The Coast Guard, Fire Department and the SFPD have been searching for a man believed missing after leaping off a pier near Fort Mason Wednesday night. Set-up crews for a Thursday event at Fort Mason witnessed a white middle-aged man with curly hair having an agitated conversation on his cell phone around 10 p.m. that night, after which he jumped off a pier into the bay. more ›

According to Bay City News, a visitor spotted a body on the rocks near Fort Mason early yesterday evening around 4:30 of 4:45 p.m. The Chronicle says authorities were combing the scene for clues, but so far haven't found any indication as to how the person died. The body was taken to SF general, but the gender and possible age of the deceased has not been released yet. Since Fort Mason is a National Park, the US Park Police will be taking on the case. more ›

They're saying it's "not a mass grave" because it's only about 20 people, but still, a whole bunch of mysterious human remains were discovered just a few feet underground during an excavation underneath a historic building at Fort Mason. AsBay City News reports, more 19th century bones keep showing up since they found the first ones on Monday, along with buttons, pieces of bottles, and an intact bottle that reads "hair tonic." Yes, whoever one of these dead guys was, he was at least a little bit vain, and was buried with his styling product. more ›

File under Fun Crime News: Two homeless ne'er-do-wells who've been bumming around the Haight of late stole a U.S. Park Police golf cart from Fort Mason last week and went on an overnight crime spree. 29-year-old William Crosgrove and his 27-year-old, Pippi Longstocking-ish companion went tooling around the Panhandle and the Upper Haight breaking into cars and such, finally getting arrested around 8:30 a.m. after Crosgrove threatened a Dept. of Public Works employee with a metal pipe and a bicycle lock. more ›

WEDNESDAY/FORT MASON: Just before 10:30 pm last night, two people were shot near a youth hostel in Fort Mason. CBS 5/CBN reports: "A 22-year-old woman was injured by a bullet that grazed her head ... and a 17-year-old boy was shot in the stomach." The two victims were rushed to SF General hospital. "The injured boy was undergoing surgery and his condition was not known." Witnesses say that the shooter, sporting a black hoodie and jeans, "was a male who was accompanied by as many as eight other people." more ›

Are you a poet? Do you know it? (Ouch.) Well, Poets Eleven, a citywide poetry contest showcasing prose created by residents of each of San Francisco's 11 districts, above, is now accepting submissions. You work will be scrutinized by San Francisco Poet Laureate Jack Hirschman, so snap on your thinking and creativity caps, kids. more ›

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After yesterday's fog-induced Cosco Busan/Bay Bridge crash -- resulting in 58,000 gallons of fuel and 8,000 gallons of "heavy-duty bunker fuel oil" spilling into the Bay -- Baker Beach, Crissy Field, China Beach, Kirby Cove, and Fort Point beaches (or "beaches" to some of you purists out there) have been closed. Large blobby slicks as big as 50 yards long and 20 yards wide have been spotted off Tiburon and near Mill Valley's Bayfront... more ›

Oktoberfest photos more ›

-- Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers: Not only does this "Basie-esque" outfit perform lush jazz and blues tunes, but the chanteuse is pretty funny in between songs. Check them out tonight at 7 p.m. at the Top of the Mark, InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel, One Nob Hill, (999 California); $10. more ›

With a crafty event happening every day this weekend there's no reason to stay inside, so take your pick or hit up all three of these excellent events. more ›

If you are concerned about people growing old around you, just keep looking for fresh faces to hang out with. We got this bit of wisdom not from Gavin Newsom (who got it from Willie anyway), but from James Schwabacher. One of Schwabacher’s initiatives was to co-found the SF Opera Merola program, now in its 50th anniversary, a training program-slash-talent-search for opera singers that lasts all summer. more ›

Looking to do some crafty shopping or have something you've been making that you want to share with the world? Here are a few ways to get your fix. Modern Times, one of our favorite independent bookstores in the city, will be hosting their first ever craft fair in August and there's still time to register to sell your crafty goods. For up to the minute registration forms and info check out their myspace page. When: August 11th Noon-8pm Registration deadline: August 1st We've already told you how much we love the SF Craft Mafia, meet them for yourself and do some crafting with them on August 12th at Stitch Lounge. The event will feature DIY activities, including jewelry making, clothing customization, and cupcake makeovers. more ›

If you like learning about and consuming chi-chi/artisan/premium/hand-made chocolate in all its forms, there's lots to love at the Chocolate Salon, taking place today and tomorrow in Building A at Fort Mason. Tickets are $10 for kids and $20 for bigger kids (adults) but samples are plentiful. We appreciated the one hour of free parking, outgoing and friendly nature of the chocolate makers, and guaranteed exposure to exotic flavor combinations, wine and beverage tastings. We overheard one guest say to another, "This is so fun," followed by a sigh. Even the ticket takers seemed to be in excellent spirits. We suspect the happiness trigger may be a chocolate high on all counts, since we spied ample samples discreetly tucked away. more ›

-- Bambi Lake-inspired cabaret duo Kiki and Herb perform at ACT. (Also, did you know that they met at Café Flore in the Castro before they became totally famous? It's true.) Show starts at 8 p.m. at American Conservatory Theater, 415 Geary; $20-$60. more ›

, about the hilarity of body image issues. Also: gift baskets and free eyebrow waxing! The event's sponsored by Green Apple, so the reading's at the Rockit Room, one block down the street (406 Clement, x 6th). 7 p.m., free. more ›

Because some of us need a warm-up of sorts for July 4, "Pinot Days," a celebration of wine made from that particular varietal, is coming to Fort Mason June 29-July 1. More than 150 winemakers will be there, with more than 400 pinots will be available for tasting, along with food. more ›

with readings from the book, music, and a special Bloomsday feast at the Mechanics' Institute. 57 Post Street (x Market), $15, saloon opens 6:30, readings begin at 7:30. more ›

Don't forget it's still Carnaval! But you can check out the following events today too. more ›

The acclaimed French-trained Guinean contemporary circus troupe Circus Baobab makes its US debut as part of the SF Int'l Arts Festival, performing , a fable about globalization and family, complete with acrobatics, stilt-walking, and African music. 5:30 p.m., $30, Project Artaud Theater (450 Alabama, x Mariposa). They're here through Sunday, and you may find it intriguing to learn that tomorrow's performance is in French. That's them on the YouTube above. more ›

One of our spies spotted model Gemma Ward hopping into a downtown Walgreens yesterday. Gemma was in SF for Fashion Week Live last night at Fort Mason. Their description of Gemma was priceless: "She looked like a homeless person. She's really skinny, and she was wearing a stocking cap in 70 degree weather." more ›

The annual SFist Holiday Gift Guide returns today with five passes to the Celebration of Craftswomen this weekend at the Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center. The show is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features a changing roster of more than 150 different artists each weekend and benefits The Women's Building. more ›

Maybe it's just us, but when we start hearing big numbers (for example, the national debt, the number of people who died during the influenza pandemic of 1918, or our student loan debt), our eyes glaze over. more ›

The good news is that the first battle in the legal fight against the NSA's wiretapping program has been won by everyone who doesn't work for the NSA. The bad news is that internet-enabled vigilante mobs could be the next big fad here in the States. Eh, we're too busy applying a new Dasani-branded profile treatment to our MySpace profile and checking out some of the videos. more ›

Saturday: We're hitting the Pandora's Trunk art and fashion event. Come by 916 Natoma (at 10th Street) between 1-7 p.m. for "handmade fashion goods, art, homemade truffles, and a deluxe spa and massage corner." See the entire lineup of vendors for this free event here. more ›

We were the only one spitting out at the Wines of Spain tasting, organized by Greens' wine director Chaylee Priete. Not that they weren't any good, but it was only 6:30 p.m., and we hadn't had dinner. If you are looking for a nice sophisticated buzz, as were our tasting companions, the $45 fee (we were comped) would have gotten you six glasses of different Spanish varietals, with refills should you taste one without moderation. That's $7.5 per glass, a pretty amazing deal, come to think of it, since the bottles in the tasting average in the mid-fifties in the restaurant, which, --mmm, numbers, crunch, crunch,-- typically translates into a $12 glass. more ›

The second show of the Merola program, Il Matrimonio Segreto, opened last night at the Cowell Theater in Fort Mason. Just to recap: the Merola program was funded in 1957 by Kurt Adler and James Schwabacher to offer a training program to young singers, with real staged performances, and a Gala in the War Memorial Opera House as a conclusion. We actually were a bit surprised that Schwabacher was not eulogized at this first Merola performance since he passed away last week (the SF Opera did request a moment of silence in his memory last Sunday's beautiful performance at Stern Grove). more ›

We sort of knew this was going to happen, but here it is: after officially jumping on the Sharks bandwagon last week, they have now lost three in a row to the Edmonton Oilers, a losing streak that started after the Sharks lost an epic, three OT Game 3. We would take some responsibility for causing the Bad Mojo, but after last night's game, Sharks fans only have themselves to blame for any sort of Bad Mojo, something that will happen when fans of a team boo another country's national anthem. more ›

Can you smell what Wednesday is cooking? Tonight: Tax breaks! The California Lawyers for the Arts are holding a workshop on how to incorporate as a nonprofit. Give your mom a tax break for supporting your career in theater all these years! The workshop goes from 7-8:30 at their offices in Fort Mason, Building C, Room 255. Thursday: As part of the Contemporary Jewish Museum's new show, Intersections: Reading the Space, they're hosting a three-part salon. Part one of the salon is tonight at the Jewish Community Center, and features a cooking class on making Muslim, Christian, and Jewish foods of India. That's $50 worth of yum ($45 if you're a museum or JCCSF member) -- so if you're looking for something on the other end of the money scale, you could also stop by a free shuttle bus historical tour of the Presidio at 12:50 (meet at the Presidio's Officers Club, reservation required at 415-561-4323.) and Friday: Our very favorite living ex-president, Nobel laureate Jimmy Carter, will be appearing and signing copies of his new book at 5:30 at Cody's SF! President Carter will not be speaking or reading, mysteriously enough, but will pose for pictures (in a separate area) if you ask nicely. Tickets are required, but there's no fee if you buy a copy of the book at Cody's. Don't attack him, killer rabbits! more ›