The Commonwealth Club's 76th Annual California Book Awards have been announced, and two Cal faculty members are big winners this year: Ishmael Reed for "New and Collected Poems, 1964-2006," and journalism professor Michael Pollan for "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals." more ›

As noted in this week's SF Weekly and SFist Rita's "We Read the Weeklies" column, the Bay Area's (and beyond) beloved Kitchen Sink—the magazine for people who think too much—is calling it quits this spring. Kitchen Sink is the latest of several independent publications to shut down due to the Independent Press Association's failure to fulfill its commitments before going under. Before Kitchen Sink's proverbial well runs dry, they will be producing one last issue. But they need your help to do it! Stop on by Edinburgh Castle this Saturday night for their fundraiser, which will feature lots of bands and a raffle with prizes from Amoeba, the Believer and local artisans. more ›

We went to see John Mackey, founder/CEO of Whole Foods speak Tuesday night with journalist Michael Pollan of The Omnivore’s Dilemma fame and golden child for all things foodie and farm-related. We haven’t read Pollan’s book (it’s on our list!) but in it he takes a few jabs at Mackey and Whole Foods and how maybe Whole Foods is not the green do-gooder it claims to be. Maybe Whole Foods distorts the truth about some of its own food suppliers, and hurts the small local farmer by supporting large industrialized organic farms. (Something like that.) more ›

While the San Francisco Public Library site is up, their search is not! Far be it from us to criticize anyone for the occasional technical bobble. Get well soon, SFPL search! more ›