Fourth of July

Top 10 Black Pop Stars Who Should Go Country

With the nation's major-party political conventions recently drawing to a close with a rousing reelection appeal from the nation's first black president, it seems fitting to cast a spotlight on an equally rare profession: the black country music artist. Or, rather, the former black pop star seeking ... More >>

SF Bulls to Host National Anthem Tryouts

If the Fourth of July didn't fulfill your patriotic quota for the summer, you're in luck: The San Francisco Bulls professional hockey team is looking for someone to sing the national anthem, and we'll get to watch the selection process.On Saturday, Aug. 18, all wannabe Christina Aguileras will come ... More >>

Buy a Date With Ian Somerhalder, Don't Buy Monkeys, and People Won't Date Vegans!

​ Guys, don't buy monkeys. I know everybody wants to, we can't help it. I used to make up names for my future monkey and draw the awesome matching outfits we'd wear. But monkeys shouldn't be pets! Let's learn from Joey's story (btdubs, I think I love Stephen Fry, is that weird? Or is it like want ... More >>

Old Meets New

How Effective Is Mayor Ed Lee's Anti-Fireworks Message? We Ask a Rhetoric Professor.

Stanford Rhetorician Dissects Mayor's Flaccid Anti-Fireworks "Statement"One of the sad features of modern political life is the proliferation of "statements" written in language that no human would ever say -- and no human would ever wish to read.For some strange reason, these steaming piles of verb ... More >>

Summer Guide: The Life Aquatic: Get out on the Bay

San Franciscans Finally Learn How to Drive "Stone-Cold Sober"

Turns out, all those public service announcements are finally starting to pay off. According to police, DUI arrests were down this year -- way down -- compared to last Memorial Day Weekend. Cops only arrested 27 suspected drunk drivers versus the 42 they hauled off to jail last year. Some back of a ... More >>

Mark Zuckerberg Now Worth $20 Billion More: How Many Hoodies Will That Buy Him?

This morning, Facebook CEO and hoodie aficionado Mark Zuckerberg changed the world for the second time when he rang the bell, making his multi-billion-dollar company officially public. As Mike Cassidy from the Mercury News so aptly put it: It was like "Christmas, New Year's, Diwali, Tet, Fiestas Pat ... More >>

Bouncer Communes with the Pinatas at the Latin American Club

Things Music Critics Hate: Skrillex

Music criticism is as much an affliction as an occupation -- especially these days, it's far more reliable as a sickness than a paycheck. Things Music Critics Hate is an occasional series that will attempt to diagnose and explain the broadly shared beliefs and biases that shape the landscape of musi ... More >>

Thanksgiving: A Deadly Day on the Road

​I don't know about you, but at our Thanksgiving dinners there's always that one person who consumes more Wild Turkey than turkey. And thinking of this made us wonder: Why hasn't the San Francisco Police Department made any plans for DUI checkpoints this Thursday?San Francisco Police Captain Al Ca ... More >>

On the Unifying Power of Angry 9/11 Songs: "It's Like Attending a Memorial"

Toby Keith at Shoreline last month.​ It's a scene that's played out innumerable times since 2002 -- and with the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 here, it will now be executed with even more patriotic fervor and bicep-flexing machismo. Behold, a Stetson-wearing, sleeveless Toby Keith, his American ... More >>

"2012 — The Musical!": S.F. Mime Troupe Big on Idealogy, Short on Entertainment

Missing Bay Area Tourists in Boating Accident Could Still Be Alive

Tourists stayed alive by bobbing on vests for more than 16 hours ​Mexican rescuers have officially expanded their search for seven American tourists -- most of whom are Bay Area residents -- after their fishing boat capsized over the holiday weekend, killing one. While it's been more than two days ... More >>

Fox News Twitter Account Hacked, Claims President Obama Assassinated

Don't believe Fox News​No worries, folks: Barack Obama is still the leader of the United States, much to the disappointment of Fox News followers. The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that some idiot hackers thought they'd have a little fun with Fox News and give us another reason not to ... More >>

Fourth of July in San Francisco: Hot and Fiery

We warned readers on Friday that San Francisco wasn't allowed to light fireworks -- or blow anything up for that matter. And there's good reason for that. we saw what happened over in the East Bay where fireworks were responsible for a house fire and an accident where one man severed his finger off ... More >>

San Francisco's Most Comfortable Barbecue

Nice seat​Depending upon where you are, the juxtaposition of couches and barbecues evoke different results. In Santa Barbara, for example, they have a tendency to barbecue their couches. Not so here in the city. And certainly not so over the Fourth of July weekend at Crissy Field, where passers-by ... More >>

America Sucks: Six Great Songs Complaining About the USA

​So it's almost the Fourth of July -- a day when we are all obligated to find a barbeque, pretend it's sunny, get drunker than we probably should in the middle of the day, and complain about British people. As is the case with so many national holidays, this whole deal is a pain in the ass for the ... More >>

Alexandra Pelosi Talks to SF Weekly About Her New Film Citizen U.S.A

Taylor FriedmanThe other Pelosi's take on immigration​Documentarian Alexandra Pelosi -- yes, that Pelosi -- has doled out heaps of patriotism in her latest film and companion book, Citizen U.S.A.: A 50 State Road Trip. So much so, we imagine former naysayers will go out to buy American flags for t ... More >>

No Fireworks For You, San Francisco!

Our buddies in HoustonUSA! USA! USA! ​Somewhere in the primordial id of every American lurks a deranged teenage boy. He likes blowing things up. And that means he loves the Fourth of July -- and since he is us, so do we. Large-scale fireworks shows all tend to blend into one; like Barack Obama spe ... More >>

Bay Area Jazz Cats Put On All-Star Lineup to Support Sax Player Dayna Stephens

Steve Sheraton​You've probably never seen so many Bay Area jazz musicians on a concert program. This Fourth of July, an All-Star Bay Area musicians lineup of four bands with 22 musicians total -- including Marcus Shelby, Lavay Smith, John Santos, Ray Obiedo and Faye Carol -- will perform at Yoshi' ... More >>

Locanda: Handsome Italian-Meet-Californian Fare, Despite Small Flaws

Tyler Florence is Sued, SOMA Gains a Wine Tavern, Little Joe's Moves Again

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. As American as apple pie, grilled cheese, and the Fourth of July -- is the freedom to sue. Today, Inside Scoop reports, via Courthouse News, that chef Tyler Florence (of Food Network fame and Mill Valley ... More >>

Grab Your Snowboard, Resorts Extend Ski Season After Record-Breaking Snow Falls

There is still time for a few more runs​Remember when we thought it was going to snow here in downtown San Francisco, like really snow?Although some will still swear they saw a tiny white flake drop from the skies of San Francisco, it meant nothing to the people who really pray for the white stuff ... More >>

Weekend Party Preview: Ghostly Beats and Tropical Dance

Tycho's live band​Now that we've all had a chance to recover from the Fourth of July weekend, it's time to get out there and do it all over again -- though maybe with fewer BBQs and explosions. We've got a couple parties to suggest for your coming nighttime revelries, including a brilliant array o ... More >>

John Campbell's Unveils Retail Bakery in Potrero

John Birdsall​Who says nothing's open on holidays? Last Sunday ― the Fourth of July ― the Potrero outpost of John Campbell's Irish Bakery opened its retail space in the former site of Pinkie's Bakery/Bento 415/4505 Meats. Campbell's had already been using the space for production baking. T ... More >>

Fireworks, Death Metal, Circus Bella, '70s Americana

Finn Riggins plays El Rio on Saturday​Bust out the barbecue, hoist up the flag and turn up the Americana jams. Yes, Independence Day is here again. Celebrate the founding fathers (and mothers) this weekend without breaking the bank. Here's our list of cheap summer holiday events for less than thos ... More >>

Heading to the East Bay for the Fourth? Here's Where to Eat

terriem/FlickrMaybe the line at Bakesale Betty in Temescal won't be quite so fierce Sunday. Then again...​Going East-Bay al fresco for the holiday weekend? Lake Temescal, Tilden: They'll be crowded, for sure, but a hell of a lot more bucolic than Dolores. • Picnickers looking to Oakland fo ... More >>

Fourth of July Fireworks at Aquatic Park? Here's Where to Nosh

Shawna Scott/FlickrThe glow through the fog bank can be stunning. Just stunning.​The city's annual Fourth of July fireworks are set to blow at 9:30 Sunday night. Great views can be had at Aquatic Park (Jefferson and Hyde Streets). If you know a member of the Dolphin Club, this is the best time ... More >>

Proud to Be Amuric'n

Father's Day Kickoff to Presidio Social Club's Sunday Pig Roasts

mehunt/FlickrPig roasted in a Caja China.​Tucked between celebration-heavy Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, Father's Day ― a frail holiday to begin with ― can get a little lost in the shuffle. It's a shame, really. Where would we be without Pops, he who once delivered an 8 a.m. kitchen ... More >>

Tom Ford's A Single Man: It's better to look good than to be good

Everything Must Go Play Pyrate Punx Party

EKAphotographyAnti-Flag: Everything Must Go I have seen the future and its name is Everything Must Go. The Oakland quartet, fronted by the irascible Jake Hout, is quite possibly the Bay Area punk rock's scene's next breakout act-proud heirs to the legacy of such legendary groups as the Dead Kennedy ... More >>

Hey DJ! Friday Q&A: DJ Galen

Who doesn't love sunsets, right? Especially in San Francisco, where things take on a pastel hue no matter the season. DJ Galen seems to dig sunsets a little more than most: he's planned huge parties for the past 15 years aimed, in part, at watching the sun go down and the dancefloor temperature rise ... More >>

10 Things To Do This Weekend For Under $10

Red MeatIf you're planning an all American staycation this weekend, there's still plenty to do in the (very 2009) American spirit of staying thrifty. Below, a couple choice selections for the long Independence Day(s)...and nights.Panama! 2 with DJ Beto (Friday)DJ Beto traveled all through the bug-fi ... More >>

Even If the Fireworks are Fogbound, These Fourth of July Feasts Promise Plenty of Sparkle

plucchesi/FlickrEpic Roasthouse and Waterbar: The fireworks may move indoors this year.Toasting and noshing on the town can be the tastiest way to enjoy this Fourth of July. Here are some SFoodie recommended spots to hit before -- or instead of -- the usual fireworks or fog. El Rio (3158 Mission at ... More >>

Doggy Bag: Today's Odds and Ends

Our favorite morsels from the food blogs and beyond. Slim news: In its piece on Larry Bain and Let's Be Frank at the Aspen Ideas Festival, 7x7 does stretches worthy of a bikram class. There are ... rumors that the White House could be serving the LBF dogs for their annual Fourth of July picnic. As ... More >>

Mind the Ripping Current

Mrs. Vera — the Cindy Sherman of Drag

Fire, Water, Firewater

Psycho Dogs

What makes canines go crazy? The answer is in their genes.

Comfort Food

A delicious oasis of calm for pre- or post-holiday dining

This Train Is Your Train

There's a romance to railroad travel, especially when the destination is a special, spirited mountain town called Truckee.

Theatrics

The Gold Dust's bartenders don't just mix drinks, they put on a show

The Big 4

Robber Barons

Hospitality's Sweet

Puttin' on the Ritz

Family Business

Ristorante Marcello dishes up its enjoyable fare in an unpretentious supper-club way