The reported cases of metal theft around the Bay Area are getting increasingly elaborate, it seems. What started out as opportunistic copper wire theft, ripping off Facebook, BART and even state parks, eventually blossomed in to stealing commemorative plaques, large statues and even church bells. In the latest incident, three thieves werebusted after sailing up Islais Creek in search of a bounty at the Hunters Point Shipyard, which we're pretty sure makes them modern day local pirates. more ›

In a bit of year-end bar news this week, we learn that Peter Osborne, the man behind such crowded Giants pre-game drinking spots as MoMo's, Pete's Tavern and Pedro's Cantina, has plans to expand his King Street empire in to something like a local version of a Dave & Buster's in the coming year. more ›

Within just a week, nascent food truck Bacon Bacon is already a star. How so? Because it's called Bacon Bacon. Also, they serve loads of bacon-laced goodies. Obviously. And after word from Thrillist and a post from yours truly went live, scores of people lined up last week to try out the latest offering from the popular food-served-from-a-motorized-vehicle craze. more ›

This Sunday is the Women's World Cup Finals featuring the USA versus Japan, which will be screened at Public House on their 27 massive TVs. Perfect, right? Also, Sunday brunch will be served. Even better. A beaming press release explains: "Last year when the men were competing in the World Cup, Public House was rocking with fans cheering on the games and we expect the same level of excitement this Sunday." more ›

The Wall Street Journal shines a spotlight on S.F.'s largest new part of town, Mission Bay, and tries to show both sides of the debate on whether the area is successfully meeting its redevelopment goals or whether it's just a huge, cold, out-of-scale failure. They note that Salesforce.com is hoping to move in with a sprawling office campus, including a plaza with huge pink Jumbotron in the middle of it (see rendering at right). Salesforce still has to go up against the City's Design Review Board, and they're leaving open the possibility of simply moving somewhere else. more ›

"[Zynga] let us know there is no way in the world that they can go public and pay payroll tax on all their employee stock options. They mostly just dropped that in our laps and suggested we fix it pronto or watch them drive away south." - An unnamed city official referring to the gaming company's new search for a handout a mere six months after Gavin Newsom got all excited about Zynga's new lease on Townsend Street. [BayCitizen] more ›

Founders Den, a "private clubhouse" (see: workspace) for entrepreneurs in SoMa founded by Marissa Mayer's husband, has a new resident, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. more ›

Matier & Ross report on a frightening and malodorous problem caused by San Francisco's low-flow toilets, and it's costing the city millions of dollars. Behold: more ›

As your editor took his daily parasol stroll around AT&T Park ground today, we noticed that they finally updated the O'Doul Gate side of the ballpark to reflect the San Francisco Giants' NL West, Pennant, and World Series wins. more ›

Photographer Generik11 (Erik) attended last night's victorious World Series Game 2, snapping these images of fans and scenery along the way. Enjoy. more ›

Ugh, why not. It's Friday. This video was shot at the McDonald's on Third Street near AT&T park after Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday. According to YouTube user gtothebomb, "some chick was arguing about their order, the chick with the yellow thong tells her, she shouldn't talk like that in front of her daughter. Chick says she's not my daughter and throws soda at the yellow thong chick. then all hell breaks loose." more ›

The hogs at Salesforce.com rented out Pete's Tavern tonight and Thursday. If you're looking to go to the popular sports tavern located just across the street from AT&T Park, you're out of luck. Which is fine with us, because who likes going down several flights of stairs to pee? No us. Oh no. Not by the longest shot. Also, if we may generalize sweepingly for a moment, the place always has one or two female patrons crying during a game. Either their significant others (imbibed with booze and defeated team spirit) just said something cruel, they're not getting enough attention, or both. Regardless, please stop doing this in public, sensitive ones. It makes us emotionally-stunted folks uncomfortable. more ›

A source recently met with a Commercial Owner Association representative regarding plans for a Lucky Strike (a high-end bowling alley geared to replace the almost-shuttered Borders Books at Third and King Streets) to move in. Here are a few details, some of which include bouncers, additional security, $12 drinks, and a dress code requiring dress jackets for men. (Note: many of these points are based off Lucky Strikes in Los Angeles and are subject to change.) more ›

While plans for the SoMa Borders Books to evolve into bowling alley trudge on -- word has it Lucky Strike and Beacon apartment complex authorities will discuss the issue today -- we thought we'd give fair share to (reasonable?) reservations about the late-night venture. Because we're all about balance. more ›

Glorious news, Mission Bay, South Beach, SoMa, and Rincon Hill residents. More details have emerged in what might happen to the closing Borders Books at Third and King. As previously reported, talk of a bowling alley crackled in August. But now, according to LiveSOMA, it could be, possibly be, may be a done deal. more ›

The Border's Books at 200 King Street in South Beach, sadly, will close its doors for good in October. (On a personal note, we will miss the staff, the stuffed cream cheese pretzels, and regularly thumbing through European fashion rags at the retail chain.) Last night, we noticed “Store Closing” signs posted throughout the place, so you might want to head over for good deals while they last. more ›

Large tree falls at Fourth and Brannan in SOMA. more ›

A sanity-estranged gentleman climbed up the Lefty O'Doul Bridge on Third Street this afternoon next to AT&T Park. While initially assumed the climber might try taking the final Nestga plunge into McCovey Cover, this turned out not to be the case. According to SF Weekly, whose offices at China Basin are across from the bridge, the man was "dancing," doing "silly things," and "spread his arms like Jesus" when he finally descended at the urging of a tactical police officer. Check out a full picture of the man in action here. more ›

Chatter about the Warriors being sold is bubbling up again. In addition to rumors swirling that tight-faced Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison might make an offer, C.W. Nevius reports that the basketball team, currently housed in Oakland, could come to San Francisco. According to Nevius' sources, "Potential buyers of the team have asked the San Francisco Giants about building a state-of-the-art arena in Mission Bay." (In an area once littered with gay bars and arena clubs, the recent saturation of sports fans in the area is refreshingly brutish change of pace.) Still, some say they won't be moving anywhere anytime soon. more ›

The pedestrian fatally struck by a pickup truck while standing on a Muni platform at Fourth and King Streets has, according to BCN (vis SF Appeal) "been identified by the medical examiner's office today as 53-year-old George Schaeffer." Last Friday, if you recall, Dwain Davis, of Templeton, crushed Schaeffer after colliding with a big-rig truck. Davis has since been arrested an charged with manslaughter. more ›

"Metals Warehouse 2009/1964" by Dollar Bin. more ›

TODAY/HAYWARD: Someone was shot in Hayward. (Hi, Hayward!) No arrests have been made. There's a $1,000 reward waiting for anyone with info leading to an arrest. Please call Crime Stoppers at 510-293-7197, or Hayward Police at 510-293-7034. more ›

Self portrait at Third and King, shot by meligrosa / Bikes & the City. (Hat tip: Allan Hough) more ›

Delightful news, folks. The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (a stem cell research funding agency established thanks to Prop 71 in the 2004 election) put their seal of approval on 15 grants to help fund blessed and beneficial stem cell know-how. Awesome. Said funding will go to Stanford ($3,930,000), UC Berkeley ($3,371,686), UCSF ($3,899,912), and the J. David Gladstone Institutes ($2,517,888) to "fund graduate students, postdoctoral scholars and clinical fellows working in stem cell research labs," reports SF Biz Times. After handing out the much-needed funds, CIRM President Alan Trounson said "'It’s important that we continue supporting these future stem cell scientists who are already making significant contributions.'" more ›

Matt Jalbert, who snapped the shot above, says, "The redeveloped area along Mission Creek just gets better and better as the landscaping grows in and the construction mess recedes. This is a great addition to the City!" more ›

Now that few can afford to buy, well, anything, what will happened to the promised Mission Bay/South Beach lifestyle? Much like Rincon Hill, We hear vacancies abound over there. more ›

In a day full of angry citizens locking themselves to large buildings, three students were also arrested this morning after chaining themselves to the entrance of the UCSF Mission Bay community center. It seems that they're hot and bothered over the UC Regents for a myriad of reasons, but mainly because of "fee hikes, the use of the SAT exam in student admissions, UC management of nuclear-weapons laboratories, and what they called the university's lack of diversity." Also, members of the UC Regent clan are appointed by the governor, not via election. Boo. more ›

Channel St. is the only street in San Francisco where none of the residents live on land. Where a pair of waterfront parks line the entire length of the street (and one of the few remaining creeks in town). Where a long-defunct tugboat and heady pile of fragrant tree bark don’t seem out of place alongside the road. more ›

Violence at SF nightclubs has been all the rage this year - all nine days, that is - and now a summit is being held this month in order to curb the violent tomfoolery. A few choice incidences to refresh your memory: Marcus Pepper, 26, was killed on New Year's Day outside a Ninth Street warehouse SOMA party; Clarence Corbin 34, was shot outside Jelly's Dance Cafe in Mission Bay; Club Vessel was, well, Club Vessel; and much to no one's surprise, two women were attacked by two male Antiochians outside 715 Harrison this past Sunday. more ›

We're trying to ease back into our regular SF Blotter posting schedule -- so we figured we'd start out easy: folks near the Towers building at Second and King had a bit of a scare last night, when at around 11 p.m., a guy started waving a gun around and saying he was going to shoot himself and anyone that came nearby. more ›