Jay Barmann - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports

Day Around the Bay: El Farolito Is Deemed a Chain, Denied Ability to Open In North Beach

There was a rally outside ICE regional headquarters in SF in support of Haitian refugees, Pfizer booster shots for the elderly may start as soon as tomorrow, and a former FDA commissioner says it's likely the Delta wave will be the last wave in this pandemic.

Possibly Mentally Disturbed Bay Area Woman Arrested For Setting Fawn Fire In Shasta County; Fire Grows to 1,200 Acres

A woman seen in the area of the explosive Fawn Fire in Shasta County on Wednesday who later sought help from firefighters has now been arrested on suspicion of being the arsonist behind it.

Oakland Police Dept. Instagram Meme Scandal Could Keep It Under Federal Oversight Longer

An independent review of the Oakland Police Department's handling of a scandal involving an offensive meme account created by a recently fired officer — and the many still active OPD officers who liked and commented on its posts — has determined that the department still has a lot to learn.

Bayview Neighbors Push Back on Plan to Create RV Parking Lot for Homeless at Candlestick

A proposed new "Vehicle Triage Center" out at Candlestick Point has some NIMBY neighbors angry, but Supervisor Shamann Walton is reminding everyone that the homeless and their cars and RVs are already in the area anyway.

SF Restaurants, Food & Drink

Chez Panisse Is Delaying Reopening Until Next Year

Berkeley's landmark restaurant Chez Panisse has decided not to reopen its dining room next month as planned, but is putting off a full reopening until next year.

Thursday Morning What's Up: Dixie Fire Now 94% Contained

BART service in the East Bay was delayed due to a fatality at Richmond Station, Oakland has declared a state of emergency over gun violence, and Fremont has canceled its big annual art and wine festival for the second year.

Day Around the Bay: Fremont Fire Grows Near Sonoma-Napa Border

A vegetation fire grew to around 100 acres before progress was made to control it near Napa Road in Sonoma, a 50-year-old Oakland man surrendered to police after shooting one of them in a shootout this morning, and James Mattis testified in the Elizabeth Holmes trial today.

Tribe Behind One Sonoma County Casino Accuses Tribe Behind New Proposed Casino of 'Reservation Shopping'

Things are getting a little tense between neighboring Native American tribes in Sonoma County, where the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria are none too pleased about another tribe moving in on their casino turf.

Scott Peterson Won't Get a New Trial, Will Be Re-Sentenced to Life Without Parole

Long-ago convicted murderer Scott Peterson, who has been trying to appeal his death sentence for the last nine years and has maintained his innocence throughout the past two decades, will not have the pleasure of a new trial.

SFPD and City Hall Announce Initiative to Crack Down On Retail Theft Which Includes Privately Funded Police

The City of San Francisco and the SF Police Department announced a new effort Wednesday to address an uptick in brazen retail theft in the city.

Paul Flores, Longtime Suspect In 1996 Disappearance of Kristin Smart, Will Stand Trial For Her Murder

A San Luis Obispo County judge ruled Wednesday that Paul Flores, the last person seen with 19-year-old Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart after a party 25 years ago, should stand trial for her murder.

Arts & Entertainment

SF Artist Lampoons Empty Downtown Spaces By Covering Google Office Sign With Spirit Halloween Store Sign

A San Francisco conceptual artist wanted to comment on the vast amount of empty real estate sitting unused in the city right now — while lots of people, including artists and the homeless, could be using it.

SF Restaurants, Food & Drink

Michelin Unveils New Bib Gourmand Roster for Bay Area Ahead of Full Guide

The Michelin Guide team has done its usual round of teasers and released its list of new Bib Gourmand additions for the California guide — not the full Bib list, mind you, but this year's new additions.

Humpday Headlines: Southern California Keeps Sucking Up Water Amid Drought

A new report looks at water conservation across all California cities, the SF Board of Supervisors just approved $200 million in SFMTA contracts for parking meters and trains, and Dreamforce is underway with multiple COVID safety checks.

Day Around the Bay: Fast-Moving Fire Leads to Evacuation In Petaluma

A fast-moving vegetation fire caused the evacuation of 900 homes in Petaluma, another young person has apparently been swept out to sea in Santa Cruz, and the Bay Area continues to get gold stars for pandemic mitigation.

Arts & Entertainment

Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel Reunite For Fugees Tour, Coming to Oakland In November

Somebody must have looked at their bank account and decided it was time to put the past behind them and hit the road as a band again.

Arts & Entertainment

Outside Lands Announces 16 Extra Night Shows; Tickets On Sale Friday

Organizers of Outside Lands just announced the biggest-ever slate of small-venue night shows for the week of the festival in late October, and these include a Wednesday DRAMA set at Bimbo's, and Kaytranada at 1015 Folsom. Also, there's a just-announced RUFUS DU SOL show at the Fox in Oakland.

SFMTA Seeks Public Input on Whether to Restore Suspended Bus Routes Versus Increase Frequency on Popular Lines

Muni ridership remains less than half of what it was before the pandemic, because almost nobody is commuting downtown these days. And the SFMTA is facing some tough decisions as it looks to restore more service in 2022, so it's looking for the public's input on how to proceed.

London Breed Going Maskless at Club Became a National Story; Should It Have?

Should Mayor London Breed have been called out and excoriated for not having her mask on while out at a music venue with friends last week? Discuss.

Preliminary Hearing Wraps Up In Kristin Smart Murder Trial; Judge to Rule Wednesday

On Wednesday, a judge in San Luis Obispo County will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with the trial of Paul and Ruben Flores, the father and son accused in the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart.

Tuesday Morning Topline: It's Going to Be a Hot Last Day of Summer

Embattled school board member Alison Collins responds to the recall effort, there's an outbreak of kidney disease among California sea lions, and all large indoor events in the state now have to require proof of vaccination.

Day Around the Bay: Tiny Homes for the Homeless Coming to Lots at Gough and Mission

A tiny home village is replacing a tent village at Gough and Mission, the homeless hotel experiment has had mostly positive results around the Bay, and Oakland just recorded its 100th homicide of 2021 with more than three months left in the year.

Man On Scooter Injured By Hit-and-Run Driver In Hayes Valley; Police Seek Suspect

A man was injured while riding a moped/motorbike at the busy intersection of Hayes and Gough streets Monday afternoon — and the van that struck the scooter fled the scene.

SF Restaurants, Food & Drink

Five SF Restaurant Openings and Two Reopenings to Look Forward To This Fall

While nothing can be called "back to normal" yet in the restaurant world, things are at least inching in a positive direction, and here are a handful of exciting openings and reopenings to whet your whistle.

Four Members of 'Boogaloo' Group That Accused Cop Killer Belonged To Have Pleaded Guilty to Destroying Evidence

Four men who were part of a group WhatsApp chat with accused murderer Steven Carrillo have pleaded guilty to obstructing the federal probe against Carrillo and his alleged accomplice.