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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"#A\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Residents of the artsy East Bay neighborhood of Point Richmond have at least 30 fun reasons to take a walk around their neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousbug]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dozens of little fairy dwellings are scattered along three blocks of Washington Avenue, inviting pedestrians to delight in their magical worlds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Laura Benitez’s toddler spotted one right after they moved to the area a few years ago. During a stroll downtown, her daughter noticed a wee fire station right outside the building for human firefighters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was just the cutest thing,” Benitez said. “She played with it for like half an hour.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028902\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028902\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Fairy Fire Department fairy installation on Washington Avenue, on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030373\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Marc’s Arts fairy house on Washington Avenue. Right: The ‘Little Louvre,’ a newly built fairy museum, also on Washington Avenue. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Benitez soon learned that the fire station was part of an entire village of miniature fairy houses nearby. Ever since, she’s been taking her daughter to “Little Point Richmond,” the stretch of small dollhouse-like dwellings made of gourds, popsicle sticks and sawed-off baskets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Benitez was curious about this fairy amusement park that had been such a treat to her and her daughter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would love to know where the idea came from\u003cem>,” \u003c/em>Benitez said. “I appreciate all things whimsical and artistic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030372\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fairy installation with a ‘Little Point Richmond’ welcome billboard. \u003ccite>(Pauline Bartolone/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Popping up like mushrooms after a good rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Taking a stroll down Washington Street feels like going on an easter egg hunt. Foot-high fairy dwellings flank the sidewalk. Some are hidden under branches, others are in plain sight, resting on a tree stump or a concrete wall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each house opens up into a miniature world of whimsy. There’s a 1-inch salmon dinner, a stool made out of a bottle cap, and thumbnail-sized mailboxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neighbors say the magical dwellings just appear like mushrooms after a good rain. But there is indeed one artist behind them who often works when no one is looking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028904\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028904\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jimmie Robinson installs the ‘Little Louvre’ at a neighbor’s house on Washington Avenue in Richmond on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>His name is Jimmie Robinson. He’s a professional illustrator and \u003ca href=\"https://imagecomics.com/creators/jimmie-robinson\">comic book artist\u003c/a> who lives with the humans in “Little Point Richmond.” And he’s been making the houses for about eight years now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been hiding for so long,” Robinson said with a laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to some social anxiety, and a little humility, Jimmie hasn’t wanted attention for his creations. He likes surprising his neighbors with each new addition to the neighborhood. He puts the houses up at night or in the early hours of the morning so people don’t see him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I do not want the spotlight,” Jimmie said. “I wanted people to see the fairy houses but not see me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028907\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028907\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jimmie Robinson poses for a photo at his home in Richmond on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030722\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030722\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Robinson works on a fairy house in his workshop. Right: Robinson looks at the site where he installed fairy houses on Washington Avenue. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The public art project started on a whim, he said, when all the flowers had died in one of the planter boxes outside his home. To temporarily fill the void, Robinson put a tiny gnome-sized garden shed there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The flowers never came back, but I just kept building off of the garden shed,” Jimmie said. He added a pathway for the shed that connects to a house — the inaugural fairy house. “People would stop and look at it, and it was funny,” Robinson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon after that, he built a tiny house for his neighbor. And then another neighbor. He’s friendly with people on his block, so he caters his creations to their specific jobs and interests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I already knew that Rosa was a librarian, that Eveline was from France,” he said. “It just kept going and going.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The inside of Robinson’s Little Point School of Magic. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When the daughter of a neighbor joined the Air Force, Jimmie installed a hanging toy helicopter outside their house. The real estate agents on the block got a modern tiny — tiny — home with a realtor sign. And when he included a sign in Lao script for his Laotian neighbor, she was so excited that she brought all her friends and neighbors over to see it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes Jimmie about a month to craft each structure. He often works late into the night when he’s especially into a project.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Little Point Richmond became more of a \u003cem>fairy village\u003c/em> when Jimmie started crafting mini-public services. There’s now a fire station, a post office, a school and a little library with, yes, miniature books and pages to turn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030436\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030436\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The miniature fairy book created by Robinson. \u003ccite>(Pauline Bartolone/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030739\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030739\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1234\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-800x494.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-1020x629.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-1536x948.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-1920x1185.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fairy clothesline built by Robinson on Washington Avenue. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>A different type of creative work\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Robinson grew up in Oakland. His mother was a seamstress and infused creativity into his life. He said, growing up, he was always tinkering with something. And as an only child, his imagination was everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I didn’t have brothers and sisters to play with. I had to create worlds,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Building fairy houses is different from his two-dimensional illustration work, he said. With comic books, he completes the story for the reader. But fairy houses invite people to create their own stories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Fairy houses are open-ended,” he said. “There’s no figures. There’s just the house. You don’t know what it does; what lives there, how it lives, what it eats.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: The Little Point School of Magic. Right: A fairy house under repair. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Repairing little worlds \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>About once a week, Jimmie checks on the houses to make repairs. Weather and grabby hands cause wear and tear. So sometimes, he needs to glue a sign back on, refasten a door, or fix a broken ladder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s public art … these things happen,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes, his creations are dismantled or stolen. But people contribute as well, leaving offerings of fairy figurines and less desirable pebbles and candy wrappers. Other times, he finds a stranger has added a whole other structure to a cluster of fairy houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030442\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030442\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A miniature map to Little Point Richmond. \u003ccite>(Pauline Bartolone/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The way people interact with the art inspires Jimmie, too. He created a marble slide when he learned that glass balls were rolling down the sidewalk when kids played with one of his toy landscapes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Jimmie’s world isn’t just for children. He wants everyone to feel they’re walking into an “interactive experience.” And busloads of fairy tourists are coming for it. The Little Point Richmond fairy houses are on Google Maps now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028910\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028910\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fairy houses that Robinson built and installed on a tree on Washington Avenue on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030730\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030730\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fairy houses by Robinson along Washington Avenue on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Pauline Bartolone first reported on the Point Richmond fairy houses for Craftsmanship Magazine.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Hey everyone, I’m Olivia Allen-Price. And this is Bay Curious, the show that answers listener questions about the San Francisco Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today’s show takes us to the city of Richmond where something magical is happening within the small bayside neighborhood of Point Richmond. That’s where a Bay Curious listener, who also happens to be a KQED employee, Laura Benitez lives. She was on a stroll with her toddler, passing the local fire station when…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laura Benitez:\u003c/strong> Next to the fire station, there was a tiny fairy house fire station. And it was just the cutest thing. And she played with it for like half an hour. And I then kind of heard from other people in the neighborhood that there was a whole series of fairy houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Sprinkled all up and down Washington Street you’ll find more miniature homes and the public services to support them. They’re all brimming with the personality of their imaginary fairy inhabitants and highly detailed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wee buildings have been dubbed “Little Point Richmond” and Laura loves them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laura Benitez:\u003c/strong> I appreciate all things whimsical and artistic and those little things that make life more meaningful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But she wants to know: where did this little fairy amusement park come from? Who is behind it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today on the show we explore some of the hidden treasures you’ve been wondering about as you explore your neighborhoods. We’ll start in the tucked away community of Point Richmond in the East Bay and then make our way to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to visit a very green waterfall. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sponsor break\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laura Benitez:\u003c/strong> Scattered across the Point Richmond neighborhood are dozens of intricate fairy houses. KQED reporter Pauline Bartolone set out to discover who is behind them all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of kids running\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1:\u003c/strong> “Oh I found something!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Every time my five year old daughter and I go to Little Point Richmond, there’s something new to explore. On a recent Saturday with one of her buddies it felt like we were on an easter egg hunt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> Over here!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> At least thirty magical creations, in all shapes and colors, flank the sidewalks. Some are hidden under branches, others are on the ground in plain sight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1: \u003c/strong>Ahhh! Fairyhouse…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2: \u003c/strong>Ah… there’s too many of them…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>They jut out from tree trunks, or perched on stumps and concrete walls. When found, they’re a total delight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1:\u003c/strong> Another fairyhouse… Pretty…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> Let’s go!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>They’re like tiny dollhouses made of gourds, popsicle sticks, or sawed-off baskets. Each has their own theme.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> We gotta ring the bell!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>And there’s plenty to interact with… windchimes, marble slides…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> See how it goes?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of a bell ringing and a marble rolling down a shoot.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Open up a tiny door and you’ll peak into a miniature world of whimsy. Furniture crafted with found things, like a stool made with a bottle cap. You’ll find a one inch salmon dinner and thumbnail-sized mailboxes. The scenes make these preschoolers bust out into song.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1 singing: \u003c/strong>Go on the bench and go in your cozy fairy house and sit on your little chair. Close the fairy house house and you’re all ready now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Just a few minutes of playing with the wee dwellings inspire deep questions:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> Who made these?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Neighbors say the fairy houses just pop up like mushrooms after a good rain. But there is indeed one artist behind them, who so far has been pretty elusive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I’ve been hiding for so long \u003cem>(laughs)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Jimmie Robinson. He’s a professional illustrator and successful comic book artist. He lives on the street with all the fairy houses, but he doesn’t sign his works. And this is the first time he’s publicly spoken about being the fairy house creator.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> Just here in the basement is my little workshop of sorts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Call it social anxiety, or maybe humility, Jimmie prefers the work space underneath his house over being seen outside with his creations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I do not want the spotlight. This is true. I wanted people to see the fairy houses, but not see me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Jimmie says this public art project, it all started about eight years ago. On a wall outside his own house. All the flowers had died in one of his planter boxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>I put this little tiny garden shed, like a gnome garden shed there as if, you know, “Hey, I’m working on new flowers. Don’t worry.” And the flowers never came back, but I just kept building off of the garden shed. So made a little pathway for it. And then a house for the garden shed. People would stop and look at it and it was funny. That’s where it all started.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Then he built one for his neighbor. And then another one. He’s friendly with people on the block so he knew enough about them to cater his creations to their specific jobs and interests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> So I already knew that Rosa was a librarian, that, you know, that Aveline was from France.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> He says some of his neighbors are touched when fairy houses pop up in their yards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>You know, Tien, she’s from Laos, she’s Laotian and when I did the Laotian flag and I researched how to make the numbers. And so I did them in their native language and they were just like, they’re bringing all their friends and neighbors and family over to see it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> But most of the time, he doesn’t see their reactions. Because he’s often putting the houses up at night, when no one is looking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I do get notes. I get letters. I get stuff left in the mailbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Little Point Richmond became more of a town for fairies a few years ago when Jimmie started crafting mini public services. There’s now a fire station, a post office, a school and a little library, with yes, miniature books and pages to turn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes Jimmie about a month to craft a fairy dwelling. But each project is different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>And I’ll be down here six hours a day, all day, or barely at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Jimmie says he’s always been a tinkerer, back to when he was growing up in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>I’m an only child. My mom’s very creative herself as a seamstress and so I didn’t have brothers and sisters to play with. I had to create worlds. I had to imagine my own places, uh, or build things that had a story as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>He says building fairy houses is different from his two-dimensional work as an illustrator. With comic books, he completes the story for the reader. But fairy houses invite people to imagine their own stories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>Fairy houses are open ended. They’re, you know, open for interpretation and all that. There’s no figures. There’s just the house. You don’t know what it does, what lives there, how it lives, what it eats, what it does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> Ooh, this one’s going to need some work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>On a walk down the fairy house street, Jimmie shows me all the things people add to the houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>Oh, yeah. See somebody’s added a bunch of stuff here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>People leave a lot of fairy figurines, of course, but unexpected treasures show up too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there’s salamanders and little glass rocks and pebbles and a candy wrapper. There’s a little nut back there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Jimmie has to make a lot of repairs to these little worlds…he checks on them once a week. But the way visitors interact with them gives him new ideas, too. …Like the marble slide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I was finding marbles, they were part of this little landscape and the thing was the kids would mess with them and the marbles would roll down the hill. And so that’s when I came up with making my own marble run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Jimmie says, Little Point Richmond is all about inclusivity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>The houses aren’t just for fairies — gnomes and insects can live here too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to be a fairy tourist, you don’t have to be a kid. In fact, lately, people of all ages come by the bus load. It’s on Google Maps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> My intention with the fairy houses is to make an environment that you can walk into an interactive experience. That’s what I want. I don’t care if it’s a kid or adult or whatever or my neighbors. It is you’re walking into an area that’s now Little Point Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The latest addition to the neighborhood? A mini Louvre, as in the French national art museum, where visitors can contribute bite-sized works of art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That was KQED reporter Pauline Bartalone. She first reported on the fairy houses for Craftsmanship Magazine. Thanks also to Eli Rosenberg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those fairy homes are quite the draw for kids. We’re currently working on an episode about other kid-friendly places and activities in the Bay Area and we want to hear from you. If you have kids in your life, what are some of your favorite places to have fun? Whether it’s a business, outdoor space, cultural center or an offbeat hidden gem — we want to hear about it and why you love it. Use your phone to send a voice memo to \u003ca href=\"mailto:baycurious@kqed.org\">baycurious@kqed.org\u003c/a> or leave us a voicemail. Just call 415-553-3334.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next up we’re heading across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park where another listener question is waiting for us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> I’ve lived in San Francisco for over 30 years but my husband and I moved to the Richmond district a couple of years ago and during COVID, it was awesome to get out into the park and be around other people, but at a distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This is Persie Nakonechny.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> That’s when we really took a closer look at a lot of the little hollows, the museums, the little areas that are made, you know, just for people to enjoy and hang out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s one particular feature in Golden Gate Park that Persie has wondered about whenever she passes it. Rainbow Falls… a man-made waterfall on John F. Kennedy Promenade near Crossover Drive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> the water at Rainbow Falls and the creek that runs from it into Lloyd Lake is sometimes an alarming shade of green. with a weird foam. I’m not sure if it’s algae or an attempt to stop people from being tempted to drink it or something else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We passed this one along to KQED editor Chris Hambrick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of a stream gurgling, birds singing, wind\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick:\u003c/strong> I had to see this green waterfall for myself. Even though it’s man-made, the area is serene with trees, tall grasses and bushes bordering the lake. I even saw a few ducks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape: \u003c/strong>Time to hang out with the ducks. \u003cem>(Sounds of wings flapping) \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick: \u003c/strong>This spot used to be a quarry. Many of the original roads in Golden Gate Park were built with rock from here. When the quarry closed, neighbors wanted something beautiful and Park Superintendent John McLaren listened. The Falls opened in 1930. General Electric lit up the water with multicolored lights for the dedication, thus the name “Rainbow Falls.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lights don’t work nowadays, but both the waterfall and the pool below it are green, bright green. I talked to someone who can tell me why.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne: \u003c/strong>My name is Dave Iribarne. I’m the superintendent of Golden Gate Park for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape:\u003c/strong> What color would you call this green?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne: \u003c/strong>I would say it’s definitely neon green with a hint of lime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape: \u003c/strong>What causes water in this lake and the corresponding falls to be this shade of green?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> Basically, it’s just a natural algae bloom. it’s just an alarming shade. So it kind of freaks people out, but there’s really nothing harmful about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick: \u003c/strong>Dave tells me that the shade of green changes depending on what’s going on with the algae, and today when I arrive, I see that he and his crew are draining the falls for maintenance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> We’re right now in the process of, uh, installing aeration in Lloyd Lake, which feeds Rainbow Falls. And then we’re going to put some flocculant. It’s like a powder that gets poured in, and it actually grabs onto the algae and weighs it down and sinks it down to the bottom so that it can’t keep reproducing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick:\u003c/strong> To help control algae growth, they also add in some microbiotics, which are living organisms that actually feed on the algae.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> And then we put in a dye, like a green dye. It’s pretty unnatural looking. We have it in many of our lakes in the park. But the dye prevents the sunlight from feeding the algae.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape: \u003c/strong>Okay, but it is like for sure for sure it’s the algae that causes this color.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> 100 percent it’s the algae that causes the color.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape:\u003c/strong> That’s so interesting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne: \u003c/strong>Yeah, we’re actually getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day. So, you know, we just dye it green. Just kidding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick:\u003c/strong> I take all this info back to Persie to see what she thinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> So that’s natural. And maybe the change in the color would make sense to that, like in the summer, when there’s more sunlight that it’s growing more, and that’s why it turns that fluorescent green. It’s so funny to me that it’s a natural substance. But nature’s weird.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick: \u003c/strong>Indeed, it is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That was KQED editor Chris Hambrick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Senad, Alana Walker, Holly Kernan and everyone at team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price, have a great week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003ca href=\"#A\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Residents of the artsy East Bay neighborhood of Point Richmond have at least 30 fun reasons to take a walk around their neighborhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n What do you wonder about the Bay Area, its culture or people that you want KQED to investigate?\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Ask Bay Curious.\u003c/a>\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dozens of little fairy dwellings are scattered along three blocks of Washington Avenue, inviting pedestrians to delight in their magical worlds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Laura Benitez’s toddler spotted one right after they moved to the area a few years ago. During a stroll downtown, her daughter noticed a wee fire station right outside the building for human firefighters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was just the cutest thing,” Benitez said. “She played with it for like half an hour.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028902\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028902\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-15-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Fairy Fire Department fairy installation on Washington Avenue, on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030373\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030373\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-6-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Marc’s Arts fairy house on Washington Avenue. Right: The ‘Little Louvre,’ a newly built fairy museum, also on Washington Avenue. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Benitez soon learned that the fire station was part of an entire village of miniature fairy houses nearby. Ever since, she’s been taking her daughter to “Little Point Richmond,” the stretch of small dollhouse-like dwellings made of gourds, popsicle sticks and sawed-off baskets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Benitez was curious about this fairy amusement park that had been such a treat to her and her daughter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would love to know where the idea came from\u003cem>,” \u003c/em>Benitez said. “I appreciate all things whimsical and artistic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030372\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030372\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/LittlePointRichmond-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fairy installation with a ‘Little Point Richmond’ welcome billboard. \u003ccite>(Pauline Bartolone/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Popping up like mushrooms after a good rain\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Taking a stroll down Washington Street feels like going on an easter egg hunt. Foot-high fairy dwellings flank the sidewalk. Some are hidden under branches, others are in plain sight, resting on a tree stump or a concrete wall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each house opens up into a miniature world of whimsy. There’s a 1-inch salmon dinner, a stool made out of a bottle cap, and thumbnail-sized mailboxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Neighbors say the magical dwellings just appear like mushrooms after a good rain. But there is indeed one artist behind them who often works when no one is looking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028904\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028904\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-18-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jimmie Robinson installs the ‘Little Louvre’ at a neighbor’s house on Washington Avenue in Richmond on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>His name is Jimmie Robinson. He’s a professional illustrator and \u003ca href=\"https://imagecomics.com/creators/jimmie-robinson\">comic book artist\u003c/a> who lives with the humans in “Little Point Richmond.” And he’s been making the houses for about eight years now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ve been hiding for so long,” Robinson said with a laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Due to some social anxiety, and a little humility, Jimmie hasn’t wanted attention for his creations. He likes surprising his neighbors with each new addition to the neighborhood. He puts the houses up at night or in the early hours of the morning so people don’t see him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I do not want the spotlight,” Jimmie said. “I wanted people to see the fairy houses but not see me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028907\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028907\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-33-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jimmie Robinson poses for a photo at his home in Richmond on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030722\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030722\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-9-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Robinson works on a fairy house in his workshop. Right: Robinson looks at the site where he installed fairy houses on Washington Avenue. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The public art project started on a whim, he said, when all the flowers had died in one of the planter boxes outside his home. To temporarily fill the void, Robinson put a tiny gnome-sized garden shed there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The flowers never came back, but I just kept building off of the garden shed,” Jimmie said. He added a pathway for the shed that connects to a house — the inaugural fairy house. “People would stop and look at it, and it was funny,” Robinson said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon after that, he built a tiny house for his neighbor. And then another neighbor. He’s friendly with people on his block, so he caters his creations to their specific jobs and interests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I already knew that Rosa was a librarian, that Eveline was from France,” he said. “It just kept going and going.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-32_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The inside of Robinson’s Little Point School of Magic. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>When the daughter of a neighbor joined the Air Force, Jimmie installed a hanging toy helicopter outside their house. The real estate agents on the block got a modern tiny — tiny — home with a realtor sign. And when he included a sign in Lao script for his Laotian neighbor, she was so excited that she brought all her friends and neighbors over to see it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes Jimmie about a month to craft each structure. He often works late into the night when he’s especially into a project.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Little Point Richmond became more of a \u003cem>fairy village\u003c/em> when Jimmie started crafting mini-public services. There’s now a fire station, a post office, a school and a little library with, yes, miniature books and pages to turn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030436\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030436\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1842-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The miniature fairy book created by Robinson. \u003ccite>(Pauline Bartolone/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030739\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030739\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1234\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-800x494.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-1020x629.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-1536x948.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-29_qed-1920x1185.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fairy clothesline built by Robinson on Washington Avenue. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>A different type of creative work\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Robinson grew up in Oakland. His mother was a seamstress and infused creativity into his life. He said, growing up, he was always tinkering with something. And as an only child, his imagination was everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I didn’t have brothers and sisters to play with. I had to create worlds,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Building fairy houses is different from his two-dimensional illustration work, he said. With comic books, he completes the story for the reader. But fairy houses invite people to create their own stories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Fairy houses are open-ended,” he said. “There’s no figures. There’s just the house. You don’t know what it does; what lives there, how it lives, what it eats.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-8-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: The Little Point School of Magic. Right: A fairy house under repair. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Repairing little worlds \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>About once a week, Jimmie checks on the houses to make repairs. Weather and grabby hands cause wear and tear. So sometimes, he needs to glue a sign back on, refasten a door, or fix a broken ladder.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s public art … these things happen,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sometimes, his creations are dismantled or stolen. But people contribute as well, leaving offerings of fairy figurines and less desirable pebbles and candy wrappers. Other times, he finds a stranger has added a whole other structure to a cluster of fairy houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030442\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030442\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/IMG_1853-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A miniature map to Little Point Richmond. \u003ccite>(Pauline Bartolone/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The way people interact with the art inspires Jimmie, too. He created a marble slide when he learned that glass balls were rolling down the sidewalk when kids played with one of his toy landscapes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Jimmie’s world isn’t just for children. He wants everyone to feel they’re walking into an “interactive experience.” And busloads of fairy tourists are coming for it. The Little Point Richmond fairy houses are on Google Maps now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028910\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028910\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250220_PtRichmondFairyHouses_GC-41-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fairy houses that Robinson built and installed on a tree on Washington Avenue on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030730\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030730\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-10-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fairy houses by Robinson along Washington Avenue on Feb. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Pauline Bartolone first reported on the Point Richmond fairy houses for Craftsmanship Magazine.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Hey everyone, I’m Olivia Allen-Price. And this is Bay Curious, the show that answers listener questions about the San Francisco Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today’s show takes us to the city of Richmond where something magical is happening within the small bayside neighborhood of Point Richmond. That’s where a Bay Curious listener, who also happens to be a KQED employee, Laura Benitez lives. She was on a stroll with her toddler, passing the local fire station when…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laura Benitez:\u003c/strong> Next to the fire station, there was a tiny fairy house fire station. And it was just the cutest thing. And she played with it for like half an hour. And I then kind of heard from other people in the neighborhood that there was a whole series of fairy houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Sprinkled all up and down Washington Street you’ll find more miniature homes and the public services to support them. They’re all brimming with the personality of their imaginary fairy inhabitants and highly detailed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The wee buildings have been dubbed “Little Point Richmond” and Laura loves them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laura Benitez:\u003c/strong> I appreciate all things whimsical and artistic and those little things that make life more meaningful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>But she wants to know: where did this little fairy amusement park come from? Who is behind it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today on the show we explore some of the hidden treasures you’ve been wondering about as you explore your neighborhoods. We’ll start in the tucked away community of Point Richmond in the East Bay and then make our way to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to visit a very green waterfall. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sponsor break\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laura Benitez:\u003c/strong> Scattered across the Point Richmond neighborhood are dozens of intricate fairy houses. KQED reporter Pauline Bartolone set out to discover who is behind them all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of kids running\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1:\u003c/strong> “Oh I found something!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Every time my five year old daughter and I go to Little Point Richmond, there’s something new to explore. On a recent Saturday with one of her buddies it felt like we were on an easter egg hunt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> Over here!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> At least thirty magical creations, in all shapes and colors, flank the sidewalks. Some are hidden under branches, others are on the ground in plain sight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1: \u003c/strong>Ahhh! Fairyhouse…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2: \u003c/strong>Ah… there’s too many of them…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>They jut out from tree trunks, or perched on stumps and concrete walls. When found, they’re a total delight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1:\u003c/strong> Another fairyhouse… Pretty…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> Let’s go!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>They’re like tiny dollhouses made of gourds, popsicle sticks, or sawed-off baskets. Each has their own theme.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> We gotta ring the bell!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>And there’s plenty to interact with… windchimes, marble slides…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> See how it goes?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of a bell ringing and a marble rolling down a shoot.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Open up a tiny door and you’ll peak into a miniature world of whimsy. Furniture crafted with found things, like a stool made with a bottle cap. You’ll find a one inch salmon dinner and thumbnail-sized mailboxes. The scenes make these preschoolers bust out into song.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 1 singing: \u003c/strong>Go on the bench and go in your cozy fairy house and sit on your little chair. Close the fairy house house and you’re all ready now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Just a few minutes of playing with the wee dwellings inspire deep questions:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Kid 2:\u003c/strong> Who made these?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Neighbors say the fairy houses just pop up like mushrooms after a good rain. But there is indeed one artist behind them, who so far has been pretty elusive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I’ve been hiding for so long \u003cem>(laughs)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Jimmie Robinson. He’s a professional illustrator and successful comic book artist. He lives on the street with all the fairy houses, but he doesn’t sign his works. And this is the first time he’s publicly spoken about being the fairy house creator.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> Just here in the basement is my little workshop of sorts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Call it social anxiety, or maybe humility, Jimmie prefers the work space underneath his house over being seen outside with his creations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I do not want the spotlight. This is true. I wanted people to see the fairy houses, but not see me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Jimmie says this public art project, it all started about eight years ago. On a wall outside his own house. All the flowers had died in one of his planter boxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>I put this little tiny garden shed, like a gnome garden shed there as if, you know, “Hey, I’m working on new flowers. Don’t worry.” And the flowers never came back, but I just kept building off of the garden shed. So made a little pathway for it. And then a house for the garden shed. People would stop and look at it and it was funny. That’s where it all started.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Then he built one for his neighbor. And then another one. He’s friendly with people on the block so he knew enough about them to cater his creations to their specific jobs and interests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> So I already knew that Rosa was a librarian, that, you know, that Aveline was from France.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> He says some of his neighbors are touched when fairy houses pop up in their yards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>You know, Tien, she’s from Laos, she’s Laotian and when I did the Laotian flag and I researched how to make the numbers. And so I did them in their native language and they were just like, they’re bringing all their friends and neighbors and family over to see it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> But most of the time, he doesn’t see their reactions. Because he’s often putting the houses up at night, when no one is looking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I do get notes. I get letters. I get stuff left in the mailbox.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Little Point Richmond became more of a town for fairies a few years ago when Jimmie started crafting mini public services. There’s now a fire station, a post office, a school and a little library, with yes, miniature books and pages to turn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It takes Jimmie about a month to craft a fairy dwelling. But each project is different.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>And I’ll be down here six hours a day, all day, or barely at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone:\u003c/strong> Jimmie says he’s always been a tinkerer, back to when he was growing up in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>I’m an only child. My mom’s very creative herself as a seamstress and so I didn’t have brothers and sisters to play with. I had to create worlds. I had to imagine my own places, uh, or build things that had a story as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>He says building fairy houses is different from his two-dimensional work as an illustrator. With comic books, he completes the story for the reader. But fairy houses invite people to imagine their own stories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>Fairy houses are open ended. They’re, you know, open for interpretation and all that. There’s no figures. There’s just the house. You don’t know what it does, what lives there, how it lives, what it eats, what it does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> Ooh, this one’s going to need some work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>On a walk down the fairy house street, Jimmie shows me all the things people add to the houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>Oh, yeah. See somebody’s added a bunch of stuff here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>People leave a lot of fairy figurines, of course, but unexpected treasures show up too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, there’s salamanders and little glass rocks and pebbles and a candy wrapper. There’s a little nut back there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Jimmie has to make a lot of repairs to these little worlds…he checks on them once a week. But the way visitors interact with them gives him new ideas, too. …Like the marble slide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> I was finding marbles, they were part of this little landscape and the thing was the kids would mess with them and the marbles would roll down the hill. And so that’s when I came up with making my own marble run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>Jimmie says, Little Point Richmond is all about inclusivity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson: \u003c/strong>The houses aren’t just for fairies — gnomes and insects can live here too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to be a fairy tourist, you don’t have to be a kid. In fact, lately, people of all ages come by the bus load. It’s on Google Maps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jimmie Robinson:\u003c/strong> My intention with the fairy houses is to make an environment that you can walk into an interactive experience. That’s what I want. I don’t care if it’s a kid or adult or whatever or my neighbors. It is you’re walking into an area that’s now Little Point Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pauline Bartolone: \u003c/strong>The latest addition to the neighborhood? A mini Louvre, as in the French national art museum, where visitors can contribute bite-sized works of art.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That was KQED reporter Pauline Bartalone. She first reported on the fairy houses for Craftsmanship Magazine. Thanks also to Eli Rosenberg.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those fairy homes are quite the draw for kids. We’re currently working on an episode about other kid-friendly places and activities in the Bay Area and we want to hear from you. If you have kids in your life, what are some of your favorite places to have fun? Whether it’s a business, outdoor space, cultural center or an offbeat hidden gem — we want to hear about it and why you love it. Use your phone to send a voice memo to \u003ca href=\"mailto:baycurious@kqed.org\">baycurious@kqed.org\u003c/a> or leave us a voicemail. Just call 415-553-3334.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Next up we’re heading across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park where another listener question is waiting for us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> I’ve lived in San Francisco for over 30 years but my husband and I moved to the Richmond district a couple of years ago and during COVID, it was awesome to get out into the park and be around other people, but at a distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This is Persie Nakonechny.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> That’s when we really took a closer look at a lot of the little hollows, the museums, the little areas that are made, you know, just for people to enjoy and hang out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>There’s one particular feature in Golden Gate Park that Persie has wondered about whenever she passes it. Rainbow Falls… a man-made waterfall on John F. Kennedy Promenade near Crossover Drive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> the water at Rainbow Falls and the creek that runs from it into Lloyd Lake is sometimes an alarming shade of green. with a weird foam. I’m not sure if it’s algae or an attempt to stop people from being tempted to drink it or something else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>We passed this one along to KQED editor Chris Hambrick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of a stream gurgling, birds singing, wind\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick:\u003c/strong> I had to see this green waterfall for myself. Even though it’s man-made, the area is serene with trees, tall grasses and bushes bordering the lake. I even saw a few ducks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape: \u003c/strong>Time to hang out with the ducks. \u003cem>(Sounds of wings flapping) \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick: \u003c/strong>This spot used to be a quarry. Many of the original roads in Golden Gate Park were built with rock from here. When the quarry closed, neighbors wanted something beautiful and Park Superintendent John McLaren listened. The Falls opened in 1930. General Electric lit up the water with multicolored lights for the dedication, thus the name “Rainbow Falls.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lights don’t work nowadays, but both the waterfall and the pool below it are green, bright green. I talked to someone who can tell me why.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne: \u003c/strong>My name is Dave Iribarne. I’m the superintendent of Golden Gate Park for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape:\u003c/strong> What color would you call this green?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne: \u003c/strong>I would say it’s definitely neon green with a hint of lime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape: \u003c/strong>What causes water in this lake and the corresponding falls to be this shade of green?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> Basically, it’s just a natural algae bloom. it’s just an alarming shade. So it kind of freaks people out, but there’s really nothing harmful about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick: \u003c/strong>Dave tells me that the shade of green changes depending on what’s going on with the algae, and today when I arrive, I see that he and his crew are draining the falls for maintenance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> We’re right now in the process of, uh, installing aeration in Lloyd Lake, which feeds Rainbow Falls. And then we’re going to put some flocculant. It’s like a powder that gets poured in, and it actually grabs onto the algae and weighs it down and sinks it down to the bottom so that it can’t keep reproducing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick:\u003c/strong> To help control algae growth, they also add in some microbiotics, which are living organisms that actually feed on the algae.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> And then we put in a dye, like a green dye. It’s pretty unnatural looking. We have it in many of our lakes in the park. But the dye prevents the sunlight from feeding the algae.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape: \u003c/strong>Okay, but it is like for sure for sure it’s the algae that causes this color.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne:\u003c/strong> 100 percent it’s the algae that causes the color.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick in tape:\u003c/strong> That’s so interesting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Dave Iribarne: \u003c/strong>Yeah, we’re actually getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day. So, you know, we just dye it green. Just kidding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick:\u003c/strong> I take all this info back to Persie to see what she thinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Persie Nakonechny:\u003c/strong> So that’s natural. And maybe the change in the color would make sense to that, like in the summer, when there’s more sunlight that it’s growing more, and that’s why it turns that fluorescent green. It’s so funny to me that it’s a natural substance. But nature’s weird.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Chris Hambrick: \u003c/strong>Indeed, it is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That was KQED editor Chris Hambrick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is produced by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Extra support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Senad, Alana Walker, Holly Kernan and everyone at team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price, have a great week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/perspectives/201601143154/jiya-gupta-holi\">Holi\u003c/a> arrives this week, and there are a ton of parties across the Bay Area over the coming days that will leave you covered head-to-toe in the colorful powder special to this Hindu celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Holi — also known as the\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/holi-hindu-festival-of-colors-india-d929d95ebb7ce98f23375b3eeb20753a\"> Festival of Colors\u003c/a> — is widely celebrated in South Asian countries and among its diaspora as a joyous start to spring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The major highlight of any Holi celebration is when the attendees — who often wear white or light-colored clothing — throw kaleidoscopic powder at each other. (If this is your first Holi, a tip: consider wearing clothes you don’t mind being a \u003cem>little \u003c/em>less white after a wash.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Holi itself this year is scheduled to fall on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, many events will take place over the coming weekends, so be sure to double-check the date before buying any tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Holi events in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s best to get your tickets quickly since some popular events — like\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rang-barse-sfos-biggest-holi-cruise-party-tickets-1246606205719\"> a Holi celebration on a cruise\u003c/a> — are already sold out. Some ticket prices may also rise closer to the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daytime Holi celebrations\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, March 14:\u003ca href=\"https://burlingame.libcal.com/event/14119893\"> Holi Watercolor\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>for children, Burlingame (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mar-15-holi-party-color-festival-2025-day-mela-san-jose-downtown-tickets-1256098306849\"> Holi Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $6.11)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.aiaevents.org/\"> Holi Fest\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets are $10, free for children under 7)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/non-stop-bhangra-holi-festival-of-colors-all-ages-tickets-1215717225949?aff=oddtdtcreator\"> Non-Stop Bhangra, Holi Festival of Colors\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Oakland (tickets start at $23.18)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.gcabayarea.org/eventview/?label=Mqgfq2rKOw19810\"> Gujarati Cultural Association’s Holi\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Fremont (tickets start at $3)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://eventmozo.com/event/fog-holi-festival-of-colors-563701735800807\"> FOG Holi — Festival of Colors\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Fremont (tickets start at $6)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooftop-holi-music-festival-in-san-francisco-on-march-22nd-tickets-1246917386469\"> Rooftop Holi Music Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $28.52)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-the-festival-of-colors-holi-at-mission-dolores-manor-garden-tickets-1210153444529\"> Holi at Mission Dolores Manor Garden\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $39.19)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/1160019089012598/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5b%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22unknown%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22external_search_engine%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment_media%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D%5d%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D\"> Holi: Festival of Colors\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Foster City (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/mountain-house-central-park/poorbas-holi-2025/980500924129712/\"> Poorba’s Holi\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Joaquin (tickets start at $12.65)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 23:\u003ca href=\"https://events.sulekha.com/upma-holi-carnival-nyc-s-dj-dharak_event-in_san-jose-ca_383532\"> Holi Carnival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $9)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://baybasi.us/\"> Holi Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Foster City (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, March 23:\u003ca href=\"https://citycenterbishopranch.com/events/holi/\"> Holi Celebration\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Ramon (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 29:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-pool-party-bollywood-oasis-pool-corinthian-sanjose-mar-29-tickets-1254049548959\"> Holi Pool Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José tickets start at $12.51)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, April 5:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-dayger-californias-biggest-color-festival-with-sukhbir-dholis-tickets-1221728545969\"> Holi Dayger\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $18.90)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2120px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2120\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762.jpg 2120w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2120px) 100vw, 2120px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Holi Festival homemade Thandai and falooda drink, traditional Indian festival food snacks, and abir/gulal colors. \u003ccite>(Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Holi parties at night\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-sundowner-rooftop-bollywood-party-tickets-1252543223499?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\"> Holi Sundowner Rooftop Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $23.18)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-night-party-with-colorsbollywood-myth-lounge-sanjose-mar-15-tickets-1259129473149\"> Holi Night Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $17.85)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, March 16:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/18-bollywood-holi-party-at-club-cali-berkeley-tickets-1273417659499\"> Bollywood Holi Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Berkeley (tickets start at $9.31)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, March 21:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neon-holi-rave-glow-party-in-sf-dj-prashant-bollywood-more-bay-area-tickets-1271526673509\"> Neon Holi Rave Glow Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $16.49)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, March 28:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-rave-neon-holi-bollywood-party-on-march-28-temple-nightclub-sf-tickets-1238116242009\"> Neon Holi Bollywood Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $17.85)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, March 30:\u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-at-shosha-restaurant-tickets-1278196091919\">\u003cstrong> Holi at Shosha Restaurant\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale, including a five-course meal (tickets start at $32.78 for children and $65.87 for adults.)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A roundup of parties and events to celebrate the colorful Hindu holiday of Holi in the Bay Area.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/perspectives/201601143154/jiya-gupta-holi\">Holi\u003c/a> arrives this week, and there are a ton of parties across the Bay Area over the coming days that will leave you covered head-to-toe in the colorful powder special to this Hindu celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Holi — also known as the\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/holi-hindu-festival-of-colors-india-d929d95ebb7ce98f23375b3eeb20753a\"> Festival of Colors\u003c/a> — is widely celebrated in South Asian countries and among its diaspora as a joyous start to spring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The major highlight of any Holi celebration is when the attendees — who often wear white or light-colored clothing — throw kaleidoscopic powder at each other. (If this is your first Holi, a tip: consider wearing clothes you don’t mind being a \u003cem>little \u003c/em>less white after a wash.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Holi itself this year is scheduled to fall on Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14, many events will take place over the coming weekends, so be sure to double-check the date before buying any tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Holi events in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s best to get your tickets quickly since some popular events — like\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rang-barse-sfos-biggest-holi-cruise-party-tickets-1246606205719\"> a Holi celebration on a cruise\u003c/a> — are already sold out. Some ticket prices may also rise closer to the event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Daytime Holi celebrations\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, March 14:\u003ca href=\"https://burlingame.libcal.com/event/14119893\"> Holi Watercolor\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>for children, Burlingame (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mar-15-holi-party-color-festival-2025-day-mela-san-jose-downtown-tickets-1256098306849\"> Holi Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $6.11)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.aiaevents.org/\"> Holi Fest\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets are $10, free for children under 7)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/non-stop-bhangra-holi-festival-of-colors-all-ages-tickets-1215717225949?aff=oddtdtcreator\"> Non-Stop Bhangra, Holi Festival of Colors\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Oakland (tickets start at $23.18)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.gcabayarea.org/eventview/?label=Mqgfq2rKOw19810\"> Gujarati Cultural Association’s Holi\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Fremont (tickets start at $3)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://eventmozo.com/event/fog-holi-festival-of-colors-563701735800807\"> FOG Holi — Festival of Colors\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Fremont (tickets start at $6)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rooftop-holi-music-festival-in-san-francisco-on-march-22nd-tickets-1246917386469\"> Rooftop Holi Music Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $28.52)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-the-festival-of-colors-holi-at-mission-dolores-manor-garden-tickets-1210153444529\"> Holi at Mission Dolores Manor Garden\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $39.19)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/1160019089012598/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A%5b%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22unknown%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22external_search_engine%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment_media%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D%2C%7B%22extra_data%22%3A%22%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D%5d%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D\"> Holi: Festival of Colors\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Foster City (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/events/mountain-house-central-park/poorbas-holi-2025/980500924129712/\"> Poorba’s Holi\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Joaquin (tickets start at $12.65)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 23:\u003ca href=\"https://events.sulekha.com/upma-holi-carnival-nyc-s-dj-dharak_event-in_san-jose-ca_383532\"> Holi Carnival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $9)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 22:\u003ca href=\"https://baybasi.us/\"> Holi Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Foster City (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, March 23:\u003ca href=\"https://citycenterbishopranch.com/events/holi/\"> Holi Celebration\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Ramon (free)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 29:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-pool-party-bollywood-oasis-pool-corinthian-sanjose-mar-29-tickets-1254049548959\"> Holi Pool Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José tickets start at $12.51)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, April 5:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-dayger-californias-biggest-color-festival-with-sukhbir-dholis-tickets-1221728545969\"> Holi Dayger\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $18.90)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12030957\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2120px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12030957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2120\" height=\"1414\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762.jpg 2120w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/GettyImages-2059555762-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2120px) 100vw, 2120px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Holi Festival homemade Thandai and falooda drink, traditional Indian festival food snacks, and abir/gulal colors. \u003ccite>(Uma Shankar Sharma/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Holi parties at night\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-sundowner-rooftop-bollywood-party-tickets-1252543223499?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\"> Holi Sundowner Rooftop Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $23.18)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, March 15:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-night-party-with-colorsbollywood-myth-lounge-sanjose-mar-15-tickets-1259129473149\"> Holi Night Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San José (tickets start at $17.85)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, March 16:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/18-bollywood-holi-party-at-club-cali-berkeley-tickets-1273417659499\"> Bollywood Holi Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, Berkeley (tickets start at $9.31)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, March 21:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neon-holi-rave-glow-party-in-sf-dj-prashant-bollywood-more-bay-area-tickets-1271526673509\"> Neon Holi Rave Glow Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $16.49)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, March 28:\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-rave-neon-holi-bollywood-party-on-march-28-temple-nightclub-sf-tickets-1238116242009\"> Neon Holi Bollywood Party\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>, San Francisco (tickets start at $17.85)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, March 30:\u003c/strong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holi-at-shosha-restaurant-tickets-1278196091919\">\u003cstrong> Holi at Shosha Restaurant\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale, including a five-course meal (tickets start at $32.78 for children and $65.87 for adults.)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "japanese-american-seniors-caregivers-say-goodbye-j-sei-home",
"title": "‘Like Family’: Japanese American Seniors and Caregivers Say Goodbye to J-Sei Home",
"publishDate": 1741525230,
"format": "standard",
"headTitle": "‘Like Family’: Japanese American Seniors and Caregivers Say Goodbye to J-Sei Home | KQED",
"labelTerm": {
"site": "news"
},
"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>[This is the first story of a two-part project that explores the influence and importance of culture in end-of-life care. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025613/j-sei-home-closes-after-30-years-leaving-bay-area-japanese-seniors-in-need\">Part two will be published Monday\u003c/a>.] \u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>J-Sei Home was a 14-bed residential care facility for the elderly geared toward \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/japanese-americans\">Japanese Americans\u003c/a> in Hayward, California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The residents ate Japanese meals, walked through the Japanese garden, watched Japanese TV programs, celebrated Japanese holidays and spoke Japanese with the staff. Residents were embraced by the tight-knit community of caregivers and staff, whether they lived there for seven years or nine months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In October 2024, J-Sei Home announced that it was closing because of financial instability. Families had five months to find new facilities for their loved ones. By the end of January, J-Sei Home was empty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Photographer \u003ca href=\"https://www.julianayamada.com/\">Juliana Yamada\u003c/a> spent 13 months documenting the lives of the facility’s residents and staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Grace Aikawa, 96\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027417\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027417 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grace Aikawa poses for a portrait in the garden at J-Sei Home in Hayward, California, last October. That month, the board announced they were closing the facility due to financial instability. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Grace Aikawa was born in 1928 in San José, California, but grew up more than 100 miles north in the town of Loomis, a commercial and cultural center for Japanese families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Executive Order 9066 was signed during World War II, Aikawa and her family were forcibly relocated, and she spent her high school years at the Granada War Relocation Center, commonly known as Camp Amache, in eastern Colorado. Aikawa and her husband raised four children in the Oakland hills, where she lived until moving to J-Sei Home in March 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027416\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027416 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Administrator Ron Salvador shows new resident Grace Aikawa the view from her room as she moves into J-Sei Home in Hayward, California, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Aikawa quickly made friends at J-Sei Home and settled into her activities and habits. She and her next-door neighbor Emiko Roaden, 93, took walks in the yard together after each meal, feeding the stray cats kibble and scraps of meat or fish. Aikawa spent days working on puzzles or crocheting in front of the TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She spent most evenings with fellow resident Sawako Issacs, watching \u003cem>Jeopardy\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Wheel of Fortune\u003c/em> while the rest of the house got ready for bed. Aikawa’s daughter, Kim Aikawa-Olin, said her mom loved living in the community and was fortunate to move into the same new facility as Roaden — once again as next-door neighbors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027421\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027421\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Caregivers Nida Maagma, left, and Imelda Merritt, center, cry as resident Aikawa, right, moves out of J-Sei Home in December 2024. Aikawa lived at J-Sei Home for only about nine months. (Right) Aikawa’s family helps move her into her new care facility in the Castro Valley. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027411\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027411\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left to right: Karen Aikawa-Simkover, Kim Aikawa-Olin and Mark Aikawa prepare to move the final boxes of their mother’s belongings out of J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027412\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027412 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aikawa holds hands with her friend and neighbor Sawako Issacs, 91, as they watch TV together for the last time before Aikawa moved out of J-Sei Home. The two watched TV together nightly, often being the last two residents awake. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Kazue Granich, 101\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027424\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027424\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caregiver Amparo Chow helps Kazue Granich, 101, eat lunch at J-Sei Home on Friday, March 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kazue Granich was J-Sei Home’s oldest resident and, possibly, the shortest at just shy of 5 feet tall. She lived there for over seven years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, Granich obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii before earning a master’s degree at Columbia University. She and her husband, Michael, had three children and moved to the Bay Area in the early 1950s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027426\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027426\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caregiver Rose Velasco, left, and son Charles Granich, right, help Kazue Granich to the car as she moves out of J-Sei Home in December 2024. Granich lived at J-Sei Home for seven years but had to find a new home when the facility announced its closure. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Granich was a special education teacher for the majority of her career and loved teaching and learning new arts and crafts. She was an avid swimmer at the Berkeley YMCA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While at J-Sei Home, Granich was normally in her designated recliner in the living room, watching the other residents or resting. In the past few years, she has become less conversational. However, she would become instantly animated during visits with her children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027425\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027425\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kazi Okamoto, 9, and Momo Okamoto, 8, play with a recliner chair next to Granich in the living room at J-Sei Home. The Okamotos’ mother, Hiroko, is one of the caregivers at J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Granich isn’t a woman of many words, she was J-Sei Home’s loudest karaoke singer. Once or twice a week, caregiver Fumi Tsuchiya would lead the residents in karaoke through the J-Sei songbook. Granich would belt the lyrics to “You are My Sunshine” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027422\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027422 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-2048x676.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Caregiver Fumi Tsuchiya sings karaoke with Granich at J-Sei Home last year. Granich preferred singing karaoke to conversations most days. (Right) Granich is helped into the car by caregiver Hiroko Okamoto, left, and her son Charles, right, as she moves out of J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027423\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027423 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sandy Granich, right, sits with her mother, Kazue Granich, at RN Loving Care Home in El Cerrito, California, in January 2025. Her mother has been less engaged and talkative since leaving J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Emiko Roaden, 93\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027429\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027429 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1339\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-1920x1285.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Clockwise from top left) Emiko Roaden’s old photos are displayed in her room. Roaden holds a photo of her younger self, wearing a dress she made. Roaden was a skilled seamstress, making many clothes for herself throughout her life. Photos from Roaden’s past are on display on a wooden shelf. A wedding day photograph of Roaden and her late husband Don circa 1963. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Emiko Roaden was the fashionista of J-Sei Home. Originally from Hakata, a ward in Fukuoka, Japan, Roaden moved to the United States in 1938.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12021919 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/20250115_JapaneseAmericanActivism_GC-47-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1963, she married her husband, Don, and they bought a house in San Leandro, where they lived for more than 50 years. Roaden was a skilled seamstress and homemaker, keeping a meticulous home and garden, according to Craig Wenger, her best friend’s son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She moved to J-Sei Home in 2023 after Don passed away. Her closet was filled with sweaters she had knitted and crocheted and a jewelry collection that spanned decades, much of which her husband had carved and polished. Photos from her life decorated her room.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She was always proud to show photos of her husband and her younger self, including photographs showcasing her handmade clothing. Roaden loved taking walks in the yard at J-Sei Home and was thrilled to gain a walking partner when Grace Aikawa moved in. She and Aikawa became close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When J-Sei Home announced its closure, the two were lucky enough to move into a new care facility together in Castro Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Ruth Fukuchi, 90\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027444\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027444 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Resident Ruth Fukuchi, 90, poses for a portrait at J-Sei Home in October 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ruth Fukuchi was 8 when her family was incarcerated at the Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona during World War II. Fukuchi earned a degree in microbiology from UC Berkeley, becoming a successful microbiologist in Berkeley and Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and her husband, Tak, raised two children, Cathy Fukuchi-Wong and Matt Fukuchi. Fukuchi developed vascular dementia in her later years and eventually needed more care than her family could offer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027438\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027438\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Cathy Fukuchi-Wong speaks to her mother, Ruth Fukuchi, during a visit at J Sei Home in May 2024. Fukuchi-Wong drove from Marin almost every day to visit her mother because she said she knew she wasn’t “getting more days with her, but less.” (Right) Fukuchi flips through a book of tulips at J-Sei Home. While other residents watch TV, Fukuchi often reads newspapers, magazines and books. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>J-Sei Home was an obvious choice for Fukuchi’s children, as their family has been involved with the organization for generations. Fukuchi moved to J-Sei Home in 2021 and remained there until her death on Dec. 29, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The caregivers and staff compassionately helped Fukuchi with her basic needs. Fukuchi-Wong said the care meant everything to their family. “I don’t think you can get this sort of family feeling anywhere else.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027442\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027442\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">J-Sei Home caregiver Fumi Tsuchiya helps Ruth Fukuchi out of her wheelchair before bed on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Fukuchi relied completely on the J-Sei staff for daily tasks. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027437\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027437\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-2048x676.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Sonata Hospice licensed vocational nurse Danilo Valle changes a dressing on Fukuchi’s leg at J-Sei Home. (Right) Tsuchiya helps Fukuchi brush her teeth after dinner. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027441\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027441\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fukuchi-Wong offers her mom tea as she lies in bed at J-Sei Home on Christmas Day 2024. In Fukuchi’s final days, she only wanted to eat Japanese arare, rice crackers, beef donburi or rice bowls, and drink green tea. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mourners lined up to offer flowers and pay their respects to Fukuchi and her family at Sycamore Congregational Church in El Cerrito in January. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A “Dear Grammy” sash decorates a wreath of flowers at the memorial service. Fukuchi is survived by three grandchildren: Lauren, Rex and Vanessa. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This piece was made possible by the help of \u003ca href=\"https://www.womenphotograph.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Women Photograph\u003c/a>.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "For more than a year, KQED documented the closure of J-Sei Home, a residential care facility for elderly Japanese Americans in Hayward.",
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"title": "‘Like Family’: Japanese American Seniors and Caregivers Say Goodbye to J-Sei Home | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>[This is the first story of a two-part project that explores the influence and importance of culture in end-of-life care. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025613/j-sei-home-closes-after-30-years-leaving-bay-area-japanese-seniors-in-need\">Part two will be published Monday\u003c/a>.] \u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>J-Sei Home was a 14-bed residential care facility for the elderly geared toward \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/japanese-americans\">Japanese Americans\u003c/a> in Hayward, California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The residents ate Japanese meals, walked through the Japanese garden, watched Japanese TV programs, celebrated Japanese holidays and spoke Japanese with the staff. Residents were embraced by the tight-knit community of caregivers and staff, whether they lived there for seven years or nine months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In October 2024, J-Sei Home announced that it was closing because of financial instability. Families had five months to find new facilities for their loved ones. By the end of January, J-Sei Home was empty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Photographer \u003ca href=\"https://www.julianayamada.com/\">Juliana Yamada\u003c/a> spent 13 months documenting the lives of the facility’s residents and staff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Grace Aikawa, 96\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027417\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027417 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_278-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grace Aikawa poses for a portrait in the garden at J-Sei Home in Hayward, California, last October. That month, the board announced they were closing the facility due to financial instability. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Grace Aikawa was born in 1928 in San José, California, but grew up more than 100 miles north in the town of Loomis, a commercial and cultural center for Japanese families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When Executive Order 9066 was signed during World War II, Aikawa and her family were forcibly relocated, and she spent her high school years at the Granada War Relocation Center, commonly known as Camp Amache, in eastern Colorado. Aikawa and her husband raised four children in the Oakland hills, where she lived until moving to J-Sei Home in March 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027416\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027416 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_147-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Administrator Ron Salvador shows new resident Grace Aikawa the view from her room as she moves into J-Sei Home in Hayward, California, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Aikawa quickly made friends at J-Sei Home and settled into her activities and habits. She and her next-door neighbor Emiko Roaden, 93, took walks in the yard together after each meal, feeding the stray cats kibble and scraps of meat or fish. Aikawa spent days working on puzzles or crocheting in front of the TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She spent most evenings with fellow resident Sawako Issacs, watching \u003cem>Jeopardy\u003c/em> and \u003cem>Wheel of Fortune\u003c/em> while the rest of the house got ready for bed. Aikawa’s daughter, Kim Aikawa-Olin, said her mom loved living in the community and was fortunate to move into the same new facility as Roaden — once again as next-door neighbors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027421\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027421\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-966_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Caregivers Nida Maagma, left, and Imelda Merritt, center, cry as resident Aikawa, right, moves out of J-Sei Home in December 2024. Aikawa lived at J-Sei Home for only about nine months. (Right) Aikawa’s family helps move her into her new care facility in the Castro Valley. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027411\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027411\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-026-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left to right: Karen Aikawa-Simkover, Kim Aikawa-Olin and Mark Aikawa prepare to move the final boxes of their mother’s belongings out of J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027412\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027412 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241215-JSEI-JY-528.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Aikawa holds hands with her friend and neighbor Sawako Issacs, 91, as they watch TV together for the last time before Aikawa moved out of J-Sei Home. The two watched TV together nightly, often being the last two residents awake. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Kazue Granich, 101\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027424\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027424\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_126-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caregiver Amparo Chow helps Kazue Granich, 101, eat lunch at J-Sei Home on Friday, March 15, 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Kazue Granich was J-Sei Home’s oldest resident and, possibly, the shortest at just shy of 5 feet tall. She lived there for over seven years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, Granich obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawaii before earning a master’s degree at Columbia University. She and her husband, Michael, had three children and moved to the Bay Area in the early 1950s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027426\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027426\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241219-JSEI-JY-130-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caregiver Rose Velasco, left, and son Charles Granich, right, help Kazue Granich to the car as she moves out of J-Sei Home in December 2024. Granich lived at J-Sei Home for seven years but had to find a new home when the facility announced its closure. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Granich was a special education teacher for the majority of her career and loved teaching and learning new arts and crafts. She was an avid swimmer at the Berkeley YMCA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While at J-Sei Home, Granich was normally in her designated recliner in the living room, watching the other residents or resting. In the past few years, she has become less conversational. However, she would become instantly animated during visits with her children.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027425\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027425\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_133-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kazi Okamoto, 9, and Momo Okamoto, 8, play with a recliner chair next to Granich in the living room at J-Sei Home. The Okamotos’ mother, Hiroko, is one of the caregivers at J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While Granich isn’t a woman of many words, she was J-Sei Home’s loudest karaoke singer. Once or twice a week, caregiver Fumi Tsuchiya would lead the residents in karaoke through the J-Sei songbook. Granich would belt the lyrics to “You are My Sunshine” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027422\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027422 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-2048x676.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_173_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Caregiver Fumi Tsuchiya sings karaoke with Granich at J-Sei Home last year. Granich preferred singing karaoke to conversations most days. (Right) Granich is helped into the car by caregiver Hiroko Okamoto, left, and her son Charles, right, as she moves out of J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027423\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027423 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-711-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sandy Granich, right, sits with her mother, Kazue Granich, at RN Loving Care Home in El Cerrito, California, in January 2025. Her mother has been less engaged and talkative since leaving J-Sei Home. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Emiko Roaden, 93\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027429\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027429 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1339\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-1020x683.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_195_duo-1920x1285.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Clockwise from top left) Emiko Roaden’s old photos are displayed in her room. Roaden holds a photo of her younger self, wearing a dress she made. Roaden was a skilled seamstress, making many clothes for herself throughout her life. Photos from Roaden’s past are on display on a wooden shelf. A wedding day photograph of Roaden and her late husband Don circa 1963. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Emiko Roaden was the fashionista of J-Sei Home. Originally from Hakata, a ward in Fukuoka, Japan, Roaden moved to the United States in 1938.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 1963, she married her husband, Don, and they bought a house in San Leandro, where they lived for more than 50 years. Roaden was a skilled seamstress and homemaker, keeping a meticulous home and garden, according to Craig Wenger, her best friend’s son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She moved to J-Sei Home in 2023 after Don passed away. Her closet was filled with sweaters she had knitted and crocheted and a jewelry collection that spanned decades, much of which her husband had carved and polished. Photos from her life decorated her room.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She was always proud to show photos of her husband and her younger self, including photographs showcasing her handmade clothing. Roaden loved taking walks in the yard at J-Sei Home and was thrilled to gain a walking partner when Grace Aikawa moved in. She and Aikawa became close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When J-Sei Home announced its closure, the two were lucky enough to move into a new care facility together in Castro Valley.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Ruth Fukuchi, 90\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027444\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12027444 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_270-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Resident Ruth Fukuchi, 90, poses for a portrait at J-Sei Home in October 2024. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ruth Fukuchi was 8 when her family was incarcerated at the Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona during World War II. Fukuchi earned a degree in microbiology from UC Berkeley, becoming a successful microbiologist in Berkeley and Richmond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She and her husband, Tak, raised two children, Cathy Fukuchi-Wong and Matt Fukuchi. Fukuchi developed vascular dementia in her later years and eventually needed more care than her family could offer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027438\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027438\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_167_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Cathy Fukuchi-Wong speaks to her mother, Ruth Fukuchi, during a visit at J Sei Home in May 2024. Fukuchi-Wong drove from Marin almost every day to visit her mother because she said she knew she wasn’t “getting more days with her, but less.” (Right) Fukuchi flips through a book of tulips at J-Sei Home. While other residents watch TV, Fukuchi often reads newspapers, magazines and books. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>J-Sei Home was an obvious choice for Fukuchi’s children, as their family has been involved with the organization for generations. Fukuchi moved to J-Sei Home in 2021 and remained there until her death on Dec. 29, 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The caregivers and staff compassionately helped Fukuchi with her basic needs. Fukuchi-Wong said the care meant everything to their family. “I don’t think you can get this sort of family feeling anywhere else.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027442\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027442\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_223-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">J-Sei Home caregiver Fumi Tsuchiya helps Ruth Fukuchi out of her wheelchair before bed on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Fukuchi relied completely on the J-Sei staff for daily tasks. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027437\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027437\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-2048x676.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/jsei_JY_212_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Left) Sonata Hospice licensed vocational nurse Danilo Valle changes a dressing on Fukuchi’s leg at J-Sei Home. (Right) Tsuchiya helps Fukuchi brush her teeth after dinner. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027441\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027441\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20241225-JSEI-JY-058-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fukuchi-Wong offers her mom tea as she lies in bed at J-Sei Home on Christmas Day 2024. In Fukuchi’s final days, she only wanted to eat Japanese arare, rice crackers, beef donburi or rice bowls, and drink green tea. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1742-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mourners lined up to offer flowers and pay their respects to Fukuchi and her family at Sycamore Congregational Church in El Cerrito in January. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027439\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027439\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250130-JSeiHome-JY-1708-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A “Dear Grammy” sash decorates a wreath of flowers at the memorial service. Fukuchi is survived by three grandchildren: Lauren, Rex and Vanessa. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>This piece was made possible by the help of \u003ca href=\"https://www.womenphotograph.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Women Photograph\u003c/a>.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "san-franciscos-oldest-lesbian-bar-has-been-a-safe-space-for-more-than-60-years",
"title": "San Francisco’s Oldest Lesbian Bar Has Been a Safe Space for More Than 60 Years",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#A\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has long been an epicenter for lesbian life and culture. Even back in the 1930s, spots like Mona’s 440 Club were known as hubs for lesbians to enjoy drag king performances and socialize. But in the past 30 years, the number of lesbian bars all over the country has seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101895055/why-are-there-so-few-lesbian-bars\">a steep decline\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriouspodcastinfo]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the few remaining lesbian bars in San Francisco, there’s one spot that stands out for its longevity. The Wild Side West has been a staple of lesbian culture in the city for the past 63 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, The Wild Side West is an iconic spot. Inside, the bar feels like it’s always been this way, with women playing pool, kegs lining the walls, and paintings of nude women hanging from the ceiling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if there is one person who knows this bar well, it’s Timotha Doane, an 80-year-old lesbian who has been a regular at the bar since she was 24. When she walks into the bar, everyone seems to know her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029582\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029582\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bartender Heather Dunham works at the Wild Side West on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029585\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029585\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: The exterior of The Wild Side West. Right: Timotha Doane talks with fellow patrons at the Wild Side West on Jan. 28, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I come here almost every day,” Doane said with a laugh. “Sometimes I take a break. I don’t want to encourage too much drinking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doane said she’s had some wild nights here over the decades. She remembers when Janis Joplin was a regular and had stories to tell about many past girlfriends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just so much history [here],” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Originally called The Wild Side, Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White were lesbian partners who founded this bar in North Oakland in 1962. Shortly after opening, they relocated the business to San Francisco and became The Wild Side \u003cem>West\u003c/em>, laying down roots in the North Beach neighborhood on Broadway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029588\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029588\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paintings hang on the wall at The Wild Side West. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While San Francisco at the time was already becoming a cultural hub for the LGBTQ community, queerness during the early 1960s was still marked by policing, discrimination and violence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even in the most progressive cities, the dominant narrative around LGBTQ was that homosexuality was a sickness, a problem that needed to be handled. Doane remembers one time in New York City in the ’60s when she was targeted for her lesbian identity and masculine presentation. Several young men beat her up in broad daylight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time The Wild Side West opened, consensual acts between same-sex individuals were still criminalized in California, and it was illegal to employ women bartenders. In San Francisco, well-known gay and lesbian watering holes were often raided by police. Officers would arrest patrons and were known to extort money from bar and club owners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029589\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029589\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Patrons play pool at Wild Side West on Jan. 28, 2025. Right: The wall behind a pool table is filled with posters and photos at The Wild Side West. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In this climate, a bar owned by lesbians, catering to the lesbian community, was bold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Wild Side West quickly became a space of joy and community for many women. It was a place where dancers from the nearby strip clubs gathered, where lesbians could find safety, and where an eccentric crowd of artists drank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to express what it means to find a refuge and respect,” Doane said. “A place where you can have fun and not worry about being attacked.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But anti-gay sentiment was still alive in San Francisco just outside the doors of the bar.[aside postID=forum_2010101906556 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2024/07/M6A1369_qed-1020x680.jpg']When The Wild Side West moved to its current Bernal Heights location in 1976, some neighbors weren’t happy about it. It was not uncommon for trash, broken toilets, and bathtubs to be dumped against the door of the bar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“On a very, very regular basis, [Pat and Nancy] would have to move all of those things in order to get the bar open,” said long-time regular Mimi Caesar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White would drag the broken sinks and bathtubs to the back of the bar and turn them into art pieces or planters. Decades later, those pieces make unique seating areas for patrons, adorned with vines and surrounded by eclectic statues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029593\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029593\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The bar opens to a sculpture-filled garden at The Wild Side West. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In recent years, many lesbian establishments across San Francisco\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13929998/historic-lesbian-bars-san-francisco-mauds-pegs-front-anns-monas-440-tommy-vasu\"> have closed\u003c/a>, but it’s hard to know exactly why. Some people think that the rise of dating apps has made it easier to meet romantic partners, rendering physical lesbian bars less necessary. Some former lesbian bar owners cite gentrification as a root cause. Or, it could be that in a city as expensive as San Francisco, it’s hard for bars to stay afloat if they cater exclusively to women — especially gay women, many of whom have\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101895055/why-are-there-so-few-lesbian-bars\"> faced discrimination in the workplace \u003c/a>for both gender and sexuality, which can lower earnings and limit spending power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But The Wild Side West has managed to stay open. One reason it has survived is the committed clientele. Some people have been consistently coming to the bar for 10, 20, or even 50 years, like Timotha Doane. It might also be that in recent years, more men have started going to the bar. Either way, The Wild Side West has continued to be a refuge for lesbians in a time where the LGBTQ community faces a new wave of attacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Women come here, and they feel safe to be whoever they are, however they want to be,” Doane said. “And to me, that is a treasure that cannot be praised highly enough.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Maybe you’ve seen this iconic picture of San Francisco history — two women, walking proudly in San Francisco’s gay freedom parade in 1979.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of a parade\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>They’re holding up a huge banner that says: “A day without lesbians is like a day without sunshine.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has long been known as an epicenter for queer life — and queer women have been building community in San Francisco for almost \u003cem>100 years\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1930s era music starts playing\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even way back in the 1930’s San Francisco already had places like Mona’s 440 Club.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> It was known as the first lesbian night club in San Francisco and it was \u003cem>the \u003c/em>destination for genderfluid lesbians. At Mona’s, drag king performances were front and center, and the club was advertised as a place “Where girls can be boys.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, San Francisco has seen a lot of lesbian establishments come and go. But, there is one spot that has survived the longest — The Wild Side West.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week on Bay Curious, we’re heading to the Bernal Heights bar that has been serving lesbians since 1962. We meet a longtime patron who has seen the culture of the city and the lesbian community transform over the decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price, stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[SPONSOR MESSAGE]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>To tell us about lesbian history in San Francisco, we’re passing it to our very own queer reporter Ana De Almeida Amaral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>The Wild Side West has been around for over 60 years. And while so much has changed in the decades since it opened, the inside of the bar feels like it’s always been this way. Kegs lined up against the wall, old portraits of nude women hanging from the ceiling. But the\u003cem> defining\u003c/em> characteristic of the Wild Side West is the garden. To get there you walk through the bar, out the back door and down a steep flight of wooden stairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral in tape: \u003c/strong>So there’s a sign that says Pat’s magical garden. And there is just already so many really odd pieces of art. A lot of frog statues … quite a few mannequin limbs. And then over here, there’s like an old bathtub that has been turned into a planter and it has a bunch of plants growing out of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>People sit and chat among a maze of greenery and statues. The space feels whimsical and intimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Wild Side West is located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, which for a while was known as a lesbian enclave. And while today, some may consider it to be a neighborhood dive bar, the identity of this place and the commitment of its patrons make it an institution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if there is anyone who can tell us about the history and spirit of this bar, it is Timotha Doane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>I am talking to you in the oldest lesbian bar in San Francisco, and I’m the oldest lesbian in it \u003cem>(laughs)\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Timotha is 80 years old and has been coming to this bar for 57 years. The original owners of The Wild Side West have passed away, so Timotha is one of few people who have been coming here since its very early days. She’s someone who can talk about what it was like to be a lesbian at the time this bar was founded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I met Timotha at the bar on a weekday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music and sounds of the bar start \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>I come here almost every day. Sometimes I take a break. I don’t want to encourage too much drinking \u003cem>(laughs)\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>We sit down next to a painting of a topless woman and she starts telling me about herself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>I came out when I was 18, in 1962.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>She says there were moments when being as open as she is made her a target for violence\u003cem>. \u003c/em>She told me about one instance in New York City, when she was in college in the 60’s, just a short time after she came out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane:\u003c/strong> I don’t know why this is coming up in my mind right now, but it is — walking down MacDougal Street and me and my butch self, I’ve got two women, one on each arm. On the other side of the street is a group of men my same age, 18, 19 years old. And they came across the street, got in my face. You think you don’t need a man, bitch? And beat the shit out of me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Timotha says this was a pivotal moment of awakening for her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>So that was the beginning of it. And I just felt like I need to make being a lesbian a safe, reasonable, honest thing to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of the bar fade out\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Being openly lesbian, like Timotha, was still a radical act in the 1960s. And even in the most progressive cities like New York and San Francisco, queer people faced discrimination and violence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Cascade of archival news tape\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clip 1: \u003c/strong>During the year 1964, we arrested 3,000 homosexuals. Don’t think you won’t get caught because this is one thing you will not get away with. And the rest of your life will be a living hell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clip 2: \u003c/strong>The problem of homosexuality …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clip 3: \u003c/strong>We do not employ homosexuals and if we discover homosexuals in our department, we discharge them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>The dominant narrative around gay people was that they were sick or a problem to be dealt with. And it was in this climate, in 1962, that Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White opened The Wild Side in North Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few years later it moved to San Francisco and became the Wild Side West. Pat and Nancy were lesbians and life partners who managed to open the bar during a time when it was still illegal to employ women as bartenders in California. They’ve both since passed away, but Timotha remembers them fondly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>They were wild women, but they were also good business women. And we respected them for that. And at the time, having places for women only took courage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music fades out\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>When the bar set up shop on Broadway in North Beach, the relationship between the LGBT community and the city was … complicated. On one hand, San Francisco had already been established as a capital for gay life. But even here, the policing of queer life was pervasive and consensual acts between same-sex adults were criminalized. The police were known to extort money from gay and lesbian establishments and often raided them to arrest patrons. All of this was part of a playbook to keep queer people from freely socializing. So a bar owned by lesbians, catering to lesbians was bold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During this era, Timotha moved to SF and found The Wild Side West.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>And I started coming to this bar when I was 24 years old. I was working as a stripper on Broadway. Just two doors up the street. So on my breaks, I would put a trench coat on over my G-string and trot on up the street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Since then, Wild Side West has been a place of joy and community for her. It’s where dancers gathered, where lesbians could flirt and hang out, and where an eccentric crowd of artists drank with friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music posts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane:\u003c/strong> It’s hard to express what it means to find a refuge. And respect and a place where you can have fun and not worry about being attacked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>But anti-gay sentiment was still-alive just outside the doors of the bar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>In 1976, the bar moved to its current Bernal Heights location and some neighbors weren’t happy about it. Mimi, a long-time regular, remembers this era.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mimi: \u003c/strong>The folks up there who did not want a lesbian bar, would pretty much show up every morning before opening and put toilet bowls and bathtubs and sinks up against the door so that they couldn’t open it. And on a very, very regular basis, they would have to move all of those things in order to get the bar open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Nancy and Pat would lug the toilets and broken sinks to the backyard and transform them into planters, becoming the first pieces in their eccentric backyard collection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, The Wild Side West is one of three dedicated lesbian bars in San Francisco. But there used to be many more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s Mimi again:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mimi: \u003c/strong>When I first got here, there were 10 or 11, seven-day-a-week lesbian bars. And one by one by one drifted. But almost every neighborhood in this city had them, and they all had a different flavor. But that did change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>It’s hard to know why lesbian bars have been going out of business over the last 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some people think dating apps have made it easier to meet romantic partners, making physical lesbian bars less necessary. Others say our culture has changed and lots of spaces now feel safe to queer folks. Or, it could be that in a city as expensive as San Francisco, it’s hard for bars to stay afloat if they cater exclusively to women.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the Wild Side West has endured despite the odds. One obvious explanation is the committed clientele. I mean, there are regulars who’ve been coming here 10, 20 … even 50 years … like Timotha. And in more recent years, it’s also not uncommon to see men here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music fades out\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>At the time I started coming here there weren’t any men. But economically, the dyke community couldn’t have supported it to become what it is now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Either way, the gritty and tough spirit of this bar perseveres.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Wild Side West is a staple of lesbian history in San Francisco and it’s the oldest, still standing lesbian bar in the city. Lesbians have gathered here for decades. It’s always been a refuge from the violence and discrimination of the outside world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>Women come here and they feel safe. And to me, that is a treasure that cannot be praised highly enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>As the LGBT community faces a new wave of attacks, regulars like Timotha are once again reminded of how powerful a sanctuary like this can be. They hope the Wild Side West remains a safe place for generations of lesbians to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That was KQED’s Ana De Almeida Amaral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Special thanks to Caroline Smith, who collected tape for this episode.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Individual support from our audience means more than ever right now. If you’d like to help keep shows like Bay Curious going, head to \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/donate\">KQED.org/donate\u003c/a>. Every bit does help. Thanks!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is made by: Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional engineering this week by Brian Douglas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Special thanks to those in the KQED podcasting department: Maha Sanad, Katie Springer, Alana Wilson, Jen Chien, Holly Kernan, and everyone on Team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a great week!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#A\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San Francisco has long been an epicenter for lesbian life and culture. Even back in the 1930s, spots like Mona’s 440 Club were known as hubs for lesbians to enjoy drag king performances and socialize. But in the past 30 years, the number of lesbian bars all over the country has seen \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101895055/why-are-there-so-few-lesbian-bars\">a steep decline\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of the few remaining lesbian bars in San Francisco, there’s one spot that stands out for its longevity. The Wild Side West has been a staple of lesbian culture in the city for the past 63 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, The Wild Side West is an iconic spot. Inside, the bar feels like it’s always been this way, with women playing pool, kegs lining the walls, and paintings of nude women hanging from the ceiling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if there is one person who knows this bar well, it’s Timotha Doane, an 80-year-old lesbian who has been a regular at the bar since she was 24. When she walks into the bar, everyone seems to know her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029582\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029582\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-15-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bartender Heather Dunham works at the Wild Side West on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029585\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029585\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-2-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: The exterior of The Wild Side West. Right: Timotha Doane talks with fellow patrons at the Wild Side West on Jan. 28, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I come here almost every day,” Doane said with a laugh. “Sometimes I take a break. I don’t want to encourage too much drinking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doane said she’s had some wild nights here over the decades. She remembers when Janis Joplin was a regular and had stories to tell about many past girlfriends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s just so much history [here],” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Originally called The Wild Side, Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White were lesbian partners who founded this bar in North Oakland in 1962. Shortly after opening, they relocated the business to San Francisco and became The Wild Side \u003cem>West\u003c/em>, laying down roots in the North Beach neighborhood on Broadway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029588\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029588\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250205-WildSideWest-01-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paintings hang on the wall at The Wild Side West. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While San Francisco at the time was already becoming a cultural hub for the LGBTQ community, queerness during the early 1960s was still marked by policing, discrimination and violence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even in the most progressive cities, the dominant narrative around LGBTQ was that homosexuality was a sickness, a problem that needed to be handled. Doane remembers one time in New York City in the ’60s when she was targeted for her lesbian identity and masculine presentation. Several young men beat her up in broad daylight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the time The Wild Side West opened, consensual acts between same-sex individuals were still criminalized in California, and it was illegal to employ women bartenders. In San Francisco, well-known gay and lesbian watering holes were often raided by police. Officers would arrest patrons and were known to extort money from bar and club owners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029589\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029589\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/Copy-of-KQED-side-by-side-downpage-image-3-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Patrons play pool at Wild Side West on Jan. 28, 2025. Right: The wall behind a pool table is filled with posters and photos at The Wild Side West. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In this climate, a bar owned by lesbians, catering to the lesbian community, was bold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Wild Side West quickly became a space of joy and community for many women. It was a place where dancers from the nearby strip clubs gathered, where lesbians could find safety, and where an eccentric crowd of artists drank.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to express what it means to find a refuge and respect,” Doane said. “A place where you can have fun and not worry about being attacked.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But anti-gay sentiment was still alive in San Francisco just outside the doors of the bar.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>When The Wild Side West moved to its current Bernal Heights location in 1976, some neighbors weren’t happy about it. It was not uncommon for trash, broken toilets, and bathtubs to be dumped against the door of the bar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“On a very, very regular basis, [Pat and Nancy] would have to move all of those things in order to get the bar open,” said long-time regular Mimi Caesar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White would drag the broken sinks and bathtubs to the back of the bar and turn them into art pieces or planters. Decades later, those pieces make unique seating areas for patrons, adorned with vines and surrounded by eclectic statues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029593\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029593\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250128-WildSideWest-09-BL_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The bar opens to a sculpture-filled garden at The Wild Side West. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In recent years, many lesbian establishments across San Francisco\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13929998/historic-lesbian-bars-san-francisco-mauds-pegs-front-anns-monas-440-tommy-vasu\"> have closed\u003c/a>, but it’s hard to know exactly why. Some people think that the rise of dating apps has made it easier to meet romantic partners, rendering physical lesbian bars less necessary. Some former lesbian bar owners cite gentrification as a root cause. Or, it could be that in a city as expensive as San Francisco, it’s hard for bars to stay afloat if they cater exclusively to women — especially gay women, many of whom have\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101895055/why-are-there-so-few-lesbian-bars\"> faced discrimination in the workplace \u003c/a>for both gender and sexuality, which can lower earnings and limit spending power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But The Wild Side West has managed to stay open. One reason it has survived is the committed clientele. Some people have been consistently coming to the bar for 10, 20, or even 50 years, like Timotha Doane. It might also be that in recent years, more men have started going to the bar. Either way, The Wild Side West has continued to be a refuge for lesbians in a time where the LGBTQ community faces a new wave of attacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Women come here, and they feel safe to be whoever they are, however they want to be,” Doane said. “And to me, that is a treasure that cannot be praised highly enough.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"A\">\u003c/a>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> Maybe you’ve seen this iconic picture of San Francisco history — two women, walking proudly in San Francisco’s gay freedom parade in 1979.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of a parade\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>They’re holding up a huge banner that says: “A day without lesbians is like a day without sunshine.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area has long been known as an epicenter for queer life — and queer women have been building community in San Francisco for almost \u003cem>100 years\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>1930s era music starts playing\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even way back in the 1930’s San Francisco already had places like Mona’s 440 Club.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> It was known as the first lesbian night club in San Francisco and it was \u003cem>the \u003c/em>destination for genderfluid lesbians. At Mona’s, drag king performances were front and center, and the club was advertised as a place “Where girls can be boys.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, San Francisco has seen a lot of lesbian establishments come and go. But, there is one spot that has survived the longest — The Wild Side West.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week on Bay Curious, we’re heading to the Bernal Heights bar that has been serving lesbians since 1962. We meet a longtime patron who has seen the culture of the city and the lesbian community transform over the decades.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price, stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[SPONSOR MESSAGE]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>To tell us about lesbian history in San Francisco, we’re passing it to our very own queer reporter Ana De Almeida Amaral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>The Wild Side West has been around for over 60 years. And while so much has changed in the decades since it opened, the inside of the bar feels like it’s always been this way. Kegs lined up against the wall, old portraits of nude women hanging from the ceiling. But the\u003cem> defining\u003c/em> characteristic of the Wild Side West is the garden. To get there you walk through the bar, out the back door and down a steep flight of wooden stairs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral in tape: \u003c/strong>So there’s a sign that says Pat’s magical garden. And there is just already so many really odd pieces of art. A lot of frog statues … quite a few mannequin limbs. And then over here, there’s like an old bathtub that has been turned into a planter and it has a bunch of plants growing out of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>People sit and chat among a maze of greenery and statues. The space feels whimsical and intimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Wild Side West is located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, which for a while was known as a lesbian enclave. And while today, some may consider it to be a neighborhood dive bar, the identity of this place and the commitment of its patrons make it an institution.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if there is anyone who can tell us about the history and spirit of this bar, it is Timotha Doane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>I am talking to you in the oldest lesbian bar in San Francisco, and I’m the oldest lesbian in it \u003cem>(laughs)\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Timotha is 80 years old and has been coming to this bar for 57 years. The original owners of The Wild Side West have passed away, so Timotha is one of few people who have been coming here since its very early days. She’s someone who can talk about what it was like to be a lesbian at the time this bar was founded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I met Timotha at the bar on a weekday afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music and sounds of the bar start \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>I come here almost every day. Sometimes I take a break. I don’t want to encourage too much drinking \u003cem>(laughs)\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>We sit down next to a painting of a topless woman and she starts telling me about herself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>I came out when I was 18, in 1962.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>She says there were moments when being as open as she is made her a target for violence\u003cem>. \u003c/em>She told me about one instance in New York City, when she was in college in the 60’s, just a short time after she came out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane:\u003c/strong> I don’t know why this is coming up in my mind right now, but it is — walking down MacDougal Street and me and my butch self, I’ve got two women, one on each arm. On the other side of the street is a group of men my same age, 18, 19 years old. And they came across the street, got in my face. You think you don’t need a man, bitch? And beat the shit out of me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Timotha says this was a pivotal moment of awakening for her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>So that was the beginning of it. And I just felt like I need to make being a lesbian a safe, reasonable, honest thing to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of the bar fade out\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Being openly lesbian, like Timotha, was still a radical act in the 1960s. And even in the most progressive cities like New York and San Francisco, queer people faced discrimination and violence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Cascade of archival news tape\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clip 1: \u003c/strong>During the year 1964, we arrested 3,000 homosexuals. Don’t think you won’t get caught because this is one thing you will not get away with. And the rest of your life will be a living hell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clip 2: \u003c/strong>The problem of homosexuality …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Clip 3: \u003c/strong>We do not employ homosexuals and if we discover homosexuals in our department, we discharge them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>The dominant narrative around gay people was that they were sick or a problem to be dealt with. And it was in this climate, in 1962, that Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White opened The Wild Side in North Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A few years later it moved to San Francisco and became the Wild Side West. Pat and Nancy were lesbians and life partners who managed to open the bar during a time when it was still illegal to employ women as bartenders in California. They’ve both since passed away, but Timotha remembers them fondly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>They were wild women, but they were also good business women. And we respected them for that. And at the time, having places for women only took courage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music fades out\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>When the bar set up shop on Broadway in North Beach, the relationship between the LGBT community and the city was … complicated. On one hand, San Francisco had already been established as a capital for gay life. But even here, the policing of queer life was pervasive and consensual acts between same-sex adults were criminalized. The police were known to extort money from gay and lesbian establishments and often raided them to arrest patrons. All of this was part of a playbook to keep queer people from freely socializing. So a bar owned by lesbians, catering to lesbians was bold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During this era, Timotha moved to SF and found The Wild Side West.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>And I started coming to this bar when I was 24 years old. I was working as a stripper on Broadway. Just two doors up the street. So on my breaks, I would put a trench coat on over my G-string and trot on up the street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Since then, Wild Side West has been a place of joy and community for her. It’s where dancers gathered, where lesbians could flirt and hang out, and where an eccentric crowd of artists drank with friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music posts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane:\u003c/strong> It’s hard to express what it means to find a refuge. And respect and a place where you can have fun and not worry about being attacked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>But anti-gay sentiment was still-alive just outside the doors of the bar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>In 1976, the bar moved to its current Bernal Heights location and some neighbors weren’t happy about it. Mimi, a long-time regular, remembers this era.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mimi: \u003c/strong>The folks up there who did not want a lesbian bar, would pretty much show up every morning before opening and put toilet bowls and bathtubs and sinks up against the door so that they couldn’t open it. And on a very, very regular basis, they would have to move all of those things in order to get the bar open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Nancy and Pat would lug the toilets and broken sinks to the backyard and transform them into planters, becoming the first pieces in their eccentric backyard collection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Today, The Wild Side West is one of three dedicated lesbian bars in San Francisco. But there used to be many more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s Mimi again:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mimi: \u003c/strong>When I first got here, there were 10 or 11, seven-day-a-week lesbian bars. And one by one by one drifted. But almost every neighborhood in this city had them, and they all had a different flavor. But that did change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>It’s hard to know why lesbian bars have been going out of business over the last 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some people think dating apps have made it easier to meet romantic partners, making physical lesbian bars less necessary. Others say our culture has changed and lots of spaces now feel safe to queer folks. Or, it could be that in a city as expensive as San Francisco, it’s hard for bars to stay afloat if they cater exclusively to women.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the Wild Side West has endured despite the odds. One obvious explanation is the committed clientele. I mean, there are regulars who’ve been coming here 10, 20 … even 50 years … like Timotha. And in more recent years, it’s also not uncommon to see men here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music fades out\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>At the time I started coming here there weren’t any men. But economically, the dyke community couldn’t have supported it to become what it is now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>Either way, the gritty and tough spirit of this bar perseveres.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Wild Side West is a staple of lesbian history in San Francisco and it’s the oldest, still standing lesbian bar in the city. Lesbians have gathered here for decades. It’s always been a refuge from the violence and discrimination of the outside world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Timotha Doane: \u003c/strong>Women come here and they feel safe. And to me, that is a treasure that cannot be praised highly enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ana De Almeida Amaral: \u003c/strong>As the LGBT community faces a new wave of attacks, regulars like Timotha are once again reminded of how powerful a sanctuary like this can be. They hope the Wild Side West remains a safe place for generations of lesbians to come.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>That was KQED’s Ana De Almeida Amaral.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Special thanks to Caroline Smith, who collected tape for this episode.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED. Individual support from our audience means more than ever right now. If you’d like to help keep shows like Bay Curious going, head to \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/donate\">KQED.org/donate\u003c/a>. Every bit does help. Thanks!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our show is made by: Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, and me, Olivia Allen-Price.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional engineering this week by Brian Douglas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Special thanks to those in the KQED podcasting department: Maha Sanad, Katie Springer, Alana Wilson, Jen Chien, Holly Kernan, and everyone on Team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a great week!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "ramadan-2025-where-to-find-iftar-and-suhoor-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "Where to Find Iftar and Suhoor in the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 4:30 p.m., March 7\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pakoras, chana chaat, fritters, and an iced lime and rose-flavored drink called Sirap Limau. They’re just a few of the Iftar appetizers and drinks that Cupertino resident Shaliza Kader Sultan will prepare for her family during Ramadan to break their fast at dusk — a menu that’s a nod to her Pakistani and Malaysian roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#iftar-suhoor-near-me\">Where can I find Iftar and Suhoor meals and buffets near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11910408/ramadan-begins-on-a-crescent-moon-ushering-in-a-holy-month-of-fasting-and-kindness\">As Ramadan begins on a crescent moon\u003c/a>, Muslims around the world are observing this holy month of fasting, spirituality, and reflection. “It’s a time to actually slow down a little bit, and reflect, and concentrate on things like family bonding and spiritual growth,” Sultan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a manager of the massive Bay Area Halal Foodies Facebook group — over 40,000 members and counting — and a volunteer for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/halalfest/\">Halal Fest\u003c/a>, which mounts huge celebrations of halal food in the Bay Area, Sultan plays a significant part in the halal food scene in the Bay Area throughout the year. But during Ramadan, her role is supercharged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the community is looking for restaurants open for Suhoor, the morning meal before dawn or special buffets available only during Ramadan, Sultan will be one of the first people to share that information with the community. And while spiritual growth is a big part of Ramadan, it’s also a month to appreciate the diverse food around us, whether it’s at home or at one of the Bay Area’s many restaurants, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029218\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029218\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">To join an Iftar during Ramadan, check out your local mosque or Muslim community center for more information. \u003ccite>(iStock/Getty Images Plus)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As a Ramadan tradition, dinners are a bit more special and different for Sultan and the family. “We do away with the tables and chairs and sit on the floor at home, picnic style,” she said — a simpler and more intimate style of dining that is common in Asian culture, she shared. On top of that, her son and husband will go above and beyond to try new recipes they find on YouTube to share with family and friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029219\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1290px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029219\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1290\" height=\"896\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892.jpg 1290w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892-800x556.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892-1020x708.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892-160x111.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Some Iftar appetizers that Cupertino resident Shaliza Kader Sultan prepares during Ramadan. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Shaliza Kader Sultan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To add to the festivities, every year Sultan creates a Ramadan calendar counting down the days to Eid — complete with a small gift box for each day containing chocolates, a written prayer for her son to read and a random act of kindness for her son to perform that day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reflecting on her own childhood celebrating Ramadan in Malaysia — a predominantly Muslim country where festivities are a given — Sultan looks forward to putting up lights, decorating the house and cooking special meals for her family during this holy month. “I think it’s important to make an effort to make Ramadan special for my family, especially in a place where Muslims aren’t a majority,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029222\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1290px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029222\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1290\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810.jpg 1290w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810-800x544.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810-1020x694.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810-160x109.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shaliza Kader Sultan’s Ramadan to-do list. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Shaliza Kader Sultan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"iftar-suhoor-near-me\">\u003c/a>Where can you join Iftar and Suhoor in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One of the largest Suhoor events in California, HalalFest’s fourth\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/suhoorfest/\"> annual Suhoor Fest\u003c/a> — attended by over 7,000 people last year — will take place on Saturday, March 15, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday at SABA Center in San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event will feature over a dozen halal eateries, including Bay Area staples like El Halal Amigos and Zareen’s. Dessert, chai, coffee and vendors selling clothes including hijabs will also be available during this event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029226\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The team at El Halal Amigos. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of El Halal Amigos)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition, \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcabayarea.org/mec-events/3rd-annual-suhoor-night-festival/?occurrence=2025-03-14\">Muslim Community Association, MCA Bay Area’s third annual Suhoor Night\u003c/a> will take place on Friday, March 14, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To join an Iftar during Ramadan, check out your local mosque or Muslim community center for more information. Note that some Iftars require registration in advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To experience Iftar or Suhoor at halal restaurants in the Bay Area, here are some of the venues offering special Iftar menus and open late for Suhoor during Ramadan:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Ramadan Iftar buffets and specials in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mehranbayarea.net/\">Mehran Restaurant and Catering\u003c/a>, Newark: Provides Iftar buffet Tuesdays to Sundays with a different menu every day. Call for reservations: 510-668-1111.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bamboo-gardens.com/\">Inchin’s Bamboo Garden\u003c/a>, Dublin: \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10165357260074546&set=pcb.1571527276866956\">Offering a special menu during Ramadan\u003c/a>. Call for more information: 925-361-0927.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/183771485642549/user/100020609902156/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVjE1ODuKzjFVhNErv7cZNvUe8sj77_Z4-0oF4kv6X5LlySFqLSuThvzlLwwo2wPSoYVdL83XmiLpxbKWcn2dsstOwB2n5uJBiAeLIi2sR829Z_-5p3fWpgK5AfHXNL8rVZ5YpqPyW6-lc6gJHNcyF4qHua1w5MaspLEUhAGBEUMOW25YTJQBSQA3qryTFh1E_sF3rM4fNN9sKg7_pZjpPFFAAf6sywhvrm4ONdPaOsD2e_sXepUG4bvWmS1LcluQNmXCqOyI0AF4BdHbFCsMDQ&__tn__=-%5dC%2CP-y-R\">The Ghurka’s Kitchen\u003c/a>, Hayward: \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10165357260169546&set=pcb.1571527276866956\">Discounts on the buffet menu \u003c/a>are available during Ramadan.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/habibiz_restaurant/\">Habibiz\u003c/a>, Fremont: \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGOggcTCmfq/\">Offering meals less than $10 during Ramadan\u003c/a>. Call for more information: 415-761-3294.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bismillahfremont/?hl=en\">Bismillah Restaurant\u003c/a>, Fremont: \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bismillahfremont/?hl=en\">Offering promotions for large catering events.\u003c/a> Call for more details: 510-713-1907.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mangalsnv/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/mangalsnv/?hl=en\">Mangal Turkish BBQ\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale: Offering a buffet menu every night during Ramadan. Call for reservations: 408-747-1888.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lahorirestaurantsj/?hl=en\">Lahori\u003c/a>, San Jose: Offering a buffet menu every night during Ramadan.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Halal restaurants open late for Suhoor this Ramadan\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in San Francisco:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://thehalalguys.com/locations/336-ofarrell-street-san-francisco/\">Halal Guys\u003c/a>: Open Monday to Tuesday until 3 a.m. and Wednesday to Saturday until 5 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/falafelcity425/\">Falafel City\u003c/a>: Open weekdays until 2 a.m., weekends until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://habibiloungesf.com/\">Habibi Lounge\u003c/a>: Open until 2 a.m. daily except Mondays.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cafedafonk/\">Cafe Da Fónk!:\u003c/a> Open for Suhoor on March 14, 15, 21, and 22 until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.modenapizzamenu.com/\">Halal Modena Pizza\u003c/a>: Open daily 24/7.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kinarafusionsf/?hl=en\">Kinara Fusion\u003c/a>: Hours not yet announced. Call 415-932-6518 for more information.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/harazcoffeehouse/\">Haraz Coffee:\u003c/a> Hours not yet announced. Call 415-494-7239 for more information.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Delah Coffee: Hours not yet announced. Call 415-377-2444 for more information.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in Peninsula:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dahab_restaurant_cafe/?hl=en\">Dahab Cafe\u003c/a>, San Mateo: Open regular hours with special hours on weekends until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in South Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/elhalalamigos/\">El Halal Amigos\u003c/a>, San José: Open regular hours with a special Suhoor night on Friday, March 21 from 10 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. Saturday.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fierychickz_sanjose/\">Fiery Chikz\u003c/a>, San José: Open daily until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chikindrip/?hl=en\">Chikin Drip\u003c/a>, San José: Open regular hours on weekdays until 1 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 1:30 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/doughburgers/?hl=en\">Dough Burgers\u003c/a>, San José: Open weekdays until 1:30 a.m. and weekends until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bibznribz/?hl=en\">Bibz and Ribz\u003c/a>, South San José: Open weekdays until 2 a.m. and weekends until 4 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://swaadindiansanjose.com/#home\">Swaad Indian Cuisine\u003c/a>, San José: Open Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.angrychickz.com/\">Angry Chickz\u003c/a>, San José: Open regular hours until midnight daily for now. Call 408-564-5154 for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/zareensrestaurant/\">Zareen’s\u003c/a>, Palo Alto: Open regular hours with special Suhoor hours on Saturday, March 22, from 10 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Sunday.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://chickengs.com/\">Chicken G’s\u003c/a>, Mountain View: Open regular hours until 1 a.m. every day.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sanaahousecafe.com/\">Sana’a Cafe\u003c/a>, Mountain View: Open every day until 2 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.shanrestaurant.com/\">Shan Restaurant\u003c/a>, Santa Clara: Open regular hours with special hours until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/falafel_flare01/\">Falafel Flare\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale: Open regular hours with special Suhoor hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://tandooripizza.com/\">Tandoori Pizza\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale: Open 24/7.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/oklavacafe/\">Oklava Cafe\u003c/a>, Palo Alto: Open regular hours for now. Call 650-561-4898 for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in East Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://falafelfremont.com/\">Falafel Fremont\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open every day until 4 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/deccanmorsels/?hl=en\">Deccan Morsels\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open daily until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kabobfusionfremont/?hl=en\">Kabob Fusion\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours with additional Suhoor hours on Friday and Saturday nights until 4 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/yeeshaansgrubb/?hl=en\">Yeeshaans Grubb\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open special Ramadan hours from Tuesday until Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://waybackburgers.com/locations/us/california/milpitas/\">Wayback Burgers\u003c/a>, Milpitas: Open daily from 10:30 a.m. until midnight. Additional Suhoor hours on weekends until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mirchicafe/?hl=en\">Mirchi\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours for now. Check back for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/rayos.pizza/?hl=en\">Rayos Pizza\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open special hours for Suhoor on March 7 and 8 until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/wahjeewah/?hl=en\">Wah Jee Wah\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open special hours for Suhoor March 7 and 8 until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/_mayahalaltaqueria_/?hl=en\">Maya Halal Taqueria\u003c/a>, Oakland: Open regular hours with special additional Suhoor hours on Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/_mayahalaltaqueria_/?hl=en\">Maya Halal Taqueria\u003c/a>, Union City: Open regular hours with special additional Suhoor hours on Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/__theburgershop__/?hl=en\">The Burger Shop\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours with special additional Suhoor hours on weekends until 2:30 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://chickengs.com/\">Chicken G’s\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours every day until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bundookhanusa/?hl=en\">Bundoo Khan\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours until midnight, with special Ramadan hours on Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/qamariacoffee/\">Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co\u003c/a>.: Open regular hours except for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/greensngrillsunioncity/\">Greens N Grills\u003c/a>: Open regular hours with special Suhoor hours on Friday, March 14, and Saturdays March 8 and 22 from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/theportofperiperifremont/?hl=en\">Port of Peri Peri\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours for now. Call 510-256-9901 for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "When is SuhoorFest this year? Where can I join Iftars and Suhoors in the Bay Area? Here is all you need to know this Ramadan.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 4:30 p.m., March 7\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pakoras, chana chaat, fritters, and an iced lime and rose-flavored drink called Sirap Limau. They’re just a few of the Iftar appetizers and drinks that Cupertino resident Shaliza Kader Sultan will prepare for her family during Ramadan to break their fast at dusk — a menu that’s a nod to her Pakistani and Malaysian roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#iftar-suhoor-near-me\">Where can I find Iftar and Suhoor meals and buffets near me?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11910408/ramadan-begins-on-a-crescent-moon-ushering-in-a-holy-month-of-fasting-and-kindness\">As Ramadan begins on a crescent moon\u003c/a>, Muslims around the world are observing this holy month of fasting, spirituality, and reflection. “It’s a time to actually slow down a little bit, and reflect, and concentrate on things like family bonding and spiritual growth,” Sultan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a manager of the massive Bay Area Halal Foodies Facebook group — over 40,000 members and counting — and a volunteer for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/halalfest/\">Halal Fest\u003c/a>, which mounts huge celebrations of halal food in the Bay Area, Sultan plays a significant part in the halal food scene in the Bay Area throughout the year. But during Ramadan, her role is supercharged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the community is looking for restaurants open for Suhoor, the morning meal before dawn or special buffets available only during Ramadan, Sultan will be one of the first people to share that information with the community. And while spiritual growth is a big part of Ramadan, it’s also a month to appreciate the diverse food around us, whether it’s at home or at one of the Bay Area’s many restaurants, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029218\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029218\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-1305451864-1020x680-1-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">To join an Iftar during Ramadan, check out your local mosque or Muslim community center for more information. \u003ccite>(iStock/Getty Images Plus)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As a Ramadan tradition, dinners are a bit more special and different for Sultan and the family. “We do away with the tables and chairs and sit on the floor at home, picnic style,” she said — a simpler and more intimate style of dining that is common in Asian culture, she shared. On top of that, her son and husband will go above and beyond to try new recipes they find on YouTube to share with family and friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029219\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1290px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029219\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1290\" height=\"896\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892.jpg 1290w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892-800x556.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892-1020x708.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/7e5b06fa-c232-4bd9-bcae-98c2950d76c1-e1740771381892-160x111.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Some Iftar appetizers that Cupertino resident Shaliza Kader Sultan prepares during Ramadan. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Shaliza Kader Sultan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To add to the festivities, every year Sultan creates a Ramadan calendar counting down the days to Eid — complete with a small gift box for each day containing chocolates, a written prayer for her son to read and a random act of kindness for her son to perform that day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reflecting on her own childhood celebrating Ramadan in Malaysia — a predominantly Muslim country where festivities are a given — Sultan looks forward to putting up lights, decorating the house and cooking special meals for her family during this holy month. “I think it’s important to make an effort to make Ramadan special for my family, especially in a place where Muslims aren’t a majority,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029222\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1290px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029222\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1290\" height=\"878\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810.jpg 1290w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810-800x544.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810-1020x694.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/20b2c173-8d27-4ae1-b0c6-6bbd3f7fe810-160x109.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shaliza Kader Sultan’s Ramadan to-do list. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Shaliza Kader Sultan)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"iftar-suhoor-near-me\">\u003c/a>Where can you join Iftar and Suhoor in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One of the largest Suhoor events in California, HalalFest’s fourth\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/suhoorfest/\"> annual Suhoor Fest\u003c/a> — attended by over 7,000 people last year — will take place on Saturday, March 15, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Sunday at SABA Center in San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The event will feature over a dozen halal eateries, including Bay Area staples like El Halal Amigos and Zareen’s. Dessert, chai, coffee and vendors selling clothes including hijabs will also be available during this event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029226\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029226\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1020\" height=\"574\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/elhalalamigos-suhoorfest-crop-1020x574-1-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The team at El Halal Amigos. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of El Halal Amigos)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In addition, \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcabayarea.org/mec-events/3rd-annual-suhoor-night-festival/?occurrence=2025-03-14\">Muslim Community Association, MCA Bay Area’s third annual Suhoor Night\u003c/a> will take place on Friday, March 14, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To join an Iftar during Ramadan, check out your local mosque or Muslim community center for more information. Note that some Iftars require registration in advance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To experience Iftar or Suhoor at halal restaurants in the Bay Area, here are some of the venues offering special Iftar menus and open late for Suhoor during Ramadan:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Ramadan Iftar buffets and specials in the Bay Area\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://mehranbayarea.net/\">Mehran Restaurant and Catering\u003c/a>, Newark: Provides Iftar buffet Tuesdays to Sundays with a different menu every day. Call for reservations: 510-668-1111.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bamboo-gardens.com/\">Inchin’s Bamboo Garden\u003c/a>, Dublin: \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10165357260074546&set=pcb.1571527276866956\">Offering a special menu during Ramadan\u003c/a>. Call for more information: 925-361-0927.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/183771485642549/user/100020609902156/?__cft__%5b0%5d=AZVjE1ODuKzjFVhNErv7cZNvUe8sj77_Z4-0oF4kv6X5LlySFqLSuThvzlLwwo2wPSoYVdL83XmiLpxbKWcn2dsstOwB2n5uJBiAeLIi2sR829Z_-5p3fWpgK5AfHXNL8rVZ5YpqPyW6-lc6gJHNcyF4qHua1w5MaspLEUhAGBEUMOW25YTJQBSQA3qryTFh1E_sF3rM4fNN9sKg7_pZjpPFFAAf6sywhvrm4ONdPaOsD2e_sXepUG4bvWmS1LcluQNmXCqOyI0AF4BdHbFCsMDQ&__tn__=-%5dC%2CP-y-R\">The Ghurka’s Kitchen\u003c/a>, Hayward: \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10165357260169546&set=pcb.1571527276866956\">Discounts on the buffet menu \u003c/a>are available during Ramadan.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/habibiz_restaurant/\">Habibiz\u003c/a>, Fremont: \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DGOggcTCmfq/\">Offering meals less than $10 during Ramadan\u003c/a>. Call for more information: 415-761-3294.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bismillahfremont/?hl=en\">Bismillah Restaurant\u003c/a>, Fremont: \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bismillahfremont/?hl=en\">Offering promotions for large catering events.\u003c/a> Call for more details: 510-713-1907.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mangalsnv/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/mangalsnv/?hl=en\">Mangal Turkish BBQ\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale: Offering a buffet menu every night during Ramadan. Call for reservations: 408-747-1888.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lahorirestaurantsj/?hl=en\">Lahori\u003c/a>, San Jose: Offering a buffet menu every night during Ramadan.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Halal restaurants open late for Suhoor this Ramadan\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in San Francisco:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://thehalalguys.com/locations/336-ofarrell-street-san-francisco/\">Halal Guys\u003c/a>: Open Monday to Tuesday until 3 a.m. and Wednesday to Saturday until 5 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/falafelcity425/\">Falafel City\u003c/a>: Open weekdays until 2 a.m., weekends until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://habibiloungesf.com/\">Habibi Lounge\u003c/a>: Open until 2 a.m. daily except Mondays.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cafedafonk/\">Cafe Da Fónk!:\u003c/a> Open for Suhoor on March 14, 15, 21, and 22 until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.modenapizzamenu.com/\">Halal Modena Pizza\u003c/a>: Open daily 24/7.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kinarafusionsf/?hl=en\">Kinara Fusion\u003c/a>: Hours not yet announced. Call 415-932-6518 for more information.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/harazcoffeehouse/\">Haraz Coffee:\u003c/a> Hours not yet announced. Call 415-494-7239 for more information.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Delah Coffee: Hours not yet announced. Call 415-377-2444 for more information.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in Peninsula:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dahab_restaurant_cafe/?hl=en\">Dahab Cafe\u003c/a>, San Mateo: Open regular hours with special hours on weekends until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in South Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/elhalalamigos/\">El Halal Amigos\u003c/a>, San José: Open regular hours with a special Suhoor night on Friday, March 21 from 10 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. Saturday.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/fierychickz_sanjose/\">Fiery Chikz\u003c/a>, San José: Open daily until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/chikindrip/?hl=en\">Chikin Drip\u003c/a>, San José: Open regular hours on weekdays until 1 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 1:30 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/doughburgers/?hl=en\">Dough Burgers\u003c/a>, San José: Open weekdays until 1:30 a.m. and weekends until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bibznribz/?hl=en\">Bibz and Ribz\u003c/a>, South San José: Open weekdays until 2 a.m. and weekends until 4 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://swaadindiansanjose.com/#home\">Swaad Indian Cuisine\u003c/a>, San José: Open Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.angrychickz.com/\">Angry Chickz\u003c/a>, San José: Open regular hours until midnight daily for now. Call 408-564-5154 for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/zareensrestaurant/\">Zareen’s\u003c/a>, Palo Alto: Open regular hours with special Suhoor hours on Saturday, March 22, from 10 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Sunday.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://chickengs.com/\">Chicken G’s\u003c/a>, Mountain View: Open regular hours until 1 a.m. every day.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sanaahousecafe.com/\">Sana’a Cafe\u003c/a>, Mountain View: Open every day until 2 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.shanrestaurant.com/\">Shan Restaurant\u003c/a>, Santa Clara: Open regular hours with special hours until 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/falafel_flare01/\">Falafel Flare\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale: Open regular hours with special Suhoor hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://tandooripizza.com/\">Tandoori Pizza\u003c/a>, Sunnyvale: Open 24/7.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/oklavacafe/\">Oklava Cafe\u003c/a>, Palo Alto: Open regular hours for now. Call 650-561-4898 for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Suhoor in East Bay:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://falafelfremont.com/\">Falafel Fremont\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open every day until 4 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/deccanmorsels/?hl=en\">Deccan Morsels\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open daily until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kabobfusionfremont/?hl=en\">Kabob Fusion\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours with additional Suhoor hours on Friday and Saturday nights until 4 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/yeeshaansgrubb/?hl=en\">Yeeshaans Grubb\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open special Ramadan hours from Tuesday until Sunday from 3:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://waybackburgers.com/locations/us/california/milpitas/\">Wayback Burgers\u003c/a>, Milpitas: Open daily from 10:30 a.m. until midnight. Additional Suhoor hours on weekends until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mirchicafe/?hl=en\">Mirchi\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours for now. Check back for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/rayos.pizza/?hl=en\">Rayos Pizza\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open special hours for Suhoor on March 7 and 8 until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/wahjeewah/?hl=en\">Wah Jee Wah\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open special hours for Suhoor March 7 and 8 until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/_mayahalaltaqueria_/?hl=en\">Maya Halal Taqueria\u003c/a>, Oakland: Open regular hours with special additional Suhoor hours on Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/_mayahalaltaqueria_/?hl=en\">Maya Halal Taqueria\u003c/a>, Union City: Open regular hours with special additional Suhoor hours on Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/__theburgershop__/?hl=en\">The Burger Shop\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours with special additional Suhoor hours on weekends until 2:30 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://chickengs.com/\">Chicken G’s\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours every day until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bundookhanusa/?hl=en\">Bundoo Khan\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours until midnight, with special Ramadan hours on Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/qamariacoffee/\">Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co\u003c/a>.: Open regular hours except for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/greensngrillsunioncity/\">Greens N Grills\u003c/a>: Open regular hours with special Suhoor hours on Friday, March 14, and Saturdays March 8 and 22 from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/theportofperiperifremont/?hl=en\">Port of Peri Peri\u003c/a>, Fremont: Open regular hours for now. Call 510-256-9901 for updates.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Last month’s firestorm destroyed more than 9,000 homes and buildings in Los Angeles County. In the unincorporated community of Altadena, the Eaton Fire leveled entire neighborhoods and, in some cases, left behind only chimneys and fireplaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the homes here were built in the Arts and Crafts style, which was popular around a century ago. And some of them included distinctive tiles that were created by a local artist. A few weeks after the fire tore through this community, a group called \u003ca href=\"https://www.savethetiles.org\">Save the Tiles\u003c/a> formed to begin saving historical fireplace tiles from those chimneys so homeowners can include them in their rebuilt houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It started with Eric Garland, whose home barely survived. He’d been on vacation with his family when the fire struck, and his neighbors saved his house by dumping water from a nearby pool. His family is still displaced, but one day, he was walking through the neighborhood after the fire with his 18-year-old daughter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028436\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028436\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteers dig through the rubble to find Batchelder tiles in Altadena on Feb. 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Nick Agro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“And it was just an exercise in taking a few steps and weeping, and taking a few steps and weeping. And part of it was just incremental loss, wading into the next neighbor and the next and the next. And part of it was gasping at what remained … There’s nothing. It’s just a debris field,” Garland said. “And in the middle of the ash pile, where that house should be, is this beautiful, red brick chimney, standing in the middle of nowhere and at the base of it, this perfect work of art — this fireplace that was just like the day it was made.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the Arts and Crafts-style homes in Altadena featured tiles made by artist \u003ca href=\"https://pasadenahistory.org/batchelder-part-1/\">Ernest Batchelder\u003c/a>. In fact, Batchelder tiles became the \u003ca href=\"https://pasadenahistory.org/research/museum-collections-batchelder-tile-registry/\">defining characteristic\u003c/a> of Altadena and nearby Pasadena homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029031\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029031\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A decorative Ernest Batchelder tile from a fireplace in Altadena on Feb. 8, 2025. \u003ccite>(Julie Leopo for LAist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Batchelder moved to the area in the early 1900s and started making handmade, decorated art tile in a backyard kiln behind his bungalow. His small setup allowed him to make only 150 tiles at a time. The tiles are soft, metallic colors in brown and blue hues. Some have detailed scenes depicting majestic trees, peacocks and other animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And these tiles survived the Eaton Fire because they’re a product of fire themselves. The flames from the fire acted like a second firing in a kiln. So when Garland walked the neighborhood with his daughter, she turned to him with an observation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028433\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028433\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Ernest Batchelder tile from a fireplace in Altadena on Feb. 8, 2025. \u003ccite>(Susan Valot)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“‘Dad, that’s all they have left,’” Garland recalled his daughter Lucy telling him. “And I said, ‘Lucy, I think that’s all this neighborhood has left.’ And she said, ‘Well, who’s going to save the fireplaces?’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the idea to “save the tiles, save the town” was born. By chance, the Garlands found a post on Reddit by a mason who wanted to do the same thing. So they teamed up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029033\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029033\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Eric Garland, Founder of Save the Tiles, and Stanley Zucker, Save the Tiles volunteer on Feb. 8, 2025, in Altadena. \u003ccite>(Julie Leopo for LAist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In a single weekend earlier this month, about 50 volunteers canvassed the entire fire disaster zone, cataloging 200 surviving fireplaces with historic tiles in the area, including Batchelder tiles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group started contacting owners for permission to bring in masons to remove the tiles and restore them for free so they can be used in rebuilds — bringing a tiny bit of the home’s DNA to live into the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Devon Douglas and her mason dad, Cliff, are part of a professional crew that’s been carefully chiseling tile from the rubble. On a recent Sunday, she filled boxes with \u003ca href=\"https://www.acstickley.com/category/art-pottery/claycraft-pottery/\">Claycraft Pottery tiles\u003c/a> and stuffed the pockets of her apron with small tiles to add to the stacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029032\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029032\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"1650\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-800x990.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-1020x1263.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-160x198.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-1241x1536.jpg 1241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Save the Tiles volunteers Devon Douglas, Cliff Douglas and Mary Gandsey at the site of the Feb. 8, 2025 recovery. Cliff runs a Masonry family business; Mary is a retired wood finisher. \u003ccite>(Julie Leopo for LAist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s so big of a devastation for everybody involved, and it’s just the smallest piece of something that we can do,” Douglas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said the fire was so hot that, in many cases, the flames burned off dirt and grime from the tiles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They look new. And it’s almost bigger than just the tile. It’s symbolic [on] its own,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this crew of volunteers is working against the clock. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already started clearing lots with bulldozers, making way for people to rebuild. Garland said they are trying to beat the bulldozers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028437\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028437\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fireplace with decorative tiles. \u003ccite>(Nick Agro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To speed up the process, Garland said they are trying to find funding to bring in workers to help. They’ve started a \u003ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fire-victims-recover-whats-left-save-the-tiles\">GoFundMe campaign\u003c/a>. And they’re looking for volunteers who have expertise in masonry, as well as a longer-term place to store the tiles since rebuilding will take a while.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They hope their work will build Altadena’s future, one tile at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s better than stars aligning because it’s people aligning,” Garland said. “It’s a community aligning around what we can do together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Last month’s firestorm destroyed more than 9,000 homes and buildings in Los Angeles County. In the unincorporated community of Altadena, the Eaton Fire leveled entire neighborhoods and, in some cases, left behind only chimneys and fireplaces.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the homes here were built in the Arts and Crafts style, which was popular around a century ago. And some of them included distinctive tiles that were created by a local artist. A few weeks after the fire tore through this community, a group called \u003ca href=\"https://www.savethetiles.org\">Save the Tiles\u003c/a> formed to begin saving historical fireplace tiles from those chimneys so homeowners can include them in their rebuilt houses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It started with Eric Garland, whose home barely survived. He’d been on vacation with his family when the fire struck, and his neighbors saved his house by dumping water from a nearby pool. His family is still displaced, but one day, he was walking through the neighborhood after the fire with his 18-year-old daughter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028436\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028436\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0003-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Volunteers dig through the rubble to find Batchelder tiles in Altadena on Feb. 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Nick Agro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“And it was just an exercise in taking a few steps and weeping, and taking a few steps and weeping. And part of it was just incremental loss, wading into the next neighbor and the next and the next. And part of it was gasping at what remained … There’s nothing. It’s just a debris field,” Garland said. “And in the middle of the ash pile, where that house should be, is this beautiful, red brick chimney, standing in the middle of nowhere and at the base of it, this perfect work of art — this fireplace that was just like the day it was made.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many of the Arts and Crafts-style homes in Altadena featured tiles made by artist \u003ca href=\"https://pasadenahistory.org/batchelder-part-1/\">Ernest Batchelder\u003c/a>. In fact, Batchelder tiles became the \u003ca href=\"https://pasadenahistory.org/research/museum-collections-batchelder-tile-registry/\">defining characteristic\u003c/a> of Altadena and nearby Pasadena homes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029031\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029031\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/0A4A2460-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A decorative Ernest Batchelder tile from a fireplace in Altadena on Feb. 8, 2025. \u003ccite>(Julie Leopo for LAist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Batchelder moved to the area in the early 1900s and started making handmade, decorated art tile in a backyard kiln behind his bungalow. His small setup allowed him to make only 150 tiles at a time. The tiles are soft, metallic colors in brown and blue hues. Some have detailed scenes depicting majestic trees, peacocks and other animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And these tiles survived the Eaton Fire because they’re a product of fire themselves. The flames from the fire acted like a second firing in a kiln. So when Garland walked the neighborhood with his daughter, she turned to him with an observation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028433\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028433\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/DSC_0295-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Ernest Batchelder tile from a fireplace in Altadena on Feb. 8, 2025. \u003ccite>(Susan Valot)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“‘Dad, that’s all they have left,’” Garland recalled his daughter Lucy telling him. “And I said, ‘Lucy, I think that’s all this neighborhood has left.’ And she said, ‘Well, who’s going to save the fireplaces?’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the idea to “save the tiles, save the town” was born. By chance, the Garlands found a post on Reddit by a mason who wanted to do the same thing. So they teamed up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029033\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029033\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-14-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Eric Garland, Founder of Save the Tiles, and Stanley Zucker, Save the Tiles volunteer on Feb. 8, 2025, in Altadena. \u003ccite>(Julie Leopo for LAist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In a single weekend earlier this month, about 50 volunteers canvassed the entire fire disaster zone, cataloging 200 surviving fireplaces with historic tiles in the area, including Batchelder tiles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group started contacting owners for permission to bring in masons to remove the tiles and restore them for free so they can be used in rebuilds — bringing a tiny bit of the home’s DNA to live into the future.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Devon Douglas and her mason dad, Cliff, are part of a professional crew that’s been carefully chiseling tile from the rubble. On a recent Sunday, she filled boxes with \u003ca href=\"https://www.acstickley.com/category/art-pottery/claycraft-pottery/\">Claycraft Pottery tiles\u003c/a> and stuffed the pockets of her apron with small tiles to add to the stacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12029032\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12029032\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"1650\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-800x990.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-1020x1263.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-160x198.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SAVE-THE-TILES-16-e1740704222450-1241x1536.jpg 1241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From left, Save the Tiles volunteers Devon Douglas, Cliff Douglas and Mary Gandsey at the site of the Feb. 8, 2025 recovery. Cliff runs a Masonry family business; Mary is a retired wood finisher. \u003ccite>(Julie Leopo for LAist)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s so big of a devastation for everybody involved, and it’s just the smallest piece of something that we can do,” Douglas said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She said the fire was so hot that, in many cases, the flames burned off dirt and grime from the tiles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They look new. And it’s almost bigger than just the tile. It’s symbolic [on] its own,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But this crew of volunteers is working against the clock. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already started clearing lots with bulldozers, making way for people to rebuild. Garland said they are trying to beat the bulldozers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028437\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028437\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/SaveTheTiles_0006-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fireplace with decorative tiles. \u003ccite>(Nick Agro)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>To speed up the process, Garland said they are trying to find funding to bring in workers to help. They’ve started a \u003ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-fire-victims-recover-whats-left-save-the-tiles\">GoFundMe campaign\u003c/a>. And they’re looking for volunteers who have expertise in masonry, as well as a longer-term place to store the tiles since rebuilding will take a while.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They hope their work will build Altadena’s future, one tile at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s better than stars aligning because it’s people aligning,” Garland said. “It’s a community aligning around what we can do together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "ever-heard-of-a-frisco-biscuit-neither-had-many-maritime-historians",
"title": "Ever Heard of a 'Frisco Biscuit'? Neither Had Many Maritime Historians",
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"headTitle": "Ever Heard of a ‘Frisco Biscuit’? Neither Had Many Maritime Historians | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carl Merritt is a history buff. He doesn’t just watch YouTube videos about World War II, he reads the comments. This time around, he was watching a video about the evacuation of Dunkirk when he came across a fascinating character: Charles Lightoller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriouspodcastinfo]Lightoller was a retired Royal Navy Commander who rescued troops from the beaches of Dunkirk on his private yacht. And, Merritt discovered, he was also the most senior officer to survive the sinking of the Titanic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Merritt was intrigued, so he went out and found Lightoller’s autobiography, \u003cem>Titanic and Other Ships\u003c/em>. In it, Merritt learned that Lightoller had visited San Francisco in the 1880s when he was a teenager. That experience left a lasting impression:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>What a strange mixture we found in that city of mushroom growth. Beautiful broad streets and magnificent buildings, but almost entirely without law or order, – unless you could pay for it.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s port at the time was a chaotic, dangerous place. And in his autobiography, Lightoller doesn’t skimp on the details:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>‘Frisco at this time, had the honour of bearing the worst reputation of any sea port in the world for lawlessness, not excepting New York. It was bad enough for the landsman to be on the streets at night, if it was even suspected that he was carrying more than a very few dollars. Even in broad daylight it was no uncommon thing for a man to be sandbagged and robbed.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028796\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1519px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028796\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1519\" height=\"2064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052.jpg 1519w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-800x1087.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-1020x1386.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-160x217.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-1130x1536.jpg 1130w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-1507x2048.jpg 1507w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1519px) 100vw, 1519px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Commander Charles Herbert Lightoller, right, and his son Lieutenant F. R. Lightoller, who both helped in the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. \u003ccite>(Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Maritime Research Center at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park houses a vast collection documenting the port’s tumultuous history. Reference librarian Gina Bardi knows this time period well. According to Bardi, there are “lots of stories of people… walking down the street and somebody offering them a drink or conking them on the crown.” Next thing they know, Gina said, “They wake up, and they’re on a ship halfway out to sea.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This practice, known as shanghaiing, was common at San Francisco’s port. Crimping — aka kidnapping sailors, forcing them onto ships, and stealing their wages — was also widespread. Lightoller describes it all firsthand:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The water front of ‘Frisco was held and run by a lot of soulless crimps. These human vultures didn’t wait for a man to get as far as the Shipping Office; in fact they were indifferent as to whether a man was even paying off or not. All they wanted was his body, and they would fight amongst themselves for possession.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>“There’s even stories of people supplying dead sailors,” Bardi said, “and just saying he’s drunk, but he was actually dead and getting the money for that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028793\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2246px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028793\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2246\" height=\"820\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo.jpg 2246w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-800x292.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-1020x372.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-160x58.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-1536x561.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-2048x748.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-1920x701.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2246px) 100vw, 2246px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) A photograph of Green Street Wharf in San Francisco, Calif., circa 1894. (right) The docks of San Francisco’s port circa 1885. \u003ccite>(U.S. National Park Service)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Lightoller, the best part of San Francisco was leaving it. The only other notable positive? The “‘Frisco biscuits.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The only good thing about ‘Frisco as far as I, a first voyager with an eternal hunger, could see, was the biscuits. ‘”‘Frisco biscuits’” are known the world over. Big, crisp and eatable. A good six inches across, and even the ship’s margarine could not altogether spoil their flavour… In fact, the outstanding feature of my first voyage seems to have been the state of semi-starvation we boys lived in, until we got the ‘Frisco biscuits.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>For something “known the world over,” tracking down a definition proved surprisingly difficult.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I went through all my maritime dictionaries,” Bardi said. “I went through a bunch of cookbooks that we have… and I have just not come across it anywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028778\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028778\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katherine Hijar (left), park historian, and Gina Bardi, reference librarian, pose for a portrait on the Balclutha at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on Feb. 26, 2025. The Balclutha is a historic three-masted, steel-hulled sailing ship built in 1886, now preserved as a museum at the park. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Bardi did have a few educated guesses. Theory number one: maybe the biscuits had something to do with sourdough? Theory number two: maybe, in Lightoller’s British English, he was actually referring to a cookie? Theory number three: ‘Frisco biscuits were a form of hardtack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since sourdough wouldn’t have been a good long-term provision and there was no evidence for the cookie theory, hardtack seemed like the most likely answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is hardtack?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Also known as ship’s biscuits, hardtack was a staple in a sailor’s diet. It is essentially a flour and water cracker baked to a crisp. When ships were provisioned in port, this nonperishable staple was an essential item.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flavor of hardtack is somewhere in between sand and cardboard. You can’t even bite it with your front teeth; you have to gnaw. The biscuits were so durable in fact, that sailors sometimes wrote messages on them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028771\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028771\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1211\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum-800x757.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum-1020x965.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum-160x151.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ship’s biscuit with message: “Betsy Dunnet, given to her by her true love, Thomas Hart, January 4th, in the year of 1842.” \u003ccite>(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The London-based National Maritime Museum has a handful of biscuits dating back as far as the 1700s. In 2018, \u003ca href=\"https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/buy-an-old-biscuit\">a 212-year old British biscuit — still uncracked — went on auction for $3,580\u003c/a>. While not exactly appetizing, a starving sailor might beg to differ. And a few actually did.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Evidence for the hardtack theory\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To check Bardi’s hardtack theory, I headed over to the San Francisco Maritime Museum, right on the water at Aquatic Park. It looks like a cruise ship that ran aground, threw in the towel, and decided it’d be easier to call itself a building. Katherine Hijar, the resident historian, found two additional references to the biscuits in the biographies of British sailors. Lightoller finally had company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>Knocking Around\u003c/em>, by Frank H. Shaw, he recalls “nibbling rare, palatable ‘Frisco biscuits lavishly smeared with real salt butter out of \u003cem>bona fide\u003c/em> tins.” His boat was anchored off the coast of Chile at the time. For something provisioned in California to stay edible all the way to Chile, it has to be nonperishable. For Hijar, that was a point for the hardtack theory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028780\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028780\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katherine Hijar (left) and Gina Bardi sample a plate of ‘Frisco Biscuits on the Balclutha in San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>Round The Horn and Before The Mast\u003c/em>, Hijar found yet another biscuit reference. The author, A. Basil Lubbock, begins by describing running out of “Kobe biscuits, which are nearly all rice.” He then remembers how relieved he was to receive “splendid American hardtack… I don’t think I have ever eaten better biscuit than this Frisco bread.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the evidence mounting, Hijar offered her final conclusion: \u003cem>A ‘Frisco biscuit was hardtack provisioned at San Francisco’s port\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Known the world over?’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For something “known the world over,” ‘Frisco biscuits proved fairly elusive. Several maritime historians had never heard of a ‘Frisco biscuit, and Hijar had to really dig to find a few sources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most likely explanation for the biscuit’s obscurity? Sailor slang.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Sailors] had their own language… words that you and I would never understand because they were particular to this world of sailors at sea,” Hijar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like so many forgotten pieces of history, it comes down to who gets to tell the story. Most sailors in the 1880s didn’t have typewriters or book deals. Their version of events was rarely recorded, and for those of us who love some good slang, that’s a big loss.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lightoller’s biography is full of sailor lingo. Reading it taught our question asker, Carl Merritt, some new vocabulary — like crocodile pearls. (It’s a much more exciting way to say… avocados.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Merritt’s question has got you hankering to try some hardtack, \u003ca href=\"https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/how-make-ships-biscuit\">here’s a recipe so you can whip up your very own batch of ‘Frisco biscuits\u003c/a>. Or, you could imagine yourself a sailor at sea on ship’s rations, indulging in biscuit-based delicacies like “Dandy Funk” and “Cracker Hash.” You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Hey everyone, Olivia Allen-Price here, and you’re listening to Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a thing about me: I love a good biscuit. I grew up in North Carolina, where biscuits are a point of pride. It seems like everyone has a grandma who makes a good one, but don’t bother asking for the recipe because there isn’t one. It’s all done by feel — eyeballing the flour in the bowl, the texture of the dough between your fingers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So when a biscuit question arrived in our Bay Curious mailbox, it grabbed my attention right away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: Frisco biscuits? I need your help on that one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: This is Carl Merritt — our question-asker this week. A while back, he was reading the biography of a storied sailor when he came across the term Frisco Biscuit. It left him feeling stumped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: He describes it as crispy and six inches in diameter. He says it’s known the world over. So, so I was hoping maybe you can find something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: But for something known the world over, a quick internet search didn’t turn much up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: Well, I’m glad I threw you a curveball. That’s great news.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: When I passed off the question to one of our Bay Curious reporters, I was secretly hoping they’d crack the code quickly, get some local chefs to give the recipe a whirl — And give me a taste test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But turns out my dream of a flaky, buttery, crispy San Francisco-made biscuit was destined to remain a dream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bay Curious theme music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week — a culinary, history, maritime mystery. What is a Frisco Biscuit?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s all coming up! Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Theme music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: To help us answer Carl’s question — what is a Frisco Biscuit? — we’ve put Bay Curious reporter Gabriela Glueck on the job. Her first step? Find the source in question — the book where ‘Frisco Biscuit’ makes its appearance — and get to know a bit more about the guy who wrote it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A man by the name of Charles Lightoller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Charles Lightoller was a sailor, as true a seaman at heart as it is possible to be. And in his biography, he tells his story of life on the water. Born in England in the late 1800s and effectively orphaned at age 13, ships were all he’d really ever know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you might not recognize his name, you’re probably more familiar with him than you think.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Lightoller\u003c/strong>: Several of us scrambled up onto the slippery bottom of the raft. And it was from there I saw the Titanic sink. It was from there I saw the Titanic sink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: That’s Lightoller, recounting the sinking of the Titanic in a BBC radio interview following the disaster. He was the most senior officer to survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Lightoller\u003c/strong>: As she vanished, everyone around me on the upturned boat, as though they could hardly believe it, just said, she’s gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Lightoller waited on the Titanic until it was nearly under, shepherding others onto the remaining lifeboats before he himself took a seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even a shipwreck — perhaps the world’s most infamous one — couldn’t keep him away from the sea for too long. He tells all this in his life story, his book, “Titanic and Other Ships.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a seaman like that mentions a “Frisco Biscuit” and calls it, quote, “known the world over,” you kinda take his word for it. But tracking down the term was actually a bit of a challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We will get to the biscuit, I promise, but first, just a little more context. We know the man we’re working with. Step two is understanding the place he’s talking about: The port of San Francisco in the 1880s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his book, Lightoller sets the scene.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: What a strange mixture we found in that city of mushroom growth. Beautiful broad streets and magnificent buildings, but almost entirely without law or order, unless you could pay for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sounds of waves, seagulls, shipbuilding sounds, wind\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: Here are some men just hanging out on the wharf. You would have seen a lot of people hanging out on the wharf looking for work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: That’s Gina Bardi. She’s a reference librarian at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Research Center. I met up with her to get a better sense of what the port was like back in the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: You would have seen a lot of smoke… It was very dirty and dusty. You would have seen insurance agents, merchants, everybody buying and selling wares, so it would have been really vibrant, loud… there was um, ships being built, ships being torn apart, so all, all sounds and noises associated with that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>Glueck\u003c/strong>: Lightoller was just a teenager when he arrived in the city, but San Francisco made a lasting impression on him. Safe to say, not a very positive one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: ‘Frisco, at this time, had the honor of bearing the worst reputation of any seaport in the world for lawlessness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Gina told me that a sailor coming into port around that time was likely to have a tough go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: People being kidnapped is absolutely true. There’s news reports of it. We have lots of stories of people being, you know, walking down the street and somebody offering them a drink or conking them on the crown, and the next thing they know, they wake up, and they’re on a ship halfway up to sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: It was a place that Lightoller was, quite frankly, delighted to leave when the time came.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: Hard, bitter hard, though ship life often was, yet we were glad to see the Golden Gates, with all they stood for, fading away and finally disappearing below the horizon. At least the sea was clean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Harsh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: The only good thing about ‘Frisco, as far as I, a first voyager with an eternal hunger, could see, was the biscuits. “‘Frisco biscuits” are known the world over. Big, crisp and eatable. A good six inches across, and even the ship’s margarine could not altogether spoil their flavor… In fact, the outstanding feature of my first voyage seems to have been the state of semi-starvation we boys lived in, until we got the ‘Frisco biscuits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: So, what is a Frisco biscuit?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: I have no idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: That’s reference librarian Gina Bardi again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: I went through all my maritime dictionaries that I have. I went through a bunch of cookbooks that we have, food ways studies that we have, and I have just not come across it anywhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Gina and I were stumped. Searching for Frisco Biscuits wasn’t getting us anywhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But, ship’s biscuits, also known as hardtack, were one of the main staples of a sailor’s diet. It’s basically a flour and water cracker, dried out in the oven for so long that it’s nonperishable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With this clue in mind, we started tossing around theories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our first hypothesis: Frisco Biscuits were hardtack provisioned at San Francisco’s port.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Theory number two: these biscuits had something to do with sourdough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Theory number three: Maybe, in Lightoller’s British English, he was actually referring to a cookie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thing is, sourdough wouldn’t have made a good long-term provision. And there just wasn’t any evidence for the cookie angle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The hardtack hypothesis seemed like our best bet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, we went down the rabbit hole.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help us test our theory — to see if hardtack could be considered big, crisp, and eatable — Gina pulled out an archival recipe and whipped up a batch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: You have to have upper arm strength. My poor rolling pin, I was like standing on my tiptoes. I was like mushing with all my strength, trying to get it down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Then, she invited all her colleagues to join us for a taste test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: This is the fruits of my labor. Then the recipe also said I should encase it in a wooden cask. But I had no wooden casks at home, so I just put it in a zip lock and bought it here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of people eating something very crunchy\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: Don’t bite in with your front teeth because I don’t think that’ll work. Maybe gnaw on the side a little bit and then dip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Taste tester #1\u003c/strong>: Oh, my God, I think I just lost a tooth. (sounds of chewing)\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>Test tester #2\u003c/strong>: Cardboard, a little taste, a little hint of cardboard. It just tastes like flour. It tastes like dry. That’s what it tastes like, like a mouthful of sand.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>Taste tester #3\u003c/strong>: I’m not gonna lie, I would eat this. It does not have much of a flavor, but I kind of just like gnawing on it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Fair enough. Maybe San Francisco was such a miserable time that something so bad ended up being the best part. Or maybe to a starving sailor, Frisco biscuits were just a little bit tastier than average.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those seemed like solid guesses, but still just guesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gina and I felt like we needed to do a bit more digging. Her suggestion? Turn it over to the big guns. AKA, the center’s maritime historian, Katherine Hijar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck in tape\u003c/strong>: First thing I want to ask you is, did you figure it out?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: I think I did. Yes, I think I did. As you probably know already, sea biscuits, ships biscuits, Frisco biscuits, hardtack those are all the same thing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: After scouring the archives, Katherine told me she’d finally found something. Two additional references to Frisco biscuits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, in the biographies and diaries of British sailors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: Describing a journey from San Francisco to Europe, it was before the Panama Canal, so that it was around Cape Horn off the coast of Chile, uh, they spent some time on a ship called the Star of Italy. On that ship, Frank Shaw and some of his fellow sailors ate, quote, rare palatable Frisco biscuits lavishly smeared with real salt butter out of bona fide tins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: For something provisioned in California to stay edible all the way to Chile, it’s gotta be nonperishable. That’s a point for the hardtack theory. Plus, hardtack was very often stored away in tins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next clue came from another sailor’s diary dated September 1899.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: He wrote, today, we came to an end of the Kobe biscuits, which are nearly all rice. So, Kobe biscuits, one thing we get from that right away, is that they have provisioned in Japan, possibly the biscuits came from Kobe. They’ve probably loaded in boxes and boxes of these. And these rice flour-based biscuits are now done. And he’s not a fan. He says, At last, we have got the splendid American hardtack served out to us. I don’t think I have ever eaten better biscuit than this Frisco bread.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Sailors often referred to hardtack as their daily bread, so don’t let that throw you off. This clue is pivotal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It puts it all in simple terms, when ships provision at ports, they buy the local version of hardtack. Kobe biscuits from Kobe, Frisco biscuits from Frisco. A 1 to 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>American hardtack, Frisco bread. Another 1 to 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of that, Katherine had convinced me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But why does Lightoller claim that Frisco biscuits are, quote, “known the world over?” From what I can tell, they’re hardly known at all. Several maritime experts I spoke with hadn’t heard of them. And Katherine had to do some serious digging to find even a few mentions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: Definitely slang, absolutely yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Katherine’s best guess — “Frisco biscuit” is sailor speak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: They had their own language, different words that you and I, even if we could get in a time machine, and go back to the 19th-century words that you and I would never understand because they were particular to this world of sailors at sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: And within the sailor community, Frisco Biscuits might have been known the world over. But sailors at sea in the 1800s weren’t the ones with typewriters and publishing deals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: So many of the absences and the silences in history have to do with who had the ability to actually leave a permanent record. So when we’re talking about life at sea and the life of sailors, we’re talking about a population that is mostly very poor at best, their working class, and those are just not the people who whose experiences were considered important at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Reporter Gabriela Glueck, thanks!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Thank you. It was quite a fun mystery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Big thanks to our question-asker, Carl Merritt, for sending us on this winding adventure. His question was chosen by listeners in a public voting round at BayCurious.org. There’s a new one up now, so head on over and cast your vote for what you’d like us to cover next.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Did you know: KQED relies on your financial support to keep shows like Bay Curious going? More than half of KQED’s budget comes from donations from our audience. It is truly journalism made for the public, powered by the public, which is just the way we like it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re in a position to give, please visit \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/donate\">KQED.org/donate\u003c/a>. There are options for one-time gifts, or you can level up and become a sustaining member by giving each month. Your support keeps local news in the Bay Area alive at a time when it is under threat. Again, head to \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/donate\">KQED.org/donate\u003c/a> to give. And from all us at Bay Curious, a deep, heartfelt thank you.\u003cbr>\nOur show is produced by…\u003cbr>\nKatrina Schwartz\u003cbr>\nChristopher Beale\u003cbr>\nAnd me, Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional Support From:\u003cbr>\nMaha Sanad\u003cbr>\nKatie Springer\u003cbr>\nJen Chien\u003cbr>\nAlana Walker\u003cbr>\nHolly Kernan\u003cbr>\nAnd everyone on Team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a great week. And if you try making a Frisco biscuit of your own, don’t break a tooth!\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#episode-transcript\">View the full episode transcript.\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Carl Merritt is a history buff. He doesn’t just watch YouTube videos about World War II, he reads the comments. This time around, he was watching a video about the evacuation of Dunkirk when he came across a fascinating character: Charles Lightoller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003caside class=\"alignleft utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__bayCuriousPodcastShortcode__bayCurious\">\u003cimg src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bayCuriousLogo.png alt=\"Bay Curious Podcast\" loading=\"lazy\" />\n \u003ca href=\"/news/series/baycurious\">Bay Curious\u003c/a> is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area.\n Subscribe on \u003ca href=\"https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts\u003c/a>,\n \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NPR One\u003c/a> or your favorite podcast platform.\u003c/aside>\u003c/p>\u003cp>Lightoller was a retired Royal Navy Commander who rescued troops from the beaches of Dunkirk on his private yacht. And, Merritt discovered, he was also the most senior officer to survive the sinking of the Titanic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Merritt was intrigued, so he went out and found Lightoller’s autobiography, \u003cem>Titanic and Other Ships\u003c/em>. In it, Merritt learned that Lightoller had visited San Francisco in the 1880s when he was a teenager. That experience left a lasting impression:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>What a strange mixture we found in that city of mushroom growth. Beautiful broad streets and magnificent buildings, but almost entirely without law or order, – unless you could pay for it.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s port at the time was a chaotic, dangerous place. And in his autobiography, Lightoller doesn’t skimp on the details:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>‘Frisco at this time, had the honour of bearing the worst reputation of any sea port in the world for lawlessness, not excepting New York. It was bad enough for the landsman to be on the streets at night, if it was even suspected that he was carrying more than a very few dollars. Even in broad daylight it was no uncommon thing for a man to be sandbagged and robbed.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028796\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1519px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028796\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1519\" height=\"2064\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052.jpg 1519w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-800x1087.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-1020x1386.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-160x217.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-1130x1536.jpg 1130w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/GettyImages-1450430052-1507x2048.jpg 1507w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1519px) 100vw, 1519px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Commander Charles Herbert Lightoller, right, and his son Lieutenant F. R. Lightoller, who both helped in the evacuation from Dunkirk in 1940. \u003ccite>(Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Maritime Research Center at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park houses a vast collection documenting the port’s tumultuous history. Reference librarian Gina Bardi knows this time period well. According to Bardi, there are “lots of stories of people… walking down the street and somebody offering them a drink or conking them on the crown.” Next thing they know, Gina said, “They wake up, and they’re on a ship halfway out to sea.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This practice, known as shanghaiing, was common at San Francisco’s port. Crimping — aka kidnapping sailors, forcing them onto ships, and stealing their wages — was also widespread. Lightoller describes it all firsthand:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The water front of ‘Frisco was held and run by a lot of soulless crimps. These human vultures didn’t wait for a man to get as far as the Shipping Office; in fact they were indifferent as to whether a man was even paying off or not. All they wanted was his body, and they would fight amongst themselves for possession.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>“There’s even stories of people supplying dead sailors,” Bardi said, “and just saying he’s drunk, but he was actually dead and getting the money for that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028793\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2246px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028793\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2246\" height=\"820\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo.jpg 2246w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-800x292.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-1020x372.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-160x58.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-1536x561.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-2048x748.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/San-Francisco-docks_duo-1920x701.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2246px) 100vw, 2246px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) A photograph of Green Street Wharf in San Francisco, Calif., circa 1894. (right) The docks of San Francisco’s port circa 1885. \u003ccite>(U.S. National Park Service)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For Lightoller, the best part of San Francisco was leaving it. The only other notable positive? The “‘Frisco biscuits.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>The only good thing about ‘Frisco as far as I, a first voyager with an eternal hunger, could see, was the biscuits. ‘”‘Frisco biscuits’” are known the world over. Big, crisp and eatable. A good six inches across, and even the ship’s margarine could not altogether spoil their flavour… In fact, the outstanding feature of my first voyage seems to have been the state of semi-starvation we boys lived in, until we got the ‘Frisco biscuits.\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>For something “known the world over,” tracking down a definition proved surprisingly difficult.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I went through all my maritime dictionaries,” Bardi said. “I went through a bunch of cookbooks that we have… and I have just not come across it anywhere.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028778\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028778\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-06-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katherine Hijar (left), park historian, and Gina Bardi, reference librarian, pose for a portrait on the Balclutha at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on Feb. 26, 2025. The Balclutha is a historic three-masted, steel-hulled sailing ship built in 1886, now preserved as a museum at the park. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But Bardi did have a few educated guesses. Theory number one: maybe the biscuits had something to do with sourdough? Theory number two: maybe, in Lightoller’s British English, he was actually referring to a cookie? Theory number three: ‘Frisco biscuits were a form of hardtack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since sourdough wouldn’t have been a good long-term provision and there was no evidence for the cookie theory, hardtack seemed like the most likely answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is hardtack?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Also known as ship’s biscuits, hardtack was a staple in a sailor’s diet. It is essentially a flour and water cracker baked to a crisp. When ships were provisioned in port, this nonperishable staple was an essential item.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The flavor of hardtack is somewhere in between sand and cardboard. You can’t even bite it with your front teeth; you have to gnaw. The biscuits were so durable in fact, that sailors sometimes wrote messages on them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028771\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1280px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028771\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1211\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum.jpg 1280w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum-800x757.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum-1020x965.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Hardtack-MaritimeMuseum-160x151.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ship’s biscuit with message: “Betsy Dunnet, given to her by her true love, Thomas Hart, January 4th, in the year of 1842.” \u003ccite>(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The London-based National Maritime Museum has a handful of biscuits dating back as far as the 1700s. In 2018, \u003ca href=\"https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/buy-an-old-biscuit\">a 212-year old British biscuit — still uncracked — went on auction for $3,580\u003c/a>. While not exactly appetizing, a starving sailor might beg to differ. And a few actually did.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Evidence for the hardtack theory\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>To check Bardi’s hardtack theory, I headed over to the San Francisco Maritime Museum, right on the water at Aquatic Park. It looks like a cruise ship that ran aground, threw in the towel, and decided it’d be easier to call itself a building. Katherine Hijar, the resident historian, found two additional references to the biscuits in the biographies of British sailors. Lightoller finally had company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>Knocking Around\u003c/em>, by Frank H. Shaw, he recalls “nibbling rare, palatable ‘Frisco biscuits lavishly smeared with real salt butter out of \u003cem>bona fide\u003c/em> tins.” His boat was anchored off the coast of Chile at the time. For something provisioned in California to stay edible all the way to Chile, it has to be nonperishable. For Hijar, that was a point for the hardtack theory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12028780\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12028780\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250226-FriscoBiscuits-22-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Katherine Hijar (left) and Gina Bardi sample a plate of ‘Frisco Biscuits on the Balclutha in San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In \u003cem>Round The Horn and Before The Mast\u003c/em>, Hijar found yet another biscuit reference. The author, A. Basil Lubbock, begins by describing running out of “Kobe biscuits, which are nearly all rice.” He then remembers how relieved he was to receive “splendid American hardtack… I don’t think I have ever eaten better biscuit than this Frisco bread.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the evidence mounting, Hijar offered her final conclusion: \u003cem>A ‘Frisco biscuit was hardtack provisioned at San Francisco’s port\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Known the world over?’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For something “known the world over,” ‘Frisco biscuits proved fairly elusive. Several maritime historians had never heard of a ‘Frisco biscuit, and Hijar had to really dig to find a few sources.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The most likely explanation for the biscuit’s obscurity? Sailor slang.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“[Sailors] had their own language… words that you and I would never understand because they were particular to this world of sailors at sea,” Hijar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like so many forgotten pieces of history, it comes down to who gets to tell the story. Most sailors in the 1880s didn’t have typewriters or book deals. Their version of events was rarely recorded, and for those of us who love some good slang, that’s a big loss.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lightoller’s biography is full of sailor lingo. Reading it taught our question asker, Carl Merritt, some new vocabulary — like crocodile pearls. (It’s a much more exciting way to say… avocados.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If Merritt’s question has got you hankering to try some hardtack, \u003ca href=\"https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/blog/how-make-ships-biscuit\">here’s a recipe so you can whip up your very own batch of ‘Frisco biscuits\u003c/a>. Or, you could imagine yourself a sailor at sea on ship’s rations, indulging in biscuit-based delicacies like “Dandy Funk” and “Cracker Hash.” You’re welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-content post-body\">\u003ch2 id=\"episode-transcript\">Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Hey everyone, Olivia Allen-Price here, and you’re listening to Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a thing about me: I love a good biscuit. I grew up in North Carolina, where biscuits are a point of pride. It seems like everyone has a grandma who makes a good one, but don’t bother asking for the recipe because there isn’t one. It’s all done by feel — eyeballing the flour in the bowl, the texture of the dough between your fingers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So when a biscuit question arrived in our Bay Curious mailbox, it grabbed my attention right away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: Frisco biscuits? I need your help on that one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: This is Carl Merritt — our question-asker this week. A while back, he was reading the biography of a storied sailor when he came across the term Frisco Biscuit. It left him feeling stumped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: He describes it as crispy and six inches in diameter. He says it’s known the world over. So, so I was hoping maybe you can find something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: But for something known the world over, a quick internet search didn’t turn much up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: Well, I’m glad I threw you a curveball. That’s great news.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: When I passed off the question to one of our Bay Curious reporters, I was secretly hoping they’d crack the code quickly, get some local chefs to give the recipe a whirl — And give me a taste test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But turns out my dream of a flaky, buttery, crispy San Francisco-made biscuit was destined to remain a dream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Bay Curious theme music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This week — a culinary, history, maritime mystery. What is a Frisco Biscuit?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s all coming up! Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Theme music ends\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: To help us answer Carl’s question — what is a Frisco Biscuit? — we’ve put Bay Curious reporter Gabriela Glueck on the job. Her first step? Find the source in question — the book where ‘Frisco Biscuit’ makes its appearance — and get to know a bit more about the guy who wrote it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A man by the name of Charles Lightoller.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Charles Lightoller was a sailor, as true a seaman at heart as it is possible to be. And in his biography, he tells his story of life on the water. Born in England in the late 1800s and effectively orphaned at age 13, ships were all he’d really ever know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you might not recognize his name, you’re probably more familiar with him than you think.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Lightoller\u003c/strong>: Several of us scrambled up onto the slippery bottom of the raft. And it was from there I saw the Titanic sink. It was from there I saw the Titanic sink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: That’s Lightoller, recounting the sinking of the Titanic in a BBC radio interview following the disaster. He was the most senior officer to survive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Lightoller\u003c/strong>: As she vanished, everyone around me on the upturned boat, as though they could hardly believe it, just said, she’s gone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Lightoller waited on the Titanic until it was nearly under, shepherding others onto the remaining lifeboats before he himself took a seat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even a shipwreck — perhaps the world’s most infamous one — couldn’t keep him away from the sea for too long. He tells all this in his life story, his book, “Titanic and Other Ships.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When a seaman like that mentions a “Frisco Biscuit” and calls it, quote, “known the world over,” you kinda take his word for it. But tracking down the term was actually a bit of a challenge.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We will get to the biscuit, I promise, but first, just a little more context. We know the man we’re working with. Step two is understanding the place he’s talking about: The port of San Francisco in the 1880s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his book, Lightoller sets the scene.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: What a strange mixture we found in that city of mushroom growth. Beautiful broad streets and magnificent buildings, but almost entirely without law or order, unless you could pay for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sounds of waves, seagulls, shipbuilding sounds, wind\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: Here are some men just hanging out on the wharf. You would have seen a lot of people hanging out on the wharf looking for work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: That’s Gina Bardi. She’s a reference librarian at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Research Center. I met up with her to get a better sense of what the port was like back in the day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: You would have seen a lot of smoke… It was very dirty and dusty. You would have seen insurance agents, merchants, everybody buying and selling wares, so it would have been really vibrant, loud… there was um, ships being built, ships being torn apart, so all, all sounds and noises associated with that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela\u003c/strong> \u003cstrong>Glueck\u003c/strong>: Lightoller was just a teenager when he arrived in the city, but San Francisco made a lasting impression on him. Safe to say, not a very positive one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: ‘Frisco, at this time, had the honor of bearing the worst reputation of any seaport in the world for lawlessness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Gina told me that a sailor coming into port around that time was likely to have a tough go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: People being kidnapped is absolutely true. There’s news reports of it. We have lots of stories of people being, you know, walking down the street and somebody offering them a drink or conking them on the crown, and the next thing they know, they wake up, and they’re on a ship halfway up to sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: It was a place that Lightoller was, quite frankly, delighted to leave when the time came.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: Hard, bitter hard, though ship life often was, yet we were glad to see the Golden Gates, with all they stood for, fading away and finally disappearing below the horizon. At least the sea was clean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Harsh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Voice Over for Lightoller\u003c/strong>: The only good thing about ‘Frisco, as far as I, a first voyager with an eternal hunger, could see, was the biscuits. “‘Frisco biscuits” are known the world over. Big, crisp and eatable. A good six inches across, and even the ship’s margarine could not altogether spoil their flavor… In fact, the outstanding feature of my first voyage seems to have been the state of semi-starvation we boys lived in, until we got the ‘Frisco biscuits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: So, what is a Frisco biscuit?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: I have no idea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: That’s reference librarian Gina Bardi again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: I went through all my maritime dictionaries that I have. I went through a bunch of cookbooks that we have, food ways studies that we have, and I have just not come across it anywhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Gina and I were stumped. Searching for Frisco Biscuits wasn’t getting us anywhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But, ship’s biscuits, also known as hardtack, were one of the main staples of a sailor’s diet. It’s basically a flour and water cracker, dried out in the oven for so long that it’s nonperishable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With this clue in mind, we started tossing around theories.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our first hypothesis: Frisco Biscuits were hardtack provisioned at San Francisco’s port.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Theory number two: these biscuits had something to do with sourdough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Theory number three: Maybe, in Lightoller’s British English, he was actually referring to a cookie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thing is, sourdough wouldn’t have made a good long-term provision. And there just wasn’t any evidence for the cookie angle.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The hardtack hypothesis seemed like our best bet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, we went down the rabbit hole.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help us test our theory — to see if hardtack could be considered big, crisp, and eatable — Gina pulled out an archival recipe and whipped up a batch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: You have to have upper arm strength. My poor rolling pin, I was like standing on my tiptoes. I was like mushing with all my strength, trying to get it down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Then, she invited all her colleagues to join us for a taste test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: This is the fruits of my labor. Then the recipe also said I should encase it in a wooden cask. But I had no wooden casks at home, so I just put it in a zip lock and bought it here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds of people eating something very crunchy\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gina Bardi\u003c/strong>: Don’t bite in with your front teeth because I don’t think that’ll work. Maybe gnaw on the side a little bit and then dip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Taste tester #1\u003c/strong>: Oh, my God, I think I just lost a tooth. (sounds of chewing)\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>Test tester #2\u003c/strong>: Cardboard, a little taste, a little hint of cardboard. It just tastes like flour. It tastes like dry. That’s what it tastes like, like a mouthful of sand.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>Taste tester #3\u003c/strong>: I’m not gonna lie, I would eat this. It does not have much of a flavor, but I kind of just like gnawing on it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Fair enough. Maybe San Francisco was such a miserable time that something so bad ended up being the best part. Or maybe to a starving sailor, Frisco biscuits were just a little bit tastier than average.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those seemed like solid guesses, but still just guesses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gina and I felt like we needed to do a bit more digging. Her suggestion? Turn it over to the big guns. AKA, the center’s maritime historian, Katherine Hijar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck in tape\u003c/strong>: First thing I want to ask you is, did you figure it out?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: I think I did. Yes, I think I did. As you probably know already, sea biscuits, ships biscuits, Frisco biscuits, hardtack those are all the same thing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: After scouring the archives, Katherine told me she’d finally found something. Two additional references to Frisco biscuits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again, in the biographies and diaries of British sailors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: Describing a journey from San Francisco to Europe, it was before the Panama Canal, so that it was around Cape Horn off the coast of Chile, uh, they spent some time on a ship called the Star of Italy. On that ship, Frank Shaw and some of his fellow sailors ate, quote, rare palatable Frisco biscuits lavishly smeared with real salt butter out of bona fide tins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: For something provisioned in California to stay edible all the way to Chile, it’s gotta be nonperishable. That’s a point for the hardtack theory. Plus, hardtack was very often stored away in tins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The next clue came from another sailor’s diary dated September 1899.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: He wrote, today, we came to an end of the Kobe biscuits, which are nearly all rice. So, Kobe biscuits, one thing we get from that right away, is that they have provisioned in Japan, possibly the biscuits came from Kobe. They’ve probably loaded in boxes and boxes of these. And these rice flour-based biscuits are now done. And he’s not a fan. He says, At last, we have got the splendid American hardtack served out to us. I don’t think I have ever eaten better biscuit than this Frisco bread.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Sailors often referred to hardtack as their daily bread, so don’t let that throw you off. This clue is pivotal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It puts it all in simple terms, when ships provision at ports, they buy the local version of hardtack. Kobe biscuits from Kobe, Frisco biscuits from Frisco. A 1 to 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>American hardtack, Frisco bread. Another 1 to 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of that, Katherine had convinced me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But why does Lightoller claim that Frisco biscuits are, quote, “known the world over?” From what I can tell, they’re hardly known at all. Several maritime experts I spoke with hadn’t heard of them. And Katherine had to do some serious digging to find even a few mentions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: Definitely slang, absolutely yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Katherine’s best guess — “Frisco biscuit” is sailor speak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: They had their own language, different words that you and I, even if we could get in a time machine, and go back to the 19th-century words that you and I would never understand because they were particular to this world of sailors at sea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: And within the sailor community, Frisco Biscuits might have been known the world over. But sailors at sea in the 1800s weren’t the ones with typewriters and publishing deals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katherine Hijar\u003c/strong>: So many of the absences and the silences in history have to do with who had the ability to actually leave a permanent record. So when we’re talking about life at sea and the life of sailors, we’re talking about a population that is mostly very poor at best, their working class, and those are just not the people who whose experiences were considered important at the time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Reporter Gabriela Glueck, thanks!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gabriela Glueck\u003c/strong>: Thank you. It was quite a fun mystery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Big thanks to our question-asker, Carl Merritt, for sending us on this winding adventure. His question was chosen by listeners in a public voting round at BayCurious.org. There’s a new one up now, so head on over and cast your vote for what you’d like us to cover next.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carl Merritt\u003c/strong>: Bay Curious is made in San Francisco at member-supported KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/strong>: Did you know: KQED relies on your financial support to keep shows like Bay Curious going? More than half of KQED’s budget comes from donations from our audience. It is truly journalism made for the public, powered by the public, which is just the way we like it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re in a position to give, please visit \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/donate\">KQED.org/donate\u003c/a>. There are options for one-time gifts, or you can level up and become a sustaining member by giving each month. Your support keeps local news in the Bay Area alive at a time when it is under threat. Again, head to \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/donate\">KQED.org/donate\u003c/a> to give. And from all us at Bay Curious, a deep, heartfelt thank you.\u003cbr>\nOur show is produced by…\u003cbr>\nKatrina Schwartz\u003cbr>\nChristopher Beale\u003cbr>\nAnd me, Olivia Allen-Price\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional Support From:\u003cbr>\nMaha Sanad\u003cbr>\nKatie Springer\u003cbr>\nJen Chien\u003cbr>\nAlana Walker\u003cbr>\nHolly Kernan\u003cbr>\nAnd everyone on Team KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m Olivia Allen-Price. Have a great week. And if you try making a Frisco biscuit of your own, don’t break a tooth!\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>"
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"title": "Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe: Central Coast Norteño Band Embrace and Evolve Traditional Mexican Sound",
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"content": "\u003cp>Mexican music has a long, rich history of popularity and appreciation beyond the country’s borders, extending into the United States, the rest of Latin America and around the world. But in the last few years, Mexican regional music — a diverse group of folkloric styles from throughout the country — has exploded in popularity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the umbrella of Mexican regional music is \u003cem>norteño\u003c/em>, a distinct style from the country’s northern states that’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2015/03/11/392141073/how-mexico-learned-to-polka\">heavily influenced by European polka\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s Central Coast is a hotspot for the state’s norteño music scene. The Santa Maria Valley, north of Santa Barbara, is home to a new generation of norteño musicians preserving this musical heritage while making it their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Norteño music was the soundtrack of Chencho Pérez’s childhood. He’s a 19-year-old musician from the Central Coast city of Guadalupe, where he plays and sings in a band that includes his brother and father.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Growing up, my mom would always put [on] norteño artists, like Ramón Ayala, Los Tigres del Norte, Los Tucanes — we would listen to everything in norteño,” Pérez said. “So I’ve always had a passion for that type of music.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pérez said norteño has a unique instrumentation that sets it apart from other types of Mexican regional music. A major part of that is the \u003cem>bajo quinto\u003c/em>, a 10-stringed instrument that looks like a cross between an acoustic guitar and a bass. The use of a \u003cem>bajo quinto\u003c/em> sets norteño apart from other Mexican musical styles like \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/11/29/1215765458/the-popularity-of-regional-mexican-music-is-crossing-borders-and-going-global\">sierreño\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027979\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1102px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027979\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1102\" height=\"1296\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3.jpg 1102w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3-800x941.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3-1020x1200.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3-160x188.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1102px) 100vw, 1102px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe is a Central Coast-based band formed by Irving Fabela, Joaquin Pérez, Chencho Pérez, and Aníbal Pérez. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Sierreño is basically people picking up 12-string guitars, and a bass, and six-string guitar, so that’s different from norteño,” Pérez said. “Norteño is like accordion, bajo quinto, and then you got the bass and the drums. So it’s Mexican music, but it’s still different — it’s like punk rock and metal rock.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Norteño, sierreño, and other Mexican genres like banda and mariachi are extremely popular in the Santa Maria Valley, drawing in performers and fans of all ages. Chencho didn’t just grow up hearing this music on records or the radio — he comes from a family of musicians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pérez’s father plays several instruments, so as kids, he and his brother were surrounded by drums, guitars, bajo quintos, and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When his younger brother started learning bass, Chencho learned drums with help from his dad. The three of them joined up with some other musicians and started performing norteño music when Chencho and his brother were just teenagers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to stop playing music for a while, during which time Pérez expanded his skills into new instruments, including the bajo quinto. Shortly after they were able to start performing again, they were \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7vO5OV_Oy0\">invited to appear on Tengo Mucho Talento\u003c/a>, a kind of Spanish-language \u003cem>America’s Got Talent.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chencho’s band didn’t win the competition, but appearing on TV put them on the map.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So we didn’t win, but we got a lot of work that following year,” Pérez said. “We were fully booked the whole year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After some reshuffling of band members, Chencho, his dad and his brother decided to split off into a new group. Suddenly, they had to settle on a new name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When we were on the show, they told us that we had a lot of energy — like you can feel the energy when we play,” he said. “So when you think of energy, you think of a lightning bolt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That image gave them the idea to use the Spanish word “rayo” — as in, a ray of lightning. And the word resonated with Chencho and his family bandmates for another reason.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had a dog that was blind, he lived a long time, and he was a very loyal dog, and his name was Rayo,” Pérez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027982\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027982\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"1633\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-800x980.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-1020x1250.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-160x196.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-1254x1536.jpg 1254w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chencho Pérez poses with his bajo quinto. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pérez and his bandmates combined the word “rayo” with a reference to their hometown, and the new name was born: \u003cem>Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When we announced the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lozrayozdeguadalupe/\">Instagram\u003c/a> post that we were like back with the new name and a new member, we got so much support. It felt really nice, like we really mattered in the community,” Pérez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pérez is just one of many young norteño musicians embracing change while staying true to the genre’s roots. He’s now teaching himself accordion, so now, along with bajo quinto, bass, drums, guitar and vocals, he can play every instrument in a norteño band.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe is borrowing from other styles of Mexican regional music to create new sounds. “The music we recently recorded, it’s like accordion, bajo quinto, two alto horns [called] \u003cem>charchetas,\u003c/em> and then it’s a stand-up bass, and then a tuba,” Pérez said. “That’s something different that I also fell in love with. That type of sound is also kind of like what’s hitting right now on the charts.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Pérez, music isn’t just a passion — it’s a career. Besides performing, he’s also learning the technical side of music, including live sound and audio engineering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Music’s a business. Once you understand that, that’s when you’re on the right track. Music’s whatever you want it to be, but I want to make this as a lifestyle and my job.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At age 19, Chencho Pérez has already performed on TV and played with major artists he grew up listening to, like norteño legend \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2014/04/12/301443014/borderland-music-songs-from-the-u-s-mexico-frontera\">Ramon Ayala\u003c/a>. He’s recording original music and making \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fTAmwHJQsE\">music videos\u003c/a> with Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe. He’s also getting a degree in music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even as he grows and expands his musical horizons, Pérez said norteño will always be his roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I fall in love with music every day I perform,” he said. “Hearing the accordion, the drums, the bass, and just everything coming together — nothing else in this world can really bring people together like that. That’s why music is so special.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Mexican music has a long, rich history of popularity and appreciation beyond the country’s borders, extending into the United States, the rest of Latin America and around the world. But in the last few years, Mexican regional music — a diverse group of folkloric styles from throughout the country — has exploded in popularity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under the umbrella of Mexican regional music is \u003cem>norteño\u003c/em>, a distinct style from the country’s northern states that’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2015/03/11/392141073/how-mexico-learned-to-polka\">heavily influenced by European polka\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s Central Coast is a hotspot for the state’s norteño music scene. The Santa Maria Valley, north of Santa Barbara, is home to a new generation of norteño musicians preserving this musical heritage while making it their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Norteño music was the soundtrack of Chencho Pérez’s childhood. He’s a 19-year-old musician from the Central Coast city of Guadalupe, where he plays and sings in a band that includes his brother and father.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Growing up, my mom would always put [on] norteño artists, like Ramón Ayala, Los Tigres del Norte, Los Tucanes — we would listen to everything in norteño,” Pérez said. “So I’ve always had a passion for that type of music.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pérez said norteño has a unique instrumentation that sets it apart from other types of Mexican regional music. A major part of that is the \u003cem>bajo quinto\u003c/em>, a 10-stringed instrument that looks like a cross between an acoustic guitar and a bass. The use of a \u003cem>bajo quinto\u003c/em> sets norteño apart from other Mexican musical styles like \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/11/29/1215765458/the-popularity-of-regional-mexican-music-is-crossing-borders-and-going-global\">sierreño\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027979\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1102px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027979\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1102\" height=\"1296\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3.jpg 1102w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3-800x941.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3-1020x1200.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image3-160x188.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1102px) 100vw, 1102px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe is a Central Coast-based band formed by Irving Fabela, Joaquin Pérez, Chencho Pérez, and Aníbal Pérez. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Sierreño is basically people picking up 12-string guitars, and a bass, and six-string guitar, so that’s different from norteño,” Pérez said. “Norteño is like accordion, bajo quinto, and then you got the bass and the drums. So it’s Mexican music, but it’s still different — it’s like punk rock and metal rock.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Norteño, sierreño, and other Mexican genres like banda and mariachi are extremely popular in the Santa Maria Valley, drawing in performers and fans of all ages. Chencho didn’t just grow up hearing this music on records or the radio — he comes from a family of musicians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pérez’s father plays several instruments, so as kids, he and his brother were surrounded by drums, guitars, bajo quintos, and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When his younger brother started learning bass, Chencho learned drums with help from his dad. The three of them joined up with some other musicians and started performing norteño music when Chencho and his brother were just teenagers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to stop playing music for a while, during which time Pérez expanded his skills into new instruments, including the bajo quinto. Shortly after they were able to start performing again, they were \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7vO5OV_Oy0\">invited to appear on Tengo Mucho Talento\u003c/a>, a kind of Spanish-language \u003cem>America’s Got Talent.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chencho’s band didn’t win the competition, but appearing on TV put them on the map.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So we didn’t win, but we got a lot of work that following year,” Pérez said. “We were fully booked the whole year.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After some reshuffling of band members, Chencho, his dad and his brother decided to split off into a new group. Suddenly, they had to settle on a new name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When we were on the show, they told us that we had a lot of energy — like you can feel the energy when we play,” he said. “So when you think of energy, you think of a lightning bolt.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That image gave them the idea to use the Spanish word “rayo” — as in, a ray of lightning. And the word resonated with Chencho and his family bandmates for another reason.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had a dog that was blind, he lived a long time, and he was a very loyal dog, and his name was Rayo,” Pérez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027982\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1333px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027982\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1333\" height=\"1633\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415.jpg 1333w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-800x980.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-1020x1250.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-160x196.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/image2-e1740093624415-1254x1536.jpg 1254w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1333px) 100vw, 1333px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chencho Pérez poses with his bajo quinto. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pérez and his bandmates combined the word “rayo” with a reference to their hometown, and the new name was born: \u003cem>Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When we announced the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/lozrayozdeguadalupe/\">Instagram\u003c/a> post that we were like back with the new name and a new member, we got so much support. It felt really nice, like we really mattered in the community,” Pérez said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pérez is just one of many young norteño musicians embracing change while staying true to the genre’s roots. He’s now teaching himself accordion, so now, along with bajo quinto, bass, drums, guitar and vocals, he can play every instrument in a norteño band.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe is borrowing from other styles of Mexican regional music to create new sounds. “The music we recently recorded, it’s like accordion, bajo quinto, two alto horns [called] \u003cem>charchetas,\u003c/em> and then it’s a stand-up bass, and then a tuba,” Pérez said. “That’s something different that I also fell in love with. That type of sound is also kind of like what’s hitting right now on the charts.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Pérez, music isn’t just a passion — it’s a career. Besides performing, he’s also learning the technical side of music, including live sound and audio engineering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Music’s a business. Once you understand that, that’s when you’re on the right track. Music’s whatever you want it to be, but I want to make this as a lifestyle and my job.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At age 19, Chencho Pérez has already performed on TV and played with major artists he grew up listening to, like norteño legend \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2014/04/12/301443014/borderland-music-songs-from-the-u-s-mexico-frontera\">Ramon Ayala\u003c/a>. He’s recording original music and making \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fTAmwHJQsE\">music videos\u003c/a> with Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe. He’s also getting a degree in music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But even as he grows and expands his musical horizons, Pérez said norteño will always be his roots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I fall in love with music every day I perform,” he said. “Hearing the accordion, the drums, the bass, and just everything coming together — nothing else in this world can really bring people together like that. That’s why music is so special.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of The California Report Magazine’s series about \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-composers\">\u003cem>California composers\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. Listen to this and more in-depth storytelling by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545?mt=2\">\u003cem>subscribing\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> to The California Report Magazine podcast.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s early evening and a group of musicians — led by co-composers Wendy Reid and Lulu — is beginning to assemble in Berkeley’s Live Oak Park under a small redwood grove wrapped by a creek.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike at a concert hall, the audience here is tasked with finding their own seats. Some settle into the ivy or perch on the stairs that lead down to the performance area. Others sit on the grassy bank high above the musicians. I find a spot under a redwood tree. There is a sense of anticipation in the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the people here tonight have been following Reid’s work for years. ”Her pieces are virtuosic,” said Kattt Atchley, a Bay Area improvisational artist. “ Wendy’s unusual — I mean, this is unusual — but she can pull it off. I don’t think many people can. But she can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in many ways, Lulu feels like the star of this unusual performance. People whisper her name and strain to see her warming up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lulu and Reid have been making music together for almost two decades. And though they don’t speak the same language, they communicate through musical composition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I interact with Lulu, I’m learning her language and then she’s learning my language,” said Reid, who earned a Master of Arts degree from Mills College and studied with renowned composer, Nadia Boulanger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12026551\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12026551 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232.jpg\" alt=\"A middle-aged woman with glasses plays violin next to a grey parrot in a purple-lit cage.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wendy Reid, and Lulu, her African grey parrot, practice in Reid’s apartment in Berkeley on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As the musicians start warming up, they form a semicircle around the star of the show, Lulu, the one so many people came here to see. But Lulu is still quietly observing, unassuming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lulu is perched on a bar in a brightly lit cage — because Lulu is a bird: an African grey parrot.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Ambient Bird’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This performance is called Ambient Bird. It’s based on Reid and Lulu’s interactions, which Reid transcribes into musical compositions and invites ensemble members to perform. Tonight, there are a dozen musicians playing alongside the two co-composers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The quietest of all the performers is Lulu herself. With all eyes on her and so many interesting sounds, she tends to get a little stage fright. However, Reid is prepared for that and plays recordings of Lulu alongside the live music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"more stories on california composers\" tag=\"california-composers\"]As the performance begins, some people wander over from the park to join the audience. The music intermingles with birdsong, dog barks, and kids playing in the creek below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Reid, these sounds are not interruptions but part of the reason she loves performing in these kinds of public spaces and surprising people who happen upon her music — like Joe Silber.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just stumbled into this with our kids,” he said in a whisper. “I think it’s a human/bird collaboration.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And though they aren’t paying attention to the performance, for a moment, Silber’s kids become part of it, yelling to each other across the creek as they scramble over the bank’s exposed roots. The musicians continue to play.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s exactly what I want in this piece,” Reid said. “I want that ambient sound of people just living their lives as this odd little piece goes on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The kids, the dogs, the water, cars whizzing by, wind in the trees — it’s all part of Reid’s composition. It also feels like a celebration of her relationship with Lulu and of the liminal human/bird world that they’ve created together.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Housemates\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At Reid’s home in Berkeley, Lulu’s crate is next to the door, surrounded by stacks of books and records. She’s gray, with light eyes and a bright red undercoat. And she likes being sprayed with water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wendy sprays her as she talks to her. They go back and forth, saying “OK” to each other and laughing, Lulu imitating the sounds of Wendy’s laughter with an almost eerie perfection. Lulu is an entertainer and has learned how people interact with each other and with her. She repeats phrases people say to her: “cute” or “pretty girl” or “beautiful bird.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But don’t get too close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you get too close to her, she’ll bite you,” Reid said. “And she’ll know you’ll say ‘ouch.’ So she says ‘ouch’ before you. And then she’ll start laughing because that’s what people do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Laughing, Reid said, “It’s kind of embarrassing because it’s not her intellectual side. It’s her conniving side, really.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The composition process\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Reid and Lulu compose music in their living room. “We improvise a little bit probably every day,” Reid said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She records and transcribes their interactions. Their composing process is spontaneous and unique every time. Sometimes, Reid will try to inspire Lulu with a birdcall. “You know how you kind of yell to somebody when you want to just hear their voice?” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reid also teaches violin lessons at her home and said that when a student is practicing, Lulu loves to chime in with squawks, songs, and, occasionally, a note correction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes somebody’s playing a little out of tune, and then she’ll throw them the right note, and I’ll say, ‘Just like Lulu — a little bit higher.”’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This has a way of lightening the mood. “When a teacher corrects you, it’s much more intimidating, but when a bird is correcting you, it’s funny,” Reid said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12026553\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12026553 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482.jpg\" alt=\"A middle-aged woman with glasses looks at a grey parrot perched on her shoulder.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wendy Reid and Lulu pose in Reid’s apartment in Berkeley on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Reid’s been making music with animals for decades. She even collaborated with her border collie, Twinkie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That dog didn’t have the vocabulary of a bird, so she wasn’t going to be featured in all my pieces,” Reid said. “But all the birds that I’ve had have been featured in my music since 1980.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Birdsong is also embedded in Reid’s earliest memories of music when she’d go to her grandmother’s ranch in Wyoming and escape to a nearby forest to play her violin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The ranch was similar in some ways to the Live Oak performance space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was surrounded by all these trees and a creek,” said Reid, recalling how she would take her violin and explore the music she knew.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a child, Reid didn’t want people to follow her to the creek and listen to her play. “I just wanted to be out there by myself and do my own thing and not be thinking that I have to perform for somebody,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘I think of her as an equal’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the materials for the Live Oak performance, Lulu’s name is listed before Reid’s — a signal that Lulu is not a mere sound effect in their music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think of her as an equal when I write a piece of music. She can’t write the notes down, but she’s definitely creating the ideas with me,” Reid said. “I always call her half-human, and I’m half-bird.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the night of the performance at Live Oak Park, Reid doesn’t pay much attention to the audience and their response, or let it inhibit her work. “If somebody thought it was stupid, that wouldn’t have any effect on me,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the performance ends and the sounds of chirping crickets fill the void, I walk up to Reid and Lulu to ask them how they think it went.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She likes to listen to herself I think, that’s the problem,” Reid said. “She might have done a few peeps.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just a few peeps. Lulu cocks her head to the side. I wonder what she makes of all this — I wish I could understand her the way Reid does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think she gets mesmerized by the whole situation,” Reid said. “She hears the instruments playing, and she hears herself playing, and she’s thinking, ‘Maybe I should just be listening.’”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of The California Report Magazine’s series about \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california-composers\">\u003cem>California composers\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. Listen to this and more in-depth storytelling by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545?mt=2\">\u003cem>subscribing\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> to The California Report Magazine podcast.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s early evening and a group of musicians — led by co-composers Wendy Reid and Lulu — is beginning to assemble in Berkeley’s Live Oak Park under a small redwood grove wrapped by a creek.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike at a concert hall, the audience here is tasked with finding their own seats. Some settle into the ivy or perch on the stairs that lead down to the performance area. Others sit on the grassy bank high above the musicians. I find a spot under a redwood tree. There is a sense of anticipation in the air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of the people here tonight have been following Reid’s work for years. ”Her pieces are virtuosic,” said Kattt Atchley, a Bay Area improvisational artist. “ Wendy’s unusual — I mean, this is unusual — but she can pull it off. I don’t think many people can. But she can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in many ways, Lulu feels like the star of this unusual performance. People whisper her name and strain to see her warming up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lulu and Reid have been making music together for almost two decades. And though they don’t speak the same language, they communicate through musical composition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I interact with Lulu, I’m learning her language and then she’s learning my language,” said Reid, who earned a Master of Arts degree from Mills College and studied with renowned composer, Nadia Boulanger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12026551\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12026551 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232.jpg\" alt=\"A middle-aged woman with glasses plays violin next to a grey parrot in a purple-lit cage.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00232-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wendy Reid, and Lulu, her African grey parrot, practice in Reid’s apartment in Berkeley on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As the musicians start warming up, they form a semicircle around the star of the show, Lulu, the one so many people came here to see. But Lulu is still quietly observing, unassuming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lulu is perched on a bar in a brightly lit cage — because Lulu is a bird: an African grey parrot.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Ambient Bird’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This performance is called Ambient Bird. It’s based on Reid and Lulu’s interactions, which Reid transcribes into musical compositions and invites ensemble members to perform. Tonight, there are a dozen musicians playing alongside the two co-composers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The quietest of all the performers is Lulu herself. With all eyes on her and so many interesting sounds, she tends to get a little stage fright. However, Reid is prepared for that and plays recordings of Lulu alongside the live music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>As the performance begins, some people wander over from the park to join the audience. The music intermingles with birdsong, dog barks, and kids playing in the creek below.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Reid, these sounds are not interruptions but part of the reason she loves performing in these kinds of public spaces and surprising people who happen upon her music — like Joe Silber.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just stumbled into this with our kids,” he said in a whisper. “I think it’s a human/bird collaboration.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And though they aren’t paying attention to the performance, for a moment, Silber’s kids become part of it, yelling to each other across the creek as they scramble over the bank’s exposed roots. The musicians continue to play.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That’s exactly what I want in this piece,” Reid said. “I want that ambient sound of people just living their lives as this odd little piece goes on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The kids, the dogs, the water, cars whizzing by, wind in the trees — it’s all part of Reid’s composition. It also feels like a celebration of her relationship with Lulu and of the liminal human/bird world that they’ve created together.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Housemates\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At Reid’s home in Berkeley, Lulu’s crate is next to the door, surrounded by stacks of books and records. She’s gray, with light eyes and a bright red undercoat. And she likes being sprayed with water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wendy sprays her as she talks to her. They go back and forth, saying “OK” to each other and laughing, Lulu imitating the sounds of Wendy’s laughter with an almost eerie perfection. Lulu is an entertainer and has learned how people interact with each other and with her. She repeats phrases people say to her: “cute” or “pretty girl” or “beautiful bird.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But don’t get too close.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you get too close to her, she’ll bite you,” Reid said. “And she’ll know you’ll say ‘ouch.’ So she says ‘ouch’ before you. And then she’ll start laughing because that’s what people do.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Laughing, Reid said, “It’s kind of embarrassing because it’s not her intellectual side. It’s her conniving side, really.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The composition process\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Reid and Lulu compose music in their living room. “We improvise a little bit probably every day,” Reid said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She records and transcribes their interactions. Their composing process is spontaneous and unique every time. Sometimes, Reid will try to inspire Lulu with a birdcall. “You know how you kind of yell to somebody when you want to just hear their voice?” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Reid also teaches violin lessons at her home and said that when a student is practicing, Lulu loves to chime in with squawks, songs, and, occasionally, a note correction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes somebody’s playing a little out of tune, and then she’ll throw them the right note, and I’ll say, ‘Just like Lulu — a little bit higher.”’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This has a way of lightening the mood. “When a teacher corrects you, it’s much more intimidating, but when a bird is correcting you, it’s funny,” Reid said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12026553\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12026553 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482.jpg\" alt=\"A middle-aged woman with glasses looks at a grey parrot perched on her shoulder.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250206_Ambient-Bird_DMB_00482-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wendy Reid and Lulu pose in Reid’s apartment in Berkeley on Feb. 6, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Reid’s been making music with animals for decades. She even collaborated with her border collie, Twinkie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That dog didn’t have the vocabulary of a bird, so she wasn’t going to be featured in all my pieces,” Reid said. “But all the birds that I’ve had have been featured in my music since 1980.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Birdsong is also embedded in Reid’s earliest memories of music when she’d go to her grandmother’s ranch in Wyoming and escape to a nearby forest to play her violin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The ranch was similar in some ways to the Live Oak performance space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was surrounded by all these trees and a creek,” said Reid, recalling how she would take her violin and explore the music she knew.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a child, Reid didn’t want people to follow her to the creek and listen to her play. “I just wanted to be out there by myself and do my own thing and not be thinking that I have to perform for somebody,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘I think of her as an equal’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the materials for the Live Oak performance, Lulu’s name is listed before Reid’s — a signal that Lulu is not a mere sound effect in their music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think of her as an equal when I write a piece of music. She can’t write the notes down, but she’s definitely creating the ideas with me,” Reid said. “I always call her half-human, and I’m half-bird.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the night of the performance at Live Oak Park, Reid doesn’t pay much attention to the audience and their response, or let it inhibit her work. “If somebody thought it was stupid, that wouldn’t have any effect on me,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the performance ends and the sounds of chirping crickets fill the void, I walk up to Reid and Lulu to ask them how they think it went.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She likes to listen to herself I think, that’s the problem,” Reid said. “She might have done a few peeps.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just a few peeps. Lulu cocks her head to the side. I wonder what she makes of all this — I wish I could understand her the way Reid does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "tyler-the-creator-oakland-arena-everything-to-know-from-parking-to-bag-policies-2",
"title": "Everything You Need to Know for Tyler, the Creator’s Oakland Arena Show",
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"headTitle": "Everything You Need to Know for Tyler, the Creator’s Oakland Arena Show | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA: The World Tour will be heading to Oakland Arena on Monday, alongside Lil Yachty and L.A.-duo Paris Texas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re planning on attending, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at the venue — or just getting in and out of the crowded, hectic stadium as painlessly as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for our at-a-glance information on parking options, bag policy, public transit and more for the Tyler, the Creator show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re \u003cem>not \u003c/em>attending the show but you live, work or commute in the region? This guide might not be for you, but you should be prepared for I-880 and surrounding routes to potentially be busy on Monday night, both before and after the show.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenabagpolicy\">What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenaparking\">What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#coliseumpublictransit\">How can I take public transit to the Tyler, the Creator concert?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time is the Tyler, the Creator show at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The show will start at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24. \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/nicki-minaj\">The doors at Oakland Area will open that night at 6 p.m. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://uproxx.com/music/tyler-the-creator-chromakopia-tour-setlist-2025/\">the setlist at UPROXX.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the weather be like on Monday night in Oakland?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Even though the Oakland Arena is an indoor venue, it is best for you to plan ahead for being outdoors (for example, getting in and out of the stadium) and dress warm. The \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.8051&lon=-122.2731\">National Weather Service predicts that Oakland will be foggy that night.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenabagpolicy\">\u003c/a>What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bag check is not available at Oakland Arena, so you should plan ahead accordingly. \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/prohibited-items\">Some things you cannot bring to the Tyler, the Creator show\u003c/a> on Monday include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Coolers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Any type of backpacks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cigarettes\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons or sharp objects\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bats and clubs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Outside food or beverage (as well as hard side containers like a thermos)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers and portable chairs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Large banners or flags\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977242 aligncenter\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Arena-Prohibited-Items-deea1b7735.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"436\" height=\"779\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Empty\u003c/em> soft plastic bottles are allowed, as well as binoculars and still cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">Be careful if you’re choosing to stash anything in your vehicle\u003c/a> during the show, as break-ins are unfortunately common around the Bay Area. Don’t leave anything on display in your car, especially electronics like laptops — even if you think they’re hidden from view.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/accessibility\">Oakland Arena has an online guide to its accessibility services\u003c/a>. Accessibility highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Assisted Listening Devices are available in the First Aid Section 106.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The First Aid section also includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">“(s)ensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads.”\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Elevators are available at the west side, near Section 114 and the east side, near Section 101.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>You can call 510-569-2121 or email customerservice@coliseum.com for information or requests.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenaparking\">\u003c/a>What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Oakland Arena’s website is currently redirecting fans to \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/search?kind=event&id=1012292&view=dl\">parking website Spot Hero for any available spaces\u003c/a>. Be sure to secure a parking space quick, as the prices closer to the stadium are reaching $100.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Make sure you map the route using a tool like Google Maps, to make sure you know how long you have to walk and the shortest route to do so — and wear comfy footwear.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"coliseumpublictransit\">\u003c/a>How to take public transportation to the Tyler, the Creator concert\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the show itself, and be sure of your very last service home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/assets/img/Email-Maps-4-bd72220145.png\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland Arena is located near \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">BART\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.amtrak.com/stations/okj\">Capitol Corridor Amtrak train\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"http://www.actransit.org/\">AC Transit\u003c/a>. If you are taking the BART or Amtrak, you \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/public-transportation\">would need to get off the Coliseum Station and cross the ramp to the Arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are going to take an Uber or Lyft to or from the event, you will need to be picked up at Baldwin Gate. Baldwin Gate \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">opens two hours before the event starts\u003c/a>. Be aware that there will likely be a surge charge around this time due to the crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do I know if I’ve got a good seat at the Tyler, the Creator show?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are anxious about anything obscuring your sight of the stage or how you want to get to your seat fast, you can check it out on Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/seating-charts\">Arena’s website\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://aviewfrommyseat.com/venue/Oakland+Arena/\">A View From My Seat\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Can I still get a ticket for the CHROMAKOPIA tour at Oakland Arena?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://tix.axs.com/YD%2f5CgAAAAAMiQWGAAAAAAAq%2fv%2f%2f%2fwD%2f%2f%2f%2f%2fBXRoZW1lAP%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f/shop/search?skin=theoaklandarena&tags=&cpch=&cpdate=&cprid=&cpid=&cpcn=&cpdid=&cpdn=&cpsrc=&intoff=&cid=&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=&aff=&clickref=&promocode=&originalReferringURL=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.theoaklandarena.com%252F&upgrade=&mkt_campaign=&irclickid=&q=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&p=2b597fe9-9094-4d2b-99ac-7f98a698e258&ts=1739923918&c=axs&e=1841068488783241&rt=AfterEvent&h=85020744cdc7798b6630bae70f0ab14e\">Tickets are still being offered on AXS\u003c/a>, which is the most official way to secure your seat at the Tyler, the Creator show for $96 and up. (Most tickets are, however, around the $200 to $300 mark.) If you need accessible tickets, be sure to filter for them on the site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also find \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/tyler-the-creator-oakland-tickets-2-24-2025/event/155908767/\">resales on sites like StubHub\u003c/a> or look for better deals and seats on Facebook marketplace resales and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re buying a resale ticket, a note: \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/taylor-swift-scams-concert-tickets-better-business-bureau/13474055/\">The Better Businesses Bureau issued a warning about resale scams\u003c/a> during Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. Check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card,\u003c/a> says the BBB. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are getting a resale from a friend, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">make sure you call your friend directly\u003c/a> — to make sure someone isn’t impersonating them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, if you can’t make it to the Oakland show, don’t get too worried. Tyler, the Creator is coming to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/tyler-the-creator-chromakopia-the-world-san-francisco-california-03-05-2025/event/1C006155BAC01E10?landing=c\">San Francisco’s Chase Center in early March\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Tyler, the Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA: The World Tour will be heading to Oakland Arena on Monday, alongside Lil Yachty and L.A.-duo Paris Texas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re planning on attending, you may be looking for a game plan for parking at the venue — or just getting in and out of the crowded, hectic stadium as painlessly as possible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for our at-a-glance information on parking options, bag policy, public transit and more for the Tyler, the Creator show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(And if you’re \u003cem>not \u003c/em>attending the show but you live, work or commute in the region? This guide might not be for you, but you should be prepared for I-880 and surrounding routes to potentially be busy on Monday night, both before and after the show.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenabagpolicy\">What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#oaklandarenaparking\">What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#coliseumpublictransit\">How can I take public transit to the Tyler, the Creator concert?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What time is the Tyler, the Creator show at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The show will start at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24. \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/events/detail/nicki-minaj\">The doors at Oakland Area will open that night at 6 p.m. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://uproxx.com/music/tyler-the-creator-chromakopia-tour-setlist-2025/\">the setlist at UPROXX.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will the weather be like on Monday night in Oakland?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Even though the Oakland Arena is an indoor venue, it is best for you to plan ahead for being outdoors (for example, getting in and out of the stadium) and dress warm. The \u003ca href=\"https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.8051&lon=-122.2731\">National Weather Service predicts that Oakland will be foggy that night.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenabagpolicy\">\u003c/a>What’s the Oakland Arena bag policy?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Bag check is not available at Oakland Arena, so you should plan ahead accordingly. \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/prohibited-items\">Some things you cannot bring to the Tyler, the Creator show\u003c/a> on Monday include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Coolers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Any type of backpacks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bags larger than 14″ x 14″ x 6″\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cigarettes\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons or sharp objects\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Bats and clubs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Outside food or beverage (as well as hard side containers like a thermos)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks and tripods\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers and portable chairs\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seat cushions\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Large banners or flags\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11977242 aligncenter\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/02/Oakland-Arena-Prohibited-Items-deea1b7735.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"436\" height=\"779\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Empty\u003c/em> soft plastic bottles are allowed, as well as binoculars and still cameras with lenses shorter than 3 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11959799/how-to-avoid-a-car-break-in-bay-area\">Be careful if you’re choosing to stash anything in your vehicle\u003c/a> during the show, as break-ins are unfortunately common around the Bay Area. Don’t leave anything on display in your car, especially electronics like laptops — even if you think they’re hidden from view.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/accessibility\">Oakland Arena has an online guide to its accessibility services\u003c/a>. Accessibility highlights include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Assisted Listening Devices are available in the First Aid Section 106.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The First Aid section also includes \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">“(s)ensory bags, equipped with noise canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads.”\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Elevators are available at the west side, near Section 114 and the east side, near Section 101.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>You can call 510-569-2121 or email customerservice@coliseum.com for information or requests.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"oaklandarenaparking\">\u003c/a>What should I know about parking at and near Oakland Arena?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Oakland Arena’s website is currently redirecting fans to \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/search?kind=event&id=1012292&view=dl\">parking website Spot Hero for any available spaces\u003c/a>. Be sure to secure a parking space quick, as the prices closer to the stadium are reaching $100.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Make sure you map the route using a tool like Google Maps, to make sure you know how long you have to walk and the shortest route to do so — and wear comfy footwear.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"coliseumpublictransit\">\u003c/a>How to take public transportation to the Tyler, the Creator concert\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the show itself, and be sure of your very last service home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/assets/img/Email-Maps-4-bd72220145.png\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Oakland Arena is located near \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">BART\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.amtrak.com/stations/okj\">Capitol Corridor Amtrak train\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"http://www.actransit.org/\">AC Transit\u003c/a>. If you are taking the BART or Amtrak, you \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/public-transportation\">would need to get off the Coliseum Station and cross the ramp to the Arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are going to take an Uber or Lyft to or from the event, you will need to be picked up at Baldwin Gate. Baldwin Gate \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/oakland-a-z\">opens two hours before the event starts\u003c/a>. Be aware that there will likely be a surge charge around this time due to the crowds.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do I know if I’ve got a good seat at the Tyler, the Creator show?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are anxious about anything obscuring your sight of the stage or how you want to get to your seat fast, you can check it out on Oakland \u003ca href=\"https://www.theoaklandarena.com/seating-charts\">Arena’s website\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://aviewfrommyseat.com/venue/Oakland+Arena/\">A View From My Seat\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Can I still get a ticket for the CHROMAKOPIA tour at Oakland Arena?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://tix.axs.com/YD%2f5CgAAAAAMiQWGAAAAAAAq%2fv%2f%2f%2fwD%2f%2f%2f%2f%2fBXRoZW1lAP%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f%2f/shop/search?skin=theoaklandarena&tags=&cpch=&cpdate=&cprid=&cpid=&cpcn=&cpdid=&cpdn=&cpsrc=&intoff=&cid=&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=&aff=&clickref=&promocode=&originalReferringURL=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.theoaklandarena.com%252F&upgrade=&mkt_campaign=&irclickid=&q=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&p=2b597fe9-9094-4d2b-99ac-7f98a698e258&ts=1739923918&c=axs&e=1841068488783241&rt=AfterEvent&h=85020744cdc7798b6630bae70f0ab14e\">Tickets are still being offered on AXS\u003c/a>, which is the most official way to secure your seat at the Tyler, the Creator show for $96 and up. (Most tickets are, however, around the $200 to $300 mark.) If you need accessible tickets, be sure to filter for them on the site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also find \u003ca href=\"https://www.stubhub.com/tyler-the-creator-oakland-tickets-2-24-2025/event/155908767/\">resales on sites like StubHub\u003c/a> or look for better deals and seats on Facebook marketplace resales and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re buying a resale ticket, a note: \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/taylor-swift-scams-concert-tickets-better-business-bureau/13474055/\">The Better Businesses Bureau issued a warning about resale scams\u003c/a> during Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour, with many people discovering after sending the money through apps like Venmo or Zelle that these “tickets” never existed. Check out the person’s profile and their past posting history to see if it seems real. And \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">if you do choose to buy a resale, use your credit card,\u003c/a> says the BBB. This at least provides some protection for you if the deal was fake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are getting a resale from a friend, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bbb.org/article/scams/28902-bbb-scam-alert-spot-the-scam-before-paying-big-bucks-for-taylor-swift-tickets\">make sure you call your friend directly\u003c/a> — to make sure someone isn’t impersonating them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, if you can’t make it to the Oakland show, don’t get too worried. Tyler, the Creator is coming to \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/tyler-the-creator-chromakopia-the-world-san-francisco-california-03-05-2025/event/1C006155BAC01E10?landing=c\">San Francisco’s Chase Center in early March\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "san-francisco-celebrates-the-lunar-new-year-with-iconic-chinatown-parade",
"title": "San Francisco Celebrates the Lunar New Year With Iconic Chinatown Parade",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco Celebrates the Lunar New Year With Iconic Chinatown Parade | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Thousands of revelers from throughout the Bay Area and beyond converged on San Francisco’s Chinatown Saturday for Lunar New Year celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The official first day of the Year of the Snake was in late January, but this weekend brought the peak of festivities, culminating in Saturday night’s annual parade along Market Street. The NBA All-Star Weekend also takes place in San Francisco this year, making for a lively weekend in the city at a time when concerns over its revitalization following the COVID-19 pandemic are front of mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027371\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027371\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Two people dressed in decorative outfits walk on stilts in the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the Asian Performing Arts Program of San Francisco perform in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on Feb. 15, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The Year of the Snake symbolizes rebirth and renewal,” said Malcolm Yeung, executive director of the Chinatown Community Development Center. “Every year the snake sheds its scales, it puts on new skin and it’s reborn…this was particularly important because this is a moment in which San Francisco and California could always use some rebirth and renewal and we’re really hoping the energy from the Year of the Snake is captured by the city as a whole.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027370\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo.jpg\" alt=\"Left: A headshot of a Black woman wearing glasses and a red jacket.Right: Colorful masks and decor piled together on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"790\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-800x316.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-1020x403.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-160x63.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-1536x607.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-1920x758.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) Lanai Windsong, of Castro Valley, wears earrings for the Year of the Snake on her way to see the Chinese New Year Parade for her first time in San Francisco. (right) Masks and decor with the Ma Tsu Temple rests on the sidewalk ahead of the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027369\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027369\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo.jpg\" alt=\"Left: A man wearing a red suit poses for a photo while another person holds the camera. Right: A young girl wearing a red and white outfit sits atop a man's shoulders.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) Daniel Callejas, of Pacifica, poses for a photo taken by his friend Jaden De La Cruz, of Visitation Valley, in a Northeast China Big Flower suit on Grant Street in San Francisco. (right) Ziyan You and her father Xuehe You watch the parade on Market Street. \u003ccite>((left) David M. Barreda/KQED; (right) Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12024779 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/240224-ChineseNYParade-38-BL_qed-1020x680.jpg'] The parade route began on Second and Market streets and continued for over a mile through Chinatown on Kearny Street. The celebrations continue on Sunday with a street fair on Grant Avenue until 5 p.m. Nearly 100 organizations participated in the parade, with colorful floats, signs and other decorations displayed as onlookers cheered and waved at the performers and dancers. Banners flying over Grant Avenue also acknowledged that this is the first year under new Mayor Daniel Lurie, who ran a campaign as an outsider to local government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000.jpg\" alt=\"A fire truck flashes headlights with a man waving from the top of the vehicle on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the San Francisco Fire Department turn the corner from Kearney Street to Columbus Ave at the end of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027366\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027366\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Several women dressed in dance costumes perform on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of Xiaopei Chinese Dance perform in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027367\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027367\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29.jpg\" alt=\"Two people wearing yellow and holding stands to raise a decorative snake walk in front of a crowd.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yau Kung Moon Kung Fu performers walk around holding a snake, for year of the snake, during the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A portion of Grant Avenue — where the parade was held until the 1970s — was closed to cars Saturday for the annual Community Street Fair. Attendees completely filled the street for several blocks, filtering in and out of neighborhood shops and stopping at the scores of booths selling snacks and holiday goods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027365\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL.jpg\" alt=\"An Asian man and woman sit in a car with flags behind them.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grand Marshal Joan Chen rides in a car during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027364\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Fireworks explode in the night sky while people on the street look.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fireworks go off in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s great, especially with the NBA All-Star weekend, there’s a lot more people coming in,” said Evan Wong, a local content creator and videographer selling merchandise from a booth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For us, it’s kind of like a full circle moment because when we were younger, we used to watch the parade,” Wong said of himself and his business partner. “Then years later, we would be in the parade as lion dancers, and now we’re here at the booth meeting the community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027363\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027363\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd behind metal gates on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crowds pack Kearney Street in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027360\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2020px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027360\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo.jpg\" alt=\"Left: The remains of empty fireworks on the ground. Right: A snake-printed cape.\" width=\"2020\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo.jpg 2020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2020px) 100vw, 2020px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) Fireworks on the street near the end of the parade. (right) A snake skin-printed cape nods to the Year of the Snake. \u003ccite>((left) Beth LaBerge/KQED; (right) David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Simon Huong grew up in the city and regularly attended the fair and parade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I moved to the East Bay about seven years ago,” Huong said. “I’m taking my son out to our second fair together just to see and expose him to the culture.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Huong said they planned to watch the parade on television as he’s worried it will be too loud for his 3-year-old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027361\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027361\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35.jpg\" alt=\"An Asian woman wearing a crown and sash sits next to a man in a red car with several people in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miss Chinatown USA 2024 Tara Wong Nash passes in a convertible during the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027362\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39.jpg\" alt=\"A crowd behind a metal gate reach out to touch a yellow decorative costume on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">West Coast Lion Dance Troupe dancers approach the crowd during the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some visitors expressed hope that the new year will bring new opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m going to be graduating from university this semester, and that’s going to be a bit nerve-wracking,” said Tricia Nguyen, who went to the fair with her mother and her film camera to capture the festivities. “I’m really hoping that a lot of things turn out well, especially with the job market and all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027359\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027359\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Fireworks are seen above a string of red lanterns.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fireworks go off in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The festivities will continue in San Francisco with events and street fairs in accordance with the moon’s 12 phases through March 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Bay Area residents ushered in the Year of the Snake at San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, with actress Joan Chen as grand marshal.",
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"title": "San Francisco Celebrates the Lunar New Year With Iconic Chinatown Parade | KQED",
"description": "Bay Area residents ushered in the Year of the Snake at San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade on Saturday, with actress Joan Chen as grand marshal.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thousands of revelers from throughout the Bay Area and beyond converged on San Francisco’s Chinatown Saturday for Lunar New Year celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The official first day of the Year of the Snake was in late January, but this weekend brought the peak of festivities, culminating in Saturday night’s annual parade along Market Street. The NBA All-Star Weekend also takes place in San Francisco this year, making for a lively weekend in the city at a time when concerns over its revitalization following the COVID-19 pandemic are front of mind.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027371\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027371\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Two people dressed in decorative outfits walk on stilts in the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-04-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the Asian Performing Arts Program of San Francisco perform in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on Feb. 15, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“The Year of the Snake symbolizes rebirth and renewal,” said Malcolm Yeung, executive director of the Chinatown Community Development Center. “Every year the snake sheds its scales, it puts on new skin and it’s reborn…this was particularly important because this is a moment in which San Francisco and California could always use some rebirth and renewal and we’re really hoping the energy from the Year of the Snake is captured by the city as a whole.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027370\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027370\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo.jpg\" alt=\"Left: A headshot of a Black woman wearing glasses and a red jacket.Right: Colorful masks and decor piled together on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"790\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-800x316.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-1020x403.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-160x63.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-1536x607.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-8_duo-1920x758.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) Lanai Windsong, of Castro Valley, wears earrings for the Year of the Snake on her way to see the Chinese New Year Parade for her first time in San Francisco. (right) Masks and decor with the Ma Tsu Temple rests on the sidewalk ahead of the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027369\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027369\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo.jpg\" alt=\"Left: A man wearing a red suit poses for a photo while another person holds the camera. Right: A young girl wearing a red and white outfit sits atop a man's shoulders.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-9_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) Daniel Callejas, of Pacifica, poses for a photo taken by his friend Jaden De La Cruz, of Visitation Valley, in a Northeast China Big Flower suit on Grant Street in San Francisco. (right) Ziyan You and her father Xuehe You watch the parade on Market Street. \u003ccite>((left) David M. Barreda/KQED; (right) Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> The parade route began on Second and Market streets and continued for over a mile through Chinatown on Kearny Street. The celebrations continue on Sunday with a street fair on Grant Avenue until 5 p.m. Nearly 100 organizations participated in the parade, with colorful floats, signs and other decorations displayed as onlookers cheered and waved at the performers and dancers. Banners flying over Grant Avenue also acknowledged that this is the first year under new Mayor Daniel Lurie, who ran a campaign as an outsider to local government.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000.jpg\" alt=\"A fire truck flashes headlights with a man waving from the top of the vehicle on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_02000-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the San Francisco Fire Department turn the corner from Kearney Street to Columbus Ave at the end of the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027366\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027366\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Several women dressed in dance costumes perform on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-09-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of Xiaopei Chinese Dance perform in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027367\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027367\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29.jpg\" alt=\"Two people wearing yellow and holding stands to raise a decorative snake walk in front of a crowd.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-29-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Yau Kung Moon Kung Fu performers walk around holding a snake, for year of the snake, during the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A portion of Grant Avenue — where the parade was held until the 1970s — was closed to cars Saturday for the annual Community Street Fair. Attendees completely filled the street for several blocks, filtering in and out of neighborhood shops and stopping at the scores of booths selling snacks and holiday goods.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027365\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL.jpg\" alt=\"An Asian man and woman sit in a car with flags behind them.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-11-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grand Marshal Joan Chen rides in a car during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027364\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027364\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Fireworks explode in the night sky while people on the street look.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-14-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fireworks go off in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I think it’s great, especially with the NBA All-Star weekend, there’s a lot more people coming in,” said Evan Wong, a local content creator and videographer selling merchandise from a booth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For us, it’s kind of like a full circle moment because when we were younger, we used to watch the parade,” Wong said of himself and his business partner. “Then years later, we would be in the parade as lion dancers, and now we’re here at the booth meeting the community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027363\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027363\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd behind metal gates on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_04105-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Crowds pack Kearney Street in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027360\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2020px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027360\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo.jpg\" alt=\"Left: The remains of empty fireworks on the ground. Right: A snake-printed cape.\" width=\"2020\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo.jpg 2020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_Lunar-Parade_DMB_03050_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2020px) 100vw, 2020px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">(left) Fireworks on the street near the end of the parade. (right) A snake skin-printed cape nods to the Year of the Snake. \u003ccite>((left) Beth LaBerge/KQED; (right) David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Simon Huong grew up in the city and regularly attended the fair and parade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I moved to the East Bay about seven years ago,” Huong said. “I’m taking my son out to our second fair together just to see and expose him to the culture.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Huong said they planned to watch the parade on television as he’s worried it will be too loud for his 3-year-old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027361\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027361\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35.jpg\" alt=\"An Asian woman wearing a crown and sash sits next to a man in a red car with several people in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-35-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miss Chinatown USA 2024 Tara Wong Nash passes in a convertible during the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027362\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027362\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39.jpg\" alt=\"A crowd behind a metal gate reach out to touch a yellow decorative costume on the street.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250215_ChineseNewYearParade_GC-39-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">West Coast Lion Dance Troupe dancers approach the crowd during the Chinese New Year parade. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some visitors expressed hope that the new year will bring new opportunities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m going to be graduating from university this semester, and that’s going to be a bit nerve-wracking,” said Tricia Nguyen, who went to the fair with her mother and her film camera to capture the festivities. “I’m really hoping that a lot of things turn out well, especially with the job market and all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027359\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027359\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg\" alt=\"Fireworks are seen above a string of red lanterns.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/250215-ChineseNewYear-25-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fireworks go off in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The festivities will continue in San Francisco with events and street fairs in accordance with the moon’s 12 phases through March 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "barts-first-ever-speed-dating-valentraine-event-gives-riders-a-shot-at-love",
"title": "BART's 1st-Ever Speed Dating 'Valentraine' Event Gives Riders a Shot at Love",
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"headTitle": "BART’s 1st-Ever Speed Dating ‘Valentraine’ Event Gives Riders a Shot at Love | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Love was on the minds of many as a solitary train pulled into the Downtown Berkeley BART station just after 7 p.m. Friday. There a few hundred Bay Area singles, ages 18 to 35, were anxiously waiting on the platform for the first-ever BART speed dating event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After it was announced just ten days prior, tickets sold out in about two hours, said Alicia Trost, chief communications officer for BART.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once they boarded the train cars, the crowd was separated by age — 18- to 21-year-olds in the front cars, 21 to 25 in the middle cars, and 25 to 35 toward the back. The train ran nonstop for a two-hour roundtrip ride from downtown Berkeley to the Mission District and back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027298\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Friends and coworkers Lexi Skelton (center) of Oakland, and Torian Wright (right) of Emeryville, check in for a speed dating event aboard a BART train with BART principal marketing representative Michelle Robertson. Wright heard about the event on Instagram and told Skelton about it. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027317\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027317\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">BART employee Nequavis Brown (left) directs people to the check-in area for a speed dating event organized by BART, called ‘Valentraine.’ BART distributed a list of ice-breaker questions (right), including, ‘What is your favorite BART memory?’, ‘If you were an alien observing human behavior, what would be the most confusing thing to you?’ and ‘What’s the weirdest thing about you?’ \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027318\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2020px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027318\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2020\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo.jpg 2020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2020px) 100vw, 2020px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area singles (left) line up to board a BART train for ‘Valentraine.’ Friends Lena (left) and Zara, both of whom declined to share last names, record an interview for BART while waiting to board the train. Lena said that when she first saw the announcement about the Valentine’s night event on BART’s website, she thought it was fake, but later saw it on Instagram and realized it was real. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027321\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The event was the idea of Erica Mitchell (right). \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The event is the brainchild of Erica Mitchell, who works at a civil engineering firm in Oakland — and is a self-professed public transportation lover — whose father previously worked for BART. She said she got the idea during an interview for a BART commercial back in 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the train pulled away from the platform, cars full of college students, behavioral scientists, animators, fin-tech employees, data engineers, and other public transportation lovers looked to see if any sparks would fly as they headed more than 130 feet under the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027312\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027312\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The crowd was separated by age — 18 to 21 and the front cars, 21 to 25 in the middle cars, and 25 to 35 toward the back. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027303\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027303\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The train cars for the first-ever speed dating event aboard BART is decorated with Valentine’s messages on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. More than 200 people, ages 18–35, RSVP’d to this exclusive event that sold out in 2 hours when tickets went online. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027305\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027305\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raim Arelleno (right) shows his name tag to Isabella Madruga at BART’s ‘Valentraine’ speed dating event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Couples had approximately 10 minutes to get to know each other before rotating around the train car. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027306\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027306\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The BART ‘Valentraine’ speed dating event was free apart from the roundtrip fee of $7.10 charged to everyone’s Clipper cards on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027310\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027310\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miranda, no last name given, of San Francisco, writes a message on a BART valentine card to hand to someone she met at the first-ever BART ‘Valentraine’ event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027314\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027313\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027313\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People mingle on the platform after the first-ever BART ‘Valentraine’ event. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027315\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027315\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Valentines Bryan and Ara, no last names given, wait for a northbound train at the Downtown Berkeley Bart station on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. The couple has been dating for 2 or 3 months and said they were unaware of the BART ‘Valentraine’ speed dating event that was scheduled for the same night. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027311\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Feb. 19: This story has been updated to correct Erica Mitchell’s job title and her father’s employment history with BART.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Hundreds of Bay Area singles aged 18–35 took a 2-hour roundtrip speed dating ride from downtown Berkeley to the Mission District and back. \r\n",
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"title": "BART's 1st-Ever Speed Dating 'Valentraine' Event Gives Riders a Shot at Love | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Love was on the minds of many as a solitary train pulled into the Downtown Berkeley BART station just after 7 p.m. Friday. There a few hundred Bay Area singles, ages 18 to 35, were anxiously waiting on the platform for the first-ever BART speed dating event.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After it was announced just ten days prior, tickets sold out in about two hours, said Alicia Trost, chief communications officer for BART.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once they boarded the train cars, the crowd was separated by age — 18- to 21-year-olds in the front cars, 21 to 25 in the middle cars, and 25 to 35 toward the back. The train ran nonstop for a two-hour roundtrip ride from downtown Berkeley to the Mission District and back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027298\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027298\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00173-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Friends and coworkers Lexi Skelton (center) of Oakland, and Torian Wright (right) of Emeryville, check in for a speed dating event aboard a BART train with BART principal marketing representative Michelle Robertson. Wright heard about the event on Instagram and told Skelton about it. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027317\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027317\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"660\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00004_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">BART employee Nequavis Brown (left) directs people to the check-in area for a speed dating event organized by BART, called ‘Valentraine.’ BART distributed a list of ice-breaker questions (right), including, ‘What is your favorite BART memory?’, ‘If you were an alien observing human behavior, what would be the most confusing thing to you?’ and ‘What’s the weirdest thing about you?’ \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027318\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2020px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027318\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2020\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo.jpg 2020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-800x264.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-1020x337.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-1536x507.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00390_duo-1920x634.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2020px) 100vw, 2020px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bay Area singles (left) line up to board a BART train for ‘Valentraine.’ Friends Lena (left) and Zara, both of whom declined to share last names, record an interview for BART while waiting to board the train. Lena said that when she first saw the announcement about the Valentine’s night event on BART’s website, she thought it was fake, but later saw it on Instagram and realized it was real. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027321\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027321\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00511-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The event was the idea of Erica Mitchell (right). \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The event is the brainchild of Erica Mitchell, who works at a civil engineering firm in Oakland — and is a self-professed public transportation lover — whose father previously worked for BART. She said she got the idea during an interview for a BART commercial back in 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the train pulled away from the platform, cars full of college students, behavioral scientists, animators, fin-tech employees, data engineers, and other public transportation lovers looked to see if any sparks would fly as they headed more than 130 feet under the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027312\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027312\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01637-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The crowd was separated by age — 18 to 21 and the front cars, 21 to 25 in the middle cars, and 25 to 35 toward the back. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027303\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027303\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00581-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The train cars for the first-ever speed dating event aboard BART is decorated with Valentine’s messages on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. More than 200 people, ages 18–35, RSVP’d to this exclusive event that sold out in 2 hours when tickets went online. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027305\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027305\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_00826-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Raim Arelleno (right) shows his name tag to Isabella Madruga at BART’s ‘Valentraine’ speed dating event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Couples had approximately 10 minutes to get to know each other before rotating around the train car. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027306\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027306\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01031-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The BART ‘Valentraine’ speed dating event was free apart from the roundtrip fee of $7.10 charged to everyone’s Clipper cards on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027310\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027310\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01344-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miranda, no last name given, of San Francisco, writes a message on a BART valentine card to hand to someone she met at the first-ever BART ‘Valentraine’ event on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027314\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01714-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027313\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027313\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01692-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People mingle on the platform after the first-ever BART ‘Valentraine’ event. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12027315\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027315\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01768-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Valentines Bryan and Ara, no last names given, wait for a northbound train at the Downtown Berkeley Bart station on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. The couple has been dating for 2 or 3 months and said they were unaware of the BART ‘Valentraine’ speed dating event that was scheduled for the same night. \u003ccite>(David M. Barreda/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12027311\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/20250214_Valentraine_DMB_01516-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Feb. 19: This story has been updated to correct Erica Mitchell’s job title and her father’s employment history with BART.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
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"meta": {
"site": "radio",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
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}
},
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"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
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"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
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"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
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"id": "here-and-now",
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
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},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
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"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
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},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"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. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
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"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"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. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
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"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
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}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"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",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
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"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"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)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"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>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
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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.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
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"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"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",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
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"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"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",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"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"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
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},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"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",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"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",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
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}
},
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},
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"isBot": true
}
}
