San Francisco Bay Guardian Best of the Bay 2016

THE NATION'S ORIGINAL | OCTOBER 2016 | WE'RE BACK | ALWAYS FREE

50

TH

YEAR CELEBRATION

BEST OF THE BAY

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**BEST*OF*THE*BAY*2016**

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BEST OF THE BAY ___________________________________________________________________________ THE REBIRTH

EDITOR Marke B.

Dear Guardian Readers,

Now we're back in print! This month we published our Clean Slate election endorseWelcome back! In your hands, you're ments issue (you can read it at www.sfbg.com). holding the San Francisco Bay Guardian's And now here comes the 41st Best of the Bay, 50th anniversary issue -- and our 41st Best of brimming with all the good stuff you've come the Bay. to expect. This is the issue where your voice For half a century, the Guardian has is heard on everything from Best Burrito and been "on guard" -- speaking truth to power Best Live Music Venue to Best Shoe Store and and keeping a watchful, Best Politician (and Best progressive eye on poliPolitician You Love tics while also supportto Hate). ing local small busiOver 9,000 people nesses and vital artists voted in our online Best of and arts organizations. the Bay Readers Poll. As a That's a lot of decades! result, there are a few sigAlong with you, nificant shakeups in some we've discovered incredof the major categories, ible new things, dusted and the return of several off some classics, and familiar names in others. continued exploring That's very cool -- not only all the wonders of the are there still some great Bay Area with an open legacy businesses holding mind and the feeling of on in the city, there's lots of living in the best place healthy competition to be on Earth. the best.

The Bay Guardian As usual, we've also instopped publishing as a cluded some Editor's Picks, weekly paper in 2014, of businesses and organizabut the seeds of its retions that we think deserve vival were sown almost special mention this year immediately afterwards, for their accomplishments. first with the publication THE FIRST ISSUE OF BEST OF THE BAY, PUBLISHED We'd also like to thank IN 1974 of a Guardian comall of our advertisers and memorative edition in supporters this year. Without January 2015 and then you, we wouldn't be here. when Guardian editors For this special 50th and publishers expanded our sister daily news anniversary issue, Bay Guardian editor Tim publication, 48hills.org. Last November, we Redmond has contributed an essay celebratregained the rights to the Bay Guardian and ing San Francisco and the Guardian's place in relaunched www.sfbg.com, which was covered its history -- and looking forward to another nationally as an example of how the alternahalf century of printing the news and tive press could be revived. raising hell.

We're hoping our return signals a new era of progressive open-mindedness, civic engagement, small business support, and artistic exploration, especially in San Francisco, where it can sometimes seem like our greatest moments may be behind us. But you only need to flip through the pages of this edition to see that the Bay Area is still best -- and so are our loyal readers.

-- Marke B, Best of the Bay 2016 Editor

DESIGNER Aaron Joseph

ORIGINAL ARTWORK Diego Gomez, illustrator Antonia J Lopez, photographer

BAY GUARDIAN EDITOR Tim Redmond

SALES/PROJECT COORDINATOR Emily Forster

SALES REPRESENTATIVES Veronica Guevara Steve Indig

BAY GUARDIAN PUBLISHERS EMERITUS Bruce B. Brugmann and Jean Dibble www.sfbg.com

BEST OF THE BAY 2016 ___________________________________________________________________________ READERS POLL:

NEW GOLDEN YEARS:

OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY

CITY LIVING

BY TIM REDMOND

_______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ READERS POLL:

READERS POLL:

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BEST OF THE BAY 2016 ______________________________________________ READERS POLL

DANCER AT THIS YEAR’S FOLSOM STREET FAIR, VOTED BEST STREET FAIR. PHOTO BY GWEN PARK

BEST STREET FAIR

BEST LOCAL WEBSITE

www.folsomstreetevents.org

sf.funcheap.com

FOLSOM STREET FAIR

FUNCHEAP SF

BEST LOCALLY PRODUCED TV SHOW

BEST HOTEL

FAIRMONT HOTEL 950 Mason, SF

“CHECK PLEASE, BAY AREA”

www.fairmont.com/san-francisco

www.kqed.org

BEST TOUR -TIE -

BEST RADIO STATION KPOO 89.5 FM

SF GHOST HUNT www.sfghosthunt.com WILD SF

www.kpoo.com

BEST RADIO DJ OR SHOW

www.wildsftours.com

BEST EVENT OR VENUE FOR KIDS EXPLORATORIUM Pier 15, SF

“LIFE INSIGHTS LIVE WITH SCOUT BARTLETT” KEST Radio 1450 AM www.lifeinsights.net

www.exploratorium.edu

BEST TATTOO PARLOR

BEST POLITICIAN JANE KIM

BLACK AND BLUE TATTOO 381 Guerrero, SF

BEST POLITICIAN YOU LOVE TO HATE

BEST TATTOO ARTIST

ED LEE

www.blackandbluetattoo.com

TANYA WISCHERATH www.tanyawischerath.com

BEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

BEST PET GROOMING

www.creativityexplored.org

vipgroomingsf.com

CREATIVITY EXPLORED 3245 16th St., SF

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**BEST*OF*THE*BAY*2016**

VIP GROOMING 4299 24th St., SF

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AL RIBAYA OF AL’S ATTIRE, VOTED BEST TAILOR

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___________________________________________________________________________ BEST ANIMAL RESCUE -TIE-

BEST OPTOMETRIST

BEST MOVING SERVICE

www.throughthehayes.com

www.delanceystreetfoundation.org

BUCHANAN CLEANERS 2137 Buchanan, SF (415) 923-9251

BEST HOUSE CLEANERS

BEST SALON

THROUGH THE HAYES 529 Hayes, SF

MAINE COON ADOPTIONS 2527 Carmel St, Oakland mainecoonadoptions.com

DELANCEY STREET MOVERS (415) 957-9800

BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALING

MUTTVILLE 255 Alabama, SF

ADVANCED ALLERGY SOLUTIONS 257 Oak, SF

www.muttville.org

LA COLECTIVA

www.lacolectivasf.org

aasclinics.com

BEST VETERINARIAN

BEST AUTO MECHANICS

BEST THERAPIST

MISSION PET HOSPITAL 720 Valencia, SF

PAT’S GARAGE 1090 26th St., SF

KAREN SMILIE, MFT 538 Hayes, SF

www.missionpet.com

BEST DENTIST

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK DENTAL 1719 Powell, SF www.wsparkdental.com

BEST PLUMBER

ACE PLUMBING 945 Taraval St #201, SF

www.aceplumbingandrooter.com

BEST DOCTOR

DR. AUSTIN DAVIS, LIFE CHIROPRACTIC 644 Laguna, SF www.lifechirosf.com

BEST ELECTRICIAN PAURIC ELECTRIC 2288 Fulton, SF

BEST HAIRSTYLIST

www.facebook.com/rebekahnummerhair

BEST BICYCLE REPAIR

BEST MASSAGE

www.pedalrevolution.org

www.jadenroseholisticbodywork.com

PEDAL REVOLUTION 3085 21st St, SF

JADEN ROSE HOLISTIC BODYWORK 324 Fell, SF

BEST SHOE REPAIR

BEST SPA

FRANK’S SHOE REPAIR 1619 Polk, SF

KABUKI HOT SPRINGS 1750 Geary, SF

BEST TAILOR

BEST FITNESS/GYM -TIE-

www.franksshoerepairsf.com

thesfelectrician.com

INK SALON 660 Market, SF (415) 779-6866

REBEKAH NUMMER, INK SALON

www.patsgarage.com

karensmillie.com

BEST DRY CLEANERS

AL’S ATTIRE 1300 Grant, SF

www.kabukisprings.com

LIFTED 600 14th St., SF

alsattire.com

www.becomelifted.com

BEST LAUNDROMAT BRAINWASH 1122 Folsom, SF

UFORIA 1561 California, SF

www.uforiastudios.com

www.brainwash.com

WORK BY TANYA WISCHERATH, VOTED BEST TATTOO ARTIST

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GET INKED TODAY!

_____________________________________ BEST TRAINER

BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR

ACE MORGAN (510) 459-8202

MARGI YOUNG

www.margiyoung.com

acemorganfitness.wordpress.com

BEST AMATEUR SPORTS TEAM

BEST YOGA STUDIO

SAN FRANCISCO FOOTBALL CLUB

YOGA TO THE PEOPLE 5th Floor, 2973 16th St., SF

www.sfcityfc.com

www.yogatothepeople.com/san-francisco

OWNER, REBEKAH NUMMER VOTED BEST HAIRSTYLIST SINCE 2012

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR VOTING INK SALON

BEST OF THE BAY! COME IN AND CELEBRATE WITH US! MENTION THIS AD AND ENJOY A HAIRCUT WHEN YOU GET ANY COLOR SERVICE • EXP. 1/1/17

CALL OR TEXT 415-779-6866

ACE MORGAN, VOTED BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

WWW.INKHAIRSALON.COM

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SPUR SPUR SPURand and andthe the theS.F. S.F. S.F.Bay Bay BayGuardian Guardian Guardian havebeen beenfighting fightingfor forour ourvision vision have have been fighting for our vision ofaaabetter bettercity cityfor forhalf halfaaacentury. century. of of better city for half century.

Thanks Thanks Thanks for for for 50 50 50 years years years ofof of smart &spirited spirited debate. smart smart &&spirited debate. debate.

Ideas Action for Better City Ideas Ideas Ideas + Action ++ +Action Action forfor for a Better aa aBetter Better City City City www.spur.org www.spur.org www.spur.org www.spur.org

Happy 50th SFBG! Happy Happy 50th 50th SFBG! SFBG! CIT Y LIVING

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Vote!

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BEST OF THE BAY 2016 ______________________________________________ READERS POLL

A DISH FROM ICHI SUCHI + NI BAR, VOTED BEST SUISHI

BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT NOPA 560 Divisadero, SF

BEST FOOD/DRINK FESTIVAL

BEST NEW RESTAURANT SESSIONS 1 Letterman Dr #150, SF www.sessionssf.com

BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE DELANCEY STREET RESTAURANT 600 The Embarcadero, SF www.delanceystreetfoundation.org

BEST FOOD TRUCK -TIE-

BEST PIZZA

www.senorsisig.com

www.littlestarpizza.com

BEST FOOD DELIVERY BEST FARMERS’ MARKET

BEST SPLURGE RESTAURANT

BEST VEGETARIAN

www.garydanko.com

www.greensrestaurant.com

www.sfgrubstake.com

BEST BURRITO

L’ARDOISE 151 Noe, SF

GREENS Fort Mason Center, SF

HELLA VEGAN EATS 411 26th St., Oakland

WOODHOUSE FISH CO. 2073 Market, SF 1914 Fillmore, SF www.woodhousefish.com

www.superduperburgers.com

ROAM Multiple Locations, SF www.roamburgers.com

BEST SMALL PLATES

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BEST SEAFOOD

SUPER DUPER Multiple locations

BEST VEGAN

BEST SOUL FOOD

BRENDA’S SOUL FOOD 652 Polk, SF www.frenchsoulfood.com

BEST BARBECUE

4505 BURGERS & BBQ 705 Divisadero, SF www.4505meats.com

www.picarotapasrestaurant.com

**BEST*OF*THE*BAY*2016**

PLUTO’S 3258 Scott, SF 627 Irving, SF www.plutosfreshfood.com

BEST BURGERS -TIE-

PICARO 3120 16th St., SF

www.ardoisesf.com

BEST SALADS

EL FAROLITO 2779 Mission, SF (415) 824-7877

www.hellaveganeats.com

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

TURTLE TOWER 645 Larkin, SF 5716 Geary, SF 501 Sixth St., SF www.turtletowersf.com

www.louscafesf.com

www.cuesa.org

GRUBSTAKE 1525 Pine, SF

BEST SOUP

LOU’S CAFE 5017 Geary, SF

FERRY PLAZA

BEST LATE-NIGHT RESTAURANT

KEN KEN RAMEN 3378 18th St., SF www.kenkenramen.com

BEST SANDWICHES

SPRIG

TU LAN 8 Sixth St., SF (415) 626-0927

GARY DANKO 800 North Point, SF

BEST BOWL OF NOODLES

LITTLE STAR 846 Divisadero, SF 400 Valencia, SF 1181 Solano, Albany

THE CHAIRMAN www.hailthechairman.com SENOR SISIG

www.sprig.com

BEST BUDGET RESTAURANT

SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

ICHI SUSHI + NI BAR 3282 Mission, SF www.ichisushi.com

www.eatrealfest.com

www.nopasf.com

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BEST SUSHI

EAT REAL OAKLAND

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_____________________________________ BEST BREAKFAST

BEST ITALIAN

VEGA 419 Cortland, SF www.vegapizzasf.com

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S 2499 San Bruno, SF www.breakfastattiffanyssf.com

BEST BRUNCH

BEST INDIAN

www.zaziesf.com

BEST LUNCH

BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER

LUNCHPAD 581 Hayes, SF

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN LA MEDITERRANEE Multiple locations www.cafelamed.com

www.thelunchpadsf.com

BEST DESSERTS MISSION PIE 2901 Mission, SF

BEST MEXICAN LA TAQUERIA 2889 Mission, SF (415) 285-7117

Award-winning garden – Open seasonally

www.missionpie.com

BEST ICE CREAM MITCHELL’S 688 San Jose, SF

BEST CHINESE

Entire restaurant available to rent for private parties

www.mitchellsicecream.com

SAN TUNG 1031 Irving, SF (415) 242-0828

BEST CAFE

PINHOLE COFFEE 231 Cortland, SF

BEST THAI

2377 SHATTUCK AVE.

www.pinholecoffee.com

LERS ROS 730 Larkin, SF 307 Hayes, SF 3189 16th St., SF

BERKELEY, CA • 510.843.1535

BEST COFFEE ROASTERS PEET’S COFFEE

www.lanoterestaurant.com

www.peets.com

www.lersros.com

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An authentic taste of France

ZAZIE 941 Cole, SF

DOSA 995 Valencia, SF 1700 Fillmore, SF www.dosasf.com

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_____________________________________

POTRERO HILL

SOMA

WEST PORTAL

300 Connecticut St 415-641-1440

171 Stillman St 415-974-1303

170 West Portal Ave 415-242-GOAT (4628)

DELIVERY

DELIVERY

PICK-UP

PICK-UP

PICK-UP DINE-IN

DINE-IN

O R D E R

O N L I N E

www.goathillpizza.com

THE SCENE AT PAGAN IDOL, VOTED BEST NEW BAR

BEST CUP OF TEA

BEST GAY BAR THE STUD 399 Ninth St., SF

SAMOVAR 411 Valencia, SF 730 Howard, SF

www.studsf.com

www.samovartea.com

BEST HAPPY HOUR

BEST OVERALL BAR

POP’S BAR 2800 24th St., SF

MADRONE ART BAR 500 Divisadero

www.popssf.com

www.madroneartbar.com

BEST WINERY

BEST NEW BAR

ROCK WALL WINES 2301 Monarch, Alameda

PAGAN IDOL 375 Bush, SF

www.rockwallwines.com

www.paganidol.com

BEST WINE BAR

BEST BARTENDER

SCOPO DIVINO 2800 California, SF

RANDY MAUPIN, CAT CLUB

www.scopodivino.com

BEST DIVE BAR

BEST BEER SELECTION

EL RIO 3158 Mission, SF

TORONADO 547 Haight, SF

www.elriosf.com

www.toronado.com

BEST SWANKY BAR NOIR LOUNGE 581 Hayes, SF

BEST CREATIVE COCKTAILS -TIE-

BEST SINGLES BAR

blackbirdbar.com

BLACKBIRD 2124 Market, SF

www.noir-sf.com

BLONDIE’S 540 Valencia, SF

ODDJOB 1337 Mission, SF

www.blondiesbarsf.com

www.oddjobsf.com

BEST SPORTS BAR

BEST BAR STAFF

HI TOPS 2247 Market, SF

CAT CLUB 1190 Folsom, SF

www.hitopssf.com

www.sfcatclub.com

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_____________________________________ BEST BAKERY

BEST CHEESE SHOP

www.arizmendibakery.com

www.cowgirlcreamery.com

ARIZMENDI Various locations

COWGIRL CREAMERY Ferry Building, SF

BEST CHOCOLATIER

BEST BUTCHER SHOP -TIE-

No. 1

FOG CITY 455 Market, SF

AVEDANO’S 235 Cortland, SF

www.fogcitynews.com/chocolate.html

www.avedanos.com

BEST POT EDIBLES

OLIVIER’S BUTCHERY 1074 Illinois, SF

Bay Guardian Readers: Thanks for voting us

No. 1

BEST ICE CREAM for 2016!!

THE GREEN CROSS 4218 Mission, SF

www.oliviersbutchery.com

ICE CREAM 688 San Jose Ave., San Francisco • (415) 648-2300 Open 7 Days • 11:00 am to 11:00 pm

www.thegreencross.org

PILE IT HIGH AT LOU’S CAFE, VOTED BEST SANDWICHES

www.mitchellsicecream.com

A DELICIOUS DESIGN AT PINHOLE COFFEE, VOTED BEST CAFE

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SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

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BEST OF THE BAY 2016 ______________________________________________ READERS POLL

MS. JUANITA MORE, VOTED BEST DRAG QUEEN

BEST MOVIE THEATER

BEST FILM FESTIVAL

CASTRO THEATRE 429 Castro, SF

www.frameline.org

BEST ARTS FESTIVAL

BEST REP FILM HOUSE

OPEN STUDIOS

www.roxie.com

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

SF MOMA 151 Third St., SF

www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com

BEST MUSEUM

BEST OVERALL DANCE PARTY

BEST REGGAE CLUB

www.bootiemashup.com

www.dubmissionsf.com

DUB MISSION

BEST BOOK PUBLISHER

BEST ART GALLERY

CITY LIGHTS 261 Columbus, SF

www.galeriadelaraza.org

BEST RECORD LABEL

BEST DANCE COMPANY

www.darkentriesrecords.com

GALERIA DE LA RAZA 2857 24th St., SF

www.citylights.com

ODC 351 Shotwell, SF

DARK ENTRIES

BEST BAND KATDELIC

www.odcdance.org

BEST THEATER COMPANY

SAN FRANCISCO NEO-FUTURISTS www.sfneofuturists.com

BEST PERFORMANCE SPACE -TIEPIANOFIGHT 144 Taylor, SF

www.ronkat.net

BEST SINGER-SONGWRITER SAM CHASE

www.thesamchase.com

BEST DJ

SAKE ONE

ww.facebook.com/djsake1

www.pianofight.com

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE

Z SPACE 450 Florida, SF

GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL 859 O’Farrell, SF

www.zspace.org

SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

www.bottomofthehill.com

BOTTOM OF THE HILL 1233 17th St., SF

HARDLY STRICTLY BLUEGRASS

www.sfmoma.org

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www.dnalounge.com

BOOTIE SF

www.artspan.org

ROXIE THEATER 3117 16th St., SF

BEST ROCK CLUB

DNA LOUNGE 375 11th St., SF

FRAMELINE

www.castrotheatre.com

BEST OVERALL NIGHTLIFE VENUE

ww.slimspresents.com **BEST*OF*THE*BAY*2016**

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THE SF NEO-FUTURISTS, VOTED BEST THEATER COMPANY |

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_____________________________________ BEST DRAG SHOW MOTHER AT OASIS www.sfoasis.com

BEST DRAG QUEEN JUANITA MORE

www.juanitamore.com

BEST BURLESQUE

HUBBA HUBBA REVIEW www.facebook.com/groups/hubbahubbarevue

BEST COMEDY VENUE COBB’S COMEDY CLUB 915 Columbus, SF. www.cobbscomedy.com

BEST COMEDIAN SHANTI CHARAN, VOTED BEST COMEDIAN

SHANTI CHARAN

www.shanticharan.com

BEST MAGICIAN

BEST HIP-HOP CLUB

ROBERT STRONG

TRAP CITY

www.strongentertainment.com

www.trapcitysf.com

BEST OPEN MIC NIGHT

BEST JAZZ CLUB -TIE-

HOTEL UTAH 500 4th St., SF

SFJAZZ 201 Franklin, SF

www.hotelutah.com

www.sfjazz.org

YOSHI’S 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland www.yoshis.com

BEST LITERARY NIGHT LUNADA

www.galeriadelaraza.org

BEST STRIP CLUB

BEST SALSA CLUB

GOLD CLUB 650 Howard St., SF

CIGAR BAR 850 Montgomery, SF

www.goldclubsf.com

www.cigarbarandgrill.com

BEST HOUSE/TECHNO CLUB MONARCH 101 6th St, SF

BEST SEX CLUB EROS 2051 Market, SF www.erossf.com

www.monarchsf.com

BEST LATE-NIGHT DANCING CAT CLUB 1190 Folsom

BEST PORN STUDIO KINK

www.kink.com

www.sfcatclub.com

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT EDINBURGH CASTLE 950 Geary, SF

Fifty years of a consistent, articulate, passionate and unequivocal voice for social, economic, and environmental justice is a remarkable accomplishment by any measure.

www.thecastlesf.com

BEST JUKEBOX LUCKY 13 2140 Market, SF (415) 487-1313

BEST KARAOKE BAR

THE MINT KARAOKE LOUNGE 1942 Market, SF themint.net

Congratulations, SFBG!

BEST OVERALL QUEER PARTY SWAGGER LIKE US

–Mark Leno

www.swaggersf.com

BEST GAY DANCE CLUB OASIS 298 11th St., SF www.sfoasis.com CIT Y LIVING

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SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

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NEW GOLDEN YEARS ____________________________________ 50 years ago, the Bay Guardian helped define the alternative press. Now we’re back for a new generation.

BY TIM REDMOND

T

he folks on the Left were arguing: Some said that the two candidates were both corporate sellouts, that both parties were captives of big business – and maybe the best thing to do was just sit it out.

It was 1966, and a tiny new newspaper called the San Francisco Bay Guardian was about to issue its first endorsement.

San Francisco was still a pretty conservative town: The last mayor was a Republican.

The city’s representative in Congress was a Republican. There were Republicans on the Board of Supervisors (and even the Democrats were far from a liberal bunch).

The Summer of Love was a year away.

The Grateful Dead were still playing small clubs. Harvey Milk was working quietly as a stock analyst in New York City.

And the Guardian had no doubts about how to address the election for governor.

Incumbent Pat Brown had his problems, the paper noted – but they were insignificant compared to the disaster named Ronald Reagan. If the GOP nominee won, it would be the end of liberal California and would usher in an era of anti-union, anti-tax, anti-government attitudes, and the state might never recover.

Check it out: That was a pretty good call.

If the Guardian had statewide reach and could have swung that election, California, and the United States, would be a very different place today.

That was the thing about the paper that Bruce B. Brugmann and Jean Dibble founded half a century ago: It was clear-eyed about the reality of politics. And today, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are taking the same approach – check out our full 2016 election endorsements at www.sfbg.com.

Yes, Hillary Clinton is a flawed candidate for president. Yes, if she wins, we will work to hold her accountable to a progressive agenda (as the Guardian of 1966 would have done with Pat Brown).

But there are real choices here, and people’s lives hang in the balance.

The Guardian’s endorsement for governor was somewhat a philosophical exercise in 1966; a little start-up paper in San Francisco wasn’t going to swing a major statewide election. But it put the paper on the map – and started a tradition of endorsements of local candidates that became among the most influential in the city.

From 1966 to today, the Guardian election guide has been the gold standard for progressive voters – and I can tell you why. For more than 30 years, I was involved in the process. We spend vast amounts of time researching every issue and candidate.

We questioned everyone and everything. We came to our independent decisions without fear or favor, influenced by nobody but ourselves and our vision of what was best for the city.

We were mostly right, sometimes wrong (the problem with endorsing candidates, Bruce loved to say, is that sometimes they get elected), but never driven by anything but our analysis and instincts.

And unlike the establishment news media of the day, we were right in the middle of all 16

SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

**BEST*OF*THE*BAY*2016**

of the biggest campaigns. The Guardian was one of the first and strongest advocates of limits on highrise office development. Starting in the early 1970s, we promoted district elections of supervisors (Milk was among those who took office in the first district races).

date who won – off the hook for his failures.

(When Agnos refused to move to evict Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s illegal operation and replace it with public power, our headline read: “Agnos to city: Drop dead.”)

The campaign for public power helped

THE COVER OF THE FIRST BAY GUARDIAN, OCTOBER 27, 1966

When he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated, and killer Dan White was found guilty only of involuntary manslaughter, one of the Guardian’s most famous covers exposed “How the DA Blew the Dan White case.”

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define the Guardian for much of its life, starting with the 1969 expose that showed how federal law required the city to generate and sell its own power and how City Hall had conspired with PG&E to block that since the 1920s.

The Guardian had its doors shuttered by the time that City Hall finally woke up, and passed a measure creating the beginnings of a |

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public power system in the city. Some things, we learned, take time. But we never quit.

In fact, Bruce used to have a bumper sticker on his door that said, “Never give up.

Never ever ever ever.”

The repeal of district elections in 1980s was a huge blow to progressive politics in the city – and we never failed to point that out, year after year, until Tom Ammiano and Terence Hallinan managed to restore the district system, in 1999.

Never, ever give up. Never ever ever ever.

Now that Marke B and I have taken over this paper, we hope we can live up to that tradition.

Of course, the Bay Guardian was a lot more than political endorsements. It was the voice of the voiceless in the city. When I first started as a young reporter, Bruce told me that the big dailies (back then, the Chronicle and the Examiner) looked at the city from the top of the Transamerica pyramid down; we looked at it from the bottom up.

If you work for the Chron he said, “You can always find a welfare cheat.” If you work for the Guardian, you go out and ask why people on welfare get so little money to begin with, and why there is so much urban poverty, and why we aren’t taxing the rich (including the owners of the Chron).

The Guardian lived through and reported on the 1960s counterculture, but was never really part of it: While the hippie newspapers talked about dropping out and tearing down The System, the Guardian stayed in, and watched City Hall, and the neighborhoods, and pushed for rent control and development limits and gay rights and district elections of supervisors and public power.

The really cool underground papers had their day, and died out. The Guardian was in it for the long haul. In the first 30 years of the paper’s life, more the 50 publications started and died in San Francisco.

Back then, there was no such thing as the “alternative press.” When Bruce and Jean started the Guardian, there was no model; they made it up as they went along. By the 1980s, the “alt-weeklies” were flourishing in more than 100 US cities, many of them using the Guardian model.

One of the inventions of the Guardian was a love affair with San Francisco called “The Best of the Bay.” It started in 1974,when Esquire magazine decided to do a feature called “the Best of America.” In most cities, the mag did its own research; in SF, it turned to the Guardian.

Bruce helped collect data – but figured (correctly) that this was a one-off gimmick for Esquire, but could be an ongoing franchise for the local paper. The Best of the Bay took off – and about 100 other alt weeklies took the idea and turned it into annual traditions. (Every publication in town now does a “best of.”

They are all derivative. “Why can’t they come up with their own ideas?” Bruce used to ask.)

The alt-weekly model that the Guardian helped create is changing. The money that came from classified ads is gone; print is a different creature now, and a once-mighty national trend is declining.

The Guardian was sold, then shut down.

But we are back, with a new model, CONTINUES ON PAGE 17 >> SHOPPING

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working in a digital world where print is an adjunct – not the beginning and the end, but a part of a much larger picture of news media. We are not a weekly, but will publish online at sfbg.com and in print for special issues like this one.

We are a sister publication to 48hills.org, a daily nonprofit digital newspaper.

We are trying here, as Bruce and Jean did 50 years ago, to define the role of progressive media in a city under immense pressure. It wasn’t easy breaking the mold back then; it’s not easy now.

But somehow, the Guardian has managed to survive for half a century, and somehow, has come back to life after a Canadian owner shut it down. And you are reading the result.

That’s what we do in the alternative press – never give up, never ever every ever. We are part of San Francisco, and we’re glad to have you around for the ride as we define the next 50 years.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GREAT THANKS TO EVERYONE IN THE BAY GUARDIAN FAMILY FOR

50 YEARS OF SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER AND RAISING HELL!

DON’T EVER STOP!!

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BEST OF THE BAY 2016 ______________________________________________ READERS POLL

LOOKS AT RETRO FIT, VOTED BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

BEST STORE STAFF

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

www.cliffsvariety.com

www.suigenerisconsignment.com/Mens/

SUI GENERIS 2231 Market, SF

CLIFF’S VARIETY 479 Castro, SF

BEST OVERALL BOOKSTORE

BEST KIDS CLOTHING STORE

www.greenapplebooks.com

www.chloescloset.com/locations

CHLOE’S CLOSET Multiple locations

GREEN APPLE BOOKS + MUSIC 506 Clement

BEST USED BOOKSTORE

BEST SHOP FOR PARENTS-TO-BE

www.greenapplebooks.com

www.naturalresources-sf.com

NATURAL RESOURCES 1367 Valencia, SF

GREEN APPLE BOOKS + MUSIC 506 Clement

BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

www.isotopecomics.com

www.retrofityourworld.com

BEST RECORD STORE

BEST LOCAL DESIGNER(S)

www.amoeba.com

www.jake.clothing

RETRO FIT 910 Valencia, SF

ISOTOPE COMICS 326 Fell, SF

AMOEBA 1855 Haight, SF

JAKE 619 Sansome, SF

BEST GROCERY STORE

BEST JEWELER

www.rainbow.coop

www.dandhjewelers.com

RAINBOW GROCERY 1745 Folsom, SF

D&H SUSTAINABLE JEWELERS 2323 Market, SF

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

BEST FLEA MARKET

www.ambiancesf.com/store_info.html

alamedapointantiquesfaire.com

AMBIANCE Multiple locations OWNER JAMES SIME OF ISOTOPE COMICS, VOTED BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

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ALAMEDA POINTE ANTIQUES FAIR 2900 Navy Way, Alameda

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_____________________________________ BEST THRIFT STORE

BEST PLACE TO BUY EYEWEAR

COMMUNITY THRIFT 623 Valencia, SF

SEE EYEWEAR 2100 Union, SF 651 Market, SF

www.communitythriftsf.org

www.seeeyewear.com

BEST SHOE STORE

BEST BEAUTY SUPPLIES

GIMME SHOES 416 Hayes, SF

HAYES VALLEY MEDICAL AND ESTHETICS 182 Gough, SF

www.gimmeshoes.com

BEST FURNITURE STORE STUFF 150 Valencia, SF

www.hayesvalleymed.com

BEST CANNABIS DISPENSARY GREEN CROSS 4218 Mission, SF

www.stuffsf.com

BEST HARDWARE STORE

www.thegreencross.org.

COLE HARDWARE Multiple locations www.colehardware.com

TANTRUM TOYS, CO-WINNER OF BEST TOY STORE

BEST SPORTING GOODS

BEST TOY STORE -TIE -

SPORTS BASEMENT 1590 Bryant, SF 610 Old Mason, SF

AMBASSADOR TOYS 186 W Portal, SF 2 Embarcadero Center, SF

shop.sportsbasement.com

www.ambassadortoys.com

BEST FLOWER SHOP

TANTRUM 248 Clement, SF

A BED OF ROSES 2948 20th St, SF

www.shoptantrum.com

www.abedofrosessf.com

BEST BIKE SHOP

BEST PLACE TO BUY LINGERIE

VALENCIA CYCLERY 1077 Valencia, SF

DARK GARDEN 321 Linden, SF

www.valenciacyclery.com

www.darkgarden.com

BEST PET GOODS SHOP

BEST PLACE TO BUY SEX TOYS

BERNAL BEAST 509 Cortland, SF

GOOD VIBRATIONS Multiple locations

www.bernalbeast.com

www.goodvibes.com

BEST GIFT SHOP

BEST PLACE TO BUY FETISH GEAR

DANDELION 55 Potrero, SF

MR. S LEATHER 385 Eighth St., SF

www.dandelionsf.com

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BEST OF THE BAY 2016 ______________________________________________

A WORK FROM “DIA DEL LOS MUERTOS: A PROMISE NOT TO FORGET” AT SOMARTS, BEST CULTURAL VANGUARDIANS PHOTO BY DAVID SCHNUR

BEST GRAND REANIMATION

The historic Grand Cinema on Mission Street is certainly grand, but like most closed theaters in San Francisco it was fated to beome either condos or a parking lot. That is, until it became one of the most innovative venues in the city: Gray Area. The nonprofit Gray Area Foundation is committed to “apply art and technology to create positive social impact through education, civic engagement, and public programs.” And in its new home in this huge, ornate space, it’s brought us everything from the packed experimental SF Tape and SFSound festivals to live electronic music-film hybrids and exhibitions of DeepDream computer-simulated neural network art. Part of the healthy revival of the avant-garde in SF, Gray Area continues to expand the definiton of “tech” to include vital arts and artists.

2665 Mission, SF. www.grayarea.org

BEST BEATLES IN A BOWL

While the piping hot ramen trend has sparked several great newcomers (Ramen Underground, Kaiju Eats, Men Oh!, Iza) and a renaissance of more classic spots, Halu in the Richmond truly feels like you’ve stepped into a tiny Japanese noodle wonderland -and also a “Yellow Submarine.” “Halu” is the phonetic Japanese version of “Help!,” you see. Laden almost floor to ceiling with Fab Four memorabilia, from lunch boxes and action figures to vintage posters and a soundtrack of hits, Halu truly defines “hole

in the wall,” but how many holes does it take to fill the Albert Hall? Well, we know what it takes to fill the hole in our stomach: the delectably brothy ramen here, of course, but also full menu of breaded skewer items known as kushikatsu.

312 Eighth Avenue, SF. 415-221-9165.

BEST DANCE FLOOR FORGETME-NOTS

DJ Jim Hopkins has been spinning records for almost 40 years -- he started in 1978 at the tender age of 13 -- and has lived through some of the highest highs (and lowest

BEST ZINE SCENE

“What is a zine?” we have been asked by bright-eyed questioners. “It’s like a handmade blog on paper, but cooler,” we respond.

“What’s a blog?” has come the reply. At which point we throw up both hands and point to the annual San Francisco Zine Fest, the annual celebration of DIY print publishing.

Although it sprang up well after the preInternet golden age of fanzines in the ‘80s, for 15 years Zine Fest has celebrated the quaint, the quirky, the politically outspoken, and the outlandishly precious in the form of original magazines, comics, pamphlets, posters, postcards, and more. This year’s overflowing edition, on Labor Day Weekend, felt especially poignant. If you ever need proof that SF is still full of scrappy alternative spirit, this is your destination. www.sfzinefest.org 20

SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN

**BEST*OF*THE*BAY*2016**

lows) of San Francisco nightlife. He’s also witnessed the technology of DJing change dramatically, from vinyl and reel-to-reel tape to complex laptop programs. His love for the dance floor sounds of yore, and his fear that the work of some of our greatest DJs would be lost, spurred him to form the San Francisco Disco Preservation Society, which digitizes a wealth of formerly unheard material for a new generation, from the very birth of the modern DJ mix in the 1970s through disco and Hi-NRG’s heady rush at clubs like the Trocadero Transfer.

With contributions from legendary nightlife denizens, Hopkins is almost single-handedly preserving a unique art form that thrived for decades, and continues to this day. hearthis.at/sfdps

BEST STEAMY “EUREKA!”

The hippest place to shed your clothes and relax in SF? It’s tucked in the Bayview, an oasis of Old World bathing tradition updated for San Francisco sensibilities. Archimedes Banya combines Greek laconica, Turkish hammam, German thermen, Scandinavian sauna, and Russian banya elements (yes, you can get flogged with eucalyptus branches here) into a state-of-the-art experience that’s not just comfortable and reivigorating, it’s also CONTINUES ON PAGE 21 >>

DENIZENS OF ARCHIMEDES BANYA, BEST STEAMY “EUREKA!”

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“FARTHER OUT” NIGHT AT SOUNDBOX, BEST SOUND OUT-OF-THE-BOX PHOTO BY STEPHAN COHEN

a lot of fun. With clientele mixing hip young Burner types with old school Russian emigres -- chessboards floating in the hot tubs help bring them together -- and several different saunas, pools, massage packages, and beauty treatments to choose from, Archimedes is a fantastic discovery. And don’t miss one of SF’s best hidden gems located inside: Z’teamers, a Russian restaurant where you can enjoy a refreshing kombucha spritzer after your soak and steam. 748 Innes Ave. www.banyasf.com

BEST IN-TENTS-SIONS

This year was especially awful for our homeless population: First, rising income inequality and lack of empathy and support for social services continued to cause encampments to swell. Then, El Nino storms doused the encampments with rain. On top of this the Super Bowl came, and the mayor ordered the encampments dismantled, confiscating tents and other belongings in a hideous attempt to “cleanse” the city for tourists. (That cleansing continues today in the form of the mean-spirited Prop. Q.) Two activists -- Tara Spalty and Shaun Osburn -- said “enough” and launched Tents for San Francisco, which has so far raised over $20,000 to buy and distribute replacement tents for homeless people. The campaign was a sensation, spawning fawning praise and vicious denunciation, but mostly it helped dozens of people on the streets stay dry.

Which is exactly the kind of thing we should be rooting for. www.gofundme.com/tentsforsf

BEST SOUND OUTSIDE-THE-BOX

Say you’re a major symphony looking to expand your audience, and you just happen to have a cavernous load-in garage and rehearsal space at your disposal. You could go the safe route and use the space to host popular indie rock and EDM concerts, hoping their luster will rub off and make you more attractive to younger crowds. Or you could be brave, dig in your heels, and open one of the most exciting avant-garde music venues in the country, complete with mindblowing Meyer Sound Constellation soundsytem, multimedia effects, advanced cocktail menu, and so much buzz your events sell out in minutes.

That’s Soundbox, located at the back of SF Symphony’s Davies, the unqualified success which has helped revolutionize the city’s contemporary music landscape and nightlife scene. We’ve seen and heard some wild things here, from epic futuristic sonic experiments to CIT Y LIVING

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intimate reanimations of 800-year-old hymns.

300 Franklin, SF. www.sfsoundbox.com

BEST FAKE DUCK

Faux meat might be controversial -- if you’re vegetarian for humane reasons, why would you eat something that reminds you of butchered animals? But some of us need to take baby steps along the path to fleshless enlightenment. Those wee shuffles should lead you right to Lower Haight to experience the joy of Love N Haight Deli’s meatless smoked duck sandwich. Juicy, rich, and perfectly textured, the only thing phony about this quacker is its complete lack of any actual Daffy, Donald, or Howard between your choice of breads. Run since 2000 by vegetarian Laotian immigrant Fey Chao and her family, Love N Haights menu brims with other veggie options -- and stays open til 2am most nights -- making this a true haven for meatless birds of a feather, flocking together.

553 Haight, SF. 415-252-8190.

BEST CULTURAL VANGUARDIANS

As socio-economic and ethnic diversity continues to leech out of San Francisco, one major art gallery has doubled-down on presenting sweeping, breathtaking shows that highlight the vibrant culture and deep roots that still cling to our peninsula. In the past couple years, SomARTS has hosted “Making a Scene” which commemorated and celebrated 50 years of alternative Bay Area arts spaces, “The Black Woman is God” which celebrated the black female presence as the highest spiritual form,” “Resistance,” which explored gentrification and displacement through the work of local Asian and Pacific Islander artists. Currently, SomARTS is hosting the stunning 17th edition of its essential Dia de los Muertos show. Curated by father-son duo René and Rio Yañez, it brings together more than 50 artists to build altars addressing this year’s timely theme, “A Promise Not to Forget.”

934 Brannan, SF. www.somarts.org

BEST ARTISANAL INTERNET

Ditch your Comcast, boot (don’t reboot) your Xfinity -- for a truly personal-feeling high-speed Internet experience, hook up with local provider MonkeyBrains. A reasonable set-up fee ($250) and $35 a month price helps you shake the cable giants off your back while supporting a local business. Rudy Rucker |

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_________________ and Alex Menendez set up shop in 1998 and the Brains’ wireless dish operation has been growing ever since (service requires a line-ofsight to the main transmission tower, but an ingenious rooftop relay system is expanding reach). It’s an intimate, artisanal Internet experience: with its timely Twitter outreach and insanely cool staff, you feel like one of the family, all rooting for local connectivity. www.monkeybrains.net

BEST HAMLET ROULETTE

the kids in the double-wide stroller behind you. But believe us, once you bite into Tony Gemignani’s world-famous margherita pizza (it has actually won the title of “best in the world”) all that will melt away in a hot, fresh, perfectly crispy, perfectly spicy experience.

You may find flashier pizzas all over town -although it’s not like the tatted up Gemignani is behind on the hip curve, with toppings like quail egg and baba ghanoush, not to mention a Detroit-style pie to die for. But this San Francisco classic reminds us just how flavorful this town really is, however way you slice it.

1570 Stockton, SF. www.tonyspizzanapoletana.com

Hamlet is hard. The brilliant, sprawling Shakespeare play is bursting with zesty soliliquies, fast-paced action, spectral presences, special effects, and essential ancilliary characters. It’s also well over two hours long. Yes, “the play’s the thing,” but while many could hardly muster the stamina to play a specific character, imagine having to play any of them at a moment’s notice! That was the inspired conceit behind the Shotgun Players’ Hamlet this summer, directed by Mark Jackson. Each member of the Berkeleybased stage company learned every role of the play. Five minutes before each show, the actors would pull their roles out of Yorick’s skull and get ready to leap onstage. Dubbed “Hamlet roulette,” the deft production transcended gimmickry with a diverse and excellent cast, giving us a completely new, completely random Hamlet every night to chew on. www.shotgunplayers.org

BEST PIZZA OUR HEART

Look, you may have to duke it out with the tourists for a spot at Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in North Beach. Sometimes the waits are up to an hour, and the only thing grumbling louder than your stomach are

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ARTIST AJUAN MANCE DESIGNED THE POSTER FOR THIS YEAR’S ZINFEST, BEST ZINE SCENE

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GUARDIAN RETRO LOGO MERCHANDISE IS

HERE!

SUPPORT LOCAL, ALTERNATIVE MEDIA --

AND LOOK DARN GOOD DOING IT. T-SHIRTS, TOTES, BUMPER STICKERS AND MORE.

WWW.SFBG.COM/SHOP PHOTO BY SHAUN OSBURN

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The Bay Area’s only independent daily news site for arts, culture, politics, and more.

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@48hills

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