Sam Devine

Black Lies, Half-truths and Prussian Blues at the YBCA
You’re in a small, brown, clapboard cabin, or possibly the hold of a ship. There are twisting passageways of bookshelves lined with sugarcoated classics and newspapers covered in blackness — redacted or perhaps burnt. Meanwhile the teachings of Jesus and other religious materials sit unmolested. Reflective plastic sheets bounce distorted,

The Man Breaking Down Language Barriers in SF Restaurants
Mixing Culture in the Kitchen: Language can be a dividing factor in a restaurant. In the kitchen Spanish is commonly spoken, while in the front of the house English dominates. In San Francisco, restaurants are employing a special language teacher for their staff, to help bridge the gap.

The 2025 SF Beer Passport is Here!
Step into a world of adventure with the San Francisco Beer Passport. There’s no better way to explore San Francisco than to literally drink it in. This passport is amazing! Each one contains 28 coupons to buy one beer, get a second beer FREE at 28 of the finest locally

Don’t Lose the Lesson – Three Things to Learn from the Fires
The fires are still burning and the smoke is still making the air unhealthy to breathe. It’s never to early to learn from hardship though. Here are three thoughts on the fires and three things we could consider changing. 1. Three Little Pigs We all know the story of the

The Rev at The Utah
Last Thursday, the Reverend Horton Heat played two, sold-out, solo shows at the Hotel Utah in San Francisco. The night was billed as an evening of short songs and tall tales told by both the Rev and country star Dale Watson, who opened. This story was written without the aid

Val Kilmer as Mark Twain
Val Kilmer is standing on the stage of the Clay Theater and his microphone won’t work. He slumps over, hanging his arms, the classic representation of comical dejection. From the packed house comes a feminine voice, shouting: “I’m your huckleberry!” Without missing a beat, Kilmer mimes and mouths back: “No,

Super Dopeman of the Haight and Ashbury Part III
Driven by a desire for boozy good times, an unlikely and reluctant hero finds himself wielding incomprehensible powers of psychedelic proportions! Stay tuned in, dropped on and turned out for The Adventures of Doug, the Super Dope Man of the Haight and Ashbury Part III. (part I, Part II) Doug heaved

Super Dopeman of the Haight and Ashbury Part II
Driven by a desire for boozy good times, an unlikely and reluctant hero finds himself wielding incomprehensible powers of psychedelic proportions! Stay tuned in, dropped on and turned out for The Adventures of Doug, the Super Dope Man of the Haight and Ashbury. Read part I here. Doug wasn’t sure whether he’d

Super Dopeman of the Haight and Ashbury
Driven by a desire for boozy good times, an unlikely and reluctant hero finds himself wielding incomprehensible powers of psychedelic proportions! Stay tuned in, dropped on and turned out for The Adventures of Doug, the Super Dope Man of the Haight and Ashbury. Part I Doug could barely believe it. He’d come