SF History

Why You Should Know About the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot
By James Conrad In the early 1960s, residents of San Francisco were not tolerant of homosexual and transgender people like most are today. The LGBTQ+ community tried settling in North Beach and South of Market. Targeted redevelopment and police harassment subsequently pushed them from these neighborhoods and into the adjacent

Sunset Dunes: An Environmental Win for Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach frequently appears in local news. The Great Highway debacle, a symptom of that American exceptionalism (really, you’re not bothered by anything else going on?). That time we got a tsunami warning and cops had to force onlookers off the beach. What about when a boat washed ashore only

Kara Swisher, Robert Reich & More at KQED Reframe Festival in SF!
Reframe Festival 2025 is a two-day ideas festival from PBS News and KQED featuring thought-provoking discussions and live performances with journalists, politicians, and thought leaders.

Meet Al Zampa, The Mac Dre of Bay Area Bridge Workers
Alfred Zampa was a working-class Italian-American who worked on every bridge in the Bay Area, including the Carquinez Bridge, and is now remembered as the accidental founder of the “Halfway to Hell Club” and the namesake of the Alfred Zampa Bridge.

Five Easy Essentials for a Delightful Day at Dolores Park
To enjoy a pain-free and enjoyable day at Dolores Park, it’s essential to pack sunscreen, a trusty towel or blanket, treats for yourself and friends, a good book, and a plastic bag for party garbage.

Why Downtown San Francisco Is Struggling
Downtown San Francisco is struggling, not because of WFH (work from home), COVID, or even the tech industry’s great abdication. It’s in trouble because it was made to struggle, by force and design. The city’s upper-right quadrant, where it first emerged from the water like some Silurian hexapod, has undergone

Historic Building vs. Fire Station: A Fight Nobody Wants
447 Battery Might Be Stripped of Historic Designation What might happen if the precedent of removing historic designation succeeds? What’s the historic designation program? What does it entail? And why? In San Francisco, historic preservation has a reputation corroded by bad neighbors who want to preserve views. Armchair spectators imagine

The Gospel of Glam: SF Celebrated David Bowie’s Legacy at Bowie Bash
San Franciscans celebrated David Bowie’s legacy at the 14th annual Bowie Bash, which featured drag, burlesque, and puppetry. A night of live music, dance, and inclusivity.