Gazing up toward the dizzying summit of Twin Peaks, Natlya Crawford felt unsure.The 19-year-old skateboarder from Vallejo was one of hundreds that gathered at the top of the scenic landmark for a first-of-its-kind protest in San Francisco on Thursday afternoon: "," a demonstration led by the skating community with the aim of bringing awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement.At first, Crawford planned to drive down the hill and meet her friends on Market Street later. A can be one of the most dangerous maneuvers for a skateboarder to attempt. But, if executed successfully, it can also...…Gazing up toward the dizzying summit of Twin Peaks, Natlya Crawford felt unsure.The 19-year-old skateboarder from Vallejo was one of hundreds that gathered at the top of the scenic landmark for a first-of-its-kind protest in San Francisco on Thursday afternoon: "," a demonstration led by the skating community with the aim of bringing awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement.At first, Crawford planned to drive down the hill and meet her friends on Market Street later. A can be one of the most dangerous maneuvers for a skateboarder to attempt. But, if executed successfully, it can also...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateJust hours before SFMTA bus drivers for eight minutes and 46 seconds to symbolically memorialize the life of George Floyd, the transit agency made another monumental decision.As several demonstrations continued to take place throughout the Bay Area on Tuesday, Muni announced it would no longer transport officers from the San Francisco Police Department to protests."The idea for the memorial was suggested by one of our transportation controllers in our Transportation Management Center," said Erica Kato, a spokesperson for Muni....…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateJust hours before SFMTA bus drivers for eight minutes and 46 seconds to symbolically memorialize the life of George Floyd, the transit agency made another monumental decision.As several demonstrations continued to take place throughout the Bay Area on Tuesday, Muni announced it would no longer transport officers from the San Francisco Police Department to protests."The idea for the memorial was suggested by one of our transportation controllers in our Transportation Management Center," said Erica Kato, a spokesperson for Muni....WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateWhen she saw the thief walk into her restaurant on Tuesday afternoon, Thao Pham says she greeted him.The owner of the renowned Vietnamese chain had been preparing orders for takeout and delivery, and assumed he was there to pick up his lunch. Instead, she said, the man stole a fistful of cash from the tip jar, knocking over everything on the counter. He threatened Pham, stole the remainder of tips from her cash register drawer, and took off without a trace."It happened extremely fast. I was in shock," Pham told SFGATE, recounting...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateWhen she saw the thief walk into her restaurant on Tuesday afternoon, Thao Pham says she greeted him.The owner of the renowned Vietnamese chain had been preparing orders for takeout and delivery, and assumed he was there to pick up his lunch. Instead, she said, the man stole a fistful of cash from the tip jar, knocking over everything on the counter. He threatened Pham, stole the remainder of tips from her cash register drawer, and took off without a trace."It happened extremely fast. I was in shock," Pham told SFGATE, recounting...WW…

Tucked away in the basement of the Cornell Hotel de France, guests of the Restaurant Jeanne D'Arc dined beneath stained-glass chandeliers and blue-and-white paper flags as the unflinching gaze of a Joan in Arc statue followed their plates of braised rabbit and duck confit across the medieval-themed room.After nearly half a century in business, the Union Square eatery known for its affordable prix fixe menu and quirkily baroque decor — possibly one of the last authentic French restaurants in San Francisco, by their own account — has permanently closed its doors. Longtime proprietor Claude...…Tucked away in the basement of the Cornell Hotel de France, guests of the Restaurant Jeanne D'Arc dined beneath stained-glass chandeliers and blue-and-white paper flags as the unflinching gaze of a Joan in Arc statue followed their plates of braised rabbit and duck confit across the medieval-themed room.After nearly half a century in business, the Union Square eatery known for its affordable prix fixe menu and quirkily baroque decor — possibly one of the last authentic French restaurants in San Francisco, by their own account — has permanently closed its doors. Longtime proprietor Claude...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThere was a line out the door at as South San Jose residents waited for their last takeout dinner from the family-owned eatery.The neighborhood standby named for was known for its cozy atmosphere and hearty entrees. It’s closing Sunday after 45 years in business, but employees said the hardest part of ceasing operations was not being able to thank longtime customers and hug them goodbye as social distancing prevented a proper farewell.“It’s like losing a second home,” employee Doug Savage NBC Bay Area. “This is a restaurant that...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThere was a line out the door at as South San Jose residents waited for their last takeout dinner from the family-owned eatery.The neighborhood standby named for was known for its cozy atmosphere and hearty entrees. It’s closing Sunday after 45 years in business, but employees said the hardest part of ceasing operations was not being able to thank longtime customers and hug them goodbye as social distancing prevented a proper farewell.“It’s like losing a second home,” employee Doug Savage NBC Bay Area. “This is a restaurant that...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateAs restaurateurs continue to seek creative solutions to serve their clientele during the pandemic, a first-of-its-kind outdoor dining experience has made its way to downtown San Francisco.Three seven-foot-tall translucent domes dotted the pavement of the Mint Plaza in SoMa on Wednesday evening, where a handful of customers at were escorted inside to enjoy a meal — and a rather unusual patio seating arrangement.Intrigued by restaurants in and that had implemented similar greenhouse-style structures, manager Ken Matsuura decided to...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateAs restaurateurs continue to seek creative solutions to serve their clientele during the pandemic, a first-of-its-kind outdoor dining experience has made its way to downtown San Francisco.Three seven-foot-tall translucent domes dotted the pavement of the Mint Plaza in SoMa on Wednesday evening, where a handful of customers at were escorted inside to enjoy a meal — and a rather unusual patio seating arrangement.Intrigued by restaurants in and that had implemented similar greenhouse-style structures, manager Ken Matsuura decided to...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateAround this time of year, Curtis and Tana Howard would have begun planning for the painstakingly elaborate Halloween display inside the Avenue, the and the last dive bar of its kind left on Telegraph Ave.Today, however, the Oakland couple faces a series of real-life horrors: the pandemic, for one, as well as a reduced clientele and the challenges that come with adhering to constantly shifting public health protocols.Still, the Howards are doing their best to adapt, creatively repurposing some of their decor to maintain a spooky,...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateAround this time of year, Curtis and Tana Howard would have begun planning for the painstakingly elaborate Halloween display inside the Avenue, the and the last dive bar of its kind left on Telegraph Ave.Today, however, the Oakland couple faces a series of real-life horrors: the pandemic, for one, as well as a reduced clientele and the challenges that come with adhering to constantly shifting public health protocols.Still, the Howards are doing their best to adapt, creatively repurposing some of their decor to maintain a spooky,...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFollowing drastic budget cuts and millions of dollars in revenue loss, the Oakland Zoo is faced with the possibility of closing permanently if it does not receive approval to reopen this month, according to Dr. Joel Parrott, the zoo’s president and CEO.Normally, attendance soars during July, and the popular summer months are critical to sustaining the zoo’s operating costs through the less-visited winter season.But this year has been anything but normal.In mid-March, the zoo was forced to close with no reopening date in sight. As...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFollowing drastic budget cuts and millions of dollars in revenue loss, the Oakland Zoo is faced with the possibility of closing permanently if it does not receive approval to reopen this month, according to Dr. Joel Parrott, the zoo’s president and CEO.Normally, attendance soars during July, and the popular summer months are critical to sustaining the zoo’s operating costs through the less-visited winter season.But this year has been anything but normal.In mid-March, the zoo was forced to close with no reopening date in sight. As...WW…

The mural symbolized a new beginning for San Francisco's oldest queer bar.It was painted during Pride week in 2017, just months after the Stud was about to close its doors for good due to a . But as 17 friends - drag queens, DJs, artists and more - came together to save the city nightlife institution from its demise, the Stud secured its status as the world's first cooperatively owned queer bar.The mural created by artist and activist in collaboration with and You Go Girl was illustrative of that victory, painted in vibrant, multicolored hues that spelled out the words "Queer Trans Spaces."…The mural symbolized a new beginning for San Francisco's oldest queer bar.It was painted during Pride week in 2017, just months after the Stud was about to close its doors for good due to a . But as 17 friends - drag queens, DJs, artists and more - came together to save the city nightlife institution from its demise, the Stud secured its status as the world's first cooperatively owned queer bar.The mural created by artist and activist in collaboration with and You Go Girl was illustrative of that victory, painted in vibrant, multicolored hues that spelled out the words "Queer Trans Spaces."WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe San Mateo County Event Center is the latest Bay Area venue to pivot its summer offerings in response to the pandemic, which led to the cancellation of its annual fair that would have taken place this week. Now, the venue is repurposing what would have been an empty parking lot into a drive-in movie theater starting this Friday. Charged per vehicle, tickets cost $35 and will grant moviegoers with free admission to next year’s fair, similar to the , which also began screening drive-in movies in lieu of its fair earlier this...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe San Mateo County Event Center is the latest Bay Area venue to pivot its summer offerings in response to the pandemic, which led to the cancellation of its annual fair that would have taken place this week. Now, the venue is repurposing what would have been an empty parking lot into a drive-in movie theater starting this Friday. Charged per vehicle, tickets cost $35 and will grant moviegoers with free admission to next year’s fair, similar to the , which also began screening drive-in movies in lieu of its fair earlier this...WW…