Upset over critical coverage, supervisors try to squash the First Amendment

Just 15 minutes before the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 1, 2020, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston told his colleagues that he planned to single out the Marina Times from... Read More

Politics as Usual

Heart trouble

Small business is the heart of the economy and the community, and it’s in trouble

By John Zipperer

Small Business Saturday has been a post-Thanksgiving tradition for a decade, drawing people to neighborhood commercial corridors to fulfill their holiday shopping lists. This year... Read More

Online and premium wine sales have surged during the pandemic. Photo: Feverpitched

Wine World

Raise a glass to 2020

It wasn’t all bad for California wine

By Julie Mitchell

It’s a huge understatement to say that 2020 was a rough year, and California’s wine industry suffered multiple crises — the pandemic that closed winery tasting rooms, weeks ... Read More

Stracciatella soup with tortellini, meatballs, and spinach. Photo: Susan Dyer Reynolds

La Deliziosa Vita

Warm up with hearty soups

Perfect for a cold winter’s night

By Susan Dyer Reynolds

When winter turns cold and blustery, my thoughts turn to hot, hearty soups. One of my favorites is stracciatella, or Italian egg drop soup. The name means “torn apart” or “r... Read More

You no longer need to go to the Art Institute for live-model sessions. PhotoS: Amy Berk

Art World

SFAI’s free online life-drawing sessions for all ages are a great stay-at-home solution

By Sharon Anderson

As California’s stay at home orders are extended, SFAI’s City Studio program is offering to the public a free-for-all-ages collection of online drawing lessons using live mode... Read More

The Best of Books

The Marina Books Inc. best-seller list

By Kevin McCarthy

Hardcover Fiction 1. The Vanishing Half: A Novel, by Brit Bennett 2. Ready Player Two: A Novel, by Ernest Cline 3. Hamnet, by Maggie O’Farrell Hardcover Nonf... Read More

Families had a lot of together time in 2020. Photo: LightFieldStudios

MomSense

Silver linings from a challenging year

By Liz Farrell

I don’t think there is anyone sad to see 2020 come to an end. What a year! My first column of the year is usually about looking forward to the year ahead, possibly making some ... Read More

The trends in the pandemic and the economy could be pointing to a brighter 2021 for the property markets. Photo: Garey De Martini

Real Estate

Return to growth

What’s ahead for San Francisco real estate in 2021

By Garey De Martini

Aside from Bill Gates and a handful of scientists and civil servants, few foresaw the pandemic that hit us in 2020. As Covid-19 spread, all the cheery economic forecasts for that ... Read More

Carey Mulligan as Cassie, who’s out for revenge in Promising Young Woman. photo: FOCUS FEATURES

Films

Rounding up the best movies of 2020

By Michael Snyder

Despite pandemic-mandated obstacles such as theater closures and postponed blockbusters, there were some excellent movies released in 2020. Here are 10 of my English language favo... Read More

District 2 Supervisor

Standing up for the First Amendment

The Board of Supervisors was wrong to target the ‘Marina Times’

By Catherine Stefani

When I became an attorney, and again when I became supervisor, I took an oath to support and defend the Constitution. On Jan. 20, after an arduous four years, our country will fin... Read More

‘Power lunches’ should return to Original Joe’s in 2021. Photo: Naomi rose

Appetites and Afterthoughts

Debunking the bunk about food and dining

A new year always begs for some nostalgia. We hope you enjoy this column from more relaxed times.

By Ernest Beyl

In case you haven’t noticed, I love writing about food. I love eating it, too. This column is about debunking the bunk about food and dining. For some time now I’ve been keepi... Read More

Editor's Note

New ownership for the Marina Times

Street Media buys Marina Times, Village Voice

By John Zipperer

DECEMBER 22, 2020 Street Media, the publisher of L.A. Weekly and Irvine Weekly, announced today the purchase of San Francisco’s Marina Times newspaper from its current ow... Read More

Politics as Usual

All I want for Christmas is 2021

Looking forward to a better new year

By John Zipperer

Like Charlie Brown being duped into trying to kick a football only to have Lucy take it away every time, I approach January with the optimism that it will herald a much better yea... Read More

Art World

Bay Area Artists at ‘The de Young Open’

By Sharon Anderson

The M.H. de Young has long-standing tradition of engaging the talent of artists in the Bay Area, and in celebration of its 125th year in 2020, the museum presents “The de Young ... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Hello to hope

Good riddance to 2020

By Michael Snyder

If ever there was a year from hell or, more accurately, a year in hell, it’s 2020. Such a nice round number, too. Even if 2020 suggests the concept of clear vision, most of what... Read More

2020 December