This gem of a story reminds us why we should make an effort to watch the local TV news more often. Some poor 21-year-old kid in Vallejo took his friends up on a $100 dare, in which he lubed himself with laundry detergent and climbed into a baby swing at Blue Rock Springs Park on Friday night. Then he got stuck. more ›

Mission Mission reader "Beebe" sent the fine folks over at the city's favorite neighborhood blog this nifty side-by-side comparison of a Sunday afternoon in Dolores Park and "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" by Georges Seurat. Well done. All that's missing is a little bit of Sondheim, yes? Yes. Yes, indeed. more ›

Well, not everyone. Not even close. Obviously. On our Facebook and Twitter, though, one would think the entire city decided to play hooky there today. And why not? It's stunning outside. Anyway, here are some images shot by lucky souls kicking it at the Dolores Park this very second. more ›

A great horn owl was spotted recently in the Glen Park Canyon (where?) by local park frequenter Steven Uchida. The retired U.S. Postal worker snapped these photographs of the owl perched on a eucalyptus tree on June 15th. Cool. According to the Glen Park Association, Ucgida can be found each week in the canyon "with his arms windmilling as he wrestles with Italian thistle and wild radish from canyon slopes." Even cooler. more ›

With no budget deal on the horizon, the Obama administration warned today that a federal government shutdown would spark layoffs of as many as 800,000 federal employees and "could stall tax refunds, close national parks and museums, and put tens of thousands of Californians temporarily out of work," reports the California News Service. Although there has been "progress" with budget talks today, Obama will meet again with Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid at 4 p.m. PST. "It will be their second White House negotiating session in one day — the first time that has happened and an indication that pressure is intensifying to reach agreement ahead of Friday night's shutdown deadline." more ›

The San Francisco Police Department’s bomb squad was called to Fort Funston on Sunday when someone found a box of military flares marked U.S. Navy below the hang glider deck. The box was found around 10:45 a.m., and SFPD cleared the area at 1:10 p.m. and blew up the box. more ›

Starting out as a way to reclaim private space for the public, this year's (PARK)ing Day in San Francisco seemed more commercial, if you will, than years prior. On the event's site, there's all this verbiage about how the (PARK)ing Day group owns the phrase, how participants must license it, and that you're encouraged to buy a manual on how to do it right. Sounds complicated, right? What's more, a slew of good-intentioned politicos and public transit hand-wringers got involved and tried ruining (PARK)ing Day by making it as alluring as a damp cardboard box. Many makeshift parks featured fliers and posters and posters and fliers and other creative-free pilings that no one outside elitist wonk circles should care about. (You just know cupcakes were involved.) more ›

As a tipster noted, a man allegedly stabbed a dog multiple times in Fort Funston in a random and unprovoked attack last Thursday. The dog, Lenny, who has since been released from the emergency pet hospital, sustained severe injuries to his spleen, at least one lung, and other internal organs. more ›

The Grease Sing-Along and Dirty Dancing have come and gone, but there are still a few more Film Nights in the Park this month and next. So, bundle up and head to the park, or there are also lots of additional options in the warm, non-foggy parts of the Bay Area that won't require blankets and winter coats. more ›

Curbed reports that Justin Herman Plaza might get swanky new bocce ball courts. "The Recreation and Park Department has been asked to build it, and the Laborers Local 261 Community & Training Foundation has agreed to gift the Parks and Rec Department will the labor and materials to realize the project, which will include two bocce courts totaling approximately 2,400 square feet." Fun! more ›

Well, it would have been nice, but it's not going to happen. A delightful upgrade to a waterfront trail in the Presidio has officially been given the gong... more ›

Everyone can all rest easy now. The alleged potential child predator who was spotted suspiciously lurking/doing pull-ups at Mountain Lake Park has been identified and deemed harmless by SFPD. more ›

Do you love McLaren Park? Yes. Yes, you do. Would you like to see $30,000 in grant money go renovating McLaren Park? Yes. Yes, you would. Because it needs it. more ›

UPDATE: SFPD has questioned and cleared the suspect of any wrong-doing. more ›

UPDATE: SFPD has questioned and cleared the suspect of any wrong-doing. more ›

They were finishing up the installation of the new sculpture at Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley yesterday. Anyone know who the artist is? Update: The sculpture is called Ecstasy, and the artists are Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito. There will be an opening reception tonight at the park from 4 to 7 p.m. [Thanks fugazziaboutit and Jared Hirsch!] more ›

Uptown Almanac has word that "up to 14 acres" of Dolores Park could close for up to two years while the much-loved park undergoes a city-approved $11.7 million renovation. Kevin Montgomery reports: "New bathrooms, better tennis courts, new playground, better grass for me to be cool on, and the clubhouse (that is currently full of asbestos) will be rebuild and open for community events/soirees/romantic evenings gazing at the skyline/epic keggers. You can read more about it in the official Dolores Park Works document here (warning: PDF!) more ›

Produced in part by the fine folks at SPUR (San Francisco Planning & Urban Research Association), this map indicates POPOS (Privately Owned Public Open Spaces). Many of them, it seems, are not visited nearly enough. more ›

California State Parks director Ruth Coleman said that the agency faces a total of about $39 million in cuts after the new budget, which directly states a $14.2 million cut, was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today. Additionally, $2.4 million was siphoned from a cigarette tax fund because less people are smoking. Furloughs and salary cuts round out the large number (Note: a full budget fact sheet is embedded below). more ›

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger finally signed California's budget today, making additional cuts to fill a $1.1 billion gap left by legislators in their approved package. An additional $6.2 million was cut from state parks after an $8 million cut was proposed last week. That makes a total of $14.2 million, a number the Schwarzenegger's office predicts "will result in the closure of probably more than 100 parks." more ›

SFist posted last week about the lovely Huntington Park on Nob Hill, and commenter hthoms responded with an account of some pushy park rangers "abusing their power" by harassing park-goers with off-leash dogs, citing this SF Weekly article: more ›

Nestled amongst the former mansions of the old railroad tycoons and silver kings on Nob Hill and directly across from the beautiful Grace Cathedral, Huntington Park is an urban oasis for retirees, freelancers, kids, canines, and the homeless alike. more ›

San Francisco really does have a task force for everything. Even for public crappers. more ›

We could get all up in Bill O'Reilly face, as well as the plum visage of "Factor" produce and liar Jesse Watter, for throwing shade at SF. They claim that San Francisco is, inarguably, one big "Grateful Dead concert;" that North Beach is our tenderloin district; and that we are rife with neighborhood-specific dark underbellies. But we won't. Because they're spot-on when they say that SF parks are terrifying at night. Just thinking about Dolores Park at dusk gives us the heebie-jeebies. Anyway, watch the pseudo-documentary O'Reilly produced. It's the feel-good movie of the day. But you'll have to go here to watch it. (Do not fear the embedded code, MSM. It is your friend.) more ›

(By Travis Jensen) more ›