• One would think all those sunny days down in Arizona would have prepared the Giants for these early season games in SoCal, and yet: we lost to the Padres 3-1. [CBSLocal]

• The best thing you'll read today: McCovey Chronicles tackles the prickly issue of defining a town by their baseball fans. We'd say articles like this are the reason why our fans are so much better than everyone else's, but then we'd be missing the point. [McCoveyChronicles]

• Is LGBT Burnout to blame for the closing bookstores like A Different Light and Modern Times? Apparently "you can only tell the gay and lesbian story so many times." Which seems kind of short-sighted, doesn't it? [SFAppeal]

• And anyway, perhaps we need not lament Modern Times: Busboys and Poets, a West Coast outpost of NYC's high(er) concept bookstore/restaurant looks likely to take it's place. [GrubStreet]

• You should probably go to this month's installment of The Rumble - a free monthly showcase of up-and-comers in the music scene. Seriously, just think of the cred you'll have when you get to tell everyone you saw these bands way back when they played free shows at Milk on Haight. Also: cheap beer. [OwlMagSF]