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Articles by Laila Weir
Ex-SFPUC Head Convicted Amidst
The unfolding corruption case in San Francisco continues, with the latest news of former San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) head, Harlan Kelly, being convicted on six of the eight counts against him - this includes conspiracy, bank fraud, and honest services wire fraud, according to a CBS News report. However, the jury acquitted Kelly of two additional wire fraud charges.
Fiesta Latina Brings Music and Dance to Brick & Mortar Tonight
Latin rhythms will be reverberating in the Mission tonight (Friday 7/14) as the live music and entertainment event Fiesta Latina brings the beats to venue Brick & Mortar Music Hall. The event, described by the organizer as a “mini festival”, will present a mix of live bands, dance groups, a DJ, and even some comedy. It was conceived to celebrate Latin music, dance, culture, and more. Renée Peñaloza is one of the organizers.
In a Two-Week Span of Drug Arrests, the SFPD has Seized 9.5 Kilograms
San Francisco is grappling with a staggering increase in drug seizures, particularly of fentanyl, these past two weeks. Mayor London Breed revealed an alarming volume of drug-dealing arrests in Tenderloin and South of Market, with the police department acquiring over 9.5 kilograms of fentanyl. This rampant drug trade is backed by figures showing that such an amount could, hypothetically, overdose every San Francisco resident six times over.
The New Restaurant in Point Richmond's Hotel Mac, Ristorante
The much-anticipated new Italian restaurant in Point Richmond's historic Hotel Mac dining room is finally open. The new Ristorante Biancoverde (50 Washington Ave, Point Richmond) is holding a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony this evening, Thursday, July 13, at 5:30 p.m. The event is being co-hosted by the Point Richmond Business Association and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. The interior of the newly renovated hotel restaurant, now Ristorante Biancoverde.
"It’s really tough owning a small business in Oakland right now" -
Gun-wielding thieves targeted a popular Oakland donut shop in a frightening armed takeover robbery, highlighting the increasing crime rates in the area and leaving many small business owners devastated (Henry Lee KTVU). Colonial Donuts, an iconic bakery that has served the Oakland community for 40 years, found itself at the center of the tense drama, as three masked robbers held employees at gunpoint while they cleared out the cash register and made a fast getaway.
"It’s really tough owning a small business in Oakland right now" -
Gun-wielding thieves targeted a popular Oakland donut shop in a frightening armed takeover robbery last week, highlighting the increasing crime rates in the area and leaving many small business owners devastated (Henry Lee KTVU). Colonial Donuts, an iconic bakery that has served the Oakland community for 40 years, found itself at the center of the tense drama, as three masked robbers held employees at gunpoint while they cleared out the cash register and made a fast getaway.
Parents Seek Justice for Brazilian Son Killed During Oakland Flower
The horrifying events surrounding the shooting of a 27-year-old Brazilian flower delivery man in Oakland's Koreatown has left his devastated parents, who recently arrived in the Bay Area from Brazil, urging for justice and an end to such senseless violence according to KTVU. Matheus Gaidos was innocently delivering flowers while playing a video game on his cell phone with a friend in Brazil when a seemingly harmless comment about a passerby's pet led to a deadly altercation.
VIDEO: Out-of-This-World Creature Spotted in Oakland Lake
A rower at Lake Merritt in California recently captured fascinating footage of a mysterious jellyfish-like creature propelling through the waters, sparking debates among experts on its precise identification and significance according to KTVU. The mesmerizing aquatic invertebrate with an intriguing whitish X-shaped marking across its transparent hood and mid-length tendrils appeared to be elusive, as scientists struggled to agree on its exact species.
Human Remains Found Near Oakland Zoo by Goat Herder
A grisly discovery was made near the Oakland Zoo when a goat herder stumbled upon human remains while his goats were doing wildfire fuel mitigation according to The Mercury News. Authorities were alerted to the scene, and homicide investigators are now trying to uncover the identity of the victim and determine the cause of death. This incident is reminiscent of another dark finding near the Oakland Zoo in 2022.
Pt. Richmond's Popular Masa Taqueria Opens El Cerrito Location
Masa Taqueria, a popular Mexican restaurant in Point Richmond, opened a location in El Cerrito this week, drawing mid-week crowds of locals who've been waiting over recent months for the new eatery to open its doors. The smaller El Cerrito location of Masa Taqueria (10409 San Pablo Ave.) offers outdoor-only seating, as well as a drive-through. Both were busy this week, with the drive-through packed for Thursday dinner and lines out the door for Friday lunch, despite cool weather.
Uptown Oakland Shooting Leaves Victim
In a tragic turn of events, an innocent comment on a dog spiraled out of control, leading to a fatal shooting in Oakland's Uptown neighborhood. The incident occurred near the Telegraph Arts apartments on the evening of June 22, 2023, according to a tweet by Henry Lee KTVU. The victim, who remains unidentified, was reportedly delivering flowers to the Telegraph Arts apartment complex when he encountered a man with two French bulldogs.
Oakland Police Asking for Help Locating Man Wanted in Connection with
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) has issued a call for the public's assistance in locating 23-year-old Treshawn D'Marion-Lee Bruno-Jackson of Texas, an individual wanted in connection with an attempted homicide. A Texas native with Oakland ties, Bruno-Jackson has been linked to a shooting that took place in the 1600 block of 99th Avenue just before 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 15, 2023, according to the OPD.
New El Cerrito Restaurant Showcases Guatemalan Home-Style Cooking
A new Guatemalan restaurant that grew out of a Richmond food truck is drawing more customers in search of good eats to El Cerrito. Antojitos Guatemaltecos (11252 San Pablo Ave.) is serving up traditional Guatemalan cuisine in an unassuming but pleasant storefront on San Pablo Avenue near Potrero Avenue.
CA Attorney General Agrees to Look Into Banko Brown Shooting Case
In a quest for justice, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta has agreed to reevaluate the evidence in the shooting case of Banko Brown. SF District Attorney Brooke Jenkins had originally declined to press charges, prompting calls for review from the SF Board of Supervisors, Brown's family, and their attorney John Burris. Bonta's office is set to determine if there was any "abuse of discretion" in Jenkins's decision.
Northern Iranian restaurant Komaaj now open in former Good Frikin’
We learned last June that Mission-Bernal rotisserie chicken spot Good Frikin’ Chicken had permanently closed, but by January of this year, we got word that the northern Iranian cuisine restaurant Komaaj would be moving into the space. Komaaj had been a pop-up inside the Mission District cafe The Laundry, and owner Hanif Sadr had just received a glowing write-up in the New York Times.
Supervisor Mandelman to propose removing Castro Theatre 'fixed
On Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to vote on the Castro Theatre landmark designation update. And District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman has informed Hoodline that he plans to propose removing the contentious 'fixed theatrical seating' language from the landmark update. "I will be offering an amendment at the full board to restore the language forwarded by the Historic Preservation Commission," explained Mandelman.
Something new is cooking at Richmond's East Brother Beer Co. (and it
East Bay residents have another reason to head out to the beloved East Brother Beer Co. taproom, tucked away near the Richmond Marina in the East Bay. Richmond chef Phillip Mitchell and his wife Kim launched a new food popup there Thursday, called Kim’s Louisiana Kitchen, featuring Mitchell's signature deep-fried turkey sliders. East Brother explains that Mitchell brines and seasons organic turkeys over three days before deep frying them fresh each day.
The renamed Emperor Norton street sign is now up in Chinatown
In mid-April, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to commemoratively change the name of the 600 block of Commercial Street between Chinatown and the Financial District to Emperor Norton Place, in honor of the beloved historical SF folk hero. And it took just 24 days for the sign to go up, as the Emperor Norton Trust posted Friday that the Emperor Norton Street sign has been installed.
$39 Million Ponzi Scheme Involving Warriors Tickets Nets East Bay Man
An East Bay resident, Derek Vincent Chu, has been accused of raising a whopping $39 million through fraudulent means from over 100 investors by involving them in a Ponzi scheme centered around reselling NBA tickets and luxurious arena suites at various locations, according to court documents.
Oakland’s Rockridge Trader Joe’s location has
The Trader Joe’s store on College Avenue in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland has become the grocery store chain’s first California store to unionize. On April 20th, according to a press release, the workers at store #231 voted 73-53 in favor of forming a union. Those results were apparently certified this week by the National Labor Relations Board. “I am incredibly proud to be part of this courageous crew.
Oakland gets a hit new late-night Korean food experience, Hanshin
A Korean restaurant chain created by a celebrity chef has just opened its fourth U.S. location in Oakland, which is its first Northern California outpost. Hanshin Pocha, created by television chef Baek Jong-won, is now serving customers with late-night appetites in the Temescal neighborhood at 4869 Telegraph Avenue. The interior of the chain’s locations are dark, neon-lit, and vibey and are made to feel like you’re getting a street vendor experience in South Korea.
Long-awaited French-style wine bar opens in El Cerrito
A new French-style wine bar on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito opened to welcoming crowds this weekend. Anticipation had been building among residents since a local couple signed on in September 2021 to turn the building at 10368 San Pablo Avenue into a gathering spot called Banter Wine.
Castro Theatre landmark update delayed two weeks; supervisors seek
By Steven Bracco - Published on April 04, 2023. On Monday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee delayed its vote for two weeks on updating the landmark status of the historic Castro Theatre (429 Castro St). In the intervening two weeks, committee members requested that all sides come together to find a compromise. The committee, composed of supervisors Myrna Melgar, Aaron Peskin, and Dean Preston, voted 2-0 to continue its decision until April 17.
Castro Theatre landmark update delayed two weeks; supervisors request
On Monday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee delayed its vote for two weeks on updating the landmark status of the historic Castro Theatre (429 Castro St). In the intervening two weeks, committee members requested that all sides come together to find a compromise. The committee, composed of supervisors Myrna Melgar, Aaron Peskin, and Dean Preston, voted 2-0 to continue its decision until April 17.
43-year-old Japantown restaurant Cafe Mums has closed permanently
The San Francisco Japantown tradition of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival returns this coming weekend (April 8-9 and 15-16), but Japantown itself won’t be the same this year. A stunning closure was announced this past Saturday, as KGO reports that Cafe Mums, also known as Mums – Home of Shabu Shabu, closed permanently on Sunday after 43 years at 1800 Sutter Street (at Buchanan Street).
Richmond Southern comfort-food hidden treasure Mississippi Catfish
What you saw first was the smog-check shop. It sat in a slightly dilapidated building along San Pablo Avenue in Richmond, close to the 1-80 freeway overpass. You had to look closer to notice the Mississippi Catfish sign on an adjoining wall. But when you did — and provided you arrived during the restaurant's limited hours — you were on the way to a rare treat.
Matt Horn’s burger spot Matty’s Old Fashioned near home stretch for
By Joe Kukura - Published on March 29, 2023. Emerging Oakland-based celebrity barbecue chef Matt Horn has made a name for himself transforming his popular pop-up concepts into full-fledged brick–and-mortar hit restaurants since his 2021 Michelin Bib Gourmand, 2021 Food & Wine Magazine Best New Chefs distinction, and 2022 James Beard semifinalist nomination. Horn’s West Oakland cult-hit Horn Barbecue started as a pop-up, and his fried chicken sandwich spot Kowbird was also initially a pop-up.
Potrero Hill’s Jackson Park getting a $40 million makeover
If the San Francisco park name Jackson Park does not ring a bell, it might jar your memory that it’s the 17th and Arkansas Street park in Potrero Hill with two baseball diamonds that’s right across from the bar Thee Parkside, and two blocks from the Bottom of the Hill.
As Flour + Water prepares to open North Beach pizzeria, Mission
Flour + Water Pizzeria, which lived for a couple of years at 18th and Valencia before that location was rebranded in an ownership shuffle as Yellow Moto Pizzeria, is getting set to open a new location in North Beach as Hoodline first reported last June.
The Financial District now has its first protected bike lane
Back in the bike messenger era of the 1990s and 2000s, the Financial District was the hub of San Francisco bicycle culture. But there have never been any protected bike lanes in the Financial District, and in the recent pandemic years, there’s been a lack of people downtown anyway. But the SFMTA thinks bike lanes are a way to get people back to the Financial District. And on Tuesday, they unveiled what they call the “first protected bike lane in the Financial District” on Battery Street.
New Italian eatery coming to Point Richmond's historic Hotel Mac
Point Richmond's beloved Hotel Mac will have an operating restaurant again soon. The local restaurateurs behind Richmond's Mi Casa Grill confirmed to Hoodline that they'll be opening a new eatery in the hotel space. The restaurant should open as soon as May if all goes according to plan, Mi Casa Grill staff said. It will be called Biancoverde and will serve Italian cuisine.
Another Bay Area Shake Shack arrives in Emeryville this week
Shake Shack burger joints keep popping up all over the Bay Area, and now the East Bay is seeing its second Shake Shack to open in two weeks. The trendy East Coast-based burger and shake chain opened its Walnut Creek location on March 4th at 1604 Mount Diablo Boulevard. Now, another Shake Shack location will be opening up in Emeryville on March 16th at 5614 Bay Street, which sits within the Bay Street Emeryville shopping center.
Oakland celebrated Black Joy over the weekend with the 6th annual
Revelers braved the elements on Sunday to gather in Oakland and celebrate the sixth annual Black Joy Parade and Festival. Last year’s event drew over 10,000 people from around the Bay Area. The wind and rain may have kept the crowds a little smaller this year, but it didn’t lessen the community joy or the exuberance of parade goers. Dancers warm up before the start of the parade.
SF's United Dumplings expands into Oakland with third restaurant
Fans knew that it was only a matter of time before San Francisco-based United Dumplings crossed the Bay Bridge and set up shop in the East Bay. You might have had that inkling as well, given the fact that the in-demand dumpling restaurant opened its first location in Bernal Heights in 2020 and then, just two years later, built up enough of a following to expand into the Marina at 2015 Chestnut Street. Now, United Dumpling has just opened its brand-new location in Oakland.
Intimate stand-up comedy shows pull crowds to eclectic array of East
A group of comedians is bringing the laughs with small, affordable, and (our personal favorite) sometimes BYOB comedy shows in eclectic venues around the Bay. These include a bicycle cafe, board game shop, and fun and funky bars in Oakland and Richmond — plus one quirky event in a "hackerspace" in Mountain View. The Comedy2Nite collaboration has set up monthly, weekly, and even semi-weekly stand-up comedy nights that have been pulling in some buzzy word of mouth around the East Bay.
Intimate stand-up comedy shows pull crowds to eclectic array of East Bay hangouts
4 hours ago CNN — New York Republican Rep. George Santos is expected to face an investigation from the House Ethics Committee, a probe that could derail his already imperiled political career depending on the secretive panel’s findings. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy initially told CNN “yes” on Tuesday when asked …
The city leaps into the Year of the Rabbit with the annual Chinese New
Rain didn’t dampen the new year spirit over the weekend as participants and onlookers alike converged on downtown to celebrate the 2023 Alaska Airlines Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday night. It may have been cold and wet, but the joy and excitement of the contingents and crowd shone through and proclaimed the Year of the Rabbit was “hare”. The procession, which took place Saturday evening, is one of the only remaining illuminated nighttime parades in the country.
SF Historical Preservation Commission recommends Castro Theatre
On Wednesday, the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted unanimously in support of recommending the expansion of the Castro Theatre's landmark designation to the Board of Supervisors. The HPC voted 6-0, with one abstention, in support of broadening of the existing landmark designation to include the interior of the 100-year-old theater.
Castro juice & smoothie shop Earthbar shutters after 6 years
After six years in the Castro, pressed juice and smoothie shop Earthbar (formerly Project Juice) has closed its location at 506 Castro Street. Project Juice opened in 2016 in the space formerly occupied by Artis Coffee, and, before that, The Body Shop. Project Juice began its partnership with Earthbar in 2020 and transitioned all its shops' names in 2022. Hoodline reached out to Earthbar for comment but did not receive a response.
City Hall inexplicably declares war on lovely Bernal Heights sidewalk
A small, two-block-long Bernal Heights street called Mirabel Avenue could be described as the peak of family-friendly San Francisco adorableness. Houses have murals on their garages, there’s a little wooden “lending library” of paperback books, and many residents maintain sidewalk botanical gardens to further beautify an already beautiful street. Image: Joe Kukura, Hoodline About a half-dozen of these sidewalk attractions have small wooden benches, some of which have been there for 20 years.
Immersive exhibit in Richmond takes visitors on a virtual trip to the
Ever wonder what it would be like to travel to space, view the Earth from afar or visit the International Space Station? An immersive exhibit currently on display in Richmond's Craneway Pavilion aims to give visitors a taste of those experiences via virtual reality. Space Explorers: The Infinite is a virtual-reality exhibit in which visitors don VR headsets in order to explore a full-scale virtual replica of the space station.
Dave's Hot Chicken arrives in Oakland Friday
Uber-popular chicken tenders specialists Dave's Hot Chicken keep multiplying, and as of this week there will be a Dave's Hot Chicken in Oakland just a hop and a few skips from a BART stop. As KRON4 reports, the newest location, the chain's sixth in the Bay Area, will be opening Friday morning, January 20, at 2228 Broadway in Oakland — right next to Jack London Square in the former Old Brooklyn Cafe and Bakery space.
Palace of Fine Arts lagoon’s 28-year-old swan Blanche has died
One swan at the Palace of Fine Arts lagoon was a lifer, having been born there on May 5, 1994. That mute swan Blanche, according to an announcement from SF Rec and Parks, “charmed visitors with her proud poses and bottom-wiggling greetings. She had a passion for corn and clover, and a weakness for the occasional Cheez-It for dessert.” But there’s one less swan at that swan lake by the Presidio, as Rec and Parks announced that Blanche died last week. She was 28.
CB2 closing its Union Square store this week
Bad news for SF fans of the midcentury knockoff sofas and other modern accouterments sold by CB2 — the brand's 15-year-old store on Ellis Street, next to the newly open Central Subway entrance, is giving up the ghost. This follows the closure of Crate & Barrel, its parent store, last year. After suffering years of Central Subway construction that left it behind scaffolding and next to an open pit for a very long time, the CB2 store at 34 Ellis Street is closing on Sunday, January 22.
Italian mime Ennio Marchetto brings his hilarious parodies to Club Fugazi for limited engagement
Shake off the post-holiday blues with some high-energy fun courtesy of Club Fugazi’s latest production, “Ennio: The Living Paper Cartoon.” The one-man show stars Italian mime, comedian and cabaret artist Ennio Marchetto. At last week’s opening night performance, Marchetto's whirlwind series of parodies of some 60 different celebrities and historical figures slayed the audience and earned him a thunderous standing ovation. Multi-talented artist Ennio Marchetto, now appearing at Club Fugazi.
SPQR chef expands with Mattina in former Out the Door space
Longtime SPQR executive chef Matt Accarrino appears to have a new venture in the works, and it is set to open around the corner from SPQR in Pacific Heights. The SF Business Times caught the liquor license activity for Mattina, which is heading into the space formerly occupied by Charles Phan's Out the Door at 2232 Bush Street. The restaurant is a venture of Houndstooth LLC, a limited liability corporation that Accarrino registered in 2015.
Indian pizza joint Curry Pizza House opens in Berkeley
Indian Pizza lovers in the East Bay, rejoice. Fans of the oh-so-Bay-Area casual-dining trend can now get their fix on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, where local chain Curry Pizza House has a brand-new outpost. The new Curry Pizza House (2380 Telegraph Ave.) offers the same menu as other Curry Pizza House locations, including a full range of pizzas topped with classic Indian and Indian-inspired meats, veggies, and sauces — plus non-curry "classic" pizzas, and a handful of other dishes.
Storms and high winds blow walls off Camera Obscura at Land's End
The historic Land’s End San Francisco amusement park Playland-at-the-Beach was demolished more than 50 years ago, but one photo-worthy component of it remains. That’s the optical attraction Camera Obscura, built in 1946, and a survivor of the 1972 demolition. Well, a survivor of the demolition until the current round of storms, as SFGate reports the Camera Obscura suffered major storm damage, as seen in a number of tweets embedded below.
New restaurant opening in former Black Star Pirate BBQ spot in
Fans of Richmond's Point San Pablo Harbor (or just of unique Bay Area dining spaces) will be eager to hear that a new restaurant is opening up in the waterfront building at the little harbor that had been home to the popular Black Star Pirate BBQ. Point San Pablo Harbor, a scenic, artsy little marina tucked away along the bay on the quiet side of Richmond, came to modest local prominence over the last few years thanks to the opening of Black Star Pirate BBQ.
Oregon brewery Great Notion opens on Berkeley's 4th Street in former
A Portland-based brewery called Great Notion Brewing has re-envigorated the former Torpedo Room space on Fourth Street in Berkeley, previously occupied by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Great Notion opened the taproom with limited hours during the month of December, and has now ramped up to operate most days of the week in the 2,000-foot interior and patio space (2031 4th Street, Berkeley). So far, they've been closed on Mondays, but the company says they'll soon be open seven days a week.
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