It doesn’t get any better than this. Really. We headed to the Clay Sunday night, very relaxed and content as it was, having spent one of the most beautiful days ever up at Stinson Beach (never mind all the flies, anyone know what the story was with those flies!?), and now happily anticipating the latest SFIFF romance , featuring Glen Hansard, the lead singer of the Irish indie folk-rock band The Frames. more ›

Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California (TOC) started out in the brilliant sunshine of Sausalito but ended 156.2 kilometers (km) later under a cloud of controversy in downtown Santa Rosa. In between, riders faced heavy winds, multiple crashes, and an entertaining collection of breakaways and points sprints. When it was all said and done though, Levi Leipheimer was still the hometown golden boy.

This was a stage for cycling geeks to Tivo and watch over and over. From a rolling start, the peloton quickly pulled a Category 4 climb up and over the shoulder of Mt. Tam and down the Panoramic Highway to Stinson Beach, following Highway 1 through beautiful West Marin. Local roadies finally got a chance to see how the international cycling elite handle our regular rides. On the Versus network television coverage, legend Phil Liggett praised the beauty of the Panoramic Highway, but commented that it was a little narrow to ride when open to vehicle traffic. Ha!

Ahh, signs of Summer in the Bay Area: Blackberries ripening at creekside. Long lines of cars headed to Stinson Beach. Warm evenings as the sun lingers above the Pacific. And fresh dissent rising within your Raiders' camp. more ›

It makes us sad to think of all the dogs unwalked, unwashed and untrained in San Francisco. We guess this lack of walking, washing and training is because dog guardians just don’t know how to find such a service provider. Lucky for us urbanhound.com, a website that started in New York, has come to the rescue with a San Francisco version. It is a central source of all the same ads that already appear in print in Fetch the Paper and The Woofer Times. But online. With a GUI that screams 1999. more ›

A Fourth of July weekend just wouldn't be the same without taking a drive to meet our friends hosting their Annual Boogie Board and BBQ picnic at Stinson Beach. Having lived here long enough to almost qualify as locals, we pride ourselves that we no longer take the dangerous tourist-infested coastal route to the beach, opting instead for the Mill-Valley-then-over-the-mountain alternative frequented by Marinites and others in the know. We love this road, with its voluptuous curves and tempting bends glistening with jewel-like highlights as the sun's god rays burst through the leafy green summer foliage. Our little car gets all hot and perky with excitement as she waits for us to put a foot down on the throttle. This is the moment when she can prove her worth, the day that her patience on the daily commute will be rewarded with some real, progressive, challenging driving. more ›

Stinson Beach reopened today, after a Labor Day closing for swimmers, after a great white shark was sighted. more ›