“The coldest winter I’ve ever spent is a summer in San Francisco,” once said by American novelist, Mark Twain. SF consistently appears as the top travel destination each year. However, as Twain learned, our summers are very atypical in comparison to many coastal cities. Have no fear because I have the solution for you to overcome this bitter challenge — walking outdoors. “Walking outdoors in winter is extremely invigorating and almost meditative,”…

The Castro Movie Theatre located just off Castro and Market is a great example of a movie palace built in 1922 and is usually listed among the best cinemas in the United States. With a 1400 seat capacity and roomy balcony, the Castro hosts over a dozen film festival of all kinds throughout the year, including the Jewish Film Festival, Arab Film Festival, Berlin and Beyond, Noir City and the…

Vesuvios Café is located at 255 Columbus Ave, next to Jack Kerouac Alley. It’s an old school saloon with lots of nooks and crannies and even a balcony with a great view for North Beach people-watching. Its many artifacts from the past and its whimsical atmosphere hearken back to the Victorian era as reflected through the Beat Generation. The walls are full of posters, paintings and photographs of Jack Kerouac,…

The Cuisine here is really outstanding and the menu is really extensive, so there is something for everyone. World-renowned chef Han will rock your taste buds. It goes without saying that everything is very fresh and there are many interesting twists for the discriminating diner. For those who have a sensitive palate, stay away from the super spicy Szechuan dishes that Z&Y is known for. Of course, with their stellar…

You won’t be shanghaied here at the House of Nanking, though you might experience the cold shoulder if you linger too long, but the food makes it more than worth it. House of Nanking located at 919 Kearny Street on the outskirts of Chinatown is one of my favorite Chinese eateries in San Francisco. It has a vibrant, casual atmosphere and excellent cuisine. The menu is deceptively simple. The variety…

This weekend commences the 48th San Francisco Pride Festival. It is a milestone that recognizes the trials of which the LGBTQ community endured for them to be recognized as equals. As we strut the streets and celebrate the progress made, we must remember those that sacrificed to get us to this point. A few who come to mind are Harvey Milk, the first openly gay individual to be elected for…

To travel is a chance to no longer live as a prisoner to long-held beliefs and norms. This past weekend I was blindsided and heartbroken on hearing the news of Anthony Bourdain’s passing. He lived a life that constantly sought to push beyond his comfort zone and challenge others to see the world differently. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart.…

In the next week or so, San Francisco will be overrun by a wave of fanatics leaping through hills and running the streets in our annual Bay to Breakers footrace. This is one of the longest consecutive races in the world and was created in response to a spontaneous natural disaster that almost wiped out San Francisco. On April 18th, 1906, a powerful earthquake rattled through the city leaving everything…