Randy's Guide 4-0-7: Election Coverage

In two weeks, the U.S. general election takes place. Voters will decide the next House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, as well as state and local representatives and initiatives.

Here in California, six initiatives and the positions of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and School Superintendent are on all ballots.

Locally, in San Francisco, 12 additional initiatives, half of the Board of Supervisors, and various local representatives are also on the ballot. You can drop off your vote-by-mail SF ballot at any polling place in the City on Election Day. Or, you can vote early at City Hall on weekdays and the next two weekends during business hours.

Below is a summary of the top contributors and organizations in favor of or against the various California and San Francisco initiatives.


Statewide: 
Proposition 1: Water Bond. Authorizes $7.5 billion in bonds for California water supply infrastructure projects.

FOR: CA Democratic Party, CA Republican Party, Gov Jerry Brown (D), Sen Feinstein (D), Sen Boxer (D), Sean Parker, Fisher family (Gap Inc.), Nature Conservancy, San Diego Water Authority, SF Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: CA Green Party, CA Libertarian Party, Rep. Tim Donnelly (R), Restore the Delta, SF Bay Guardian 

Proposition 2: State Reserve. Requires annual transfer of general fund revenues and excess personal capital gains tax revenues to State rainy day fund, school reserve fund, and infrastructure.

FOR: CA Democratic Party, CA Republican Party, Gov Jerry Brown (D), SF Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian

AGAINST: CA Green Party, CA Libertarian Party, Educate Our State 

Proposition 45: Healthcare Insurance Rate Changes. Requires changes to healthcare rates to be approved by the State Insurance Commissioner.

FOR: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, Sen Feinstein (D), Sen Boxer (D), CA Nurses Association, CA Federation of Teachers, Fresno Bee, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian

AGAINST: CA Republican Party, CA Libertarian Party, NAACP California, California Chamber of Commerce, Kaiser Foundation, Wellpoint, SF Chronicle, LA Times 

Proposition 46: Drug & Alcohol Testing for Doctors, Medical Negligence Lawsuits. Requires drug and alcohol testing and reporting of doctors, with subsequent actions involving the State Medical Board. Modifies procedure for prescribing certain controlled substances. Raises cap on medical negligence lawsuits.

FOR: Sen Boxer (D), Consumer Attorneys Issue PAC, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: CA Green Party, CA Republican Party, CA Libertarian Party, CA Medical Association, CA Teachers Association, SEIU California, SF Chronicle, LA Times, SF Bay Guardian 

Proposition 47: Criminal Sentences. Reduces certain felonies to misdemeanors for those without certain criminal backgrounds.
 
FOR: CA Democratic Party, CA Green Party, CA Libertarian Party, Lt Gov Newsom (D), State Sen Leno (D), Newt Gingrich (R), ACLU of California, AFL-CIO, SF Chronicle, LA Times, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian

AGAINST: Sen Feinstein (D), California Police Chiefs Association, CA Republican Party, San Diego Union-Tribune 

Proposition 48: Indian Gaming Contracts. Ratifies two gaming contracts in Madera County.

FOR: CA Democratic Party, Gov Brown (D), LA Times, Bay Area Reporter, SF Bay Guardian

AGAINST: Table Mountain Rancheria (neighboring casino), Sacramento Bee, SF Chronicle


Local: 
Proposition A: Transportation and Road Bond. Issues $500 million in bonds for streets and sidewalks to increase MUNI reliability, ease congestion, enhance bike safety, and improve disabled access.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, Sen Feinstein (D), State Sen Leno (D), State Assembly Ammiano (D), Mayor Lee (D), all 11 Board of Supervisors, Sierra Club, SF Bike Coalition, SPUR, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Libertarian Party, SF Republican Party 

Proposition B: Transportation Funding Adjustment. Increases the amount of funding for the Municipal Transportation Agency based on changes in the City's population.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, Sierra Club, SF Bike Coalition, Walk SF, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian

AGAINST: SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, SPUR, Bay Area Reporter, SF Chronicle 

Proposition C: Children's Funding. Extends and slightly amends funding for the Children's Fund, Public Education Enrichment Fund, and the Rainy Day Reserve.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, Mayor Lee (D), all 11 Board of Supervisors, President and Vice President of SF Board of Education, SPUR, SF Chamber of Commerce, Recology, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Libertarian Party 

Proposition D: Retiree Health Benefits. Makes retiree health care benefits available to certain employees of the former SF Redevelopment Agency and the Successor Agency.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, all 11 Board of Supervisors, SPUR, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Libertarian Party 

Proposition E: Beverage Tax. Collects a tax of two cents per ounce from the distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages to fund health and recreation programs. Requires 2/3 majority to pass.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, State Sen Leno (D), State Assembly Ammiano (D), SF Parks Alliance, American Heart Association, Project Open Hand, MEDA, SEIU 1021, SPUR, SF Unified School District, SF Chronicle, SF Bay Guardian, SF Examiner, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, American Beverage Association (Pepsi/Coke) 

Proposition F: Pier 70. Increases the height limit for new buildings in the Pier 70 area from 40 to 90 feet.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, Mayor Lee (D), State Sen Leno (D), State Assembly Ammiano (D), Sierra Club, SF Parks Alliance, SF Chamber of Commerce, SPUR, Dogpatch Neighborhood Association, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: -none- 

Proposition G: Transfer Tax Increase for Flipped Property. Impose an additional tax of 14-24% on certain multi-unit residential properties sold within five years of purchase or transfer.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, State Assembly Ammiano (D), MEDA, SF Tenants Union, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian

AGAINST: SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, SF Chamber of Commerce, West Coast Property Mgmt, SF Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter 

Proposition H: Golden Gate Athletic Fields. Keep natural grass and prohibit nighttime sports field lighting at all athletic fields in Golden Gate Park west of Crossover Drive (19th Ave).

FOR: SF Green Party, SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, Sierra Club

AGAINST: SF Democratic Party, SF Parks Alliance, SPUR, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter 

Proposition I: Playground Renovation. Improve playgrounds, trails, and athletic fields - including artificial turf and nighttime lighting.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, Sen Feinstein (D), Mayor Lee (D), SF Chamber of Commerce, Fisher family (Gap Inc), SPUR, SF Chronicle, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Republican Party, SF Green Party, SF Libertarian Party, Sierra Club, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian 

Proposition J: Minimum Wage Increase. Gradually increase hourly minimum wage from current $10.74 to $15 by July 1, 2018, with further increases based on inflation.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, Mayor Lee (D), all 11 Board of Supervisors, SPUR, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party 

Proposition K: Affordable Housing Policy. City policy to construct 30,000 homes by 2020, more than 50% of which will be affordable for middle-class households.

FOR: SF Democratic Party, Mayor Lee (D), all 11 Board of Supervisors, MEDA, SPUR, SF Chamber of Commerce, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

AGAINST: SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, SF Chronicle 

Proposition L: Transportation Policy. City policy to change SFMTA parking and transportation priorities, including policies regarding parking meters, garages, tickets, and permits.

FOR: SF Republican Party, SF Libertarian Party, Sean Parker, SF Chamber of Commerce

AGAINST: SF Democratic Party, State Assembly Ammiano (D), Sierra Club, Walk SF, SF Bike Coalition, SPUR, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, SF Bay Guardian, Bay Area Reporter

Randy's Guide 4-0-6

Music
You know that I want to get away
And I cannot wait for another day
You know that I want to elevate
Time to pick it up and celebrate
 -- "Elevate," by St. Lucia (483,000 views; Sep '13 upload)

The video is shot in the wake of an eviction notice for the practice space for the Brooklyn-based South African and his bandmates. Time for more condos! He's toured with Two Door Cinema Club, and done remixes for Foster the People and Passion Pit. Catch him at Treasure Island Music Fest on Saturday, October 18.

Previous songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.); Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk (Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons); Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR); So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford & Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird); Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika); Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block (Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities); All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums, Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat); Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood); Hurricane (MS MR); Trojans (Atlas Genius); Animals (Martin Garrix); Promising Actress (John Vanderslice and Magik*Magik Orchestra); Lightning Bolt (Jake Bugg); San Francisco (The Mowgli's); The High Road (Broken Bells); Call Me in a Day (La Luz); I Can't Go for That (Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers); Black Night (The Dodos); I Learned the Hard Way (Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings); The Robots (Kraftwerk); We Can Make the World Stop (The Glitch Mob); The Truth Don't Stop (Dr. Dog); & It Was U (How to Dress Well); Heartbeats (The Knife); Alive (Empire of the Sun); Holding on to You (twenty-one pilots); Tessellate (Tokyo Police Club); After Hours (We Are Scientists); It's Not True (William Fitzsimmons); Dance with Me (Ra Ra Riot); Inhaler (Foals); Will Do (TV on the Radio); A Few Honest Words (Ben Sollee); Higher Than the Clouds (Anuhea); Taking Chances (Sharon Van Etten); Sad Song (Au Revoir Simone); Keep Your Head Up (Andy Grammer); Zapata Se Queda (Lila Downs); Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Rufus Wainwright); Alexandra (Hamilton Leithauser); Latch (Disclosure, feat. Sam Smith); Clarity (Zedd, feat. Foxes); Wonder Why (Vetiver); Jubel (Klingande); World Without Tears (Lucinda Williams); Talk Is Cheap (Chet Faker); You Cheated Me (Martha Wainwright); Beggin' for Thread (Banks).


News of the Week
The viral video pitting tech employees from Dropbox and Airbnb against area kids at the soccer field of Mission Playground represents a rare direct interaction of the changing face of San Francisco. SF Rec & Park, which connects this controversy to a November proposition for expanded soccer facilities in Golden Gate Park, reversed course and ended reserved soccer at Mission Playground today. 

"Just because they have the money, it's not right. We used to be at Garfield, but they started renting out Garfield. So we came over here. Now we don't have anywhere to go."
 -- Gerardo Burboa, San Francisco eighth grader

"The most compelling suggestions came from the kids who said, 'This is a safe place we can come and play, and we feel like we need more time.'"
 -- Phil Ginsburg, SF Rec & Park general manager

"Deeply sorry about the Mission Playground incident. I do care about my community."
 -- Jean-Denis Greze, Dropbox employee

"We love San Francisco and are grateful to call it home. That's why we were disappointed to learn that a couple of our employees weren't respectful to this community."
 -- Dropbox statement


Food
The Hangout
901 Ocean Ave
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 431-4888
Yelp

Sitting directly across from the Pacific Ocean and the Seal Beach Pier, The Hangout could have sold middling diner food and still been in good business. However, the meals are definitely tasty, and the ambiance is amply lively. Sunday through Wednesday offer half-price meal options too. 4 stars - 188 reviews

Previous San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern; Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe; L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous; Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple; Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern; Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace; HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana; Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate; V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino; La Mediterranee; Ken Ken Ramen; Tommaso's Ristorante Italiano; 1760; The Richmond; Nick's Crispy Tacos; Cinderella Bakery; The Little Chihuahua; Zuni Cafe; Bistro Central Parc; Old Skool Cafe; Starbelly; The Sandwich Place; Primo Patio Cafe; Pearl's Deluxe Burgers; Boulevard. 

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green (Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo); Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae); Romolo's Cannoli (San Mateo); Koi Palace (Daly City).

Previous East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food (Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's (Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland); Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire (Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley); Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore); Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge  (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland);  Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley); Korea House (Concord); Miss Ollie's  (Oakland); Gather (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Sue's Kitchen (El Sobrante); John's Ice Cream (Brentwood/Berkeley); TrueBurger (Oakland); Kensington Circus Pub; Kabana Restaurant (Berkeley).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville); Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley); Andie's Cafe (Napa); West Brooklyn Pizza Co (San Rafael).

Previous Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland); Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach); Masa of Echo Park (Los Angeles); Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs (Denver); Philippe the Original (Los Angeles); Han Bat Sul Lung Tang (Los Angeles); Jayne's Gastropub (San Diego); Quinn's (Seattle); George's Greek Cafe (Long Beach); Ike's Quarter Cafe (Nevada City); Root Down (Denver); Champa Garden (Redding).


Nightlife
The Abbey
306 Main St
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 799-4246
Yelp

Mark McGwire, during his home-run chase of 1998, helped put this tiny gastropub on the map by wearing a cap for every press conference. Fans would line up to see each home run, or to gobble up caps whenever they arrived in stock. McGwire has since moved from Huntington Beach to Irvine, but The Abbey remains in vibrant form. Sixteen awesome beers on tap, plenty of wine options, plus some nibbles if you're inclined. 4 stars - 227 reviews

Previous San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten; Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge; Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill; Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves; Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15 Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound; Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe; Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom, Eureka Lounge; Elbo Room; Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe; Amelie; Buckshot; Greens Sports Bar; The Hearth; The Armory Club; Vinyl Coffee & Wine Bar; The Willows; Barrel Head Brewhouse; Third Rail; 440 Castro; Shotwell's; 83 Proof; The Dark Horse Inn; Hopwater Distribution; Novela. 

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto); The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto); Fiddler's Green (Millbrae); Grape & Grain (San Mateo).

Previous East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St. George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars (Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution (Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore); Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley); Fauna (Oakland); Ben & Nick's Bar & Grill (Oakland); District Oakland; Albany Taproom; Ale Industries (The Pig & the Pickle - Oakland/Concord); The New Parkway (Oakland); Torpedo Room (Berkeley); Moxy Beer Garden (Berkeley).

Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks;Billco's Billiards & Darts (Napa); Cline Cellars (Sonoma). 

Previous Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento); Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa); El Prado (Los Angeles); Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey (Denver); Angel City Brewery (Los Angeles); The Hermosillo (Los Angeles); Polite Provisions (San Diego); Sun Liquor Distillery (Seattle); Alex's Bar (Long Beach); Avanguardia Wines (Grass Valley); The 1up (Denver); Fall River Taphouse (Redding).


Nooks & Crannies
Angels Flight
Los Angeles, CA

I guess I feel fortunate that I had the chance to ride this a couple of years ago. The past year, the two funicular cars have been forbidden by regulators from carrying passengers due to safety concerns. The 298-feet trip compares to one that started in 1901 about a 1/2 block away.

Previous Nooks: The Secret Garden (SF); Cal Park Hill Tunnel (San Rafael); Mount Olympus (SF); Watts Towers (Los Angeles); Seward Street Slides (SF); Bison Paddock (SF); St. Ignatius Church (SF); Albany Bulb (Albany); Feather Falls  (Oroville); Wolfe Ranch (Brentwood); South Park (SF); Castle Rock State Park (Los Gatos); Sutro Baths (SF); The Dish (Stanford); Bernal Hill (SF); Little Giant Gold Hydrant (SF); Redwood Valley Railway (Berkeley); Howard Langton Garden (SF); Philosopher's Way Trail (SF); Point Reyes Lighthouse; Sundial Bridge (Redding); Bay Bridge Trail (Oakland); Berkeley Rose Garden;
Moraga Steps (SF).


Charity
SCRAP (Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts)
San Francisco, CA

It's the Bay Area's oldest creative reuse center, which collects reusable art materials and distributes them to teachers, students, and artists. Donate directly to its Bayview office if you have supplies such as crayons, scissors, yarn, mannequins, buttons, and silk. 

Previous organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track, Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center, Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief, The Coming Home Project, Urban Tilth, Queer Lifespace (Wes S), Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Prevent Blindness, Hamilton Family Center, Rocky Mountain Wild, Plant SF, Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing (DISH), and City Slicker Farms.


Free Activities
1. Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Fest
Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm
Tens of thousands descend upon this sleepy coastal town for all things pumpkin. Enter the pumpkin pie eating contest, or watch the parade featuring Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. 

2. Trolley Dances
Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm
Three dance stations near 30th and Church will be connected using the J-Church line to three other stops near the Balboa Park terminal. It's now the 11th year of this only-in-San-Francisco event. 

3. LitCrawl 2014
Saturday, 6-9:30pm
That's right, we're the largest. Larger than London's, or Manhattan's, or Los Angeles'. About 100 venues in the Mission - ranging from the Mission Police Station and Good Vibrations to Four Barrel Coffee and the Red Poppy Art House - will host one-hour literary sessions.

Randy's Guide 4-0-5

Music 
Stooped down and out, you got me beggin' for thread
To sew this hole up that you ripped in my head
Stupidly think you had it under control
Strapped down to something that you don't understand
 -- "Beggin' for Thread," by Banks (1.5 million views, July '14 upload)

The Orange County girl and USC alum is quickly gaining accolades in circles far and wide - BBC, MTV, Vogue, iTunes, Spin, and Spotify. She toured last year with The Weeknd, and performed at Coachella and Bonnaroo this year. Her debut album released last month opened at #12 on the Billboard charts. She'll be at the Treasure Island Music Fest on Sunday, October 19. 

Previous songs: Down to the River to Pray (Alison Krauss); Three Rounds and a Sound (Blind Pilot); Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band); The Story (Brandi Carlile); Lucky One (Pure Bathing Culture); Easy Way Out (Gotye); Hell or High Water (William Elliott Whitmore); Hymn #101 (Joe Pug); Midnight City (M83); So American (Portugal. The Man); Carry On (Fun.); Remembrance (Balmorhea); Miss Atomic Bomb (The Killers); Take a Walk (Passion Pit); Closer (Tegan and Sara); It's Time (Imagine Dragons); Higher (Matt Nathanson); Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second (STRFKR); So Many Details (Toro Y Moi); Ho Hey (Lumineers); Winter Winds (Mumford & Sons); Wanted (Hunter Hayes); Levels (Avicii); The A Team (Ed Sheeran); Hold On (Alabama Shakes); Don't You Worry Child (Swedish House Mafia); Lonely Boy (The Black Keys); It's a War (Blackbird, Blackbird); Man on Fire (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros); Big Girl (Mika); Step (Vampire Weekend); All of Me (Tanlines); King and Lionheart (Of Monsters and Men); Celestica (Crystal Castles); Angels (The xx); Out of My League (Fitz & the Tantrums); If I Know You (The Presets); Dumb Disco Ideas (Holy Ghost!); Even If I Could (Rachael Yamagata); Tired Eyes (The Trophy Fire); Knock Knock (Band of Horses); Around the Block (Pretty Lights); Brave (Sara Bareilles); Same Love (Macklemore + Ryan Lewis, feat. Mary Lambert); Safe and Sound (Capital Cities); All-American Boy (Steve Grand); Entertainment (Phoenix); Your Drums, Your Love (AlunaGeorge); Garden (Lost in the Trees); Royals (Lorde); The Mother We Share (Chvrches); High School Lover (Cayuca); She Keeps Me Warm (Mary Lambert); Dyin' Bedmaker (Andrew Bird); Zombies (Radiation City); Bitter Rivals (Sleigh Bells); Tall Tall Shadow (Basia Bulat); Sunday (Crocodiles); Pompeii (Bastille); Breezeblocks (Alt-J); Sweater Weather (The Neighbourhood); Hurricane (MS MR); Trojans (Atlas Genius); Animals (Martin Garrix); Promising Actress (John Vanderslice and Magik*Magik Orchestra); Lightning Bolt (Jake Bugg); San Francisco (The Mowgli's); The High Road (Broken Bells); Call Me in a Day (La Luz); I Can't Go for That (Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers); Black Night (The Dodos); I Learned the Hard Way (Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings); The Robots (Kraftwerk); We Can Make the World Stop (The Glitch Mob); The Truth Don't Stop (Dr. Dog); & It Was U (How to Dress Well); Heartbeats (The Knife); Alive (Empire of the Sun); Holding on to You (twenty-one pilots); Tessellate (Tokyo Police Club); After Hours (We Are Scientists); It's Not True (William Fitzsimmons); Dance with Me (Ra Ra Riot); Inhaler (Foals); Will Do (TV on the Radio); A Few Honest Words (Ben Sollee); Higher Than the Clouds (Anuhea); Taking Chances (Sharon Van Etten); Sad Song (Au Revoir Simone); Keep Your Head Up (Andy Grammer); Zapata Se Queda (Lila Downs); Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Rufus Wainwright); Alexandra (Hamilton Leithauser); Latch (Disclosure, feat. Sam Smith); Clarity (Zedd, feat. Foxes); Wonder Why (Vetiver); Jubel (Klingande); World Without Tears (Lucinda Williams); Talk Is Cheap (Chet Faker); You Cheated Me (Martha Wainwright).


News of the Week 
After seven years at the helm of Gap Inc., Glenn Murphy will step down on February 1. Art Peck - who leads the Athleta, Intermix, Piperline, and online divisions - will take over. The stock closed down over 12% on the news.

"It's the first time in 20 years that Gap has had an orderly transition. So this is a very good day."

 -- Glenn Murphy, departing Gap Inc. Chairman-CEO

"The big message here is continuity."
 -- Art Peck, incoming Gap Inc. Chairman-CEO

"The easiest and biggest gains came early in Mr. Murphy's tenure, but clearly, further gains were proving much more difficult to achieve."
 -- Richard Jaffe, retail analyst


Food 
Boulevard 
1 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-6084 
Yelp 

Out of 50 or so 4-dollar-sign restaurants on Yelp in San Francisco, I think I've been to exactly three. So to say that this is the best of them might not seem that much of an endorsement... except it is. It might help that the two times I've been here - spaced over several years - I didn't have to pay a dime. The brick and stone facade survived both the 1906 earthquake and fire and a later 1978 fire, and the building itself has been deemed a landmark. Food-wise, well, one simply can't go wrong with classics such as filet mignon, tuna tartare, or pork chop. 4 stars - 1993 reviews 

Previous San Francisco picks: Radius; Limon Rotisserie; Art's Cafe; Little Star Pizza; Yamo; Breakfast at Tiffany's; Humphry Slocombe; Tu Lan; Foreign Cinema; Zanze's Cheesecake; San Tung; Katana-Ya; A La Turca; Boxing Room; Frances; Saigon Sandwich; Brenda's French Soul Food; Park Tavern; Broken Record; Rosamunde Sausage Grill; Curry Up Now; Yasukochi's Sweet Stop; Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen; Firefly; Red Door Cafe; L'Ardoise Bistro; Pluto's; My Tofu House; Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous; Walzwerk; Good Luck Dim Sum; Amber India; Sotto Mare; Sweet Maple; Shanghai Dumpling King; Super Duper; Kokkari Estiatorio; Olea; Bodega Bistro; The Chairman Truck; Molinari Delicatessen; Wayfare Tavern; Wexler's; Thorough Bread & Pastry; Lers Ros Thai; Helmand Palace; HRD Coffee Shop; Fat Angel; Aperto; Pho Huynh Hiep 2; Ted's Deli; Zero Zero; Zazie; Shalimar; Swan Oyster Depot; Dottie's True Blue Cafe; La Taqueria; Chez Maman; Radio Habana Social Club; Tony's Pizza Napoletana; Hard Knox Cafe; Shabusen; Ragazza; Morty's Delicatessen; Hawaiian Drive Inn #28; Just For You Cafe; Woodhouse Fish Co; Mission Pie; El Metate; V-105; Kitchen Story; Frisco Fried; Range; Suzu Noodle House; The Codmother Fish & Chips; The Front Porch; Blue Plate; Chomp N' Swig; Piccino; La Mediterranee; Ken Ken Ramen; Tommaso's Ristorante Italiano; 1760; The Richmond; Nick's Crispy Tacos; Cinderella Bakery; The Little Chihuahua; Zuni Cafe; Bistro Central Parc; Old Skool Cafe; Starbelly; The Sandwich Place; Primo Patio Cafe; Pearl's Deluxe Burgers.

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Curry Up Now (San Mateo); Little Lucca Sandwich Shop & Deli (Burlingame/South SF); Falafel's Drive In (San Jose); Sunny Bowl (Mountain View); Back A Yard Caribbean Grill (Menlo Park/San Jose); Pluto's (Palo Alto/San Jose); Ramen Dojo/Ramen Parlor (San Mateo); Amber India (Mountain View/San Jose/Palo Alto); Nini's Coffee Shop (San Mateo); Kabab and Curry's (Santa Clara); Fiddler's Green (Millbrae); Alana's Cafe (Burlingame); Sushi Sam's Edomata (San Mateo); Shanghai Dumpling Shop (Millbrae); Romolo's Cannoli (San Mateo); Koi Palace (Daly City).

Previous East Bay picks: Little Star Pizza (Albany); Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen (Berkeley); Asmara (Oakland); Keanu's Island Kine Food (Vacaville); Tara's Organic Ice Cream (Berkeley/Oakland); Pluto's (Chico/Davis/Sacramento/Roseville); Bakesale Betty (Oakland); Zachary's Pizza (Oakland/Berkeley/San Ramon); Gregoire (Berkeley/Oakland); Val's Burgers (Hayward); Homeroom (Oakland); Jong Ga House (Oakland); Cheese Board Pizza (Berkeley); Vik's Chaat (Berkeley); Wat Mongkoratanaram (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Luka's Taproom & Lounge (Oakland); First Street Ale House (Livermore); Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe (Oakland/Emeryville); Mua Lounge  (Oakland); Grand Lake Kitchen (Oakland); Shan Dong Restaurant (Oakland);  Taste of the Himalayas (Berkeley); Korea House (Concord); Miss Ollie's  (Oakland); Gather (Berkeley); Phnom Penh House (Oakland); Sue's Kitchen (El Sobrante); John's Ice Cream (Brentwood/Berkeley); TrueBurger (Oakland); Kensington Circus Pub; Kabana Restaurant (Berkeley).

Previous North Bay picks: Bouchon Bakery (Yountville); Della Fattoria Bakery (Petaluma); Sol Food (San Rafael/Mill Valley); Stumptown Brewery (Guerneville); Moustache Baked Goods (Healdsburg); Super Duper (Mill Valley); The Pelican Inn (Muir Beach); Garden Grill (Guerneville); Buckeye Roadhouse (Mill Valley); Andie's Cafe (Napa); West Brooklyn Pizza Co (San Rafael).

Previous Other picks: Shoki Ramen House (Sacramento); Built to Grill (Portland); Freshies (South Lake Tahoe); Mon Ami Gabi (Las Vegas); Fox & Goose Public House (Sacramento); La Bonne Soup Cafe (Sacramento); Snow City Cafe (Anchorage); Starling Diner (Long Beach); Masa of Echo Park (Los Angeles); Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs (Denver); Philippe the Original (Los Angeles); Han Bat Sul Lung Tang (Los Angeles); Jayne's Gastropub (San Diego); Quinn's (Seattle); George's Greek Cafe (Long Beach); Ike's Quarter Cafe (Nevada City); Root Down (Denver); Champa Garden (Redding).


Nightlife 
Novela 
662 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 896-6500 
Yelp 

In what surely is an upgrade from Fluid Ultra Lounge, Novela hones its theme on literature. Backlit books change color periodically, and the cocktail menu uses character names such as Christopher Robin and Billy Pilgrim. Still going strong after a year and a half on the books. 4 stars - 398 reviews 

Previous San Francisco picks: Blackbird; El Rio; Rickhouse; Southern Pacific Brewing; The Hidden Vine; Vesuvio; The Pig & Whistle; Biergarten; Martuni's; Tosca Cafe; Toronado; The Alembic; Trad'r Sam; Sugar Lounge; Speakeasy Ales & Lagers; Lucky 13; Hotel Biron; Bottom of the Hill; Blackthorn; Local Edition; Magnolia Pub & Brewery; Whiskey Thieves; Bourbon & Branch; The Monk's Kettle; Amsterdam Cafe; Aunt Charlie's Lounge; Latin American Club; Two Sisters Bar and Books; Doc's Clock; 15 Romolo; Thee Parkside; The Social Study; The Page; Rye; Bloodhound; Azucar Lounge; The Residence; Tommy's Mexican; The Revolution Cafe; Trick Dog; The Hot Spot; Hi Tops; The Homestead; The Phoenix Bar & Irish Gathering House; Fillmore Karaoke; Musee Mechanique; Royal Cuckoo; The Phone Booth; The Bitter End; Dear Mom, Eureka Lounge; Elbo Room; Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe; Amelie; Buckshot; Greens Sports Bar; The Hearth; The Armory Club; Vinyl Coffee & Wine Bar; The Willows; Barrel Head Brewhouse; Third Rail; 440 Castro; Shotwell's; 83 Proof; The Dark Horse Inn; Hopwater Distribution. 

Previous Peninsula/South Bay picks: Antonio's Nut House (Palo Alto); The Oasis Beer Garden (Menlo Park); Rose and Crown (Palo Alto); Fiddler's Green (Millbrae); Grape & Grain (San Mateo).

Previous East Bay picks: The Trappist (Oakland); Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon (Oakland); The Turf Club (Hayward); Jupiter (Berkeley); St. George Spirits (Alameda); Drake's Barrel House (San Leandro); JC Cellars (Oakland); Dashe Cellars (Oakland); Room 389 (Oakland); Beer Revolution (Oakland); Make Westing (Oakland); Altamont Beer Works (Livermore); Prizefighter (Emeryville); Heart and Dagger Saloon (Oakland); Dogwood (Oakland); Bar Three Fifty-Five (Oakland); Triple Rock Brewery and Ale House (Berkeley); Fauna (Oakland); Ben & Nick's Bar & Grill (Oakland); District Oakland; Albany Taproom; Ale Industries (The Pig & the Pickle - Oakland/Concord); The New Parkway (Oakland); Torpedo Room (Berkeley); Moxy Beer Garden (Berkeley).

Previous North Bay picks: Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma); Bear Republic Brewing Co. (Healdsburg); Tourist Club (Mill Valley); Mill Valley Beerworks;Billco's Billiards & Darts (Napa); Cline Cellars (Sonoma).

Previous Other picks: New Deal Distillery (Portland); Stateline Brewery (South Lake Tahoe); The Garage (Las Vegas); The Shady Lady Saloon (Sacramento); Mercantile Saloon (Sacramento); 49th State Brewing Co (Healy AK); Goat Hill Tavern (Costa Mesa); El Prado (Los Angeles); Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey (Denver); Angel City Brewery (Los Angeles); The Hermosillo (Los Angeles); Polite Provisions (San Diego); Sun Liquor Distillery (Seattle); Alex's Bar (Long Beach); Avanguardia Wines (Grass Valley); The 1up (Denver); Fall River Taphouse (Redding).


Nooks & Crannies 
Moraga Steps 
San Francisco, CA

The neighborhood project took over two years to complete. The 163 tiled steps leading from 16th Ave. and Moraga in the Golden Gate Heights neighborhood are pretty awesome to photograph! 

Previous Nooks: The Secret Garden (SF); Cal Park Hill Tunnel (San Rafael); Mount Olympus (SF); Watts Towers (Los Angeles); Seward Street Slides (SF); Bison Paddock (SF); St. Ignatius Church (SF); Albany Bulb (Albany); Feather Falls  (Oroville); Wolfe Ranch (Brentwood); South Park (SF); Castle Rock State Park (Los Gatos); Sutro Baths (SF); The Dish (Stanford); Bernal Hill (SF); Little Giant Gold Hydrant (SF); Redwood Valley Railway (Berkeley); Howard Langton Garden (SF); Philosopher's Way Trail (SF); Point Reyes Lighthouse; Sundial Bridge (Redding); Bay Bridge Trail (Oakland); Berkeley Rose Garden.


Charity 
SCRAP (Scroungers' Center for Reusable Art Parts)
San Francisco, CA

It's the Bay Area's oldest creative reuse center, which collects reusable art materials and distributes them to teachers, students, and artists. Donate directly to its Bayview office if you have supplies such as crayons, scissors, yarn, mannequins, buttons, and silk. 

Previous organizations Randy's Guide has spotlighted and donated: Common Ground Relief, LYRIC, Aldea Inc., Glide Memorial, City CarShare, Maitri, Loaves and Fishes, Friends of the Urban Forest, Farm Sanctuary, Bay Area Community Services, Blue Energy, My New Red Shoes, College Track, Foundation for the People of Burma, Vital Life Services, Little Angel Fund, San Francisco Health Services Coalition, Natural Resources Defense Council, Bay Localize, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Sustainable Conservation, Ashoka, Old Skool Cafe, Darfur Sister Schools, Rebuilding Together San Francisco, Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Urban Solutions, San Francisco Suicide Prevention, The East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, Shanti, Curry Without Worry, SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation, La Cocina, Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California, The Bike Kitchen, First Graduate, Lazarex Cancer Foundation (Amy C), KQED (88.5 FM), FabMo Creativity Center, Duboce/Valencia Fire Relief, The Coming Home Project, Urban Tilth, Queer Lifespace (Wes S), Re-volv, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Prevent Blindness, Hamilton Family Center, Rocky Mountain Wild, Plant SF, Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing (DISH), and City Slicker Farms. 


Free Activities 
1. Yerba Buena Night: Saturday, 3-7pm
Start off at the California Historical Society for an opening reception, then shift to one of 11 participation museums or five entertainment stages. 

2. Sunday Streets Berkeley: Sunday, 11am-4pm
In a nod to the success of San Francisco's program, Berkeley will close off 17 blocks to cars. Hula-hooping classes, bike repair, giant chess, chair massage, brewery tours, and belly dancing are among the activities. 

3. Fleet Week: through Monday 
The Blue Angels are the highlight, but there will also be a parade and festival through North Beach, fireworks at Pier 39, and a parade of ships on Friday.