San Francisco is honoring Claude, the beloved albino alligator who called the California Academy of Sciences home for nearly two decades. Join the community for a Celebration of Life on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at Golden Gate Park for a free outdoor celebration with stories, music, and activities for all ages.
Afterwards, more...
The iconic Budweiser brewery in Fairfield is shutting down after five decades. Easily spotted from I‑80 with its giant neon Budweiser sign, the plant has been a Bay Area landmark since 1976.
Nearly 240 employees will be affected, though Anheuser-Busch says it’s offering roles at other plants across the country. The more...
Goodbye, Local Icons, Museums / Cultural Institutions
San Francisco is mourning a true local icon. Claude, the beloved albino alligator who greeted millions of visitors at the California Academy of Sciences, has passed away at the age of 30.
Claude arrived from Louisiana in 2008 and quickly became the unofficial mascot of both the Academy and the city more...
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...
Blue Bottle Coffee is shutting down one of its biggest Bay Area cafés. The spacious shop inside Oakland’s historic W.C. Morse building at 4270 Broadway will serve its last latte on Friday, September 26, 2025, after 11 years in business.
Blue Bottle first opened in the landmark building in 2014, making more...
Sad news for Bay Area beer lovers: SF-born 21st Amendment Brewery is shutting down. Both the South Beach taproom and the San Leandro brewery will close their doors on November 4, 2025.
21st Amendment helped kick off SF’s craft beer scene back in 2000, opening just as Pac Bell Park (now more...
Khan Toke Thai House, a longtime Richmond District favorite, has permanently closed its doors. The Thai spot, operating since the 1970s, was known for its floor seating, temple-like interior, and expansive menu.
The restaurant was named one of the Chronicle’s “Best Classic Restaurants” in 2024 for its unique ambiance and memorable more...
San Francisco’s Edinburgh Castle Pub has closed after more than six decades on Geary Street.
The Scottish-themed dive first opened at 950 Geary St in 1959 and became a hangout for writers, artists, and locals. Irvine Welsh even staged the U.S. debut of Trainspotting here before it hit the big screen. more...
After five years of serving as a vibrant outdoor gathering space in the heart of SoMa, San Francisco’s Kapwa Gardens is officially shutting down at the end of the month.
Tucked into a transformed parking lot at 967 Mission Street, the Filipino-led garden opened in 2021 as a response to the more...
Oasis, the longtime queer nightclub and cabaret space at 11th and Folsom, will close permanently on January 1, 2026, with its final event set for New Year’s Eve.
Open since 2014, the club quickly became a nightlife fixture, known for over-the-top drag shows, campy theatrical productions, and big-name appearances from the more...
Chava’s Restaurant, a longstanding Mexican eatery in San Francisco’s Mission District, is closing its doors after 24 years. Located just off 24th Street on Mission, the restaurant stopped serving food earlier this month and will officially close on July 15. The closure follows years of economic challenges, including a slow more...
Goodbye, Local Icons, Only in San Francisco, San Francisco
Big news for longtime locals and lovers of San Francisco’s offbeat charm: the Phoenix Hotel — a retro Tenderloin gem with major rock history — is shutting down at the end of 2025.
If you’ve lived in SF long enough, you probably know someone who’s got a Phoenix story. Maybe you more...
Thanks to SF Gate for sharing the disappointing news that one of San Francisco’s most beloved summer traditions is hitting pause for now.
Sundown Cinema, the free outdoor movie series that has lit up parks across the city for more than two decades, has been suspended due to major financial struggles more...
San Francisco’s California Historical Society (CHS), a cornerstone of the state’s historical preservation since 1871, has permanently closed due to long-standing financial difficulties. Its extensive collection, which includes books, journals, photographs, maps, and archival documents, will now be under the stewardship of Stanford University Libraries (SUL).
The CHS Board of Trustees more...
San Francisco is saying goodbye to another legendary institution as Toronado, the iconic Lower Haight beer bar, is officially up for sale. After 37 years of serving some of the best craft beer in the country, owner and founder Dave Keene has announced his retirement, marking the end of an more...