• In Issue #19 I wondered why the excellent cookies from Luke’s Local were in bags, rather than on display. I reached out to Luke’s for comment. Turns out the bagged cookies were day-old and 50% off. We regret the error of suggesting there was a change. $1.25 for a killer cookie is a great deal.

• Also in Issue #19, I shared that House of Air is closing in February. I’ve since gone to House of Air and…learned that an hour of jumping is more than enough. It hurts. I only kind of recommend. The person working there said that the owner is converting the space into AI company offices.

• In Issue #16 I broke the news (maybe, I’ll claim it) that Fjord is expanding. They confirmed today via Instagram.

• In Issue #10 I wrote about the movie theater renaissance. This week wrote about how movie screenings are the new brand event.

CCC Place of the Week is Cafe de Olla.

An all-day Oaxacan cafe off Mission, Cafe de Olla is a reliable favorite. I’ve had the chilaquiles, memelas, and tlayudas. The San Francisco Chronicle recommends the tamales too. The scene is lively, the outdoor seating is sunny, and you’ll want to hang around a while. Consider a drink at Horsie’s afterwards.

Grab Bag:

• What are your favorite books on California? Help me build a reading list of the best books about our state. In the meantime, here is my favorite book on Texas.

• Speaking of Texas, Senator-Elect James Talarico was on SNL last night.

• Beyond James Talarico, there are lots of new faces in government. If you, like me, want to learn about some of our lesser-known new electeds, here are some profiles to start:

  • Bobby Polido, Representative of TX-15, used to be a Tejano singer.

  • Josh Turek, the newly elected Senator from Iowa, is a two-time Paralympic gold-medalist.

  • Sam Forstag, the first Democratic representative from Montana in 30+ years, used to be a firejumper.

• Back in California, crabbing is serious business. Yesterday reader Lauren R. and I went crab fishing. We came back empty handed, though many of the avid crabbers on Torpedo Wharf had better luck.

• On Friday, authorities rescued and returned 95 dungeness crabs from an unlawful fishing operation in San Mateo County. Those cited were crabbing out of season (one day early), taking under-size crabs, and keeping more than their daily allotment.

  • One can understand why crabs are so expensive. The season is short, and frequently cut even shorter by the potential of neurotoxin contamination or interference with whale migration.

  • There’s an ongoing battle between whale conservationists and crab fishermen. This year, commercial crab season was pushed to January to allow humpback whales to complete their migration without fear of entanglement. Too many whales had already been entangled this year to allow the season to start as planned. This is the seventh consecutive year officials have pushed the season back.

• I remembered that B. Patisserie was good, but I had forgotten that it is quite excellent. I went on a whim and loved the chocolate almond banana croissant and guava kouign-amann. It’s not the newest bakery in town, but it’s still around for good reason.

• Old Friend Photobooth is opening their next location in Utah. It’s the first location outside of NYC. In 2024, Old Friend Photobooth opened their first booth in a Lower East Side bodega. They’ve since exploded, with lines down the block both at their LES and Downtown Brooklyn locations.

  • Editorial Note: Speaking from experience, trying to source and restore a vintage film photo booth is very hard. There’s just a few people who know how to restore old photobooths, and similarly few purveyors of the necessary ink and film. One could easily dismiss Old Friend as Instagram bait. However, knowing how difficult it is to get these booths up and running, I’m impressed.

• Salon Salon Salon, a natural wine festival, is coming to San Francisco next weekend.

• Pre-natural wine, consider line dancing:

Talk to you next week.

Big upcoming week, with two days to highlight:

1. Election Day. In Issue #19 I highlighted OpenBallot’s voter guide of voter guides. If the props feel paralyzing, it’s for you.

2. Valkyries Day. Wednesday, 12-2pm, along the Embarcadero. Mayor Lurie will kick off the parade with MVP Gabby Williams.

Visitors to San Francisco would be forgiven for thinking our WNBA team has been around for decades. In fact, only 2 years. Give people something to believe in! I am in awe of how the team has taken the city by storm in such a short time. Walking around yesterday, purple was everywhere. Pumpkins painted purple, skeletons wearing Valkyries hats. The energy at the game was electric. Legend Nancy Pelosi won best fit.

Here is a fun article about how Warriors owner Jacob Lacob brought the WNBA to San Francisco. Maybe we’ll do a CCC field trip to a game next season.

CCC Place of the Week: Fillmore Billiards

While you’re not obsessing over how the Valkyries became the most valuable WNBA franchise in 24 months, I have another side quest for you: billiards.

Fillmore Billiards is a institution just south of Japantown. The owner, Paul, created the space 14 years ago with six pool and two ping pong tables. It’s BYOB, BYOFood, and BYOMusic. That’s right - first-come first-serve aux.

Fillmore Billiards shines very bright (pun intended). Part of me wishes they’d turn down the fluorescent lights. Most of me hopes Fillmore Billiards never changes. On the way out, my boyfriend asked that I preserve it by not highlighting them in CCC. I reminded him that I have almost no readers. And, given only two tables were occupied at 10pm on a Friday, I’d like them to stay in business. Let’s all pick up a new pool habit.

Grab Bag:

• If you’re new to CCC and having Sunday scaries, here are some places to look forward to next weekend:

  • Parkside, Stinson Beach (Issue #19)

  • Daymoon Bread, Sunset (Issue #17)

  • Grand Opening, Oakland (Issue #11)

  • Yo También Cantina, the Richmond (Issue #8)

• It’s Its are a new shade of green. The Bay Area’s favorite ice cream sandwich purveyor switched from Blue No. 1 to a natural green dye, leaving mint ice cream sandwiches more subdued in color. No change to favor.

• CCC favorite Food Folk has fun new goods in stock. Perfect for your next Saturday meander. Read more about Food Folk in Issue #14.

• Did you know Jane the Bakery owns its own farm, Jane Grain?

• Amongst environmental concerns and complex political dynamics, the start of dungeness crab season was pushed to January.

• Lucas Sin is converting Mister Jiu’s into a Hong Kong-style diner (a cha chaan teng) for 2 days. If you can’t make it, here is a list of existing cha chaan tengs in SF. Per The Infatuation, “Only at a cha chaan teng can you devour bubbling baked pork chops over rice, follow it up with a peanut butter-stuffed french toast, and chase everything with milk tea that could double as rocket fuel.”

• Big IYKYK. While searching to explain Avatar the Last Airbender, I discovered the EDM trend of sampling “appa yip yip” at the drop. Here and here.

Talk to you next week.

Last weekend I hiked the Dipsea from Stinson Beach. We had Parkside for breakfast beforehand and Parkside for lunch post-descent.

I love the Parkside. For those that haven’t been, it’s a oceanside complex. They have a marketplace, a grill, a bakery, and a sit-down restaurant. Among many yummy items, there are two sleeper hits:

1. Their bread pudding muffin is one of the most decadent pastries in the Bay Area.

2. Their pesto is top tier. Once one of the Parkside team members called it “world famous.” I agree it would be world famous if the world knew about it. I stock up on it in my freezer. World famous to me.

That I can get to a beautiful hike and world-famous pesto, with ocean views nearly the whole drive, is very lucky. I love San Francisco.

Grab Bag:

• Election Day is November 3rd and all of you California voters should have received a ballot by mail. Today I went to a ballot proposition party (thank you to reader Allison W. for hosting) and learned just how complicated some of the propositions are.

  • For example, I “presented” on Prop 4, which enables public financing for political campaigns in California. It doesn’t enact public financing, it just allows the state and municipalities to do so if they so choose.

  • Prop G (whether the Great Highway should be pedestrian only) and Prop 40 (aka the “Billionaire Tax”) are the most discussed props in this year’s race. But, there are several more. Don’t be scared when you open your ballot. OpenBallot has an awesome tool to help you shape your opinions: a voter guide of voter guides. Take a look.

• If you didn’t receive your ballot in the mail, don’t fret. If your address has changed since you originally registered, you can re-register to vote on November 3rd at your local polling place. If you didn’t move, you can call your county to request a new ballot or vote in person. Learn more here.

• Thanks to the hard work of Mariposa Trails, a 21-mile hike will reopen in Yosemite this fall. It’s taken the group nearly ten years to restore the trail after a series of storms and wildfires.

• In Issue #1, I declared that Jules was #1 on my SF Bucket List. Around the same time, Jules blew up with features in the New York Times and Bon Appétit, making reservations difficult to come by. I finally tried it this week (thanks to readers Derek J. and Shira B.) The pizza was good. The dessert was particularly excellent. We got toasted marshmallow ice cream with a pizookie underneath (worth the extra $4). I would go just for dessert.

• Did you know Luke’s Local has some of the best chocolate chip cookies in the city? They are chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside. They have chocolate shards, not chips, and I agree - it makes a difference. Luke’s is now selling their cookies individually packaged, rather self-service. I reached out for comment on the switch; will keep you updated.

• Other desserts I’m intrigued by:

  • New froyo shop in Palo Alto.

  • Linea launched “chill frosted coffee.”

• I need something epic to move into the soon-to-be-vacant House of Air trampoline property in the Presidio. I don’t know what it should be, but I don’t want it to be a dedicated coworking space. Cafe with room for laptops would be fine.

• Reader Inbar G. hosted a Soup Dinner last night. We dined on three different soups and shared our top conspiracy theories. Inbar is a vanguard of this year’s soup season. The New York Times is on the same page. If you want to take part in a CCC Soup Swap next month, DM.

Send me your tips and feedback. Talk to you next week!

In addition to You Can See Everything, if you find yourself with some free time in San Francisco, here are three activities to consider.

To Eat: Swan Oyster Depot

On a Monday between jobs, I journeyed to this storied seafood joint. I got in line at 11am and sat down by 12:30pm. Lunch was epic: lox, “Sicilian sashimi,” and crab salad. The team was exceptionally kind, constantly checking in and sharing updates on my order. The 18-person counter has been around for 100+ years for good reason. The line is prohibitive to becoming a regular, but I do believe every San Francisco resident should make the voyage at least once.

To Watch: History of Concrete at Balboa Theater

John Wilson is at it again with History of Concrete. It’s impossible to describe the movie’s premise; just head to Balboa Theatre and prepare to watch in awe. Yesterday the news broke that Wilson will be producing the upcoming Harry Styles concert doc. The classic Concrete to MSG pipeline.

An added bonus of History of Concrete were the “trailers” beforehand, almost all of which were creative ads for local businesses. A video of people eating pastries as an ad for Arizmendi; clips of people (and dogs) reading to promote a bookshop. I’ve written before about the resurgence of independent movie theaters in SF. Balboa theatre is the perfect example.

To Make: Chicken Tortilla Soup

We’re heading into soup season. Consider making Chicken Tortilla Soup and freezing the extra. Last week I ate it 4 nights in a row. Turns out, making your own tortilla chips takes 5 minutes.

Grab Bag:

• Theo Baker, college journalist extraordinaire, is joining the SF Standard. Huge get for San Francisco. Baker took the Bay Area by storm earlier this year with the release of How to Rule the World. I continue to be impressed by SF Standard’s coverage, their acquisitions, and their people. SF Standard investor Mike Moritz was featured in this week.

Feed Me

Feed Me: West Coast ☀️🌴🌉

Good afternoon, everyone…

Read more

a month ago · 44 likes · 18 comments · Emily Sundberg and Madeleine Mogul

• In other talent news, Octavio Peña is joining KQED as a Food Reporter. I’ve loved following his food adventures on Instagram (tavos.kitchen) and am excited to become a loyal listener.

• In Issue #8 I wrote about how community members were taking matters into their own hands to bring a grocery store to the Fillmore Street Corridor. Safeway closed over 18 months ago, and efforts to find a new retailer have stalled. There’s a neighborhood meeting about next steps at the African American Art & Culture Complex next Saturday 1pm.

  

• There’s a temporary hold on oyster harvesting in Tomales Bay.

• I’ve been wondering about the vacant storefront at the corner of Fillmore and Clay, formerly home to Alice & Olivia. Now we know: Bar Oliver, a New York transplant. In some ways San Francisco feels like an unusual next location for Bar Oliver. It’s therefore no surprise that the bar is opening as part of Neil Mehta’s Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project. I last wrote about Mehta and his revival of the Clay Theater (next door to Bar Oliver). Curious and excited for what’s in store.

• At $8 each, dahlia bouquets at the Sunday Fort Mason Farmer’s Market are a steal.

• “Three friends with a 40-foot city bus and an idea.” Can’t wait.

Talk to you next week.

I’ve learned a few other fun facts:

• You’re not allowed to go. The Islands are a nature preserve, famous for birds, seals, and great-white sharks. Historically select researchers lived on the islands year-round, focused on conservation. However, last year budget cuts forced a change to seasonal habitation rather than year round research. Now, for half the year, the islands are animals only.

• From 1946-1970, the area around the islands was used as a radioactive waste dump site. Don’t fear, by 1980 the radiation no longer posed a threat.

• You can go on boat trips to see the islands from sea. However, Reddit wouldn’t recommend: sounds like nearly 100% of visitors get seasick.

Thank you reader Garrett O for the tip.

In other news, CCC Place of the Week is Daymoon Bread. Perfect for your Sunday morning needs. Nothing like an 11am affogato! Consider renting a Lyft bike in GG Park before or after.

Grab Bag:

• Those who know me know that I love The Marshall Store. Right on Tomales Bay, just north of Point Reyes, The Marshall Store sells excellent oysters, fish tacos, and pulled pork sandwiches. It’s my first stop with out of town visitors, and it never gets old. For the first time, The Marshall Store and surrounding property is for sale. It would be a dream to own and operate this iconic spot. If you know who’s bidding or considering it, please submit a tip - I’ll keep you anonymous.

• Architectural Digest went on a tour of Zac Posen’s Telegraph Hill home. I want to hear more about Zac Posen’s life in our city.

• This burger pop-up looks great. Breadbelly buns! October 21st.

• Last year, Big Milk won me back. Now, they’ve won Blue Bottle back too. Oat milk is out, whole milk is in.

• If you too felt like the fog horn was quite active last week, learn more about the Bay’s sound system here. Some boats still rely on the horns for navigation.

• The San Francisco Chronicle has hired its first ever South Bay food reporter. Huge news for South Bay locals who are ready to branch out from Alpine Inn (an all-time classic). A few of my other South Bay favorites: Daigo, Pints of Joy, Mariscos el Aguachile, and, of course, Zareen’s.

• James Burnham is the General Counsel of xAI and also a member of the Presidio Trust. He’s open to your ideas for how to improve the Presidio.

• Almost old news at this point: I was so excited to hear that Express Checkout was acquired by Morning Brew. As they dug into the world of CPG, and proved the value and popularity of subject-specific publications. I think we’ll see similar acquisitions across other verticals.

Talk to you next weekend.

On Wednesday I lauded Pasta Supply Co for their excellent customer service, delicious pasta, and clever expansion plan. Turns out, owner Anthony Strong wrote about their unique operating model for The New York Times in 2023, explaining how tactics like having customers order before sitting down allows the restaurant to stay afloat in a tricky market. Thanks to reader Jack D for sending in the tip.

In other expansion news, Fjord, the Sausalito sauna on the Bay, is more than doubling their capacity. As I approached the floating destination this morning, I noticed several new structures. I learned they’re planning to add two 10-person saunas to the mix, and plan to start construction as soon as permitting allows. Fjord has taken the city by storm in the last several months, thanks to their Dwell aesthetic and unique location. It’s hard to book a slot, but you’ll be rewarded once you do. I’m bullish on their expansion. In the meantime, grab 5 friends and make a half-day of it with a stop at Fish.

Grab Bag:

• Determined to make the most of the sun, yesterday I walked from GG Park to Pac Heights. Along the way, I stumbled into a new-to-me gem: Wisteria Decorative Prints. Inside I found stacks of vintage posters of all shapes and sizes. The walls are covered in posters from around the world. From those posters on display, it seems like the owners may have a particular love for France and tennis. Very exciting news for those like me that are on a forever hunt for posters that don’t feel like Urban Outfitters dupes.

• We continue to make our way through the SF Summer Bucket List. This weekend was Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Fleet Week kicks off this upcoming week, with the Blue Angels as the grand finale. You can also look forward to the Grand National Rodeo.

  • Reminder that Four Horsemen is popping up at Daymoon Bread tomorrow. If you (like me) didn’t snag tickets within 14 minutes, you can head over for food, wine, and music from 8-10pm.

• Thank you, Bob Siegel, for the Crosstown Trail. 86-years-old and still traversing the city.

• of Street Stack visited SF this week and confirmed what we already knew: San Francisco is the most beautiful city in America. I loved reading his observations on the little quirks that make our city special.

• In non-SF news, Alison Roman had a tough week. After announcing that she had completed a long effort to upload all cookbook recipes to her website and make them available to online subscribers, she hit a legal snafu and was forced to take all the recipes down.

Have a great week.

Heather Knight, a reporter with The New York Times, took the elevator to the top of the bridge as Newsom climbed it. In her awesome article on the occasion, Knight writes of Newsom “He wore aviator sunglasses, black sneakers designed by Snoop Dogg and a stack of bracelets strung with beads that have become the preferred accessory for middle-aged Marin County men such as himself.”

Unfortunately, Bridge officials didn’t let the Governor’s Office release footage of the climb for fear people would try to replicate it. Maybe Newsom now wishes he took the elevator too.

***

In other news, CCC Place of the Week is Pasta Supply Co.

I had a great meal at the Inner Richmond location on Saturday. In a time where restaurants can feel sterile, Pasta Supply Co enveloped us. The food was delicious, the team was above and beyond welcoming, and we were pleasantly surprised by the number on the bill (rare). They served the best meatballs I’ve ever had. This isn’t sponsored content, I just want to support them! (and for the record, CCC is never sponsored content; I currently receive a total of $0 for writing. That said, let me know if you’d like to sponsor an issue.)

Notably, Pasta Supply Co. has been crowdfunding their third location by pre-selling a year’s worth of pasta. They hit their funding goal this week! If you still want to buy a year of pasta, you have until tomorrow.

Not-All-SF Grab Bag:

• If anyone would like to join a book club for Ari Emanuel’s new memoir, let me know and I’ll add you to the chat.

• As of today, the San Francisco Chronicle is bringing back restaurant stars. After 8 years of starless reviews - and a national wave of removing stars during the pandemic - the newspaper once again seeks to give readers “an immediate sense of value” and comparability. Their first review, which dropped this morning, is of SF classic House of Prime Rib (two stars).

• I’ve long been a fan of the city’s Vacant to Vibrant program, which connects small business owners to property owners for low-cost, short-term leases on vacant spaces. Several small eateries and stores have popped up in downtown thanks to the program. The tricky part, however, is what happens when the lease is up and the rent skyrockets. Vacant to Vibrant is a great start and the city needs to continue its push to help local businesses thrive.

• Every few years there’s a viral article about America’s social isolation. The last one was The Atlantic’s January 2025 piece, “Americans Need to Party More.” This week’s edition is Derek Thompson’s “You Are No Longer Invited to Dinner,” in which Thompson dives into the data on hosting. His conclusion is that “everyone’s home. No one’s coming over.” He has sound hypotheses on rationale behind the data, including that people have less leisure time than they used to and there’s more to do alone. I have another, less intellectual theory: social media has raised the bar for what hosting should look like. We need to collectively lower the bar. Make something easy! Consider sheet pan chicken.

• For people like me, who love NYC’s Superiority Burger, you’ll be excited to learn that the owner is opening a new restaurant in…Los Angeles. SF someday?!

• Today in random celebrity pairings, did you know that Pitbull wrote the foreward for Bernie Markus, the co-founder of Home Depot’s memoir? Pitbull had previously interviewed Markus on his podcast. I wholeheartedly recommend Acquired’s Home Depot episode.

Talk to you Sunday!

CCC HQ has been brainstorming our ideal informants. They include:

1. Bartenders at:

   1. The Huntington Hotel

   2. Bohemian Grove

   3. The men’s locker room bar at The Olympic Club

   4. Balboa Café

2. De-facto residents of the South Park Blue Bottle and Rincon Hill Saint Frank Coffee

3. Campaign staff for Connie Chan or Scott Wiener; aides at City Hall

If you are any of these people, let’s chat. If you are not one of these people, I still want to hear from you.

In other news, top CCC pick of the week is Food Folk Market.

Owners Sam and Kevin personally curate every item in the shop, which opened last December. I spoke with Kevin. He knows every item, every item’s purveyor, and can tell you why they decided to put it on the shelf. The store is quite magical. If you were designing a shoppy-shop from first principles, pre-Faire, this would be it. As an added bonus, they are the only SF stockist of Aces Ice Cream, a CCC favorite. If you’re in a good mood, go for a boost. If you’re in a bad mood, you’ll feel better.

Grab Bag:

• The creator of Marin Lately launched San Francisco Currently. Creator Patrick Heij is moving from “Marin to Be Hit Least-Hard by Whatever Happening in World, Experts Say,” to “Lull in Conversation Takes Unfortunate Turn Towards Microclimates.” Per The New York Times, Sir Mike Moritz (frequently cited in CCC for his $150M competition to improve the city) is backing the new venture.

• The Nathan Fielder x Elizabeth Holmes doc, likely movie of the year/century, received an R rating. CCC watch party to come. Did anyone see these at Portola?

• Is Lady Gaga raising her child in Marin?

• Four Horsemen is popping up at Daymoon Bread on October 5th. Tickets sold out in under 14 minutes but after 8pm, the event is open to all.

• Butter and Crumble’s Cake Shop cannot open this year. In a sad post on Instagram, owner Sophie Smith details how despite a year of zoning changes and contractor planning, newfound potential structural issues with the space prevent them from opening. She’s beginning the journey to find a new home. Her story shows how hard it is to open a new eatery in San Francisco, and how hard local officials are working to ease the process.

• In positive opening news, I’m excited for Indie Darling to open up next spring. I’ve started my advocacy to include Dance Dance Revolution in their lineup.

• San Francisco is getting ready for El Niño. You know it’s real once Mayor Lurie posts a video on flood preparation. Governor Newsom has also declared a statewide “state of emergency.” Not too early to get prepared.

• Last week, the Lucas Museum opened in Los Angeles. In his opening speech, George Lucas said San Francisco “blew it” when it came to museum location. Turns out, George Lucas had originally wanted to house the museum in the Presidio, and the city rejected his proposal. He shifted his consideration to Treasure Island, but ultimately chose Los Angeles for the build. Having the museum here could have been really cool. Reddit is up in arms.

• Several CCC readers have gone through the trials and tribulations of bringing French butter back to the U.S. In 2025, the Food Hall at Le Bon Marché sold the equivalent of three bars of butter every minute.

• CCC loyal reader Eli G. is tired of shoes-off parties and made some socks to compensate. If you’ve made any fun custom items lately, send them over for a feature.

• North: Head to FISH in Sausalito or Sol Food in Mill Valley. Or, push further north and reach Point Reyes, food heaven. My top recs include The Marshall Store, West Marin Culture Shop, and Bovine Bakery (the maker of this newsletter’s namesake, chocolate cherry cookies).

• South: Drive to Palo Alto’s crown jewel, the Stanford Dish. If you walk slowly, it’s a social event. If you walk fast, it’s a workout. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a poster for my side side hustle, Dish Hats. Alternatively, Sawyer Camp Trail is a good flat trail off 280 (and reader Katie G’s favorite).

• East: Head to Barbacoa Mejía in Richmond, hike in the Berkeley Hills, or head to Grand Opening (home of last week’s ice cream sandwich callout).

• West: More fog, probably not your best bet.

At least the Fort Mason Farmer’s Market continues to give us summer. Today’s top picks included figs, sungold tomatoes, and Donna’s Tamales. Rumor has it that reader Jenni S. makes a great sungold tomato pasta.

Grab Bag:

• SF is (maybe? potentially?) getting its very own multi-acre data center. The San Francisco Chronicle dug into a potential new development at 1215 Michigan Street. Though “the property has not changed hands, [and] no plans for a data center appear to have been filed with the city,” internet crumbs point to new development. I’m curious to see where this goes. If SF tech NIMBYs block data center development here, hard to make the argument for data centers elsewhere. Good reminder to anyone who has yet to read ’s piece on data centers.

• The Haight is getting a new music hub. SF Heritage is transforming the Doolan-Larson Building at the corner of Haight and Ashbury into a multi-floor cultural center, dedicated to music:

  • Seattle’s legendary KEXP will run a broadcast studio and music studio on the ground floor. Many live concerts to come. CCC Reader Rachel S. calls out 6 Degrees Week as a KEXP crown jewel. Each song connects to the one before it. She’d also like you to know that “they’ve been on Bay Area channel for several years now, so people can start listening before the studio opens.”

• Did you know Governor Newsom is a part owner of Balboa Cafe? Thank you reader Emily F. for the tip.

• Oddli, maker of the infamous name tee, is popping up at The Problem Library on October 3rd and 4th. Make a day of it and go to CCC favorite Yo También Cantina afterwards.

• UNIQLO is opening on 4th and Market on October 9th. They left downtown in 2021, leaving a gaping hole for cloud knits and basic wide black tees. Maybe Mayor Lurie will cut the ribbon.

• In other opening news, Spanish shoe brand Alohas has opened a storefront on Fillmore. It’s their first U.S. store. I went in yesterday to learn more. They still primarily make shoes to order, but have a few ready-made pairs.

• Plan in advance: the next Loquat at night is September 29th. Yum.

• The original Tartine on Valencia recently expanded its dining room.

See ya soon.

Why? Last week I wrote about Grand Opening in Oakland’s killer ice cream sandwich lineup. Molly Baz just announced she has a new roving ice cream sandwich store. Francesca of @fearthefeast just made Cherry Garcia and Hojicha sammies for a party. Finally, I’m seeing more It’s Its out and about. Ice cream sandwiches are versatile and invoke nostalgia. They’re decadent, without being too much. They feel special, but aren’t difficult.

Help me prove my hypothesis. Turn your ice cream sandwich radar on, and send me pics as you see new offerings.

Welcome to all new CCC readers! CCC is a mini-metro desk, offering you news and happenings around our lovely city. Recent highlights include:

• The ultimate SF Summer Bucket List

• Musings on Yo También Cantina, an excellent lunch spot near GG Park

• Facts about tug boats in the Bay

• Reflections on Mr. San Francisco

Today’s Grab Bag is mostly food:

• 25 YEARS LATER, developers broke ground on building 7,000+ new housing units at Candlestick Point. They’re starting with initial infrastructure work and plan to start construction the first residential building in 18 months. The development certainly isn’t a short-, or even medium-, term solution to our housing shortage, but it’s progress nonetheless.

• On September 26th, CCC favorites Horsie’s Market and Bar Part Time are partnering with Muni on a “Wine Line.” An excellent public-private partnership IMO; Mayor Lurie will be proud. More deets to be announced via Instagram.

  

• I’ve always wondered about the jagged-roof building off Hwy 101 in Marin. Turns out, the building was Birkenstock’s HQ and Distribution hub from 1994-2020. Last year, The Eames Institute purchased the building with plans to turn it into an art and design museum by 2030. The building passing hands from Birkenstock to the creators of the Eames chair feels like a metaphor for the Bay Area.

• 4 weeks after announcing they were making homemade mochi, froyo hotspot Yuja announced that they’re discontinuing the topping: “It’s a bit too laborious and inconsistent in texture if it’s not used up that exact day it’s made.” New toppings coming soon.

• New Entity is a new-ish VC firm investing in San Francisco’s hospitality scene. Founder Ligaya Tichy wants to help funnel the city’s tech wealth into new restaurants, bars, and creative ventures. Investments to date include Bar Part Time’s new restaurant, Downtime, and Moonchild.

• Philo Apple Farm’s next Saturday family dinner is on September 26th. The last of the season is October 17th. I haven’t been, but it’s a bucket list item for a special occasion.

• I love the vibe and branding of Fruit Queen. They sell variety boxes and individual fruits, all from California purveyors.

• Sooth end-of-summer scaries by making Andy Baraghani’s tomato galette.

Local film savant and CCC reader Jeremy T. is interested in hosting a watch party. Perhaps at one of the new theaters discussed in Sunday’s CCC?

Every time I learn more about Theranos, its employees trying to raise alarm bells, and the proceeding fallout, the story gets crazier. Maybe I’ll host a Bad Blood tour of Palo Alto for Halloween. Spooky!

Grab Bag:

• “If anyone needs a 7500 sqft warehouse in San Francisco to host any sort of event or use case that requires a large industrial space for any amount of time please reach out. There are three.” - Daniel Siegel

• We’re in a FIG CRISIS this year.

• Arsicault barely made the cut on SF Chronicle’s croissant taste test (gasp!) Several little-known bakeries topped the list. This is important investigative journalism and tasting them all is the perfect addition to our SF Summer bucket list. In Arsicault’s loose defense, they’re known for their almond, not plain, croissants.

• Ice cream events this weekend:

  • ACES Ice Cream is hosting a pop-up at Broc Cellars in Berkeley.

  • Grand Opening is now taking orders for ice cream sandwiches. Pickup on Friday and Saturday. Flavors are Strawberry and Burnt Vanilla ice creams in chocolate dacquoise and Caramelized Peach with Jasmine ice cream in black sesame dacquoise.

• In national news, a group of former Washington Post journalists just launched The Washington Sun.

  • The 110-person newsroom, backed by Politico founder Robert Allbritton, has “embarked on a grand experiment to test whether there is a market in the nation’s capital for a publication that covers the local news, culture and sports that are the glue of any community. And we aim to prove that a general-interest publication combining national and local news can be viable in the 21st century.”

  • I believe in the longevity of local journalism, and am excited about new publications building business models based on digital distribution. Last week I wrote about Gazetteer SF, our new local paper.

• If you’re interested in living in the Point Reyes Lighthouse, now’s your chance:

Talk to you Sunday!

In his obituary, the New York Times wrote: “To call Mr. Caen ''Mr. San Francisco,'' as was sometimes done, was redundant. No other newspaper columnist has ever been so long synonymous with a specific place.

Over the years Mr. Caen’s journalistic work habits became as effortless as breathing: he wrote in the morning, held court in bars or cafes in the afternoon and took the pulse of the city at A-list events in the evenings, where the man with the cherubic smile and bald pate fringed with curly gray hair was as much a star as anyone he wrote about.”

Caen won a special Pulitzer Prize in 1996. The same year, San Francisco pronounced a 3-mile stretch of the Embarcadero “Herb Caen Way.” Caen’s magic was oscillating between sharing gossip and pointing out injustices across the city and beyond. He was an early opponent of the Vietnam War and spoke widely against California’s death penalty policies.

I write about Herb Caen for two reasons. First, I love city legends. Maybe you do too. Second, I’m ready for the next omnipresent SF spokesperson. Who is M_. San Francisco today? Of course diffuse news sources and social media make it harder to choose any one person. But, I believe there is room in San Francisco for a Herb Caen-reincarnate.

Could someone rise from shared frustrations of the housing market? Daisy Hernandez of The Apartment Plug is trying. Could they come from the city’s obsession with food? Instagramers are angling! Could Daniel Lurie be Mr. San Francisco? IMO we need someone besides the Mayor.

If you have a hypothesis about who it could be, comment or send me a note.

Grab Bag:

• On Wednesday I shared a (killer, if I do say so myself) SF summer bucket list. A few additions:

  • On 9/18 SFGate is bringing it’s newsroom to the street, giving residents a chance to talk to their journalists. I love this idea and think it’s a great way to create buzz around local reporting.

  • Hardly Stricly Bluegrass is October 2nd to 4th. Unfortunately Steve Martin is not playing this year.

  • The Blue Angels are back from October 9th to 11th Last year the Angels didn’t fly due to one of the longest government shutdowns in history. Our Canadian allies, the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds, put on the show instead.

• Rick Steves of Rick Steves Europe fame just bought a one-screen movie theatre in Edmonds, Washington. Steves’ purchase is an example of the movie theatre resurgence nationwide.

  • In CCC, I’ve written about both Neil Mehta of Greenoaks buying the Clay Theatre on Fillmore and SF resident Nellie Killian opening The Portal Cinema.

  • America’s love for theaters waned in the age of streaming, with many theaters going out of business or being converted to non-profits. However, earlier this year The Guardian reported that independent cinemas were growing rapidly, with Gen Z leading the moviegoing charge. As consumers crave IRL community, I think we’ll continue to see theater resurrections, with owners prioritizing both movie viewing and event space.

• Let’s bring back Sutro Baths. Perhaps the perfect submission for Mike Moritz’s $150M competition to improve the city?! If you are a developer interested in resurrecting an iconic community hub, let’s chat.

• A few weeks ago I wrote about SCRAP SF, a community art supply store. Next, I bring to you Building Resources, a non-profit selling reclaimed materials from tiles to lumber. Next time you commit to a home improvement project…this is your place.

Talk to you Wednesday. I’m curious if anyone will see the mountain lion in the panhandle?! If so, send photos and I’ll include them in the next letter.

I had forgotten about the carpool line until I recently walked by Convent and Stuart Hall. I heard an 8-year-old yelling at her dad “bye crazy dad! Bye dad! Bye insane!” He yelled back from the car as he drove away “I love you! Love you!” Back to school is in full swing.

In most places, wearing backpack and buying your binders marks the start of fall. But here, it’s the start of San Francisco Summer. I wonder if anyone else in this city gets “sun-anxiety.” It's not about UV, but rather whether I’m making the most of the sun. I’m working on not letting that paranoia rain on my parade. Therefore, this year I’ve kept my SF Summer ambitions low: wear one less layer, sit in the park, and eat outdoors. I’ve included an SF Summer Shortlist below.

This issue also marks a month of Chocolate Cherry Cookie! If you have feedback, it’s solicited. Let me know what you think, and what I could improve upon, via email reply or text. Additionally, if you know of any graphic designers who would help me with a logo, I’d appreciate your recs. I promise not to let perfect be the enemy of the good. CCC just needs a little color.

Grab Bag:

• Riley Walz of Find My Parking Cops fame is at it again, this time with live visualizations of Muni ridership. Seems like only ~5% of active lines are usually standing room only. Speaking from personal experience, my bus (the 1), is always one of them.

• The Sea Ranch Lodge is expanding. In 2024, the Lodge was sold to a group of investors including the founders of Twitch and Stripe. Now, the Lodge is planning to add 23 new guest rooms and a wellness center. The renovation is expected to be controversial, especially with Bjarke Ingels’ firm BIG at the helm. BIG is known for projects befitting of its name, like CopenHill (Copenhagen’s artificial ski slope) and Google offices. I’d be curious to learn how BIG was chosen for Sea Ranch, a property that’s famous for being at peace with its surroundings.

• Local Substack queen interviewed Puck’s Sarah Shapiro on all things fashion/retail in San Francisco. If you’ve been wondering what the f Vogue World is or wondering whether to shop in the city, this one’s for you.

SF Summer Shortlist: Some ideas for how to embrace upcoming (fingers crossed) sunshine

• Dogpatch favorite Sohn is hosting Lefty Gelato this weekend. Flavors include date + pecan, perilla, and mandarin. If you haven’t been to Sohn yet, it’s worth a visit. The space is beautiful and they frequently host events.

  • While you’re in the neighborhood, head to Neighbor Bakehouse for one of the best and most underrated pastries in the Bay.

• alerted me that this Saturday is Free Fishing Day. No permit required. I don’t know how to fish, but if anyone wants to teach me, I’m down.

• The Mendocino County Fair and Apple Festival is September 18-20. The schedule includes crowning of the Junior Apple Jack, a Jr. Swine Show, an Open Swine Show, a Dairy Goat Show, and a Wool Show. Saturday night there’s a rodeo. Tickets are just $15/person.

• Have you ever been to a BEAN UP?! Neither have I. We both have the opportunity to go on September 27th in Alamo Square Park.

• If you want a rodeo closer to home, Cow Palace is hosting the Grand National Rodeo on October 9th and 10th. Thank you reader Shira B. for the tip. In perhaps a first for a large-scale event in San Francisco, no AI companies are listed as sponsors (yet).

• Little Saint in Healdsburg has free concerts all month.

• On October 8th, Rampant Bottle & Bar is hosting the first pop-up from Kiddo. Menu below, looks yum!

I would put Yo También on my personal 36 Hours in San Francisco list. I can’t imagine a better visit than getting the “Best of Both Worlds” bowl followed by a walk in the park and a stop at Ice Cream Bar. Co-owners Kenzie Benesh and Isabella Bertorelli use super fresh produce, sourcing from local purveyors. The small menu is fresh, healthy, and well-priced. A dream!

The weird thing about Yo También Cantina is that no one’s heard of it. Despite Eater features and the Richmond Review calling it “Michelin-level in aesthetic and taste,” most people I’ve spoken to have never been. I’m sure some regulars will get upset that I’m sharing - it’s fun to gatekeep (and I get concerns about overwhelming a local favorite). However, in a city where it’s nearly impossible to keep a restaurant alive, my mini mission is getting Yo También Cantina as many customers as I can. LMK once you’ve been.

You should to pay attention to:

• The Trump Administration is maneuvering to execute a land exchange with developer Kingsbarn Reality Capital for a quarter-mile parcel of land in Yosemite National Park. The real-estate development group would receive the park land, which they view as critical to developing a property right outside the park, in exchange for buying the Park Service a parcel of commensurate value elsewhere in California. Anna Kramer from NOTUS broke the news earlier this week.

• The Fillmore’s been without a grocery store since Safeway shut down nearly 18 months ago, with no solution in sight. The now-vacant property will eventually house a mixed-use development including 1,800 apartment units (!!!) and a grocery store. In the meantime, three grocery store chains have considered temporary tenancy. All have walked away from a deal. I’m curious what the timeline for the new development looks like. What prevents the future build from moving forward, earlier? If you have deets, DM.

Fun Grab Bag:

• Next stop: Dolly Parton International Airport.

• Pokemon World and the Pokemon World Championships took SF by storm this weekend. Moscone Center was transformed into Pokemon paradise, and there were nightly drone/light shows along the Embarcadero. Of course, Mayor Lurie was in attendance.

• Did you know Treasure Island was once slated to become San Francisco’s second airport? WWII ended those plans, with the Navy taking a war lease on the island in 1941. Now we have a strange set of deluxe apartment buildings on the mid-Bay land.

• Loquat at Night is this Tuesday, 5-9pm. Run don’t walk. It’s an excellent scene with killer food and only happens once a month.

• Have time this week? Here are two other places I’d explore:

  • Crown Point Press. Founded in 1962, the Press runs a publishing program, hosts workshops, and houses a beautiful gallery.

  • Sol Bakery - open Friday/Saturday/Sunday

Second, if you have any tips for Sunday’s Chocolate Cherry Cookie, please send.

Third, if you’ve ever walked around Pac Heights, you’ve seen one very tall building looming above the rest: 2500 Steiner. Turns out, 2500 Steiner has awesome lore. For one thing, it was built in the 1920s - developers could never get the necessary permits to build it today. Notably, it’s a longtime hub for Democratic fundraising in San Francisco. Susie Tomkins-Buell, Founder of Esprit and the North Face, owns the penthouse. Other prominent Democratic donors live on the below floors. Fundraisers frequently flow between floors and apartments. Once, President Clinton’s secret service got stuck in the elevator and had to be rescued by the fire department.

In 2025, conservative crypto entrepreneur Jesse Powell tried to buy the 9th floor apartment from CA Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis. The co-op board declined, and Powell filed a lawsuit against the building’s board, citing political discrimination. Lore! If you know who ultimately bought the 9th floor apartment, let me know.

Grab Bag:

• Thanks to reader Brooke R., I learned about Gazetteer SF. They distribute a quarterly print magazine, and publish articles Mon-Fri via text and email: “Our admittedly lofty mission is to revitalize local news in America, but we’re starting with a small team in one key city – San Francisco. If you are tired of the way that algorithms affect the media you consume online and want to read original stories produced by humans about San Francisco, we humbly invite you to subscribe to Gazetteer SF.”

• Think you’ve traversed San Francisco’s streets? Test out NameSFStreets.com.

• Looking forward to the weekend? Here are a few things I think could be fun:

  • Drinks at The Huntington Hotel. I haven’t been, but next time I want to pretend I’m in NYC for a few hours, the Huntington’s my first stop.

  • Bones Bagels. Do a big walk and end with the lox open-face sandwich.

  • Guerneville! Head up north while it’s cold in the city and hot just outside it. Pre-tubing, head to Lightwave Coffee & Kitchen in Monte Rio for breakfast.

  • Hike the Dipsea Trail, end at Stinson Beach, and grab some pesto from Parkside. People sleep on the pesto. Wake up! It’s one of the best I’ve ever had.

Talk to you Sunday.

A multi-decade battle between ranchers and environmentalists is once again at a impasse, this time as two ranching families refuse to sell their land and relocate their cattle.

The Nimans of famed Niman Ranch are one of the families. They argue that running a sustainable ranching operation on the land doesn’t harm the ecosystem and rather serves as a model for what eco-minded ranching could look like nationwide. Meanwhile, conservationists fight back, citing concerns about water pollution and native plant restoration. According to Ken Bouley, the CEO of the Turtle Island Restoration Network, “it’s time to stop thinking about cheese and yogurt.”

Read more here. I’d love to hear what you think.

Grab Bag:

• “Jan. 6 attendee sells Redwood City cafe, says the money goes to Mamdani.” This crazy story is full of twists and turns: “After the backlash over us supporting Trump — and given that he’s no longer running in 2028, which did make me sad — we decided to send the money to the Mamdani campaign instead.”

• The Portal Cinema, a new 49-seat movie theatre in Bernal Heights, will open this fall. Owner Nellie Killian has been working to secure the required permits and convert the former real estate office into a viewing spot since 2018. Per Killian, “We want to cultivate an enthusiastic audience that makes every screening feel like a must-see event and uses our lobby as a social space where they can meet other cinema enthusiasts from across the Bay.” Fun!

• Panettone season is just around the corner. Once September hits, you’re allowed to start dreaming about From Roy. For the last few years, we’ve splurged on a panettone and it’s the happiest multi-day holiday dessert. They just dropped the news that they’ll sell half-size loaves (can I call them that?) for the first time.

• Looking for a creative outlet? Casey’s Craft Club looks sweet.

• As I walked by the Church of 8 Wheels recently, I heard the pings of a racket sport and poked my head inside. Turns out DinkSF runs pickleball clinics and open-play multiple days a week. No matter how much I play pickle, I don’t improve. But for the picklers amongst us, perhaps this is welcome news.

As always, thanks for your feedback. Talk to you Wednesday!

If you dig a little deeper, you’ll read that the Cinderella owner bought the property intending to open a second storefront in 2018. 8 years ago! Yes, pandemic closures & obtaining bank loans made opening difficult, but so did a lengthy city code adherence process. I understand the need to maintain neighborhood character and prevent chains or big box stores from ruining the Mission. I also believe that if a storefront is going to be vacant and a 70-year-old one-store bakery wants to open their second location in that space, the city should make it easy for them to do so. If you know more about this saga, please DM.

***

Grab Bag (almost all San Francisco today!):

• Goddess wrote today about where former Substack employees work. Former COO Fiona Monga and former VP of Product Sachin Monga are working on Porches, “a dedicated app for Petaluma with original storytelling and live programming.” I love the idea, I love the design, and I’m excited for what’s to come. I think we’re going to continue to see more technology and social platforms encouraging + enabling offline connection.

• “The San Francisco Bay Area has not been in drought for almost 1300 days.” You may add 15 sec to your shower tomorrow in celebration.

• Neil Mehta of Greenoaks Capital continues to purchase vacant storefronts on the Fillmore Corridor. Via his nonprofit Upper Fillmore, Mehta just purchased 2035-2047 Fillmore Street. Mehta’s known for reviving Clay Theatre.

• Reader Dylan K. sent a note about last week’s post on the San Francisco Bar Pilots, below. Thank you, Dylan K., for nudging readers to watch The High-Stakes World of San Francisco’s Bar Pilots.

• Tartine is opening in Marin. They previously announced another new location in downtown. Blue Bottle and Tartine halted their merger in 2015 (seems like to the detriment of BB, and the success of Tartine). More than a decade later, Tartine seems to have renewed growth ambition. I’m curious to learn more.

• Rose Pizzeria knows how to celebrate fig season.

• In our only non-SF news of the day & apropos of nothing, I’m excited about Ari Emanuel’s memoir coming out in September. Can Hollywood’s power broker get his brother to the White House?

• Caspar Bread and Wine. Highlight! We went last night and had a dinner of olives, homemade potato chips, and focaccia. If you want something more robust, eat first and then head over. They frequently host concerts, ukelele circles, and other events. The breakfast looks excellent too.

• The Waiting Room for coffee and pastries (the scones are particularly excellent); The Brickery for pizza and salad. Reader Fleming P. thought it was the best pizza of her life: “specifically the pesto one, if it matters.” Thanks, Fleming P. Not to be confused with other Flemings!

• Princess Seafood Restaurant. Very reminiscent of FISH in Sausalito.

• On the way up we stopped at Sol Food in Mill Valley, followed by Noble Folk (ice cream) in Healdsburg. Would recommend both stops.

We stayed at Cottage on the Coast, of which I’ve been following on Instagram for 18 months. If anyone wants to join me in buying a small cottage in a very cute coastal town, renovating it, and renting it occasionally on Airbnb, let’s chat. Another Airbnb I love here.

Grab Bag:

• Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly comes out on September 1st. This documentary IS my personal Super Bowl and I can’t wait to host a watch party.

• Infatuation Founder Chris Stang is building gossip.wine, a social wine platform for friends to share and review their wine. This is the perfect website for many CCC readers. I wish I didn’t fall asleep after one sip.

• SCRAP, Scrounger’s Center for Reusable Art Parts, reopened this weekend! A warehouse of mismatch art materials and other goods for creative reuse. I’m curious what I might find here. This place sounds like San Francisco’s cure to boredom.

• #SWIRLAROUNDTHEBAY coming this week, sponsored by Bay Area’s best soft serve, Straus Family Creamery.

• I’m impressed by Chinatown Curiosities, made by local artist Jacob Siu-Zmuidzinas. Feeling very hip and trendy that I came across a brand with 423 followers on Instagram, not to brag.

Talk to you Wednesday!

I did some digging on the tugboats. It’s a perilous, crucial, and lucrative industry:

• “Tugboat companies deal in large sums: the bill to dock a tanker can run from $15,000 to more than $50,000 depending on a number of variables. Captains may earn six-figure salaries, and a new tugboat can cost more than $10 million.”

• Tugboats also provide transport to a crucial constituency: the San Francisco Bar Pilots. Cargo ships are required to have a local captain navigate them to shore. Pre-GG bridge, the pilots board the ship. They then JUMP from the tugboat onto a 15-story ladder, and climb up to the cockpit. No harness. You have to watch the “VR Experience.”

  • “These pilots are responsible for guiding about 8,000 entries and exits in the Bay every year, which amounts to more than $40 billion in annual trade.”

• You can identify any ship in the SF Bay with Vessel Finder.

The more you know. I love these tugboats and the crucial role they play in our Bay. Next time you see one, wave hello.

Grab Bag:

• What’s your $50 million idea to improve San Francisco? The Crankstart Foundation, Michael Moritz’s family philanthropy, is offering $150M to organizations that “make San Francisco a better place to live.” Reader Eli G. is in it to win it. Can you beat him?

• The Mess Hall at the Presidio opens this weekend. The long-awaited new spot hosts three restaurants and serves Wrecking Ball Coffee + Breadbelly pastries. A dream! Something tells me you’ll find readers Lauren R. and Jeremy T. there often…

• Fun fact: the Pac Heights Mollie Stone’s hosts the world’s first grocery Starbucks store. Another fun fact, in 2018, Nestle paid $7B for global distribution rights of Starbucks grocery products. I sound like the Starbucks Acquired episode.

• If you’re looking for an August day trip, book a pool pass and head to River Electric. Highlight of my summer.

Send me your tugboat pictures. Talk to you Sunday!

I really appreciated your feedback (not sarcastic!) on Issue #1. Questions like “what is this?” will be answered with time. I’ve addressed thoughts like “you should include photos” today.

Gabi L. encouraged me to move to Substack because, despite my desire to be “different,” this is easier. It’s true. I’ve subscribed all of you wonderful readers. Lucky for you, there’s now an unsubscribe feature and I’ve turned off notifications if you choose to do so. I already unsubscribed someone for whom my content just wasn’t going to resonate.

Thanks for your continued feedback. If you don’t live in San Francisco, or if we don’t share similar interests, then this newsletter probably isn’t for you and I especially appreciate your friendship.

Grab Bag:

All SF Today:

• Big news for those in the know. In March, Palace Market and West Marin Ferments changed their soft serve formulation from buffalo milk to Jersey milk. Turns out buffalo milk purveyors are rare, and “Mr. Renati [new owner of buffalo herd] has prioritized a contract supplying the milk to a mozzarella producer in the Central Valley, leaving little available for gelato.” If you taste a difference, you have elite taste buds. I love this reporting.

• Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters (home of very cute pineapple wallpaper) has a new owner. They’re opening two new cafes this fall. Pineapples everywhere.

• Old news, but the Lower Haight has got it going on.

  • I’ve heard great things about Lower Haight Line Dancing. Sunday nights!

  • Lower Haight Local recently came across my desk. Print only, focused on the neighborhood.

• Pac Heights is trying to catch up. Pim Techamuanvivit, owner of Kin Khao and Nari, is opening a Thai noodle shop across from Salt & Straw on Fillmore. Electric.

• Apparently every Waymo at OSL had a “human safety driver.” Smart - can someone confirm and/or share their experience?

• Scott Wiener’s campaign took down ConnieChan.AI

• We’ll end with zoning. A January 2026 zoning law to allow new multifamily builds has resulted in “seven proposed projects that would add fewer than 40 housing units to the city’s pipeline.” Zoning reforms probably (definitely) should result in more than one new proposal/month.

Parting Words: “This Summer’s Hottest Arm Candy Is a Private Equity Boyfriend”