SF City Guides
Northern Lights May Dazzle Again Over Bay Area Skies Tonight (Nov. 12)
Outdoorsy, Wow Heads up, Bay Area. The Northern Lights are back. After lighting up skies across Novato, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and San Rafael last night, the aurora borealis could return tonight (Wednesday, Nov. 12) thanks to a rare geomagnetic storm. When to look: 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. (best around midnight)Where: Look north and more...
SF’s Chinatown Finally Gets 8 Blocks of Free Wi-Fi
Good News, San Francisco San Francisco just flipped the switch on free public Wi-Fi in Chinatown. Mayor Daniel Lurie and District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter announced the expansion of #SFWiFi, the city’s free public internet network, now live at the Dragon’s Gate, St. Mary’s Square, and along Grant Avenue between Broadway and Pacific Avenue. The rollout more...
Huge New Lighted Garden Trail Coming to SF (Winter 2025)
Artsy Fartsy, Brand New, Get Out: Events, Holiday Lights, Outdoorsy, Parks & Beaches, San Francisco, Wow San Francisco Botanical Garden will transform into a glowing after-dark wonderland this winter with Lightscape, an immersive holiday light and music trail that has wowed crowds in London, Chicago, Melbourne, and New York. From November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026, visitors can wander a one-mile path with more than one more...
SF’s Pop-Up “Town Squares”: Parking Lots Become Mini Parks
Brand New, New Parks, San Francisco San Francisco neighborhoods are getting a taste of what a local town square could be with a series of pop-up public spaces designed to bring greenery and community gathering spots to areas that lack parks. These pop-ups are not just temporary decorations, they are part of a bigger experiment to more...
Off the Grid Takes Over SF’s Former Uniqlo for the Holidays
Brand New, Downtown San Francisco, Eat & Drink San Francisco’s downtown is about to get a festive new destination as the city’s beloved food truck collective Off the Grid moves into its first brick-and-mortar space. The 30,000-square-foot former Uniqlo at 111 Powell Street, between Ellis and O’Farrell, which has been vacant for nearly four and a half years, more...
Downtown San Francisco Is Getting a New 41-Story Skyscraper
Bay Area Updates, Brand New, Downtown San Francisco Downtown San Francisco is about to get a new addition to its skyline. A 41-story, 544-foot mixed-use tower is coming to 530 Sansome Street in the Financial District, bringing offices, a five-star hotel, retail, and restaurants to a key corner near Jackson Square. This will be one of the few completely more...
SF’s Iconic Union Square Macy’s Will Stay Open & Get a Major Makeover
Bay Area Updates, Downtown San Francisco, San Francisco Macy’s flagship store in Union Square, a San Francisco icon spanning nearly a full city block, is staying put. Originally slated to close as part of the retailer’s national plan to shutter 150 underperforming stores, Macy’s will now remain open indefinitely. The news was confirmed by Mayor Daniel Lurie, who more...
How to Get the NY Times for Free (Updated for 2025/2026)
Freebies Reliable news is hard to find these days. The Chronicle and SFGate are great, but The New York Times does an excellent job of coverage should you want a more national perspective. Although they often have promotions for $1/week access for the first six months, The New York Times’ regular rate more...
After 70 Years, Polk Street Icon Bob’s Donuts Closes Original Shop
Bay Area Updates, Eat & Drink, Local Icons, San Francisco It’s the end of an era for San Francisco donut lovers. After 70 years at 1621 Polk St., Bob’s Donuts is closing its original location and moving just down the street to a larger spot at 1720 Polk St. on November 23, 2025. Bob’s got its start in the 1950s when more...
Muni Retiring Iconic ’90s Trains
Bay Area Updates, Goodbye, Transportation After nearly 30 years of service and millions of rides, San Francisco’s iconic Breda light rail trains are heading into retirement, and you’re invited to hop aboard for one final farewell. These chunky silver and red trains have been rolling through the city since 1996, hauling Giants fans to the ballpark, more...
Castro Theatre Unveils 2026 Lineup After $41 Million Renovation
Bay Area Favorites, Bay Area Updates, Reopening, San Francisco After a massive (and controversial) $41 million restoration, San Francisco’s iconic Castro Theatre is finally making its grand return in 2026, and the first lineup is stacked. The century-old landmark will reopen in February with a 20-night, sold-out Sam Smith residency, followed by concerts, comedy, film screenings and community events that more...
How to Volunteer for Thanksgiving 2025 in SF
Causes, Community, Getting Help, Support the Bay, Thanksgiving Take a moment and give back to the community this Thanksgiving. Read on below for organizations across San Francisco and the Bay Area in need of volunteers to help spread food and warmth to those less fortunate. Know of another volunteering opportunity for Thanksgiving 2025? Let us know. San Francisco City Impact’s more...
San Francisco “How to Volunteer” for the Holidays 2025 Guide
Causes, Holidays December is in full swing, so why not spread some holiday cheer? Give back to San Francisco with one of these great volunteer opportunities. Spend your Christmas with the elderly, prepare meals to feed to homeless, help giveaway children’s toys to kids in need, and more. It’s the best gift you more...
Free SF Art Museum Exits “The Cube” After Less Than 1 Year
Artsy Fartsy The Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco is making an abrupt exit from its “Cube” space in the Financial District at the end of the year. The Cube was always meant to be temporary and was originally planned as a two-year, rent-free home. ICA SF moved there from Dogpatch in more...
57 Food Banks in SF + Where to Get Free Groceries (Updated Oct. 2025)
Groceries / Supermarkets, Resource Guides, Uplifting If you or someone you know is in a desperate situation and needs food, there are programs and people who can help. With the federal government shutdown causing delays to SNAP/CalFresh benefits in November 2025, local resources are stepping up. California recently approved $80 million in extra funding for food banks more...
