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"slug": "tita-beccas-filipino-diner-oakland-late-night",
"title": "This Late-Night Filipino Diner in Downtown Oakland Is Hidden in Plain Sight",
"publishDate": 1780066800,
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"headTitle": "This Late-Night Filipino Diner in Downtown Oakland Is Hidden in Plain Sight | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Man devouring a shrimp lumpia while seating a diner counter. There's a huge spread of Filipino food in front of him.\" class=\"wp-image-13990278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In downtown Oakland, Tita Becca’s serves some of the tastiest homestyle Filipino food in the Bay Area — until as late as 2 a.m. on weekends. (Thien Pham)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003cem>The Midnight Diners\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003cem>Thien Pham\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tita+Becca's/@37.8050666,-122.269489,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f810010cb4c49:0x6216a723cfa2d8bc!8m2!3d37.8050666!4d-122.269489!16s%2Fg%2F11nc868hz3!18m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Tita Becca’s\u003c/a> is the kind of restaurant that almost doesn’t seem real. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What do you \u003cem>mean\u003c/em> there’s an old-fashioned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/filipino\">Filipino\u003c/a> diner right smack in the middle of downtown Oakland where you can sit on a ’50s-style bar stool eating some of the most delicious pork sisig and kare-kare you’ve ever tasted — as late as 2 o’clock in the morning, no less? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even as we savored each bite, it felt like some kind of fever dream. At the time of our visit, a couple weeks ago, the restaurant had no \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/tita-beccas-oakland\">Yelp reviews\u003c/a> and barely any \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">social media presence\u003c/a>. The lone “Tita Becca’s” sign painted on the wall outside gave no indication of what kind of food we might find inside (though a Pinoy would have recognized the \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Philippines\">bright yellow sun\u003c/a> in the logo). The only reason we’d heard of the place at all was because of a kind reader who emailed us a glowing report.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When we pulled up to the restaurant at a little before 10 p.m. on a recent Friday, an older Filipino dude in a Warriors jersey and flip-flops was posted up outside, nursing the last few sips of a bottle of beer. Inside, the dining room was set up like the kind of old-timey diner you might see painted on a picture postcard: the long counter, the vintage stools, the nostalgic red and turquoise color scheme. The restaurant was almost entirely empty — just one young Filipino guy sitting at the counter, ladling pork sinigang over a bowl of white rice. The R&B playlist blaring from the speakers consisted almost entirely of sultry Mariah Carey jams. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Already, the place passed the vibe check. A perfect hundred out of a hundred points.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What you might expect to find at a restaurant that looks like this are three-egg omelettes and big stacks of pancakes with a pile of hash browns on the side. (We found out later that until late last year, the space had been home to a more classic American greasy spoon called Leo’s Diner.) Instead, Tita Becca’s serves a full — and surprisingly extensive — menu of homestyle Filipino dishes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: a low-slung diner lit up at night. The sign painted on the wall reads "Tita Becca's," with a yellow sun logo above.\" class=\"wp-image-13990281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The restaurant is set up like a classic all-American diner — except that all of the food is Filipino. (Thien Pham)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chatting with the staff a bit, we learned that the restaurant is a family enterprise through and through. Mark, a gregarious middle-aged Filipino American with a wispy beard, is the main owner and public face of the business. His adult son was working up front, behind the counter, taking orders. And though she only popped her head out of the kitchen once or twice, we could see that Mark’s mother, \u003cem>the\u003c/em> Tita Becca herself, was the real heart and soul of the restaurant — the one whose recipes made us start to feel homesick and nostalgic for her food even before we’d finished eating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To put it plainly: Everything was mind-blowingly delicious. We started with an order of shrimp lumpia — whole large shrimp, their tails still attached, encased by the wrapper and deep fried until they were super-crunchy and almost too hot to eat. These were deeply satisfying, with or without the obligatory sweet chili dipping sauce. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the Pampanga-style pork sisig was a revelation of textures and flavors. There was the crispiness of fried pork skin, along with the soft fat and the meaty, gelatinous bits. There was the heat of the chiles, the crisp tanginess of red onions and also an earthy undercurrent from the bits of chicken liver that they’d mixed into the sauce. Most of all, there was this wonderful brightness, from calamansi and lemon juice, that cut into the richness of the dish. Ladling the sisig over rice, we were able to keep eating it and eating it without ever getting tired of the taste.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later, the owner confided that this wasn’t even the full version of the dish. They’d run out of the pig’s head meats — the ears, cheeks and so forth — that usually go into it, so they made a cobbled-together version using chopped up lechon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If we’d known that ahead of time, we probably wouldn’t have also ordered the lechon kawali, the beloved Filipino dish of fried skin-on pork belly. We didn’t exactly have anything to complain about, though — it was one of the moistest and most jigglingly tender versions we’ve had in the Bay, with some of the crunchiest skin. The fatty pork was especially nice with either of the vinegar dips the shop offers, one spiked with chiles and the other with both chiles and chopped tomatoes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And perhaps everyone knows by now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956683/late-night-filipino-food-24-hour-cafe-colma-lucky-chances\">I can’t ever \u003cem>not \u003c/em>order oxtail kare-kare\u003c/a> if I see it on a menu. The peanut sauce in Tita Becca’s version was rich and velvety; the eggplant, bok choy and string beans were all cooked to exactly the right texture. And while the oxtails were small, there were \u003cem>a lot\u003c/em> of them — the meat was so tender, and it was so very satisfying to suck on the bones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most impressive of all? Tita Becca’s makes its own bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), the salty-funky condiment traditionally served with kare-kare, in house, so that it was less aggressively salty than the jarred kind, with the same pungent umami punch. We kept stirring it in, and the dish kept tasting better and better. We could’ve eaten infinite amounts of rice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the end, our only regret was that we only had the stomach space to try four dishes — that we’d missed out on the other homey stews like the sinigang and the Bicol Express. How could any of it not have been delicious? Someone’s mom was cooking for us back there, probably the best home cook we knew in our circle of friends. That was the feeling we got, anyway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the time we finished our meal, only a few more customers had straggled in through the door. A millennial Filipina who sat at the restaurant’s one larger table and ordered a family-style meal for her group of non-Filipino friends. A couple of takeout customers bringing food over to the queer bar next door. It really felt like we had stumbled on a secret hiding in plain sight. And after we walked out at the end of the night, I started to worry, sincerely, that maybe we’d dreamed the whole thing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">\u003cem>Tita Becca’s\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is open Tuesday to Thursday 5–9 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday noon–2 a.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. at 400 15th St. in Oakland.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-600x600.jpg 600w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Man devouring a shrimp lumpia while seating a diner counter. There's a huge spread of Filipino food in front of him.\" class=\"wp-image-13990278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In downtown Oakland, Tita Becca’s serves some of the tastiest homestyle Filipino food in the Bay Area — until as late as 2 a.m. on weekends.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Man devouring a shrimp lumpia while seating a diner counter. There's a huge spread of Filipino food in front of him.\" class=\"wp-image-13990278\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In downtown Oakland, Tita Becca’s serves some of the tastiest homestyle Filipino food in the Bay Area — until as late as 2 a.m. on weekends.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003cem>The Midnight Diners\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003cem>Thien Pham\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003cem>The Midnight Diners\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003cem>Thien Pham\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tita+Becca's/@37.8050666,-122.269489,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f810010cb4c49:0x6216a723cfa2d8bc!8m2!3d37.8050666!4d-122.269489!16s%2Fg%2F11nc868hz3!18m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Tita Becca’s\u003c/a> is the kind of restaurant that almost doesn’t seem real. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tita+Becca's/@37.8050666,-122.269489,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f810010cb4c49:0x6216a723cfa2d8bc!8m2!3d37.8050666!4d-122.269489!16s%2Fg%2F11nc868hz3!18m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Tita Becca’s\u003c/a> is the kind of restaurant that almost doesn’t seem real. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What do you \u003cem>mean\u003c/em> there’s an old-fashioned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/filipino\">Filipino\u003c/a> diner right smack in the middle of downtown Oakland where you can sit on a ’50s-style bar stool eating some of the most delicious pork sisig and kare-kare you’ve ever tasted — as late as 2 o’clock in the morning, no less? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What do you \u003cem>mean\u003c/em> there’s an old-fashioned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/filipino\">Filipino\u003c/a> diner right smack in the middle of downtown Oakland where you can sit on a ’50s-style bar stool eating some of the most delicious pork sisig and kare-kare you’ve ever tasted — as late as 2 o’clock in the morning, no less? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even as we savored each bite, it felt like some kind of fever dream. At the time of our visit, a couple weeks ago, the restaurant had no \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/tita-beccas-oakland\">Yelp reviews\u003c/a> and barely any \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">social media presence\u003c/a>. The lone “Tita Becca’s” sign painted on the wall outside gave no indication of what kind of food we might find inside (though a Pinoy would have recognized the \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Philippines\">bright yellow sun\u003c/a> in the logo). The only reason we’d heard of the place at all was because of a kind reader who emailed us a glowing report.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Even as we savored each bite, it felt like some kind of fever dream. At the time of our visit, a couple weeks ago, the restaurant had no \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/tita-beccas-oakland\">Yelp reviews\u003c/a> and barely any \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">social media presence\u003c/a>. The lone “Tita Becca’s” sign painted on the wall outside gave no indication of what kind of food we might find inside (though a Pinoy would have recognized the \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Philippines\">bright yellow sun\u003c/a> in the logo). The only reason we’d heard of the place at all was because of a kind reader who emailed us a glowing report.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When we pulled up to the restaurant at a little before 10 p.m. on a recent Friday, an older Filipino dude in a Warriors jersey and flip-flops was posted up outside, nursing the last few sips of a bottle of beer. Inside, the dining room was set up like the kind of old-timey diner you might see painted on a picture postcard: the long counter, the vintage stools, the nostalgic red and turquoise color scheme. The restaurant was almost entirely empty — just one young Filipino guy sitting at the counter, ladling pork sinigang over a bowl of white rice. The R&B playlist blaring from the speakers consisted almost entirely of sultry Mariah Carey jams. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>When we pulled up to the restaurant at a little before 10 p.m. on a recent Friday, an older Filipino dude in a Warriors jersey and flip-flops was posted up outside, nursing the last few sips of a bottle of beer. Inside, the dining room was set up like the kind of old-timey diner you might see painted on a picture postcard: the long counter, the vintage stools, the nostalgic red and turquoise color scheme. The restaurant was almost entirely empty — just one young Filipino guy sitting at the counter, ladling pork sinigang over a bowl of white rice. The R&B playlist blaring from the speakers consisted almost entirely of sultry Mariah Carey jams. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Already, the place passed the vibe check. A perfect hundred out of a hundred points.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Already, the place passed the vibe check. A perfect hundred out of a hundred points.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What you might expect to find at a restaurant that looks like this are three-egg omelettes and big stacks of pancakes with a pile of hash browns on the side. (We found out later that until late last year, the space had been home to a more classic American greasy spoon called Leo’s Diner.) Instead, Tita Becca’s serves a full — and surprisingly extensive — menu of homestyle Filipino dishes.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>What you might expect to find at a restaurant that looks like this are three-egg omelettes and big stacks of pancakes with a pile of hash browns on the side. (We found out later that until late last year, the space had been home to a more classic American greasy spoon called Leo’s Diner.) Instead, Tita Becca’s serves a full — and surprisingly extensive — menu of homestyle Filipino dishes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-600x600.jpg 600w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: a low-slung diner lit up at night. The sign painted on the wall reads "Tita Becca's," with a yellow sun logo above.\" class=\"wp-image-13990281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The restaurant is set up like a classic all-American diner — except that all of the food is Filipino.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: a low-slung diner lit up at night. The sign painted on the wall reads "Tita Becca's," with a yellow sun logo above.\" class=\"wp-image-13990281\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The restaurant is set up like a classic all-American diner — except that all of the food is Filipino.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chatting with the staff a bit, we learned that the restaurant is a family enterprise through and through. Mark, a gregarious middle-aged Filipino American with a wispy beard, is the main owner and public face of the business. His adult son was working up front, behind the counter, taking orders. And though she only popped her head out of the kitchen once or twice, we could see that Mark’s mother, \u003cem>the\u003c/em> Tita Becca herself, was the real heart and soul of the restaurant — the one whose recipes made us start to feel homesick and nostalgic for her food even before we’d finished eating.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Chatting with the staff a bit, we learned that the restaurant is a family enterprise through and through. Mark, a gregarious middle-aged Filipino American with a wispy beard, is the main owner and public face of the business. His adult son was working up front, behind the counter, taking orders. And though she only popped her head out of the kitchen once or twice, we could see that Mark’s mother, \u003cem>the\u003c/em> Tita Becca herself, was the real heart and soul of the restaurant — the one whose recipes made us start to feel homesick and nostalgic for her food even before we’d finished eating.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To put it plainly: Everything was mind-blowingly delicious. We started with an order of shrimp lumpia — whole large shrimp, their tails still attached, encased by the wrapper and deep fried until they were super-crunchy and almost too hot to eat. These were deeply satisfying, with or without the obligatory sweet chili dipping sauce. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>To put it plainly: Everything was mind-blowingly delicious. We started with an order of shrimp lumpia — whole large shrimp, their tails still attached, encased by the wrapper and deep fried until they were super-crunchy and almost too hot to eat. These were deeply satisfying, with or without the obligatory sweet chili dipping sauce. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the Pampanga-style pork sisig was a revelation of textures and flavors. There was the crispiness of fried pork skin, along with the soft fat and the meaty, gelatinous bits. There was the heat of the chiles, the crisp tanginess of red onions and also an earthy undercurrent from the bits of chicken liver that they’d mixed into the sauce. Most of all, there was this wonderful brightness, from calamansi and lemon juice, that cut into the richness of the dish. Ladling the sisig over rice, we were able to keep eating it and eating it without ever getting tired of the taste.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the Pampanga-style pork sisig was a revelation of textures and flavors. There was the crispiness of fried pork skin, along with the soft fat and the meaty, gelatinous bits. There was the heat of the chiles, the crisp tanginess of red onions and also an earthy undercurrent from the bits of chicken liver that they’d mixed into the sauce. Most of all, there was this wonderful brightness, from calamansi and lemon juice, that cut into the richness of the dish. Ladling the sisig over rice, we were able to keep eating it and eating it without ever getting tired of the taste.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Later, the owner confided that this wasn’t even the full version of the dish. They’d run out of the pig’s head meats — the ears, cheeks and so forth — that usually go into it, so they made a cobbled-together version using chopped up lechon.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Later, the owner confided that this wasn’t even the full version of the dish. They’d run out of the pig’s head meats — the ears, cheeks and so forth — that usually go into it, so they made a cobbled-together version using chopped up lechon.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If we’d known that ahead of time, we probably wouldn’t have also ordered the lechon kawali, the beloved Filipino dish of fried skin-on pork belly. We didn’t exactly have anything to complain about, though — it was one of the moistest and most jigglingly tender versions we’ve had in the Bay, with some of the crunchiest skin. The fatty pork was especially nice with either of the vinegar dips the shop offers, one spiked with chiles and the other with both chiles and chopped tomatoes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If we’d known that ahead of time, we probably wouldn’t have also ordered the lechon kawali, the beloved Filipino dish of fried skin-on pork belly. We didn’t exactly have anything to complain about, though — it was one of the moistest and most jigglingly tender versions we’ve had in the Bay, with some of the crunchiest skin. The fatty pork was especially nice with either of the vinegar dips the shop offers, one spiked with chiles and the other with both chiles and chopped tomatoes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And perhaps everyone knows by now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956683/late-night-filipino-food-24-hour-cafe-colma-lucky-chances\">I can’t ever \u003cem>not \u003c/em>order oxtail kare-kare\u003c/a> if I see it on a menu. The peanut sauce in Tita Becca’s version was rich and velvety; the eggplant, bok choy and string beans were all cooked to exactly the right texture. And while the oxtails were small, there were \u003cem>a lot\u003c/em> of them — the meat was so tender, and it was so very satisfying to suck on the bones.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And perhaps everyone knows by now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956683/late-night-filipino-food-24-hour-cafe-colma-lucky-chances\">I can’t ever \u003cem>not \u003c/em>order oxtail kare-kare\u003c/a> if I see it on a menu. The peanut sauce in Tita Becca’s version was rich and velvety; the eggplant, bok choy and string beans were all cooked to exactly the right texture. And while the oxtails were small, there were \u003cem>a lot\u003c/em> of them — the meat was so tender, and it was so very satisfying to suck on the bones.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most impressive of all? Tita Becca’s makes its own bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), the salty-funky condiment traditionally served with kare-kare, in house, so that it was less aggressively salty than the jarred kind, with the same pungent umami punch. We kept stirring it in, and the dish kept tasting better and better. We could’ve eaten infinite amounts of rice.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Most impressive of all? Tita Becca’s makes its own bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), the salty-funky condiment traditionally served with kare-kare, in house, so that it was less aggressively salty than the jarred kind, with the same pungent umami punch. We kept stirring it in, and the dish kept tasting better and better. We could’ve eaten infinite amounts of rice.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In the end, our only regret was that we only had the stomach space to try four dishes — that we’d missed out on the other homey stews like the sinigang and the Bicol Express. How could any of it not have been delicious? Someone’s mom was cooking for us back there, probably the best home cook we knew in our circle of friends. That was the feeling we got, anyway.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In the end, our only regret was that we only had the stomach space to try four dishes — that we’d missed out on the other homey stews like the sinigang and the Bicol Express. How could any of it not have been delicious? Someone’s mom was cooking for us back there, probably the best home cook we knew in our circle of friends. That was the feeling we got, anyway.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By the time we finished our meal, only a few more customers had straggled in through the door. A millennial Filipina who sat at the restaurant’s one larger table and ordered a family-style meal for her group of non-Filipino friends. A couple of takeout customers bringing food over to the queer bar next door. It really felt like we had stumbled on a secret hiding in plain sight. And after we walked out at the end of the night, I started to worry, sincerely, that maybe we’d dreamed the whole thing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>By the time we finished our meal, only a few more customers had straggled in through the door. A millennial Filipina who sat at the restaurant’s one larger table and ordered a family-style meal for her group of non-Filipino friends. A couple of takeout customers bringing food over to the queer bar next door. It really felt like we had stumbled on a secret hiding in plain sight. And after we walked out at the end of the night, I started to worry, sincerely, that maybe we’d dreamed the whole thing. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">\u003cem>Tita Becca’s\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is open Tuesday to Thursday 5–9 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday noon–2 a.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. at 400 15th St. in Oakland.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">\u003cem>Tita Becca’s\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is open Tuesday to Thursday 5–9 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday noon–2 a.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. at 400 15th St. in Oakland.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The secret is out about Tita Becca’s amazing homestyle pork sisig and kare-kare. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Man devouring a shrimp lumpia while seating a diner counter. There's a huge spread of Filipino food in front of him.\" class=\"wp-image-13990278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In downtown Oakland, Tita Becca’s serves some of the tastiest homestyle Filipino food in the Bay Area — until as late as 2 a.m. on weekends. (Thien Pham)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003cem>The Midnight Diners\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003cem>Thien Pham\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tita+Becca's/@37.8050666,-122.269489,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x808f810010cb4c49:0x6216a723cfa2d8bc!8m2!3d37.8050666!4d-122.269489!16s%2Fg%2F11nc868hz3!18m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUyNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D\">Tita Becca’s\u003c/a> is the kind of restaurant that almost doesn’t seem real. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What do you \u003cem>mean\u003c/em> there’s an old-fashioned \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/filipino\">Filipino\u003c/a> diner right smack in the middle of downtown Oakland where you can sit on a ’50s-style bar stool eating some of the most delicious pork sisig and kare-kare you’ve ever tasted — as late as 2 o’clock in the morning, no less? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even as we savored each bite, it felt like some kind of fever dream. At the time of our visit, a couple weeks ago, the restaurant had no \u003ca href=\"https://www.yelp.com/biz/tita-beccas-oakland\">Yelp reviews\u003c/a> and barely any \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">social media presence\u003c/a>. The lone “Tita Becca’s” sign painted on the wall outside gave no indication of what kind of food we might find inside (though a Pinoy would have recognized the \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Philippines\">bright yellow sun\u003c/a> in the logo). The only reason we’d heard of the place at all was because of a kind reader who emailed us a glowing report.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When we pulled up to the restaurant at a little before 10 p.m. on a recent Friday, an older Filipino dude in a Warriors jersey and flip-flops was posted up outside, nursing the last few sips of a bottle of beer. Inside, the dining room was set up like the kind of old-timey diner you might see painted on a picture postcard: the long counter, the vintage stools, the nostalgic red and turquoise color scheme. The restaurant was almost entirely empty — just one young Filipino guy sitting at the counter, ladling pork sinigang over a bowl of white rice. The R&B playlist blaring from the speakers consisted almost entirely of sultry Mariah Carey jams. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Already, the place passed the vibe check. A perfect hundred out of a hundred points.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What you might expect to find at a restaurant that looks like this are three-egg omelettes and big stacks of pancakes with a pile of hash browns on the side. (We found out later that until late last year, the space had been home to a more classic American greasy spoon called Leo’s Diner.) Instead, Tita Becca’s serves a full — and surprisingly extensive — menu of homestyle Filipino dishes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: a low-slung diner lit up at night. The sign painted on the wall reads "Tita Becca's," with a yellow sun logo above.\" class=\"wp-image-13990281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/TitaBeccas1-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The restaurant is set up like a classic all-American diner — except that all of the food is Filipino. (Thien Pham)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chatting with the staff a bit, we learned that the restaurant is a family enterprise through and through. Mark, a gregarious middle-aged Filipino American with a wispy beard, is the main owner and public face of the business. His adult son was working up front, behind the counter, taking orders. And though she only popped her head out of the kitchen once or twice, we could see that Mark’s mother, \u003cem>the\u003c/em> Tita Becca herself, was the real heart and soul of the restaurant — the one whose recipes made us start to feel homesick and nostalgic for her food even before we’d finished eating.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To put it plainly: Everything was mind-blowingly delicious. We started with an order of shrimp lumpia — whole large shrimp, their tails still attached, encased by the wrapper and deep fried until they were super-crunchy and almost too hot to eat. These were deeply satisfying, with or without the obligatory sweet chili dipping sauce. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the Pampanga-style pork sisig was a revelation of textures and flavors. There was the crispiness of fried pork skin, along with the soft fat and the meaty, gelatinous bits. There was the heat of the chiles, the crisp tanginess of red onions and also an earthy undercurrent from the bits of chicken liver that they’d mixed into the sauce. Most of all, there was this wonderful brightness, from calamansi and lemon juice, that cut into the richness of the dish. Ladling the sisig over rice, we were able to keep eating it and eating it without ever getting tired of the taste.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Later, the owner confided that this wasn’t even the full version of the dish. They’d run out of the pig’s head meats — the ears, cheeks and so forth — that usually go into it, so they made a cobbled-together version using chopped up lechon.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If we’d known that ahead of time, we probably wouldn’t have also ordered the lechon kawali, the beloved Filipino dish of fried skin-on pork belly. We didn’t exactly have anything to complain about, though — it was one of the moistest and most jigglingly tender versions we’ve had in the Bay, with some of the crunchiest skin. The fatty pork was especially nice with either of the vinegar dips the shop offers, one spiked with chiles and the other with both chiles and chopped tomatoes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And perhaps everyone knows by now that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13956683/late-night-filipino-food-24-hour-cafe-colma-lucky-chances\">I can’t ever \u003cem>not \u003c/em>order oxtail kare-kare\u003c/a> if I see it on a menu. The peanut sauce in Tita Becca’s version was rich and velvety; the eggplant, bok choy and string beans were all cooked to exactly the right texture. And while the oxtails were small, there were \u003cem>a lot\u003c/em> of them — the meat was so tender, and it was so very satisfying to suck on the bones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most impressive of all? Tita Becca’s makes its own bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), the salty-funky condiment traditionally served with kare-kare, in house, so that it was less aggressively salty than the jarred kind, with the same pungent umami punch. We kept stirring it in, and the dish kept tasting better and better. We could’ve eaten infinite amounts of rice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In the end, our only regret was that we only had the stomach space to try four dishes — that we’d missed out on the other homey stews like the sinigang and the Bicol Express. How could any of it not have been delicious? Someone’s mom was cooking for us back there, probably the best home cook we knew in our circle of friends. That was the feeling we got, anyway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the time we finished our meal, only a few more customers had straggled in through the door. A millennial Filipina who sat at the restaurant’s one larger table and ordered a family-style meal for her group of non-Filipino friends. A couple of takeout customers bringing food over to the queer bar next door. It really felt like we had stumbled on a secret hiding in plain sight. And after we walked out at the end of the night, I started to worry, sincerely, that maybe we’d dreamed the whole thing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/titabeccas/\">\u003cem>Tita Becca’s\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> is open Tuesday to Thursday 5–9 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday noon–2 a.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. at 400 15th St. in Oakland.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"headTitle": "Indian Mangoes Are the ‘Fruit of the Gods.’ Now, in San Francisco, They Have Their Own Party | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>King of fruits. Fruit of the gods. These are only two of the grand titles given to the mango, which people began cultivating over 4,000 years ago. In the millennia since, the fruit has been spiritually worshipped, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35461265\">politically propagandized\u003c/a> and, most simply, enjoyed — perhaps nowhere more than on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/india\">Indian subcontinent\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay Area, however, the Indian diaspora has mostly had to settle for a sad, fibrous version of the fruit. But a group of San Franciscans of Indian descent are hoping to change that, introducing Americans to the glories of the Indian mango. On Sunday, May 31, from 1–4 p.m., San Francisco resident Darshil Patel will host his third annual grassroots mango party in the Mission alongside co-organizers Deep Mehta, Fareeha Salahuddin, Parth Patel and Dylan Patel.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For mango lovers, the day has come. Hundreds of Indian \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/how-gujarats-kesar-mangoes-became-a-seasonal-favourite-in-london-heathrow/articleshow/131307607.cms\">Kesar\u003c/a> mangoes will be distributed for free, as volunteers peel and slice the fruit on the spot. (Pre-cutting degrades quality.) \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At last year’s edition, some attendees brought mango desserts, like mango sticky rice and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5GkB7BSXO/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet\">mango sablée tartlets\u003c/a>, to share with the group. Partygoers picked up free \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/AndrewYatzkan/status/1923855295144657073?s=20\">“Mango Tango”\u003c/a> T-shirts and joined spikeball games while a DJ performed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sunday’s party should be another wholesome event. Last year, a toddler tried her very first mango.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg\" alt=\"A father holding a young toddler feeds the child a piece of mango.\" class=\"wp-image-13990230\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some attendees of the 2025 party had been enjoying mangoes their whole lives. For others, it was their very first. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What began as a casual meeting of eight friends sharing a box of mangoes in 2023 has ballooned into an hours-long extravaganza backed by silent sponsors, who help cover the cost of the mangoes. Roughly 250 people are expected to attend this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It started in 2024, when Patel \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1802748248949670386?s=20\">tweeted\u003c/a> about throwing a mango party to gauge public interest. The response was overwhelming, as dozens of mango lovers replied, expressing their curiosity about Indian varieties or, in many cases, their longing for a taste of home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Like Patel, many of the people who were most excited about the party have roots in India, where the mango is the national fruit. There, the fruit is so beloved it’s woven into cultural traditions, from hanging mango leaves during weddings and housewarmings for good luck to stories in Hindu mythology: Ganesha wins a divine mango of knowledge, while mango blossoms tip the arrows of the love god Kama.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Indians today, particularly those living abroad, the Indian mango is a nostalgic reminder of childhood and family. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg\" alt=\"A spread of sliced mangoes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alphonso and Kesar mangoes, sliced fresh so the fruit doesn’t deteriorate. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Co-organizer Deep Mehta has visceral memories of his grandmother hand-feeding him pulped mango at home in Mumbai, in the state Maharashtra, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> mangoes — “objectively the best,” Mehta says — are native.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When I see a mango [in the U.S.], my brain is thinking, ‘This is going to be super sweet and juicy,’ and then it just doesn’t meet those expectations,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sarv Kulpati, who left India at 9, vividly remembers his grandmother cutting mangoes “hedgehog style” (crisscrossing the fruit and turning it inside out) while the family gathered around the table, hands sticky with juice. “A mango means a bunch of people sitting together,” says Kulpati, who attended last year’s event. “Honestly, I do not have any memories of eating mango by myself.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg\" alt=\"A man slices mangoes outdoors while a smiling woman looks on.\" class=\"wp-image-13990245\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New to San Francisco at the time, Sarv Kulpati (right) spent most of the 2025 event cutting the mangoes. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Patel recalls eating mango ras (blended ripe mangoes) with his cousin every day after school in India, where he lived until he was 8. “It would just put us to sleep because there’s so much sugar,” he says. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Patel and Mehta argue, most Americans \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/apr/27/do-you-know-alphonso-mango\">don’t know what they’re missing\u003c/a>. “It’s like a different fruit,” they both say, citing the sweetness, flavor and sheer aroma. Mehta can’t bring himself to eat an American mango. “It just doesn’t hit the same.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mehta’s a purist, but he might have a point. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mangoes most commonly found in U.S. grocery stores are the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Mango_Crop_Forecast.pdf\">Tommy Atkins variety\u003c/a>, sourced almost exclusively from Latin America, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-Year-trend-2025_mango_imports_eng-1.pdf\">accounts for roughly 98% of mango imports\u003c/a>. Originally cultivated by a farmer named Thomas Atkins from Broward County, Florida, Tommy Atkins mangoes are known for their unremarkable flavor, dense fibrousness and extreme durability — the last of which ultimately led to commercial success. But from the outset, the mango had critics: In the 1950s, the \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLDxi1V1ry58n6JYPKmK9f8mw3GBPefu/view?usp=sharing\">Florida Mango Forum\u003c/a> rejected the Atkins mango multiple times because of its disappointing flavor profile.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s the mango most Americans grew up eating. For many South Asians, then, President George W. Bush is remembered not only for 9/11 and the War on Terror, but for the 2006 “\u003ca href=\"https://www.thejuggernaut.com/indian-mangos\">nuclear mango deal\u003c/a>,” which ended a 17-year U.S. ban on Indian mango imports.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Which isn’t to say that it’s easy to find Indian mangoes here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dealing mangoes can be something of an extreme sport. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americans-will-do-anything-to-get-indian-mangoes-3a711ce8\">\u003cem>Wall Street Journal\u003c/em>\u003c/a> recently covered hustlers powering the Indian mango supply in the U.S., including a senior tech manager in the D.C. area who moonlights as a mango dealer during the fruit’s short season, picking up hundreds of boxes of mangoes at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport multiple times a week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These days, you can buy Indian mangoes by joining WhatsApp groups and monitoring the chat for shipment details and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/liminalsnake/status/2053209580440793184?s=20\">updates from a particular dealer\u003c/a>. A few websites offering hyperlocal mango delivery, often powered by small teams of fruit vendors, have also sprung up. Today, a six-pound box of Indian mangoes — roughly nine to 12 fruits — costs $50 to $60, inflated this year by tariff uncertainty and increased fuel prices from the Iran war. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For previous mango parties, Patel would \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1916991896544817335?s=20\">call a local Indian grocery store\u003c/a> every day. When the mango shipment finally arrived, it’d be a race to the store to buy the boxes he needed before they ran out. This year, he’s providing mangoes through \u003ca href=\"https://aumpi.com/pages/copy-of-contact\">AumPi\u003c/a>, a Bay Area–based grassroots mango distributor that donates its profits toward tackling malnutrition in India.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink.jpg\" alt='Man and woman pose in front of a mango drink dispenser labeled \"hot.\"' class=\"wp-image-13990248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deep Mehta (left) poses in front of a mango drink with Raina Doshi, who co-organized the 2025 mango party. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If getting the fruit takes persistence, enjoying it on Sunday will not. For Mehta, the party at the park is a way of “spreading the love” of a tasty fruit. Indian mangoes are a “largely undiscovered” treasure “that should be shared,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s mango party will be held at a park in the Mission — the organizers aren’t publicizing the exact location for fear that \u003cem>too \u003c/em>many people will show up, and they want to make sure there are enough mangoes for everyone. Those interested in attending can send a brief love letter to mangoes via \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">email\u003c/a> to Patel, who’s working with his co-organizers to curate the guest list. Space is limited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, Patel says, three different people have sent him photos of their cats named Mango. They’re in. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The mango party will take place on Sunday, May 31, 1–4 p.m., in San Francisco’s Mission District. \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">Email the organizers\u003c/a> to get on the guest list and to receive the exact location.\u003c/em> \u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note:\u003c/strong> As of May 30, the organizers say the event has reached capacity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>King of fruits. Fruit of the gods. These are only two of the grand titles given to the mango, which people began cultivating over 4,000 years ago. In the millennia since, the fruit has been spiritually worshipped, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35461265\">politically propagandized\u003c/a> and, most simply, enjoyed — perhaps nowhere more than on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/india\">Indian subcontinent\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>King of fruits. Fruit of the gods. These are only two of the grand titles given to the mango, which people began cultivating over 4,000 years ago. In the millennia since, the fruit has been spiritually worshipped, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35461265\">politically propagandized\u003c/a> and, most simply, enjoyed — perhaps nowhere more than on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/india\">Indian subcontinent\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay Area, however, the Indian diaspora has mostly had to settle for a sad, fibrous version of the fruit. But a group of San Franciscans of Indian descent are hoping to change that, introducing Americans to the glories of the Indian mango. On Sunday, May 31, from 1–4 p.m., San Francisco resident Darshil Patel will host his third annual grassroots mango party in the Mission alongside co-organizers Deep Mehta, Fareeha Salahuddin, Parth Patel and Dylan Patel.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay Area, however, the Indian diaspora has mostly had to settle for a sad, fibrous version of the fruit. But a group of San Franciscans of Indian descent are hoping to change that, introducing Americans to the glories of the Indian mango. On Sunday, May 31, from 1–4 p.m., San Francisco resident Darshil Patel will host his third annual grassroots mango party in the Mission alongside co-organizers Deep Mehta, Fareeha Salahuddin, Parth Patel and Dylan Patel.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For mango lovers, the day has come. Hundreds of Indian \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/how-gujarats-kesar-mangoes-became-a-seasonal-favourite-in-london-heathrow/articleshow/131307607.cms\">Kesar\u003c/a> mangoes will be distributed for free, as volunteers peel and slice the fruit on the spot. (Pre-cutting degrades quality.) \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For mango lovers, the day has come. Hundreds of Indian \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/how-gujarats-kesar-mangoes-became-a-seasonal-favourite-in-london-heathrow/articleshow/131307607.cms\">Kesar\u003c/a> mangoes will be distributed for free, as volunteers peel and slice the fruit on the spot. (Pre-cutting degrades quality.) \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At last year’s edition, some attendees brought mango desserts, like mango sticky rice and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5GkB7BSXO/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet\">mango sablée tartlets\u003c/a>, to share with the group. Partygoers picked up free \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/AndrewYatzkan/status/1923855295144657073?s=20\">“Mango Tango”\u003c/a> T-shirts and joined spikeball games while a DJ performed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At last year’s edition, some attendees brought mango desserts, like mango sticky rice and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5GkB7BSXO/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet\">mango sablée tartlets\u003c/a>, to share with the group. Partygoers picked up free \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/AndrewYatzkan/status/1923855295144657073?s=20\">“Mango Tango”\u003c/a> T-shirts and joined spikeball games while a DJ performed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sunday’s party should be another wholesome event. Last year, a toddler tried her very first mango.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sunday’s party should be another wholesome event. Last year, a toddler tried her very first mango.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg\" alt=\"A father holding a young toddler feeds the child a piece of mango.\" class=\"wp-image-13990230\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some attendees of the 2025 party had been enjoying mangoes their whole lives. For others, it was their very first.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg\" alt=\"A father holding a young toddler feeds the child a piece of mango.\" class=\"wp-image-13990230\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some attendees of the 2025 party had been enjoying mangoes their whole lives. For others, it was their very first.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What began as a casual meeting of eight friends sharing a box of mangoes in 2023 has ballooned into an hours-long extravaganza backed by silent sponsors, who help cover the cost of the mangoes. Roughly 250 people are expected to attend this year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What began as a casual meeting of eight friends sharing a box of mangoes in 2023 has ballooned into an hours-long extravaganza backed by silent sponsors, who help cover the cost of the mangoes. Roughly 250 people are expected to attend this year. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It started in 2024, when Patel \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1802748248949670386?s=20\">tweeted\u003c/a> about throwing a mango party to gauge public interest. The response was overwhelming, as dozens of mango lovers replied, expressing their curiosity about Indian varieties or, in many cases, their longing for a taste of home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It started in 2024, when Patel \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1802748248949670386?s=20\">tweeted\u003c/a> about throwing a mango party to gauge public interest. The response was overwhelming, as dozens of mango lovers replied, expressing their curiosity about Indian varieties or, in many cases, their longing for a taste of home.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Like Patel, many of the people who were most excited about the party have roots in India, where the mango is the national fruit. There, the fruit is so beloved it’s woven into cultural traditions, from hanging mango leaves during weddings and housewarmings for good luck to stories in Hindu mythology: Ganesha wins a divine mango of knowledge, while mango blossoms tip the arrows of the love god Kama.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Like Patel, many of the people who were most excited about the party have roots in India, where the mango is the national fruit. There, the fruit is so beloved it’s woven into cultural traditions, from hanging mango leaves during weddings and housewarmings for good luck to stories in Hindu mythology: Ganesha wins a divine mango of knowledge, while mango blossoms tip the arrows of the love god Kama.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Indians today, particularly those living abroad, the Indian mango is a nostalgic reminder of childhood and family. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For Indians today, particularly those living abroad, the Indian mango is a nostalgic reminder of childhood and family. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg\" alt=\"A spread of sliced mangoes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alphonso and Kesar mangoes, sliced fresh so the fruit doesn’t deteriorate. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg\" alt=\"A spread of sliced mangoes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990243\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alphonso and Kesar mangoes, sliced fresh so the fruit doesn’t deteriorate. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Co-organizer Deep Mehta has visceral memories of his grandmother hand-feeding him pulped mango at home in Mumbai, in the state Maharashtra, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> mangoes — “objectively the best,” Mehta says — are native.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Co-organizer Deep Mehta has visceral memories of his grandmother hand-feeding him pulped mango at home in Mumbai, in the state Maharashtra, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> mangoes — “objectively the best,” Mehta says — are native.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When I see a mango [in the U.S.], my brain is thinking, ‘This is going to be super sweet and juicy,’ and then it just doesn’t meet those expectations,” he says.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“When I see a mango [in the U.S.], my brain is thinking, ‘This is going to be super sweet and juicy,’ and then it just doesn’t meet those expectations,” he says.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sarv Kulpati, who left India at 9, vividly remembers his grandmother cutting mangoes “hedgehog style” (crisscrossing the fruit and turning it inside out) while the family gathered around the table, hands sticky with juice. “A mango means a bunch of people sitting together,” says Kulpati, who attended last year’s event. “Honestly, I do not have any memories of eating mango by myself.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sarv Kulpati, who left India at 9, vividly remembers his grandmother cutting mangoes “hedgehog style” (crisscrossing the fruit and turning it inside out) while the family gathered around the table, hands sticky with juice. “A mango means a bunch of people sitting together,” says Kulpati, who attended last year’s event. “Honestly, I do not have any memories of eating mango by myself.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg\" alt=\"A man slices mangoes outdoors while a smiling woman looks on.\" class=\"wp-image-13990245\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New to San Francisco at the time, Sarv Kulpati (right) spent most of the 2025 event cutting the mangoes.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg\" alt=\"A man slices mangoes outdoors while a smiling woman looks on.\" class=\"wp-image-13990245\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New to San Francisco at the time, Sarv Kulpati (right) spent most of the 2025 event cutting the mangoes.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Patel recalls eating mango ras (blended ripe mangoes) with his cousin every day after school in India, where he lived until he was 8. “It would just put us to sleep because there’s so much sugar,” he says. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Patel recalls eating mango ras (blended ripe mangoes) with his cousin every day after school in India, where he lived until he was 8. “It would just put us to sleep because there’s so much sugar,” he says. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Patel and Mehta argue, most Americans \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/apr/27/do-you-know-alphonso-mango\">don’t know what they’re missing\u003c/a>. “It’s like a different fruit,” they both say, citing the sweetness, flavor and sheer aroma. Mehta can’t bring himself to eat an American mango. “It just doesn’t hit the same.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Patel and Mehta argue, most Americans \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/apr/27/do-you-know-alphonso-mango\">don’t know what they’re missing\u003c/a>. “It’s like a different fruit,” they both say, citing the sweetness, flavor and sheer aroma. Mehta can’t bring himself to eat an American mango. “It just doesn’t hit the same.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mehta’s a purist, but he might have a point. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The mangoes most commonly found in U.S. grocery stores are the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Mango_Crop_Forecast.pdf\">Tommy Atkins variety\u003c/a>, sourced almost exclusively from Latin America, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-Year-trend-2025_mango_imports_eng-1.pdf\">accounts for roughly 98% of mango imports\u003c/a>. Originally cultivated by a farmer named Thomas Atkins from Broward County, Florida, Tommy Atkins mangoes are known for their unremarkable flavor, dense fibrousness and extreme durability — the last of which ultimately led to commercial success. But from the outset, the mango had critics: In the 1950s, the \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLDxi1V1ry58n6JYPKmK9f8mw3GBPefu/view?usp=sharing\">Florida Mango Forum\u003c/a> rejected the Atkins mango multiple times because of its disappointing flavor profile.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The mangoes most commonly found in U.S. grocery stores are the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Mango_Crop_Forecast.pdf\">Tommy Atkins variety\u003c/a>, sourced almost exclusively from Latin America, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-Year-trend-2025_mango_imports_eng-1.pdf\">accounts for roughly 98% of mango imports\u003c/a>. Originally cultivated by a farmer named Thomas Atkins from Broward County, Florida, Tommy Atkins mangoes are known for their unremarkable flavor, dense fibrousness and extreme durability — the last of which ultimately led to commercial success. But from the outset, the mango had critics: In the 1950s, the \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLDxi1V1ry58n6JYPKmK9f8mw3GBPefu/view?usp=sharing\">Florida Mango Forum\u003c/a> rejected the Atkins mango multiple times because of its disappointing flavor profile.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That’s the mango most Americans grew up eating. For many South Asians, then, President George W. Bush is remembered not only for 9/11 and the War on Terror, but for the 2006 “\u003ca href=\"https://www.thejuggernaut.com/indian-mangos\">nuclear mango deal\u003c/a>,” which ended a 17-year U.S. ban on Indian mango imports.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That’s the mango most Americans grew up eating. For many South Asians, then, President George W. Bush is remembered not only for 9/11 and the War on Terror, but for the 2006 “\u003ca href=\"https://www.thejuggernaut.com/indian-mangos\">nuclear mango deal\u003c/a>,” which ended a 17-year U.S. ban on Indian mango imports.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Which isn’t to say that it’s easy to find Indian mangoes here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Which isn’t to say that it’s easy to find Indian mangoes here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dealing mangoes can be something of an extreme sport. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americans-will-do-anything-to-get-indian-mangoes-3a711ce8\">\u003cem>Wall Street Journal\u003c/em>\u003c/a> recently covered hustlers powering the Indian mango supply in the U.S., including a senior tech manager in the D.C. area who moonlights as a mango dealer during the fruit’s short season, picking up hundreds of boxes of mangoes at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport multiple times a week. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Dealing mangoes can be something of an extreme sport. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americans-will-do-anything-to-get-indian-mangoes-3a711ce8\">\u003cem>Wall Street Journal\u003c/em>\u003c/a> recently covered hustlers powering the Indian mango supply in the U.S., including a senior tech manager in the D.C. area who moonlights as a mango dealer during the fruit’s short season, picking up hundreds of boxes of mangoes at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport multiple times a week. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These days, you can buy Indian mangoes by joining WhatsApp groups and monitoring the chat for shipment details and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/liminalsnake/status/2053209580440793184?s=20\">updates from a particular dealer\u003c/a>. A few websites offering hyperlocal mango delivery, often powered by small teams of fruit vendors, have also sprung up. Today, a six-pound box of Indian mangoes — roughly nine to 12 fruits — costs $50 to $60, inflated this year by tariff uncertainty and increased fuel prices from the Iran war. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These days, you can buy Indian mangoes by joining WhatsApp groups and monitoring the chat for shipment details and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/liminalsnake/status/2053209580440793184?s=20\">updates from a particular dealer\u003c/a>. A few websites offering hyperlocal mango delivery, often powered by small teams of fruit vendors, have also sprung up. Today, a six-pound box of Indian mangoes — roughly nine to 12 fruits — costs $50 to $60, inflated this year by tariff uncertainty and increased fuel prices from the Iran war. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For previous mango parties, Patel would \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1916991896544817335?s=20\">call a local Indian grocery store\u003c/a> every day. When the mango shipment finally arrived, it’d be a race to the store to buy the boxes he needed before they ran out. This year, he’s providing mangoes through \u003ca href=\"https://aumpi.com/pages/copy-of-contact\">AumPi\u003c/a>, a Bay Area–based grassroots mango distributor that donates its profits toward tackling malnutrition in India.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For previous mango parties, Patel would \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1916991896544817335?s=20\">call a local Indian grocery store\u003c/a> every day. When the mango shipment finally arrived, it’d be a race to the store to buy the boxes he needed before they ran out. This year, he’s providing mangoes through \u003ca href=\"https://aumpi.com/pages/copy-of-contact\">AumPi\u003c/a>, a Bay Area–based grassroots mango distributor that donates its profits toward tackling malnutrition in India.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink.jpg\" alt=\"Man and woman pose in front of a mango drink dispenser labeled "hot."\" class=\"wp-image-13990248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deep Mehta (left) poses in front of a mango drink with Raina Doshi, who co-organized the 2025 mango party.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If getting the fruit takes persistence, enjoying it on Sunday will not. For Mehta, the party at the park is a way of “spreading the love” of a tasty fruit. Indian mangoes are a “largely undiscovered” treasure “that should be shared,” he says.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If getting the fruit takes persistence, enjoying it on Sunday will not. For Mehta, the party at the park is a way of “spreading the love” of a tasty fruit. Indian mangoes are a “largely undiscovered” treasure “that should be shared,” he says.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This year’s mango party will be held at a park in the Mission — the organizers aren’t publicizing the exact location for fear that \u003cem>too \u003c/em>many people will show up, and they want to make sure there are enough mangoes for everyone. Those interested in attending can send a brief love letter to mangoes via \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">email\u003c/a> to Patel, who’s working with his co-organizers to curate the guest list. Space is limited.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This year’s mango party will be held at a park in the Mission — the organizers aren’t publicizing the exact location for fear that \u003cem>too \u003c/em>many people will show up, and they want to make sure there are enough mangoes for everyone. Those interested in attending can send a brief love letter to mangoes via \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">email\u003c/a> to Patel, who’s working with his co-organizers to curate the guest list. Space is limited.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So far, Patel says, three different people have sent him photos of their cats named Mango. They’re in. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So far, Patel says, three different people have sent him photos of their cats named Mango. They’re in. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The mango party will take place on Sunday, May 31, 1–4 p.m., in San Francisco’s Mission District. \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">Email the organizers\u003c/a> to get on the guest list and to receive the exact location.\u003c/em> \u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note:\u003c/strong> As of May 30, the organizers say the event has reached capacity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The mango party will take place on Sunday, May 31, 1–4 p.m., in San Francisco’s Mission District. \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">Email the organizers\u003c/a> to get on the guest list and to receive the exact location.\u003c/em> \u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note:\u003c/strong> As of May 30, the organizers say the event has reached capacity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Inside the grassroots movement to get Americans to eat a better mango.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>King of fruits. Fruit of the gods. These are only two of the grand titles given to the mango, which people began cultivating over 4,000 years ago. In the millennia since, the fruit has been spiritually worshipped, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35461265\">politically propagandized\u003c/a> and, most simply, enjoyed — perhaps nowhere more than on the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/india\">Indian subcontinent\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here in the Bay Area, however, the Indian diaspora has mostly had to settle for a sad, fibrous version of the fruit. But a group of San Franciscans of Indian descent are hoping to change that, introducing Americans to the glories of the Indian mango. On Sunday, May 31, from 1–4 p.m., San Francisco resident Darshil Patel will host his third annual grassroots mango party in the Mission alongside co-organizers Deep Mehta, Fareeha Salahuddin, Parth Patel and Dylan Patel.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For mango lovers, the day has come. Hundreds of Indian \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/how-gujarats-kesar-mangoes-became-a-seasonal-favourite-in-london-heathrow/articleshow/131307607.cms\">Kesar\u003c/a> mangoes will be distributed for free, as volunteers peel and slice the fruit on the spot. (Pre-cutting degrades quality.) \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At last year’s edition, some attendees brought mango desserts, like mango sticky rice and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5GkB7BSXO/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet\">mango sablée tartlets\u003c/a>, to share with the group. Partygoers picked up free \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/AndrewYatzkan/status/1923855295144657073?s=20\">“Mango Tango”\u003c/a> T-shirts and joined spikeball games while a DJ performed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sunday’s party should be another wholesome event. Last year, a toddler tried her very first mango.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg\" alt=\"A father holding a young toddler feeds the child a piece of mango.\" class=\"wp-image-13990230\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-toddler-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some attendees of the 2025 party had been enjoying mangoes their whole lives. For others, it was their very first. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What began as a casual meeting of eight friends sharing a box of mangoes in 2023 has ballooned into an hours-long extravaganza backed by silent sponsors, who help cover the cost of the mangoes. Roughly 250 people are expected to attend this year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It started in 2024, when Patel \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1802748248949670386?s=20\">tweeted\u003c/a> about throwing a mango party to gauge public interest. The response was overwhelming, as dozens of mango lovers replied, expressing their curiosity about Indian varieties or, in many cases, their longing for a taste of home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Like Patel, many of the people who were most excited about the party have roots in India, where the mango is the national fruit. There, the fruit is so beloved it’s woven into cultural traditions, from hanging mango leaves during weddings and housewarmings for good luck to stories in Hindu mythology: Ganesha wins a divine mango of knowledge, while mango blossoms tip the arrows of the love god Kama.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Indians today, particularly those living abroad, the Indian mango is a nostalgic reminder of childhood and family. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg\" alt=\"A spread of sliced mangoes on a picnic table.\" class=\"wp-image-13990243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/sliced-mangoes-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alphonso and Kesar mangoes, sliced fresh so the fruit doesn’t deteriorate. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Co-organizer Deep Mehta has visceral memories of his grandmother hand-feeding him pulped mango at home in Mumbai, in the state Maharashtra, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3082471/indians-know-alphonso-king-mangoes-if-only-they-could-buy-some\">Alphonso\u003c/a> mangoes — “objectively the best,” Mehta says — are native.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When I see a mango [in the U.S.], my brain is thinking, ‘This is going to be super sweet and juicy,’ and then it just doesn’t meet those expectations,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sarv Kulpati, who left India at 9, vividly remembers his grandmother cutting mangoes “hedgehog style” (crisscrossing the fruit and turning it inside out) while the family gathered around the table, hands sticky with juice. “A mango means a bunch of people sitting together,” says Kulpati, who attended last year’s event. “Honestly, I do not have any memories of eating mango by myself.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg\" alt=\"A man slices mangoes outdoors while a smiling woman looks on.\" class=\"wp-image-13990245\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-abundance-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New to San Francisco at the time, Sarv Kulpati (right) spent most of the 2025 event cutting the mangoes. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Patel recalls eating mango ras (blended ripe mangoes) with his cousin every day after school in India, where he lived until he was 8. “It would just put us to sleep because there’s so much sugar,” he says. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ultimately, Patel and Mehta argue, most Americans \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/apr/27/do-you-know-alphonso-mango\">don’t know what they’re missing\u003c/a>. “It’s like a different fruit,” they both say, citing the sweetness, flavor and sheer aroma. Mehta can’t bring himself to eat an American mango. “It just doesn’t hit the same.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mehta’s a purist, but he might have a point. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The mangoes most commonly found in U.S. grocery stores are the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/PDF/Mango_Crop_Forecast.pdf\">Tommy Atkins variety\u003c/a>, sourced almost exclusively from Latin America, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.mango.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3-Year-trend-2025_mango_imports_eng-1.pdf\">accounts for roughly 98% of mango imports\u003c/a>. Originally cultivated by a farmer named Thomas Atkins from Broward County, Florida, Tommy Atkins mangoes are known for their unremarkable flavor, dense fibrousness and extreme durability — the last of which ultimately led to commercial success. But from the outset, the mango had critics: In the 1950s, the \u003ca href=\"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dLDxi1V1ry58n6JYPKmK9f8mw3GBPefu/view?usp=sharing\">Florida Mango Forum\u003c/a> rejected the Atkins mango multiple times because of its disappointing flavor profile.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That’s the mango most Americans grew up eating. For many South Asians, then, President George W. Bush is remembered not only for 9/11 and the War on Terror, but for the 2006 “\u003ca href=\"https://www.thejuggernaut.com/indian-mangos\">nuclear mango deal\u003c/a>,” which ended a 17-year U.S. ban on Indian mango imports.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Which isn’t to say that it’s easy to find Indian mangoes here in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dealing mangoes can be something of an extreme sport. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/us-news/americans-will-do-anything-to-get-indian-mangoes-3a711ce8\">\u003cem>Wall Street Journal\u003c/em>\u003c/a> recently covered hustlers powering the Indian mango supply in the U.S., including a senior tech manager in the D.C. area who moonlights as a mango dealer during the fruit’s short season, picking up hundreds of boxes of mangoes at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport multiple times a week. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These days, you can buy Indian mangoes by joining WhatsApp groups and monitoring the chat for shipment details and \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/liminalsnake/status/2053209580440793184?s=20\">updates from a particular dealer\u003c/a>. A few websites offering hyperlocal mango delivery, often powered by small teams of fruit vendors, have also sprung up. Today, a six-pound box of Indian mangoes — roughly nine to 12 fruits — costs $50 to $60, inflated this year by tariff uncertainty and increased fuel prices from the Iran war. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For previous mango parties, Patel would \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/darshil/status/1916991896544817335?s=20\">call a local Indian grocery store\u003c/a> every day. When the mango shipment finally arrived, it’d be a race to the store to buy the boxes he needed before they ran out. This year, he’s providing mangoes through \u003ca href=\"https://aumpi.com/pages/copy-of-contact\">AumPi\u003c/a>, a Bay Area–based grassroots mango distributor that donates its profits toward tackling malnutrition in India.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1326\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink.jpg\" alt='Man and woman pose in front of a mango drink dispenser labeled \"hot.\"' class=\"wp-image-13990248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/mango-drink-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Deep Mehta (left) poses in front of a mango drink with Raina Doshi, who co-organized the 2025 mango party. (Courtesy of Deep Mehta)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If getting the fruit takes persistence, enjoying it on Sunday will not. For Mehta, the party at the park is a way of “spreading the love” of a tasty fruit. Indian mangoes are a “largely undiscovered” treasure “that should be shared,” he says.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This year’s mango party will be held at a park in the Mission — the organizers aren’t publicizing the exact location for fear that \u003cem>too \u003c/em>many people will show up, and they want to make sure there are enough mangoes for everyone. Those interested in attending can send a brief love letter to mangoes via \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">email\u003c/a> to Patel, who’s working with his co-organizers to curate the guest list. Space is limited.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So far, Patel says, three different people have sent him photos of their cats named Mango. They’re in. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>The mango party will take place on Sunday, May 31, 1–4 p.m., in San Francisco’s Mission District. \u003ca href=\"mailto:darshil4133@gmail.com\">Email the organizers\u003c/a> to get on the guest list and to receive the exact location.\u003c/em> \u003cem>\u003cstrong>Editor’s note:\u003c/strong> As of May 30, the organizers say the event has reached capacity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "sublimes-last-show-20-years-later-the-oral-history",
"title": "Sublime's Last Show: The Oral History",
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"content": "\u003cp>On May 24, 1996, Sublime played their last show at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11954041/teens-helped-save-this-historic-bay-area-theater-by-making-it-their-own\">Phoenix Theater\u003c/a> in Petaluma.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No one knew it’d be their final concert. But no one knew, either, that singer Bradley Nowell would be found dead of a heroin overdose the next morning at a motel in San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sublime would go on to sell over 17 million records, and their last show in Petaluma has attained mythic status. An \u003ca href=\"http://sublimewiki.com/index.php?title=05.24.1996\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">audio bootleg\u003c/a> exists; legal issues over \u003ca href=\"https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/japan.music.punk/pb0K-Bp-MKM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">still-unreleased video footage\u003c/a> have continued for years; and people still talk about it around Petaluma. But fewer than 900 people witnessed Nowell’s final performance. The rest of Sublime’s millions of fans always want to know: \u003cem>what was it like?\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I was there that night, and left after four songs. My band had played the Warped Tour with Sublime the year before, and I’d had my fill of them, to say nothing of Nowell’s impulsive behavior. (He once \u003ca href=\"http://www.bohemian.com/northbay/what-i-got/Content?oid=2170536\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sicced his dog on a skateboarder and then expected me to back him up in a fight\u003c/a>.) But I’ve always wondered how the rest of the night went down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to mark the 30th anniversary of Sublime’s last show in Petaluma, I’ve decided to pull together those memories, stories, and loose threads—from regular showgoers, people behind the scenes, performers on stage and band members themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611375\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Sublime with Lou Dog.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611375\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-960x540.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sublime with Lou Dog.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Stand by Your Van\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson (Bassist, Sublime)\u003c/b>: We had just finished the album. For two or three years before that, we had gotten a really strong cult following, just from playing up and down the coast. We started packing in 2,000 people just from word of mouth, before we even had any deal with a record company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde (Booking agent, the Tahoe Agency)\u003c/b>: In the time I worked with them, they made it to every gig, we really tightened up the scene, Brad had gotten clean. From my memory, he’d been clean for almost a year. They were going to go to Europe, Brad had a brand-new wife, a new baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil’ Mike\u003c/b>: I was gonna meet ’em at the Glass House in Pomona. They were supposed to play there the week before, and I was gonna jump in the van with ’em and head up the coast. But they canceled the Pomona show. I went down to the club that night, and they were like, “Nah, they’re not coming.” I was worried there had been an O.D.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs (Filibuster)\u003c/b>: They’d come to Sacramento and open up for us and play for 30-40 people at little dive bars around town, and they’d crash on our floors. But they’d really started to blow up right around then, with “Date Rape” on KROQ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeMeDihwyrg\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey (Manager, Phoenix Theater)\u003c/b>: We were just starting to see more ska and less punk. My punk crowd was just starting to finally turn 21. Ska was the next thing. The youngsters loved it. Most of our crowd for the Sublime show was under 18, and definitely under 21.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: I was with them the night before up in Chico. That was one of the most insane, crazy rock ‘n’ roll shows I’ve ever seen in my life. There were probably 2,000 people there. The fence got torn down, security was overwhelmed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It was in a park, with a traveling circus. All these people with tattoos and piercings, the freakshow thing. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: At one point I saw an opening in the crowd and I thought someone had gotten hurt and gone down. So I jumped off the stage, right in the middle of this crowd, and there was nothing there, but everyone was looking on the ground. I’m like, “What are we looking for?” And some guy yells out, “A finger! A fuckin’ finger!” And I’m like, “What do you mean, a finger?!” So we’re all there looking around for this guy’s finger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: In Chico, there were a lot of drugs. We stayed over at some college girls’ house and smoked crack for breakfast. So it wasn’t really surprising that that’s where Brad found his last bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: At the afterparty, Brad came up to Mitch, who was the bodyguard we’d hired to protect Brad from himself. Brad walked up and said, “Gimme some money.” And Mitch was like, “No, I’m not giving you any money.” And Brad got really upset and was like, “It’s my money! Gimme my fuckin’ money!” And Mitch was like, “I’m not giving you any money.” Because we all knew what that was about. But the unfortunate thing is that Brad didn’t need money to score, you know what I mean? So I’m convinced he got it that night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611248\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-800x462.jpg\" alt=\"A ticket for Sublime's last show, May 24, 1996.\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-800x462.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-400x231.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-768x443.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-960x554.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket.jpg 1100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A ticket for Sublime’s last show, May 24, 1996. \u003ccite>(Photo: Gabe Meline)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I slept hungover on the way to Petaluma. And so did anybody else that was in the van. We had a big old junker motor home and we had our own bunks. That was like a tour bus to us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston (Manager, Maritime Hall)\u003c/b>: We had ’em at Maritime once before, and we had ’em at the Phoenix a couple times. They were kind of wild and crazy. Bradley was a little bit out of control, but he wasn’t a bad person or anything. I liked him. I thought he was cool. They were booked at the Phoenix one night, and the Maritime the next night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I was 19. A bunch of dudes were going. My best friend had just met a guy, and his roommates were all like, “Let’s go see Sublime!” So I hopped in with the roommates and left her behind with her boyfriend, which she still regrets to this day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: Earth Crisis played at the Phoenix with the metal band I was in and there were maybe six people there. But whenever there was a big ska show at the Phoenix—Let’s Go Bowling, Skankin’ Pickle, Reel Big Fish—lots of people would go to the ska shows, so you would just go to whatever show it was.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil’ Mike\u003c/b>: Everybody’d be singing along and know all the words, even if the record wasn’t out! They just had that contagious enthusiasm. I’ve never seen anything like it. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: That was their third show here. The first time they came in was as the support band and absolutely stole the show. So we brought them back on their own two more times. Their guarantee in those days was probably $1,500 plus backend. In those days, backend was still at 70 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: They probably got three grand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: I would guess that their guarantee was probably in the $2,500 range. And right now, they’d be playing for no less than $250,000 or $500,000 a night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: Here’s one of the differences that I noticed. The first couple times that they came through, they’d get here early, they’d do their soundcheck and then they’d hang out with all the skater kids. The skater kids would be going onto their RV and watching videos with them and hanging out. The last time through, the RV was not open to skaters. They weren’t hanging out as much. Bradley wasn’t skating with the kids like he had before. That was the first sign that something was a little bit wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611373\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-800x474.jpg\" alt=\"The inside of the Phoenix Theater today.\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611373\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-800x474.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-400x237.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-768x455.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-1180x699.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-960x569.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The inside of the Phoenix Theater today. \u003ccite>(Photo: Jim Agius)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Work That We Do\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs (Filibuster)\u003c/b>: It was the Ziggens, us, and Sublime. We had a 27-foot 1967 school bus that we took around on tour, so we rolled up in that, and all the guys from the band hung out in there. That was like our little backstage party zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: I remember lots of frat boys, which was weird for the Phoenix, and the crowd that usually went there. It was never the college boys, it was the punk rockers and skaters. I went with my girlfriends. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tyson Engel\u003c/b>: Brad was hanging out with people out front. He was excited with the new record coming out. I gave him a cigarette, but I didn’t really talk to him that much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: I thought it was incredibly cool that before they played, Brad was in the crowd, drinking and hanging out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I remember before the show—it was in the Bay Area, with a college crowd—and there were some guys discussing politics. I said what I thought about it, which wasn’t much, and then the guy put me down for a couple minutes in a real intelligent way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: The way the Phoenix used to get when there were tons of people in there, it was so hot that you had to try to crane your head up to get fresh air. With the crowd, and the heat, it was tough to breathe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: It was an awesome concert, and a huge party. The energy level was just insane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611247\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 450px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer-450x600.jpg\" alt=\"The flyer for Sublime's last show, May 24, 1996.\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer-450x600.jpg 450w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer-400x533.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The flyer for Sublime’s last show, May 24, 1996. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Glenn Rubenstein)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: Sublime killed it that night. They did a great, great job. Considering how much we’d all been partying before the show, I was very, very impressed at how tight they sounded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: I think I read somewhere that said he’d called home, and said he was having the best show he’d ever had. I don’t want to go against what common belief is, but I do recall that I was kind of bored with that show. I’m sorry to say that. It just didn’t have the energy the other shows had had. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Sugrue\u003c/b>: I recall feeling sheer disappointment. I thought it sounded awful, especially Brad. I feel a little bad saying it, being that he’s passed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Drew Hirschfield\u003c/b>: It was my second time seeing them and I just remember Brad looking just awful. He was smoking lots of cigarettes during the set. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: When Sublime was on, I went up to the balcony where they had the fire escape doors open, and you could get some fresh air. And of course, there were some guys with big army jackets standing around clearly smoking weed, and me, sidling up to them, trying to stand in the circle hoping they’d pass it to me. It was a gross-tasting wooden pipe that everyone’s mouth had been on, it was disgusting. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: In those days that was acceptable behavior. Nowadays, our rules are stricter and stricter. The party finally ate us up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611374\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1100px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_.jpg\" alt=\"Sublime.\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611374\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_.jpg 1100w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-960x540.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sublime.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: I left the show. I was like, “Whatever, I’ll see them play again.” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Drew Hirschfield\u003c/b>: It was a show I was stoked about because I had become a real fan, and then there was something worrisome and sadly disconnected about the band. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It was a hit-and-miss thing for us. We used to drink a lot. A lot of my older acquaintances would say, “I would never know if you guys were going to sound like total shit or play great.” We didn’t have our professional skills going on back then. We just thought the world was ours, or whatever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: They had the halfpipes at the front. It was almost like a rec center, the way it was set up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: There were pro skateboarders skating on the ramps while they were playing, and people were just going nuts. I wanna say Mike Carroll was one of them? My friends I was with, they were more in awe of the skateboarders than the band itself. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I stayed in the back. I remember that the pit was pretty rowdy. I was being a little more cautious than I would have been in the past couple years prior to that. I had pit injuries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611377\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 858px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette.jpg\" alt=\"Skunk Records sampler.\" width=\"858\" height=\"1308\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611377\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette.jpg 858w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-400x610.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-394x600.jpg 394w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-768x1171.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-774x1180.jpg 774w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skunk Records sampler. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Josh Drake)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Sugrue\u003c/b>: There was this one guy that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. I recall him being dressed in all black, and wearing a skirt, and he decided to dance ballet-style in the pit. He would pirouette through some macho douchebags that were pushing people around, and he looked so free, without a care in the world of what others thought. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Faith Corrien Valdez\u003c/b>: I just remember their Dalmatian running around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: Lou Dog running around on stage, that was typical, yeah. He probably bit somebody too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: I still have a cassette tape, a Skunk Records sampler, that I think the Ziggens threw out to the crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: My friend was up in the front, and I guess he buddied up to this big, burly, muscly black dude who was their merch guy, and so he left with a bunch of stickers, pins and t-shirts and stuff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil’ Mike\u003c/b>: Sublime would give you 10 copies of their records, and be like, “Give these to your bros, let people know about us!” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: We snuck backstage, which was amazing for us, in our Osh-Kosh overalls, and really curly hair, with a Mickey’s 40 oz. poured into a Big Gulp cup. I was 19. There was lots of weed, and it was crowded. We just stood there in the corner, in awe, drinking out of our 7-11 Big Gulps full of beer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It was always a scene backstage. We had our guard down, so we didn’t see what [Brad] was up to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611243\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 400px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/LastPhoto.jpg\" alt=\"The last known photo of Brad Nowell, with fan Barbie Shearer and friend.\" width=\"400\" height=\"321\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611243\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The last known photo of Brad Nowell, with fan Barbie Shearer and friend. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Barbie Shearer)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Waking up to an Alarm\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: Rick Bonde called me the next day and said, “Tom, I want you to know this wasn’t your fault.” I said, “What are you talking about?” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I was asleep in the motor home. We woke up to have bloody marys, and I sent my friend inside the hotel to get some ice for the bloody marys. And he came back frantically crying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I was at my parents’ house and I woke up and poured myself a bowl of cereal and was sitting in front of MTV. And the MTV News splash was “Bradley Nowell Dead at 28. Died in San Francisco.” I just about spewed my cereal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: Bud [Gaugh, Sublime drummer] found him. What I heard is that Lou Dog was on the bed, licking Brad’s face. Bud looked at him, and there was zero question. Lou was licking the vomit off of him, his face was green-colored. There was no saving him. Obviously it was over.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611378\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 480px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/tmptrf4MG_full.jpeg\" alt=\"The Oceanview Motel, San Francisco.\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611378\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/tmptrf4MG_full.jpeg 480w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/tmptrf4MG_full-400x300.jpeg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Oceanview Motel, San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: At first I thought it was bullshit. I thought somebody was pulling my leg. That’s the kind of band they were, always goofing off. “Tell the Maritime promoter that Bradley died and then he won’t give us any shit for missing soundcheck.” That’s what I was thinking. But then this girl I talked to, who was hanging with the band, she got real serious and real quiet, and she said, “No, no man. He’s not here anymore.” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It killed part of me. I don’t really like talking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: From what I heard, there were a bunch of people in San Francisco that got the same batch, and there were a bunch of O.D.’s that night. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611244\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-781x1180.jpg\" alt=\"A poster announcing Sublime's show at the Maritime Hall on May 25, 1996, which never happened.\" width=\"640\" height=\"967\" class=\"size-large wp-image-11611244\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-781x1180.jpg 781w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-400x604.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-397x600.jpg 397w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-768x1160.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-960x1450.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard.jpg 1059w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A poster announcing Sublime’s show at the Maritime Hall on May 25, 1996, which never happened.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Drew Hirschfield\u003c/b>: The next day during recess at Montgomery High my pal John told me he heard about the overdose. I was shocked and a bit scared. I think we felt sacredly important that we were at their last show ever, ’cause we were a bunch of 17 year old punks. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: It was on the news. And I got that kind of excitement that I was \u003cem>part of news\u003c/em>! Like, “I was at that show!” I know that that’s insane, taking someone’s death and turning it into a win. But when you’re that age and nothing ever happens to you, it was at least some excitement in our small town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: Three or four creepy downtown denizens in town tried to claim responsibility, tried to say that they were the ones that sold him the drugs, as a source of pride. How ghoulish is that? What a bunch of idiots. And I wasn’t the only one who heard stuff like that. It’s like, is that your stupid way of at least being able to say you were a part of history? That’s how you want to be known, as the guy that sold Bradley Nowell the drugs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I heard a lot of rumors about where the drugs came from. I heard people say, “Yeah, my friend was the guy that sold him the dope,” and all that. It sounded like a lot of exaggeration and rumor. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: Everybody says they know someone who did something. There are rumors that seem plausible, but it’s also coming from people who want to hang onto some celebrity moment, and that’s just scumbaggy anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: The rumors were nasty, about who was trying to boast about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: I’m convinced he got it in Chico. And here’s my theory. I think that Brad knew that he was going to be home, seeing his wife and baby in a few days, and I think that he got high that night and probably decided he needed to just finish it off so he wasn’t tempted to do it the next day. So he could clean up for a couple days before he needed to see his family. That’s been my gut this whole time, and believe me, I’ve thought about it a million times in the last 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611379\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST.jpg\" alt=\"Sublime's self-titled major label debut.\" width=\"800\" height=\"810\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611379\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-400x405.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-593x600.jpg 593w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-768x778.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-96x96.jpg 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sublime’s self-titled major label debut.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Look at All the Love We’ve Found\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: Their fans were incredible. When the show at Maritime was canceled, instead of freaking out and demanding refunds, they just came and were, like, really sad. They didn’t care about the money they paid for the tickets. I probably only refunded 10 or 20 people out of 1,500 tickets sold. Usually when something like that happens, people start to demand their money back right at the door. It wasn’t like that. They were just sad that it happened. The whole space in front of the hall turned into a makeshift wake for Bradley. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: In the next five to ten years we were getting a lot of people coming through taking pictures of the place. That’s dropped off, of course. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: The president of MCA Records met with me about a month later. I was in his office, and he told me that he was not going to release their record. He said, “I’m done, Rick, I can’t do this. I’ve spent half a million dollars on Brad’s rehab, and now we don’t have a band to tour behind it, I’m just gonna shelve it, it’s not going to work, it’s never going to be successful.” I was like, “I’m not leaving until you promise to put out this record.” I wouldn’t let up on him. And like, 20 minutes later, he was finally like, “Okay, I’ll try it. I’ll put it out and see what happens.” And now… how many millions of records later?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: I was into punk bands and more underground music, so in that scene, we all rejected Sublime once their big album came out, and the horrible scarring of the musical landscape they caused by telling bands it was okay to play this crappy reggae music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: Now, everyone says they were at that show. If everybody who says they were at that show was actually at the show, it would have been thousands of people. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611245\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 537px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural.jpg\" alt=\"The mural backstage at the Phoenix Theater, painted by Long Beach Dub All-Stars.\" width=\"537\" height=\"720\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611245\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural.jpg 537w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural-400x536.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural-448x600.jpg 448w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The mural backstage at the Phoenix Theater, painted by Long Beach Dub All-Stars. \u003ccite>(Mikey DeLosa-Tham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: The other guys came back here a few years later with Long Beach Dub All-Stars, and painted a mural backstage for Brad. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: That would have been done by Opie, the singer. He’s the guy who drew the sun [on \u003cem>40 Oz. to Freedom\u003c/em>]. He’s a tattoo artist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: It lasted forever, until last year when some idiot came and painted a mural over it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: Tom went apeshit. He started screaming and yelling, and this young little 18-year old grafitti writer that didn’t know what was going on was almost in tears. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: That was a painful thing. It was a beautiful piece. I’d invite them to come back and redo it, because I’d love to have it back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jim Agius (Phoenix Theater in-house promoter)\u003c/b>: There’s actually audio from the show out there on the internet. The story I heard was that a girl recorded it from the balcony with a Walkman, and she and her boyfriend put it out on CD with money she made as a stripper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I haven’t heard that recording. Did we sound good? I hope we sounded good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611246\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 300px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/PlayniceinthepitTape.jpg\" alt=\"'Play Nice in the Pit,' recorded at Sublime's last show, May 24, 1996.\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611246\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Play Nice in the Pit,’ recorded at Sublime’s last show, May 24, 1996.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil Mike\u003c/b>: It wasn’t great audio quality. But yeah, she had this little Walkman, a hand-held thing. You can hear the whole thing on the internet, because I gave the tape to these internet guys after a while, they were just hounding me. It was called “\u003ca href=\"http://sublimewiki.com/index.php?title=05.24.1996\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Play Nice in the Pit\u003c/a>,” because that’s what was painted on the wall of the Phoenix, so she went home that night and wrote that on the tape. We put some of the better-sounding songs out on a CD called \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"http://sublimewiki.com/index.php?title=It_All_Seems_so_Silly_in_the_Long_Run\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It All Seems So Silly in the Long Run\u003c/a>\u003c/em> with some other recordings we’d done at Klub Komotion, and I sent ’em $1,000 each. Bud and Eric told me that was the most money they’d gotten from their music at that point. Their album was out and selling millions, but they hadn’t seen any money because they owed so much money to MCA for Brad’s rehab, which I’d heard cost half a million dollars. So the only royalty check they received at that point was from a bootleg!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jim Agius\u003c/b>: The other thing is that there’s video footage of the whole show, but it’s never been released. After Brad died, there was some \u003ca href=\"http://articles.latimes.com/1998/feb/06/entertainment/ca-15990\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ugly legal battle between the guy who filmed it and the band\u003c/a>, and he’s just sat on the footage all these years, not doing anything with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I’m sure it’ll come out sometime, but I don’t know anything about the politics of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuL8Iexv8g8\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Sugrue\u003c/b>: It’s also where I first met my ex, on the stairs of the Phoenix. Initially I was planning to say that it was a night I could have done without. However, without that night and the next few years of hell with my ex, I may have never been at Gale’s that one night where I met my amazing husband. Seventeen years together this year! So, with that thought, I am so happy that I have that disastrous night in my history. If I didn’t go to that show, I honestly would not be who I am now. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: I remember telling my husband, “Ah! I was at their last show!” when a Sublime song came on the radio when we were driving to Disneyland with our kids. He’s like, “No you weren’t!” I was like, “No, they played their last show at the Phoenix!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: I didn’t really expect it to happen. Bradley, he was crazy and partying, but I just never got the vibe that he was going to check out like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: You know what was really going through my mind after he died? I swear this is true, that as sad I was for myself, and for my business, and obviously Brad’s wife and family, and the band—the thing I thought about the most was that the rest of the world didn’t know what they just lost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: I think Brad would have gotten a lot more seasoned. I think he might have started to realize that he was a voice. He never got a chance to see how much influence he had on people, or how his music affected people in such a good way; he brought that positivity that I think he understood about reggae and rocksteady and even punk rock. He was a very positive person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: He’d probably be playing music. Probably with me, but he might have gone solo. But who knows? We’ll never know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp> \u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Remembering the band's final concert at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma on May 24, 1996, as told by those in the crowd, behind the scenes, and on stage.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On May 24, 1996, Sublime played their last show at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11954041/teens-helped-save-this-historic-bay-area-theater-by-making-it-their-own\">Phoenix Theater\u003c/a> in Petaluma.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No one knew it’d be their final concert. But no one knew, either, that singer Bradley Nowell would be found dead of a heroin overdose the next morning at a motel in San Francisco. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sublime would go on to sell over 17 million records, and their last show in Petaluma has attained mythic status. An \u003ca href=\"http://sublimewiki.com/index.php?title=05.24.1996\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">audio bootleg\u003c/a> exists; legal issues over \u003ca href=\"https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/japan.music.punk/pb0K-Bp-MKM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">still-unreleased video footage\u003c/a> have continued for years; and people still talk about it around Petaluma. But fewer than 900 people witnessed Nowell’s final performance. The rest of Sublime’s millions of fans always want to know: \u003cem>what was it like?\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I was there that night, and left after four songs. My band had played the Warped Tour with Sublime the year before, and I’d had my fill of them, to say nothing of Nowell’s impulsive behavior. (He once \u003ca href=\"http://www.bohemian.com/northbay/what-i-got/Content?oid=2170536\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sicced his dog on a skateboarder and then expected me to back him up in a fight\u003c/a>.) But I’ve always wondered how the rest of the night went down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to mark the 30th anniversary of Sublime’s last show in Petaluma, I’ve decided to pull together those memories, stories, and loose threads—from regular showgoers, people behind the scenes, performers on stage and band members themselves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611375\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"Sublime with Lou Dog.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611375\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Pool_.BIG_-960x540.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sublime with Lou Dog.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Stand by Your Van\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson (Bassist, Sublime)\u003c/b>: We had just finished the album. For two or three years before that, we had gotten a really strong cult following, just from playing up and down the coast. We started packing in 2,000 people just from word of mouth, before we even had any deal with a record company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde (Booking agent, the Tahoe Agency)\u003c/b>: In the time I worked with them, they made it to every gig, we really tightened up the scene, Brad had gotten clean. From my memory, he’d been clean for almost a year. They were going to go to Europe, Brad had a brand-new wife, a new baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil’ Mike\u003c/b>: I was gonna meet ’em at the Glass House in Pomona. They were supposed to play there the week before, and I was gonna jump in the van with ’em and head up the coast. But they canceled the Pomona show. I went down to the club that night, and they were like, “Nah, they’re not coming.” I was worried there had been an O.D.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs (Filibuster)\u003c/b>: They’d come to Sacramento and open up for us and play for 30-40 people at little dive bars around town, and they’d crash on our floors. But they’d really started to blow up right around then, with “Date Rape” on KROQ.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/CeMeDihwyrg'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/CeMeDihwyrg'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey (Manager, Phoenix Theater)\u003c/b>: We were just starting to see more ska and less punk. My punk crowd was just starting to finally turn 21. Ska was the next thing. The youngsters loved it. Most of our crowd for the Sublime show was under 18, and definitely under 21.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: I was with them the night before up in Chico. That was one of the most insane, crazy rock ‘n’ roll shows I’ve ever seen in my life. There were probably 2,000 people there. The fence got torn down, security was overwhelmed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It was in a park, with a traveling circus. All these people with tattoos and piercings, the freakshow thing. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: At one point I saw an opening in the crowd and I thought someone had gotten hurt and gone down. So I jumped off the stage, right in the middle of this crowd, and there was nothing there, but everyone was looking on the ground. I’m like, “What are we looking for?” And some guy yells out, “A finger! A fuckin’ finger!” And I’m like, “What do you mean, a finger?!” So we’re all there looking around for this guy’s finger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: In Chico, there were a lot of drugs. We stayed over at some college girls’ house and smoked crack for breakfast. So it wasn’t really surprising that that’s where Brad found his last bag.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: At the afterparty, Brad came up to Mitch, who was the bodyguard we’d hired to protect Brad from himself. Brad walked up and said, “Gimme some money.” And Mitch was like, “No, I’m not giving you any money.” And Brad got really upset and was like, “It’s my money! Gimme my fuckin’ money!” And Mitch was like, “I’m not giving you any money.” Because we all knew what that was about. But the unfortunate thing is that Brad didn’t need money to score, you know what I mean? So I’m convinced he got it that night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611248\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-800x462.jpg\" alt=\"A ticket for Sublime's last show, May 24, 1996.\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611248\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-800x462.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-400x231.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-768x443.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket-960x554.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Ticket.jpg 1100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A ticket for Sublime’s last show, May 24, 1996. \u003ccite>(Photo: Gabe Meline)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I slept hungover on the way to Petaluma. And so did anybody else that was in the van. We had a big old junker motor home and we had our own bunks. That was like a tour bus to us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston (Manager, Maritime Hall)\u003c/b>: We had ’em at Maritime once before, and we had ’em at the Phoenix a couple times. They were kind of wild and crazy. Bradley was a little bit out of control, but he wasn’t a bad person or anything. I liked him. I thought he was cool. They were booked at the Phoenix one night, and the Maritime the next night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I was 19. A bunch of dudes were going. My best friend had just met a guy, and his roommates were all like, “Let’s go see Sublime!” So I hopped in with the roommates and left her behind with her boyfriend, which she still regrets to this day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: Earth Crisis played at the Phoenix with the metal band I was in and there were maybe six people there. But whenever there was a big ska show at the Phoenix—Let’s Go Bowling, Skankin’ Pickle, Reel Big Fish—lots of people would go to the ska shows, so you would just go to whatever show it was.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil’ Mike\u003c/b>: Everybody’d be singing along and know all the words, even if the record wasn’t out! They just had that contagious enthusiasm. I’ve never seen anything like it. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: That was their third show here. The first time they came in was as the support band and absolutely stole the show. So we brought them back on their own two more times. Their guarantee in those days was probably $1,500 plus backend. In those days, backend was still at 70 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: They probably got three grand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: I would guess that their guarantee was probably in the $2,500 range. And right now, they’d be playing for no less than $250,000 or $500,000 a night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: Here’s one of the differences that I noticed. The first couple times that they came through, they’d get here early, they’d do their soundcheck and then they’d hang out with all the skater kids. The skater kids would be going onto their RV and watching videos with them and hanging out. The last time through, the RV was not open to skaters. They weren’t hanging out as much. Bradley wasn’t skating with the kids like he had before. That was the first sign that something was a little bit wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611373\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-800x474.jpg\" alt=\"The inside of the Phoenix Theater today.\" width=\"800\" height=\"474\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611373\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-800x474.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-400x237.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-768x455.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-1180x699.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Phoenix.Inside-960x569.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The inside of the Phoenix Theater today. \u003ccite>(Photo: Jim Agius)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Work That We Do\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs (Filibuster)\u003c/b>: It was the Ziggens, us, and Sublime. We had a 27-foot 1967 school bus that we took around on tour, so we rolled up in that, and all the guys from the band hung out in there. That was like our little backstage party zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: I remember lots of frat boys, which was weird for the Phoenix, and the crowd that usually went there. It was never the college boys, it was the punk rockers and skaters. I went with my girlfriends. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tyson Engel\u003c/b>: Brad was hanging out with people out front. He was excited with the new record coming out. I gave him a cigarette, but I didn’t really talk to him that much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: I thought it was incredibly cool that before they played, Brad was in the crowd, drinking and hanging out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I remember before the show—it was in the Bay Area, with a college crowd—and there were some guys discussing politics. I said what I thought about it, which wasn’t much, and then the guy put me down for a couple minutes in a real intelligent way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: The way the Phoenix used to get when there were tons of people in there, it was so hot that you had to try to crane your head up to get fresh air. With the crowd, and the heat, it was tough to breathe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: It was an awesome concert, and a huge party. The energy level was just insane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611247\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 450px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer-450x600.jpg\" alt=\"The flyer for Sublime's last show, May 24, 1996.\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11611247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer-450x600.jpg 450w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer-400x533.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.LastShowFlyer.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The flyer for Sublime’s last show, May 24, 1996. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Glenn Rubenstein)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: Sublime killed it that night. They did a great, great job. Considering how much we’d all been partying before the show, I was very, very impressed at how tight they sounded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: I think I read somewhere that said he’d called home, and said he was having the best show he’d ever had. I don’t want to go against what common belief is, but I do recall that I was kind of bored with that show. I’m sorry to say that. It just didn’t have the energy the other shows had had. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Sugrue\u003c/b>: I recall feeling sheer disappointment. I thought it sounded awful, especially Brad. I feel a little bad saying it, being that he’s passed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Drew Hirschfield\u003c/b>: It was my second time seeing them and I just remember Brad looking just awful. He was smoking lots of cigarettes during the set. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: When Sublime was on, I went up to the balcony where they had the fire escape doors open, and you could get some fresh air. And of course, there were some guys with big army jackets standing around clearly smoking weed, and me, sidling up to them, trying to stand in the circle hoping they’d pass it to me. It was a gross-tasting wooden pipe that everyone’s mouth had been on, it was disgusting. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: In those days that was acceptable behavior. Nowadays, our rules are stricter and stricter. The party finally ate us up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611374\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1100px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_.jpg\" alt=\"Sublime.\" width=\"1100\" height=\"619\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611374\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_.jpg 1100w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Sunglasses.BIG_-960x540.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sublime.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: I left the show. I was like, “Whatever, I’ll see them play again.” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Drew Hirschfield\u003c/b>: It was a show I was stoked about because I had become a real fan, and then there was something worrisome and sadly disconnected about the band. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It was a hit-and-miss thing for us. We used to drink a lot. A lot of my older acquaintances would say, “I would never know if you guys were going to sound like total shit or play great.” We didn’t have our professional skills going on back then. We just thought the world was ours, or whatever.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: They had the halfpipes at the front. It was almost like a rec center, the way it was set up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: There were pro skateboarders skating on the ramps while they were playing, and people were just going nuts. I wanna say Mike Carroll was one of them? My friends I was with, they were more in awe of the skateboarders than the band itself. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I stayed in the back. I remember that the pit was pretty rowdy. I was being a little more cautious than I would have been in the past couple years prior to that. I had pit injuries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611377\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 858px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette.jpg\" alt=\"Skunk Records sampler.\" width=\"858\" height=\"1308\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611377\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette.jpg 858w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-400x610.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-394x600.jpg 394w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-768x1171.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Sublime.Cassette-774x1180.jpg 774w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Skunk Records sampler. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Josh Drake)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Sugrue\u003c/b>: There was this one guy that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. I recall him being dressed in all black, and wearing a skirt, and he decided to dance ballet-style in the pit. He would pirouette through some macho douchebags that were pushing people around, and he looked so free, without a care in the world of what others thought. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Faith Corrien Valdez\u003c/b>: I just remember their Dalmatian running around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: Lou Dog running around on stage, that was typical, yeah. He probably bit somebody too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: I still have a cassette tape, a Skunk Records sampler, that I think the Ziggens threw out to the crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: My friend was up in the front, and I guess he buddied up to this big, burly, muscly black dude who was their merch guy, and so he left with a bunch of stickers, pins and t-shirts and stuff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil’ Mike\u003c/b>: Sublime would give you 10 copies of their records, and be like, “Give these to your bros, let people know about us!” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: We snuck backstage, which was amazing for us, in our Osh-Kosh overalls, and really curly hair, with a Mickey’s 40 oz. poured into a Big Gulp cup. I was 19. There was lots of weed, and it was crowded. We just stood there in the corner, in awe, drinking out of our 7-11 Big Gulps full of beer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It was always a scene backstage. We had our guard down, so we didn’t see what [Brad] was up to.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611243\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 400px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/LastPhoto.jpg\" alt=\"The last known photo of Brad Nowell, with fan Barbie Shearer and friend.\" width=\"400\" height=\"321\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611243\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The last known photo of Brad Nowell, with fan Barbie Shearer and friend. \u003ccite>(Courtesy Barbie Shearer)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Waking up to an Alarm\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: Rick Bonde called me the next day and said, “Tom, I want you to know this wasn’t your fault.” I said, “What are you talking about?” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I was asleep in the motor home. We woke up to have bloody marys, and I sent my friend inside the hotel to get some ice for the bloody marys. And he came back frantically crying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I was at my parents’ house and I woke up and poured myself a bowl of cereal and was sitting in front of MTV. And the MTV News splash was “Bradley Nowell Dead at 28. Died in San Francisco.” I just about spewed my cereal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: Bud [Gaugh, Sublime drummer] found him. What I heard is that Lou Dog was on the bed, licking Brad’s face. Bud looked at him, and there was zero question. Lou was licking the vomit off of him, his face was green-colored. There was no saving him. Obviously it was over.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611378\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 480px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/tmptrf4MG_full.jpeg\" alt=\"The Oceanview Motel, San Francisco.\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611378\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/tmptrf4MG_full.jpeg 480w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/tmptrf4MG_full-400x300.jpeg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Oceanview Motel, San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: At first I thought it was bullshit. I thought somebody was pulling my leg. That’s the kind of band they were, always goofing off. “Tell the Maritime promoter that Bradley died and then he won’t give us any shit for missing soundcheck.” That’s what I was thinking. But then this girl I talked to, who was hanging with the band, she got real serious and real quiet, and she said, “No, no man. He’s not here anymore.” \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: It killed part of me. I don’t really like talking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: From what I heard, there were a bunch of people in San Francisco that got the same batch, and there were a bunch of O.D.’s that night. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611244\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 640px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-781x1180.jpg\" alt=\"A poster announcing Sublime's show at the Maritime Hall on May 25, 1996, which never happened.\" width=\"640\" height=\"967\" class=\"size-large wp-image-11611244\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-781x1180.jpg 781w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-400x604.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-397x600.jpg 397w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-768x1160.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard-960x1450.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/Maritime.Postcard.jpg 1059w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A poster announcing Sublime’s show at the Maritime Hall on May 25, 1996, which never happened.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Drew Hirschfield\u003c/b>: The next day during recess at Montgomery High my pal John told me he heard about the overdose. I was shocked and a bit scared. I think we felt sacredly important that we were at their last show ever, ’cause we were a bunch of 17 year old punks. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: It was on the news. And I got that kind of excitement that I was \u003cem>part of news\u003c/em>! Like, “I was at that show!” I know that that’s insane, taking someone’s death and turning it into a win. But when you’re that age and nothing ever happens to you, it was at least some excitement in our small town.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: Three or four creepy downtown denizens in town tried to claim responsibility, tried to say that they were the ones that sold him the drugs, as a source of pride. How ghoulish is that? What a bunch of idiots. And I wasn’t the only one who heard stuff like that. It’s like, is that your stupid way of at least being able to say you were a part of history? That’s how you want to be known, as the guy that sold Bradley Nowell the drugs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: I heard a lot of rumors about where the drugs came from. I heard people say, “Yeah, my friend was the guy that sold him the dope,” and all that. It sounded like a lot of exaggeration and rumor. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: Everybody says they know someone who did something. There are rumors that seem plausible, but it’s also coming from people who want to hang onto some celebrity moment, and that’s just scumbaggy anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rhi Smith-Guerrero\u003c/b>: The rumors were nasty, about who was trying to boast about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: I’m convinced he got it in Chico. And here’s my theory. I think that Brad knew that he was going to be home, seeing his wife and baby in a few days, and I think that he got high that night and probably decided he needed to just finish it off so he wasn’t tempted to do it the next day. So he could clean up for a couple days before he needed to see his family. That’s been my gut this whole time, and believe me, I’ve thought about it a million times in the last 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611379\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST.jpg\" alt=\"Sublime's self-titled major label debut.\" width=\"800\" height=\"810\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611379\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-400x405.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-593x600.jpg 593w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-768x778.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-32x32.jpg 32w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-50x50.jpg 50w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-64x64.jpg 64w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/SublimeST-96x96.jpg 96w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sublime’s self-titled major label debut.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Look at All the Love We’ve Found\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: Their fans were incredible. When the show at Maritime was canceled, instead of freaking out and demanding refunds, they just came and were, like, really sad. They didn’t care about the money they paid for the tickets. I probably only refunded 10 or 20 people out of 1,500 tickets sold. Usually when something like that happens, people start to demand their money back right at the door. It wasn’t like that. They were just sad that it happened. The whole space in front of the hall turned into a makeshift wake for Bradley. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: In the next five to ten years we were getting a lot of people coming through taking pictures of the place. That’s dropped off, of course. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: The president of MCA Records met with me about a month later. I was in his office, and he told me that he was not going to release their record. He said, “I’m done, Rick, I can’t do this. I’ve spent half a million dollars on Brad’s rehab, and now we don’t have a band to tour behind it, I’m just gonna shelve it, it’s not going to work, it’s never going to be successful.” I was like, “I’m not leaving until you promise to put out this record.” I wouldn’t let up on him. And like, 20 minutes later, he was finally like, “Okay, I’ll try it. I’ll put it out and see what happens.” And now… how many millions of records later?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Josh Drake\u003c/b>: I was into punk bands and more underground music, so in that scene, we all rejected Sublime once their big album came out, and the horrible scarring of the musical landscape they caused by telling bands it was okay to play this crappy reggae music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: Now, everyone says they were at that show. If everybody who says they were at that show was actually at the show, it would have been thousands of people. \u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611245\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 537px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural.jpg\" alt=\"The mural backstage at the Phoenix Theater, painted by Long Beach Dub All-Stars.\" width=\"537\" height=\"720\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611245\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural.jpg 537w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural-400x536.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/phoenix-sublime-mural-448x600.jpg 448w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 537px) 100vw, 537px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The mural backstage at the Phoenix Theater, painted by Long Beach Dub All-Stars. \u003ccite>(Mikey DeLosa-Tham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: The other guys came back here a few years later with Long Beach Dub All-Stars, and painted a mural backstage for Brad. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: That would have been done by Opie, the singer. He’s the guy who drew the sun [on \u003cem>40 Oz. to Freedom\u003c/em>]. He’s a tattoo artist.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: It lasted forever, until last year when some idiot came and painted a mural over it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jared Powell\u003c/b>: Tom went apeshit. He started screaming and yelling, and this young little 18-year old grafitti writer that didn’t know what was going on was almost in tears. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Tom Gaffey\u003c/b>: That was a painful thing. It was a beautiful piece. I’d invite them to come back and redo it, because I’d love to have it back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jim Agius (Phoenix Theater in-house promoter)\u003c/b>: There’s actually audio from the show out there on the internet. The story I heard was that a girl recorded it from the balcony with a Walkman, and she and her boyfriend put it out on CD with money she made as a stripper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I haven’t heard that recording. Did we sound good? I hope we sounded good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11611246\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 300px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/arts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/PlayniceinthepitTape.jpg\" alt=\"'Play Nice in the Pit,' recorded at Sublime's last show, May 24, 1996.\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11611246\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘Play Nice in the Pit,’ recorded at Sublime’s last show, May 24, 1996.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Lil Mike\u003c/b>: It wasn’t great audio quality. But yeah, she had this little Walkman, a hand-held thing. You can hear the whole thing on the internet, because I gave the tape to these internet guys after a while, they were just hounding me. It was called “\u003ca href=\"http://sublimewiki.com/index.php?title=05.24.1996\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Play Nice in the Pit\u003c/a>,” because that’s what was painted on the wall of the Phoenix, so she went home that night and wrote that on the tape. We put some of the better-sounding songs out on a CD called \u003cem>\u003ca href=\"http://sublimewiki.com/index.php?title=It_All_Seems_so_Silly_in_the_Long_Run\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">It All Seems So Silly in the Long Run\u003c/a>\u003c/em> with some other recordings we’d done at Klub Komotion, and I sent ’em $1,000 each. Bud and Eric told me that was the most money they’d gotten from their music at that point. Their album was out and selling millions, but they hadn’t seen any money because they owed so much money to MCA for Brad’s rehab, which I’d heard cost half a million dollars. So the only royalty check they received at that point was from a bootleg!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jim Agius\u003c/b>: The other thing is that there’s video footage of the whole show, but it’s never been released. After Brad died, there was some \u003ca href=\"http://articles.latimes.com/1998/feb/06/entertainment/ca-15990\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ugly legal battle between the guy who filmed it and the band\u003c/a>, and he’s just sat on the footage all these years, not doing anything with it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: I’m sure it’ll come out sometime, but I don’t know anything about the politics of it.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/KuL8Iexv8g8'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/KuL8Iexv8g8'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cb>Sara Sugrue\u003c/b>: It’s also where I first met my ex, on the stairs of the Phoenix. Initially I was planning to say that it was a night I could have done without. However, without that night and the next few years of hell with my ex, I may have never been at Gale’s that one night where I met my amazing husband. Seventeen years together this year! So, with that thought, I am so happy that I have that disastrous night in my history. If I didn’t go to that show, I honestly would not be who I am now. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Hollie Simons\u003c/b>: I remember telling my husband, “Ah! I was at their last show!” when a Sublime song came on the radio when we were driving to Disneyland with our kids. He’s like, “No you weren’t!” I was like, “No, they played their last show at the Phoenix!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Boots Hughston\u003c/b>: I didn’t really expect it to happen. Bradley, he was crazy and partying, but I just never got the vibe that he was going to check out like that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Rick Bonde\u003c/b>: You know what was really going through my mind after he died? I swear this is true, that as sad I was for myself, and for my business, and obviously Brad’s wife and family, and the band—the thing I thought about the most was that the rest of the world didn’t know what they just lost.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jason Boggs\u003c/b>: I think Brad would have gotten a lot more seasoned. I think he might have started to realize that he was a voice. He never got a chance to see how much influence he had on people, or how his music affected people in such a good way; he brought that positivity that I think he understood about reggae and rocksteady and even punk rock. He was a very positive person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Eric Wilson\u003c/b>: He’d probably be playing music. Probably with me, but he might have gone solo. But who knows? We’ll never know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Can Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Make the Revolution Sexy?",
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"content": "\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/boots-riley\">Boots Riley\u003c/a> looks back at his debut feature, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13836455/in-sorry-to-bother-you-an-alternate-universe-oakland-is-still-true-and-familiar\">\u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, it’s not the rave reviews, near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score or $18 million in box office revenue that stand out. It’s the messages he got from labor organizers. Dozens wrote to tell him they swayed their colleagues to form unions or authorize strikes after showing them his film, about a call center worker who discovers a shady corporate conspiracy to turn people into literal workhorses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was a story of a guy in Baltimore who told me that there was going to be a 60-person show of hands on whether they want to make a union,” Riley tells KQED. “It was going to be kind of a nail-biter. … [Then] somebody yelled, ‘Equasapiens! Let’s be out!’ And then the whole crowd erupted in laughter, and every single person raised their hands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Set in the Bay Area, Riley’s sophomore film \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> follows Corvette (Keke Palmer), Mariah (Taylour Paige) and Sade (Naomi Ackie) as they steal high-end designer clothes and resell them at discount prices. In their eyes, they’re doing fashion-forward (f)ilanthropy while keeping themselves financially afloat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before long, their cartoonish heists get them caught up in a rivalry with the elitist fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore), whose lofty diatribes about her art cloak a conservative, tough-on-crime political agenda. The Velvet Gang, as the boosters are known, join forces with retail worker Violeta (Eiza González) and Chinese garment worker Jianhu (Poppy Liu) to take down Smith through a surreal scheme that unspools reality and unveils a heinous secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using art to fuel a mass working-class movement has been an ambition of Riley’s since he got his start as a rapper in the early ’90s with his group, The Coup. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>, the 55-year-old activist-turned-director arrives at a new height of his career: His first wide-release feature, with a star-studded cast, backing from prestige production company NEON and a $20 million budget, all to create a technicolor, eye-popping ode to the power of collective organizing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988896\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988896\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x879.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x70.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x338.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x675.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x900.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu and Taylour Paige in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Riley has spent years \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrYJALWWLE&t=1s\">giving talks\u003c/a> about how, a century ago, labor strikes forced politicians to create basic social welfare programs that helped lift working people out of poverty. He wants to bring that back. “We need a mass, militant, radical labor movement that uses the withholding of labor as a tactic and strategy to affect policy change,” he says. With today’s income inequality \u003ca href=\"https://robertreich.substack.com/p/from-the-robber-barons-to-elon-musk\">drawing comparisons to the Gilded Age\u003c/a>, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> is Riley’s bet on whether he can make the revolution sexy, and whether he can use the ultra-capitalist Hollywood system for his decidedly anti-capitalist ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What gets people to get involved in things is not anger or fear,” Riley says. “It’s optimism that there’s something that they can do. And so that’s what my writing normally is, is pointing to what actually can be done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Boots on the ground\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Long before he touched the microphone or picked up a camera, Riley was a community organizer. Born in Chicago and raised in Oakland by activist parents (his father, civil rights lawyer \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/lift-every-voice/article/Walter-Riley-16219770.php\">Walter Riley\u003c/a>, fought segregation in the South and later participated in San Francisco State University’s Third World Liberation strikes), Riley was 14 years old when neighborhood organizers recruited him and other youth to support Watsonville Cannery workers. He passed out flyers and helped organize rallies as the workers waged an \u003ca href=\"https://unityarchiveproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Victoria.pdf\">18-month strike\u003c/a> that became one of the biggest organized labor victories of the 1980s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley’s activism didn’t stop, even as The Coup inked a major record deal and made their debut with the funky yet militant album \u003cem>Kill My Landlord\u003c/em> in 1993. In the mid ’90s, Riley helped lead a group called the Young Comrades to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1-k03bE8DY\">protest an anti-cruising law\u003c/a> that effectively criminalized Black youth hanging out at Lake Merritt. (A 1996 \u003cem>Oakland Tribune\u003c/em> op-ed chastised them for “rudely and repeatedly” interrupting city council meetings.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988894\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988894\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boots Riley on the set of ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>His frontline work continued in the 2000s, when he organized guerrilla hip-hop concerts to protest a state law that increased criminal penalties for juvenile offenders. In 2011, during Occupy Oakland, he helped coordinate tens of thousands of people in a general strike that shut down the Port of Oakland. And in the years since, even as his star rose in Hollywood, he’s taken to the streets at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13851697/boots-riley-spoke-at-the-oakland-teachers-strike-heres-what-he-said\">teachers strikes\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13933709/oakland-filmmaker-boots-riley-on-hollywood-strikes-radicalizing-creative-class\">the Hollywood writers strike\u003c/a> and anti-ICE protests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The idea then was the same as my idea now,” Riley says of his evolution, “which is to get the working class involved in class struggle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The absurdity of the rat race\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>Riley operates in a different mode than the political theorist version of himself that gives erudite speeches at rallies and in \u003cem>Democracy Now\u003c/em> interviews. As a screenwriter and director, he’s weirder and looser, submerging viewers in a candy-colored world where he amplifies every indignity of life as a low-wage worker. The effect is hilarious, yet maddening enough to make viewers want to join the characters on the picket line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Corvette and the Velvet Gang get jobs at Christie Smith’s fast-fashion chain, 30-second lunch breaks that start like track-and-field races leave them panting; their paychecks amount to chump change because they’re forced to buy designer outfits to wear on the job. Later, when we meet Jianhu, we find out the Chinese factory workers are sick because Smith orders them to distress denim by sandblasting it with absurdly large amounts of industrial chemicals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989010 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González (left), Boots Riley (center), director of the movie “I Love Boosters,” and actress Poppy Liu (right) pose at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is part of Boots’ genius in that he wields satire as a genre really expertly,” says Poppy Liu, whose sharp-tongued Jianhu is an unexpected moral center of the film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Corvette loses her housing and is squatting in an abandoned fast-food restaurant, unable to see the bigger picture of class solidarity because her mounting financial problems pose the more immediate threat. Her fixation on Smith feels personal, tinged with admiration and jealousy. It’s Jianhu who realizes that joining Corvette in her vendetta can lead to massive gains for exploited laborers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two characters’ dynamic embodies a lesson about coalition-building that Riley learned in his organizing days. “People start making sacrifices for each other because they start understanding how intertwined things are,” he says. “It starts with understanding that a situation in which people have solidarity is helping your own personal interests as well. And from that grows a different kind of consciousness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Honestly, those themes were the biggest thing that got me excited about the movie,” Liu says.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Making class solidarity accessible\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Other cast members had different entry points into the sometimes heady political ideas in \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>. For Eiza González, it was personal conversations with Riley about her family in Mexico; she shared that her mom was one of eight children from a humble family that couldn’t afford basic necessities like healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>González’s cool-girl Violeta is a secret wonk who delivers a passionate monologue about the Marxist concept of dialectical materialism at a crucial turning point in the film. She mustered the fire for her role as conversations on set turned to how, across cultures and borders, working people struggle to get by as the 1% makes record profits from their labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989008 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González poses at a red carpet event for the movie, ‘I Love Boosters,’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He weirdly built the characters with us without us realizing, if that makes sense, which was amazing,” González says. “It was a different experience, but once you were in the character, you were believing it at its core.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While LaKeith Stanfield, who starred in \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>, shares many of Riley’s viewpoints on class inequality, he brings a wackiness and levity to \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> that helps make the film accessible and entertaining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989011 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actor LaKeith Stanfield poses at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Anytime I can just be a part of a Boots Riley movie, I mean, even if I’m playing someone’s toe, I’m glad to be there,” Stanfield says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His character is a supernatural being who uses his oral sex skills for nefarious ends, and he brings much-needed hilarity to a story that’s largely about labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that people can be entertained and have a good laugh and gawk at the spectacle,” Stanfield says, “but also maybe look into some of our industry and … what effects we have on the global market and global labor. And also maybe take a look at, hopefully, the importance of us being a unit and being together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Thorny questions around Hollywood money\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Making a wide-release feature film with a not-so-secret socialist agenda has its challenges — chiefly, getting it funded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For all who are eager to praise Riley’s activist bona fides (“He’s always been an anti-capitalist baddie,” Liu says), some observers on social media have criticized his willingness to take money from the film’s executive producer, Annapurna Pictures founder and Oracle heiress Megan Ellison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988897\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13988897 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x974.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x78.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x374.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x748.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x998.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige and Keke Palmer star in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ellison hasn’t donated to political campaigns and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/megan-ellison-second-coming-nimona-1235842667/\">tends to finance left-leaning prestige cinema\u003c/a>. But her father, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/06/nx-s1-5560216/who-is-larry-ellison-the-billionaire-trump-friend-whos-part-of-the-tiktok-takeover\">far-right billionaire Larry Ellison\u003c/a>, and her brother, David, head a media empire that controls a massive swath of television, film and social media, including Paramount, TikTok and, if a pending deal goes through, Warner Brothers Discovery. The senior Ellison has been accused of \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-05-08/press-freedom-groups-allege-larry-ellison-has-promised-to-fire-cnn-anchors\">wielding his power to silence President Donald Trump’s critics\u003c/a>. So the source of Megan Ellison’s wealth has \u003ca href=\"https://brokeassstuart.com/p/wait-they-re-trying-to-cancel-boots-riley-now\">drawn scrutiny from some would-be supporters of Riley’s work\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Has Riley ever felt tension around using the Hollywood system to tell his anti-capitalist stories? He says no.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m not trying to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve got a pure way for you to take in your entertainment,’” he says.[aside postID=arts_13989013 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00657_TV_qed.jpg']“From the theater chains to the streamers, to the studios and funders big enough to do something that’s big enough for millions of people to see — you’re there,” he continues. “You’re mixed up in everything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em> started its theatrical run in only 100 theaters, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> will hit 2,500 screens Memorial Day weekend. After its world premiere at South By Southwest, Riley has been building word-of-mouth hype by throwing small screenings on college campuses, where he’s shown up to talk to students personally. But grassroots campaigning alone can’t create the magnitude of impact he’s aiming for, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you don’t have a goal of revolution, then it’s easier to say, ‘Hey, I just need to have my hands clean of this, and let me make a commune in the woods,’” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley is hopeful that the kind of radical social change he’s spent his life advocating for will come. He points to the post-pandemic strike wave, during which the U.S. saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/\">280% increase in strikes in 2023 from the year before\u003c/a>. More recently, in January of this year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/minneapolis-minnesotas-general-strike-ice-border-patrol-trump/\">Minnesota unions and activists mounted a one-day general strike\u003c/a> to protest ICE abuses in their city, inspiring similar actions across the nation. For Riley, it’s only the beginning. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>he wants to remind viewers of their ability to stand together and tip the scales of power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want the result of millions of people getting involved in class struggle, joining organizations, all of that,” he says, “because that is the only thing that can actually change the situation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "With his stylish new satire, the Oakland director places a bet that art can fuel a mass labor movement. \r\n",
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"title": "Can Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Make the Revolution Sexy? | KQED",
"description": "With his stylish new satire, the Oakland director places a bet that art can fuel a mass labor movement. \r\n",
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"headline": "Can Boots Riley’s ‘I Love Boosters’ Make the Revolution Sexy?",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>When \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/boots-riley\">Boots Riley\u003c/a> looks back at his debut feature, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13836455/in-sorry-to-bother-you-an-alternate-universe-oakland-is-still-true-and-familiar\">\u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, it’s not the rave reviews, near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score or $18 million in box office revenue that stand out. It’s the messages he got from labor organizers. Dozens wrote to tell him they swayed their colleagues to form unions or authorize strikes after showing them his film, about a call center worker who discovers a shady corporate conspiracy to turn people into literal workhorses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There was a story of a guy in Baltimore who told me that there was going to be a 60-person show of hands on whether they want to make a union,” Riley tells KQED. “It was going to be kind of a nail-biter. … [Then] somebody yelled, ‘Equasapiens! Let’s be out!’ And then the whole crowd erupted in laughter, and every single person raised their hands.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Set in the Bay Area, Riley’s sophomore film \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> follows Corvette (Keke Palmer), Mariah (Taylour Paige) and Sade (Naomi Ackie) as they steal high-end designer clothes and resell them at discount prices. In their eyes, they’re doing fashion-forward (f)ilanthropy while keeping themselves financially afloat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before long, their cartoonish heists get them caught up in a rivalry with the elitist fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore), whose lofty diatribes about her art cloak a conservative, tough-on-crime political agenda. The Velvet Gang, as the boosters are known, join forces with retail worker Violeta (Eiza González) and Chinese garment worker Jianhu (Poppy Liu) to take down Smith through a surreal scheme that unspools reality and unveils a heinous secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using art to fuel a mass working-class movement has been an ambition of Riley’s since he got his start as a rapper in the early ’90s with his group, The Coup. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>, the 55-year-old activist-turned-director arrives at a new height of his career: His first wide-release feature, with a star-studded cast, backing from prestige production company NEON and a $20 million budget, all to create a technicolor, eye-popping ode to the power of collective organizing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988896\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988896\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x879.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x70.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x338.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x675.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_03_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x900.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Keke Palmer, Poppy Liu and Taylour Paige in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Riley has spent years \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrYJALWWLE&t=1s\">giving talks\u003c/a> about how, a century ago, labor strikes forced politicians to create basic social welfare programs that helped lift working people out of poverty. He wants to bring that back. “We need a mass, militant, radical labor movement that uses the withholding of labor as a tactic and strategy to affect policy change,” he says. With today’s income inequality \u003ca href=\"https://robertreich.substack.com/p/from-the-robber-barons-to-elon-musk\">drawing comparisons to the Gilded Age\u003c/a>, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> is Riley’s bet on whether he can make the revolution sexy, and whether he can use the ultra-capitalist Hollywood system for his decidedly anti-capitalist ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What gets people to get involved in things is not anger or fear,” Riley says. “It’s optimism that there’s something that they can do. And so that’s what my writing normally is, is pointing to what actually can be done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Boots on the ground\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Long before he touched the microphone or picked up a camera, Riley was a community organizer. Born in Chicago and raised in Oakland by activist parents (his father, civil rights lawyer \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/lift-every-voice/article/Walter-Riley-16219770.php\">Walter Riley\u003c/a>, fought segregation in the South and later participated in San Francisco State University’s Third World Liberation strikes), Riley was 14 years old when neighborhood organizers recruited him and other youth to support Watsonville Cannery workers. He passed out flyers and helped organize rallies as the workers waged an \u003ca href=\"https://unityarchiveproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Victoria.pdf\">18-month strike\u003c/a> that became one of the biggest organized labor victories of the 1980s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley’s activism didn’t stop, even as The Coup inked a major record deal and made their debut with the funky yet militant album \u003cem>Kill My Landlord\u003c/em> in 1993. In the mid ’90s, Riley helped lead a group called the Young Comrades to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1-k03bE8DY\">protest an anti-cruising law\u003c/a> that effectively criminalized Black youth hanging out at Lake Merritt. (A 1996 \u003cem>Oakland Tribune\u003c/em> op-ed chastised them for “rudely and repeatedly” interrupting city council meetings.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988894\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13988894\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x1334.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_BTS_02_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boots Riley on the set of ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>His frontline work continued in the 2000s, when he organized guerrilla hip-hop concerts to protest a state law that increased criminal penalties for juvenile offenders. In 2011, during Occupy Oakland, he helped coordinate tens of thousands of people in a general strike that shut down the Port of Oakland. And in the years since, even as his star rose in Hollywood, he’s taken to the streets at \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13851697/boots-riley-spoke-at-the-oakland-teachers-strike-heres-what-he-said\">teachers strikes\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13933709/oakland-filmmaker-boots-riley-on-hollywood-strikes-radicalizing-creative-class\">the Hollywood writers strike\u003c/a> and anti-ICE protests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The idea then was the same as my idea now,” Riley says of his evolution, “which is to get the working class involved in class struggle.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The absurdity of the rat race\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>Riley operates in a different mode than the political theorist version of himself that gives erudite speeches at rallies and in \u003cem>Democracy Now\u003c/em> interviews. As a screenwriter and director, he’s weirder and looser, submerging viewers in a candy-colored world where he amplifies every indignity of life as a low-wage worker. The effect is hilarious, yet maddening enough to make viewers want to join the characters on the picket line.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Corvette and the Velvet Gang get jobs at Christie Smith’s fast-fashion chain, 30-second lunch breaks that start like track-and-field races leave them panting; their paychecks amount to chump change because they’re forced to buy designer outfits to wear on the job. Later, when we meet Jianhu, we find out the Chinese factory workers are sick because Smith orders them to distress denim by sandblasting it with absurdly large amounts of industrial chemicals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989010\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989010 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00644_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González (left), Boots Riley (center), director of the movie “I Love Boosters,” and actress Poppy Liu (right) pose at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is part of Boots’ genius in that he wields satire as a genre really expertly,” says Poppy Liu, whose sharp-tongued Jianhu is an unexpected moral center of the film.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Corvette loses her housing and is squatting in an abandoned fast-food restaurant, unable to see the bigger picture of class solidarity because her mounting financial problems pose the more immediate threat. Her fixation on Smith feels personal, tinged with admiration and jealousy. It’s Jianhu who realizes that joining Corvette in her vendetta can lead to massive gains for exploited laborers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two characters’ dynamic embodies a lesson about coalition-building that Riley learned in his organizing days. “People start making sacrifices for each other because they start understanding how intertwined things are,” he says. “It starts with understanding that a situation in which people have solidarity is helping your own personal interests as well. And from that grows a different kind of consciousness.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Honestly, those themes were the biggest thing that got me excited about the movie,” Liu says.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Making class solidarity accessible\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Other cast members had different entry points into the sometimes heady political ideas in \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em>. For Eiza González, it was personal conversations with Riley about her family in Mexico; she shared that her mom was one of eight children from a humble family that couldn’t afford basic necessities like healthcare.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>González’s cool-girl Violeta is a secret wonk who delivers a passionate monologue about the Marxist concept of dialectical materialism at a crucial turning point in the film. She mustered the fire for her role as conversations on set turned to how, across cultures and borders, working people struggle to get by as the 1% makes record profits from their labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989008\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989008 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00277_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actress Eiza González poses at a red carpet event for the movie, ‘I Love Boosters,’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“He weirdly built the characters with us without us realizing, if that makes sense, which was amazing,” González says. “It was a different experience, but once you were in the character, you were believing it at its core.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While LaKeith Stanfield, who starred in \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em>, shares many of Riley’s viewpoints on class inequality, he brings a wackiness and levity to \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> that helps make the film accessible and entertaining.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989011\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13989011 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/260428-iloveboostersredcarpet00222_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Actor LaKeith Stanfield poses at a red carpet event for the movie ‘I Love Boosters’ near the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland on April 28, 2026. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Anytime I can just be a part of a Boots Riley movie, I mean, even if I’m playing someone’s toe, I’m glad to be there,” Stanfield says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His character is a supernatural being who uses his oral sex skills for nefarious ends, and he brings much-needed hilarity to a story that’s largely about labor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope that people can be entertained and have a good laugh and gawk at the spectacle,” Stanfield says, “but also maybe look into some of our industry and … what effects we have on the global market and global labor. And also maybe take a look at, hopefully, the importance of us being a unit and being together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Thorny questions around Hollywood money\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Making a wide-release feature film with a not-so-secret socialist agenda has its challenges — chiefly, getting it funded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For all who are eager to praise Riley’s activist bona fides (“He’s always been an anti-capitalist baddie,” Liu says), some observers on social media have criticized his willingness to take money from the film’s executive producer, Annapurna Pictures founder and Oracle heiress Megan Ellison.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13988897\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-13988897 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1247\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2000x974.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-160x78.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-768x374.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-1536x748.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/I-LOVE-BOOSTERS_Still_01_Cropped_Courtesy-of-NEON-2048x998.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige and Keke Palmer star in ‘I Love Boosters.’ \u003ccite>(Courtesy of NEON)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ellison hasn’t donated to political campaigns and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/megan-ellison-second-coming-nimona-1235842667/\">tends to finance left-leaning prestige cinema\u003c/a>. But her father, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/06/nx-s1-5560216/who-is-larry-ellison-the-billionaire-trump-friend-whos-part-of-the-tiktok-takeover\">far-right billionaire Larry Ellison\u003c/a>, and her brother, David, head a media empire that controls a massive swath of television, film and social media, including Paramount, TikTok and, if a pending deal goes through, Warner Brothers Discovery. The senior Ellison has been accused of \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2026-05-08/press-freedom-groups-allege-larry-ellison-has-promised-to-fire-cnn-anchors\">wielding his power to silence President Donald Trump’s critics\u003c/a>. So the source of Megan Ellison’s wealth has \u003ca href=\"https://brokeassstuart.com/p/wait-they-re-trying-to-cancel-boots-riley-now\">drawn scrutiny from some would-be supporters of Riley’s work\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Has Riley ever felt tension around using the Hollywood system to tell his anti-capitalist stories? He says no.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m not trying to be like, ‘Oh, I’ve got a pure way for you to take in your entertainment,’” he says.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“From the theater chains to the streamers, to the studios and funders big enough to do something that’s big enough for millions of people to see — you’re there,” he continues. “You’re mixed up in everything.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003cem>Sorry to Bother You\u003c/em> started its theatrical run in only 100 theaters, \u003cem>I Love Boosters\u003c/em> will hit 2,500 screens Memorial Day weekend. After its world premiere at South By Southwest, Riley has been building word-of-mouth hype by throwing small screenings on college campuses, where he’s shown up to talk to students personally. But grassroots campaigning alone can’t create the magnitude of impact he’s aiming for, he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you don’t have a goal of revolution, then it’s easier to say, ‘Hey, I just need to have my hands clean of this, and let me make a commune in the woods,’” he says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riley is hopeful that the kind of radical social change he’s spent his life advocating for will come. He points to the post-pandemic strike wave, during which the U.S. saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.epi.org/publication/major-strike-activity-in-2023/\">280% increase in strikes in 2023 from the year before\u003c/a>. More recently, in January of this year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/02/minneapolis-minnesotas-general-strike-ice-border-patrol-trump/\">Minnesota unions and activists mounted a one-day general strike\u003c/a> to protest ICE abuses in their city, inspiring similar actions across the nation. For Riley, it’s only the beginning. With \u003cem>I Love Boosters, \u003c/em>he wants to remind viewers of their ability to stand together and tip the scales of power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want the result of millions of people getting involved in class struggle, joining organizations, all of that,” he says, “because that is the only thing that can actually change the situation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "best-swimming-spots-public-pools-rivers-lakes-beaches-holes-bay-area",
"title": "Beat the Heat at These Top 20 Swimming Spots in the Bay Area",
"publishDate": 1779458403,
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"headTitle": "Beat the Heat at These Top 20 Swimming Spots in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976488\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976488\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633.jpg\" alt=\"Young kids in swimwear getting soaked by falling water\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1443\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-800x577.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-1020x736.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-160x115.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-768x554.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-1536x1108.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-1920x1385.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From public pools and beaches to waterparks like Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Concord (pictured), swimming spots in the Bay Area are plentiful all summer. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2025\">2025 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warmer \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area-weather\">Bay Area weather\u003c/a> has finally arrived, and there are few better ways to enjoy the summer to its fullest than by going for a dip outdoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily, the Bay Area offers an abundance of places to take advantage of the heat, whether it’s getting laps in at a local open-air pool, wading at nearby lakes and rivers or diving into the San Francisco Bay itself. Keep reading our round-up of idyllic Bay Area outdoor swimming spots, as recommended by local experts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">prioritize safety when swimming\u003c/a>, and consider bringing along a wetsuit and a flotation device to ensure you stay safe and warm – especially in waters like the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re reading this while the Bay Area is wrapped in summer fog? \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13963334/your-guide-to-bay-area-spas-and-hot-springs\">Try our local hot springs and spas guide instead\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jump straight to:\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#bay-area-beaches-to-swim\">Bay Area beaches for swimming\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#bay-area-outdoor-swimming-pools\">Bay Area outdoor swimming pools\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#lakes-rivers-bay-area-swimming\">Bay Area rivers and lakes\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#waterparks-in-bay-area\">Bay Area waterparks\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"bay-area-beaches-to-swim\">\u003c/a>Bay Area beaches for swimming\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976474\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976474\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors wade in the water at Angel Island’s Quarry Beach on March 2, 2025. \u003ccite>(Casey Dexter-Lee/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Ayala Cove, Angel Island\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Accessible by ferry \u003ca href=\"https://www.goldengate.org/ferry/route-schedule/angel-island-sf/\">from San Francisco\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://angelislandferry.com/schedule\">Tiburon\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://angelisland.org/history/ayala-cove/\">Angel Island’s Ayala Cove\u003c/a> feels a world away from the bustle of the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This small strip of sandy beach is just a short walk from the ferry dock, with waters that are fairly protected from strong bay currents and an expansive grassy picnic area equipped with tables and barbecues.Bathrooms and the Angel Island Café\u003cb>, \u003c/b>which has a full menu of meals and drinks\u003cb>, \u003c/b>are also on hand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='science_1993633']If you’re worried about swimming in the Bay, be reassured that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12020761/is-it-safe-to-swim-in-the-bay-braving-the-cold-and-sometimes-dirty-water\">it’s generally safe – plus, it’s free\u003c/a>. Nonetheless, no lifeguards are on duty here, and Angel Island State Park Interpreter Casey Dexter-Lee cautioned swimmers to remember they’ll be sharing this cold water with boats, which will frequently dock here for the day or drop anchor for sailors to take a dip. Swimmers should also be vigilant for currents, which can pick up quickly here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>If you’re looking for a little more adventure, Dexter-Lee suggested hiking a couple of miles from the cove to \u003ca href=\"https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/angel-island-perimeter-loop\">Quarry Beach or Perles Beach\u003c/a>, both of which offer spectacular south-facing views of the city. Be warned that the swimming on the south side is a little more exposed to wind and currents – and “make sure to save a little energy for the hike back,” Dexter-Lee said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Ferry tickets from San Francisco cost $15.50 each way ($9.50 with Clipper card), which also covers the park entrance fee. Youth and seniors pay $8 per ticket from San Francisco. From Tiburon, ferry tickets cost $18 for the round trip for adults, with discounts for kids and seniors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976475\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976475\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-800x532.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-1920x1278.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the pier at China Camp State Park in 2009. \u003ccite>(Brian Baer/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>China Camp and McNears Beach, San Rafael\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the shores of San Pablo Bay are two adjacent outdoor swimming spots: \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=466\">China Camp State Park\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://parks.marincounty.gov/parkspreserves/parks/mcnears-beach-park\">McNears Beach Park\u003c/a>, the first a state park and the second managed by Marin County Parks. Each offers a sandy shoreline ideal for swimmers plus convenient park facilities like bathrooms, barbecues and group picnic areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If more protected swimming is your goal, McNears Beach Park also offers a swimming pool that’s typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. According to Marin County Park and Open Space Superintendent Ari Golan, the county hopes to open the pool on May 24 this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One challenge of this spot: Since it’s one of the few free parks and pools in the area, weekends can get crowded with limited parking and lines to enter. If you can, Golan recommends visiting Tuesday through Thursday instead for the best experience (the pool is closed on Mondays) – or as he puts it, “more pool and less people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re specifically looking to swim out into the bay, a popular place to enter the water is at China Camp, just to the north of McNears. The Friends of China Camp, the local nonprofit that runs events and manages picnic and camping reservations at the state park, \u003ca href=\"https://friendsofchinacamp.org/water-safety-smarts/\">suggest checking wind directions and tide charts before you head out\u003c/a> – there’s nothing worse than rolling up, ready to dive in, when all you see is mud, said China Camp park manager Chris Young. This preparation will also help swimmers plan for tidal currents and aim for “slack tides,” when the tide is going neither in nor out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Young also suggested wearing tight-fitting shoes in the water to protect your feet from sharp rocks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Pro tip: \u003c/i>While you’re at China Camp beach, \u003ca href=\"https://friendsofchinacamp.org/about-china-camp/history/\">visit the museum at China Camp Village\u003c/a> that recounts the history of the site, which housed around 500 Chinese shrimp fishers in the 1880s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: China Camp costs $5 for parking and entry or $3 without parking. McNears Beach Park has no entry fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Crown Beach, Alameda\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The water is shallow and warm. The currents aren’t very strong. The city views are unbeatable. What more could you want?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While there are no lifeguards on duty at Alameda’s Crown Beach, changing rooms and showers are stationed nearby, and the beach is also wheelchair accessible, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/crown-beach\">free beach wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-serve basis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip:\u003c/b> Consider visiting Crown Beach in the morning, as the wind tends to pick up most afternoons, making those hours more ideal for kite and windsurfing than swimming. The East Bay Regional Parks District also \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/crown-beach\">publishes water quality reports\u003c/a> on its website, so you can confirm that the beach is open and swimming conditions are safe before you head out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: Free to enter the beach, parking is $5.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976478\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976478\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olivia Noceda), center, and Jessica Lazarus prepare for a swim at Aquatic Park Cove on August 26, 2024 in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Aquatic Park, San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A favorite spot of KQED’s own Bianca Taylor, host and producer of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/thelatest\">\u003ci>The Latest \u003c/i>podcast\u003c/a>\u003ci>,\u003c/i> is right in front of Ghirardelli Square at \u003ca href=\"http://nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/aquatic-park-bathhouse.htm\">San Francisco’s Aquatic Park\u003c/a>. There, you can lay a towel out on the bleachers and swim to the buoys that line the shore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, the water is cold, with lows of 49 degrees in winter and highs of 65 in late summer. It’s also murky – even with goggles, be prepared to see nothing – and comes with the usual risks of swimming in the wild. (Yes, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/seal-bites-swimmer-san-francisco-aquatic-park-17858852.php\">seal bites are a thing.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, there’s nothing like floating on your back with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge to the west and the Salesforce Tower to the east, Taylor said. And if you’re still hesitant to take the plunge, \u003ca href=\"https://ggtc.org/swimming-in-aquatic-park\">Golden Gate Triathlon Club has valuable safety tips and route ideas for swimmers new to the park.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Leave any valuables at home, as the area is known for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959477/car-break-ins-bay-area-glass-repair-what-to-do\">car break-ins\u003c/a>. After your swim, Taylor recommends heading to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cafedecasa.com/stores/fisherman's-wharf\">Cafe de Casa\u003c/a> at Fisherman’s Wharf to warm up with a coffee and Brazilian pastry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>There is no cost to swim in the water at Aquatic Park, but parking close by will be metered – so you can save a few bucks by biking or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/trip-planner\">taking transit to the park.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976479\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976479\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kayaks await their passengers at Heart’s Desire Beach in Tomales Bay State Park in 2021. \u003ccite>(Brian Baer/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Heart’s Desire Beach, Point Reyes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Just a short drive from the entrance to the Tomales Bay State Park in Point Reyes National Seashore is \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=470\">Heart’s Desire Beach\u003c/a>, an oasis on the shores of shallow Tomales Bay – which tends to be quite a bit warmer than the deeper waters of the San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beach is peaceful enough to enjoy by itself, with picnic tables and barbecues available for use. But if you’re looking for a little more adventure, the shoreline is riddled with small, hidden beaches and rocky coves that are close enough to swim out to. While you’re enjoying the beach, make sure to keep your eyes peeled overhead for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_birds.htm\">bald eagles, which nest nearby\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, there are sometimes leopard sharks and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1996552/thousands-mysterious-blue-creatures-bay-area-beaches-san-francisco\">blue jellyfish-like creatures\u003c/a> in these waters. And no, they generally won’t hurt you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Pro tip: \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bluewaterskayaking.com/rentals/\">Blue Waters Kayaking operates kayak\u003c/a> and stand-up paddle board rentals on the shores of Heart’s Desire beach itself. Get a reservation in advance for busy weekends or try for a walk-up rental during quieter times. They also have a location in Point Reyes Station and offer drop-off rentals if you’d prefer to launch from a different location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: $8 per vehicle for the park entrance fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"bay-area-outdoor-swimming-pools\">\u003c/a>Bay Area public outdoor swimming pools\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976482\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976482\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A woman prepares to lap swim at Golden Bear Rec Center Pool at UC Berkeley. \u003ccite>(UC Berkeley)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Strawberry Canyon Pool and Golden Bear Pool, UC Berkeley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>UC Berkeley’s campus houses four pools, two of which are available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located at the gateway to \u003ca href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32066-d9732891-Reviews-Berkeley_Fire_Trails-Berkeley_California.html\">Berkeley’s popular hillside fire trails\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/facilities/golden-bear-recreation-pool/\">Golden Bear Pool\u003c/a> is lap swim only, with six lanes available, so be sure to check their year-round public \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/schedules-reservations/lap-swim/\">swim schedule online\u003c/a> before you head out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nestled above campus in the hillside, the Z-shaped \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/facilities/strawberry-canyon-recreation-pool/\">Strawberry Canyon Pool\u003c/a> is the best family-friendly option, with just three lanes dedicated to lap swimming and the rest of the pool open for anyone to splash around and escape the heat. The pool is open seasonally from the end of May to mid-October. There are locker rooms, showers, kickboards and \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/facilities/strawberry-canyon-recreation-pool/\">wheelchair access to both the pool and its amenities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Since Cal students will be your competition for these pools, bear their schedules in mind when planning your visit. Weekdays during the mid-morning or early afternoon, when classes are most likely to be in session, could offer you the best shot at an uncrowded pool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Day passes cost $15 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Castle Rock Pool Complex, Walnut Creek\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At the foot of Mt. Diablo is \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/castle-rock\">Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area\u003c/a>, which features a serene swimming pool that allows visitors to take full advantage of the East Bay’s natural beauty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Surrounded by oak woodlands below Pine Canyon’s famous rock formations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/castle-rock\">Castle Rock Pool Complex\u003c/a> is open on weekends from mid-May to mid-September and also on Thursdays and Fridays during the height of summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>The pool is a full 10-minute walk from the parking lot, and once the swimming facility’s capacity is reached, no new entries are permitted that day – so get there early on hot, busy weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>$5 for adults, $3 for youth and seniors and free for kids under 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Mission Pool, San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>[aside postID='arts_13975794']The only outdoor city-operated pool in San Francisco is \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Mission-Community-Pool-217\">Mission Pool\u003c/a>, located on 19th Street in the sunny Mission District. The pool opens this year on May 10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just a block from Dolores Park, this is a prime spot for a swim when even the city is sweltering. Plus, it’s easily accessible via BART and Muni with lots of local businesses and food options nearby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>If you’re in the mood for something sweet before or after your swim, the famed Bi-Rite Creamery is a short two blocks away, offering seasonal and classic ice-cream flavors plus frozen treats like ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. The Creamery opened almost 20 years ago, while the historic Bi-Rite Market down the street dates from 1940.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $6 for adults and $1 for kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Burlingame Aquatics Center, Burlingame\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Peninsula offers what KQED’s Taylor calls “one of the nicest outdoor pools I have ever swum in.” At \u003ca href=\"https://www.burlingameaquatics.com/\">Burlingame Aquatics Center\u003c/a>, there are tons of lanes for \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificmasters.org/page.cfm?pagetitle=what+is+masters+swimming\">masters (18+) swimming\u003c/a>, recreational swimming and an aqua aerobics class.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check the schedule before you go, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.burlingameaquatics.com/Lapswim/\">open swim hours\u003c/a> are subject to change since the pool is often used for Burlingame High School classes, and may require lane reservations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Pro tip: \u003c/i>A short walk from the Burlingame Caltrain stop, this pool is easily transit accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: The $9 entry fee includes access to a locker room. Ages 3 and under swim for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976483\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976483\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-800x529.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-800x529.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-1020x674.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-768x508.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-1536x1016.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-2048x1354.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-1920x1270.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area News Group reporter Marisa Kendall is photographed at the Temescal swimming pool on Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. \u003ccite>(Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Temescal Pool, Oakland\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want to swim for exercise, Taylor recommends \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/learn-more-about-temescal-pool\">Temescal Pool\u003c/a> as a good outdoors spot for lap swimming (just \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/learn-more-about-temescal-pool\">check the schedule for those lap hours\u003c/a>). There’s also a large pool deck here, plus grassy areas for a post-swim lay out. The East Bay sunshine can be strong, so don’t forget to wear sunscreen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip:\u003c/b> This pool is actually 33 ⅓ yards long, as opposed to the traditional 25 yards, pushing swimmers to go those extra few strokes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Entry is $6 for lap swimming and $3 for recreational swimming.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"lakes-rivers-bay-area-swimming\">\u003c/a>Bay Area rivers and lakes you can swim in\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976484\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976484\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-800x540.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-1020x689.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-768x518.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-1536x1037.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-2048x1383.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-1920x1296.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Folks cool off as they play in Lake del Valle at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, Calif., on Saturday, July 13, 2019. \u003ccite>(Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Lake Del Valle, Livermore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ever wondered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11780692/why-cant-you-swim-in-most-of-the-bay-area-lakes\">why most “lakes” in the Bay Area aren’t swimmable\u003c/a>? The answer: they tend to actually be reservoirs for drinking water, meaning body contact with the water typically isn’t allowed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there \u003ci>is \u003c/i>one reservoir where you can happily (and legally) splash away: \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle\">Lake Del Valle\u003c/a> in Livermore. Part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/del-valle\">State Water Project\u003c/a>, a statewide system of drinking water storage and supply, this spot is exempted from the rule banning swimming in most Bay Area reservoirs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Del Valle Regional Park \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/del-valle\">has two swimming areas\u003c/a> that are monitored by lifeguards on the east and west sides of the lake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Swimming is far from Del Valle’s only attraction. The rest of the five-mile-long lake offers all sorts of water recreation and fishing, not to mention the nearly 4,500 acres open to hiking and horseback riding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $10 fee to park at Del Valle Regional Park.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lake Temescal, Oakland, and Lake Anza, Berkeley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hidden in the Berkeley Hills are the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/temescal\">Temescal Regional Recreation Area\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden\">Tilden Regional Park\u003c/a>, both offering safe and kid-friendly swimming areas that have lifeguards on duty in the summer months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sheltered from the wind and up away from the fog, these swim areas may especially appeal to San Franciscans for whom the city summers aren’t quite feeling hot enough. Both \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/lake-temescal\">Lake Temescal\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/lake-anza\">Lake Anza\u003c/a> have full beach amenities like refreshment stands, changing rooms and showers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip:\u003c/b> Both lakes are tested weekly for bacteria levels, but if you’re still If worried, pay a visit in the late spring or early summer, before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1993633/algal-blooms-love-heat-waves-when-is-bay-area-swimming-dangerous-for-humans-and-pets\">the heat of the summer produces algae blooms\u003c/a> that can sometimes close these waters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: Entry is $5 to enter and $3 for seniors and kids, while infants under 2 enter for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Don Castro and Cull Canyon, Castro Valley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a safe spot for kids to get used to the water, these two shallow swim spots in the Castro Valley might fit the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Combining the natural beauty of a lagoon with the safety features of a pool, both \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/don-castro\">Don Castro\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/cull-canyon\">Cull Canyon\u003c/a> have large, sandy beaches, extensive lawns and shallow chlorinated water for swimmers of any age and ability to safely enjoy a summer’s day. The two lagoons are also monitored by lifeguards and feature full pool amenities like bathhouses and vending machines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both spots open first on weekends only in the spring and then every day during peak summer months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Although barbecues and picnic tables are aplenty for you to settle in for a full day in the sun, no alcohol is allowed at either spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> Both spots charge $5 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors, but kids under 2 swim for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976485\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976485\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A boy dons a life jacket and prepares for a swim at Steelhead Beach Regional Park on the Russian River. \u003ccite>(Sonoma County Regional Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Russian River, Sonoma County\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area residents looking to cool off head to the Russian River, where water – and access to the shore – is plentiful. Try the protected \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/healdsburg-veterans-memorial-beach\">Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/cloverdale-river-park\">Cloverdale River Park\u003c/a> for superior wildlife viewing. \u003ca href=\"https://www.mrrpd.org/monte-rio-beach/\">Monte Rio Beach\u003c/a>, meanwhile, is a favorite for family beach days, with boat rentals and volleyball courts onsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Russian River is usually pristine and calm, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">swimming in any river isn’t entirely without risk\u003c/a>. That’s why Greg Desmond, aquatics and recreation supervisor for Sonoma County Regional Parks, particularly recommends Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, where a dam creates an area deep enough to swim but lifeguards are also on duty. And from Memorial Day to Labor Day, \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/play/swimming/russian-river-patrol\">the county deploys a river patrol\u003c/a> to help people floating the river or enjoying the beach with life jackets and safety tips.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t want people to be afraid of the water, but just take the necessary precautions,” Desmond said. “If you’re not a strong swimmer, try to stay out of the deep end.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>At Healdsburg and nearby beaches \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/del-rio-woods\">Del Rio Woods\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/steelhead-beach-regional-park\">Steelhead Beach\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/forestville-river-access\">Forestville River Access\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/sunset-beach-river-park\">Sunset Beach\u003c/a>, the county parks department provides free life vests for visitors to borrow all day. “It’s sort of like a library for life jackets,” Desmond said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Parking at Sonoma County Regional Parks is $10 in the summer and $7 the rest of the year. Monte Rio Beach has no entry fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"waterparks-in-bay-area\">\u003c/a>… and don’t forget Bay Area waterparks\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976486\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976486\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-2048x1364.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-1920x1279.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids of all ages seek relief from the sweltering heat at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor waterpark in Concord, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2019. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’re comfortable with a somewhat more noisy and crowded – and costly – outdoor aquatic experience, the Bay Area offers several popular waterparks:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Concord\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The biggest water park in the Bay Area, with a lazy river for those seeking a more relaxed experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Online tickets cost $34 per person, which rises to $70 at the gate. Kids under 3 enter for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Aqua Adventure Water Park, Fremont\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Best for young kids, this spot tends to be less busy and a more relaxed environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>$27 for adults ($25 for Fremont residents), $22 for kids. Discounts for seniors, military, large groups and kids under 3.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Antioch Water Park, Antioch\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ideal for families, this Contra Costa water park offers lots of space for spreading out and picnicking all day long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $17 on weekends, $15 on weekdays, with discounts for seniors, military and large groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>South Bay Shores at California’s Great America, Santa Clara\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Pro: A full range of water slide heights and speeds. Con: Lines can get long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Tickets, which include admission to the full amusement park, are $42 online but $70 at the gate, with military and first responder discounts.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Golfland Sunsplash, Roseville\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Further afield northeast of Sacramento, Golfland Sunsplash has intense slides, a killer wave pool and night slide admission after 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $63 on weekends for adults and $53 for kids, plus discounts on weekdays and for toddlers.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "From public pools and beaches to lakes and rivers, here are the best places to swim outdoors in the Bay Area this summer.",
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"title": "The 20 Best Swimming Spots and Public Pools in the Bay Area | KQED",
"description": "From public pools and beaches to lakes and rivers, here are the best places to swim outdoors in the Bay Area this summer.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976488\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976488\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633.jpg\" alt=\"Young kids in swimwear getting soaked by falling water\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1443\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-800x577.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-1020x736.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-160x115.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-768x554.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-1536x1108.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780633-1920x1385.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From public pools and beaches to waterparks like Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Concord (pictured), swimming spots in the Bay Area are plentiful all summer. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Be sure to check out our full \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/summer-guide-2025\">2025 Summer Arts Guide to live music, movies, art, theater, festivals and more\u003c/a> in the Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warmer \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area-weather\">Bay Area weather\u003c/a> has finally arrived, and there are few better ways to enjoy the summer to its fullest than by going for a dip outdoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Luckily, the Bay Area offers an abundance of places to take advantage of the heat, whether it’s getting laps in at a local open-air pool, wading at nearby lakes and rivers or diving into the San Francisco Bay itself. Keep reading our round-up of idyllic Bay Area outdoor swimming spots, as recommended by local experts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">prioritize safety when swimming\u003c/a>, and consider bringing along a wetsuit and a flotation device to ensure you stay safe and warm – especially in waters like the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re reading this while the Bay Area is wrapped in summer fog? \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13963334/your-guide-to-bay-area-spas-and-hot-springs\">Try our local hot springs and spas guide instead\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Jump straight to:\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#bay-area-beaches-to-swim\">Bay Area beaches for swimming\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#bay-area-outdoor-swimming-pools\">Bay Area outdoor swimming pools\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#lakes-rivers-bay-area-swimming\">Bay Area rivers and lakes\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#waterparks-in-bay-area\">Bay Area waterparks\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"bay-area-beaches-to-swim\">\u003c/a>Bay Area beaches for swimming\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976474\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976474\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/IMG_8739-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors wade in the water at Angel Island’s Quarry Beach on March 2, 2025. \u003ccite>(Casey Dexter-Lee/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Ayala Cove, Angel Island\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Accessible by ferry \u003ca href=\"https://www.goldengate.org/ferry/route-schedule/angel-island-sf/\">from San Francisco\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://angelislandferry.com/schedule\">Tiburon\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://angelisland.org/history/ayala-cove/\">Angel Island’s Ayala Cove\u003c/a> feels a world away from the bustle of the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This small strip of sandy beach is just a short walk from the ferry dock, with waters that are fairly protected from strong bay currents and an expansive grassy picnic area equipped with tables and barbecues.Bathrooms and the Angel Island Café\u003cb>, \u003c/b>which has a full menu of meals and drinks\u003cb>, \u003c/b>are also on hand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>If you’re worried about swimming in the Bay, be reassured that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12020761/is-it-safe-to-swim-in-the-bay-braving-the-cold-and-sometimes-dirty-water\">it’s generally safe – plus, it’s free\u003c/a>. Nonetheless, no lifeguards are on duty here, and Angel Island State Park Interpreter Casey Dexter-Lee cautioned swimmers to remember they’ll be sharing this cold water with boats, which will frequently dock here for the day or drop anchor for sailors to take a dip. Swimmers should also be vigilant for currents, which can pick up quickly here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>If you’re looking for a little more adventure, Dexter-Lee suggested hiking a couple of miles from the cove to \u003ca href=\"https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/angel-island-perimeter-loop\">Quarry Beach or Perles Beach\u003c/a>, both of which offer spectacular south-facing views of the city. Be warned that the swimming on the south side is a little more exposed to wind and currents – and “make sure to save a little energy for the hike back,” Dexter-Lee said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Ferry tickets from San Francisco cost $15.50 each way ($9.50 with Clipper card), which also covers the park entrance fee. Youth and seniors pay $8 per ticket from San Francisco. From Tiburon, ferry tickets cost $18 for the round trip for adults, with discounts for kids and seniors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976475\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976475\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-800x532.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025-1920x1278.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/China-Camp-State-Park-_California-State-Parks-2025.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the pier at China Camp State Park in 2009. \u003ccite>(Brian Baer/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>China Camp and McNears Beach, San Rafael\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On the shores of San Pablo Bay are two adjacent outdoor swimming spots: \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=466\">China Camp State Park\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://parks.marincounty.gov/parkspreserves/parks/mcnears-beach-park\">McNears Beach Park\u003c/a>, the first a state park and the second managed by Marin County Parks. Each offers a sandy shoreline ideal for swimmers plus convenient park facilities like bathrooms, barbecues and group picnic areas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If more protected swimming is your goal, McNears Beach Park also offers a swimming pool that’s typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. According to Marin County Park and Open Space Superintendent Ari Golan, the county hopes to open the pool on May 24 this year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One challenge of this spot: Since it’s one of the few free parks and pools in the area, weekends can get crowded with limited parking and lines to enter. If you can, Golan recommends visiting Tuesday through Thursday instead for the best experience (the pool is closed on Mondays) – or as he puts it, “more pool and less people.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re specifically looking to swim out into the bay, a popular place to enter the water is at China Camp, just to the north of McNears. The Friends of China Camp, the local nonprofit that runs events and manages picnic and camping reservations at the state park, \u003ca href=\"https://friendsofchinacamp.org/water-safety-smarts/\">suggest checking wind directions and tide charts before you head out\u003c/a> – there’s nothing worse than rolling up, ready to dive in, when all you see is mud, said China Camp park manager Chris Young. This preparation will also help swimmers plan for tidal currents and aim for “slack tides,” when the tide is going neither in nor out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Young also suggested wearing tight-fitting shoes in the water to protect your feet from sharp rocks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Pro tip: \u003c/i>While you’re at China Camp beach, \u003ca href=\"https://friendsofchinacamp.org/about-china-camp/history/\">visit the museum at China Camp Village\u003c/a> that recounts the history of the site, which housed around 500 Chinese shrimp fishers in the 1880s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: China Camp costs $5 for parking and entry or $3 without parking. McNears Beach Park has no entry fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Crown Beach, Alameda\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The water is shallow and warm. The currents aren’t very strong. The city views are unbeatable. What more could you want?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While there are no lifeguards on duty at Alameda’s Crown Beach, changing rooms and showers are stationed nearby, and the beach is also wheelchair accessible, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/crown-beach\">free beach wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-serve basis\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip:\u003c/b> Consider visiting Crown Beach in the morning, as the wind tends to pick up most afternoons, making those hours more ideal for kite and windsurfing than swimming. The East Bay Regional Parks District also \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/crown-beach\">publishes water quality reports\u003c/a> on its website, so you can confirm that the beach is open and swimming conditions are safe before you head out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: Free to enter the beach, parking is $5.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976478\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976478\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-2167846275-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Olivia Noceda), center, and Jessica Lazarus prepare for a swim at Aquatic Park Cove on August 26, 2024 in San Francisco, California. \u003ccite>(Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Aquatic Park, San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A favorite spot of KQED’s own Bianca Taylor, host and producer of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/thelatest\">\u003ci>The Latest \u003c/i>podcast\u003c/a>\u003ci>,\u003c/i> is right in front of Ghirardelli Square at \u003ca href=\"http://nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/aquatic-park-bathhouse.htm\">San Francisco’s Aquatic Park\u003c/a>. There, you can lay a towel out on the bleachers and swim to the buoys that line the shore.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, the water is cold, with lows of 49 degrees in winter and highs of 65 in late summer. It’s also murky – even with goggles, be prepared to see nothing – and comes with the usual risks of swimming in the wild. (Yes, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/seal-bites-swimmer-san-francisco-aquatic-park-17858852.php\">seal bites are a thing.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, there’s nothing like floating on your back with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge to the west and the Salesforce Tower to the east, Taylor said. And if you’re still hesitant to take the plunge, \u003ca href=\"https://ggtc.org/swimming-in-aquatic-park\">Golden Gate Triathlon Club has valuable safety tips and route ideas for swimmers new to the park.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Leave any valuables at home, as the area is known for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959477/car-break-ins-bay-area-glass-repair-what-to-do\">car break-ins\u003c/a>. After your swim, Taylor recommends heading to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cafedecasa.com/stores/fisherman's-wharf\">Cafe de Casa\u003c/a> at Fisherman’s Wharf to warm up with a coffee and Brazilian pastry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>There is no cost to swim in the water at Aquatic Park, but parking close by will be metered – so you can save a few bucks by biking or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/trip-planner\">taking transit to the park.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976479\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976479\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/HeartsDesire._Courtesy-of-California-State-Parks-2025.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kayaks await their passengers at Heart’s Desire Beach in Tomales Bay State Park in 2021. \u003ccite>(Brian Baer/California State Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Heart’s Desire Beach, Point Reyes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Just a short drive from the entrance to the Tomales Bay State Park in Point Reyes National Seashore is \u003ca href=\"https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=470\">Heart’s Desire Beach\u003c/a>, an oasis on the shores of shallow Tomales Bay – which tends to be quite a bit warmer than the deeper waters of the San Francisco Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The beach is peaceful enough to enjoy by itself, with picnic tables and barbecues available for use. But if you’re looking for a little more adventure, the shoreline is riddled with small, hidden beaches and rocky coves that are close enough to swim out to. While you’re enjoying the beach, make sure to keep your eyes peeled overhead for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/wildlife_viewing_birds.htm\">bald eagles, which nest nearby\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yes, there are sometimes leopard sharks and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1996552/thousands-mysterious-blue-creatures-bay-area-beaches-san-francisco\">blue jellyfish-like creatures\u003c/a> in these waters. And no, they generally won’t hurt you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Pro tip: \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bluewaterskayaking.com/rentals/\">Blue Waters Kayaking operates kayak\u003c/a> and stand-up paddle board rentals on the shores of Heart’s Desire beach itself. Get a reservation in advance for busy weekends or try for a walk-up rental during quieter times. They also have a location in Point Reyes Station and offer drop-off rentals if you’d prefer to launch from a different location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: $8 per vehicle for the park entrance fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"bay-area-outdoor-swimming-pools\">\u003c/a>Bay Area public outdoor swimming pools\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976482\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976482\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Golden-Bear-UC-Berkeley-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A woman prepares to lap swim at Golden Bear Rec Center Pool at UC Berkeley. \u003ccite>(UC Berkeley)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Strawberry Canyon Pool and Golden Bear Pool, UC Berkeley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>UC Berkeley’s campus houses four pools, two of which are available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located at the gateway to \u003ca href=\"https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32066-d9732891-Reviews-Berkeley_Fire_Trails-Berkeley_California.html\">Berkeley’s popular hillside fire trails\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/facilities/golden-bear-recreation-pool/\">Golden Bear Pool\u003c/a> is lap swim only, with six lanes available, so be sure to check their year-round public \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/schedules-reservations/lap-swim/\">swim schedule online\u003c/a> before you head out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nestled above campus in the hillside, the Z-shaped \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/facilities/strawberry-canyon-recreation-pool/\">Strawberry Canyon Pool\u003c/a> is the best family-friendly option, with just three lanes dedicated to lap swimming and the rest of the pool open for anyone to splash around and escape the heat. The pool is open seasonally from the end of May to mid-October. There are locker rooms, showers, kickboards and \u003ca href=\"https://recwell.berkeley.edu/facilities/strawberry-canyon-recreation-pool/\">wheelchair access to both the pool and its amenities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Since Cal students will be your competition for these pools, bear their schedules in mind when planning your visit. Weekdays during the mid-morning or early afternoon, when classes are most likely to be in session, could offer you the best shot at an uncrowded pool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Day passes cost $15 per person.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Castle Rock Pool Complex, Walnut Creek\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At the foot of Mt. Diablo is \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/castle-rock\">Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area\u003c/a>, which features a serene swimming pool that allows visitors to take full advantage of the East Bay’s natural beauty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Surrounded by oak woodlands below Pine Canyon’s famous rock formations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/castle-rock\">Castle Rock Pool Complex\u003c/a> is open on weekends from mid-May to mid-September and also on Thursdays and Fridays during the height of summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>The pool is a full 10-minute walk from the parking lot, and once the swimming facility’s capacity is reached, no new entries are permitted that day – so get there early on hot, busy weekends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>$5 for adults, $3 for youth and seniors and free for kids under 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Mission Pool, San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The only outdoor city-operated pool in San Francisco is \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Mission-Community-Pool-217\">Mission Pool\u003c/a>, located on 19th Street in the sunny Mission District. The pool opens this year on May 10.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just a block from Dolores Park, this is a prime spot for a swim when even the city is sweltering. Plus, it’s easily accessible via BART and Muni with lots of local businesses and food options nearby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>If you’re in the mood for something sweet before or after your swim, the famed Bi-Rite Creamery is a short two blocks away, offering seasonal and classic ice-cream flavors plus frozen treats like ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. The Creamery opened almost 20 years ago, while the historic Bi-Rite Market down the street dates from 1940.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $6 for adults and $1 for kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Burlingame Aquatics Center, Burlingame\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Peninsula offers what KQED’s Taylor calls “one of the nicest outdoor pools I have ever swum in.” At \u003ca href=\"https://www.burlingameaquatics.com/\">Burlingame Aquatics Center\u003c/a>, there are tons of lanes for \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificmasters.org/page.cfm?pagetitle=what+is+masters+swimming\">masters (18+) swimming\u003c/a>, recreational swimming and an aqua aerobics class.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check the schedule before you go, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.burlingameaquatics.com/Lapswim/\">open swim hours\u003c/a> are subject to change since the pool is often used for Burlingame High School classes, and may require lane reservations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Pro tip: \u003c/i>A short walk from the Burlingame Caltrain stop, this pool is easily transit accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: The $9 entry fee includes access to a locker room. Ages 3 and under swim for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976483\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976483\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-800x529.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"529\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-800x529.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-1020x674.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-768x508.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-1536x1016.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-2048x1354.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1172431740-1920x1270.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area News Group reporter Marisa Kendall is photographed at the Temescal swimming pool on Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. \u003ccite>(Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Temescal Pool, Oakland\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you want to swim for exercise, Taylor recommends \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/learn-more-about-temescal-pool\">Temescal Pool\u003c/a> as a good outdoors spot for lap swimming (just \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/learn-more-about-temescal-pool\">check the schedule for those lap hours\u003c/a>). There’s also a large pool deck here, plus grassy areas for a post-swim lay out. The East Bay sunshine can be strong, so don’t forget to wear sunscreen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip:\u003c/b> This pool is actually 33 ⅓ yards long, as opposed to the traditional 25 yards, pushing swimmers to go those extra few strokes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Entry is $6 for lap swimming and $3 for recreational swimming.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"lakes-rivers-bay-area-swimming\">\u003c/a>Bay Area rivers and lakes you can swim in\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976484\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976484\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-800x540.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-1020x689.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-768x518.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-1536x1037.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-2048x1383.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298786410-1920x1296.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Folks cool off as they play in Lake del Valle at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, Calif., on Saturday, July 13, 2019. \u003ccite>(Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Lake Del Valle, Livermore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ever wondered \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11780692/why-cant-you-swim-in-most-of-the-bay-area-lakes\">why most “lakes” in the Bay Area aren’t swimmable\u003c/a>? The answer: they tend to actually be reservoirs for drinking water, meaning body contact with the water typically isn’t allowed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there \u003ci>is \u003c/i>one reservoir where you can happily (and legally) splash away: \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/del-valle\">Lake Del Valle\u003c/a> in Livermore. Part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/del-valle\">State Water Project\u003c/a>, a statewide system of drinking water storage and supply, this spot is exempted from the rule banning swimming in most Bay Area reservoirs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Del Valle Regional Park \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/del-valle\">has two swimming areas\u003c/a> that are monitored by lifeguards on the east and west sides of the lake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Swimming is far from Del Valle’s only attraction. The rest of the five-mile-long lake offers all sorts of water recreation and fishing, not to mention the nearly 4,500 acres open to hiking and horseback riding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $10 fee to park at Del Valle Regional Park.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lake Temescal, Oakland, and Lake Anza, Berkeley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Hidden in the Berkeley Hills are the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/temescal\">Temescal Regional Recreation Area\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/tilden\">Tilden Regional Park\u003c/a>, both offering safe and kid-friendly swimming areas that have lifeguards on duty in the summer months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sheltered from the wind and up away from the fog, these swim areas may especially appeal to San Franciscans for whom the city summers aren’t quite feeling hot enough. Both \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/lake-temescal\">Lake Temescal\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/lake-anza\">Lake Anza\u003c/a> have full beach amenities like refreshment stands, changing rooms and showers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip:\u003c/b> Both lakes are tested weekly for bacteria levels, but if you’re still If worried, pay a visit in the late spring or early summer, before \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1993633/algal-blooms-love-heat-waves-when-is-bay-area-swimming-dangerous-for-humans-and-pets\">the heat of the summer produces algae blooms\u003c/a> that can sometimes close these waters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cost: Entry is $5 to enter and $3 for seniors and kids, while infants under 2 enter for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Don Castro and Cull Canyon, Castro Valley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re looking for a safe spot for kids to get used to the water, these two shallow swim spots in the Castro Valley might fit the bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Combining the natural beauty of a lagoon with the safety features of a pool, both \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/don-castro\">Don Castro\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/recreation/swimming/cull-canyon\">Cull Canyon\u003c/a> have large, sandy beaches, extensive lawns and shallow chlorinated water for swimmers of any age and ability to safely enjoy a summer’s day. The two lagoons are also monitored by lifeguards and feature full pool amenities like bathhouses and vending machines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both spots open first on weekends only in the spring and then every day during peak summer months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>Although barbecues and picnic tables are aplenty for you to settle in for a full day in the sun, no alcohol is allowed at either spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> Both spots charge $5 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors, but kids under 2 swim for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976485\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13976485\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/Steelhead-Beach-Regional-Park.-Photo-courtesy-of-Sonoma-County-Regional-Parks-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A boy dons a life jacket and prepares for a swim at Steelhead Beach Regional Park on the Russian River. \u003ccite>(Sonoma County Regional Parks)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Russian River, Sonoma County\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area residents looking to cool off head to the Russian River, where water – and access to the shore – is plentiful. Try the protected \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/healdsburg-veterans-memorial-beach\">Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/cloverdale-river-park\">Cloverdale River Park\u003c/a> for superior wildlife viewing. \u003ca href=\"https://www.mrrpd.org/monte-rio-beach/\">Monte Rio Beach\u003c/a>, meanwhile, is a favorite for family beach days, with boat rentals and volleyball courts onsite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Russian River is usually pristine and calm, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988947/heading-to-a-river-this-summer-heres-how-to-stay-safe\">swimming in any river isn’t entirely without risk\u003c/a>. That’s why Greg Desmond, aquatics and recreation supervisor for Sonoma County Regional Parks, particularly recommends Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, where a dam creates an area deep enough to swim but lifeguards are also on duty. And from Memorial Day to Labor Day, \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/play/swimming/russian-river-patrol\">the county deploys a river patrol\u003c/a> to help people floating the river or enjoying the beach with life jackets and safety tips.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We don’t want people to be afraid of the water, but just take the necessary precautions,” Desmond said. “If you’re not a strong swimmer, try to stay out of the deep end.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Pro tip: \u003c/b>At Healdsburg and nearby beaches \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/del-rio-woods\">Del Rio Woods\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/steelhead-beach-regional-park\">Steelhead Beach\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/forestville-river-access\">Forestville River Access\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/visit/find-a-park/sunset-beach-river-park\">Sunset Beach\u003c/a>, the county parks department provides free life vests for visitors to borrow all day. “It’s sort of like a library for life jackets,” Desmond said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Parking at Sonoma County Regional Parks is $10 in the summer and $7 the rest of the year. Monte Rio Beach has no entry fee.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch1>\u003ca id=\"waterparks-in-bay-area\">\u003c/a>… and don’t forget Bay Area waterparks\u003c/h1>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13976486\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13976486\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-2048x1364.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/GettyImages-1298780652-1920x1279.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids of all ages seek relief from the sweltering heat at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor waterpark in Concord, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2019. \u003ccite>(Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you’re comfortable with a somewhat more noisy and crowded – and costly – outdoor aquatic experience, the Bay Area offers several popular waterparks:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Concord\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The biggest water park in the Bay Area, with a lazy river for those seeking a more relaxed experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Online tickets cost $34 per person, which rises to $70 at the gate. Kids under 3 enter for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Aqua Adventure Water Park, Fremont\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Best for young kids, this spot tends to be less busy and a more relaxed environment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>$27 for adults ($25 for Fremont residents), $22 for kids. Discounts for seniors, military, large groups and kids under 3.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Antioch Water Park, Antioch\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ideal for families, this Contra Costa water park offers lots of space for spreading out and picnicking all day long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $17 on weekends, $15 on weekdays, with discounts for seniors, military and large groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>South Bay Shores at California’s Great America, Santa Clara\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Pro: A full range of water slide heights and speeds. Con: Lines can get long.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost: \u003c/b>Tickets, which include admission to the full amusement park, are $42 online but $70 at the gate, with military and first responder discounts.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Golfland Sunsplash, Roseville\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Further afield northeast of Sacramento, Golfland Sunsplash has intense slides, a killer wave pool and night slide admission after 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cost:\u003c/b> $63 on weekends for adults and $53 for kids, plus discounts on weekdays and for toddlers.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "How to Find the Best Deals at Bay Area Thrift Stores",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For bargain-minded shoppers in the Bay Area, Goodwill, Savers and Salvation Army constitute the big trifecta of chain thrift stores. Depending on each individual store’s location, though, finding quality items at affordable prices can be hit-or-miss.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>My favorite thrifting finds usually come from smaller, local thrift shops. Luckily, the Bay Area has no shortage of them – especially stores that support a good cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re an avid thrifter like me, you have patience. You know the best bargains come from hoping that the treasure you saw last week went unsold long enough to enter the sale rotation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While prices at “curated” thrift stores and vintage resale shops seem to only go up, below you’ll find Bay Area thrift stores with great finds — and ways to spend smart while you’re there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/treasurepawsthrift/\">Treasure Paws Rescue Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1127 Chula Vista Ave., Burlingame \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you need any more reason to love Fridays, Treasure Paws in Burlingame holds a “Final Friday Fiesta” on the last Friday of every month, where all merchandise is 40% off. Other notable deals at Treasure Paws are offered for seniors and students, who get 25% off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For those who regularly spend more than $30, I recommend the loyalty program, which also enters you into a monthly giveaway. Every $30 spent equals one entry, and winners get to choose between a $500 Treasure Paws gift card or the bag of the month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW69xfVCUuJ/\">Born Again Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2287 Mission St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Open since 2022, Born Again has quickly become a second-hand staple in the Mission District. You can expect storewide deals for major holidays, but what keeps me coming back is the $1.99 rack. It’s in high demand, too, so make sure to go early in the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989820\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A yellow tag item for sale at the Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge & Adoption Center in Concord on May 13, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://joybound.org/adopt/thrift-store/#thrift\">Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge and Adoption Center\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>950 Market St., Suite I Concord\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This thrift store earns its namesake, combining my two favorite things: thrifting and cats. If the opportunity to see some furry friends isn’t enticing enough to visit, how about the words “50% off”?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Joybound utilizes a three-color pricing system, rotating between blue, yellow and orange. Each month, any item with a specific color price tag is 50% off all through the month. Joybound also offers seniors a 20% discount every Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewshopsunnyvale/\">Nearly New Shop\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 E. Maude Ave., Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A beloved thrift store in Sunnyvale for almost 70 years now, the Nearly New Shop donates all profits to scholarships for women. To get the best deal on clothing, household items or anything else you can find, watch for the color tag of the month, which discounts an item by 50%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If something catches your eye and you want to take the risk to get it at a cheaper price, wait until the 16th of the month, when all items with the monthly color tag drop to 75% off.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989832\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer looks at knickknacks at Community Thrift in San Francisco on May 15, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/communitythriftsf/\">Community Thrift Store\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>623 Valencia St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thrifting veterans in the city already know and love Community Thrift, not just for the deals, but because it supports over 200 local charities. (Its mesmerizing “chair corner” runs a close third.) The store runs two sales each month that last between three to five days each, with discounts starting at 25% off. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/happydragonthriftshop/\">\u003ch2>Happy Dragon Thrift Shop\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>245 W. Main St., Los Gatos\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an unassuming building just a couple blocks off of Santa Cruz Avenue, Happy Dragon Thrift Shop and its unbeatable prices recently earned the title of Silicon Valley’s best thrift spot by readers of \u003cem>The Mercury News\u003c/em>. Following the practice of many other thrift stores, its 50% off discount cycles between red, yellow, and green tags.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The best deals, though, come during the famous bag sale, usually announced on Instagram. For $25 per paper bag (sometimes bag prices drop on the last days of the sale), you can take home whatever fits inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWrfrNnDz4r/\">Uptown Vintage\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1320 Industrial Ave., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I’ll admit, Uptown Vintage is definitely on the pricer side of secondhand stores. You can still expect a good bargain for the brand, but the real treasure here — and why it merits inclusion in this list — is the $5 bin. Not only is it high on quality, it gets restocked everyday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989912\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pick of the Litter recently moved into a former Joann Fabrics store in north Santa Rosa. (Gabe Meline)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.forgottenfelines.com/pol\">\u003ch2>Pick of the Litter Thrift and Gift\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3620 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now in a new, larger location, this Santa Rosa thrift store funds the Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County, a trap-neuter-return organization. Everyday a different clothing color will be marked 50% off — so if you’re in need of a green sweater, say, make sure to check in and see the color of the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additionally, a specific tagged color (yellow, green, orange or purple) will be 50% off. Shoes are priced $19 and under every Tuesday, and shoppers over the age of 55 get 10% off on Wednesdays. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://outofthecloset.org/locations/\">\u003ch2>Out of the Closet\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Various locations\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With four locations in the East Bay and San Francisco, each individual Out of the Closet store has its own set of sales. The deals that stay consistent are the color tags that cycle between 30%, 50% and $1.50 off. If one color tag is 30% off, it rotates to 50% off the next week — and the week after that, the item is just $1.50.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While I’m the type of person who’s hesitant to give out my phone number for promotional messages, Out of the Closet’s rewards system is the best way to stay on top of the big storewide deals. \u003c/p>\n\n",
"blocks": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For bargain-minded shoppers in the Bay Area, Goodwill, Savers and Salvation Army constitute the big trifecta of chain thrift stores. Depending on each individual store’s location, though, finding quality items at affordable prices can be hit-or-miss.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>My favorite thrifting finds usually come from smaller, local thrift shops. Luckily, the Bay Area has no shortage of them – especially stores that support a good cause.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For bargain-minded shoppers in the Bay Area, Goodwill, Savers and Salvation Army constitute the big trifecta of chain thrift stores. Depending on each individual store’s location, though, finding quality items at affordable prices can be hit-or-miss.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>My favorite thrifting finds usually come from smaller, local thrift shops. Luckily, the Bay Area has no shortage of them – especially stores that support a good cause.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re an avid thrifter like me, you have patience. You know the best bargains come from hoping that the treasure you saw last week went unsold long enough to enter the sale rotation.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you’re an avid thrifter like me, you have patience. You know the best bargains come from hoping that the treasure you saw last week went unsold long enough to enter the sale rotation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While prices at “curated” thrift stores and vintage resale shops seem to only go up, below you’ll find Bay Area thrift stores with great finds — and ways to spend smart while you’re there.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While prices at “curated” thrift stores and vintage resale shops seem to only go up, below you’ll find Bay Area thrift stores with great finds — and ways to spend smart while you’re there.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/treasurepawsthrift/\">Treasure Paws Rescue Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/treasurepawsthrift/\">Treasure Paws Rescue Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1127 Chula Vista Ave., Burlingame \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1127 Chula Vista Ave., Burlingame \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you need any more reason to love Fridays, Treasure Paws in Burlingame holds a “Final Friday Fiesta” on the last Friday of every month, where all merchandise is 40% off. Other notable deals at Treasure Paws are offered for seniors and students, who get 25% off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you need any more reason to love Fridays, Treasure Paws in Burlingame holds a “Final Friday Fiesta” on the last Friday of every month, where all merchandise is 40% off. Other notable deals at Treasure Paws are offered for seniors and students, who get 25% off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For those who regularly spend more than $30, I recommend the loyalty program, which also enters you into a monthly giveaway. Every $30 spent equals one entry, and winners get to choose between a $500 Treasure Paws gift card or the bag of the month.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For those who regularly spend more than $30, I recommend the loyalty program, which also enters you into a monthly giveaway. Every $30 spent equals one entry, and winners get to choose between a $500 Treasure Paws gift card or the bag of the month.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW69xfVCUuJ/\">Born Again Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW69xfVCUuJ/\">Born Again Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2287 Mission St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2287 Mission St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Open since 2022, Born Again has quickly become a second-hand staple in the Mission District. You can expect storewide deals for major holidays, but what keeps me coming back is the $1.99 rack. It’s in high demand, too, so make sure to go early in the day.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Open since 2022, Born Again has quickly become a second-hand staple in the Mission District. You can expect storewide deals for major holidays, but what keeps me coming back is the $1.99 rack. It’s in high demand, too, so make sure to go early in the day.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989820\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A yellow tag item for sale at the Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge & Adoption Center in Concord on May 13, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989820\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A yellow tag item for sale at the Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge & Adoption Center in Concord on May 13, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://joybound.org/adopt/thrift-store/#thrift\">Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge and Adoption Center\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://joybound.org/adopt/thrift-store/#thrift\">Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge and Adoption Center\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>950 Market St., Suite I Concord\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>950 Market St., Suite I Concord\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This thrift store earns its namesake, combining my two favorite things: thrifting and cats. If the opportunity to see some furry friends isn’t enticing enough to visit, how about the words “50% off”?\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This thrift store earns its namesake, combining my two favorite things: thrifting and cats. If the opportunity to see some furry friends isn’t enticing enough to visit, how about the words “50% off”?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Joybound utilizes a three-color pricing system, rotating between blue, yellow and orange. Each month, any item with a specific color price tag is 50% off all through the month. Joybound also offers seniors a 20% discount every Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Joybound utilizes a three-color pricing system, rotating between blue, yellow and orange. Each month, any item with a specific color price tag is 50% off all through the month. Joybound also offers seniors a 20% discount every Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewshopsunnyvale/\">Nearly New Shop\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewshopsunnyvale/\">Nearly New Shop\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 E. Maude Ave., Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 E. Maude Ave., Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A beloved thrift store in Sunnyvale for almost 70 years now, the Nearly New Shop donates all profits to scholarships for women. To get the best deal on clothing, household items or anything else you can find, watch for the color tag of the month, which discounts an item by 50%. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A beloved thrift store in Sunnyvale for almost 70 years now, the Nearly New Shop donates all profits to scholarships for women. To get the best deal on clothing, household items or anything else you can find, watch for the color tag of the month, which discounts an item by 50%. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If something catches your eye and you want to take the risk to get it at a cheaper price, wait until the 16th of the month, when all items with the monthly color tag drop to 75% off.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If something catches your eye and you want to take the risk to get it at a cheaper price, wait until the 16th of the month, when all items with the monthly color tag drop to 75% off.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989832\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer looks at knickknacks at Community Thrift in San Francisco on May 15, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989832\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer looks at knickknacks at Community Thrift in San Francisco on May 15, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/communitythriftsf/\">Community Thrift Store\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/communitythriftsf/\">Community Thrift Store\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>623 Valencia St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>623 Valencia St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thrifting veterans in the city already know and love Community Thrift, not just for the deals, but because it supports over 200 local charities. (Its mesmerizing “chair corner” runs a close third.) The store runs two sales each month that last between three to five days each, with discounts starting at 25% off. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Thrifting veterans in the city already know and love Community Thrift, not just for the deals, but because it supports over 200 local charities. (Its mesmerizing “chair corner” runs a close third.) The store runs two sales each month that last between three to five days each, with discounts starting at 25% off. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/happydragonthriftshop/\">\u003ch2>Happy Dragon Thrift Shop\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/happydragonthriftshop/\">\u003ch2>Happy Dragon Thrift Shop\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>245 W. Main St., Los Gatos\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>245 W. Main St., Los Gatos\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an unassuming building just a couple blocks off of Santa Cruz Avenue, Happy Dragon Thrift Shop and its unbeatable prices recently earned the title of Silicon Valley’s best thrift spot by readers of \u003cem>The Mercury News\u003c/em>. Following the practice of many other thrift stores, its 50% off discount cycles between red, yellow, and green tags.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In an unassuming building just a couple blocks off of Santa Cruz Avenue, Happy Dragon Thrift Shop and its unbeatable prices recently earned the title of Silicon Valley’s best thrift spot by readers of \u003cem>The Mercury News\u003c/em>. Following the practice of many other thrift stores, its 50% off discount cycles between red, yellow, and green tags.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The best deals, though, come during the famous bag sale, usually announced on Instagram. For $25 per paper bag (sometimes bag prices drop on the last days of the sale), you can take home whatever fits inside.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The best deals, though, come during the famous bag sale, usually announced on Instagram. For $25 per paper bag (sometimes bag prices drop on the last days of the sale), you can take home whatever fits inside.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWrfrNnDz4r/\">Uptown Vintage\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWrfrNnDz4r/\">Uptown Vintage\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1320 Industrial Ave., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I’ll admit, Uptown Vintage is definitely on the pricer side of secondhand stores. You can still expect a good bargain for the brand, but the real treasure here — and why it merits inclusion in this list — is the $5 bin. Not only is it high on quality, it gets restocked everyday. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I’ll admit, Uptown Vintage is definitely on the pricer side of secondhand stores. You can still expect a good bargain for the brand, but the real treasure here — and why it merits inclusion in this list — is the $5 bin. Not only is it high on quality, it gets restocked everyday. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.forgottenfelines.com/pol\">\u003ch2>Pick of the Litter Thrift and Gift\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now in a new, larger location, this Santa Rosa thrift store funds the Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County, a trap-neuter-return organization. Everyday a different clothing color will be marked 50% off — so if you’re in need of a green sweater, say, make sure to check in and see the color of the day.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Additionally, a specific tagged color (yellow, green, orange or purple) will be 50% off. Shoes are priced $19 and under every Tuesday, and shoppers over the age of 55 get 10% off on Wednesdays. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://outofthecloset.org/locations/\">\u003ch2>Out of the Closet\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With four locations in the East Bay and San Francisco, each individual Out of the Closet store has its own set of sales. The deals that stay consistent are the color tags that cycle between 30%, 50% and $1.50 off. If one color tag is 30% off, it rotates to 50% off the next week — and the week after that, the item is just $1.50.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Brush up on red-tag Thursdays, 50% off specials, senior discounts and more.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For bargain-minded shoppers in the Bay Area, Goodwill, Savers and Salvation Army constitute the big trifecta of chain thrift stores. Depending on each individual store’s location, though, finding quality items at affordable prices can be hit-or-miss.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>My favorite thrifting finds usually come from smaller, local thrift shops. Luckily, the Bay Area has no shortage of them – especially stores that support a good cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re an avid thrifter like me, you have patience. You know the best bargains come from hoping that the treasure you saw last week went unsold long enough to enter the sale rotation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While prices at “curated” thrift stores and vintage resale shops seem to only go up, below you’ll find Bay Area thrift stores with great finds — and ways to spend smart while you’re there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/treasurepawsthrift/\">Treasure Paws Rescue Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1127 Chula Vista Ave., Burlingame \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you need any more reason to love Fridays, Treasure Paws in Burlingame holds a “Final Friday Fiesta” on the last Friday of every month, where all merchandise is 40% off. Other notable deals at Treasure Paws are offered for seniors and students, who get 25% off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, respectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For those who regularly spend more than $30, I recommend the loyalty program, which also enters you into a monthly giveaway. Every $30 spent equals one entry, and winners get to choose between a $500 Treasure Paws gift card or the bag of the month.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DW69xfVCUuJ/\">Born Again Thrift\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>2287 Mission St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Open since 2022, Born Again has quickly become a second-hand staple in the Mission District. You can expect storewide deals for major holidays, but what keeps me coming back is the $1.99 rack. It’s in high demand, too, so make sure to go early in the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989820\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260513-THRIFTSTORES-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A yellow tag item for sale at the Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge & Adoption Center in Concord on May 13, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://joybound.org/adopt/thrift-store/#thrift\">Joybound Thrift Store, Cat Lounge and Adoption Center\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>950 Market St., Suite I Concord\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This thrift store earns its namesake, combining my two favorite things: thrifting and cats. If the opportunity to see some furry friends isn’t enticing enough to visit, how about the words “50% off”?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Joybound utilizes a three-color pricing system, rotating between blue, yellow and orange. Each month, any item with a specific color price tag is 50% off all through the month. Joybound also offers seniors a 20% discount every Tuesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/nearlynewshopsunnyvale/\">Nearly New Shop\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>225 E. Maude Ave., Sunnyvale\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A beloved thrift store in Sunnyvale for almost 70 years now, the Nearly New Shop donates all profits to scholarships for women. To get the best deal on clothing, household items or anything else you can find, watch for the color tag of the month, which discounts an item by 50%. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If something catches your eye and you want to take the risk to get it at a cheaper price, wait until the 16th of the month, when all items with the monthly color tag drop to 75% off.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989832\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260515-THRIFTSTORES-07-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A customer looks at knickknacks at Community Thrift in San Francisco on May 15, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/communitythriftsf/\">Community Thrift Store\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>623 Valencia St., San Francisco\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thrifting veterans in the city already know and love Community Thrift, not just for the deals, but because it supports over 200 local charities. (Its mesmerizing “chair corner” runs a close third.) The store runs two sales each month that last between three to five days each, with discounts starting at 25% off. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/happydragonthriftshop/\">\u003ch2>Happy Dragon Thrift Shop\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>245 W. Main St., Los Gatos\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an unassuming building just a couple blocks off of Santa Cruz Avenue, Happy Dragon Thrift Shop and its unbeatable prices recently earned the title of Silicon Valley’s best thrift spot by readers of \u003cem>The Mercury News\u003c/em>. Following the practice of many other thrift stores, its 50% off discount cycles between red, yellow, and green tags.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The best deals, though, come during the famous bag sale, usually announced on Instagram. For $25 per paper bag (sometimes bag prices drop on the last days of the sale), you can take home whatever fits inside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003ch2>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DWrfrNnDz4r/\">Uptown Vintage\u003c/a>\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1320 Industrial Ave., Petaluma\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I’ll admit, Uptown Vintage is definitely on the pricer side of secondhand stores. You can still expect a good bargain for the brand, but the real treasure here — and why it merits inclusion in this list — is the $5 bin. Not only is it high on quality, it gets restocked everyday. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13989912\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/img_3091-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pick of the Litter recently moved into a former Joann Fabrics store in north Santa Rosa. (Gabe Meline)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.forgottenfelines.com/pol\">\u003ch2>Pick of the Litter Thrift and Gift\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>3620 Industrial Drive, Santa Rosa \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now in a new, larger location, this Santa Rosa thrift store funds the Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County, a trap-neuter-return organization. Everyday a different clothing color will be marked 50% off — so if you’re in need of a green sweater, say, make sure to check in and see the color of the day.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Additionally, a specific tagged color (yellow, green, orange or purple) will be 50% off. Shoes are priced $19 and under every Tuesday, and shoppers over the age of 55 get 10% off on Wednesdays. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://outofthecloset.org/locations/\">\u003ch2>Out of the Closet\u003c/h2>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Various locations\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With four locations in the East Bay and San Francisco, each individual Out of the Closet store has its own set of sales. The deals that stay consistent are the color tags that cycle between 30%, 50% and $1.50 off. If one color tag is 30% off, it rotates to 50% off the next week — and the week after that, the item is just $1.50.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While I’m the type of person who’s hesitant to give out my phone number for promotional messages, Out of the Closet’s rewards system is the best way to stay on top of the big storewide deals. \u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "san-francisco-symphony-new-music-director-elim-chan",
"title": "San Francisco Symphony Appoints Elim Chan as Music Director",
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-francisco-symphony\">San Francisco Symphony\u003c/a> has appointed Elim Chan as its new music director. The 39-year-old conductor born in Hong Kong has signed a six-year contract, the Symphony announced on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The appointment is a historic one. Chan will be the first woman to lead the San Francisco Symphony in its 115-year history. She is also the first woman to be hired as music director by one of the so-called “Big 7” symphony orchestras in the United States, encompassing New York, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan, who recently served as principal conductor for the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in Belgium, is lesser-known than her two predecessors in San Francisco: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/michael-tilson-thomas\">Michael Tilson Thomas\u003c/a>, who led the orchestra for 25 years and died earlier this month, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13954083/esa-pekka-salonen-steps-down-sf-symphony\">Esa-Pekka Salonen\u003c/a>, who stepped down in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Chan is a much-talked-about rising star in the classical world, serving as principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and guest conducting the major orchestras in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston to effusive reviews. She made her debut at the San Francisco Symphony in 2023, and has since returned twice, drawing acclaim from audiences, musicians and critics.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an interview with KQED Thursday at Davies Symphony Hall, Chan emphasized that one of her goals in San Francisco is to change the public’s perception of the symphony.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A big thing of mine is how to get people who have never listened to classical music, who think that they are not educated enough, or they feel they’re not comfortable enough,” Chan said. “All sorts of reasons, right? We are going to take all those reasons \u003cem>out\u003c/em>. Because coming to the symphony is so cool.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">She can ‘bring out the best’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After her 2023 debut at Davies, the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> hailed Chan as “a promising podium talent, one who combines lithe physical command with a wealth of artistic resources.” Last year, after an all-Tchaikovsky program, the \u003cem>San Francisco Classical Voice\u003c/em> enthused that “it’s clear by now that conductor \u003ca href=\"https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/review-sf-symphony-elim-chan-holst-18436788\">Elim Chan\u003c/a> can bring out the best in a top-rank orchestra.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Symphony is betting that it can offer Chan a sizable enough platform to propel her further upward. Already, she is slated to conduct a program of Berlioz, Debussy and Wagner at Davies on June 5 and 6. Her first full season as music director begins in 2027.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The appointment also marks a victory for San Francisco in its sometime rivalry with Los Angeles. While the Symphony’s selection process for a music director is a highly guarded one, Chan had been one of the names whispered amongst pundits as a contender in San Francisco. Chan had also conducted regularly for the L.A. Philharmonic, and was viewed as a potential successor there to Gustavo Dudamel, whose namesake fellowship she was awarded in 2017.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://youtu.be/fvMRqU1EU_U?si=Pxqu07JY5octt3cu\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a conductor, Chan’s style may best be described as outsized. Praised for her energy and rhythm, and noted for bringing precision and verve to nominally calm, flowing musical passages, Chan transcends her diminutive height. Often, she arcs forward, as if charging after the music. (Along with conducting, Chan also trains on the side with a boxing coach.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Chan told KQED that the first time she witnessed Michael Tilson Thomas on the podium, he was conducting his Maverick Series, focusing on new works. She lists off new composers she’s especially excited about: Gabriela Smith, Anthony Cheung, Elizabeth Ogonek, Noriko Koide. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>On Thursday night, during a reception at City Hall hosted by mayor Daniel Lurie, Chan told the crowd in her casual, charismatic way of speaking that “I love the old classics. But I also love the friggin’ new things! The wacky things!”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan has a track record of balancing the old and the new. She has also studied with traditionalists like Bernard Haitink, who, among other enduring lessons, instilled in Chan a respect for Anton Bruckner. (On Thursday, she said she trusts the San Francisco orchestra enough to finally tackle conducting Bruckner’s music.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Breaking a glass ceiling — and transcending labels\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many years, an open question has persisted about when major symphony orchestras would embrace women as music directors or full-time principal conductors. Despite high-profile figures like Marin Alsop and Nathalie Stutzmann, no woman had been appointed at one of the top seven U.S. orchestras until now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2014, still in her 20s, Chan became the first woman to win the esteemed Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in England, bringing her global attention. Two years later, writing for \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>, she called for a de-emphasis on her gender.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I have felt there to be at times an imbalance of focus on my gender over my whole identity as a musician. I do not want to be given any special treatment because I am a woman,” she wrote. “I am proud of being a woman conductor, but I want to take the next step and go beyond any tags and be seen and valued as the same as my male colleagues.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the morning of her announcement, however, Chan said she was able to take a moment to realize the historic importance of the occasion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Before I walked into the hall to meet the musicians, I told myself, actually, yeah … it \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a big deal,” Chan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan has also received attention as an Asian, making the Bay Area a natural fit; the region is home to one of the highest percentages of Asian Americans in the continental United States, and Eun Sun Kim, another Asian woman, leads the orchestra at San Francisco Opera. In the 2016 \u003cem>Guardian\u003c/em> piece, Chan expressed a regard for talent over ethnic identity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My core priorities have always been and will always be the music and the audience, and I think audiences over the past two years have come to see me simply as Elim, rather than under the labels ‘Asian’ or ‘female conductor.’”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chan’s first concerts with the Symphony since being hired — a program of Wagner, Berlioz and Debussy — take place June 5 and 6 at Davies Symphony Hall.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But Chan is a much-talked-about rising star in the classical world, serving as principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and guest conducting the major orchestras in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston to effusive reviews. She made her debut at the San Francisco Symphony in 2023, and has since returned twice, drawing acclaim from audiences, musicians and critics.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“A big thing of mine is how to get people who have never listened to classical music, who think that they are not educated enough, or they feel they’re not comfortable enough,” Chan said. “All sorts of reasons, right? We are going to take all those reasons \u003cem>out\u003c/em>. Because coming to the symphony is so cool.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As a conductor, Chan’s style may best be described as outsized. Praised for her energy and rhythm, and noted for bringing precision and verve to nominally calm, flowing musical passages, Chan transcends her diminutive height. Often, she arcs forward, as if charging after the music. (Along with conducting, Chan also trains on the side with a boxing coach.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Chan told KQED that the first time she witnessed Michael Tilson Thomas on the podium, he was conducting his Maverick Series, focusing on new works. She lists off new composers she’s especially excited about: Gabriela Smith, Anthony Cheung, Elizabeth Ogonek, Noriko Koide. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>On Thursday night, during a reception at City Hall hosted by mayor Daniel Lurie, Chan told the crowd in her casual, charismatic way of speaking that “I love the old classics. But I also love the friggin’ new things! The wacky things!”\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-francisco-symphony\">San Francisco Symphony\u003c/a> has appointed Elim Chan as its new music director. The 39-year-old conductor born in Hong Kong has signed a six-year contract, the Symphony announced on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The appointment is a historic one. Chan will be the first woman to lead the San Francisco Symphony in its 115-year history. She is also the first woman to be hired as music director by one of the so-called “Big 7” symphony orchestras in the United States, encompassing New York, Boston, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan, who recently served as principal conductor for the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in Belgium, is lesser-known than her two predecessors in San Francisco: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/michael-tilson-thomas\">Michael Tilson Thomas\u003c/a>, who led the orchestra for 25 years and died earlier this month, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13954083/esa-pekka-salonen-steps-down-sf-symphony\">Esa-Pekka Salonen\u003c/a>, who stepped down in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But Chan is a much-talked-about rising star in the classical world, serving as principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and guest conducting the major orchestras in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston to effusive reviews. She made her debut at the San Francisco Symphony in 2023, and has since returned twice, drawing acclaim from audiences, musicians and critics.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an interview with KQED Thursday at Davies Symphony Hall, Chan emphasized that one of her goals in San Francisco is to change the public’s perception of the symphony.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A big thing of mine is how to get people who have never listened to classical music, who think that they are not educated enough, or they feel they’re not comfortable enough,” Chan said. “All sorts of reasons, right? We are going to take all those reasons \u003cem>out\u003c/em>. Because coming to the symphony is so cool.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">She can ‘bring out the best’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After her 2023 debut at Davies, the \u003cem>San Francisco Chronicle\u003c/em> hailed Chan as “a promising podium talent, one who combines lithe physical command with a wealth of artistic resources.” Last year, after an all-Tchaikovsky program, the \u003cem>San Francisco Classical Voice\u003c/em> enthused that “it’s clear by now that conductor \u003ca href=\"https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/review-sf-symphony-elim-chan-holst-18436788\">Elim Chan\u003c/a> can bring out the best in a top-rank orchestra.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Symphony is betting that it can offer Chan a sizable enough platform to propel her further upward. Already, she is slated to conduct a program of Berlioz, Debussy and Wagner at Davies on June 5 and 6. Her first full season as music director begins in 2027.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The appointment also marks a victory for San Francisco in its sometime rivalry with Los Angeles. While the Symphony’s selection process for a music director is a highly guarded one, Chan had been one of the names whispered amongst pundits as a contender in San Francisco. Chan had also conducted regularly for the L.A. Philharmonic, and was viewed as a potential successor there to Gustavo Dudamel, whose namesake fellowship she was awarded in 2017.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/fvMRqU1EU_U'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/fvMRqU1EU_U'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a conductor, Chan’s style may best be described as outsized. Praised for her energy and rhythm, and noted for bringing precision and verve to nominally calm, flowing musical passages, Chan transcends her diminutive height. Often, she arcs forward, as if charging after the music. (Along with conducting, Chan also trains on the side with a boxing coach.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On Thursday, Chan told KQED that the first time she witnessed Michael Tilson Thomas on the podium, he was conducting his Maverick Series, focusing on new works. She lists off new composers she’s especially excited about: Gabriela Smith, Anthony Cheung, Elizabeth Ogonek, Noriko Koide. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>On Thursday night, during a reception at City Hall hosted by mayor Daniel Lurie, Chan told the crowd in her casual, charismatic way of speaking that “I love the old classics. But I also love the friggin’ new things! The wacky things!”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan has a track record of balancing the old and the new. She has also studied with traditionalists like Bernard Haitink, who, among other enduring lessons, instilled in Chan a respect for Anton Bruckner. (On Thursday, she said she trusts the San Francisco orchestra enough to finally tackle conducting Bruckner’s music.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Breaking a glass ceiling — and transcending labels\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many years, an open question has persisted about when major symphony orchestras would embrace women as music directors or full-time principal conductors. Despite high-profile figures like Marin Alsop and Nathalie Stutzmann, no woman had been appointed at one of the top seven U.S. orchestras until now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2014, still in her 20s, Chan became the first woman to win the esteemed Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in England, bringing her global attention. Two years later, writing for \u003cem>The Guardian\u003c/em>, she called for a de-emphasis on her gender.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I have felt there to be at times an imbalance of focus on my gender over my whole identity as a musician. I do not want to be given any special treatment because I am a woman,” she wrote. “I am proud of being a woman conductor, but I want to take the next step and go beyond any tags and be seen and valued as the same as my male colleagues.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On the morning of her announcement, however, Chan said she was able to take a moment to realize the historic importance of the occasion.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Before I walked into the hall to meet the musicians, I told myself, actually, yeah … it \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a big deal,” Chan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan has also received attention as an Asian, making the Bay Area a natural fit; the region is home to one of the highest percentages of Asian Americans in the continental United States, and Eun Sun Kim, another Asian woman, leads the orchestra at San Francisco Opera. In the 2016 \u003cem>Guardian\u003c/em> piece, Chan expressed a regard for talent over ethnic identity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My core priorities have always been and will always be the music and the audience, and I think audiences over the past two years have come to see me simply as Elim, rather than under the labels ‘Asian’ or ‘female conductor.’”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Chan’s first concerts with the Symphony since being hired — a program of Wagner, Berlioz and Debussy — take place June 5 and 6 at Davies Symphony Hall.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "June’s Pizza Is Oakland’s Favorite Late-Night Slice Shop",
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"content": "\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989677\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Two men devouring pizza. There's a pile of basil leaves on the pan.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">June’s Pizza sells margherita slices — and sometimes pepperoni slices — from 9 p.m. to midnight, or until it sells out. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003ci>The Midnight Diners\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Thien Pham\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When we pull up to the unmarked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/west-oakland\">West Oakland\u003c/a> warehouse at a little past 9 o’clock on a recent Friday night, there’s already a long line out the door. It’s a big, semi-industrial building — all exposed pipes and corrugated metal. The only signage to indicate that this is a place of business is an old, spray-painted wood board propped up on the ground: “June’s Pizza,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has emerged, somewhat unexpectedly, as one of the most celebrated pizza restaurants in the Bay Area on the back of its wood-fired, decadently cheese-strewn margherita pies. The pizzeria got plenty of acclaim during its renegade, early-COVID-era days as an unpermitted (and eventually \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Oakland-s-pandemic-pizza-sensation-June-s-has-16513631.php\">shut down\u003c/a>) shipping container pop-up. Last year, after its brick-and-mortar opened on Mandela Parkway, \u003ci>Esquire \u003c/i>even named it one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a69501755/best-new-restaurants-america-2025/\">best new restaurants\u003c/a> in the entire country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the reason we decided to make this pilgrimage now is because we heard — also somewhat unexpectedly — that the place has become one of the East Bay’s most popular late-night restaurants. Unexpected in the sense that June’s really only sells one thing between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight: margherita pizza by the slice. That’s it. Nothing else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Would that be enough to hold our wandering eyes? We had been a bit skeptical. But by the time we finish our meal, we’re hard-pressed to think of anything \u003ci>more \u003c/i>perfect to eat at the end of a long night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has become something of a destination restaurant for out-of-town visitors. But during its late-night hours, the place feels more like a locals’ hangout. Maybe a DJ is spinning records, or maybe the restaurant’s hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DL6tw4mOljf/\">listening party for a new rap album\u003c/a>. But the overall vibe is akin to a big, convivial house party hosted in someone’s high-ceilinged living room. On the night of our visit, the crowd feels quintessentially Oakland — racially diverse, skewing toward twenty- and thirtysomething artistic types. At the table next to ours, a group of chic Asian Americans in designer eyeglasses chatters happily over their marg slices and a bottle of red wine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989679\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: the exterior of a warehouse-like restaurant, where several customers wait in line. On the ground, a handwritten sign reads, "June's Pizza."\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The buzzy West Oakland restaurant is located in an unmarked warehouse on a semi-industrial stretch of Mandela Parkway. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>June’s is proof that giving the customer \u003ci>fewer \u003c/i>choices is sometimes the smartest move. Even during non-late-night hours, the restaurant only ever sells three types of pizza: margherita, pepperoni and a limited quantity of whatever seasonal special they’ve come up with that week (say, fingerling potatoes, green garlic and ham). There are no salads, no cute little appetizers, no bread sticks, no desserts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And after 9 p.m., when June’s starts serving slices, the menu winnows down even further. Most nights, they only offer the margherita, which could scarcely be simpler — just cheese and tomato sauce with a stack of super-fresh basil leaves on the side, so you can top each slice as you please. The kitchen’s signature move is sprinkling the bejesus out of every pizza with a flurry of grated parmesan, covering the whole surface with a feathery umami dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first bite is blistering hot, super crispy at the thin tip, and soft and melty on top. We love the interplay between the bright red sauce, salty cheese and well-blistered crust. The dough has just a hint of sourdough tang, and it puffs up and gets chewier and more flavorful as we get closer to the crust, offering different textures from bite to bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">[aside postID='arts_13988856,arts_13959808,arts_13987415']\u003c/span>\u003c/span>We fold our slices in half, New York–style, and dip the crusts in the restaurant’s housemade sauces — an earthy roasted garlic number and a tangy, “limited edition” wakame Caesar dressing that has a strong anchovy umami punch. (That one is so good, I bring the leftovers home to make a helluva delicious salad the next day.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One slice in, we understand perfectly now why June’s doesn’t offer a bunch of different pizzas, because this is a taste that we would never get tired of — one we could come back to week after week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tonight is our lucky night, though, because the restaurant is also selling pepperoni slices, which aren’t always available. These have an entirely different vibe, despite being built on the same base as the margherita — the pizza is much richer and more intensely flavored, and has a surprisingly spicy kick from the small, dense rounds of pepperoni.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, the success of June’s is a testament to the power of doing one thing really, really well. The lack of bells and whistles also helps keep the after-hours menu relatively affordable. Slices are $5 ($6 for pepperoni), and they’re big. Most diners won’t wind up eating more than two or three in one sitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The only danger? Not long after we arrive, we overhear the chef telling a customer that they only have three balls of raw dough left. By a little after 10 o’clock, there are maybe three pizzas’ worth of slices left, and it seems quite likely that they’re going to sell out before the hour is out. So as we head out into the night, we make plans to come back soon for another late-night pizza session — but maybe not \u003ci>too \u003c/i>late, to be safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/junes_pizza/\">June’s Pizza\u003c/a> is open 4 p.m.–midnight daily at 2408 Mandela Pkwy. in Oakland. The restaurant serves slices only starting at 9 p.m. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989677\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: Two men devouring pizza. There's a pile of basil leaves on the pan.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes2-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">June’s Pizza sells margherita slices — and sometimes pepperoni slices — from 9 p.m. to midnight, or until it sells out. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/the-midnight-diners\">\u003ci>The Midnight Diners\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci> is a regular collaboration between KQED food editor Luke Tsai and graphic novelist \u003c/i>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thiendog/?hl=en\">\u003ci>Thien Pham\u003c/i>\u003c/a>\u003ci>. Follow them each week as they explore the hot pot restaurants, taco carts and 24-hour casino buffets that make up the Bay Area’s after-hours dining scene. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When we pull up to the unmarked \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/west-oakland\">West Oakland\u003c/a> warehouse at a little past 9 o’clock on a recent Friday night, there’s already a long line out the door. It’s a big, semi-industrial building — all exposed pipes and corrugated metal. The only signage to indicate that this is a place of business is an old, spray-painted wood board propped up on the ground: “June’s Pizza,” it reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has emerged, somewhat unexpectedly, as one of the most celebrated pizza restaurants in the Bay Area on the back of its wood-fired, decadently cheese-strewn margherita pies. The pizzeria got plenty of acclaim during its renegade, early-COVID-era days as an unpermitted (and eventually \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/Oakland-s-pandemic-pizza-sensation-June-s-has-16513631.php\">shut down\u003c/a>) shipping container pop-up. Last year, after its brick-and-mortar opened on Mandela Parkway, \u003ci>Esquire \u003c/i>even named it one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a69501755/best-new-restaurants-america-2025/\">best new restaurants\u003c/a> in the entire country.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the reason we decided to make this pilgrimage now is because we heard — also somewhat unexpectedly — that the place has become one of the East Bay’s most popular late-night restaurants. Unexpected in the sense that June’s really only sells one thing between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight: margherita pizza by the slice. That’s it. Nothing else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Would that be enough to hold our wandering eyes? We had been a bit skeptical. But by the time we finish our meal, we’re hard-pressed to think of anything \u003ci>more \u003c/i>perfect to eat at the end of a long night.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>June’s has become something of a destination restaurant for out-of-town visitors. But during its late-night hours, the place feels more like a locals’ hangout. Maybe a DJ is spinning records, or maybe the restaurant’s hosting a \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DL6tw4mOljf/\">listening party for a new rap album\u003c/a>. But the overall vibe is akin to a big, convivial house party hosted in someone’s high-ceilinged living room. On the night of our visit, the crowd feels quintessentially Oakland — racially diverse, skewing toward twenty- and thirtysomething artistic types. At the table next to ours, a group of chic Asian Americans in designer eyeglasses chatters happily over their marg slices and a bottle of red wine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989679\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg\" alt=\"Illustration: the exterior of a warehouse-like restaurant, where several customers wait in line. On the ground, a handwritten sign reads, "June's Pizza."\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-768x768.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/junes-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The buzzy West Oakland restaurant is located in an unmarked warehouse on a semi-industrial stretch of Mandela Parkway. \u003ccite>(Thien Pham)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>June’s is proof that giving the customer \u003ci>fewer \u003c/i>choices is sometimes the smartest move. Even during non-late-night hours, the restaurant only ever sells three types of pizza: margherita, pepperoni and a limited quantity of whatever seasonal special they’ve come up with that week (say, fingerling potatoes, green garlic and ham). There are no salads, no cute little appetizers, no bread sticks, no desserts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And after 9 p.m., when June’s starts serving slices, the menu winnows down even further. Most nights, they only offer the margherita, which could scarcely be simpler — just cheese and tomato sauce with a stack of super-fresh basil leaves on the side, so you can top each slice as you please. The kitchen’s signature move is sprinkling the bejesus out of every pizza with a flurry of grated parmesan, covering the whole surface with a feathery umami dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first bite is blistering hot, super crispy at the thin tip, and soft and melty on top. We love the interplay between the bright red sauce, salty cheese and well-blistered crust. The dough has just a hint of sourdough tang, and it puffs up and gets chewier and more flavorful as we get closer to the crust, offering different textures from bite to bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #2b2b2b;font-weight: 400\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/span>\u003c/span>We fold our slices in half, New York–style, and dip the crusts in the restaurant’s housemade sauces — an earthy roasted garlic number and a tangy, “limited edition” wakame Caesar dressing that has a strong anchovy umami punch. (That one is so good, I bring the leftovers home to make a helluva delicious salad the next day.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One slice in, we understand perfectly now why June’s doesn’t offer a bunch of different pizzas, because this is a taste that we would never get tired of — one we could come back to week after week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tonight is our lucky night, though, because the restaurant is also selling pepperoni slices, which aren’t always available. These have an entirely different vibe, despite being built on the same base as the margherita — the pizza is much richer and more intensely flavored, and has a surprisingly spicy kick from the small, dense rounds of pepperoni.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, the success of June’s is a testament to the power of doing one thing really, really well. The lack of bells and whistles also helps keep the after-hours menu relatively affordable. Slices are $5 ($6 for pepperoni), and they’re big. Most diners won’t wind up eating more than two or three in one sitting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The only danger? Not long after we arrive, we overhear the chef telling a customer that they only have three balls of raw dough left. By a little after 10 o’clock, there are maybe three pizzas’ worth of slices left, and it seems quite likely that they’re going to sell out before the hour is out. So as we head out into the night, we make plans to come back soon for another late-night pizza session — but maybe not \u003ci>too \u003c/i>late, to be safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/junes_pizza/\">June’s Pizza\u003c/a> is open 4 p.m.–midnight daily at 2408 Mandela Pkwy. in Oakland. The restaurant serves slices only starting at 9 p.m. \u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "free-parking-san-francisco-concerts-shows-where-to-find",
"title": "Where to Find Free Parking for Shows in San Francisco",
"publishDate": 1778853603,
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"headTitle": "Where to Find Free Parking for Shows in San Francisco | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding free parking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> during the day is nearly impossible. If you’re going to a show or concert at night, though, when the meters have stopped running, you have options. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ve been driving to shows in San Francisco for 35 years from my hometown, an hour away. Because I hate having to pay an extra $40–$60 for parking, I’ve built up a vast mental database of the best places to park for free near every major live music venue in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ve always kept this list of secret parking spots to myself and close friends. Until now. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Below, I spill all — the best places to park for shows in San Francisco for free, within reasonable walking distance (usually) to more than 30 of the city’s many \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/category/music\">live music\u003c/a> venues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989527\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989527\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Independent on Divisadero Street in San Francisco on May 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>First, San Francisco parking tips everyone should know\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Look to the left\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nOn a one-way street with parallel parking on both sides, parking on the left side is usually more open, since people are less comfortable executing a left-handed parallel parking maneuver. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cross that big street\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nMajor arteries like Market Street and Van Ness constitute mental borders for many drivers. If your destination is near a popular street, aim for the other side of it, where there’ll typically be more vacancies. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stray uphill\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nHills, too, create mental obstacles for people looking for parking. If you’re willing to walk up one of San Francisco’s many hills either before or after the show, you’ll find more spots. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Always check signs\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPay attention to posted time restrictions to avoid tickets. Some meters in San Francisco mercilessly run until 10pm. Also, street cleaning hours can start at 12am, before some shows get out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know when you’re beaten\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nSome neighborhoods are hopeless. North Beach, Nob Hill, Divisadero — forget about it. The sooner you accept this, the more inner peace you will find. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Trust your gut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nI acknowledge that I am a 6’1” man, and not everyone feels as comfortable as I do walking alone at night. If you’re not a local, and you’re feeling unsure, read up on the neighborhood beforehand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Realize the ‘right’ way can be painful too\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nIf you’re tempted to suck it up and pay for a parking lot or garage, remember: after the show, you may be stuck for a long time in a parking-lot traffic jam as cars try to get out all at once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Okay! On with my list, with suggested free parking areas marked red.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"970\" height=\"584\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05 PM.jpg 970w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05 PM-160x96.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05 PM-768x462.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Davies Symphony Hall, War Memorial Opera House, Herbst Theater or Bill Graham Civic Auditorium\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East side of Gough Street, between Golden Gate and McAllister\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Park on the left side of the street. Quick eats to go are almost nonexistent in the area, so pick up any pre-show provisions you may need at the Super Sam corner store. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1490\" height=\"724\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27 PM.jpg 1490w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27 PM-160x78.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27 PM-768x373.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1490px) 100vw, 1490px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for SFJAZZ, Rickshaw Stop or Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North side of Oak Street between Buchanan and Octavia\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: The right lanes are almost always congested due to the upcoming freeway onramp. Watch for cars speeding down the hill behind you in the left lanes, and nose in rather than backing into the spot, if possible. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1338\" height=\"904\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09 PM.jpg 1338w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09 PM-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09 PM-768x519.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1338px) 100vw, 1338px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Castro Theater\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Castro Street, between 14th and 16th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Separated from the Castro by Market Street, and up the hill a little, most people don’t think of parking here. I found a cool old metal dustpan on the street here once. Still use it. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"944\" height=\"680\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989630\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47 PM.jpg 944w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47 PM-160x115.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47 PM-768x553.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Chapel\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>South Van Ness Avenue between 17th and 21st\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Parking in the Mission District can be maddening; find solace on either the east or west side of the main artery on the edge of the neighborhood. Say hi to Whiz Burger for me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1178\" height=\"644\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989631\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46 PM.jpg 1178w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46 PM-160x87.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46 PM-768x420.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1178px) 100vw, 1178px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Great American Music Hall\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Franklin Street between Ellis and Geary\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: I’ve also found Geary Boulevard, between Van Ness and Franklin, to usually have open spots. (Plus, you’re right next to Tommy’s Joynt for post-show eats.) \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"870\" height=\"530\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989632\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30 PM.jpg 870w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30 PM-160x97.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30 PM-768x468.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Regency Ballroom\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Franklin Street between Post and Bush\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Separated from the venue by Van Ness, and up the hill a little, most people don’t think of parking here. Aim for the left side of this one-way thoroughfare, where parking is usually more open. Pour one out for the closed Walgreens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1532\" height=\"828\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989633\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32 PM.jpg 1532w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32 PM-160x86.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32 PM-768x415.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1532px) 100vw, 1532px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Mabuhay Gardens or On Broadway\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leavenworth Street between Francisco and Chestnut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Trying to find parking in North Beach is like repeatedly hitting yourself in the face with a hammer for a half hour. I park an \u003cem>entire mile away\u003c/em>, and enjoy the walk along Columbus, which is teeming with action on weekends. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1648\" height=\"950\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989634\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM.jpg 1648w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM-768x443.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM-1536x885.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1648px) 100vw, 1648px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Midway\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Illinois Street between 23rd and 25th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Do not be seduced by the road leading toward Pier 80; it looks wide open, but is full of private parking, and Pier 80 itself will be closed off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1218\" height=\"512\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989635\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40 PM.jpg 1218w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40 PM-160x67.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40 PM-768x323.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1218px) 100vw, 1218px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Chase Center\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>16th Street between Carolina and Connecticut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: For concert parking, the Chase Center garage currently charges $75. \u003cem>Ahem\u003c/em>. I think you’ll agree that a nice 10-minute stroll down 16th Street is a better alternative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1190\" height=\"698\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989636\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02 PM.jpg 1190w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02 PM-160x94.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02 PM-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1190px) 100vw, 1190px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Bottom of the Hill\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>16th Street between Carolina and Connecticut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Parking’s not nearly as plentiful as it used to be here; be aware of the new-ish protected bike lanes on 17th and the many time restrictions. (Also, bring presents for the excellent staff at one of the city’s best clubs before it \u003ca href=\"https://www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisco-club-bottom-of-the-hill-to-close-at-the-end-of-2026/\">closes at the end of the year\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1306\" height=\"754\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11 PM.jpg 1306w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11 PM-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11 PM-768x443.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1306px) 100vw, 1306px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Fillmore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Geary Boulevard between Divisadero and Scott\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: I agonized for years driving in circles on neighborhood streets until finding this wonderful stretch of Geary, down the road and on a slight curve, where no one thinks to park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1238\" height=\"870\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04 PM.jpg 1238w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04 PM-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04 PM-768x540.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1238px) 100vw, 1238px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Warfield\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Folsom Street between 7th and 6th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: This one’s tough, being close to both Union Square and the Tenderloin. I shoot for the less-populated area south of Market and walk up 6th Street, home of harm-reduction services, pizza-by-the-slice joints, SROs and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/oursf/article/Did-Julia-Child-really-dine-at-Tu-Lan-A-legend-13666853.php\">Tú Lan\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1508\" height=\"932\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989639\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11 PM.jpg 1508w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11 PM-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11 PM-768x475.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1508px) 100vw, 1508px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Brick and Mortar Music Hall or Public Works\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gough Street between Market and McCoppin\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: This is on an odd little diagonal block that’s off of most people’s radar, on the other side of a freeway overpass. It’s never let me down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1636\" height=\"870\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989643\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM.jpg 1636w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM-160x85.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM-768x408.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM-1536x817.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1636px) 100vw, 1636px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Oracle Park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Harrison Street between 3rd and 4th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Optimal ballpark spots used to change each year. In a coincidence that I won’t overanalyze, I’ve had luck parking on this block ever since Buster Posey left the Giants in 2021. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"392\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989644\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07 PM.jpg 990w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07 PM-160x63.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07 PM-768x304.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Masonic\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Van Ness Avenue or Franklin Street between Sacramento and Pine\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Sorry, man. You will not find parking on Nob Hill. You can try driving up California while looking for a spot, but likely, you’ll have to head back and make the five-block walk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1496\" height=\"1082\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989645\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04 PM.jpg 1496w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04 PM-160x116.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04 PM-768x555.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1496px) 100vw, 1496px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for August Hall\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mission or Howard Streets, between 5th and 6th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: The “park up the hill” trick doesn’t work here, since the nearby hill is Nob Hill. If you strike out on Mission or Howard, Folsom is often open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1252\" height=\"788\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989646\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58 PM.jpg 1252w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58 PM-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58 PM-768x483.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1252px) 100vw, 1252px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the DNA Lounge\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Treat Street between Florida and Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Luckily the DNA is surrounded by a pretzel of strange, short, wiggly streets, good for finding parking; head south of the freeway overpass to this hidden curve. (It’s where I parked when I saw \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20130501120440/http%3A//citysound.bohemian.com/2013/04/25/live-review-prince-at-the-dna-lounge-san-francisco/\">Prince at the tiny club in 2013\u003c/a>; yes of course I am bragging.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1367\" height=\"1030\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989647\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09 PM.jpg 1367w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09 PM-160x121.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09 PM-768x579.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1367px) 100vw, 1367px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands or Hardly Strictly\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clement Street between 34th and 38th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: The best way to get to these festivals is to throw a bike in the trunk, park near Ocean Beach, and ride in past the bison to the free bicycle parking area. Barring that, your other best bet is to park up the (very) steep hill, near the VA hospital.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1354\" height=\"902\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989641\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34 PM.jpg 1354w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34 PM-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34 PM-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1354px) 100vw, 1354px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Cow Palace\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Geneva Avenue between Stoneridge and Carter\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: I don’t really have a pro tip for this one. I just want to say that there should be more concerts at the Cow Palace, which is cool as hell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1560\" height=\"786\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989648\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM.jpg 1560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM-160x81.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM-768x387.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM-1536x774.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Stern Grove\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Portola Drive between San Fernando and Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Park across the major artery of 19th, and up the hill a little bit. And, since Stern Grove concerts always take place on Sundays, there are no two-hour parking restrictions to contend with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1318\" height=\"926\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989649\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08 PM.jpg 1318w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08 PM-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08 PM-768x540.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1318px) 100vw, 1318px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Independent\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Divisadero Street between O’Farrell and Turk\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: You’ll have to go back in time to when you could park at the DMV lot, because this neighborhood is impossible now. I go down the hill a ways, and usually find a spot north of Primo Pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1514\" height=\"760\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989650\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29 PM.jpg 1514w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29 PM-160x80.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29 PM-768x386.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1514px) 100vw, 1514px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Black Cat\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East side of Van Ness Avenue, between Turk and Ellis\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Aim for Van Ness, the west boundary of the Tenderloin. For a major thoroughfare, Van Ness often surprises me with open spots, especially on the east side heading north.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1460\" height=\"824\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989651\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47 PM.jpg 1460w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47 PM-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47 PM-768x433.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1460px) 100vw, 1460px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Cafe du Nord or Swedish American Hall\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>16th Street between Guerrero and Sanchez\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Once the daycare that’s just east of Dolores on 16th closes for the day, the white curb — which tends to scare off many drivers — is free for you to park at. Bonus points for the view of the Mission Dolores basilica, just a beautiful building. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1004\" height=\"604\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27 PM.png 1004w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27 PM-160x96.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27 PM-768x462.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1004px) 100vw, 1004px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The SF venues you don’t need my help parking at\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weirdly, I’ve never had trouble finding a parking spot by El Rio or the Knockout, near 24th and Mission. And if you’re seeing a show at venues outside the city core, like Neck of the Woods or the 4-Star Theater, you’re in luck — you shouldn’t need any tips for easy parking at these slightly more out-of-the-way venues.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\" target=\"_blank\">How We Get By\u003c/a>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the full series \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">here\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding free parking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> during the day is nearly impossible. If you’re going to a show or concert at night, though, when the meters have stopped running, you have options. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ve been driving to shows in San Francisco for 35 years from my hometown, an hour away. Because I hate having to pay an extra $40–$60 for parking, I’ve built up a vast mental database of the best places to park for free near every major live music venue in the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’ve always kept this list of secret parking spots to myself and close friends. Until now. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Below, I spill all — the best places to park for shows in San Francisco for free, within reasonable walking distance (usually) to more than 30 of the city’s many \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/category/music\">live music\u003c/a> venues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_13989527\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13989527\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/260512-FREE-PARKING-AT-MUSIC-VENUES-MD-08-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Independent on Divisadero Street in San Francisco on May 12, 2026. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>First, San Francisco parking tips everyone should know\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Look to the left\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nOn a one-way street with parallel parking on both sides, parking on the left side is usually more open, since people are less comfortable executing a left-handed parallel parking maneuver. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cross that big street\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nMajor arteries like Market Street and Van Ness constitute mental borders for many drivers. If your destination is near a popular street, aim for the other side of it, where there’ll typically be more vacancies. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Stray uphill\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nHills, too, create mental obstacles for people looking for parking. If you’re willing to walk up one of San Francisco’s many hills either before or after the show, you’ll find more spots. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Always check signs\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPay attention to posted time restrictions to avoid tickets. Some meters in San Francisco mercilessly run until 10pm. Also, street cleaning hours can start at 12am, before some shows get out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know when you’re beaten\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nSome neighborhoods are hopeless. North Beach, Nob Hill, Divisadero — forget about it. The sooner you accept this, the more inner peace you will find. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Trust your gut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nI acknowledge that I am a 6’1” man, and not everyone feels as comfortable as I do walking alone at night. If you’re not a local, and you’re feeling unsure, read up on the neighborhood beforehand.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Realize the ‘right’ way can be painful too\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nIf you’re tempted to suck it up and pay for a parking lot or garage, remember: after the show, you may be stuck for a long time in a parking-lot traffic jam as cars try to get out all at once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Okay! On with my list, with suggested free parking areas marked red.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"970\" height=\"584\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989625\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05 PM.jpg 970w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05 PM-160x96.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.55.05 PM-768x462.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Davies Symphony Hall, War Memorial Opera House, Herbst Theater or Bill Graham Civic Auditorium\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East side of Gough Street, between Golden Gate and McAllister\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Park on the left side of the street. Quick eats to go are almost nonexistent in the area, so pick up any pre-show provisions you may need at the Super Sam corner store. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1490\" height=\"724\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989626\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27 PM.jpg 1490w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27 PM-160x78.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-12.57.27 PM-768x373.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1490px) 100vw, 1490px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for SFJAZZ, Rickshaw Stop or Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North side of Oak Street between Buchanan and Octavia\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: The right lanes are almost always congested due to the upcoming freeway onramp. Watch for cars speeding down the hill behind you in the left lanes, and nose in rather than backing into the spot, if possible. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1338\" height=\"904\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989627\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09 PM.jpg 1338w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09 PM-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-1.01.09 PM-768x519.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1338px) 100vw, 1338px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Castro Theater\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Castro Street, between 14th and 16th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Separated from the Castro by Market Street, and up the hill a little, most people don’t think of parking here. I found a cool old metal dustpan on the street here once. Still use it. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"944\" height=\"680\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989630\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47 PM.jpg 944w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47 PM-160x115.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.48.47 PM-768x553.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 944px) 100vw, 944px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Chapel\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>South Van Ness Avenue between 17th and 21st\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Parking in the Mission District can be maddening; find solace on either the east or west side of the main artery on the edge of the neighborhood. Say hi to Whiz Burger for me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1178\" height=\"644\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989631\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46 PM.jpg 1178w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46 PM-160x87.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.52.46 PM-768x420.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1178px) 100vw, 1178px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Great American Music Hall\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Franklin Street between Ellis and Geary\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: I’ve also found Geary Boulevard, between Van Ness and Franklin, to usually have open spots. (Plus, you’re right next to Tommy’s Joynt for post-show eats.) \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"870\" height=\"530\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989632\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30 PM.jpg 870w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30 PM-160x97.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-3.59.30 PM-768x468.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Regency Ballroom\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Franklin Street between Post and Bush\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Separated from the venue by Van Ness, and up the hill a little, most people don’t think of parking here. Aim for the left side of this one-way thoroughfare, where parking is usually more open. Pour one out for the closed Walgreens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1532\" height=\"828\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989633\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32 PM.jpg 1532w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32 PM-160x86.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.01.32 PM-768x415.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1532px) 100vw, 1532px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Mabuhay Gardens or On Broadway\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leavenworth Street between Francisco and Chestnut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Trying to find parking in North Beach is like repeatedly hitting yourself in the face with a hammer for a half hour. I park an \u003cem>entire mile away\u003c/em>, and enjoy the walk along Columbus, which is teeming with action on weekends. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1648\" height=\"950\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989634\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM.jpg 1648w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM-768x443.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.03.39 PM-1536x885.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1648px) 100vw, 1648px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Midway\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Illinois Street between 23rd and 25th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Do not be seduced by the road leading toward Pier 80; it looks wide open, but is full of private parking, and Pier 80 itself will be closed off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1218\" height=\"512\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989635\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40 PM.jpg 1218w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40 PM-160x67.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.06.40 PM-768x323.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1218px) 100vw, 1218px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Chase Center\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>16th Street between Carolina and Connecticut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: For concert parking, the Chase Center garage currently charges $75. \u003cem>Ahem\u003c/em>. I think you’ll agree that a nice 10-minute stroll down 16th Street is a better alternative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1190\" height=\"698\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989636\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02 PM.jpg 1190w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02 PM-160x94.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.09.02 PM-768x450.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1190px) 100vw, 1190px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Bottom of the Hill\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>16th Street between Carolina and Connecticut\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Parking’s not nearly as plentiful as it used to be here; be aware of the new-ish protected bike lanes on 17th and the many time restrictions. (Also, bring presents for the excellent staff at one of the city’s best clubs before it \u003ca href=\"https://www.coyotemedia.org/san-francisco-club-bottom-of-the-hill-to-close-at-the-end-of-2026/\">closes at the end of the year\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1306\" height=\"754\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989637\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11 PM.jpg 1306w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11 PM-160x92.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.12.11 PM-768x443.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1306px) 100vw, 1306px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Fillmore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Geary Boulevard between Divisadero and Scott\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: I agonized for years driving in circles on neighborhood streets until finding this wonderful stretch of Geary, down the road and on a slight curve, where no one thinks to park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1238\" height=\"870\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989638\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04 PM.jpg 1238w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04 PM-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.14.04 PM-768x540.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1238px) 100vw, 1238px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Warfield\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Folsom Street between 7th and 6th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: This one’s tough, being close to both Union Square and the Tenderloin. I shoot for the less-populated area south of Market and walk up 6th Street, home of harm-reduction services, pizza-by-the-slice joints, SROs and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/oursf/article/Did-Julia-Child-really-dine-at-Tu-Lan-A-legend-13666853.php\">Tú Lan\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1508\" height=\"932\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989639\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11 PM.jpg 1508w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11 PM-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.16.11 PM-768x475.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1508px) 100vw, 1508px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Brick and Mortar Music Hall or Public Works\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gough Street between Market and McCoppin\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: This is on an odd little diagonal block that’s off of most people’s radar, on the other side of a freeway overpass. It’s never let me down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1636\" height=\"870\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989643\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM.jpg 1636w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM-160x85.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM-768x408.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.26.53 PM-1536x817.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1636px) 100vw, 1636px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Oracle Park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Harrison Street between 3rd and 4th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Optimal ballpark spots used to change each year. In a coincidence that I won’t overanalyze, I’ve had luck parking on this block ever since Buster Posey left the Giants in 2021. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"990\" height=\"392\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989644\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07 PM.jpg 990w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07 PM-160x63.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.29.07 PM-768x304.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Masonic\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Van Ness Avenue or Franklin Street between Sacramento and Pine\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Sorry, man. You will not find parking on Nob Hill. You can try driving up California while looking for a spot, but likely, you’ll have to head back and make the five-block walk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1496\" height=\"1082\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989645\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04 PM.jpg 1496w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04 PM-160x116.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.32.04 PM-768x555.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1496px) 100vw, 1496px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for August Hall\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mission or Howard Streets, between 5th and 6th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: The “park up the hill” trick doesn’t work here, since the nearby hill is Nob Hill. If you strike out on Mission or Howard, Folsom is often open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1252\" height=\"788\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989646\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58 PM.jpg 1252w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58 PM-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.34.58 PM-768x483.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1252px) 100vw, 1252px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the DNA Lounge\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Treat Street between Florida and Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Luckily the DNA is surrounded by a pretzel of strange, short, wiggly streets, good for finding parking; head south of the freeway overpass to this hidden curve. (It’s where I parked when I saw \u003ca href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20130501120440/http%3A//citysound.bohemian.com/2013/04/25/live-review-prince-at-the-dna-lounge-san-francisco/\">Prince at the tiny club in 2013\u003c/a>; yes of course I am bragging.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1367\" height=\"1030\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989647\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09 PM.jpg 1367w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09 PM-160x121.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.37.09 PM-768x579.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1367px) 100vw, 1367px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands or Hardly Strictly\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clement Street between 34th and 38th\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: The best way to get to these festivals is to throw a bike in the trunk, park near Ocean Beach, and ride in past the bison to the free bicycle parking area. Barring that, your other best bet is to park up the (very) steep hill, near the VA hospital.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1354\" height=\"902\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989641\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34 PM.jpg 1354w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34 PM-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.22.34 PM-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1354px) 100vw, 1354px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Cow Palace\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Geneva Avenue between Stoneridge and Carter\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: I don’t really have a pro tip for this one. I just want to say that there should be more concerts at the Cow Palace, which is cool as hell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1560\" height=\"786\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989648\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM.jpg 1560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM-160x81.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM-768x387.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.40.36 PM-1536x774.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1560px) 100vw, 1560px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Stern Grove\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Portola Drive between San Fernando and Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Park across the major artery of 19th, and up the hill a little bit. And, since Stern Grove concerts always take place on Sundays, there are no two-hour parking restrictions to contend with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1318\" height=\"926\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989649\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08 PM.jpg 1318w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08 PM-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.44.08 PM-768x540.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1318px) 100vw, 1318px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Independent\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Divisadero Street between O’Farrell and Turk\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: You’ll have to go back in time to when you could park at the DMV lot, because this neighborhood is impossible now. I go down the hill a ways, and usually find a spot north of Primo Pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1514\" height=\"760\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989650\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29 PM.jpg 1514w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29 PM-160x80.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.46.29 PM-768x386.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1514px) 100vw, 1514px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for the Black Cat\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East side of Van Ness Avenue, between Turk and Ellis\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Aim for Van Ness, the west boundary of the Tenderloin. For a major thoroughfare, Van Ness often surprises me with open spots, especially on the east side heading north.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47%E2%80%AFPM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1460\" height=\"824\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989651\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47 PM.jpg 1460w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47 PM-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-4.48.47 PM-768x433.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1460px) 100vw, 1460px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where to find parking for Cafe du Nord or Swedish American Hall\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>16th Street between Guerrero and Sanchez\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>\nPro tip: Once the daycare that’s just east of Dolores on 16th closes for the day, the white curb — which tends to scare off many drivers — is free for you to park at. Bonus points for the view of the Mission Dolores basilica, just a beautiful building. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27%E2%80%AFPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1004\" height=\"604\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-13989653\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27 PM.png 1004w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27 PM-160x96.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-14-at-5.02.27 PM-768x462.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1004px) 100vw, 1004px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The SF venues you don’t need my help parking at\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Weirdly, I’ve never had trouble finding a parking spot by El Rio or the Knockout, near 24th and Mission. And if you’re seeing a show at venues outside the city core, like Neck of the Woods or the 4-Star Theater, you’re in luck — you shouldn’t need any tips for easy parking at these slightly more out-of-the-way venues.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"order": 9
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"id": "fresh-air",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"order": 18
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"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
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"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
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"source": "American Public Media"
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"masters-of-scale": {
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"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
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},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
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"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"meta": {
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"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
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"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
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"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
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},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
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"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
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},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
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"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
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},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
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"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
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"planet-money": {
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"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
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},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
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"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
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},
"pri-the-world": {
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