The data-driven buyer

Home buyers have many approaches to picking their homes and neighborhoods. They consult friends and family who know the area. The search Zillow. They talk to real estate agents. Th... Read More

Enter Stage Left

Glitter and be … stupid?

By Evalyn Baron

In Leonard Bernstein’s 1956 musical of Voltaire’s Candide, the foolish Cunégonde sings from the top of her soprano range, “Glitter and Be Gay,” about how ... Read More

Weekend Traveler

Los Gatos: Nestled in the foothills

By Patty Burness

Traveling to the mountains from San Francisco doesn’t always mean northeast to Tahoe. For a different laid-back getaway, head south to Los Gatos, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mo... Read More

Pets

My psychopathic pet

By John Zipperer

Forget Spot or Professor Fluffball; meet Hannibal Licker. Earlier this year, the media had a field day writing about a study from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and... Read More

Real Estate Today

Finding a home online is easy — or maybe not

By Carole Isaacs

The real estate market has been going crazy for months now, and it is clear it is not settling down in the way buyers would like. Maybe you haven’t even looked online yet, be... Read More

The Mystery Housebuyer

Tales from the home front

By anonymous

Buying and selling a home is the closest most people come to real negotiation and interpersonal politics with real value at stake. Yes, people might know how to haggle with a stree... Read More

Real Estate

Is square footage important or not?

By Stephanie Saunders Ahlberg

Throughout my years as a Realtor, and with even greater frequency lately, I’ve been asked the question, “What is the square footage?” I understand why you would w... Read More

Home & Garden

Ladder safety

By Julia Strzesieski

Many homes in San Francisco feature high ceilings, making simple tasks like changing a lightbulb sometimes difficult. A reliable ladder is useful and neccessary around the house, a... Read More

Caring For Our Kids

Choosing a pediatrician

By Liz Farrell

Whether you are having a baby or have just moved to the City, finding a doctor for your child’s health care needs can be a bit daunting. You will spend a lot of time in the f... Read More

Wellness

Winter’s approach means preseason training for snow sports enthusiasts

By Julie Mitchell

Shorter days, cooler weather and the advent of rain in the Bay Area may have some city dwellers feeling grouchy, but for skiers and snowboarders, winter’s approach means snow... Read More

Movie Reviews

Big Sur

By Michael Snyder

As someone fascinated by the Beat Generation, its auteurs and their Bay Area haunts, I’m probably the ideal target for director-screenwriter Michael Polish’s faithful-t... Read More

Humor

Unwanted Thanksgiving advice

By Sandy Fertman Ryan

November is here, and it’s time to give thanks for many things, like your health, your loved ones — and that Thanksgiving only comes once a year! I hope these Q.s and A.s w... Read More

Coastal Commuter

Noir-lit titans straddle mighty cities — ray of moonlight, dash of danger

By Michael Snyder

Listen here, ya mugs! I’m a longtime lover of detective fiction. Naturally, that would include the classics of the genre — and there are no private eyes in the literary wor... Read More

The Tablehopper

Tosca Cafe gets a second wind, State Bird reopens, new projects in the mix

By Marcia Gagliardi

All the town is abuzz about the new digs of beloved Tosca Cafe (242 Columbus Avenue, 415-986-9651). Fortunately, new owners Ken Friedman and April Bloomfield were exceedingly caref... Read More

New & Notable

Café Claude Marina opens in Cow Hollow

By Julie Mitchell

In sync with brisk fall weather, another intimate, clubby, neighborhood restaurant and bar has opened. Café Claude Marina is located on Greenwich Street in a historic turn-of-the ... Read More

Issue November 2013