Justin Herman Plaza

Impromptu Demonstration Gets Out of Hand; Police Blame Protesters, Protesters Blame Police

Well, we know who didn't go to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass on Saturday. A group of 100 protesters descended upon Justin Herman Plaza that afternoon for what police are describing as an illegal march down Market Street, which ended with 20 arrests. Office Gordon Shyy tells us that these protesters wore ... More >>

Supervisors Repeal Parks Code's "Designated Public Assembly Areas" Law

Back in July, we reported a brief story about Parks Code 7.08(d), an obscure rule that "dictates public assembly areas" for the city's parks. According to the law, which was established in 1981, demonstrations were prohibited in spaces outside those areas when a permitted event -- like a Ringling Br ... More >>

Where to Catch See's Candies' 7,000-Pound Lollipop Redux

SFoodie was on the scene when See's Candies earned the "World's Largest Lollipop" honors in the Guinness Book of World Records on July 20 in Justin Herman Plaza. Now, the West Coast candy giant is hauling out the impressive 16-foot, 7-inch confection for a few more public views. It's currently on d ... More >>

See's Candy Tries to Break World Record With 7,000-Pound Lollipop

It will be like a scene from Willy Wonka. Next week, See's Candy plans to ring in National Lollipop Day 2012 by unveiling its freakish 7,000-pound sucker in San Francisco. Now that would certainly satisfy your oral fixation. The famous candy manufacturer isn't inventing this grossly large lollipop f ... More >>

Tea Party to Land in San Francisco Waving NOBAMA Foam Fingers

You can always bank on it being a good time when Tea Partiers descend on San Francisco for the day. Those obnoxiously hardcore conservatives are planning to flood Justin Herman Plaza on Saturday, where 10 Bay Area Tea Party groups will spend three hours demonstrating ... oh, where to start?"The whol ... More >>

Downtown Traffic Will Suck Tonight, Thanks to Critical Mass

For the most part, San Franciscans look favorably on Critical Mass, the monthly brigade of well-intentioned cyclists pedaling through the streets together. Well, except for this guy below. ​ Anyway. Even non-cyclists can find ways to appreciate the Earth-friendly event, until of course it affects ... More >>

Law & Disorder: "The Examiner" Punches Crooks in the Junk

Occupy SF, Please Come Pick Up Your Stuff

Um, whoever was occupying this, please come get it. ​Dump trucks swept through Justin Herman Plaza early this morning, collecting all the stuff that protesters left behind after police raided the Occupy SF encampment early this morning. Rest assured, the city has no desire to hang onto any of thes ... More >>

Occupy SF to Reoccupy Justin Herman Plaza

Lauren Smiley Round 2 ​Update (2:10 p.m.) Protesting makes you hungry, which is why Occupiers have taken their cause back to the Federal Reserve building where there's rumors of pizza on its way. After they regain their energy, the group is planning to reoccupy Just Herman Plaza later this evening ... More >>

Occupy SF Protesters Storm Justin Herman Plaza, Refuse to Leave

Lauren Smiley​Update (7:10 p.m.) Eighteen motorcycle cops have pulled up near the plaza while two more rows of cops in riot gear have lined up around protesters. A group of 40 protesters are in a circle, refusing to leave the plaza, noting that it is a public facility.Update (6:45 p.m.) Two people ... More >>

Top 5 Reasons Californians Are Moving to Texas

The word "crisis" has become a ubiquitous term to describe California: Budget crisis, education crisis, water crisis, immigration crisis. Even state parks are, sadly, in a state of "crisis."  With all these crises, it doesn't really surprise us that Californians picked up and left in droves las ... More >>

Women at Occupy SF: They Are Few But Mighty

Occupy SF: City Wants to Move Camp to Former School Site in the Mission

adrielhampton via FlickrOccupying the Mission just doesn't have the same effect​Occupy San Francisco is one of the few remaining occupy camps in the nation that hasn't -- and apparently won't -- experience a full-scale police raid. Rather the city is taking a more diplomatic approach, one that tri ... More >>

Occupy Oakland: Police Clear Last Remaining Camp

Erin SherbertOccupy what now?​For the first time in six weeks, Occupy Oakland is no longer occupying any part of the city -- at least for now. Just after midnight Monday, police stormed Snow Park, breaking down Occupy Oakland's last remaining camp. According to news outlets, police showed up order ... More >>

Occupy SF: Protesters Still Camped Out, No Signs of Police Raid

adrielhampton via FlickrOccupy SF might get raided today ... by the rain ​The only thing that raided the Occupy SF camp last night were rumors of a imminent police raid. This morning, Justin Herman Plaza reportedly looks the same as any other day since the protesters started squatting there -- onl ... More >>

American Airlines Flight Attendants Join Occupy SF Today

Today, the flight attendants would be serving coach first. ​With bongos sounding and dread-locked protesters fearing eviction from the Occupy SF encampment this morning, a group of well-coiffed adults in sharp uniforms converged at Justin Herman Plaza. Like the "Sesame Street" jingle, these p ... More >>

Occupy SF Prepares for Police Raid Tonight

Kate CongerIs San Francisco next?​Update (5:45 p.m.): Department of Health officials led reporters through the encampment this evening as they inspected the area for violations. SF Weekly's Lauren Smiley says that Barbara Garcia, the director of the city's Health  Department, claims the toile ... More >>

OccupySF: Protesters Occupy Bank of America

Ellen Huet​Update (4:05 p.m.): Protesters are being led out of Bank of America in handcuffs amid cheers from supporters around. Update (3:15 p.m): SF Weekly's Ellen Huet is at the scene and tells us that about 50 protesters set up a tent inside the Bank of America on California Street. Police are ... More >>

Occupy SF: Mysterious Urinator Pisses Off Protesters

Taylor FriedmanWill someone please donate some diapers to Occupy SF?​Despite a couple of violent brushes with police this weekend, the Occupy San Francisco movement has been relatively quiet compared to its sister camp in Oakland, which has managed to make national headlines. But while there have ... More >>

OccupySF: Politicians Crash the Party

Hey, I support the movement, too! Solidarity!​Those grumbling about the caliber of people camping out at Justin Herman plaza can't be thrilled about the latest wave of demonstrators drawn to OccupySF: politicians. Last night a near-quorum of the Board of Supervisors squatted along with the squatte ... More >>

Mayor Ed Lee Tries to Appease Occupy SF Protesters, Cops

Ellen Huet​After five people were arrested Sunday at Justin Herman Plaza, Occupy SF protesters gathered at City Hall Tuesday afternoon to tell Mayor Ed Lee and the Board of Supervisors to just leave them alone. Tuesday's affair was nothing quite like what Rome experienced over the weekend, rather ... More >>

Get Your Licks on Route 66: Adopt a Puppy

pretendtious via FlickrNo! Not Tom Otterness​Local dog lovers are completely outraged over the city's contract to do business with artist/dog slayer Tom Otterness -- they've even signed petitions asking San Francisco lawmakers to fire him from sculpting art for the city's Central Subway project. B ... More >>

Top Chef: The Tour Quick-Firing at Embarcadero

Jonathan KauffmanThe Top Chef Tour's San Francisco stop.​Bravo TV trailers and "Top Chef" tents have colonized Justin Herman Plaza this morning. Is Bravo flash-filming a segment for the next series? Is Traci Des Jardins throwing a semi-celebratory Top Chef Masters gala? No -- it's the Top Chef Tou ... More >>

Happy 4/20! Here's a Guide to Music-Related Activities on Doper Day

Photo by Jenne WarrenGet high with Cypress Hill at the Warfield tonight.​Any crunker still mired to the concept of time recognizes and observes the entirely spurious significance of April 20. Sadly, organized recognition of the day is just as ad-hoc, leaving teaheads to the dictates of their colle ... More >>

Terminal People

The closure of the Transbay Terminal was a chance to help some of the city’s most hardcore homeless. But many didn’t want help, and others couldn’t be helped.

Belarus Communists, Like San Francisco Communists, Hate Pillow Fights

Fight the power -- with pillows!​Kidding! We know that, no matter what Bill O'Reilly thinks, San Francisco isn't really run by communists. At least not exclusively.Still, after the travails our fair city has been through with irresponsible flash mobs converging on Justin Herman Plaza for massive p ... More >>

Tomorrow is World Naked Bike Ride Day. Yes, Again.

It's not every day, just twice a year​Should you be run down in a crosswalk by a naked person riding a bicycle on your way to the Ferry Building Farmers' Market tomorrow (and it would serve you right for being an elitist tool and not patronizing Alemany Boulevard), it's not deja vu you're experien ... More >>

Zip Line Across Justin Herman Plaza -- What Could Go Wrong?

Jim HerdHere comes trouble...​On Thursday, folks who'd like to see your tourism dollars directed British Columbia's way, intuitively, erected a zip line on the Embarcadero, across Justin Herman Plaza. On the one hand, a zip line can't be a worse idea than adjacent Vaillancourt Fountain, another "g ... More >>

Let's Be Frank Disappointed It Won't Be Selling in Dolores Park

Justin Y./YelpJustin Herman Plaza​Rec and Park informed street-food applicants about which city parks they'd be offered contracts for yesterday. Let's Be Frank's Larry Bain expressed disappointment that the sustainable hot dog company wouldn't be awarded the contract for Dolores Park, but inst ... More >>

Do Anti-Climate Change Protesters Want to Fill The Bay With Garbage?

Over the weekend, hundreds of San Franciscans flocked to Justin Herman Plaza to join protesters in 181 countries urging United Nations negotiators to push for greenhouse gas reductions. Around 100 cyclists donned snorkels and other water-themed costumes to show that a warming, rising sea would inun ... More >>

Support Your Local Police: Cops Ask Permission to Accept Key Chains and Pistols

​Everyone harbors suspicions that police are enjoying deep discounts on coffee and donuts all over the city -- and, as department spokeswoman Sergeant Lyn Tomioka tells us, they usually are. But it's protocol to never accept anything for free. If the clerk insists, the common practice is to toss t ... More >>

Weekly Ink: S.F. Tribute

Eva Dancel-Jensen​Vital Statistics: My name is Travis Jensen. I'm a 30-year-old writer, photographer, and skateboarder living in San Francisco's Miraloma Park district, a neighborhood that many locals refer to as "The Mountains." Ever taken the 36 Teresita? It's a rare bird.    Tatt ... More >>

Mourn Michael Jackson Tonight @ Dolores Park, Ferry Plaza, Alamo Sq.

We just got word on a R.I.P. Michael Jackson trike ride/ wake tonight hosted by "Deep.":"Trikeasaurus bike ride and then maybe a FlashDance (assuming people feel like dancing). We'll start the ride at 7 at Dolores Park. We'll be riding. I'll probably be updating our location via SMS*We'll be a ... More >>

Critical Ass: SF's World Naked Bike Ride 2009

On Saturday at noon, Justin Herman Plaza was sun-drenched and buzzing with the activity of particularly open-minded crowd, and passersby were beginning to take notice. "What the hell are all these people doing half-naked and shit?" one man cried.He was obviously not familiar with the way t ... More >>

'We're Not a Total Buzz-Kill': Rec & Park Dept. Now Says Flash Mobs Not So Bad

Gretchen RobinetteA luta continuaCity officials set some tongues a-wagging last week when they poo-pooed one of San Francisco's more beloved civic rituals: the so-called "flash mob" event. These spontaneous outbreaks of urban silliness -- ranging from public pie fights to no-pants subway rides -- ar ... More >>

The Great SF Pillow Fight of 09, Black Valentines Masquerade, Origin of Love and NOFX: Your Monday Morning Hangover

There was more than enough to keep even the loneliest of hearts distracted and amused over the V-Day weekend. Topping the list easily was Saturday's Great San Francisco Pillow Fight of 2009, which brought thousands to Justin Herman Plaza to beat the crap out of each other with feathers and fluff. Re ... More >>

The Weekend Hitlist: Roller Disco, Bill Cosby and Pillow Fights

This is probably the most major weekend of all time, what with Friday the 13th, Valentine's Day and Presidents Day one after the other. Here's what you should do:Love Hedwig? How about movies where you watch a guy try to give himself a blowjob? Like it better when he succeeds? If so, head to the Vic ... More >>

Work It Out

Who needs money if you have your health?

Uninsured...and Unequipped: Nude S.F. Art Installation Evokes Unintended Disturbing Message

Olympic Torch Met With Alarm and Protest, Stroll Along Waterfront

Nabbed

Giant Bourgeois Spider Mounts San Francisco

No Justice, No Peace ... Whatever

In the country’s putative activist capital, all the protests and rallies may do more to sow apathy than draw people to the cause.

Anchors Away

Sail around the bay

College Boys

A precious game

Green Cinema

Earth-boosting flicks at the Rafael

Night & Day

April Is the Foolest Month

Night+Day

Night+Day