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Signs of the Times for Asian Americans By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– Kung Food is a popular, cozy Chinese restaurant on McAllister Street, at Divisadero. Recently, several handwritten, angry signs appeared in the front windows, so we reached out to the restaurant’s young owner, and hip-hop artist, Andy Yang. Andy’s signs detail recent attacks on his Asian American friends and family: “My friend’s 64-year-old mom was robbed and assaulted in broad daylight.” “My best friend, Jessie, was robbed and dragged in broad daylight.” “My home girl’s restaurant wa...

In Memoriam: Alvin H. Baum, Jr. (1930–2021) Alvin H. Baum, Jr., passed away on March 28, 2021. He was 90 years old, and died of natural causes in his sleep. Alvin (Al) was born September 7, 1930, in Chicago’s Hyde Park, but grew up in Highland Park, a Chicago suburb, with his younger brother, David. Precocious at a young age, he was told he could identify car models at the age of two. Al struggled with a severe speech disability as a young child, but was always accomplished in school, ranking in the top three of his class at Highland Park High School. In advanced English, h...

Ed Decker and His Team Have Reinvented The New Conservatory Theater Center By Jennifer Kroot and Robert Holgate– Ed Decker is the Founder and Artistic Director of The New Conservatory Theater Center (NCTC) in San Francisco. Since 1981, NCTC has presented high quality, queer, and allied theatre productions, as well as youth education programming. Just prior to the shutdown, we saw their incredible productions This Side of Crazy and Head Over Heels. We wondered how NCTC is surviving the pandemic, so we looked in Robert’s rolodex and gave Ed a call. J&R: Hi Ed, thanks for spea...

Local Businesses Persevere Despite Pandemic, Crime, and Chainstores By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– Hayes Valley is one of the last independent shopping neighborhoods in San Francisco. The uniqueness, vibrance, and charm of Hayes Valley is largely due to its restriction on formula retail (aka chain stores). The iconic neighborhood draws tourists and locals alike for shopping, eating, and hanging out. Sadly, the pandemic has caused several independent stores that defined the neighborhood to close, including Dish Boutique, Ver Unica, and Gimme Shoes.  Similar to other reta...

Credit: Will Zang By Robert Holgate and Jennifer Kroot– After months and months of sheltering in place, we wanted to begin 2021 with a fresh perspective, so we had a good, old fashioned, socially-distant phone call with our friend, former California State Senator Mark Leno. Mark’s outlook is always broad and thoughtful—just the remedy!  We asked him how he’s dealing with the lockdown. Mark describes his time at home as reflective. “The power of gratitude has served me well,” he told us for the San Francisco Bay Times. “There’s a Hebrew prayer I like to recite, ‘Blessed...