week around the ists - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:20:52 GMT

Seattlest notes that Mayor McGinn’s agenda is the continuing battle over child prostitution with local Village Voice Media paper, the Seattle Weekly, at week’s end, neither party has budged, with McGinn threatening to go nationwide.
Chicagoist offered their picks for this weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival and said goodbye to radio station Q101.
Gothamist watched in awe as an acrobat dangled from the Williamsburg Bridge with just some pieces of fabrics. But the police were not so amused!
DCist reported on the arrest of a man police allege is the leader of one of the city’s oldest graffiti crews -- the story got more complicated when the arrested street artist, Asad ULTRA Walker, was removed from a lettering workshop he was scheduled to conduct at one of the city’s public libraries.
Bostonist observed people in transition this week. Jeffrey Mullan is leaving his job as transportation secretary this fall; Roger Clemens' perjury trial ended in a mistrial; Catherine Greig was formally denied bail.
LAist heard from a reader who thinks the impending Carmageddon (aka the closing of the 405 freeway) is making everyone soft: " IF THIS ISNT PROOF ABOUT THE PUSSIFICATION OF AMERICA, ESPECIALLY CALIFORNIA, I DONT KNOW WHAT IS."
SFist found out that a speeding cyclist who nearly killed a pedestrian "would face the same potential legal repercussions as the driver of any car involved in a collision with a pedestrian" if found guilty.
Shanghaiist was shocked that a teacher who claims she was raped was told by the police "It's not rape if he used a condom."
Austinist interviewed the co-founder of a company that hopes to be the first package-free, waste-not grocery store in Austin and ostensibly the U.S.!

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:25:02 GMT

Chicagoist and its readers marked the passing of Lynn Hauldren, best known as the Empire Carpet Man. A plan to reconfigure a treacherous six corners intersection on the North Side of town generated a lot of debate. A popular South Side priest was shocked that Cardinal Francis George suspended him from his duties and his congregation protested the suspension outside the Cardinal's residence. The staff, acting off an article in Time OUt Chicago, put together more lies Chicagoans tell themselves. The Lollapalooza lineup was revealed and discussed. And reaction locally to President Obama releasing his birth certificate was fast and furious.
DCist normally would have spent some time analyzing the Washington Redskins’ draft class, if only we hadn’t been so distracted by Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s continuing legal tantrum against the Washington City Paper or defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth’s claims that a woman he allegedly sexually abused “was just upset [he] had a white girlfriend.” (Who are we kidding? Any draft analysis would have just ended up taking a back seat to lion cub training photos and outdoor movie festival anticipation, anyway.)
Gothamist found out that buying counterfeit purses could land you in jail or a $1000 fine, plus the shocking news that the Museum of Modern Art does not have dinosaurs (much to the dismay of one young critic).
SFist asked the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an iconic Catholic parody/fundraising group, to respond to conservative gay blogger Andrew Sullivan after he slammed their annual Easter Sunday Hunky Jesus contest as "tired," "lame," and bigoted.
LAist considered the implications of broadcasting high-definition Scientology following the news that former PBS affiliate KCET sold their landmark Hollywood building to the Church.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:44:14 GMT

Chicagoist’s “Countdown to Rahmageddon” concluded with the election of Rahm Emanuel as Mayor. With Emanuel’s election, the epic “Mayor Emanuel” Twitter feed came to a glorious end, and they broke the feed down by the numbers. But the biggest election surprise was the election of City Council’s first Asian-American alderman. Chicagoist also hosted an inspired live chat to discuss the election’s ramifications.
Seattlest should be out looking for our mayor's stolen bike instead of staying in and recapping the Lifetime movie about Amanda Knox. However people who actually do get out of the house should bone up on their hipster musician scruff with this awesome "name that beard" quiz.
Shanghaiist watched as the Jasmine Revolution fizzled out. Our suspicions about whether Jon Huntsman showed up to the protests were confirmed and his name was censored from microblogs. As always NMA was there with an animated version of events.
DCist experienced a crazy week in local politics: it was revealed that D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown ordered two “Fully Loaded” Lincoln Navigators which cost the city thousands, a scandal that Brown proceeded to fib blatantly about; Sulaimon Brown, one of Mayor Vince Gray’s cronies who was given a cushy job inside the city government, was fired and escorted from his office by police -- the Mayor then dodged the press, causing a showdown between reporters and city hall security; outside the District, Maryland’s legislature took a big step toward legalizing gay marriage. (Also: be sure to buy a copy of our new photography magazine!)
Bostonist observed that at least two Bay State politicians praised the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. We're not sure if the Boston Celtics can prevent a Lakers NBA title defense now that Kendrick Perkins was traded away. Massachusetts wandered into Wisconsin territory with a Unions vs. Tea Party rally on Wednesday at Beacon Hill. A Tea Partier said unions were "perverted," and Congressman Michael Capuano said people should get "a little bloody." Oh, and tonight is the Boston edition of the Oscars.
Gothamist watched as an anti-choice group put up controversial billboard in Soho saying "The most dangerous place for an African American is in the womb." Countless people were offended, and the advertising company took down the sign claiming concerns for people working in the building.
LAist talked tunnels and imagined a transportation future where commuters could get from Ventura Boulevard to Wilshire in just six minutes.
SFist cheered upon hearing news that Britney Spears will perform in the Castro, but jeered when a group of mourners at IHOP attacked a local FOX news team.

Week Around The Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:19:01 GMT

Gothamist found out that billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg likes to put ice in his beer. One bar owner told us, "I had a laugh because, for someone like me, it's ridiculous. But I guess to each his own. I don't want anybody telling me what position I can have sex in. Not in Williamsburg! It's all personal taste."
DCist was annoyed when the head of the city’s Metro system said that late night riders “should not be drunk”; meanwhile, its readers debated one Safeway store’s new policy of checking customers’ receipts before they leave.
Chicagoist discovered that a campaign letter sent to city workers by Rahm Emanuel’s campaign hoping to clarify his position on pension reform wasn’t well received.
Seattlest got a look at our local masked superhero in action at the police protests popping up around the city and skipped Valentine's Day in favor of celebrating Octopus Day, which included a roundup of local cephalopod-inspired tattoos.
Shanghaiist watched Beijing police shake it, models ride the Taipei subways half-naked, a girl with only five fingers play the piano, and a five-year-old amputee eat and write with his feet!
Bostonist reported on sexual abuse this week: Senator Scott Brown's bombshell revelation that he was sexually abused as a 10-year old by a camp counselor stunned us. It's in his book, "Against All Odds," and he chats up Lesley Stahl of "60 Minutes" about it tonight. A prominent local wrestling coach was arrested for possessing child pornography and the kids still won a state title. A prominent doctor died one day after he was sued for sexual abuse. On a lighter note, Rajon Rondo taught Miami another lesson which prompted us to drop the MVP tag on him. BC schooled Northeastern - again - in the Beanpot. Oh, yeah, the Sox are back.
LAist met The Pitbull Lady. As far as we can tell, she is probably not Banksy.
SFist reopened the city's foreseeable circumcision ban, which might appear on the November ballot.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:10:53 GMT

Gothamist was intrigued by the spectacle of the $65 million Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Lights, which saw its fourth actor injured during a preview. The show had to shut down for a day, but the accidents may be helping the box office and the audience doesn’t seem to care that the book, score, and lead actor’s singing are terrible.

DCist and its contributors put their cameras to work this week -- a good thing, too: a total lunar eclipse, the National Zoo’s adorable lion cubs and D.C’s female roller derby league made for some inspired subjects.

Chicagoist was excited to hear that a television series was in the works based on the exploits of a couple of legendary mob bosses, shared a recipe for homemade eggnog with its readers and kicked off a new series featuring photographs from the archives of legendary photographer Art Shay.

Seattlest shared a stunning reader photo of the lunar eclipse, learned how to spot a native Seattleite, and drank a lot of beer while watching the glorious winning streak and frustrating loss by local Jeopardy champ Tom Nissley. Oh yeah--and we're getting an additional congressional seat. Take that, NY!

Bostonist was thrilled when Barney Frank dropped some of his clever verbal stylings on us, again. He turned some hack's question on the end of "don't ask don't tell" into a teachable moment by declaring that gay Americans don't get "dry cleaned" and do take showers. Oh, and Shaquille O'Neal became Big Orchestra for a night.

LAist was stoked to see the sky turn from rain to double rainbows after nearly a week of destructive weather.

SFist was sad to report that San Francisco’s popular laser kitten mural was defaced with bull heads, and here's why.

Shanghaiist was shocked by China's vote to retain the right to summarily execute gays and lesbians at the United Nations General Assembly.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 13:00:18 GMT

LAist thought it was a-ok to be gay for America.

Bostonist got festive this week as Bostonians took to the streets in various states of undress for the 2010 SSRun, formerly known as the Santa Speedo Run. The 11th annual event speaks for itself. One gallery wasn't enough. Bostonist needed two.

DCist talked to local politicians to hash out solutions to the city’s massive budget deficit -- then for happy hour, asked its readers to help rename one of the city’s most notorious bars, with hilarious results.

Chicagoist clued its readers to some bargain fixer homes, was in line for the opening of chef Graham Elliot’s new sandwich shop, and talked pizza with local radio legend Steve Dahl.

Phillyist waxed poetic about the return of Cliff Lee. Sorry Gothamist, he’s ours.

Seattlest hit up MTV.com to watch a fantastic web series about 13 local bands, continued tracking Amanda Knox's appeals trial and pointed out a few things natives never notice about themselves.

Shanghaiist was amused by 7-Up's viral video for the Christmas season.

SFist titillated readers with news that the CA National Organization of Women filed complaints against Hooters for sexual entertainment of minors.

Gothamist was saddened to learn that a Brooklyn cyclist struck by a truck (whose driver wasn’t licensed to drive that kind of truck) was left blind. This also comes as the Brooklyn Borough President touted his anti-bike lane sentiment in his annual holiday card.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 11:25:15 GMT

Chicagoist’s readers were introduced to a website that re-ignited the ages-old debate about winter parking dibs, and were later incensed that Wal-Mart signed an intent to lease space for a smaller neighborhood store in one of the more populous and affluent neighborhoods in the city.

DCist officially announced its 2011 Exposed photography show -- and to celebrate the event’s fifth anniversary, informed the city about its plans to publish a special collection of the event’s best images.

Gothamist covered Columbia University’s bad week: Five students were arrested for drug dealing from fraternities (check out the stashes) and a popular professor was charged with incest.

SFist worried Macy’s canceled Christmas after they fired Santa Claus (aka John Toomey) for being too jolly.

LAist marveled at the miracle of Pineapple Express isn't just a stoner movie, and congratulated some of our local chefs on all the national cookbook accolades.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 12:15:33 GMT

Chicagoist braced itself for the biggest storm front to pass through in 70 years. Despite a lot of wind, however, media reports dubbing it the 'Great Lakes Cyclone' were overblown, which gave its readers more time to discuss a perceived war on foodies.

SFist celebrated the Giants World Series performance during Games One and Two, but shook its finger at these ladies duking it out at a nearby McDonald's after the game.

Phillyist mourned the end of the Phils' playoff run, but celebrated the team's season. (Shut up, SFist.)

Austinist revealed that Descendents were reuniting for a special headlining appearance at next weekend's Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, taking the spot previously occupied by Devo (who canceled due to a thumb injury).

DCist dabbled in drag at the High Heel Race and spent the rest of the week talking movies -- namely, a renovated theater and the debate over the quintessential film set in the District.

Seattlest says forget Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber -- vote for local nutcracker curator Arlene Leavenworth as the first guest on Conan O'Brien's new show. Oh, and all you concertgoers out there should get some earplugs, already.

Gothamist found it typical that a police cruiser would park in a bike lane so the officer could ticket bicyclists for veering out of the lane to avoid the cruiser.

Londonist launched a new iPhone app this week. It shows cafes, bars vand other venues in London that offer free wifi access.

Bostonist loved Rondo (headband or not), watched a controversial arrest from multiple angles, recommended somevdevil cheese; and threatened to keg-stand draft Fernet Branca.

LAist announced that the Metro Board of Directors finally voted to approve the extension of the Westside Subway to just past the 405 Freeway.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 12:31:16 GMT

Phillyist looked ahead to a possible World Series win, and was quite pleased to see that at least one player was doing everything possible to earn it.

SFist also looked ahead to an imminent World Series win after the Giants clinched the NL West.

Seattlest pondered why a local man offered Weezer $10 million to break up when there are so many other bands far more deserving of such a proposal.

Bostonist is all about comings and goings: Obama's coming to Massachusetts to campaign, the Patriots continue to explain Randy Moss' surprise exit, and comedian Jim Gaffigan talks about his return to Boston.

Shanghaiist watched and debated the merits of a documentary on the cat meat industry. Sure, kittens are cute, but does that mean they deserve to be saved more than pigs and sheep?

LAist reported on the recorded phone call in which a staffer for gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown used some "salty language" in referring to rival Meg Whitman as a "whore."

DCist spent the week discussing pedestrian issues: whether that was a fatal hit and run in Dupont Circle, a tragic accident in the suburbs involving a young child in a stroller or just the fact that a lot of kids aren't walking to school these days.

Chicagoist and its readers debated the naming of an industrial area of the city's West side as the most dangerous neighborhood in the country, while elsewhere an actual crime was perpetrated on a beloved puppet bike.

Gothamist was stunned when two men were arrested for beating a gay man at the Stonewall Inn, the bar where the modern gay rights movement was born. The suspects claim they are not homophobic (one says his sister if a "full blown lesbian) while the victim says, "We must be better than these bullies."

Londonist secured a minor footnote in the annals of geo-aware phone apps by staging the UK's first ever Foursquare Super Swarm.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:55:35 GMT

LAist's Sports Editor wrote "A Plea for Empathy," after a week in which five stories about gay teens killing themselves after being taunted made headlines.

Gothamist learned that a Rutgers University student killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge—apparently his roommate was trying to secretly broadcast the victim's sexual encounter with another man.

Shanghaiist, after reading the latest stats on the Chinese internet, wondered if it had turned into one giant 4chan.

SFist displayed this delightfully NSFW gallery of photos from this year's Folsom Street Fair, the city's ode to sex and leather fetish.

Chicagoist tracked Rahm Emanuel's departure from the White House as they prepared for his run for mayor of Chicago and lent Rahmbo a hand with some campaign poster ideas.

Bostonist sees the first arrest in last week's quadruple homicide, a car exploding in Somerville, and the governor's race tightening up.

Chicagoist Editor-in-Chief Marcus Gilmer celebrated his last week with the site by making a gallery of possible campaign posters for Rahm Emanuel upcoming campaign for Mayor.

DCist took a look back at how much some areas of the city have changed over the last twenty-five years after one such area, U Street, was the scene of a brazen, midday shooting.

Seattlest got a lesson in true American fashion. Hold the flannel shirt jokes, please.

Londonist discovered a mysterious connection between Harry Potter and the city's architecture, and invited any Foursquare fans who are in town on Thursday to join them in an attempt to gain the first Super Swarm badge in the UK.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:40:23 GMT

SFist received this image from a nightclub owner frustrated his iPhone service, or lack thereof.

Shanghaiist poo pooed people who praise our city's skyline way too much by showing off what may be one of the ugliest buildings in the world - the Ping An Insurance building, which not only boasts ionic column after column for 40-something-stories, but is topped off with a giant, shiny, Roman dome. Just the thing to be built smack dab in our bustling, Blade-Runner-like financial center.

Gothamist got confirmation, by way of this map, that Manhattan is full of white people. Also, even babies like to block bike lanes.

Chicagoist sent their Food & Drink editor Chuck Sudo west to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado [Parts One, Two, and Three]

LAist served up the word that Downtown's 1930s Clifton's Cafeteria's new owners were going to revitalize the menu, infrastructure, and operations at the beloved mainstay.

DCist celebrated D.C. Fashion Week with a week-long series of interviews and photo galleries featuring five local designers and their work.

Seattlest bemoaned our statistically crappy summer and the fact that we couldn't even see the harvest moon that officially rang in fall.

Phillyist debated Vick versus Kolb for quarterback, just days after a book about the Michael Vick dogs hit store shelves.

Bostonist notes a spree of on-campus crime, frets over the idea of paying for the Globe online, and checks out a rally to legalize marijuana.

Londonist protested at the Pope, redesigned the escalator and relived the Blitz in an abandoned Tube station.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 10:30:35 GMT

LAist inspired a lively debate when they reported that gubernatorial candidate and millionaire Meg Whitman has now spent more of her own money on her campaign than any other politician in US history had. (By the way, that's $119 million out of her own pocket.)

Londonist spotted some creative street art challenging the Pope's state visit to London.

Gothamist had a crazy week: The city made moves towards banning smoking in parks, beaches, and pedestrian plazas and outspoken, bestiality-email-forwarding Tea Party fave Carl Paladino won the Republican primary for governor and promises a huge fight (which is win-win for the media).

Phillyist received White House press credentials to attend President Obama's back-to-school speech at Masterman School in Philadelphia—and got some badass photos.

SFist shed some light on the abandoned couches of San Francisco.

Shanghaiist celebrated Arnold Schwarzenegger's trip to Shanghai by hosting a caption contest.

Chicagoist came across a treasure trove of photos by two generations of photographers, spanning six decades of the city's history.

Seattlest stayed up too late watching television and playing Halo:Reach, and welcomed home its new champions.

DCist was all over the story of a D.C. police officer who shot and killed a dog in the middle of a heavily-attended street festival.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 10:15:17 GMT

SFist spent Thursday night covering the San Bruno natural gas explosion and fire. The inferno--which killed several residents, destroyed dozens of homes, and displaced many--sent flames hundreds of feet in the air.

DCist kicked off a series of candid interviews with the District's political movers and shakers by chatting with education reformer Michelle Rhee.

Seattlest caught up with the local author of a book on the Amanda Knox case.

Bostonist reported that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, possibly unable to stomach a reality where the NFL's season opener could overshadow his negotiations to become the league's highest-paid QB, got hit by a minivan while on his way to practice (which he didn't miss, of course). And yeah, he's fine, thanks for asking.

LAist shared a map showing what people call "soda" (or "pop," or other things like "hot man gravy,") county by county across the U.S.

Londonist disturbed some ancient coffins in a church crypt, investigated what's at the very ends of London and discovered what happens when you release 100 cats in a furniture store.

Phillyist debuted the postcard for their Rockabilly Relaunch party, at which they will likely consume large quantities of beer.

Chicagoist was shocked when long-ruling mayor Richard M. Daley announced he would not seek a seventh-term as mayor, breaking next year's race for mayor wide open with a slew of prospective candidates including White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel.

Gothamist found out that, according to the imam of the proposed mosque two blocks from the World Trade Center site, the radicals will win if the mosque is moved. Donald Trump tried to buy out the investors, but his offer was dismissed as a cheap publicity ploy (hey, the new season of The Apprentice is starting soon!).

Shanghaiist lamented the faux renovation of one of the most historically important neighborhoods in Shanghai. The street that China's founders lived on is now being transformed into a "restaurant/luxury retail life hub" and villa hotels that cost $6000 a night.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:51:00 GMT

DCist had a busy week: they provided up-to-the-minute information on a gunman who held hostages at the Discovery Communications building in Silver Spring, recapped the Restoring Honor rally in photographs and liveblogged a high-profile debate between the city's two leading candidates for mayor.

Philyist had a busy week, first celebrating its relaunch, complete with new look, and then finding a way to make 90210 Day relevant.

LAist wondered if the Senator and the Sheriff's stand against legalizing marijuana is just "rhetoric" that will be tested if--when?--the voters pass the measure making pot legal in the November election.

Seattlest got down with the musical stylings of local acts, big names, comedy, film and more at Bumbershoot.

Gothamist was both horrified and amused by the fight that broke out in the stands of the U.S. Open between a 27-year-old man and a middle-aged woman and her 75-year-old father. They are all now banned from the Open for through 2012 and have filed civil harassment charges against each other.

SFist didn't think Obama looked like a "wuss" wearing a bike helmet.

Chicagoist gave its readers a behind the scenes tour of how Jelly Belly jelly beans are made.

Londonist heard how Tony Blair almost ordered a passenger jet to be shot down over London in the aftermath of 9/11, while one of the current Prime Minister's Twitter accounts has been restricted after bending the rules.

Week Around the Ists

Brock Keeling — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:49:45 GMT

Gothamist is stuck in a vortex of stories involving alleged Islamophobia: A week that started with a heated rally and confrontation outside the not-at-Ground Zero mosque, there were incidents of a man peeing on prayer rugs at a Queens mosque and a taxi driver who was stabbed after being asked if he was Muslim.

Chicagoist watched a Lego version of the city come under attack by Lego Star Wars villains and then talked to the Lego Master Builder behind the chaos.

Seattlest celebrated its WNBA team making the playoffs and solved a puzzle to score an invite to Facebook's housewarming party.

Londonist hauled a couple of local papers over the coals as the Evening Standard nicked one of our photos and News Shopper rewarded an anti-gay letter with their star prize.

DCist prepared for Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally on the National Mall by sharing one Tea Partier's guide to D.C. and publishing a handy map based on the skewed advice within.

Shanghaiist was pounded by lighting and thunder storms, which unfortunately also caused the complete wreckage of one of its most historic, but neglected, historical landmarks - one that we had just visited earlier in the week.

SFist prepared for Burning Man and questioned whether or not the event had any wind left in its counterculture sails.

LAist discovered a messy "intersection" between the City of Santa Monica and a cancer research company where the business deal depends on building a bicycle lane.