Undergoing a procedure to erase 30 years from its face, the Castro neighborhood is going retro, circa 1978, for the filming of Gus Van Sant's Harvey Milk biopic, Milk, which starts shooting this week. Already the Castro Theatre, right, and boutique shop Given, formerly Milk's camera store / campaign headquarters, are being renovated to get that '70s vibe. Rumor has it that Castro Street between 18th and 19th streets (i.e., the staphicenter) will be......

Yesterday, Mayor Newsom signed into action the Tommy Ammiano-introduced legislation that requires the city to handout ID cards to undocumented immigrants and other residents who either can't or just won't apply for driver's licenses. The good news is that these IDs will help (formerly) undocumented residents gain access to the wonderful world of banking, a sense of peace before calling the fuzz, as well as "health services at city-run clinics, public library privileges, and resident discounts at museums and other cultural institutions." (Entry fee discounts at the Exploratorium: the American dream realized.) ...

Even though we're too vile to appear on screen in a film about his life, legacy, and popper sniffing -- no, we will not let it go, but thank you for asking -- we will honor the guy who was once known as the Mayor of Castro Street: former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Sure, some of the Castro's sex shops have removed phallic symbols from their storefront windows in order to protect the......

San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved municipal ID cards to SF inhabitants yesterday. These (hopefully adorable) new cards can be used by anyone here, it seems -- U.S. resident or not. Tommy Ammiano introduced the legislation, which, according to the Chronicle, "would require companies holding city contracts to accept the municipal card as a legitimate form of identification." (So does that mean they can be used to get into bars? Sweet.) Ammiano also claims......

Larry Craig's police interrogation audio -- Senator Larry Craig still a lying homosexual. [Examiner, via AP] -- Tony Hall calls it quits. [Chron] -- Jackson West's last column for now. Good luck on the other coast, Jackson! Weep, weep. [Chron Blog] -- Harvey Milk Club hearts Tommy Ammiano and Kamala Harris. Of course. [Left in SF] -- Cupertino/Stevens Creek Canyon fire contained. [SJ Merc] -- BM suicide. [Chron Blogs] -- AIDS housing advocates and......