This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateElly Simmons is in the highly unusual position of being able to say that she started her coronavirus-related fundraiser because Taj Mahal told her to do it.The famous blues musician is a longtime friend of Simmons’, who co-owns the 52-year-old bar better known as Specs’, in San Francisco’s North Beach. Like many bar owners — period — Simmons has been struggling to figure out how to keep her bar alive since shelter-in-place orders forced it to close in March.Her daughter Maralisa Simmons-Cook, who co-owns the bar with her, had...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateElly Simmons is in the highly unusual position of being able to say that she started her coronavirus-related fundraiser because Taj Mahal told her to do it.The famous blues musician is a longtime friend of Simmons’, who co-owns the 52-year-old bar better known as Specs’, in San Francisco’s North Beach. Like many bar owners — period — Simmons has been struggling to figure out how to keep her bar alive since shelter-in-place orders forced it to close in March.Her daughter Maralisa Simmons-Cook, who co-owns the bar with her, had...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFor the first time ever, Anchor Brewing’s are getting a new look.Some breweries change their labels all the time, but when it comes to Anchor, a rebrand carries special significance. This marks the first time that the beloved, vintage-feeling labels for the porter, California lager and Liberty Ale beers have gotten a makeover — and the first time in modern history that there’s been a significant change to the label for the brewery’s oldest and most famous product, Anchor Steam.“We know it’s going to be a shocking change to some...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFor the first time ever, Anchor Brewing’s are getting a new look.Some breweries change their labels all the time, but when it comes to Anchor, a rebrand carries special significance. This marks the first time that the beloved, vintage-feeling labels for the porter, California lager and Liberty Ale beers have gotten a makeover — and the first time in modern history that there’s been a significant change to the label for the brewery’s oldest and most famous product, Anchor Steam.“We know it’s going to be a shocking change to some...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThis February, unlike previous Februarys in the Bay Area, thousands of beer-centric events from will not be popping up across the region’s restaurants, museums, parks and just about every public space imaginable. There will be no beer-themed yoga classes, no homebrew competitions, no sour beer parties in Berkeley. And no hours-long wait for a sip of , that coveted triple IPA from Russian River Brewing Co.Like all public gatherings in the time of COVID-19, the 2021 edition of SF Beer Week, the annual celebration of craft beer that...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThis February, unlike previous Februarys in the Bay Area, thousands of beer-centric events from will not be popping up across the region’s restaurants, museums, parks and just about every public space imaginable. There will be no beer-themed yoga classes, no homebrew competitions, no sour beer parties in Berkeley. And no hours-long wait for a sip of , that coveted triple IPA from Russian River Brewing Co.Like all public gatherings in the time of COVID-19, the 2021 edition of SF Beer Week, the annual celebration of craft beer that...WW…

Thad Vogler, one of San Francisco’s most prominent barkeepers, has permanently closed three of his four restaurants: Obispo, Trou Normand and Nommo. All three have been closed during shelter-in-place, but the leader in the local bar scene has decided to go public with his decision not to reopen.COVID-19 certainly didn’t help, Vogler said. But the real reasons for the closures predate the pandemic and the economic shutdown and point to an existential crisis in the local bar and restaurant industry that had been brewing for years, at least in Vogler’s experience.“I made mistakes,” he said....…Thad Vogler, one of San Francisco’s most prominent barkeepers, has permanently closed three of his four restaurants: Obispo, Trou Normand and Nommo. All three have been closed during shelter-in-place, but the leader in the local bar scene has decided to go public with his decision not to reopen.COVID-19 certainly didn’t help, Vogler said. But the real reasons for the closures predate the pandemic and the economic shutdown and point to an existential crisis in the local bar and restaurant industry that had been brewing for years, at least in Vogler’s experience.“I made mistakes,” he said....WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateShundo David Haye has probably walked through more parts of San Francisco than you have. The Zen priest leads urban hikes in which he takes groups through some of the city’s most scenic enclaves, many of them unknown to even longtime city residents: the Harry Street steps, the Sunnyside Conservatory, the Florida Alley Trail. His Meetup group, counts more than 500 members.But when shelter-in-place orders came into effect, Haye was suddenly unable to lead group hikes. So instead, he started publishing guides to “social distancing...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateShundo David Haye has probably walked through more parts of San Francisco than you have. The Zen priest leads urban hikes in which he takes groups through some of the city’s most scenic enclaves, many of them unknown to even longtime city residents: the Harry Street steps, the Sunnyside Conservatory, the Florida Alley Trail. His Meetup group, counts more than 500 members.But when shelter-in-place orders came into effect, Haye was suddenly unable to lead group hikes. So instead, he started publishing guides to “social distancing...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe elaborate parklets and outdoor restaurant spaces that have popped up around San Francisco during the pandemic could become a permanent fixture under new legislation announced by Mayor London Breed and several supervisors Friday.The current Shared Spaces program, which enables parklets throughout the city, is tied to an emergency measure. Now Breed is proposing a permanent version of Shared Spaces that would come with additional regulations — intended to balance restaurant needs with accessibility to sidewalks and parking.There...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe elaborate parklets and outdoor restaurant spaces that have popped up around San Francisco during the pandemic could become a permanent fixture under new legislation announced by Mayor London Breed and several supervisors Friday.The current Shared Spaces program, which enables parklets throughout the city, is tied to an emergency measure. Now Breed is proposing a permanent version of Shared Spaces that would come with additional regulations — intended to balance restaurant needs with accessibility to sidewalks and parking.There...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateTakeout and delivery cocktails could become a permanent fixture in California even after the pandemic ends, if a new bill succeeds that was introduced in the state Legislature on Thursday.State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, who introduced the legislation known as SB389, said the main impetus was to help restaurants generate more income.“This industry has gotten hammered so badly,” he said. “In the big scheme of things, this is no silver bullet that is going to keep them in business, but hopefully it’s something that can be a shot in the...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateTakeout and delivery cocktails could become a permanent fixture in California even after the pandemic ends, if a new bill succeeds that was introduced in the state Legislature on Thursday.State Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, who introduced the legislation known as SB389, said the main impetus was to help restaurants generate more income.“This industry has gotten hammered so badly,” he said. “In the big scheme of things, this is no silver bullet that is going to keep them in business, but hopefully it’s something that can be a shot in the...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateA post-pandemic California could potentially feature permanent restaurant , open-container zones in cities. and an easier road for opening pop-up restaurants, if a new bill introduced Friday is passed by the Legislature.Sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, the Bar and Restaurant Recovery Act, or SB314, would loosen certain alcohol laws throughout the state. The goal, Wiener said, is to give more flexibility to bars, restaurants and music venues in order to help them stay afloat.“As we start to see the light at the end...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateA post-pandemic California could potentially feature permanent restaurant , open-container zones in cities. and an easier road for opening pop-up restaurants, if a new bill introduced Friday is passed by the Legislature.Sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, the Bar and Restaurant Recovery Act, or SB314, would loosen certain alcohol laws throughout the state. The goal, Wiener said, is to give more flexibility to bars, restaurants and music venues in order to help them stay afloat.“As we start to see the light at the end...WW…