In the ultra-liberal, conservative-bashing Bay Area it can be difficult to find even one McCain supporter with whom to have a spirited debate. Most local Republicans are in the closet, fearing ridicule for their political orientation, but they must surface eventually to satisfy their redneck urges: From Wrangler depots to Western saloons to shooting ranges, here are a few places you might spot that rare Bay Area Republican.
This city has plenty of hipstered-out, so-called dive bars, but once 50% of a bar's revenue comes from anything other than crusty old drunks it's no longer a real dive--and it's time for the braver among us to colonize some new cesspool. The dives on this list reach depths you normally only sink to after a lifelong downward spiral, where the dirt cheap drinks are served in even dirtier glasses, but there’s nary a hipster in sight to spoil the authenticity—except you.
It’s time to retire the toga. Choosing a Halloween costume can either be the perfect opportunity to showcase your creativity and assets or a first-rate public humiliation, so let’s aim for the former, shall we? If you’re suffering from a serious lack of funds and enthusiasm, check out these ideas for buzz-worthy (and budget-friendly) costumes.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and you’ll find hundreds of products are emblazoned with the pink ribbon logo, colored pink or sold with the promise of a donation to support public awareness or cancer research. Whether you’re cooking, drinking or shopping for the cure, there are plenty of products to remind us to think pink this month--and we’ve found some fun picks.
Unless you belong to a pot club, there’s almost no place you can light up indoors—unless it’s a fragrant puck of moist, sweet tobacco smoked through a water pipe: shisha. Hookah lounges offer tobacco flavors that taste good even to non-smokers as well as garlic hummus, exotic cocktails and the occasional belly dancer. So grab your friends and practice blowing Os at these smokin’ Middle Eastern spots.
The jousting and parrying, the low blows and cheap shots, and the fate of the world itself in the balance...the presidential debates are the ultimate cage match, and should be watched in a bar full of rowdy fans like any other sporting event. Watch the debates at one of these spots and feel the surreal patriotic fever.
“Work from home! Make thousands of dollars a week from the comfort of your living room!” Thanks to telecommuting, the ludicrous claims of late-night infomercials are coming true; many professionals can now work in their pajamas. Working from home, however--phase two of the American Dream—can be difficult (urges to clean, cook, nap are powerful; NSFW impulses go unchecked), leaving workers secretly wistful for the efficiency of the office environment. Co-working spaces offer the best of both worlds—full office amenities, but come and go as you please—and we’ve also tracked down comfy spots with all the necessities (abundant outlets, WiFi, etc.) where you can set up shop all day for free or, at most, the price of a small cup of coffee. You’ll avoid the office and stay productive, “We guarantee it!”
San Francisco's lucky to have one of the world's premier wine-growing regions so close by, but with Napa-style tasting rooms, oenophile clubs and even viticulture services for armchair vintners right here in the city, you can skip the hour-long ride up North--and the hairy drive back after "tasting" too much Pinot.
Highly educated, progressive, and obnoxiously smug, we San Franciscans define ourselves not by what we do, but by what we don't. While the list of things we are too good/ smart for could go on forever, here are five that sum us up pretty nicely.
Bachelorhood evokes images of a carefree, Bond-like lifestyle involving vintage sports cars, exotic beaches and revolving lovers but, for too many single guys, the reality is lumpy Futons, too much Xbox and the occasional pub strumpet. Make the most of your single days (while ensuring they don't last forever) with this list of bachelor essentials-neon beer sign not included.
Almost everybody's feeling the squeeze from the recession, but that doesn't mean you have to cut back on luxuries like restaurants, spa treatments, salon haircuts and....dental work. Save money and help a student perfect his craft, or indulge in extravagances you couldn't normally afford: clean teeth and a decent haircut.
Exchange your wimpy pint glass for a liter-sized, boot-shaped beer stein and raise it to the annual celebration of German heritage (i.e. beer, sausage and polka): Oktoberfest. You won’t need a flight to Munich to join in the festivities, but you may need an Alka-Seltzer and a few hairs of the dog that bit you. Prost!
Citrusy, spicy, and seafood-heavy with Andean, Spanish, Asian and African flavors, Peruvian food is fresh-tasting, complex and exotic yet broadly appealing. So, it’s no surprise that this cuisine is sweeping through the city, with a splashy cebicheria opening on the Embarcadero, a hot rotisserie getting fired up in the Mission and a pisco parlor moving in on Market Street—in addition to the stellar lineup of Peruvian joints we’ve already got.
Whether it's a brand-new bistro or a recently opened spot that's red hot, get the latest on SF's restaurant scene.
Looks like the food of the past--sustainable, local, organic--will, after decades of destructive, imported and unnatural agriculture, become the food of the future. Check out local restaurants supporting the slow food movement, or do it on your own with local farmer's markets and CSAs.
