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If you have ever wondered what the SFist staff is listening to, wonder no more. In no particular order, we are listing each staffer's favorite album and song from 2007. We think you'll be surprised at our wide variety of music affections. Here's the list: more ›

Apparently 511 just installed new arrival-time screens at a kiosk somewhere around Embarcadero, but we're skeptical. (Surprise!) Muni has scrolling LEDs in all the subway stations, but most of the time they're just reminding you about Proof of Purchase. And BART has the same problem: info screens so cluttered with reminders about tickets and pickpockets that they almost never show arrival estimates, or even the current time. more ›

Sob. Dick Wilson (AKA Mr. Whipple) died today at 91. His message to the world? Simply this, "please, don't squeeze the Charmin." Born Riccardo DiGuglielmo, Wilson changed his name while working as an actor in efforts to avoid typecasting as an Italian-American. Little did he know that he would be typecast as America's favorite, um, cleanup enthusiast. Emigrating to the U.S. from England as wee lad, he went on to star in over 500... more ›

This is startling: Francis Ford Coppola has a Zoetrope Argentina office. What's more, the other night thieves came in and "tied up employees and took computers, cameras and other valuables" including his screenplay for the yet-to-be-released Tetro, a movie about "rivalries of an artistic Italian immigrant family." more ›

-- Audiofly: Euroduo (England's Anthony Middleton and Italy's Luca Saporito) throw down here in the states. Expect lots of basslines, techno-ness, and Italian-pop. Music starts at 9 p.m. Mighty,119 Utah (at 15th Street); $10-12. more ›

The Washington Blade tell us that an Italian physician claims that bisexuality is on the rise. No, not because female admissions are up at colleges, or because coke use among male emo-hipsters is at an all-time high. Dr. Umberto Veronesi, "prominent Italian physician," thinks that: more ›

Thesis: classic Italian opera represents the core tradition of the art form and success as a singer means being able to master the genre. Anti-thesis: opera is an evolving live form, and the work of contemporary composers is relevant, forget about the old dead ones. Synthesis: let’s toss a little bit of everything on the wall, old and new, domestic and foreign, we’ll see what sticks, and call it the Merola Grand Finale. more ›

A reader asked: "Hey guys I was wondering what is the best gym to go workout at in San Francisco? Which offers the best amenities and a friendly staff? What gym should I avoid at all cost?" We think he may have left off a word, but that's okay, we get the idea. Much as with our search for a good Italian joint for a reader the other day, we'll offer one quick opinion then open it up to the brain trust of our readership, who probably a hell of a lot more about this than we do. more ›

Since we barely digest our own food, much less eat in public for fear people might find us shoveling heaps of it into our mouths, maybe you, dear readers, can help this rookie San Franciscan find a place to take the parents out? He or she is looking for a tasty, semi-semi-formal, non-Stinking Rose-y, yet inexpensive Italian place, and we can't seem to be of any help. more ›

Last week's winner, the Bay Guardian. More problems with the construction at Hunters' Point (this time: asbestos). Chris Daly is on it. A construction worker falls off the Golden Gate Bridge and his employer avoids liability because they used the wrong legal name on the OSHA citations it received. Send all legal paperwork to FSist, everyone! More taxi permit shadiness. Man vs. Wild -- who cares if he stayed in a hotel, he drank water from elephant dung. KUSF! Some bands playing this week. Cover article: Photography in SF. The Guardian doesn't hate the new Mission Italian joint Farina. And an Iranian filmmaker retrospective at the Pacific Film Archive. 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 ›

Except for Mark Jackson, ACT, and a bushel of other playhouses we’re totally forgetting, sometimes it’s hard to find theatrical events in San Francisco that hit hard without leaning on antagonizing political bullshit or outrageousness in sequins. Carlo D’Amore’s hyper and “semi-autobiographical” No Parole does just that. Why? Well, it’s got cocaine! It’s got a Peruvian diva-like matriarch! It’s got riches-to-rags immigrants! It’s got a faultless one-man performance! It’s got the disenfranchised and the... more ›

We really enjoyed our sweet milk fritter! (above.) It was like a cream puff encased in sugar. Mmmwah! But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. more ›

Geek out! At Ask a Scientist SF, a monthly lecture slash happy hour with a guest speaker on some sciencey topic. This month's meet-up touches on everything you ever wanted to know about terra incognita, Antarctica, with Kurt Cuffey, a UC Berkeley professor of geography. Get there by 7pm to snag a beer and a seat. Axis Cafe, 1208 Eighth St., SF. more ›

Yes, it’s the high-end Italian bike shoes of SF Weekly’s longtime area commentator Matt Smith gracing the very nice carpet of a swank local hotel. He was there yesterday hobnobbing with the likes of Howard Dean, Carole Migden, and craigslist founder Craig Newmark at the Democratic Party’s aptly-named “Join the Party” party. Unlike other members of the media, Matt seemed to have an all-access pass at the event. Why? It’s got to be the shoes.
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Alder at Vinography is in the process of reviewing every darned wine bar in town -- 14 of the 26 have been reviewed so far. What surprised us a little -- we hadn't realized that noted head-to-tail restaurant Incanto is also a wine bar. Well, duh, turns out it's in the proper name ("Incanto Restaurant and Wine Bar"). Our own SFist Mary's piece from a few months ago can give you an idea about the food. We really enjoyed Vinography's expert and entertaining take on the wine bar aspect. more ›

SFist interviews David and Edie Ichioka, makers of the documetnary "Murch" about film editor Walter Murch, now showing at the San Franicsco International Film festival more ›

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! more ›

Your mainstream release pick: The Namesake. The saga of a family that journeys from homeland India to wintry New York, Mira Nair’s newest film is based on the titular bestseller by Jhumpa Lahiri and features Kal Penn (Kumar from Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle), Jacinta Barrett and Indian singer/actress Tabu. It’s a beautiful and sensitive look at identity in the context of a cross-cultural family. Nair’s known for bringing insight to her subject matter and this movie appears to be no different more ›

We gobble the various food sections up each Wednesday. These are our favorite tidbits from today's offerings: more ›

In an unusual turn of events, the SFPD announced they actually have a suspect in the attack on Elie Wiesel last week. What were the odds? They, however, won't say who it is, where they are, and how they uncovered the suspect. Nor will they say who helped them out or are helping them out. All they are saying is that it's a suspect in his 20's living somewhere in the East Coast. Whether or not it's the "Eric Hunt" who has been posting about stalking Wiesel, they are also not saying. Yes, it sounds kind of lame but considering they haven't arrested the guy yet, maybe it's a good thing they're not out there saying things like "oh, the suspect's real name is Joe Schlabotnik of 45 Cedar Drive of Poughkeepsie New York." more ›

We hadn’t really opened last year’s Christmas gift yet: when David Gockley became general director of the San Francisco opera a year ago, we did not really know what was in the box. The second half of the 2006 season, and the 2006-2007 season operas were already booked by his predecessor. He was not the one who chose this rather uninspired selection of yet another Carmen, yet another Barber of Seville, yet another Rigoletto. more ›

Last week's winner, the San Jose Metro. Gary Singh infiltrates a ladies' drinking circle, while Chuck Reed goes drinking with the Merc News. Do note, Gavin Newsom, that Reed only drank two bottled waters the entire night. Cover article: Making Redwood City fun again (land use edition). Italian food in Los Gatos. Lemon trees in winter. Women chanters. A review of the Justin Timberlake show. And the Straight Dope: are the magnetic poles going to flip? more ›

-Oakland is ready to party, Ron Dellums style. -Over 1,000 people go to the beach to say impeach, put Cheney in reach. more ›

-The high rate of African American being arrested in San Francisco make some call for an inquiry. -Matier and Ross say Gavin's Chief of Staff, Steve Kawa, left due to burnout. We had "intern problem" in the office pool. more ›

We remember the late 90's when every food magazine offered the definitive risotto technique. Writers trudged to Italian villages to learn how rural matrons made this popular dish. Even as newbie foodies, we rolled our eyes at these accounts. Why make it sound so treacherous? more ›

This week Newsweek hops on the "San Francisco Values" bandwagon with a story on Pelosi and what they refer to as San Francisco's "Loony Left." The story makes it seem like we're Nancy's redheaded stepchild. Oh wait, we're probably going to get a comment about saying something bad against redheads and stepchildren so we'll say crazy aunt instead. Oh now we'll get comments about discriminating against aunts and crazy people and, well, forget we even mentioned it. more ›

Cultural Learnings of Blogosphere for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of -Ist-a-verse more ›

The new Michelin was stingy with stars for San Francisco: no 3 stars restaurants (the only one in the wider bay area being the French Laundry in Napa), two 2 stars (Aqua and Michael Mina), and a 12 one stars (Fleur de Lys, La Folie, the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Rubicon, Bushi-Tei, Quince, Range, Acquerello, Masa's, Gary Danko, Boulevard, Fifth Floor). Alice Waters got only one tiny puny star for her Chez Panisse in Berkeley. Spanked! more ›