A North Beach squabble boils and roils

I know readers of my “Sketches from a North Beach Journal” column are eager for an update of the very public squabble between that pugnacious, would-be Mother Superior ... Read More

North Beach Journal

Ferlinghetti Plaza, signs of the times and highly important trivia

By Ernest Beyl

Is this a sign of the times, or is it just the season of the glitch? I received an e-mail from the law offices of that mover and sometimes-persistent shaker, Angela Alioto. It read... Read More

Opinion

Let’s toast the return of Tosca Cafe

By Ernest Beyl

When Sean Penn intercedes to save a North Beach landmark, I sit up and take notice. One assumes Penn has more pressing things to do — like going to bat for UNESCO’s Haitian... Read More

A & E

Richard Brautigan: The hippies’ chosen icon

By Ernest Beyl

Recently I was thinking about Richard Brautigan, the counterculture novelist and poet who hung out in North Beach in the 1950s and 1960s. I was cutting across the grass in Washingt... Read More

North Beach Journal

People, places and pleasures in the neighborhood

By Ernest Beyl

ANGELA’S BASHES Angela Alioto announced an on-again-off-again bash recently — a press conference to make an announcement about the Piazza St. Francis. You will remember tha... Read More

Back Story

The evolution of San Francisco newspapers from 1846 until today, Part 3

Three part series

By Ernest Beyl

Correction: Before launching into Part 3 of this series, let me correct an error in Part 2. Harry Rabin, a San Francisco City Guide called it to my attention. I confused Commodore ... Read More

Hungry Palate

Buster’s in North Beach: The quintessential cheese steak joint

By Ernest Beyl

I’m a patron of Buster’s, the North Beach cheese steak joint on Columbus and Vallejo. It’s my go-to place when I crave a cheese steak, a burger, or a hot dog. I&#... Read More

North Beach Journal

A good whistleblower, a Pagoda Palace performer, and the Filbert gardener

By Ernest Beyl

Hero worship comes naturally to me — perhaps because I’m nonheroic. But I’m a late bloomer so I still have a chance. Here are three of my North Beach heroes, past and... Read More

Back Story

The evolution of San Francisco newspapers from 1846, Part 2

By Ernest Beyl

On July 9, 1846, Commodore John D. Sloat, commander-in-chief of United States Naval Forces in the Pacific, arrived at what would later be called San Francisco aboard his sloop of w... Read More

Dining

Food stuff and stuff about food

By Ernest Beyl

I like to eat. I like to cook. And I like to dine out. I also like to write about food and restaurants — as my readers will note. Some readers stiffen their spines and want to te... Read More

North Beach Journal

Saloon conversation

Not just dirty jokes, sports and pick-up lines

By Ernest Beyl

I wandered down to Capp’s Corner the other day to check out the linguine and clams, and ran into James Melling. Some may recall that in earlier columns I referred to him as t... Read More

Back Story

The evolution of San Francisco newspapers from 1846, Part 1

in a three-part series

By Ernest Beyl

Today most newspapers in San Francisco are tame lap dogs whose bark is worse than their bite. But it wasn’t always that way. This three-part series is about newspapers from 1... Read More

North Beach Journal

Comic oddments and oddities

By Ernest Beyl

The death of Jonathan Winters a while back sent me slipping into a reverie of memories of when there were comic giants walking the streets of North Beach. Winters was such a giant.... Read More

Back Story

The Cliff House celebrates 150 years

By Ernest Beyl

Isn’t it exciting to live in a city that has such wonderful old restaurants? I’m thinking of places like the Old Clam House, founded in 1861; the Cliff House, 1863; Sam... Read More

North Beach Journal

More formidable women

By Ernest Beyl

Well, I think it’s about time for me to acknowledge this — I love women. All kinds, especially, strong, gutsy, opinionated women. And North Beach has plenty of them. Here a... Read More

Ernest Beyl