This week: PBS Kids’ Mychal Threets at South SF library, the Counter-Culture Museum, free books for kids, San Mateo desserts, and Alysa Liu at Paris Fashion Week. Plus, honoring the female Muni drivers through history and cutting hair and giving space.

A chair and a listening ear

A new community barbershop called “The Shop” has opened inside GLIDE’s Tenderloin building, offering free haircuts alongside a place to sit, talk, and connect with help. The space draws on the long tradition of Black barbershops as neighborhood gathering spots, pairing domino games and conversation with counseling, overdose prevention, and links to treatment and housing support through the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

At the ribbon cutting, actor and longtime Glide supporter Danny Glover took the ceremonial first haircut as the pilot program got underway. The pilot, funded through the city’s opioid settlement funds, comes as San Francisco continues to lose dozens of residents each month to accidental overdoses, many in the Tenderloin. — Bay City News

Library joy, spoken aloud

Bay Area librarian and literacy advocate Mychal Threets will lead a mindfulness talk and community gathering on March 28 centered on reading, wellbeing, and the quiet magic of libraries. The PBS Kids resident librarian plans to share parts of his own mental health journey before hosting a story time and book signing for his new title, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy.

Threets, who was recently named one of Time’s Next Generation Leaders, has built a following by championing libraries as welcoming spaces for curiosity and calm. The all-ages program invites families and neighbors to gather for conversation, stories, and a chance to meet him in person at the event. — Eventbrite

A warehouse of books

At a Bayview warehouse run by The Children’s Book Project, visiting students browse rows of donated books and choose five to take home free of charge. The nonprofit hosts field trips for schools serving low-income communities, giving kids time to explore the shelves after a story time with a visiting author.

On a recent visit, fourth graders from Moscone Elementary School listened to Bay Area writer Gennifer Choldenko read from her new book Dogtown. Founded in 1992, the project has distributed more than 3.4 million free books to children in San Francisco and 37 counties across California. — Mission Local

Streetcars and wartime grit

During World War II, with many men overseas and transit demand surging, San Francisco Municipal Railway turned to women to keep the streetcars running. New operators like Dolores Piluso and Ellen Peterson stepped into the roles of motormen and conductors, guiding packed cars through the city at a moment when the system was under intense strain.

Their work helped maintain daily life in San Francisco while quietly pushing against the limits of who was expected to run public transit. The agency is highlighting their contributions this month during Women’s History Month and ahead of Transit Employee Appreciation Day. — SFMTA

From ice to runway

Fresh off her historic Olympic season, figure skater Alysa Liu turned up at Paris Fashion Week, taking a seat at the Louis Vuitton Fall 2026 show.

The 20-year-old shared snapshots from the night on Instagram, praising designer Nicolas Ghesquière and calling the experience unforgettable. — Parade

Crunch and memory

Inside her longtime San Mateo home, former mayor Claire Mack still answers every phone call herself, taking orders for the layered desserts she bakes under Claire’s Crunch Cake. Customers choose from flavors like mocha, lemon, chocolate, strawberry, whiskey, or banana, each topped with the brittle-like “crunch” she coats by hand.

Mack started the business decades ago after trying to recreate a favorite treat from the now-closed Blum’s bakery. Orders are picked up from the same house she bought with her husband 70 years ago — a spot now marked nearby by a street sign reading “Mack Family Way.” — KRON4

Echoes of Haight-Ashbury

At the corner of Haight-Ashbury, the Counterculture Museum traces the movements that reshaped San Francisco in the 1960s. Visitors move past looping footage of the Human Be-In and into rooms filled with music, protest ephemera, and artifacts tied to civil rights, women’s liberation, and early gay rights activism.

The museum was founded by Estelle Cimino and Jerry Cimino, who also launched the Beat Museum in North Beach. The space opened in June 2025, adding a new stop for visitors tracing the city’s counterculture past. — Time

City rhythms

DJ Buck was a fixture of San Francisco’s dance and electronic music scene, spinning at clubs and events throughout the ’90s and beyond. His mixes and records drew from the city itself, layering local sounds into house and rave tracks.

Friends and fellow DJs recall his influence on the music community and the energy he brought to the scene. — 48 Hills

Image: Glide Memorial/Facebook

Previously: Field Notes: Rare SF Tree Map, Dad Punk, and the Fight for Reproductive Rights in 1960s SF

SFPD investigates reports of vandalism at French American School in San Francisco. https://t.co/tx2KoDnVGb pic.twitter.com/N257yhYgoe

— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) November 17, 2015

Just days after a series of coordinated attacks by ISIS shook Paris, students at San Francisco's French American International School were confronted by graffiti that seemingly supports the terrorist organization.

San Francisco Police Department has confirmed to KRON4 that officers were called to the school's 150 Oak Street location at 8:30 Tuesday morning.

When they arrived, officers say that graffiti depicting an ISIS flag "was found sprayed on a wall at the playground on Hickory Street, just north of the Oak Street campus."

However, since that initial report by KRON4, the article as it appears on the broadcast station's website has been updated to add:

It was originally reported that the graffiti was an ISIS flag, but police have since confirmed that the graffiti is a symbol used by a group called 5 Percent Nation who have links to the Nation of Islam.

Police also said that the graffiti is not a threat but an act of vandalism.

SFPD Captain Greg McEachern tells KTVU that "Originally there was concern that it might be tied to ISIS, but our preliminary investigation shows that it's not that."

"It's more of a domestic group and our special investigations division are looking into the vandalism, trying to figure out who did it, what their reasons were.”

“We get graffiti from time to time, but the symbol - particularly in light of what happened last week - did awaken some concern, which is why we reported it to [police],” Robert Movradinov, a spokesman for the school, told the Ex.

Though the graffiti was visible to the public earlier this morning via an alley behind the school, it has since been blocked by a fence and covered with a tarp.

KRON4 reports that "school is still in session, but tight security is being enforced."

According to their website, the preK-12 school has 1,080 students. Of those, 23 percent are French nationals.

Meanwhile, support for the victims of the Paris attacks continues at San Francisco's French consulate, as KRON4 reports that throughout that day, there has been a steady stream of people who "take a moment and stop at the growing memorial in front of the consulate."

At 1:30 Tuesday, the SFPD sent the following statement on the vandalism incident:

The San Francisco Police Department is investigating a vandalism incident that occurred at a school on the 100 block of Oak Street. The incident is believed to have occurred overnight and the vandalism is in the form of graffiti spray painted on a wall and playground surface. The SFPD Special Investigation Division is actively investigating this incident to determine if it amounts to a hate crime. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Anonymous Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text A Tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

According to ABC7, "the FBI has been called in to help investigate."

And later in the afternoon, the school sent this message to parents:

We write to bring you up to date about a concern on campus. This morning our staff noticed graffiti in the Hickory Yard, which we immediately reported to the San Francisco Police Department. SFPD school liaison officers referred it to the Special Investigation Department (SID) who investigated its origin in light of recent events in Paris. A premature local media report falsely identified the vandalism as "ISIS graffiti." Law enforcement has assured us that this is not the case and has advised us to resume normal operating procedures as quickly as possible. Students at the 150 Oak campus had been kept inside during the police investigation as a precaution and to facilitate the investigation. In matters of student safety, we always operate with an abundance of caution. We take this opportunity to thank our alert staff and vigilant security team.

Previously: In Solidarity With Paris, SF City Hall Lit Up Blue, White and Red; SFPD On 'Heightened Alert'
Alice Waters Posts About Daughter Dining 'Down the Street' From Paris Shooting
Local Couple On Paris Honeymoon Were Dining Two Blocks From Bataclan Concert Hall During Attack

As stories continue to trickle back from ex-pats and American travelers who had scary brushes with death during Friday's terrorist attack in Paris, ABC 7 reports on a Santa Rosa couple, Jamie and Shane Keck-Crozat, newlyweds who were at the tail end of a two-week honeymoon in France, who like many others were out to dinner in the 11th Arrondissement when the attacks took place. They say they were out with friends at a restaurant just two blocks away from the Bataclan concert hall where the deadliest scene of carnage took place, and they ended up on lockdown inside the restaurant for the next three hours.

"They said 'we can't let anyone leave, we're on lockdown' and they immediately closed all the curtains, locked the doors," says Jamie Keck-Crozat. "They were throwing grenades into restaurants and shooting into restaurants and because we were so close to the area not knowing if the terror was done."

Later, as things quieted down but terror still reigned in the streets, they hurried back safely to their hotel, and then found nervous crowds at the airport trying to leave the city Saturday morning.

They say their hearts go out to all those who "weren't so lucky, who were at the wrong place at the wrong time," including Cal State Long Beach student Nohemi Gonzalez, who was killed at the Petit Cambodge restaurant along with multiple others.

Fanny Singer, Alice Waters's daughter for whom longtime Berkeley eatery Café Fanny was named, was in Paris and out having dinner in the neighborhood of one of the shootings on Friday, but Waters reports via Instagram that she is safe. Singer was having dinner just "down the street" from one of the deadly attacks in Paris with her partner Sam Thorne, but Waters posted to Instagram that both are safe.

Says Waters, "President Obama said 'This is an attack on all humanity.' Indeed it is."

Singer, who is pursuing a PhD in art history in the UK, is 31 and recently moved to St. Ives, Cornwall, as she told the Guardian, at the southwestern-most tip of England.

Hers is one of many stories we're likely to hear about Parisians, Americans, and American ex-pats who were out on the town Friday night during what appear to be coordinated attacks on Paris designed to create mayhem for citizens out celebrating the end of a workweek.

Over 100 are reported dead, though the death toll is likely to rise as more of the story gets clarified over the weekend, and as critical injuries turn fatal.

Paris police are saying that eight terrorist attackers are dead, and that these represent all those responsible for the multiple attacks around the city.

🇫🇷 @SFCity_Hall, whose design was inspired by Les Invalides in #Paris, is lit up in France's colors tonight. pic.twitter.com/8DAMFXt250

— John McMurtrie (@McMurtrieSF) November 14, 2015

San Francisco's City Hall, the design of which was inspired by the famed Parisian structure L'Hôtel national des Invalides, was illuminated in the French national colors of blue, white and red Friday night as a sign of solidarity after a series of horrific attacks in Paris left at least 153 dead.

In a statement sent Friday afternoon, SF Mayor Ed Lee said that "The French Flag has been raised at San Francisco City Hall to honor the victims of this tragedy."

“On behalf of the residents of San Francisco," Lee said in his statement, "I express my deepest sorrow for the heartbreaking tragedy unfolding in Paris today. We stand in solidarity with our friends in our sister city of Paris, Mayor Hidalgo and with people all across France as they struggle with the aftermath of this very dark day. The victims of these senseless acts of violence will remain in our prayers.”

Gothamist reports that in New York, 1 World Trade Center's spire has also been lit in blue, white, and red, and that the Empire State Building will go dark in observance of the tragedy.

Lee says that public safety agencies across San Francisco are "closely monitoring these incidents and have reported that there is no known threat to San Francisco," but that SFPD is "on heightened alert with extra patrols."

The gels on the City Hall lights were just left over from Election Night last week, and thus they are not in the correct order of the French flag, which would be blue, white, red. Someone on SFGate's Facebook page, however, made things right with a little Photoshop.

In a statement sent Friday evening, SFPD says that "The San Francisco Police Department is aware of the incidents that occurred in France and we are following the situation. Chief Suhr has been in communication with our partners at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and he has requested updates and information on any potential security concerns in California. Chief Suhr has also been in communication with Mayor Ed Lee's Office."

"While there is no known threat here in the United States," they write, "SFPD Officers have been advised to maintain high visibility and to increase patrols in areas of significant public traffic. Additionally, the Police Department has contacted the French Consulate and is working to address any security concerns they may have."

"As always, we remind the public, "If you see something, say something!" Report suspicious persons or activity to 9-1-1."

Related: Solidarity With Paris: 1 World Trade Center Spire Lit In Blue, White And Red [Gothamist]
NYPD Counterterrorism Teams Deployed Across NYC In Wake Of Paris Attacks [Gothamist]
Video: "La Marseillaise" Sung At Union Square Vigil For Paris [Gothamist]
'Around 100' Dead At Eagles Of Death Metal Concert In Paris Attack [LAist]

Check out this remarkable footage of 2,459 photos of an Air France flight from San Francisco to Paris, featuring the northern lights. According to Gizmodo, the film was "shot using a Canon 5D mk II with 16mm - 35mm lens attached to a tripod, and controlled with a timelapse controller." What's more, "its creator was using the Korg iMS20 iPad app throughout the flight to mix the score live."

Video: nbolt / YouTube

Somehow we overlooked this last week, but local porn-ish blog, the Sword, captured images of San Francisco's openly bent politicos Supervisor/personality Bevan Dufty and city treasurer Jose Cisneros kicking it together at Sydney's Gay Mardi Gras. And it looked downright outrageous.

Trannyshack's Heklina also joined them at San Francisco's sister city down under. Also, did you know that Sydney is San Francisco's sister city. Really? Well, we didn't. (We assumed Paris was our sister. Alas.) Anyway, judging by the above images, it looks like Jose had more fun that Bevan. So...there you have it.

Update: Readers are dying to know if the trips were paid for by SF tax dollars. What a great question! Let's find out, shall we? More to come.

Update 2: Well, there is no update. We have yet to hear back from anyone...yet. But we look forward to hearing from someone soon.

Though this may amuse a smattering of transplants who neither want this city to grow nor evolve into the world-class city it secretly is, a new global Monopoly board is coming and San Francisco is not a part of it. You see, people of the earth get to vote to see which of the 68 world cities will make the final 22 on the global board game. San Francisco, it seems, is not on the list. In fact, California gets a pithy single nomination (Los Angeles) while France receives a shocking two (Paris Lyon).

Naturally, we are sick to our stomach over this slight. With geographical locations whose existence we question, like "Buenos Aires, Argentina;" "Shanghai, China;" "Caracas, Venezuela;" and "Canada," we're both saddened and surprised not to find Baghdad by the Bay among the list. Hrumph, indeed.

Fear not, San Franciscans--or Oaklanders, Athertonians, or Orindaians, or whatever--there is a write-in wildcard category where you can vote up to 10 times per day for which city not in the nomination bunch will become one the properties on the board. The downside? You have to register. Alas. Anyway, you can vote here.

Gavin, this seems like your kind of issue, yes? Let's get on it, stallion.

One of the greatest misunderstandings in the history of US cinema -- oh please, as far as repeated viewings go, Ordinary People is a superior and more devastating film than Raging Bull -- is the genius of Sophia Coppola's Marie-Antoinette. A fantastic flick, really. It's gorgeous, laced with a few Bay Area inside jokes, oddly nerve-wrecking to watch, and the ending is perfect. Brilliant. In every way.

And, yes, while many would (with much vulgarity) argue we're seeing the film through rose colored glasses, for lack of a better term, we disagree with the zingers written about Coppola's movie upon its release. No, it does NOT look like Paris Hilton made the thing. Strip away your Embarcadero Theatre arrogance and your obsessive need for a plot - we suggest the awesome straight-male campfest that is The Sopranos for decent, plot-heavy entertainment - and see for yourself.

Sophia Coppola's Marie-Antoinette is part of the Cinema Supper Club series at the Legion of Honor.
When: January 10, 2008
Where: Legion of Honor
Time: First dinner seating at 6 p.m.; Marie-Antoinette begins at 8 p.m.
Cost: $20 ($10 members); dinner pricing is separate
For more info: 415-750-7633, famsf.org

Let's get this over with.

Last week's pathetic challenge still hung in the air this week with the designers discussing Carmen's exit, and Chris proposing a "Project Runway" fragrance that would be a mixture of tears, sweat, and Chinese food. Can't be any worse than the odors Paris Hilton has been hawking. After some stuff with the models that was a bit confusing and boring, Heidi told the designers Tim was waiting for them in the work room and he wasn't alone. He had a familiar face with him, and she had some old friends with her. Sweet P immediately suspected they'd be designing clothes for senior citizens, which had us pondering just how the clothing needs of the elderly might differ from those of, say, the middle aged. More Velcro? Elastic waist bands? Alas, we may never know, as it turned out Nina Garcia was the familiar face, and she told the designers they were going to incorporate outdated fashion trends into modern apparel.

Although her contract ends in 2009, former SF Mayoral candidate and current San Francisco Public Utilities Commission chief Susan Leal might get the ax, according to Cecilia M. Vega over at the Chronicle. Her removal could kickoff a bloodbath of staff cuts by Newsom. And although her dismissal would need approval by committee, this seems like a done deal. According to the article:

Leal received a telephone call Friday evening from Newsom's chief of staff saying her services won't be needed in his second term, the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday. The call prompted Leal and the administration to begin talking about whether she will stay.

Yikes.

Once Newsom's ingénue (more or less) for spearheading efforts to cull energy in the San Francisco Bay, she also yearned for more "publicly owned sources of energy," a sentiment that went against the agendas of other members of the PUC. She heard the informal news of her probable canning while can-canning over in Paris this week at a French-sponsored water conference. She has no comment at this time.

After Newsom's famous request for open letters of resignation earlier, this seems like a start to his pruning process. The article goes on to say that Leal "has never been a true team player with the Newsom camp." So...watch your necks, Newsom naysayers.