Oakland

Why I’m Optimistic About Oakland’s New Mayor, Sheng Thao
Despite all the people that treat living in Oakland like it’s a personality trait, Oakland has a lot of problems. It always has. It weirds me when people say they “love the town,” or when they get mad if you criticize Oakland. When they say they love Oakland, I often

Is The Feeling Of Belonging Short-Lived in The Bay?
“Do I belong here?” – a question I’ve heard and felt more times than I can count. We ask ourselves; “Can I afford it here?” “Can I find a community here?” “Is there anything else left?” – and – “Has everyone left?” For all of those who have left the

10 Local Spots For Last-Minute Gifts Under $30
We’re sliding right into that awkward time of the year when you realize you forgot to buy (or make) a gift for someone this year and only have a couple more weeks to figure things out. Below is a list of local shops that will have unique last-minute gifts perfect

Nine Reasons to Never Give Up on San Francisco
San Francisco is objectively beautiful. In San Francisco, you can still get lost in the woods. Mount Sutro cloaks you in eucalyptus groves until you reach the summit crowned with its eponymous Tower. Glen Canyon slices the hills south of Twin Peaks, the creek that cut it still running its

These FREE Holiday Displays Are Lighting up The Bay With Cheer
There is no debating it, it’s officially the holiday season, folks! The first weekend of December is when many of the best holiday spectaculars open up to the public. My favorites are always things that are over-the-top, absolutely adorable, and FREE or fairly cheap. Holiday displays and light shows I’m

The Truth About Small Business Saturday
This Saturday (November 26) is Small Business Saturday®. Always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, this day is dedicated to shopping locally and supporting local small businesses rather than more giant corporations. While we can all get behind shopping small, the truth is that Small Business Saturday was started as a marketing

Our Guide To a More Sustainable Holiday – On a Budget
The holidays are a time when we get to give a gift to those who mean the most to us. The holidays are also a time when we collectively pile up the most garbage and spend the most money. While buying things online is often convenient and sometimes seemingly cheaper,

The Bay Area Is Going To Be Freezing This Week… Literally!
It’s November, and despite climate change, the Bay Area still kind of has winters. Well, at least by California standards. San Francisco is being spared the worst chills from the cold front. We’re only dropping down to 43 degrees this week at our lowest. Still cold, but not freezing. The