cirith Ungol with the Orc army and Frodo started freaking out and then that big shaft of light shot out of the building as the people of Minas Tirith looked on with a dread that something great and terrible was coming? more ›

Our local theater companies have shows much more unique than prix fixe menus for Valentine's Day. more ›

-- Lincoln and Broadway, Walnut Creek more ›