Twilight on Christmas Eve

Readers may remember our dear departed columnist Bruce Bellingham, who wrote of his ramblings around the city in Bellingham by the Bay. Every December he ended that column with th... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

With a turn of the page

By

I know I’m getting old when elderly Chinese ladies offer me their seats on the 30-Stockton bus. … Jane Fonda says when she turned 60, she knew she was entering the third act of... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

The art of the dull

By

There’s something to be said for dullness. Something to be said for things that are quiet, still, and safe. Recollected in tranquility. You know the old Chinese curse: “May you... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

In search of the ridiculous

By

It’s reassuring to see San Franciscans pull together and help their neighbors when trouble arises. Case in point: There was a fundraiser last month at the Buffalo Theory restaura... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

Christmas in July

By

Do you recall that song from Chubby Checker from the 1960s, “Let’s Twist Again (like we did last summer)”? Well, I recall this. Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer were dancing on... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

A muttering instinct

By

I was wondering what happened to those famous parrots of Telegraph Hill. “They’re gone,” quipped Tony Gantner. “They can’t afford the rents.” An... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

The fast and the spurious

By

It slays me when people say “happy” memorial Day as we approach this country’s most solemn holiday. Believe it or not, I heard a news anchor on MSNBC gush, “... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

Confessions of a paper boy

By

Once a paper boy, always a paper boy. I still love delivering the Marina Times in scattered fashion — dropping copies off in stores and bars from hither to yon. Yes, I was a pape... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

What you see is what you get

By

As my mentor, Herb Caen, used to say, “gawd, I love this town.”… For example, here comes the Belli Belles and the great gals that they are. They had a party the ... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

The last refuge of a scoundrel

By

On the 22 fillmore bus the other day, a very nice lady sat next to me. Her name was Helen. Yes, just like Helen of Troy. Yes, she launched a thousand ships. What is that famous lin... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

We can be heroes

By

Christmas is about music. it’s also about generosity of spirit, whether you can play an instrument or sing. But anybody can sing — as long as you want to sing. The only require... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

The power of the pun

By

It all looked too easy. in a split moment, we knew the truth. Some of us went to Sunday school. Some of us never left Sundays at all. Some of us drifted away from where we were sup... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

Here’s the October surprise

By

The surprise is that few of us may be surprised at all these days. Small wonder. To most civilized people, we have tumbled into an era of incivility. Of vulgarity, and a sad excurs... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay

Feeding the hungry ghosts

By

The Buddhists call them hungry ghosts. They are the dead. They wander the planet, ravenous for something they’ve lost or never had. They have not attained a peaceful place in the... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay, Features

Altogether, shout it now

By

This California primary election on June 7 will be the most important in many years. So say the local politicos who are beating the drum for a big turnout this month. That drumbea... Read More

Bellingham by the Bay