In separate incidents last week, some holiday shoppers trying to subdue a thief got pepper-sprayed in their faces; and some other shoppers in Union Square found themselves being pursued by a crazed, aggressive panhandler who was, ahem, quacking like a duck. more ›

Attention Holiday shoppers and anyone looking to add a scenic cable car ride to their holiday weekend activities: the Hyde Street line is currently out of order until further notice due to an electrical problem. more ›

On Friday, November 18, the public and the fine folks at LEGO will help construct a 12-foot tall by 10-foot wide Santa Yoda made out of lego bricks, right next to the ice skating rink in Union Square. It promises to be one of the greatest lego creations of all time. (Ha, kidding! The greatest ones, of course, are made with space legos, the raddest blocks in the history of toys. But still, this Santa Yoda statue will be a sight to behold.) more ›

Yes, you read that correctly. Halloween is barely over, and the Christmas frenzy has begun. In just five days, you can skate in a winter wonderland in the middle of Union Square when the Holiday Ice Rink opens for the season. more ›

Crafty ex-con and Mission Chinese Food fan, Martha Stewart is coming to San Francisco this week to unleash her latest book of photographs, recipes and entertaining tips. Martha will be at the Union Square Macy's, hawking a $75 update to her 30-year-old classic "Entertaining" at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 5th. more ›

AlertSF sent word that a gas main break shut down occurred near Union Square. "At 2:15 today it was reported that a 10" gas main was hit by a construction crew at Mason and Post Streets. All vehicular and pedestrian traffic is being re-routed. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA." more ›

Call it a subway to nowhere, or call it the greatest thing ever to happen to riders of the Dirty 30, the Central Subway is going to be a fact of life for many of us for years to come. While Stockton Street gets dug up for years, and while various pundits and politicos debate the cost and merits of the thing until they're blue in the face, we're guessing you've been as curious as we were about how the entrances were going to work in what's already a crowded part of town. Now architecture critic John King shares a couple of renderings of the most visible above-ground piece that will come of this new line: the Union Square/Market Street Station entrance at Union Square. more ›

In what will be the greatest cooking demonstration in the history of time and space, Sonja Morgan, part of the Real Housewives of New York gaggle, will make an appearance at Macy's on Thursday night to promote her new toaster oven cookbook. Yes, you read that right. The single greatest member of an increasingly depressing and ill-mannered cast (e.g., Jill Zarin and that terrible lady who made millions shaving vaginas) will be in the city this week to sign copies of her latest book about cooking for royalty (et al.) using a toaster oven. Really, a goddamn toaster oven. This is what, among so many other qualities, makes Morgan a budding lifestyle genius. more ›

Promising to get you in and out in 60 minutes, Michelin-starred Campton Place, located in Union Square, just introduced a new 3-course, prix-fixe Power Hour Business Lunch "as a tasty, healthy alternative to the same old boring turkey-on-wheat, hold the mayo noontime sandwich at your desk," beams the press release. (Who eats mayonnaise? That's disgusting.) more ›

Gary Danko, you are one lucky man. Noted Giants closer and all-around meaty stud Brian Wilson sang your titular restaurant praises on Monday night. Which, well... it doesn't get much better than that, Gary. That's love. In case you didn't hear, Wilson quipped the following during an interview: "Just a small little place called Gary Danko. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s a 14-star restaurant. It’s got everything that you could possibly want. The lobster risotto...If there was another word for excellent…" We can't even imagine. Where does one go from there, Gary? Where?! You officially have it all. [MLB, via Inside Scoop] more ›

In the case of the missing Picasso pencil sketch, a man suspected of lifting the drawing from the Weinstein Gallery is currently in SFPD custody reports the SFAppeal this morning. Police won't confirm yet whether he's the same guy seen on Lefty O'Doul's surveillance footage, but an SFPD spokesman told the press yesterday that the sockless stroller appeared to be their guy. Cops also impounded the cab that carted the thief away from Union Square in order to review that vehicle's security camera footage. (If you're still wondering how he was able to hail a cab at midday - apparently there's a whole line of them outside the Handlery Hotel.) SFPD is holding a press conference with additional details at 10 a.m. this morning. As usual, we'll update as we know more. Updates below: more ›

At around 3pm on Monday, a clothing store on the 200 block of Grant was robbed at gunpoint. A woman and two men entered the store and forced the female employees into a closet. "One of the victims got into a struggle with one of the suspects, a woman in her mid-20s, and suffered minor injuries that left a mark on her neck," reports SF Appeal. The thugs got away with clothing and cash. Please direct any suspect information to the Police Department's anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444. [Appeal] more ›

Shotwell, a super fine clothing store at 320 Grant, was a beacon of hope in Union Square. A clothing store that felt comfortable, affordable, and, dare we say it, literally hip. SFist gave them a glowing review/interview back in 2009. So, stylish readers, it is with a heavy heart we must tell you that they will soon close shop...and move to The Mission. (Ugh.) more ›

S.F. loves a good flash mob (don't you? we don't) and today a mob of several hundred, if not more, are expected to irritate and confuse Union Square tourists around noon. The event is called One Dance, they've been doing it for a couple of years, and it kicks off National Dance Week. Participants are asked to "perform" a three-minute "choreographed dance piece" between noon and 1 p.m., on the Square. The coming week will also feature over 400 free dance events around the Bay Area. more ›

We're hearing reports of a manhole cover explosion happening in the city's Union Square area. KCBS tweets: "Black smoke reported at Post & Grant in SF, reports of a manhole cover explosion." more ›

Returning to San Francisco after a 14 year absence, Rye's Rhachel Shaw spent time in Los Angeles working at Barkeeper in Silverlake, Malo Cantina on Sunset Boulevard, and Caña Rum in Downtown L.A. So, you know, she knows her stuff. And, seeing as how SFist errs on the side of silver linings, we're sure glad she moved back to the Bay Area before Elizabeth Taylor's death. See, Shaw came up with a fittingly boozy yet divine tribute called White Diamonds. more ›

Those who find themselves in Union Square on a regular basis now have a Blue Bottle option amongst the sea of Starbuckses and other un-artisan coffee spots. The folks behind coffee kiosks Cento, Vega, and Special Xtra, which all serve Blue Bottle, opened up their latest location, Grand Prix, last week in the heart of Union Square at 1 Tillman Place (near Sutter and Grant) inside Azul. more ›

"Beginning Saturday, John Toomey will appear on a specially constructed North Pole Winter Wonderland stage at the restaurant from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. until Christmas Eve," Lefty's spokesman Lee Houskeeper explained to BCN (via SF Appeal). "His four-point contract stipulates that he is allowed to tell jokes." more ›

"You did something" by Mike D. Thorn. more ›

by Andrew Dalton Just in case anyone out there was having a hard time remembering the long-gone late-90's when our rap music was as light and WASP-y as our denim washes, then this Thursday's free concert with Third Eye Blind ("3eb" to the cool kids) in Union Square should help jog your Sony Discman. The event, thrown by Macy's... more ›

SFPD Chief George Gascon will announce today the identities and arrests of the suspects in the fatal Union Square shooting of German tourist Mechthild Schroeer, reports BCN (via SF Appeal). more ›

Philip Stewart, the 18-year-old accused of shooting German tourist Mechtild Schroeer, will not face murder charges because "prosecutors said they did not have enough evidence to charge him." Schroeer, it seems, found herself "caught in the crossfire of a shootout between two groups of people outside a private party on that block." [via CBS 5] more ›

Of the five San Francisco teens detained in the shooting death of Mechthild Schroer, 50, one has been arrested. Police have booked and charged 18-year-old Phillip Stewart, of San Francisco, with murder. The shooting erupted after a melee broke out at a private party held at a nearby club. Four other teens were arrested. more ›

The woman who was shot and killed a little before 9 a.m. p.m. last night on Mason and Geary has been identified as Mechthild Schröer, 50, of Minden, Germany. According to SFGate, she was killed in front of her husband. Horrifying. Two other people were also injured during the gunfire, a 15-year-old boy and a 19-year-old woman, whose name have yet to be released. Police have yet to make an arrest. more ›