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"content": "\u003cp>The midterm elections have arrived, and it’s time to vote in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-2026\">California 2026 primary election\u003c/a> — which includes your chance to decide who’ll advance in the race to be the state’s next governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re a registered California voter, your ballot is on its way in the next few days, if it hasn’t already arrived. Your last day to vote will be Election Day itself, June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if you’re unsure of how to fill that ballot out according to how you want to vote? Or what to do if you’ve made a mistake on it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read on to learn how to fill out your ballot when it arrives, how important your signature is, and your options if you need to start again with a fresh ballot\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#ImessedupmyballotWhatshouldIdo\">I messed up my ballot. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>First of all: Am I registered to vote?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The official deadline to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, May 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote or can’t remember which party preference you already have,\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> check your voter registration details\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> reregister\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Making sure you’re registered — and to the right address — is crucial for getting your ballot on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11930674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11930674\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Bright red box reading 'official ballot drop box' on a bright blue table\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1282\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-1536x1026.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An official ballot drop box during early voting at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 11, 2022. \u003ccite>(Marlena Sloss/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: That’s the last day to do it \u003cem>online\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After May 18, you can still complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and receive your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location, all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s on my 2026 primary elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Depending on which county you live in, your California ballot will present you with a mix of races to vote on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The primaries for statewide offices \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Governor: The most wide-open primary for governor in a generation was rocked by sexual assault allegations against a leading candidate — former East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Attorney general: Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta seeks reelection to the state’s top law enforcement position.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Insurance commissioner: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Voters will decide who will be the insurance industry’s chief regulator.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Local measures and races \u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">These will depend on your Bay Area county or district.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">open by May 5.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Return your ballot through the Postal Service \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The return postage is already paid for you. Keep in mind that the Postal Service must postmark your ballot envelope by the end of Election Day for your vote to count — and the last collection at many mailboxes is 5 p.m. If it’s getting late in the day on June 2, you might consider using a county drop box instead of a USPS mailbox.[aside postID=news_12081927 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/VotingCM.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Drop off your ballot in an open voting location\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>May 23 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening May 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Do I \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to vote by mail?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be receiving a mail-in ballot by default\u003c/a> for the 2026 primary, without requesting it. But voting by mail is still just one option that’s open to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Election Day, June 2, itself.\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> Early voting locations will open starting May 23.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ImessedupmyballotWhatshouldIdo\">\u003c/a>How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s important to note that each county is slightly different in how they’d prefer for you to address a mistake on your ballot, and will often provide specific details about corrections \u003cem>on\u003c/em> the ballot itself. If you have a specific question about your ballot that isn’t answered here, you can always contact your local registrar of voters for advice and instructions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if I have problems with my signature?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you’re done filling out your ballot, you must sign the envelope. But two big mistakes people make with their signatures are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Why \u003cem>wouldn’t\u003c/em> your signature match the one on file? If you registered to vote at a young age, maybe your signature has changed over time. Or perhaps you registered to vote at the DMV and provided your signature on a screen with a stylus, which doesn’t quite replicate how you’d make your signature with a pen on paper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you registered this way, one simple way to avoid any signature problems is to take a quick glance at the signature that’s on your driver’s license or state ID — because that’s the one you want your ballot signature to match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11932470\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11932470\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A voter seen dropping off a ballot.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A voter drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Even if you didn’t register at the DMV, that signature on your most recent license or state ID is still very likely the one to emulate. That’s because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV \u003cem>currently\u003c/em> has for you, and this information is regularly updated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To further set your mind at rest, know that California isn’t an “exact match” state, and doesn’t demand that voters’ signatures 100% replicate the signature that’s on file.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> worried about the signature on your envelope not matching the signature you’re registered to vote with, there are two good solutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One: If it’s on or before May 18, you can\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> reregister to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file. If you are reregistering after May 18, you’d need to complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2021, Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan\u003ca href=\"https://www.calvoter.org/\"> California Voter Foundation\u003c/a>, told us there’s another solution if you’re worried about your signature: Go vote in person, if you’re able.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11931537\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11931537\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022.jpg\" alt=\"Voter submitting their ballot\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters drop off their ballot at Mexican Heritage Plaza polling place in San José on Election Day Nov. 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s because the signature goes only on your ballot’s \u003cem>envelope\u003c/em> — and if you’re voting in person, there’s no envelope, because that ballot then goes straight into the ballot box without needing that envelope at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So if you want that satisfaction of seeing your ballot drop in the box and know that it’s not going to get held up because of some signature issue, you can go and vote in person,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your county’s election office detects a signature mismatch on your ballot, they’ll reach out to you via mail to verify and work with you to correct it, so that your ballot can be counted after all. It’s called “curing” a ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This system is also applied when it looks like a member of a voter’s family might have signed their ballot, instead of the voter. This happens a \u003cem>surprising\u003c/em> amount when one household has several voters who all receive a ballot in the mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One way to get peace of mind:\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> Sign up to track your ballot\u003c/a>, and you’ll find out about any issues with your ballot or your signature quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Counties give different directions to voters about what to do if they make a mistake (remember: Read the instructions!), but you can usually simply x out the choice you didn’t intend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11847170\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11847170\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in short sleeves and a mask sits at a fold-out table in front of baskets of mail.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An election employee works in the mail cleaning section, which includes arranging the ballots with their barcodes facing in one direction, at the San Mateo County Elections Office on Oct. 21, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The job of county elections officials — once they’ve verified your signature — is to make sure your ballot can be read correctly. If that means that your corrections on your ballot have resulted in readability issues, officials working in teams of two will actually remake it for you according to the intent you’ve signaled with your corrections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some counties, like Alameda, ask that you actually contact them first if you make a serious mistake — including voting for the wrong candidate — so they can send you a replacement ballot. So, wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check with your local elections office first to see what \u003cem>they\u003c/em> recommend if you made a mistake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, there’s always this option …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I just want a new ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve made a big mistake on your ballot — too big to fix — your best plan of action may be to focus on getting a new one. And that’s totally OK. You can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Go to your county elections office with your spoiled ballot during business hours and vote right there at the counter.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Election Day, June 2, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can also do this if you’ve accidentally damaged your ballot in some way (coffee spills happen).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I think I put the wrong date on my envelope.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re worried you messed up the date, don’t worry. Elections officials say that the date they’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> looking for is the date that the ballot is postmarked, to make sure it was submitted on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Election officials will only truly scrutinize the date you’ve written if they receive your ballot \u003cem>after\u003c/em> Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12012693\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12012693\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters drop off their ballots on Election Day at City Hall in San Francisco on Nov. 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Like maybe you mailed it Monday before Election Day,” John Gardner, assistant registrar of voters for Solano County, told us in 2020. “That’s when we have to start looking at postmarks on the ballot, or date that the voter signed the envelope, to determine if we can count the ballot or not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you haven’t mailed your envelope yet, it’s an easy fix: Just clearly cross out the incorrect date on the envelope and write in the correct one above it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting physical assistance with filling out your ballot from someone you trust is always fine, whether you’re voting at home or at a voting site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You just need to make sure your signature is your own and matches the one you’re registered to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Disabled voters can also choose to use the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/remote-accessible-vote-mail\"> Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail\u003c/a> system to vote privately and independently at home, using their usual assistive device on their home computer to fill out the ballot on their screen and then print and mail it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every voting location in California is also equipped with an accessible voting unit. Here, voters with blindness or low vision or who have a disability that limits their dexterity will be able to use the assistive device of their choice that allows them to vote privately and independently.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Remember, one big reason that ballots get disqualified in elections is that voters mail them too late: either too late on Election Day itself (after U.S. Postal Service mailboxes have already been collected), or after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be counted in this election, your ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, June 2, at the latest. Your ballot has seven days to reach your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12012702\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12012702\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters fill out their ballots as others wait their turn to do the same at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland on Nov. 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So in this election, it’s as crucial as ever to make sure you have a plan for voting on time — and if you’re not voting in person, that means making sure you get your ballot into a mailbox or into a secure voting drop box, at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close on June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with \u003cem>your\u003c/em> name on it:\u003c/strong> It’s common to see partners or roommates accidentally mix up their ballots. So make sure you’re signing the document that bears your name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make sure you use a black or blue pen:\u003c/strong> It reads better, and it doesn’t slow workers down when they have to check to see what voter intent was. (Don’t use a felt-tip or a Sharpie that bleeds through the paper and marks other pages on your ballot.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t mail an empty envelope:\u003c/strong> It does happen. Keeping your envelope and your ballot together in your home might be a helpful way of avoiding this problem. And of course, when you’re ready to mail your ballot, make sure it’s actually inside the envelope before you seal it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t bother with a stamp:\u003c/strong> Your ballot envelope is postage-paid. You don’t need it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re reading this and you’re worried that your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, make sure you’re not worrying \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early, as the deadline for counties to send out ballots is only May 4.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if it gets to late-May and your ballot still hasn’t materialized, don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status. This will show whether you’re actually registered to vote, and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> the Where’s My Ballot? tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before May 18. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you update your voter registration and address using\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> before the May 18 deadline to register online, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12015120\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12015120\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Election workers process ballots at the Shasta County Clerk Registrar of Voters office in Redding on Oct. 30, 2024. \u003ccite>(Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if it turns out your ballot \u003cem>was \u003c/em>missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Voter Foundation’s Kim Alexander confirmed to KQED in 2021 that updating your address at the post office doesn’t, in fact, update your voter registration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The DMV, on the other hand, \u003cem>will\u003c/em> update your voter registration details if you update your address with them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can call your county elections office and ask them to send a new ballot. Find your county elections office in our contact list (below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day, because it can’t be sure it’ll reach you in time. So if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12012692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12012692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘I Voted’ stickers sit on a table during Election Day at City Hall in San Francisco on Nov. 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From May 4, your county elections office will be open for early voting through June 2, so you could also go there in person during opening hours and vote right there at the counter. More early voting locations will be opening throughout May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote, you always have the option of\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a>, also known as conditional voter registration, at a voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Contact your county directly\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\"> send a form email\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "From the signature on your envelope to what happens if you make a mistake on your ballot, here's how to correctly cast your vote in the 2026 California primary elections.",
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"title": "Primary 2026: Read This Before You Fill Out Your California Ballot (or Need to Correct a Mistake) | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The midterm elections have arrived, and it’s time to vote in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/election-2026\">California 2026 primary election\u003c/a> — which includes your chance to decide who’ll advance in the race to be the state’s next governor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re a registered California voter, your ballot is on its way in the next few days, if it hasn’t already arrived. Your last day to vote will be Election Day itself, June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if you’re unsure of how to fill that ballot out according to how you want to vote? Or what to do if you’ve made a mistake on it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Read on to learn how to fill out your ballot when it arrives, how important your signature is, and your options if you need to start again with a fresh ballot\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#ImessedupmyballotWhatshouldIdo\">I messed up my ballot. What should I do? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>First of all: Am I registered to vote?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The official deadline to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> register online to vote \u003c/a>is Monday, May 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you’re unsure whether you’re already registered to vote or can’t remember which party preference you already have,\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> check your voter registration details\u003c/a> ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve changed your name or the political party choice you previously registered to vote with, or you’ve moved address, you’ll need to\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/\"> reregister\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Making sure you’re registered — and to the right address — is crucial for getting your ballot on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11930674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11930674\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Bright red box reading 'official ballot drop box' on a bright blue table\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1282\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/10/RS59249_Early_Voting_009-qut-1536x1026.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An official ballot drop box during early voting at City Hall in San Francisco on Oct. 11, 2022. \u003ccite>(Marlena Sloss/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you miss the deadline to register, don’t panic: That’s the last day to do it \u003cem>online\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After May 18, you can still complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and receive your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location, all the way up to 8 p.m. on Election Day itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What’s on my 2026 primary elections ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Depending on which county you live in, your California ballot will present you with a mix of races to vote on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The primaries for statewide offices \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Governor: The most wide-open primary for governor in a generation was rocked by sexual assault allegations against a leading candidate — former East Bay Rep. Eric Swalwell.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Attorney general: Democratic incumbent Rob Bonta seeks reelection to the state’s top law enforcement position.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Insurance commissioner: Wildfires and inflation have thrown California into an insurance crisis. Voters will decide who will be the insurance industry’s chief regulator.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Local measures and races \u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">These will depend on your Bay Area county or district.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I return my ballot when I’ve completed it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Drop off your ballot in a secure ballot drop box\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These drop boxes \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">open by May 5.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Return your ballot through the Postal Service \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The return postage is already paid for you. Keep in mind that the Postal Service must postmark your ballot envelope by the end of Election Day for your vote to count — and the last collection at many mailboxes is 5 p.m. If it’s getting late in the day on June 2, you might consider using a county drop box instead of a USPS mailbox.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Drop off your ballot in an open voting location\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/upcoming-elections/primary-election-june-2-2026\">The first vote centers open \u003c/a>May 23 in certain counties, with more early voting locations opening May 30.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Do I \u003cem>have\u003c/em> to vote by mail?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/vote-mail\">If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be receiving a mail-in ballot by default\u003c/a> for the 2026 primary, without requesting it. But voting by mail is still just one option that’s open to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can still vote in person, either at an early voting location before Election Day or on Election Day, June 2, itself.\u003ca href=\"https://caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov/\"> Early voting locations will open starting May 23.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ImessedupmyballotWhatshouldIdo\">\u003c/a>How do I fix a mistake on my ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s important to note that each county is slightly different in how they’d prefer for you to address a mistake on your ballot, and will often provide specific details about corrections \u003cem>on\u003c/em> the ballot itself. If you have a specific question about your ballot that isn’t answered here, you can always contact your local registrar of voters for advice and instructions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if I have problems with my signature?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When you’re done filling out your ballot, you must sign the envelope. But two big mistakes people make with their signatures are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Forgetting to sign their ballot entirely.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Making a signature that doesn’t match the signature they made when they registered to vote.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Why \u003cem>wouldn’t\u003c/em> your signature match the one on file? If you registered to vote at a young age, maybe your signature has changed over time. Or perhaps you registered to vote at the DMV and provided your signature on a screen with a stylus, which doesn’t quite replicate how you’d make your signature with a pen on paper.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you registered this way, one simple way to avoid any signature problems is to take a quick glance at the signature that’s on your driver’s license or state ID — because that’s the one you want your ballot signature to match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11932470\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11932470\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A voter seen dropping off a ballot.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/RS59970_010_KQED_CityHallSFVoting_11082022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A voter drops off a ballot at the City Hall Voting Center in San Francisco on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Even if you didn’t register at the DMV, that signature on your most recent license or state ID is still very likely the one to emulate. That’s because when you register to vote online, your county elections office electronically requests a copy of the signature the DMV \u003cem>currently\u003c/em> has for you, and this information is regularly updated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To further set your mind at rest, know that California isn’t an “exact match” state, and doesn’t demand that voters’ signatures 100% replicate the signature that’s on file.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if I just don’t know my ‘correct’ signature I’m registered to vote with?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> worried about the signature on your envelope not matching the signature you’re registered to vote with, there are two good solutions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One: If it’s on or before May 18, you can\u003ca href=\"https://registertovote.ca.gov/\"> reregister to vote with your current signature\u003c/a>, to be sure that the state now has your most recent one on file. If you are reregistering after May 18, you’d need to complete the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg/\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a> process (also known as “conditional voting”) and request your ballot in person at your county elections office or polling location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2021, Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan\u003ca href=\"https://www.calvoter.org/\"> California Voter Foundation\u003c/a>, told us there’s another solution if you’re worried about your signature: Go vote in person, if you’re able.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11931537\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11931537\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022.jpg\" alt=\"Voter submitting their ballot\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/002_KQED_SanJoseVoting_11082022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters drop off their ballot at Mexican Heritage Plaza polling place in San José on Election Day Nov. 8, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>That’s because the signature goes only on your ballot’s \u003cem>envelope\u003c/em> — and if you’re voting in person, there’s no envelope, because that ballot then goes straight into the ballot box without needing that envelope at all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So if you want that satisfaction of seeing your ballot drop in the box and know that it’s not going to get held up because of some signature issue, you can go and vote in person,” Alexander said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>I already mailed my ballot, but now I’m paranoid about my signature. What if I messed it up?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rest assured: There’s a whole system in place to help you correct your mistake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your county’s election office detects a signature mismatch on your ballot, they’ll reach out to you via mail to verify and work with you to correct it, so that your ballot can be counted after all. It’s called “curing” a ballot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This system is also applied when it looks like a member of a voter’s family might have signed their ballot, instead of the voter. This happens a \u003cem>surprising\u003c/em> amount when one household has several voters who all receive a ballot in the mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One way to get peace of mind:\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> Sign up to track your ballot\u003c/a>, and you’ll find out about any issues with your ballot or your signature quickly.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I made a mistake on my ballot. How do I fix it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First, don’t panic. People make mistakes on ballots and find good ways to correct them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Counties give different directions to voters about what to do if they make a mistake (remember: Read the instructions!), but you can usually simply x out the choice you didn’t intend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11847170\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11847170\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A woman in short sleeves and a mask sits at a fold-out table in front of baskets of mail.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/11/RS45375_017_KQED_SanMateo_ElectionsOffice_10212020-qut-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">An election employee works in the mail cleaning section, which includes arranging the ballots with their barcodes facing in one direction, at the San Mateo County Elections Office on Oct. 21, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The job of county elections officials — once they’ve verified your signature — is to make sure your ballot can be read correctly. If that means that your corrections on your ballot have resulted in readability issues, officials working in teams of two will actually remake it for you according to the intent you’ve signaled with your corrections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some counties, like Alameda, ask that you actually contact them first if you make a serious mistake — including voting for the wrong candidate — so they can send you a replacement ballot. So, wherever you live, it’s a good idea to check with your local elections office first to see what \u003cem>they\u003c/em> recommend if you made a mistake.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, there’s always this option …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I just want a new ballot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve made a big mistake on your ballot — too big to fix — your best plan of action may be to focus on getting a new one. And that’s totally OK. You can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Call your county elections office and ask them to cancel that ballot and issue a new one to you.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Go to your county elections office with your spoiled ballot during business hours and vote right there at the counter.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Take advantage of the early voting options available in many counties.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Go to a voting site on Election Day, June 2, turn in your spoiled ballot there and get a new ballot.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can also do this if you’ve accidentally damaged your ballot in some way (coffee spills happen).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I think I put the wrong date on my envelope.\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>First off, that date should be the date you signed your envelope — not your date of birth.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re worried you messed up the date, don’t worry. Elections officials say that the date they’re \u003cem>really\u003c/em> looking for is the date that the ballot is postmarked, to make sure it was submitted on time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Election officials will only truly scrutinize the date you’ve written if they receive your ballot \u003cem>after\u003c/em> Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12012693\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12012693\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-21-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters drop off their ballots on Election Day at City Hall in San Francisco on Nov. 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Like maybe you mailed it Monday before Election Day,” John Gardner, assistant registrar of voters for Solano County, told us in 2020. “That’s when we have to start looking at postmarks on the ballot, or date that the voter signed the envelope, to determine if we can count the ballot or not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you haven’t mailed your envelope yet, it’s an easy fix: Just clearly cross out the incorrect date on the envelope and write in the correct one above it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I use assistive technology to complete forms?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting physical assistance with filling out your ballot from someone you trust is always fine, whether you’re voting at home or at a voting site.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You just need to make sure your signature is your own and matches the one you’re registered to vote with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Disabled voters can also choose to use the\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/remote-accessible-vote-mail\"> Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail\u003c/a> system to vote privately and independently at home, using their usual assistive device on their home computer to fill out the ballot on their screen and then print and mail it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every voting location in California is also equipped with an accessible voting unit. Here, voters with blindness or low vision or who have a disability that limits their dexterity will be able to use the assistive device of their choice that allows them to vote privately and independently.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I make sure my mail-in ballot gets there on time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Remember, one big reason that ballots get disqualified in elections is that voters mail them too late: either too late on Election Day itself (after U.S. Postal Service mailboxes have already been collected), or after Election Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be counted in this election, your ballot must be postmarked on Election Day, June 2, at the latest. Your ballot has seven days to reach your county elections office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12012702\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12012702\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTION-DAY-ALLEN-TEMPLE-MD-05-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voters fill out their ballots as others wait their turn to do the same at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland on Nov. 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So in this election, it’s as crucial as ever to make sure you have a plan for voting on time — and if you’re not voting in person, that means making sure you get your ballot into a mailbox or into a secure voting drop box, at a polling location or your county elections office, by the time polls close on June 2.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A few other common ballot mistakes to watch out for …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make sure you’re filling out and signing the ballot and envelope with \u003cem>your\u003c/em> name on it:\u003c/strong> It’s common to see partners or roommates accidentally mix up their ballots. So make sure you’re signing the document that bears your name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Make sure you use a black or blue pen:\u003c/strong> It reads better, and it doesn’t slow workers down when they have to check to see what voter intent was. (Don’t use a felt-tip or a Sharpie that bleeds through the paper and marks other pages on your ballot.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t mail an empty envelope:\u003c/strong> It does happen. Keeping your envelope and your ballot together in your home might be a helpful way of avoiding this problem. And of course, when you’re ready to mail your ballot, make sure it’s actually inside the envelope before you seal it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Don’t bother with a stamp:\u003c/strong> Your ballot envelope is postage-paid. You don’t need it.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>My ballot is missing or hasn’t arrived. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re reading this and you’re worried that your ballot hasn’t arrived yet, make sure you’re not worrying \u003cem>too \u003c/em>early, as the deadline for counties to send out ballots is only May 4.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if it gets to late-May and your ballot still hasn’t materialized, don’t panic: You have options. Here’s what to do:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Check that you’re actually registered to vote — and to the right address.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\">Input your details on the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> to check your registration status. This will show whether you’re actually registered to vote, and to which address. It should also show whether your ballot was mailed out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also use\u003ca href=\"https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/\"> the Where’s My Ballot? tool\u003c/a> to check whether your ballot has been sent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you’re registered to the wrong address, you can update it before May 18. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you update your voter registration and address using\u003ca href=\"https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/\"> the secretary of state’s voter status page\u003c/a> before the May 18 deadline to register online, your county will cancel the ballot that went to your old address and send you a new one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12015120\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12015120\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/103024-Shasta-County-Election-Ballots-MG-CM-02-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Election workers process ballots at the Shasta County Clerk Registrar of Voters office in Redding on Oct. 30, 2024. \u003ccite>(Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if it turns out your ballot \u003cem>was \u003c/em>missing because your voter registration wasn’t updated, don’t feel bad — people move all the time and forget to update their registrations accordingly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Voter Foundation’s Kim Alexander confirmed to KQED in 2021 that updating your address at the post office doesn’t, in fact, update your voter registration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The DMV, on the other hand, \u003cem>will\u003c/em> update your voter registration details if you update your address with them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If your voter registration address was correct but your ballot never showed up, you still have options.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it’s more than six days before Election Day, you can call your county elections office and ask them to send a new ballot. Find your county elections office in our contact list (below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your county elections office won’t mail you a ballot six days or less before Election Day, because it can’t be sure it’ll reach you in time. So if you’re trying to get a ballot in the immediate run-up to Election Day, go to your county elections office in person and request one at the counter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12012692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12012692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241105-ELECTIONDAY-20-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">‘I Voted’ stickers sit on a table during Election Day at City Hall in San Francisco on Nov. 5, 2024. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>From May 4, your county elections office will be open for early voting through June 2, so you could also go there in person during opening hours and vote right there at the counter. More early voting locations will be opening throughout May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, if you’re \u003cem>not\u003c/em> actually registered to vote, you always have the option of\u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg\"> same-day voter registration\u003c/a>, also known as conditional voter registration, at a voting location, where you can then fill out and submit your ballot, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Contact your county directly\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Across the Bay Area, elections officials are encouraging voters to reach out — early — with any questions or concerns. Here’s the contact information for your county:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://acvote.alamedacountyca.gov/index\">\u003cstrong>Alameda\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: For information about voting by mail, registration and polling place lookup, call 510-267-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.contracostavote.gov/elections/\">\u003cstrong>Contra Costa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 925-335-7800 or email voter.services@vote.cccounty.us.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv\">\u003cstrong>Marin\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-473-6456 or go to the Marin County elections webpage to\u003ca href=\"https://www.marincounty.org/depts/rv/contact-us\"> send a form email\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/396/Elections\">\u003cstrong>Napa\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-253-4321 or email the elections office at elections@countyofnapa.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sfelections.sfgov.org\">\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 415-554-4375 or email sfvote@sfgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcacre.org/elections\">\u003cstrong>San Mateo\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 888-762-8683 or email registrar@smcacre.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sccgov.org/sites/rov/Pages/Registrar-of-Voters.aspx\">\u003cstrong>Santa Clara\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call toll-free at 866-430-VOTE (8683) or email registrar@rov.sccgov.org.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/rov/default.asp\">\u003cstrong>Solano\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>: \u003c/strong>Call 707-784-6675 or 888-933-VOTE (8683). You can also email elections@solanocounty.com.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/\">\u003cstrong>Sonoma\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>: Call 707-565-6800 or toll-free at 800-750-8683.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The state also has a full list of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting-resources/county-elections-offices/\">every county elections office in California\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Thursday is your last chance to claim any cash you qualify for with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929137/california-gas-rebate-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">California’s Middle Class Tax Refund\u003c/a> — a one-time payment approved by state lawmakers back in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Franchise Tax Board — the California agency responsible for these funds — 32 million residents received a total of $9.2 billion in payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MCTR payments ranged from $200 to $1,050, and what you got depended on how you filed your 2020 tax return. For example, if you listed yourself as a single filer and made less than $75,000, you qualified for $350. If you filed jointly with your spouse and listed a dependent, and made less than $150,000, you were eligible for $1,050. The program even included taxpayers making up to $500,000 if they filed jointly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved MCTR payments \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/03/california-gas-tax-relief/\">as a response\u003c/a> to the jump in gasoline prices that came after the United States banned Russian oil imports at the start of 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 7 million Californians received the funds through direct deposit — but another 9.6 million people received the rebate through a debit card that was mailed to the address listed on their 2020 tax return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">I think I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Recent data from the FTB shows that 90% of cards have been activated over the last four years. But around 57% of these activated cards still have some balance on them — meaning around $2.95 billion in total funds have yet to be used by Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve ever received a MCTR card in the mail, you have till Thursday — April 30 — before the card expires and you lose the funds it contains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about claiming your possible MCTR cash before the deadline this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if I qualified for this money?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can find them, check your 2020 tax returns — because while the MCTR program began in 2022, what taxpayers received was based on how they filed back in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials set up \u003ca href=\"https://dcba.lacounty.gov/newsroom/middle-class-tax-refund/\">several tiers\u003c/a> that decide \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/state-managed-programs/middle-class-tax-refund/index.html\">how much taxpayers get\u003c/a> from MCTR, based on their income:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">April 30 is the deadline to claim any remaining funds from California’s 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund. The state’s Franchise Tax Board said 32 million residents have already received $9.2 billion in payments. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 1:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $75,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $350 of MCTR money, plus an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $150,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $700 and an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 2:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $125,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $250, plus an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $500 and an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 3:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $200, plus an additional $200 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $500,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $200 and an additional $400 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I qualified for an MCTR debit card, when did I receive it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FTB said it mailed out all debit cards between October 2022 and January 2023 — and that it then sent reminder letters in spring 2023 and spring 2024 to taxpayers who had not activated their cards yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080506\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080506 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MTC-e1776468641800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"499\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After April 30, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Money Network)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Each card came in its own window envelope with “California Middle Class Tax Refund” printed on the return address.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state flag’s grizzly bear and the state seal are printed on the front side of all MCTR cards, and all have the same expiration date: “04/26”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cardholders are urged to spend their funds or transfer them to a bank account by April 30, 2026,” a spokesperson for the FTB told KQED in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Thursday, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know how much money I have left on my card?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The MCTR cards are administered by a private company called Money Network. You can either call Money Network’s customer service line at 1-800-240-0223 or create an account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a> set up by the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that you will be asked to confirm the number on your card and your entire Social Security number. You can also register your debit card on Money Network’s app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there are two names printed on your card — which usually happens for taxpayers who filed jointly — you can register your card using the name that appears above the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I found my MCTR card, but I’m having trouble using it\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While the FTB tracks MCTR funds, Money Network — the private company that made the cards — is now responsible for helping cardholders. If you have never used your card, it’s possible that the security controls on the card placed it on hold.[aside postID=news_12077664 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/IRSGetty.jpg']“This is a standard fraud-prevention measure and does not mean the funds are unavailable,” the FTB said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get rid of the hold and start using your card, you’ll have to contact Money Network’s customer service at 800-240-0223. Customer service representatives are available on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Callers should have their personal information available to verify their identity,” the FTB wrote. “We advise people to call the Money Network Customer service line as early in the day as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/act-quick-millions-californians-have-money-inflation-relief-debit-cards-expire-april-30/18853847/\">reported cases\u003c/a> of cardholders calling Money Network and not getting a hold of anyone. State officials did not provide specific information on what other options taxpayers have if they cannot reach Money Network staff. KQED also reached out to Fiserv, the parent company of Money Network, which declined an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">\u003c/a>I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, not any more, as April 8 was the last day to request a replacement card. State officials say this last day was chosen to ensure recipients would definitely get their new card before the program ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do know where your card is, but want to temporarily lock it to prevent anyone else from using it, you can prevent unauthorized transactions by logging into your card’s account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you just never got a card, it’s possible that you received this money via direct deposit to the bank account you listed when filing your 2020 taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will happen to all the money that’s not claimed?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>State law \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB192\">requires\u003c/a> that all unused funds still remaining on expired credit cards be transferred to the state’s General Fund, where the money for these payments originally came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will affect both activated and unactivated cards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Thursday is your last chance to claim any cash you qualify for with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929137/california-gas-rebate-heres-what-you-need-to-know\">California’s Middle Class Tax Refund\u003c/a> — a one-time payment approved by state lawmakers back in 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Franchise Tax Board — the California agency responsible for these funds — 32 million residents received a total of $9.2 billion in payments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>MCTR payments ranged from $200 to $1,050, and what you got depended on how you filed your 2020 tax return. For example, if you listed yourself as a single filer and made less than $75,000, you qualified for $350. If you filed jointly with your spouse and listed a dependent, and made less than $150,000, you were eligible for $1,050. The program even included taxpayers making up to $500,000 if they filed jointly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators approved MCTR payments \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2022/03/california-gas-tax-relief/\">as a response\u003c/a> to the jump in gasoline prices that came after the United States banned Russian oil imports at the start of 2022.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 7 million Californians received the funds through direct deposit — but another 9.6 million people received the rebate through a debit card that was mailed to the address listed on their 2020 tax return.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">I think I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Recent data from the FTB shows that 90% of cards have been activated over the last four years. But around 57% of these activated cards still have some balance on them — meaning around $2.95 billion in total funds have yet to be used by Californians.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve ever received a MCTR card in the mail, you have till Thursday — April 30 — before the card expires and you lose the funds it contains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about claiming your possible MCTR cash before the deadline this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know if I qualified for this money?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you can find them, check your 2020 tax returns — because while the MCTR program began in 2022, what taxpayers received was based on how they filed back in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>State officials set up \u003ca href=\"https://dcba.lacounty.gov/newsroom/middle-class-tax-refund/\">several tiers\u003c/a> that decide \u003ca href=\"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/state-managed-programs/middle-class-tax-refund/index.html\">how much taxpayers get\u003c/a> from MCTR, based on their income:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12031205\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12031205 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1055\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-800x422.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1020x538.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1536x810.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/iStock-915488206_qed-1920x1013.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">April 30 is the deadline to claim any remaining funds from California’s 2022 Middle Class Tax Refund. The state’s Franchise Tax Board said 32 million residents have already received $9.2 billion in payments. \u003ccite>(Diego Cervo/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 1:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $75,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $350 of MCTR money, plus an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $150,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $700 and an additional $350 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 2:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $125,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $250, plus an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $500 and an additional $250 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tier 3:\u003c/strong> If you \u003cstrong>filed single in 2020 and made up to $250,000\u003c/strong>, you qualified for $200, plus an additional $200 if you had at least one dependent. If you \u003cstrong>filed jointly and made up to $500,000\u003c/strong> together, you qualified for $200 and an additional $400 if you had at least one dependent.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If I qualified for an MCTR debit card, when did I receive it?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FTB said it mailed out all debit cards between October 2022 and January 2023 — and that it then sent reminder letters in spring 2023 and spring 2024 to taxpayers who had not activated their cards yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080506\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080506 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/MTC-e1776468641800.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"499\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">After April 30, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Money Network)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Each card came in its own window envelope with “California Middle Class Tax Refund” printed on the return address.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The state flag’s grizzly bear and the state seal are printed on the front side of all MCTR cards, and all have the same expiration date: “04/26”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Cardholders are urged to spend their funds or transfer them to a bank account by April 30, 2026,” a spokesperson for the FTB told KQED in an emailed statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After Thursday, your card will no longer work anywhere, and you will no longer have access to this money.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How do I know how much money I have left on my card?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The MCTR cards are administered by a private company called Money Network. You can either call Money Network’s customer service line at 1-800-240-0223 or create an account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a> set up by the company.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that you will be asked to confirm the number on your card and your entire Social Security number. You can also register your debit card on Money Network’s app.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there are two names printed on your card — which usually happens for taxpayers who filed jointly — you can register your card using the name that appears above the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>I found my MCTR card, but I’m having trouble using it\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While the FTB tracks MCTR funds, Money Network — the private company that made the cards — is now responsible for helping cardholders. If you have never used your card, it’s possible that the security controls on the card placed it on hold.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“This is a standard fraud-prevention measure and does not mean the funds are unavailable,” the FTB said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get rid of the hold and start using your card, you’ll have to contact Money Network’s customer service at 800-240-0223. Customer service representatives are available on weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Callers should have their personal information available to verify their identity,” the FTB wrote. “We advise people to call the Money Network Customer service line as early in the day as possible.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There have been \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/act-quick-millions-californians-have-money-inflation-relief-debit-cards-expire-april-30/18853847/\">reported cases\u003c/a> of cardholders calling Money Network and not getting a hold of anyone. State officials did not provide specific information on what other options taxpayers have if they cannot reach Money Network staff. KQED also reached out to Fiserv, the parent company of Money Network, which declined an interview.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"IthinkIlostmyMCTRdebitcardCanIrequestareplacement\">\u003c/a>I lost my MCTR debit card. Can I request a replacement?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, not any more, as April 8 was the last day to request a replacement card. State officials say this last day was chosen to ensure recipients would definitely get their new card before the program ends on Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you do know where your card is, but want to temporarily lock it to prevent anyone else from using it, you can prevent unauthorized transactions by logging into your card’s account at the \u003ca href=\"https://mctrpayment.com/\">MCTR website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you just never got a card, it’s possible that you received this money via direct deposit to the bank account you listed when filing your 2020 taxes.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What will happen to all the money that’s not claimed?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>State law \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB192\">requires\u003c/a> that all unused funds still remaining on expired credit cards be transferred to the state’s General Fund, where the money for these payments originally came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This will affect both activated and unactivated cards.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend",
"title": "Bay Area Book Lovers: We Have Highly Literary Date (or Friend Hang) Ideas for Your Weekend",
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"headTitle": "Bay Area Book Lovers: We Have Highly Literary Date (or Friend Hang) Ideas for Your Weekend | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>“May you strive all your lives to meet this commitment, with the same love and devotion that you now possess. And may you always promise to abide by all library rules.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As wedding vows go, Annie Pho and Damian Elias’ weren’t the kind you always hear. But then, not everyone’s wedding takes place at the San Francisco Public Library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Strive to keep your library cards active,” continued their officiant, Per Sia, San Francisco’s own Drag Laureate. “And promise to always help each other return your borrowed books and materials on time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These words couldn’t have been more fitting for literature lovers Pho and Elias for their ceremony at the SFPL’s main branch in Civic Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two are avid readers and collectors of books, said Pho, who’s also a librarian at the University of San Francisco. “Libraries seem to be an apt place to start this new phase of our lives together,” Elias said, with a grin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078850\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078850\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Annie Pho and Damian Elias say their vows during a wedding ceremony officiated by Per Sia at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pho and Elias were one of the lucky few couples selected to get married at the library this month, as part of SFPL’s 30th anniversary celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small, intimate ceremonies were held throughout the main branch before the library officially opened to the public, allowing couples and their families to gather and pose for photos among the bookshelves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">Literary-themed date ideas around the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“It’s such an amazing place to get married,” Pho said. “I feel on top of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sadly, if you’re dreaming of your own SFPL wedding amid the bookstacks one day, the library doesn’t regularly offer these ceremonies, although they hope to make it an annual tradition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078852\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1465px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078852\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1465\" height=\"975\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg 1465w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1465px) 100vw, 1465px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">EmmaLou Moore and Matthew Triska say their vows during a wedding ceremony at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But since countless couples (and friends) connect through a shared love of reading, books can be a truly excellent way to get to know someone — and even plan a date around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to celebrate National Library Week this week, we’ve drawn together some of the best literary date ideas around the Bay Area as recommended by the book lovers of KQED. (Which, by the way, could all work equally well as a friend date or a blissful solo outing.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Browse a San Francisco bookstore together — then take your books to the park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While people might make fun of San Francisco residents for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWsI1ubDayz/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">always hanging out on that one hill\u003c/a>, setting up a picnic with a newly purchased book \u003cem>is\u003c/em> an excellent first, second, and — if things are going well — third date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just some bookstores within walking distance of San Francisco’s beautiful parks:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Golden Gate Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/shop/\">Gardens of Golden Gate Park\u003c/a> has its own bookstore \u003cem>in\u003c/em> the park, near Lincoln Way and Ninth Avenue. \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/learn/library-collection/\">The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture\u003c/a> is also nearby.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/\">Green Apple Books on the Park\u003c/a> is around a minute walk from the Ninth Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/index.html\">Borderlands Books\u003c/a> (science fiction and fantasy focused) is around a 3-minute walk from the Stanyan Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdsf.com/\">Blackbird Bookstore and Cafe\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk from the closest entrance on Lincoln Way to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksmith.com/\">The Booksmith\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.globusbooks.com/\">Globus Books\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Fulton Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boundtogether.org/\">Bound Together Bookstore\u003c/a> is around an 11-minute walk from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park — but is just around the corner from Buena Vista Park, too.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11636883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11636883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omnivore packs thousands of books into a tiny room that used to be a butcher shop. \u003ccite>(Suzie Racho/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Dolores Park \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a> is around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theinternationallibraryofyoungauthors.org/\">The International Library of Young Authors\u003c/a>, which also houses copies of literature magazines like \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcsweeneys.net/\">McSweeney’s\u003c/a> (founded by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969159/dave-eggers-international-youth-library-san-francisco\">the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers\u003c/a>) and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.thebeliever.net/\">\u003cem>Believer\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other notable ‘bookstore and park’ combos in San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A special mention must go to Ina Coolbrith Park, a small space with beautiful city views named after \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlfR1eeDoME\">the state’s first poet laureate\u003c/a>, with North Beach’s \u003ca href=\"https://citylights.com/\">City Lights Bookstore\u003c/a> only 12 minutes away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could take your City Lights haul to Washington Square Park, a little way up Columbus Avenue. Afterward, you can hit \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/vesuviobarsf/\">Vesuvio Cafe\u003c/a>, a spot frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a>, right next door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-1536x993.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Lonely Planet/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/welcome-browser-books\">Browser Books\u003c/a> is a few blocks from Alta Plaza Park and Lafayette Park, and around a 20-minute walk from the Presidio. (And for a book without the price tag, the \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/presidio\">Presidio branch of the library\u003c/a> is around an 8-minute walk from the Presidio, too.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://christophersbooks.com/\">Christopher’s Books\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill is around a 17-minute walk away from \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/McKinley-Square-352\">McKinley Square\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Glen Park, \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/\">Bird & Beckett Books & Records\u003c/a> is around a 3-minute walk away from the Glen Park Greenway. And if your date runs really long, you can return to \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/events/\">the storefront for their evening jazz shows\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go to a book-themed bar\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Books and coffee are undoubtedly a classic date combo. But if you’re hoping for more of an evening out, KQED staffers recommend several fancy bars in the Bay Area that either double as a bookstore or are decked out to resemble one, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081140\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081140\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society. )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/\">Book Society\u003c/a> in Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore\u003c/a> in Mill Valley (where you can also swing by one of the prettiest libraries in the Bay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.millvalleylibrary.org/\">the Mill Valley Public Library\u003c/a>, which is\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/430/Library-Hours-and-Location\"> open until 8 p.m.\u003c/a> most weekdays)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bourbonandbranch.com/library\">Bourbon & Branch’s\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-francisco/the-tenderloin/how-to-get-into-bourbon-and-branch-main-bar-library-russels-room-ipswitch-wilson\">secret library\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.novelasf.com/\">Novela\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.localeditionsf.com/\">Local Edition\u003c/a> in San Francisco (although admittedly more journalism-themed than book-themed)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.badanimalbooks.com/\">Bad Animal\u003c/a> in Santa Cruz\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Browse for a cookbook, then put it to use\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://omnivorebooks.myshopify.com/\">Omnivore Books on Food\u003c/a>, located in San Francisco, has an entire itinerary dedicated to cookbooks from all different types of styles, cuisines and cultures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, you can really hit the romance jackpot by going to a bookstore together \u003cem>and \u003c/em>cooking a fancy (or even not-so-fancy) dinner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go on a self-guided writers’ houses tour\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWoTyfPsqbE\">Sabrina Carpenter’s suggestion\u003c/a> (kind of) and retrace literary history by visiting the former Bay Area houses of famed writers. Just remember: Someone new is almost certainly now living in these houses, so urge your date to be cool while you peer together at these places from a respectful, sizable distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, there’s famed author and poet Maya Angelou, who \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">lived in Berkeley\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/620-Colusa-Ave-Berkeley-CA-94707/24846626_zpid/\">620 Colusa Ave\u003c/a>. (Angelou also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/dr-maya-angelou-monument\">a monument\u003c/a> dedicated to her in front of the SFPL main branch.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Electric Literature \u003c/em>also has a thorough essay walking through \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">Angelou’s East Bay haunts\u003c/a>, which similarly delves into the lives of beloved Bay Area-based poets June Jordan and Pat Parker.[aside postID=arts_13985233 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/01/new-2026-books.png']Other notable literary figures you could “tour” locally include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Alice Walker of \u003cem>The Color Purple\u003c/em> lived on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Author-s-sanctuary-in-the-Berkeley-hills-6922876.php\">670 San Luis Road\u003c/a> in North Berkeley.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chilean author Isabel Allende \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/author-isabel-allende-lists-her-own-house-of-the-spirits-1468508052\">named her San Rafael house\u003c/a> after her first, best-selling novel, \u003cem>The House of the Spirits\u003c/em>, located on \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinij.com/2016/07/12/isabel-allendes-marin-home-up-for-sale/\">92 Fernwood Drive\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://steinbeckhouse.com/\">John Steinbeck’s birthplace and childhood hom\u003c/a>e are now a restaurant, located on 132 Central Ave., in Salinas.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you’re especially spoiled in the Bay when it comes to the homes of literary figures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of these houses include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">Ursula K. Le Guin’s childhood home\u003c/a> on 1325 Arch St., in Berkeley. You can take a peek inside the house on \u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">a virtual tour\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage/photos/dearest-people-of-the-page-this-is-christopher-sharing-with-you-some-artwork-ass/1111251843703584/\">3887 17th St., in the Castro District\u003c/a>, where horror queen Anne Rice lived. The house at the beginning of the \u003cem>Interview with the Vampire \u003c/em>is also located on \u003ca href=\"http://www.historyshomes.com/detail.cfm?id=555\">Divisadero Street\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Frank Herbert began his epic science fiction series \u003cem>Dune \u003c/em>in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/house-where-Frank-Herbert-wrote-Dune-for-sale-16473392.php\">San Francisco’s Potrero Hill on 412 Mississippi\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Philip K. Dick lived on \u003ca href=\"https://jamesholmes.org/part-1-philip-k-dick-1971-interview/\">707 Hacienda Way\u003c/a> in Santa Venetia — the same home that was \u003ca href=\"https://www.dispatchesmag.com/stories/reappraisal-philip-k-dick\">infamously broken into in 1971\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Top off your tour with a visit to a sci-fi themed bookstore like \u003ca href=\"https://www.borderlands-books.com/\">Borderlands\u003c/a> in San Francisco, where you could grab a copy of \u003cem>Project Hail Mary\u003c/em>, written by \u003ca href=\"https://www.diablomag.com/people-style/andy-weirs-journey-from-east-bay-to-bestseller-list/article_6d44785b-62cc-460e-a596-84f545652c0f.html\">Livermore-raised author Andy Weir,\u003c/a> which inspired \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753061/project-hail-mary-is-a-space-comedy-that-comes-off-as-glib-and-earthbound\">the current hit movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking of sci-fi, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, you could also try to map out the journey in Octavia Butler’s \u003ca href=\"https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/Black-History-Month-Library-20210825/Butler%2C%20Octavia%20-%20Parable%20of%20the%20Sower.pdf\">\u003cem>Parable of the Sower\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which ends in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Want even more ideas? Some further-afield literary homes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Essential Californian essayist Joan Didion grew up in Sacramento on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/history/article217929745.html\">2000 22nd St\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.torhouse.org/\">The Tor House\u003c/a>, home of poet Robinson Jeffers, is in Carmel\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Not really a house by any means, but the stunning, otherworldly\u003ca href=\"https://hearstcastle.org/\"> Hearst Castle\u003c/a>, a museum in San Simeon.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Pretend to be in Austenland\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As an expert in all things romance novels, A Novel Affair’s Le said she also “always” recommends customers visit the scenic \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/\">Fioli Estate.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s around a 20-minute drive away from the bookstore — an historic estate with sprawling landscape gardens that brings pure \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemberley\">Pemberley\u003c/a> vibes to the Peninsula.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Albert Dros via Fioli)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You cannot beat the Fioli gardens during this time of the year,” she said. “I love recommending it to my customers to go on a bookish date there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://51772.blackbaudhosting.com/51772/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=85164de0-552f-49c6-8ba5-ce4be2af4d14\">around $45 for adults\u003c/a>, Filoli is a slightly pricier option for a date, making it perhaps more suitable for a fourth or fifth date with someone you’re sure you actually like. But people with a SNAP (CalFresh) \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">EBT card or a Discover and Go pass from the library\u003c/a> can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cut to the chase and visit a romance-themed bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos is a new storefront dedicated only to romance novels that co-founder Yung Le called “a love letter to the bookish community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bookstore also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">events\u003c/a>, like its \u003cem>Bridgerton\u003c/em>-themed afternoon tea, DJ sets, book swaps and silent readings. But on an average day, Lee said it’s common to see couples frequent the space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s so cute,” Le said to KQED. “I have seen couples come by to take their significant others on a bookish date” and “make a day out of it” by visiting small businesses in a “cozy town like Los Altos.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And obviously, a romance bookshop is the perfect date,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in Petaluma, you’ll find \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thevelvetchapterbookshop/\">The Velvet Chapter\u003c/a>, a storefront specifically dedicated to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/romantasy\">popular romantasy genre\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’ll be a new romance bookstore opening in San Francisco’s Castro District in late April, called \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXK94ZwmTAY/?img_index=2&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">The Love Potion Library\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Plan a North Bay day at the \u003cem>Peanuts \u003c/em>museum\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a comic book, so it counts! \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> lovers can head to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, which has a lovely exhibit and statues of the comic’s cast of characters. Best of all, there’s a super cute \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018736/snoopys-home-ice-a-santa-rosa-holiday-tradition\">ice skating rink\u003c/a> with a restaurant right next door. This reporter recommends a delicious combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup, and hot chocolate right after.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be wary that you may lose your prospective partner to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm53CzqgWow&list=RDvm53CzqgWow&start_radio=1\">the irresistible charms of Joe Cool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Take in the sea breeze at the Cliff House\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Cliff House, perched on \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm\">Lands End,\u003c/a> has worn many faces — and why not make the journey to see how it currently looks?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Cliff House was an exclusive gathering spot for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">many wealthy and notable figures\u003c/a>, the house also served as inspiration for writers like Mark Twain, who, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">the National Park Service,\u003c/a> wrote one of his first articles about visiting the spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-1536x982.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cliff House in San Francisco pictured on a postcard in 1909. \u003ccite>(Wikimedia Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">1864\u003c/a>, he wrote, “If one tire of the drudgeries and scenes of the city, and would breathe the fresh air of the sea, let him take the cars and omnibuses, or, better still, a buggy and pleasant steed, and, ere the sea breeze sets in, glide out to the Cliff House.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that as of 2020, the building isn’t actually\u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/20/future-cliff-house-precipice/\"> open to visitors and is currently vacant\u003c/a>. But since it’s surrounded by some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean around, it’s probably still worth the (fun) trek.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Visit the Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If \u003cem>A Series of Unfortunate Events\u003c/em> by Lemony Snicket — a.k.a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/410221000/daniel-handler\">Daniel Handler\u003c/a> of San Francisco — was as much of a cultural touchstone for you growing up as it was for this reporter, this pick’s for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/\">Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/a> in San Francisco captures some of the ornate, gothic-meets-noir vibes in the series. Along with taking a stroll through the gorgeous building with its spiral staircase, you and your date can also check out the events hosted at the Mechanics’ Institute, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/chess/\">chess matches\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/cultural-programs/movies/\">movie nights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Retrace characters’ locations in Bay Area scenes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you and your partner want to follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters, trekking through Bay Area locations in your favorite books can be a major adventure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might consider:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Dining at \u003ca href=\"https://sfbaytimes.com/historic-johns-grill-115-years-and-counting/\">John’s Grill\u003c/a> in San Francisco, featured in Dashiell Hammett’s \u003cem>The Maltese Falcon, \u003c/em>as protagonist Sam Spade’s go-to watering hole.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Walking down \u003ca href=\"https://voicemap.me/tour/san-francisco/san-francisco-s-chinatown-a-food-culture-and-history-walk/sites/right-on-waverly-place\">Waverly Place\u003c/a> in the city’s Chinatown, the street featured in Amy Tan’s \u003cem>The Joy Luck Club \u003c/em>(in which one of \u003ca href=\"https://lifeinmyyears.com/2019/05/25/my-san-francisco-chinatown-joy-luck-bruce-lee-and-a-rickshaw/\">the characters\u003c/a> is even named after the street).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The International Hotel in San Francisco, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/\">heart of the Asian American activist movement\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7084002-i-hotel\">the setting for the novel \u003cem>I Hotel\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Karen Tei Yamashita.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strolling down \u003ca href=\"https://canneryrow.com/experience/where-is-cannery-row-located/\">Cannery Row\u003c/a> in Monterey, named after John Steinbeck’s novel set on the city’s waterfront.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A \u003ca href=\"https://tomineguide.weebly.com/california-locations.html\">thorough rundown\u003c/a> of East Bay cafes and local businesses that served as settings in Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel, \u003cem>Shortcomings.\u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Take your date to a literary festival\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area hosts a wide variety of lit and zine festivals, which are packed with retailers, writers and artists. Mark these dates on your calendar:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.baybookfest.org/\">Bay Area Book Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from May 29 to 31\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sfartbookfair.com/\">San Francisco Art Book Fair\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from July 23 to 26\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">SF Zine Fest\u003c/a> on Sept. 6\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://filbookfestival.org/\">Filipino American International Book Festival\u003c/a> from Oct. 17 to 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.litquake.org/upcoming-events\">Litquake\u003c/a> with dates to be announced\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The Jack London State Historic Park will also be celebrating the author’s birthday with \u003ca href=\"https://jacklondonpark.com/150th-birthday/\">a festival on May 17\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Sonja Pasch, Josh Decolongon, Beth Huizenga, Lori Halloran, Aileen Tat, Sara Gaiser and Carly Severn contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>“May you strive all your lives to meet this commitment, with the same love and devotion that you now possess. And may you always promise to abide by all library rules.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As wedding vows go, Annie Pho and Damian Elias’ weren’t the kind you always hear. But then, not everyone’s wedding takes place at the San Francisco Public Library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Strive to keep your library cards active,” continued their officiant, Per Sia, San Francisco’s own Drag Laureate. “And promise to always help each other return your borrowed books and materials on time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These words couldn’t have been more fitting for literature lovers Pho and Elias for their ceremony at the SFPL’s main branch in Civic Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two are avid readers and collectors of books, said Pho, who’s also a librarian at the University of San Francisco. “Libraries seem to be an apt place to start this new phase of our lives together,” Elias said, with a grin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078850\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078850\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-15-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Annie Pho and Damian Elias say their vows during a wedding ceremony officiated by Per Sia at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Pho and Elias were one of the lucky few couples selected to get married at the library this month, as part of SFPL’s 30th anniversary celebrations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Small, intimate ceremonies were held throughout the main branch before the library officially opened to the public, allowing couples and their families to gather and pose for photos among the bookshelves.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">Literary-themed date ideas around the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“It’s such an amazing place to get married,” Pho said. “I feel on top of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sadly, if you’re dreaming of your own SFPL wedding amid the bookstacks one day, the library doesn’t regularly offer these ceremonies, although they hope to make it an annual tradition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078852\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1465px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078852\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1465\" height=\"975\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed.jpg 1465w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260403-SFLibraryWeddings-05a-BL_qed-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1465px) 100vw, 1465px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">EmmaLou Moore and Matthew Triska say their vows during a wedding ceremony at the San Francisco Public Library Main Library on April 3, 2026. The ceremony was part of a limited series of weddings hosted during the library’s 30th anniversary celebration, offering couples a chance to marry in a unique civic space. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But since countless couples (and friends) connect through a shared love of reading, books can be a truly excellent way to get to know someone — and even plan a date around.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So to celebrate National Library Week this week, we’ve drawn together some of the best literary date ideas around the Bay Area as recommended by the book lovers of KQED. (Which, by the way, could all work equally well as a friend date or a blissful solo outing.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"LiterarythemeddateideasaroundtheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Browse a San Francisco bookstore together — then take your books to the park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While people might make fun of San Francisco residents for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWsI1ubDayz/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">always hanging out on that one hill\u003c/a>, setting up a picnic with a newly purchased book \u003cem>is\u003c/em> an excellent first, second, and — if things are going well — third date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just some bookstores within walking distance of San Francisco’s beautiful parks:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Golden Gate Park\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/shop/\">Gardens of Golden Gate Park\u003c/a> has its own bookstore \u003cem>in\u003c/em> the park, near Lincoln Way and Ninth Avenue. \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/learn/library-collection/\">The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture\u003c/a> is also nearby.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/\">Green Apple Books on the Park\u003c/a> is around a minute walk from the Ninth Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/index.html\">Borderlands Books\u003c/a> (science fiction and fantasy focused) is around a 3-minute walk from the Stanyan Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://blackbirdsf.com/\">Blackbird Bookstore and Cafe\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk from the closest entrance on Lincoln Way to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksmith.com/\">The Booksmith\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.globusbooks.com/\">Globus Books\u003c/a> is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Fulton Street to Golden Gate Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boundtogether.org/\">Bound Together Bookstore\u003c/a> is around an 11-minute walk from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park — but is just around the corner from Buena Vista Park, too.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11636883\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11636883\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2017/12/RS28550_P1050829-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Omnivore packs thousands of books into a tiny room that used to be a butcher shop. \u003ccite>(Suzie Racho/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Bookstores near Dolores Park \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a> is around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a> is around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.theinternationallibraryofyoungauthors.org/\">The International Library of Young Authors\u003c/a>, which also houses copies of literature magazines like \u003ca href=\"https://www.mcsweeneys.net/\">McSweeney’s\u003c/a> (founded by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969159/dave-eggers-international-youth-library-san-francisco\">the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers\u003c/a>) and the \u003ca href=\"https://www.thebeliever.net/\">\u003cem>Believer\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Other notable ‘bookstore and park’ combos in San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A special mention must go to Ina Coolbrith Park, a small space with beautiful city views named after \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlfR1eeDoME\">the state’s first poet laureate\u003c/a>, with North Beach’s \u003ca href=\"https://citylights.com/\">City Lights Bookstore\u003c/a> only 12 minutes away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could take your City Lights haul to Washington Square Park, a little way up Columbus Avenue. Afterward, you can hit \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/vesuviobarsf/\">Vesuvio Cafe\u003c/a>, a spot frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a>, right next door.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081136\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081136\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty-1536x993.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco. \u003ccite>(Lonely Planet/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/welcome-browser-books\">Browser Books\u003c/a> is a few blocks from Alta Plaza Park and Lafayette Park, and around a 20-minute walk from the Presidio. (And for a book without the price tag, the \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/presidio\">Presidio branch of the library\u003c/a> is around an 8-minute walk from the Presidio, too.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://christophersbooks.com/\">Christopher’s Books\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill is around a 17-minute walk away from \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/McKinley-Square-352\">McKinley Square\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Glen Park, \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/\">Bird & Beckett Books & Records\u003c/a> is around a 3-minute walk away from the Glen Park Greenway. And if your date runs really long, you can return to \u003ca href=\"https://birdbeckett.com/events/\">the storefront for their evening jazz shows\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go to a book-themed bar\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Books and coffee are undoubtedly a classic date combo. But if you’re hoping for more of an evening out, KQED staffers recommend several fancy bars in the Bay Area that either double as a bookstore or are decked out to resemble one, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081140\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081140\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society. )\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/\">Book Society\u003c/a> in Berkeley\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore\u003c/a> in Mill Valley (where you can also swing by one of the prettiest libraries in the Bay, \u003ca href=\"https://www.millvalleylibrary.org/\">the Mill Valley Public Library\u003c/a>, which is\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/430/Library-Hours-and-Location\"> open until 8 p.m.\u003c/a> most weekdays)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bourbonandbranch.com/library\">Bourbon & Branch’s\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-francisco/the-tenderloin/how-to-get-into-bourbon-and-branch-main-bar-library-russels-room-ipswitch-wilson\">secret library\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.novelasf.com/\">Novela\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.localeditionsf.com/\">Local Edition\u003c/a> in San Francisco (although admittedly more journalism-themed than book-themed)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.badanimalbooks.com/\">Bad Animal\u003c/a> in Santa Cruz\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Browse for a cookbook, then put it to use\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://omnivorebooks.myshopify.com/\">Omnivore Books on Food\u003c/a>, located in San Francisco, has an entire itinerary dedicated to cookbooks from all different types of styles, cuisines and cultures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here, you can really hit the romance jackpot by going to a bookstore together \u003cem>and \u003c/em>cooking a fancy (or even not-so-fancy) dinner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Go on a self-guided writers’ houses tour\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWoTyfPsqbE\">Sabrina Carpenter’s suggestion\u003c/a> (kind of) and retrace literary history by visiting the former Bay Area houses of famed writers. Just remember: Someone new is almost certainly now living in these houses, so urge your date to be cool while you peer together at these places from a respectful, sizable distance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, there’s famed author and poet Maya Angelou, who \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">lived in Berkeley\u003c/a> at \u003ca href=\"https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/620-Colusa-Ave-Berkeley-CA-94707/24846626_zpid/\">620 Colusa Ave\u003c/a>. (Angelou also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/dr-maya-angelou-monument\">a monument\u003c/a> dedicated to her in front of the SFPL main branch.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Electric Literature \u003c/em>also has a thorough essay walking through \u003ca href=\"https://electricliterature.com/walking-the-east-bay-in-the-footsteps-of-maya-angelou-june-jordan-pat-parker/#:~:text=Maya%20Angelou%20lived%20in%20Berkeley%20in%20the,your%20spirits%20*%20She%20made%20things%20identifiable\">Angelou’s East Bay haunts\u003c/a>, which similarly delves into the lives of beloved Bay Area-based poets June Jordan and Pat Parker.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Other notable literary figures you could “tour” locally include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Alice Walker of \u003cem>The Color Purple\u003c/em> lived on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Author-s-sanctuary-in-the-Berkeley-hills-6922876.php\">670 San Luis Road\u003c/a> in North Berkeley.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Chilean author Isabel Allende \u003ca href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/author-isabel-allende-lists-her-own-house-of-the-spirits-1468508052\">named her San Rafael house\u003c/a> after her first, best-selling novel, \u003cem>The House of the Spirits\u003c/em>, located on \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinij.com/2016/07/12/isabel-allendes-marin-home-up-for-sale/\">92 Fernwood Drive\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://steinbeckhouse.com/\">John Steinbeck’s birthplace and childhood hom\u003c/a>e are now a restaurant, located on 132 Central Ave., in Salinas.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you’re especially spoiled in the Bay when it comes to the homes of literary figures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some of these houses include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">Ursula K. Le Guin’s childhood home\u003c/a> on 1325 Arch St., in Berkeley. You can take a peek inside the house on \u003ca href=\"https://lithub.com/take-a-virtual-tour-through-ursula-k-le-guins-gorgeous-california-home/\">a virtual tour\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/annericefanpage/photos/dearest-people-of-the-page-this-is-christopher-sharing-with-you-some-artwork-ass/1111251843703584/\">3887 17th St., in the Castro District\u003c/a>, where horror queen Anne Rice lived. The house at the beginning of the \u003cem>Interview with the Vampire \u003c/em>is also located on \u003ca href=\"http://www.historyshomes.com/detail.cfm?id=555\">Divisadero Street\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Frank Herbert began his epic science fiction series \u003cem>Dune \u003c/em>in \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/books/article/house-where-Frank-Herbert-wrote-Dune-for-sale-16473392.php\">San Francisco’s Potrero Hill on 412 Mississippi\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Philip K. Dick lived on \u003ca href=\"https://jamesholmes.org/part-1-philip-k-dick-1971-interview/\">707 Hacienda Way\u003c/a> in Santa Venetia — the same home that was \u003ca href=\"https://www.dispatchesmag.com/stories/reappraisal-philip-k-dick\">infamously broken into in 1971\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Top off your tour with a visit to a sci-fi themed bookstore like \u003ca href=\"https://www.borderlands-books.com/\">Borderlands\u003c/a> in San Francisco, where you could grab a copy of \u003cem>Project Hail Mary\u003c/em>, written by \u003ca href=\"https://www.diablomag.com/people-style/andy-weirs-journey-from-east-bay-to-bestseller-list/article_6d44785b-62cc-460e-a596-84f545652c0f.html\">Livermore-raised author Andy Weir,\u003c/a> which inspired \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753061/project-hail-mary-is-a-space-comedy-that-comes-off-as-glib-and-earthbound\">the current hit movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speaking of sci-fi, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, you could also try to map out the journey in Octavia Butler’s \u003ca href=\"https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/Black-History-Month-Library-20210825/Butler%2C%20Octavia%20-%20Parable%20of%20the%20Sower.pdf\">\u003cem>Parable of the Sower\u003c/em>\u003c/a>, which ends in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Want even more ideas? Some further-afield literary homes:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Essential Californian essayist Joan Didion grew up in Sacramento on \u003ca href=\"https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/history/article217929745.html\">2000 22nd St\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.torhouse.org/\">The Tor House\u003c/a>, home of poet Robinson Jeffers, is in Carmel\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Not really a house by any means, but the stunning, otherworldly\u003ca href=\"https://hearstcastle.org/\"> Hearst Castle\u003c/a>, a museum in San Simeon.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Pretend to be in Austenland\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As an expert in all things romance novels, A Novel Affair’s Le said she also “always” recommends customers visit the scenic \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/\">Fioli Estate.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s around a 20-minute drive away from the bookstore — an historic estate with sprawling landscape gardens that brings pure \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pemberley\">Pemberley\u003c/a> vibes to the Peninsula.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081141\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081141\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Albert Dros via Fioli)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You cannot beat the Fioli gardens during this time of the year,” she said. “I love recommending it to my customers to go on a bookish date there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://51772.blackbaudhosting.com/51772/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=85164de0-552f-49c6-8ba5-ce4be2af4d14\">around $45 for adults\u003c/a>, Filoli is a slightly pricier option for a date, making it perhaps more suitable for a fourth or fifth date with someone you’re sure you actually like. But people with a SNAP (CalFresh) \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">EBT card or a Discover and Go pass from the library\u003c/a> can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Cut to the chase and visit a romance-themed bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos is a new storefront dedicated only to romance novels that co-founder Yung Le called “a love letter to the bookish community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bookstore also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">events\u003c/a>, like its \u003cem>Bridgerton\u003c/em>-themed afternoon tea, DJ sets, book swaps and silent readings. But on an average day, Lee said it’s common to see couples frequent the space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s so cute,” Le said to KQED. “I have seen couples come by to take their significant others on a bookish date” and “make a day out of it” by visiting small businesses in a “cozy town like Los Altos.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And obviously, a romance bookshop is the perfect date,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over in Petaluma, you’ll find \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thevelvetchapterbookshop/\">The Velvet Chapter\u003c/a>, a storefront specifically dedicated to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/romantasy\">popular romantasy genre\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’ll be a new romance bookstore opening in San Francisco’s Castro District in late April, called \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DXK94ZwmTAY/?img_index=2&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">The Love Potion Library\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Plan a North Bay day at the \u003cem>Peanuts \u003c/em>museum\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s a comic book, so it counts! \u003cem>Peanuts\u003c/em> lovers can head to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, which has a lovely exhibit and statues of the comic’s cast of characters. Best of all, there’s a super cute \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018736/snoopys-home-ice-a-santa-rosa-holiday-tradition\">ice skating rink\u003c/a> with a restaurant right next door. This reporter recommends a delicious combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup, and hot chocolate right after.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just be wary that you may lose your prospective partner to \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm53CzqgWow&list=RDvm53CzqgWow&start_radio=1\">the irresistible charms of Joe Cool\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Take in the sea breeze at the Cliff House\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>San Francisco’s Cliff House, perched on \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm\">Lands End,\u003c/a> has worn many faces — and why not make the journey to see how it currently looks?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the Cliff House was an exclusive gathering spot for \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">many wealthy and notable figures\u003c/a>, the house also served as inspiration for writers like Mark Twain, who, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">the National Park Service,\u003c/a> wrote one of his first articles about visiting the spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081143\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081143\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1278\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-160x102.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/San_Francisco_-_The_New_Cliff_House._On_the_Road_of_a_Thousand_Wonders_pcard-print-pub-pc-71a-1536x982.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Cliff House in San Francisco pictured on a postcard in 1909. \u003ccite>(Wikimedia Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/vestiges-cliff-house.htm\">1864\u003c/a>, he wrote, “If one tire of the drudgeries and scenes of the city, and would breathe the fresh air of the sea, let him take the cars and omnibuses, or, better still, a buggy and pleasant steed, and, ere the sea breeze sets in, glide out to the Cliff House.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that as of 2020, the building isn’t actually\u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2025/09/20/future-cliff-house-precipice/\"> open to visitors and is currently vacant\u003c/a>. But since it’s surrounded by some of the best views of the Pacific Ocean around, it’s probably still worth the (fun) trek.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Visit the Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If \u003cem>A Series of Unfortunate Events\u003c/em> by Lemony Snicket — a.k.a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/410221000/daniel-handler\">Daniel Handler\u003c/a> of San Francisco — was as much of a cultural touchstone for you growing up as it was for this reporter, this pick’s for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/\">Mechanics’ Institute\u003c/a> in San Francisco captures some of the ornate, gothic-meets-noir vibes in the series. Along with taking a stroll through the gorgeous building with its spiral staircase, you and your date can also check out the events hosted at the Mechanics’ Institute, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/chess/\">chess matches\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.milibrary.org/cultural-programs/movies/\">movie nights\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Retrace characters’ locations in Bay Area scenes\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you and your partner want to follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters, trekking through Bay Area locations in your favorite books can be a major adventure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might consider:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Dining at \u003ca href=\"https://sfbaytimes.com/historic-johns-grill-115-years-and-counting/\">John’s Grill\u003c/a> in San Francisco, featured in Dashiell Hammett’s \u003cem>The Maltese Falcon, \u003c/em>as protagonist Sam Spade’s go-to watering hole.\u003cem> \u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Walking down \u003ca href=\"https://voicemap.me/tour/san-francisco/san-francisco-s-chinatown-a-food-culture-and-history-walk/sites/right-on-waverly-place\">Waverly Place\u003c/a> in the city’s Chinatown, the street featured in Amy Tan’s \u003cem>The Joy Luck Club \u003c/em>(in which one of \u003ca href=\"https://lifeinmyyears.com/2019/05/25/my-san-francisco-chinatown-joy-luck-bruce-lee-and-a-rickshaw/\">the characters\u003c/a> is even named after the street).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The International Hotel in San Francisco, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ihotel-sf.org/\">heart of the Asian American activist movement\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7084002-i-hotel\">the setting for the novel \u003cem>I Hotel\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by Karen Tei Yamashita.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strolling down \u003ca href=\"https://canneryrow.com/experience/where-is-cannery-row-located/\">Cannery Row\u003c/a> in Monterey, named after John Steinbeck’s novel set on the city’s waterfront.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A \u003ca href=\"https://tomineguide.weebly.com/california-locations.html\">thorough rundown\u003c/a> of East Bay cafes and local businesses that served as settings in Adrian Tomine’s graphic novel, \u003cem>Shortcomings.\u003c/em>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Take your date to a literary festival\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area hosts a wide variety of lit and zine festivals, which are packed with retailers, writers and artists. Mark these dates on your calendar:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.baybookfest.org/\">Bay Area Book Festival\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from May 29 to 31\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sfartbookfair.com/\">San Francisco Art Book Fair\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> from July 23 to 26\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">SF Zine Fest\u003c/a> on Sept. 6\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://filbookfestival.org/\">Filipino American International Book Festival\u003c/a> from Oct. 17 to 18\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.litquake.org/upcoming-events\">Litquake\u003c/a> with dates to be announced\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The Jack London State Historic Park will also be celebrating the author’s birthday with \u003ca href=\"https://jacklondonpark.com/150th-birthday/\">a festival on May 17\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Sonja Pasch, Josh Decolongon, Beth Huizenga, Lori Halloran, Aileen Tat, Sara Gaiser and Carly Severn contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "19th-ave-closure-san-francisco-april-24-27-golden-gate-bridge-caltrans",
"title": "19th Avenue Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend",
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"headTitle": "19th Avenue Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>On the heels of last weekend’s closure of nearly\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080542/empty-i-80-allows-caltrans-to-repair-key-san-francisco-bay-bridge-connector\"> two miles of Eastbound Interstate 80\u003c/a> in San Francisco, another major thoroughfare will partially close to traffic this weekend on the west side of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From Friday to Monday, Caltrans will close two lanes of northbound 19th Avenue between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way for roughly six lane miles of repaving work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 40,000 vehicles travel on 19th Avenue on any given day, according to an estimate by Caltrans. The artery doubles as State Highway 1 and is a primary way for drivers to access the Golden Gate Bridge from the south.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about the 19th Avenue closure and how it could affect your weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What part of 19th Avenue will be closed this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Matt O’Donnell, a spokesperson for Caltrans, said crews will start at Sloat Boulevard, by Stonestown Galleria, on Friday and work their way north up 19th Avenue towards Golden Gate Park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We are encouraging people that aren’t residents or business owners to try to use alternate routes, and if they’re coming from Marin County or San Mateo County, try to stay out of the area as much as possible,” O’Donnell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081201\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1932px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081201\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1932\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED.jpg 1932w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED-160x207.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED-1583x2048.jpg 1583w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1932px) 100vw, 1932px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrans suggested a detour route for drivers navigating the Northbound 19th Avenue partial closure. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One lane will remain open on 19th Avenue for public transit, emergency responders and local access. Parking on 19th Avenue will also be restricted in work zones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There’s been a lot of outreach. This is a really major corridor,” O’Donnell said, adding that Caltrans has canvassed the area to alert residents and businesses of the upcoming work.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When exactly will the 19th Avenue closure start and end?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This weekend’s closure will start at 7 a.m. Friday, April 24, and end at 5:00 a.m. Monday, April 27.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What detours and alternative routes are recommended during the 19th Avenue closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caltrans is urging motorists traveling through the area to detour west to Sunset Boulevard, also known as the Sunset Parkway, and rejoin 19th Avenue/State Highway 1 at Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Golden Gate Park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrans said the work is needed to improve driver safety, upgrade facilities to the Americans with Disabilities Act standards and extend the life of the existing pavement.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will this 19th Avenue closure end this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: This weekend’s work is the first of three planned weekend closures on 19th Avenue over roughly the next month. Additional closures are planned for the weekend of Friday, May 8, and Memorial Day weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When completed, Caltrans said it will have repaved more than 18 lane miles of 19th Avenue, stretching from Lincoln Way to Holloway Avenue, by San Francisco State University.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will public transit be affected by the 19th Avenue closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director Julie Kirschbaum said the agency worked with Caltrans to schedule the work over three long weekends, dramatically shortening the timeline for completion from an estimated 40 days to nine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the repaving work, the SFMTA is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/northbound-19th-avenue-repaving-friday-april-24-monday-april-27-2026\">adjusting \u003c/a>stops for the 28, 28R, 48, 66, and 91 Muni routes and said the 7, 29, L-Owl, N-Owl, N Bus, L Taraval, and N Judah may experience delays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kirschbaum said she expects travel to be slow on the corridor during construction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10934955\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10934955\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A Muni bus stops at 19th and Holloway avenues, near San Francisco State University, on March 17, 2014.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-960x540.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Muni bus stops at 19th and Holloway avenues, near San Francisco State University, on March 17, 2014. \u003ccite>(\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/116334989@N03/\" target=\"_blank\">Sergio Portela\u003c/a>/\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/116334989@N03/13234025773/in/photolist-srC1s-7Lnfmo-59j1Ca-marQNa-7HAMxT-yJUma-zXSrn-9wZszj\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr\u003c/a>)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is a major construction project, and it will inconvenience people who travel on 19th Avenue,” Kirschbaum said. “We know Muni riders and drivers will appreciate the smooth ride they’ll experience after the repaving work is done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 19th Avenue repaving project is part of Caltrans’ “Fab 4 Rehab,” four \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-francisco-freeway-and-road-rehabilitation/d4-fab-4-rehabilitation-projects-toolkit\">major\u003c/a> road rehabilitation projects in San Francisco County that are planned or currently underway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite concerns about last weekend’s closure of Eastbound I-80 causing a traffic “carmaggedon,” O’Donnell said, “ we had so much media out there that people did really stay away,” an outcome the agency is hoping to replicate this weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART said ridership \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080707/bart-ridership-surged-while-i-80-was-closed-through-san-francisco\">surged 46%\u003c/a> during the I-80 closure compared with the previous weekend, which the agency attributed to drivers heeding warnings to avoid the area and take public transit instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re hoping that people understand the message and will drive accordingly,” O’Donnell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will the Golden Gate Bridge be affected by the 19th Avenue closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District said it does not anticipate major traffic impacts due to the closure, but said it will be ready to respond if the need arises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our staff will be monitoring traffic over the weekend and, if backups arise, will reconfigure traffic lanes using the moveable median barrier to improve traffic flow,” said Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, director of public affairs for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A week after Caltrans closed Interstate 80 Eastbound for repairs, the agency is partially closing a major west side artery and Golden Gate Bridge connector for repairs. Here’s what to know about traffic and detours.",
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"title": "19th Avenue Closure: What to Know About Travel Through San Francisco This Weekend | KQED",
"description": "A week after Caltrans closed Interstate 80 Eastbound for repairs, the agency is partially closing a major west side artery and Golden Gate Bridge connector for repairs. Here’s what to know about traffic and detours.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>On the heels of last weekend’s closure of nearly\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080542/empty-i-80-allows-caltrans-to-repair-key-san-francisco-bay-bridge-connector\"> two miles of Eastbound Interstate 80\u003c/a> in San Francisco, another major thoroughfare will partially close to traffic this weekend on the west side of the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From Friday to Monday, Caltrans will close two lanes of northbound 19th Avenue between Sloat Boulevard and Lincoln Way for roughly six lane miles of repaving work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>About 40,000 vehicles travel on 19th Avenue on any given day, according to an estimate by Caltrans. The artery doubles as State Highway 1 and is a primary way for drivers to access the Golden Gate Bridge from the south.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about the 19th Avenue closure and how it could affect your weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What part of 19th Avenue will be closed this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Matt O’Donnell, a spokesperson for Caltrans, said crews will start at Sloat Boulevard, by Stonestown Galleria, on Friday and work their way north up 19th Avenue towards Golden Gate Park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We are encouraging people that aren’t residents or business owners to try to use alternate routes, and if they’re coming from Marin County or San Mateo County, try to stay out of the area as much as possible,” O’Donnell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12081201\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"max-width: 1932px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12081201\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1932\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED.jpg 1932w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED-160x207.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/260423-19th-Ave-Closure-KQED-1583x2048.jpg 1583w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1932px) 100vw, 1932px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrans suggested a detour route for drivers navigating the Northbound 19th Avenue partial closure. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Caltrans)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One lane will remain open on 19th Avenue for public transit, emergency responders and local access. Parking on 19th Avenue will also be restricted in work zones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ There’s been a lot of outreach. This is a really major corridor,” O’Donnell said, adding that Caltrans has canvassed the area to alert residents and businesses of the upcoming work.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When exactly will the 19th Avenue closure start and end?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This weekend’s closure will start at 7 a.m. Friday, April 24, and end at 5:00 a.m. Monday, April 27.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What detours and alternative routes are recommended during the 19th Avenue closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caltrans is urging motorists traveling through the area to detour west to Sunset Boulevard, also known as the Sunset Parkway, and rejoin 19th Avenue/State Highway 1 at Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Golden Gate Park.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Caltrans said the work is needed to improve driver safety, upgrade facilities to the Americans with Disabilities Act standards and extend the life of the existing pavement.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will this 19th Avenue closure end this weekend?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No: This weekend’s work is the first of three planned weekend closures on 19th Avenue over roughly the next month. Additional closures are planned for the weekend of Friday, May 8, and Memorial Day weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When completed, Caltrans said it will have repaved more than 18 lane miles of 19th Avenue, stretching from Lincoln Way to Holloway Avenue, by San Francisco State University.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will public transit be affected by the 19th Avenue closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Director Julie Kirschbaum said the agency worked with Caltrans to schedule the work over three long weekends, dramatically shortening the timeline for completion from an estimated 40 days to nine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the repaving work, the SFMTA is \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/travel-updates/northbound-19th-avenue-repaving-friday-april-24-monday-april-27-2026\">adjusting \u003c/a>stops for the 28, 28R, 48, 66, and 91 Muni routes and said the 7, 29, L-Owl, N-Owl, N Bus, L Taraval, and N Judah may experience delays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kirschbaum said she expects travel to be slow on the corridor during construction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10934955\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10934955\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A Muni bus stops at 19th and Holloway avenues, near San Francisco State University, on March 17, 2014.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-400x225.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/RS19215_13234025773_170d03f828_o-qut-960x540.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Muni bus stops at 19th and Holloway avenues, near San Francisco State University, on March 17, 2014. \u003ccite>(\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/116334989@N03/\" target=\"_blank\">Sergio Portela\u003c/a>/\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/116334989@N03/13234025773/in/photolist-srC1s-7Lnfmo-59j1Ca-marQNa-7HAMxT-yJUma-zXSrn-9wZszj\" target=\"_blank\">Flickr\u003c/a>)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“This is a major construction project, and it will inconvenience people who travel on 19th Avenue,” Kirschbaum said. “We know Muni riders and drivers will appreciate the smooth ride they’ll experience after the repaving work is done.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 19th Avenue repaving project is part of Caltrans’ “Fab 4 Rehab,” four \u003ca href=\"https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-4/d4-projects/d4-san-francisco-freeway-and-road-rehabilitation/d4-fab-4-rehabilitation-projects-toolkit\">major\u003c/a> road rehabilitation projects in San Francisco County that are planned or currently underway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite concerns about last weekend’s closure of Eastbound I-80 causing a traffic “carmaggedon,” O’Donnell said, “ we had so much media out there that people did really stay away,” an outcome the agency is hoping to replicate this weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART said ridership \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12080707/bart-ridership-surged-while-i-80-was-closed-through-san-francisco\">surged 46%\u003c/a> during the I-80 closure compared with the previous weekend, which the agency attributed to drivers heeding warnings to avoid the area and take public transit instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re hoping that people understand the message and will drive accordingly,” O’Donnell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Will the Golden Gate Bridge be affected by the 19th Avenue closure?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District said it does not anticipate major traffic impacts due to the closure, but said it will be ready to respond if the need arises.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our staff will be monitoring traffic over the weekend and, if backups arise, will reconfigure traffic lanes using the moveable median barrier to improve traffic flow,” said Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, director of public affairs for the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "muir-woods-night-tour-tickets-reservations-behind-the-scenes",
"title": "How to Explore Muir Woods After Dark",
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"content": "\u003cp>“Breathe in deeply through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth. You are a part of the life cycle of this forest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s just after 6 p.m. in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/muir-woods\">Muir Woods\u003c/a> National Monument, and below a thick canopy of redwoods, Ranger Jace Ritchey is speaking to a large group of people gathered on the boardwalk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But instead of walking these wooden boards, as thousands of tourists do every day at this national park, these people are lying down on them — gazing up at the forest from below as Ritchey leads them through a guided meditation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At this time of day, birds are chirping all around as dusk falls and the gurgle of a creek can be heard far off. The usually bustling park is nearly empty, apart from the lucky group lying on the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is not your typical walk through these famous trees. This is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parksconservancy.org/events/mount-tamalpais-muir-woods-national-monument/muir-woods-night-tour\">Muir Woods night tour\u003c/a>, a monthly event on the last Friday of each month, between January and October.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078106\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078106 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But getting tickets to this in-demand ranger program is no easy feat. They go on sale two weeks before the tour and sell out almost immediately, Ritchey said, and the May tour garnered more than 400 signups within just an hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The theme of this April tour, Ritchey tells the group on the boardwalk, is “community and perspective.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So as we walk into this old-growth ecosystem, I invite you to connect and reflect on what community means to you,” they said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Behind the scenes on the night tour\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The tour itself is a two-mile walk, hitting all the famous landmarks in the central part of the park, meandering along the Redwood Grove Trail and Hillside Trail to pass landmarks like Founders Grove and Cathedral Grove.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the entrance to the park, Ritchey explains to the assembled night tourers that, unlike so many other places where old-growth redwood trees were logged or destroyed, this forest was protected, preserving its biodiversity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ritchey leads the group into the forest just as the sun is setting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078111\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078111\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors walk through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One of them, Oakland resident Oren Finard, who’s attending with his in-laws tonight, is actually visiting Muir Woods for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t think of a prettier way to see this place than at twilight and with nobody else in the park,” he said. “That is pretty special.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Founders Grove, Muir Woods intern Ellie Hennessy asks the group to share a place where they’ve felt a sense of awe in nature. For Kenny Coy, visiting from Novato with his wife, that’s the Gualala River in Sonoma County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The river will get super calm and glassy,” Coy said. “It’s really awesome.”[aside postID=news_12050823 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/Armstrong-Redwoods-1.png']When the group lies down on the boardwalk for their meditation, they find that the sounds of the forest become amplified. A woodpecker can be heard, the signature “tuck tuck tuck” of its beak pounding into a nearby tree.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The evening especially is one of those moments where the forest quiets for the visitors, but the forest comes alive for the wildlife,” Ritchey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ritchey shows photos of other animals that call this park home at night, like bats, deer and even mountain lions, but promises the latter shouldn’t make an appearance tonight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Redwood Creek, Ritchey points out the handiwork of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/civilian-conservation-corps.htm\">Civilian Conservation Corps\u003c/a>, which, back in the ’30s and ’40s, built stone walls along the creek to control erosion and prevent flooding. Today, they explain, the park takes a more modern approach, allowing debris to build up in the creek naturally to support coho salmon habitat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cori Castro, who lives in San Rafael, said she tried for months to get a Muir Woods night tour ticket. Then, this month, her friend came to the rescue with an extra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her serendipitous luck even continued on the tour, Castro said, when she glanced up during the meditation and realized she recognized a specific tree from an earlier encounter decades ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078109\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078109 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranger Jace Ritchey leads a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I looked over, and I was like, ‘That tree looks really familiar,’” she said. “I remember it’s from a picture that I took of my kids.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That tree from the photograph “looks exactly the same,” she said. “And my kids are 30 and 28 now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Castro said she’s been feeling weighed down by politics, the news and the general state of the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But you come here, and you’re like — all that goes away,” she said. “That’s what this reminds me of: how insignificant I am, and we are. It gives me hope.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Be one, benevolent’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The night hikers follow a trail that climbs up above the trees, bringing them eye-to-eye with the canopy. Darkness is closing in, and they’re watching their step carefully while using their flashlights and the light of the moon high in the sky, a bright beacon above.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group stops for a history lesson. It starts with all the usual players — the white men who fought to protect this place from logging and destruction, and who named this park after naturalist John Muir.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Ritchey said there’s more to the story, telling the assembled hikers about the stewardship of the Coast Miwok and the contributions of \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/how-women-saved-muir-woods.htm\">a group of women \u003c/a>who fought for park conservation in the early 1900s. And Ritchey calls out the founders’ belief in eugenics, “who I kid you not saw in redwood trees a metaphor for the greatness of white people,” they said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078114\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078114\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranger Jace Ritchey leads a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In keeping with tonight’s theme of community and perspective, Ritchey draws a lesson for the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just like the trees are connected to their ecosystem, people connected, shared their resources, and said, ‘We want to protect a place we love. We will take action to do so,’” Ritchey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As darkness falls upon this place — and only feet away from you, you cannot see the faces of each other — know you are surrounded by people who care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the end of the tour, and time to pass back through Cathedral Grove — a federally designated “quiet area.” In the 1940s, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-united-nations-memorial-service-at-muir-woods.htm\">delegates from the United Nations came\u003c/a> to this spot during the organization’s founding to remind them what peace feels like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078107\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078107 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oren Finard (left) and Rye Jupiter Seekins take part in a forest-bathing exercise, lying down and listening to the surrounding forest, during a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ritchey asks the group to turn off their lights and “bask in moonglow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to end, Ritchey’s favorite part of the tour: When the hikers make a single file line and wait for the person ahead of them to disappear into the silent darkness before they follow. Even though they’re all just a few paces behind each other, it feels like they’re out here alone in the forest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope to inspire people to be one, benevolent, like so many presences in this forest are,” Ritchey said. “But ultimately, we have that choice to make. So make a good one.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Happy trails and good night.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to take an unexpected tour of Muir Woods to know about this and other ranger tours\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parksconservancy.org/events/mount-tamalpais-muir-woods-national-monument/muir-woods-night-tour\">Tickets for the free Muir Woods night tour\u003c/a> are released two weeks ahead of the program at 8 a.m., and you can reserve tickets for a maximum of 6 people. You won’t be able to go through the ticket reservation process until that “two weeks before” date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12050823/muir-woods-reservation-parking-redwood-forests-bay-area-alternative\">Muir Woods parking reservations\u003c/a> are not required for this tour if you arrive after 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078108\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078108 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The 2026 Muir Woods night tours take place on the following Fridays:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>April 24 (registration passed)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 29 (opens 5/15)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>June 26 (opens 6/12)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 31 (opens 7/17)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Aug. 28 (opens 8/14)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 25 (opens 9/11)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Oct. 30 (opens 10/16)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You could also check out the more strenuous 3-mile \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DUqnJu2D8tp/\">“Owl Prowl”\u003c/a> guided hike at dusk in Muir Woods. Reservations are also required for this tour, which takes place on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>May 9 (reservations open April 25)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Aug 15 (reservations open Aug. 1)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nov 7 (reservations open Oct. 24)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors walk through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While night tour tickets are tough to snag, if you miss out, there are other free Muir Woods tours open to the public that don’t require signups, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>“Welcome to The Woods” 15-minute talks: Offered daily at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. (and at 3:15 p.m. starting in May)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>One-hour ranger tours: Offered Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 11 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Occasional Muir Woods \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=18475460-98D8-FFE0-AD0BA5EC3E0972AB\">Junior Ranger Days\u003c/a> with activities for all ages. Entry fee is waived for this event, but parking reservations are still required.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>“Breathe in deeply through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth. You are a part of the life cycle of this forest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s just after 6 p.m. in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/muir-woods\">Muir Woods\u003c/a> National Monument, and below a thick canopy of redwoods, Ranger Jace Ritchey is speaking to a large group of people gathered on the boardwalk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But instead of walking these wooden boards, as thousands of tourists do every day at this national park, these people are lying down on them — gazing up at the forest from below as Ritchey leads them through a guided meditation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At this time of day, birds are chirping all around as dusk falls and the gurgle of a creek can be heard far off. The usually bustling park is nearly empty, apart from the lucky group lying on the ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is not your typical walk through these famous trees. This is the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parksconservancy.org/events/mount-tamalpais-muir-woods-national-monument/muir-woods-night-tour\">Muir Woods night tour\u003c/a>, a monthly event on the last Friday of each month, between January and October.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078106\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078106 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-21-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But getting tickets to this in-demand ranger program is no easy feat. They go on sale two weeks before the tour and sell out almost immediately, Ritchey said, and the May tour garnered more than 400 signups within just an hour.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The theme of this April tour, Ritchey tells the group on the boardwalk, is “community and perspective.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So as we walk into this old-growth ecosystem, I invite you to connect and reflect on what community means to you,” they said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Behind the scenes on the night tour\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The tour itself is a two-mile walk, hitting all the famous landmarks in the central part of the park, meandering along the Redwood Grove Trail and Hillside Trail to pass landmarks like Founders Grove and Cathedral Grove.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the entrance to the park, Ritchey explains to the assembled night tourers that, unlike so many other places where old-growth redwood trees were logged or destroyed, this forest was protected, preserving its biodiversity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ritchey leads the group into the forest just as the sun is setting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078111\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078111\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-48-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors walk through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>One of them, Oakland resident Oren Finard, who’s attending with his in-laws tonight, is actually visiting Muir Woods for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can’t think of a prettier way to see this place than at twilight and with nobody else in the park,” he said. “That is pretty special.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Founders Grove, Muir Woods intern Ellie Hennessy asks the group to share a place where they’ve felt a sense of awe in nature. For Kenny Coy, visiting from Novato with his wife, that’s the Gualala River in Sonoma County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The river will get super calm and glassy,” Coy said. “It’s really awesome.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>When the group lies down on the boardwalk for their meditation, they find that the sounds of the forest become amplified. A woodpecker can be heard, the signature “tuck tuck tuck” of its beak pounding into a nearby tree.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The evening especially is one of those moments where the forest quiets for the visitors, but the forest comes alive for the wildlife,” Ritchey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ritchey shows photos of other animals that call this park home at night, like bats, deer and even mountain lions, but promises the latter shouldn’t make an appearance tonight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At Redwood Creek, Ritchey points out the handiwork of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/civilian-conservation-corps.htm\">Civilian Conservation Corps\u003c/a>, which, back in the ’30s and ’40s, built stone walls along the creek to control erosion and prevent flooding. Today, they explain, the park takes a more modern approach, allowing debris to build up in the creek naturally to support coho salmon habitat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cori Castro, who lives in San Rafael, said she tried for months to get a Muir Woods night tour ticket. Then, this month, her friend came to the rescue with an extra.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her serendipitous luck even continued on the tour, Castro said, when she glanced up during the meditation and realized she recognized a specific tree from an earlier encounter decades ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078109\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078109 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-37-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranger Jace Ritchey leads a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I looked over, and I was like, ‘That tree looks really familiar,’” she said. “I remember it’s from a picture that I took of my kids.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That tree from the photograph “looks exactly the same,” she said. “And my kids are 30 and 28 now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Castro said she’s been feeling weighed down by politics, the news and the general state of the world.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But you come here, and you’re like — all that goes away,” she said. “That’s what this reminds me of: how insignificant I am, and we are. It gives me hope.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Be one, benevolent’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The night hikers follow a trail that climbs up above the trees, bringing them eye-to-eye with the canopy. Darkness is closing in, and they’re watching their step carefully while using their flashlights and the light of the moon high in the sky, a bright beacon above.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group stops for a history lesson. It starts with all the usual players — the white men who fought to protect this place from logging and destruction, and who named this park after naturalist John Muir.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Ritchey said there’s more to the story, telling the assembled hikers about the stewardship of the Coast Miwok and the contributions of \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/how-women-saved-muir-woods.htm\">a group of women \u003c/a>who fought for park conservation in the early 1900s. And Ritchey calls out the founders’ belief in eugenics, “who I kid you not saw in redwood trees a metaphor for the greatness of white people,” they said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078114\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078114\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-59-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ranger Jace Ritchey leads a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In keeping with tonight’s theme of community and perspective, Ritchey draws a lesson for the group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Just like the trees are connected to their ecosystem, people connected, shared their resources, and said, ‘We want to protect a place we love. We will take action to do so,’” Ritchey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As darkness falls upon this place — and only feet away from you, you cannot see the faces of each other — know you are surrounded by people who care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s the end of the tour, and time to pass back through Cathedral Grove — a federally designated “quiet area.” In the 1940s, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-united-nations-memorial-service-at-muir-woods.htm\">delegates from the United Nations came\u003c/a> to this spot during the organization’s founding to remind them what peace feels like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078107\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078107 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-31-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Oren Finard (left) and Rye Jupiter Seekins take part in a forest-bathing exercise, lying down and listening to the surrounding forest, during a night walking tour through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Ritchey asks the group to turn off their lights and “bask in moonglow.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And to end, Ritchey’s favorite part of the tour: When the hikers make a single file line and wait for the person ahead of them to disappear into the silent darkness before they follow. Even though they’re all just a few paces behind each other, it feels like they’re out here alone in the forest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I hope to inspire people to be one, benevolent, like so many presences in this forest are,” Ritchey said. “But ultimately, we have that choice to make. So make a good one.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Happy trails and good night.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to take an unexpected tour of Muir Woods to know about this and other ranger tours\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.parksconservancy.org/events/mount-tamalpais-muir-woods-national-monument/muir-woods-night-tour\">Tickets for the free Muir Woods night tour\u003c/a> are released two weeks ahead of the program at 8 a.m., and you can reserve tickets for a maximum of 6 people. You won’t be able to go through the ticket reservation process until that “two weeks before” date.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12050823/muir-woods-reservation-parking-redwood-forests-bay-area-alternative\">Muir Woods parking reservations\u003c/a> are not required for this tour if you arrive after 6 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078108\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12078108 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The 2026 Muir Woods night tours take place on the following Fridays:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>April 24 (registration passed)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>May 29 (opens 5/15)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>June 26 (opens 6/12)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>July 31 (opens 7/17)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Aug. 28 (opens 8/14)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 25 (opens 9/11)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Oct. 30 (opens 10/16)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You could also check out the more strenuous 3-mile \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DUqnJu2D8tp/\">“Owl Prowl”\u003c/a> guided hike at dusk in Muir Woods. Reservations are also required for this tour, which takes place on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>May 9 (reservations open April 25)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Aug 15 (reservations open Aug. 1)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nov 7 (reservations open Oct. 24)\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12078118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12078118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/03/260327-MUIRWOODSNIGHTTOUR-66-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors walk through Muir Woods National Monument on March 27, 2026, during a ranger-led night walking tour. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>While night tour tickets are tough to snag, if you miss out, there are other free Muir Woods tours open to the public that don’t require signups, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>“Welcome to The Woods” 15-minute talks: Offered daily at 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. (and at 3:15 p.m. starting in May)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>One-hour ranger tours: Offered Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 11 a.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Occasional Muir Woods \u003ca href=\"https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=18475460-98D8-FFE0-AD0BA5EC3E0972AB\">Junior Ranger Days\u003c/a> with activities for all ages. Entry fee is waived for this event, but parking reservations are still required.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "want-to-spring-clean-your-bookshelf-where-to-sell-or-donate-used-books-in-the-bay-area",
"title": "Want to Spring Clean Your Bookshelf? Where to Sell or Donate Used Books in the Bay Area",
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"content": "\u003cp>With the hope of creating my own \u003ca href=\"https://youtu.be/U1Kf2EqZm5k?si=n5pyftpuUBaHP_WL&t=81\">personal version of Belle’s dreamy library\u003c/a>, I tend to hold onto every book I buy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But a small space and a quickly buckling shelf (and a loved one pointing out that I was hoarding some books even I agreed were particularly bad) have finally convinced me to start letting things go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I decided to start purging the shelf little by little, so as not to overwhelm myself. But it was embarrassing to admit to myself how \u003cem>hard\u003c/em> the process turned out to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traci Mitchell, a branch librarian for Butte County in Northern California and the host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod\">the podcast Libraryish\u003c/a>, reassured me that this was a common problem among readers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re all a little guilty of taking inanimate objects and applying feelings and animism,” she said. “That they’re real things, that they have thoughts, feelings, etc.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for books, especially, she added, “people put so much of their personal identity into” what they read.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But luckily, the process did become a bit easier when I learned that the Bay Area has a host of ways to donate, trade and sell your books — whether through Buy Nothing channels, local book stores or donating to libraries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn some of the ways to declutter your bookshelf and donate your books in the best, guilt-free way — just in time for the spring cleaning season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why you may want to declutter your bookshelf\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are many reasons someone would have a hard time letting go of items in their collection: a personal connection to a story, an appreciation for the ideas \u003cem>in\u003c/em> a book or the fact that the book may have cost a lot of money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of those “little factors in your subconscious layer up” and make it difficult to clear out the shelf, Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she emphasized that “a book you donate isn’t going to be torn up. People really respect books. And books change people’s lives. So if you’re not connecting to a book that you have, you shouldn’t feel guilty about letting that book go.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033581\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12033581 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiking and camping books in an Oakland home on March 28, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Decluttering also helps with creating more space for books you \u003cem>do \u003c/em>enjoy — or for other items to fit in your home. And if you are sharing a space with someone, it gives you and your housemates — friends, roommates, partners, family — the opportunity to both be reflected in the space, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another benefit decluttering offers is the chance to let go of old ideas and find some closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes people have books that reflect themselves in the past. And maybe it’s time to let those ideas and those things go,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, “a lot of people get self-help books to get themselves through a very difficult time … Maybe you’ve gotten through that time, and you don’t need to carry those books anymore. It’s kind of like carrying the old baggage with you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The piece of guidance that hit closest to home for \u003cem>me\u003c/em>, however, was Mitchell explaining that bookshelves \u003cem>can\u003c/em> be a dynamic piece of your home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Your collection can grow with you, and change with you as you grow and change,” she said. “And it doesn’t have to reflect \u003cem>all \u003c/em>of who you’ve ever been throughout time. It can be you right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to figure out which books to take out\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are convinced it’s time to declutter the shelf, Mitchell provided the following five quick tips on where to start:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The books you didn’t pick personally\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The best places to start really are sort of those books that wound up in your possession that you didn’t choose,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These can be books you got as gifts, or novels you picked up randomly, without a lot of intention. They are the books a reader is least invested in, especially when they haven’t read them, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is probably someone out there that would appreciate that book and would find value in that book more than you do,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068073\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068073\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vacant to vibrant business, The Best Bookstore, stands on Powell Street in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hobby and guidebooks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe cleaning out your shelf is a good time to think about all of those new skills you didn’t pick up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Look at those books that you bought thinking, ‘I’m \u003cem>definitely \u003c/em>going to learn to knit this year.’” Mitchell suggested. “Think about a time limit. Have you had that book for three months? For six months? For a year? Longer?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t see yourself getting around to that hobby in the foreseeable future, it could be time to let go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Duplicates\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This may feel like an obvious option, but it’s worth doing a little audit of your shelf for titles that appear more than once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s surprising how many times people have duplicates in their collections because you didn’t recognize the title or the cover,’ Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Damaged books \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said another option to clear out the shelf is going through the books that “aren’t in the best shape, that you think might be falling apart, or that are due for a replacement.”[aside postID=news_12070692 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_010-KQED.jpg']“When a book is left in a garage or an attic, they get moist, and the pages start to wrinkle, or they get infested with bugs — which happens very easily — or they’re even just dusty or smelly,” Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those may be best for \u003cem>recycling \u003c/em>versus donating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My director has a great guideline for measuring the condition of a book: Would you take that book into bed with you to read it?” she said. “If you would not take the book into bed with you to read it, then maybe it’s time to recycle that book.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.recology.com/faq/sf-recycling/?cookie-consent-set=true\">Recology in San Francisco\u003c/a>, soft cover books, phone books and notebooks can be recycled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(This scenario reminded me of an episode in the rebooted season of “King of the Hill,” where everyone’s favorite Texan mom Peggy Hill sets up\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IhAWlIBao\"> a little free library outside her home\u003c/a> that inadvertently starts \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfYYBUIpeo\">a neighborhood-wide bed bug infestation.\u003c/a> This made me so paranoid that I thought I needed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/a65821700/freezing-thrifted-books-bug-hack/\">start freezing books to kill potential bugs\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>To-be-read pile\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps one of the harder decisions to make, alas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Mitchell also suggested sifting through your to-be-read pile and asking yourself if you really \u003cem>are\u003c/em> going to read those books. Hard questions!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And now: the ways to get rid of said books:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 1: Go to a book swap\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the pursuit of clearing out \u003cem>my\u003c/em> shelf, I found out about book swaps — and they quickly became my favorite way of parting with (and acquiring) books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I went to my first book swap in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, hosted by Oakland resident and children’s author Karina Zhou, who was lounging on a picnic blanket with a display of books, graphic novels and magazines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was also Zhou’s first book swap, and most of the visiting readers were strangers, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080767\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080767\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People dot the hills of Dolores Park on a 70-degree afternoon in San Francisco’s Mission District on Feb. 26, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I wanted to find ways to expand my book taste,” she said. “I thought this was a great way to just bring friends and strangers together, get a personal recommendation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In hopes of impressing other readers, I actually traded in a book I \u003cem>liked\u003c/em> (“Kids Run the Show,” by Delphine de Vigan), and, in return, picked up a copy of McSweeney’s literary magazine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I found the event through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074872/tips-for-hosting-parties-san-francisco-bay-area-making-friends-party-food-decorations-music\">Partiful\u003c/a>, which has an explore page that points to similar local events. Other ways to find book swaps include Facebook, Instagram and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local bookstores and libraries, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.anovelaffairbookcafe.com/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos and \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/480Primrose/photos/were-doing-11-swaps-this-year-one-each-month-except-for-december-we-added-two-ne/1322323483261537/\">the Burlingame Public Library\u003c/a>, also host their own book swaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 2: Sell or trade at your local bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many local bookstores in the Bay Area will let you sell your used books or trade them for store credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that each bookstore will have its own specific policies on how to hand in your items. For example, some may want you to call ahead; some are okay with drop-ins. Some want you to pack the books in a bag or a box; some will only accept one or two books at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is best to check on the store’s website ahead of time and see what their expectations are for selling books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080760\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080760\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sign for Marcus Book Store hangs above the business in Oakland on March 22, 2023. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It’s worth noting that it is important to go into selling your books with tempered expectations. Bookstores across the country are feeling the financial strain of a rapidly changing industry, and may not have \u003ca href=\"https://ptreyesbooks.com/used-books\">the ability to buy anything at all\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just \u003cem>some \u003c/em>of the stores in the Bay Area that accept books:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/sell-us-your-books\">Green Apple\u003c/a>, specifically the 506 Clement St. location. Green Apple only buys books and does \u003cem>not\u003c/em> accept donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/we-buy-books\">Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/a>. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the bookstore.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/sell-books/\">Borderland Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, and specifically science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror books.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://noevalleybooks.com/annex-bernies-nvb-collab\">Noe Valley Books and Bernie’s Coffee Shop\u003c/a> accept donations for their shared cafe space, The Annex.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fabulosabooks.com/selltrade.html#/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, usually for store credit, but may pay for special books. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the store.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.russianhillbookstore.com/selling-your-books\">Russian Hill Bookstore\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666707\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg\" alt=\"Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad Aman Daro look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterwards.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad, Aman Daro, look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year, Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterward. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.waldenpondbooks.com/buying.html\">Walden Pond Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pegasusbookstore.com/we-trade-books\">Pegasus Books\u003c/a> in Berkeley and Oakland, for store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tallyhobookstore.com/sell-your-books\">Tally Ho! Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, usually for store credit, but may buy desirable titles.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksonb.com/tradesell-used-books\">Books on B\u003c/a> in Hayward, for cash or store credit. Be sure to monitor the Instagram page for what type of books they are seeking. For example, earlier this month, the store was \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booksonb/p/DVSQBzDkW9B/\">seeking children’s picture books\u003c/a>, specifically.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://www.escapistcomics.com/\">The Escapist\u003c/a>, for cash, in Berkeley, specifically for vintage comics and graphic novels.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/stuff-we-buy.html\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Fremont and Dublin.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Peninsula/South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://peninsulabooks.org/donate-books/\">Peninsula Books\u003c/a> in Daly City, which only accepts donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bstreetbooks.com/sell-your-books.php\">B Street Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, in Burlingame.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">Bell’s Books\u003c/a> buys specifically \u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">“fine books and collections”\u003c/a> in Palo Alto.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.leighsbooks.com/TradeYourBooks\">Leigh’s Favorite Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sunnyvale.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.recyclebookstore.com/\">Recycle Bookstore\u003c/a>, which buys and trades books, in Campbell.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.treehorn.com/\">Treehorn Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.paperbacksunlimited.net/policies.html\">Paperbacks Unlimited\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.2ndchancesusedbooks.com/\">Second Chances Used Book\u003c/a>, for cash, in Sebastopol.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://readersbooks.com/used-book-policy\">Readers’ Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sonoma.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 3: Going through online retailers and Buy Nothing channels\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the easiest way to sell or donate your used books is by posting them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, selling books online isn’t \u003cem>super \u003c/em>lucrative — you definitely won’t be making your hardcover’s money back — and you will likely have to offer some deals so people will bite. But the more exclusive or special the book, the more likely someone will be willing to pay a bit more for a special cover or a signed copy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are online retailers and websites you can use. But keep in mind, you will likely be responsible for shipping and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eHk1M-Y5CM\">packing costs\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666705\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Websites (with links to their selling guides) where you can sell your books include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/faq\">BookScouter\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.worldofbooks.com/\">World of Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.powells.com/sell-books\">Powell’s Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pangobooks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoruM50Lae3EqRqYqcnVnae6rBDgvrLuvsRESWP4CPiyO1RzUW5a\">Pangobooks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/blog/how-to-sell-books-on-ebay/\">eBay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sell.amazon.com/learn/how-to-sell-books\">Amazon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>This reporter has a lot of experience going through local Facebook groups and marketplaces to list and hand off books. In my experience, it is best to have a \u003cem>lot\u003c/em> of books available to give away, so potential buyers have a wide variety to choose from and bulk-buy. (If you meet in person for any hand-offs, make sure you do it in a public place!)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Facebook and other online groups, like Discord channels and \u003ca href=\"https://buynothingproject.org/\">apps\u003c/a>, will also likely have \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/buynothingsanfranciscosf/\">“Buy Nothing” channels,\u003c/a> where you can put your things up for grabs, for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your own circles may also be a great space to reach out and see who is interested. For example, a workspace may have a Buy Nothing channel where you can hand your things off to a coworker.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 4: Donate to libraries\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are comfortable parting with your books strictly as a donation, your local library is a great spot to hand off used books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most libraries will have an associated volunteer-led organization, usually with the name “Friends of,” that handles donations and fundraising for its local branch, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069406\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069406\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hand-painted sign directs visitors to the Friends of the Palo Alto Library book sale on Jan. 11, 2026, in Palo Alto. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For example, you can donate your books through the \u003ca href=\"https://www.friendssfpl.org/donatebooks.html\">Friends of the San Francisco Public Library System\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fopl.org/donation-guidelines\">Friends of the Oakland Public Library\u003c/a>, or \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinlibraryfriends.org/book-donations\">The Book Place\u003c/a> on behalf of the Friends of Marin County Free Library. But other libraries, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.fslonline.org/donate-books\">the Saratoga Library\u003c/a>, may accept them directly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said it is a good idea to reach out to your library to see what they may be able to accept.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many libraries, she explained, see “a lot of genre fiction” donated to their collections. Some may seek cookbooks and textbooks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080765\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids browse the books in the Salinas Public Library’s Paletero cart. \u003ccite>(Krista Almanzan for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But “often people make the mistake that a library is an archive — so that we’re interested in old books and bringing them in and adding them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And that’s not really what public libraries do,” she said. “We’re serving the public that wants things for the moment and right now. And so certain older items, there’s no archival space.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 5: Reach out to schools and young readers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are also many Bay Area nonprofits with a mission to provide more books to children, teens and students to close \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/californias-chronic-literacy-crisis-requires-solutions-drawn-from-research/730278\">the literacy gap\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Access Books Bay Area in San Francisco, the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/donate\">“provides no dedicated funding for school libraries,”\u003c/a> which are \u003ca href=\"https://ed100.org/blog/school-libraries\">funded mostly by local governments\u003c/a>, and “out-of-date library materials often do not reflect the cultures of the students attending schools today.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080761\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080761\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The library at Jefferson Elementary School in Berkeley on Feb. 28, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Organizations for young readers include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookwagonsf.org/\">The Book Wagon\u003c/a> for San Francisco elementary schools\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.childrensbookproject.org/give-books/\">Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>, which has a location for drop off at 2166 Palou Avenue in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/events/donate-books\">Access Books Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaychildrensbookproject.org/donate-now/donate-books/\">East Bay Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.projectcicerobayarea.org/\">Project Cicero Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://med.stanford.edu/childhealthequity/engagement/earlyeducation/kinder-ready-clinics.html\">Stanford Medicine’s library\u003c/a>, which provides materials to health centers in the area\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://scvmc.scvh.org/healthcare-services/pediatrics/child-life-inpatient-services/wish-list-donations\">Santa Clara Valley Medical Center\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 6: Find a little library\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You probably have seen these very quaint little pop-ups in Bay Area neighborhoods — often looking like a birdhouse for books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There can be a great opportunity to load off one or two books to your neighborhood, but probably not more than that, considering how compact the libraries are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/\">this map online to find a little library near you\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 7: Donate to incarcerated people\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">Prisoners Literature Project\u003c/a>, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, also accepts book donations for incarcerated people and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">a short guide\u003c/a> on how people can reach out to the organization with offers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that any books you consider giving to prisons would need to be of \u003cem>very \u003c/em>good quality. According to the nonprofit’s website, “prisons are increasingly restrictive about book quality, with many accepting only new books in paperback.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genres requested the most by individuals include cookbooks, fitness, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, spirituality, self-help books, how-to manuals, business and meditation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other organizations that serve incarcerated individuals in California and across the country include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://freedomreads.org/\">Freedom Reads\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookstoprisoners.net/donate-books\">Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://dcbookstoprisoners.org/donate-books/\">DC Books to Prisons\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://wpbp.org/donate_books/\">Women’s Prison Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://prisonbookprogram.org/donate-books/\">Prison Book Program\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lgbtbookstoprisoners.org/donate/\">LGBT Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "If you are ready to let go of your precious (or not-so-precious) books, the Bay Area has plenty of opportunities to give them a new home.",
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"title": "Want to Spring Clean Your Bookshelf? Where to Sell or Donate Used Books in the Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>With the hope of creating my own \u003ca href=\"https://youtu.be/U1Kf2EqZm5k?si=n5pyftpuUBaHP_WL&t=81\">personal version of Belle’s dreamy library\u003c/a>, I tend to hold onto every book I buy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But a small space and a quickly buckling shelf (and a loved one pointing out that I was hoarding some books even I agreed were particularly bad) have finally convinced me to start letting things go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I decided to start purging the shelf little by little, so as not to overwhelm myself. But it was embarrassing to admit to myself how \u003cem>hard\u003c/em> the process turned out to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traci Mitchell, a branch librarian for Butte County in Northern California and the host of \u003ca href=\"https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod\">the podcast Libraryish\u003c/a>, reassured me that this was a common problem among readers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re all a little guilty of taking inanimate objects and applying feelings and animism,” she said. “That they’re real things, that they have thoughts, feelings, etc.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And for books, especially, she added, “people put so much of their personal identity into” what they read.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But luckily, the process did become a bit easier when I learned that the Bay Area has a host of ways to donate, trade and sell your books — whether through Buy Nothing channels, local book stores or donating to libraries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading to learn some of the ways to declutter your bookshelf and donate your books in the best, guilt-free way — just in time for the spring cleaning season.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why you may want to declutter your bookshelf\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are many reasons someone would have a hard time letting go of items in their collection: a personal connection to a story, an appreciation for the ideas \u003cem>in\u003c/em> a book or the fact that the book may have cost a lot of money.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of those “little factors in your subconscious layer up” and make it difficult to clear out the shelf, Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But she emphasized that “a book you donate isn’t going to be torn up. People really respect books. And books change people’s lives. So if you’re not connecting to a book that you have, you shouldn’t feel guilty about letting that book go.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12033581\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12033581 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/250328-REI-LABOR-DISPUTE-MD-08-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiking and camping books in an Oakland home on March 28, 2025. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Decluttering also helps with creating more space for books you \u003cem>do \u003c/em>enjoy — or for other items to fit in your home. And if you are sharing a space with someone, it gives you and your housemates — friends, roommates, partners, family — the opportunity to both be reflected in the space, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another benefit decluttering offers is the chance to let go of old ideas and find some closure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Sometimes people have books that reflect themselves in the past. And maybe it’s time to let those ideas and those things go,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, “a lot of people get self-help books to get themselves through a very difficult time … Maybe you’ve gotten through that time, and you don’t need to carry those books anymore. It’s kind of like carrying the old baggage with you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The piece of guidance that hit closest to home for \u003cem>me\u003c/em>, however, was Mitchell explaining that bookshelves \u003cem>can\u003c/em> be a dynamic piece of your home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Your collection can grow with you, and change with you as you grow and change,” she said. “And it doesn’t have to reflect \u003cem>all \u003c/em>of who you’ve ever been throughout time. It can be you right now.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to figure out which books to take out\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are convinced it’s time to declutter the shelf, Mitchell provided the following five quick tips on where to start:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The books you didn’t pick personally\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The best places to start really are sort of those books that wound up in your possession that you didn’t choose,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These can be books you got as gifts, or novels you picked up randomly, without a lot of intention. They are the books a reader is least invested in, especially when they haven’t read them, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is probably someone out there that would appreciate that book and would find value in that book more than you do,” Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12068073\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12068073\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/12/251217-sfstateofdowntown00096seqn_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A vacant to vibrant business, The Best Bookstore, stands on Powell Street in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hobby and guidebooks\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe cleaning out your shelf is a good time to think about all of those new skills you didn’t pick up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Look at those books that you bought thinking, ‘I’m \u003cem>definitely \u003c/em>going to learn to knit this year.’” Mitchell suggested. “Think about a time limit. Have you had that book for three months? For six months? For a year? Longer?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t see yourself getting around to that hobby in the foreseeable future, it could be time to let go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Duplicates\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This may feel like an obvious option, but it’s worth doing a little audit of your shelf for titles that appear more than once.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s surprising how many times people have duplicates in their collections because you didn’t recognize the title or the cover,’ Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Damaged books \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said another option to clear out the shelf is going through the books that “aren’t in the best shape, that you think might be falling apart, or that are due for a replacement.”\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“When a book is left in a garage or an attic, they get moist, and the pages start to wrinkle, or they get infested with bugs — which happens very easily — or they’re even just dusty or smelly,” Mitchell explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those may be best for \u003cem>recycling \u003c/em>versus donating.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My director has a great guideline for measuring the condition of a book: Would you take that book into bed with you to read it?” she said. “If you would not take the book into bed with you to read it, then maybe it’s time to recycle that book.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.recology.com/faq/sf-recycling/?cookie-consent-set=true\">Recology in San Francisco\u003c/a>, soft cover books, phone books and notebooks can be recycled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(This scenario reminded me of an episode in the rebooted season of “King of the Hill,” where everyone’s favorite Texan mom Peggy Hill sets up\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8IhAWlIBao\"> a little free library outside her home\u003c/a> that inadvertently starts \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfYYBUIpeo\">a neighborhood-wide bed bug infestation.\u003c/a> This made me so paranoid that I thought I needed to \u003ca href=\"https://www.countryliving.com/shopping/antiques/a65821700/freezing-thrifted-books-bug-hack/\">start freezing books to kill potential bugs\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>To-be-read pile\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps one of the harder decisions to make, alas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Mitchell also suggested sifting through your to-be-read pile and asking yourself if you really \u003cem>are\u003c/em> going to read those books. Hard questions!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And now: the ways to get rid of said books:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 1: Go to a book swap\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In the pursuit of clearing out \u003cem>my\u003c/em> shelf, I found out about book swaps — and they quickly became my favorite way of parting with (and acquiring) books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I went to my first book swap in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, hosted by Oakland resident and children’s author Karina Zhou, who was lounging on a picnic blanket with a display of books, graphic novels and magazines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It was also Zhou’s first book swap, and most of the visiting readers were strangers, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080767\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080767\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/005_KQED_Weather_DoloresPark_02262020_4360_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People dot the hills of Dolores Park on a 70-degree afternoon in San Francisco’s Mission District on Feb. 26, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I wanted to find ways to expand my book taste,” she said. “I thought this was a great way to just bring friends and strangers together, get a personal recommendation.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In hopes of impressing other readers, I actually traded in a book I \u003cem>liked\u003c/em> (“Kids Run the Show,” by Delphine de Vigan), and, in return, picked up a copy of McSweeney’s literary magazine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I found the event through \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12074872/tips-for-hosting-parties-san-francisco-bay-area-making-friends-party-food-decorations-music\">Partiful\u003c/a>, which has an explore page that points to similar local events. Other ways to find book swaps include Facebook, Instagram and Eventbrite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local bookstores and libraries, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.anovelaffairbookcafe.com/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a> in Los Altos and \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/480Primrose/photos/were-doing-11-swaps-this-year-one-each-month-except-for-december-we-added-two-ne/1322323483261537/\">the Burlingame Public Library\u003c/a>, also host their own book swaps.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 2: Sell or trade at your local bookstore\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many local bookstores in the Bay Area will let you sell your used books or trade them for store credit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that each bookstore will have its own specific policies on how to hand in your items. For example, some may want you to call ahead; some are okay with drop-ins. Some want you to pack the books in a bag or a box; some will only accept one or two books at a time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It is best to check on the store’s website ahead of time and see what their expectations are for selling books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080760\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080760\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/009_KQED_MarcusBooksOakland_03222023_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A sign for Marcus Book Store hangs above the business in Oakland on March 22, 2023. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It’s worth noting that it is important to go into selling your books with tempered expectations. Bookstores across the country are feeling the financial strain of a rapidly changing industry, and may not have \u003ca href=\"https://ptreyesbooks.com/used-books\">the ability to buy anything at all\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are just \u003cem>some \u003c/em>of the stores in the Bay Area that accept books:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://greenapplebooks.com/sell-us-your-books\">Green Apple\u003c/a>, specifically the 506 Clement St. location. Green Apple only buys books and does \u003cem>not\u003c/em> accept donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/we-buy-books\">Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/a>. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the bookstore.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://borderlands-books.com/v2/sell-books/\">Borderland Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, and specifically science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror books.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://noevalleybooks.com/annex-bernies-nvb-collab\">Noe Valley Books and Bernie’s Coffee Shop\u003c/a> accept donations for their shared cafe space, The Annex.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fabulosabooks.com/selltrade.html#/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, usually for store credit, but may pay for special books. If they do not opt to buy your books, you can drop them off for free in a box located outside the store.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.russianhillbookstore.com/selling-your-books\">Russian Hill Bookstore\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666707\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666707\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg\" alt=\"Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad Aman Daro look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterwards.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30673_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-qut-2-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zachary Schwerin-Dari and his dad, Aman Daro, look at comics at The Escapist Comic Bookstore. Every year, Zachary and his dad go to Free Comic Book Day and then to the library afterward. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>East Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.waldenpondbooks.com/buying.html\">Walden Pond Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, for cash or store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pegasusbookstore.com/we-trade-books\">Pegasus Books\u003c/a> in Berkeley and Oakland, for store credit.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.tallyhobookstore.com/sell-your-books\">Tally Ho! Books\u003c/a> in Oakland, usually for store credit, but may buy desirable titles.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://booksonb.com/tradesell-used-books\">Books on B\u003c/a> in Hayward, for cash or store credit. Be sure to monitor the Instagram page for what type of books they are seeking. For example, earlier this month, the store was \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booksonb/p/DVSQBzDkW9B/\">seeking children’s picture books\u003c/a>, specifically.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://www.escapistcomics.com/\">The Escapist\u003c/a>, for cash, in Berkeley, specifically for vintage comics and graphic novels.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/stuff-we-buy.html\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Fremont and Dublin.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Peninsula/South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://peninsulabooks.org/donate-books/\">Peninsula Books\u003c/a> in Daly City, which only accepts donations.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bstreetbooks.com/sell-your-books.php\">B Street Books\u003c/a>, for cash or store credit, in Burlingame.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">Bell’s Books\u003c/a> buys specifically \u003ca href=\"https://www.bellsbooks.com/home/contact\">“fine books and collections”\u003c/a> in Palo Alto.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.leighsbooks.com/TradeYourBooks\">Leigh’s Favorite Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sunnyvale.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.recyclebookstore.com/\">Recycle Bookstore\u003c/a>, which buys and trades books, in Campbell.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>North Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.treehorn.com/\">Treehorn Books\u003c/a>, for cash, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.paperbacksunlimited.net/policies.html\">Paperbacks Unlimited\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Santa Rosa.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.2ndchancesusedbooks.com/\">Second Chances Used Book\u003c/a>, for cash, in Sebastopol.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://readersbooks.com/used-book-policy\">Readers’ Books\u003c/a>, for store credit, in Sonoma.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 3: Going through online retailers and Buy Nothing channels\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the easiest way to sell or donate your used books is by posting them online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, selling books online isn’t \u003cem>super \u003c/em>lucrative — you definitely won’t be making your hardcover’s money back — and you will likely have to offer some deals so people will bite. But the more exclusive or special the book, the more likely someone will be willing to pay a bit more for a special cover or a signed copy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are online retailers and websites you can use. But keep in mind, you will likely be responsible for shipping and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eHk1M-Y5CM\">packing costs\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11666705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11666705\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg\" alt=\"Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-960x720.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-240x180.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-375x281.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/RS30678_Image-uploaded-from-iOS-4-qut-520x390.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Comics ranging from Star Wars to The Only Living Boy are free to pick up at the Escapist Comic Bookstore in Berkeley. \u003ccite>(Caroline Champlin/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Websites (with links to their selling guides) where you can sell your books include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/faq\">BookScouter\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hpb.com/\">Half Price Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.worldofbooks.com/\">World of Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.powells.com/sell-books\">Powell’s Books\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://pangobooks.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoruM50Lae3EqRqYqcnVnae6rBDgvrLuvsRESWP4CPiyO1RzUW5a\">Pangobooks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bookscouter.com/blog/how-to-sell-books-on-ebay/\">eBay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sell.amazon.com/learn/how-to-sell-books\">Amazon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>This reporter has a lot of experience going through local Facebook groups and marketplaces to list and hand off books. In my experience, it is best to have a \u003cem>lot\u003c/em> of books available to give away, so potential buyers have a wide variety to choose from and bulk-buy. (If you meet in person for any hand-offs, make sure you do it in a public place!)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Facebook and other online groups, like Discord channels and \u003ca href=\"https://buynothingproject.org/\">apps\u003c/a>, will also likely have \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/groups/buynothingsanfranciscosf/\">“Buy Nothing” channels,\u003c/a> where you can put your things up for grabs, for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Your own circles may also be a great space to reach out and see who is interested. For example, a workspace may have a Buy Nothing channel where you can hand your things off to a coworker.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 4: Donate to libraries\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are comfortable parting with your books strictly as a donation, your local library is a great spot to hand off used books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most libraries will have an associated volunteer-led organization, usually with the name “Friends of,” that handles donations and fundraising for its local branch, Mitchell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12069406\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12069406\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/01/01112026_BAY-AREA-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-SALES-_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A hand-painted sign directs visitors to the Friends of the Palo Alto Library book sale on Jan. 11, 2026, in Palo Alto. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For example, you can donate your books through the \u003ca href=\"https://www.friendssfpl.org/donatebooks.html\">Friends of the San Francisco Public Library System\u003c/a>, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fopl.org/donation-guidelines\">Friends of the Oakland Public Library\u003c/a>, or \u003ca href=\"https://www.marinlibraryfriends.org/book-donations\">The Book Place\u003c/a> on behalf of the Friends of Marin County Free Library. But other libraries, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.fslonline.org/donate-books\">the Saratoga Library\u003c/a>, may accept them directly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mitchell said it is a good idea to reach out to your library to see what they may be able to accept.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many libraries, she explained, see “a lot of genre fiction” donated to their collections. Some may seek cookbooks and textbooks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080765\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1777px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080765\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1777\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed.jpg 1777w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/paleterolibrary4_qed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1777px) 100vw, 1777px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kids browse the books in the Salinas Public Library’s Paletero cart. \u003ccite>(Krista Almanzan for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But “often people make the mistake that a library is an archive — so that we’re interested in old books and bringing them in and adding them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“And that’s not really what public libraries do,” she said. “We’re serving the public that wants things for the moment and right now. And so certain older items, there’s no archival space.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 5: Reach out to schools and young readers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are also many Bay Area nonprofits with a mission to provide more books to children, teens and students to close \u003ca href=\"https://edsource.org/2025/californias-chronic-literacy-crisis-requires-solutions-drawn-from-research/730278\">the literacy gap\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Access Books Bay Area in San Francisco, the state \u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/donate\">“provides no dedicated funding for school libraries,”\u003c/a> which are \u003ca href=\"https://ed100.org/blog/school-libraries\">funded mostly by local governments\u003c/a>, and “out-of-date library materials often do not reflect the cultures of the students attending schools today.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080761\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080761\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/028_KQED_Berkeley_JeffersonElementarySchool_02282020_4690_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The library at Jefferson Elementary School in Berkeley on Feb. 28, 2020. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Organizations for young readers include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookwagonsf.org/\">The Book Wagon\u003c/a> for San Francisco elementary schools\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.childrensbookproject.org/give-books/\">Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>, which has a location for drop off at 2166 Palou Avenue in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.accessbooksbayarea.org/events/donate-books\">Access Books Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.eastbaychildrensbookproject.org/donate-now/donate-books/\">East Bay Children’s Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.projectcicerobayarea.org/\">Project Cicero Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://med.stanford.edu/childhealthequity/engagement/earlyeducation/kinder-ready-clinics.html\">Stanford Medicine’s library\u003c/a>, which provides materials to health centers in the area\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://scvmc.scvh.org/healthcare-services/pediatrics/child-life-inpatient-services/wish-list-donations\">Santa Clara Valley Medical Center\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Option 6: Find a little library\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You probably have seen these very quaint little pop-ups in Bay Area neighborhoods — often looking like a birdhouse for books.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There can be a great opportunity to load off one or two books to your neighborhood, but probably not more than that, considering how compact the libraries are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can use \u003ca href=\"https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/\">this map online to find a little library near you\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Option 7: Donate to incarcerated people\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">Prisoners Literature Project\u003c/a>, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, also accepts book donations for incarcerated people and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.prisonlit.org/donate/\">a short guide\u003c/a> on how people can reach out to the organization with offers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that any books you consider giving to prisons would need to be of \u003cem>very \u003c/em>good quality. According to the nonprofit’s website, “prisons are increasingly restrictive about book quality, with many accepting only new books in paperback.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genres requested the most by individuals include cookbooks, fitness, fantasy, science fiction, graphic novels, spirituality, self-help books, how-to manuals, business and meditation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other organizations that serve incarcerated individuals in California and across the country include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://freedomreads.org/\">Freedom Reads\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bookstoprisoners.net/donate-books\">Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://dcbookstoprisoners.org/donate-books/\">DC Books to Prisons\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://wpbp.org/donate_books/\">Women’s Prison Book Project\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://prisonbookprogram.org/donate-books/\">Prison Book Program\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lgbtbookstoprisoners.org/donate/\">LGBT Books to Prisoners\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "golden-state-valkyries-wnba-2026-ballhalla-chase-center-san-francisco-tickets-parking-bag-policy-merch",
"title": "What to Know When Attending a 2026 Valkyries Game at Chase Center",
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"headTitle": "What to Know When Attending a 2026 Valkyries Game at Chase Center | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>This spring, San Francisco’s Chase Center will once again morph into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>, the home of the Golden State Valkyries — who are beginning their second year in the Women’s National Basketball Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the team’s inaugural year, fans enthusiastically welcomed the Valkyries to the Bay Area sports scene. Home games \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/valkyries-have-stunned-the-wnba-nothing-has-held-us-back/#:~:text=The%20team%20sold%20out%20its,rebrand%20of%20the%20Chase%20Center.\">consistently sold out\u003c/a> and were so loud that even opposing players and their fans have taken notice on \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/warriors/comments/1lfu3np/why_is_the_valkyries_crowd_so_much_better_than/\">social\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.threads.com/@beltzner/post/DLG5Ur_RgiP/holy-moly-the-chase-center-sounds-as-loud-for-the-valkyries-at-least-on-the-broa\">media\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the Valkyries are back with \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-draft-results-2026\">new players\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia\">new teams to play against \u003c/a>and another chance to make it to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">the WNBA playoffs\u003c/a> once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a newer fan, keep reading for our guide to how to attend a home game at Chase Center, including information about where to get tickets, parking and public transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">Where can I find parking near Chase Center for a Valkyries game?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area (if you didn’t get tickets)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you missed out on the Valkyries hype last year altogether, jump in this month by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">KQED’s 2025 guide on WNBA fandom and culture\u003c/a> to help you prepare. (Just keep in mind that some aspects of the guide may be outdated, like the team’s roster.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Valkyries’ 2026 schedule?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">current 2026 schedule\u003c/a> for home games is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>(Pre-season game) Saturday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 10, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, May 25, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 31, at 12:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 28, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040682\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040682\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score during their WNBA season opener on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Home games usually have halftime shows featuring performances by local acts, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVcW0azDyUr/\">a Bollywood dance group\u003c/a>. Vallejo rapper E-40 \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/e40-valkyries-halftime-performance/3871105/\">notably performed\u003c/a> at the inaugural game last year against the Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ away games are as scheduled:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 21, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 22, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, June 6, at 12 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 21, at 1 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 4, at 10 a.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 6, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 8, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 9, at 4 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 21, at 4:30 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can keep an eye on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule/broadcast-schedule\">the broadcast schedule\u003c/a> on the Valkyries’ website to see your options for streaming or live TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I get tickets to a Valkyries game?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets\">get tickets for home games\u003c/a> at the Valkyries’ official website, where options include mini-plans for multiple games or season tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Single-game tickets currently start at relatively affordable prices. As of publication, for example, tickets for the April 25 game start at \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C00644BAD39B7E6?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_SCHED_PG_PR1&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=SCHED_PG_PR1\">around $33 but run to over $248\u003c/a>. (Fans have noted that tickets have gotten \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/valkyries/article/valkyries-most-expensive-ticket-wnba-game-20325914.php\">more expensive as the hype for the team has grown\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-800x497.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1020x634.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1920x1193.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries at their home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some fans who have season tickets may sell individual games to other people. You may be able to find these offers on social media sites like Facebook groups. Valqueeries organizer Megan Doherty-Baker said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom#valkyries-schedule\">in 2025\u003c/a> that fan groups like hers may also have a quick connection to people who are looking to sell or just generously give out their tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But be careful, and verify the person before sending any money — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11956083/taylor-swift-levis-stadium-eras-santa-clara-tickets#taylorswifttickets\">ticket scams have been common in recent years\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What time should I arrive at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Doors are scheduled to open \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/\">at least 90 minutes\u003c/a> before a game starts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are new to the sport, like this reporter was last year, know that basketball games move \u003cem>fast,\u003c/em> and it is best to be in your seat at tip-off. Games, which are split into quarters, are around two to two-and-a-half hours long and it can be easy to miss something once play gets started (unlike, for example, baseball).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find Golden State Valkyries merch?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some select games and themed nights at Chase Center may have promotions or complimentary merch for all fans or people who arrive early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, on April 25, attendees will get \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">a free Valkyries shirt\u003c/a> that says, “Born in the Bay.” On July 20, the team will distribute a very cute plushie of Hello Kitty wearing Valkyries merch. Another special night to keep note of: June 28 is the 30th anniversary of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-M\">on the hunt for merch\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/en/\">the Valkyries have plenty\u003c/a> in the team’s signature\u003ca href=\"https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-prince-hole-purple-pop-music-history\"> pop-girl purple\u003c/a> — check out the stands at Portals 10, 21, 41, 42, 47 and 59.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040691\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1873px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040691\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1873\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg 1873w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1873px) 100vw, 1873px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans pose for a photo outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Golden State Shop right outside Chase Center, which stays \u003ca href=\"https://goldenstate.com/shop/\">open late after games\u003c/a>, also sells merch. Keep in mind: The line after a game will be \u003cem>long\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some merch can also be found online, including at the \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/\">official Valkyries shop\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://wnbastore.nba.com/Golden-State-Valkyries/t-13183796+z-9844603-3130371206?vap=1&ab=%7Bwt-static_graphic%7D%7Bpt-tlp%7D%7Bal-a_spot%7D%7Bct-team%7D%7Btt-valkyries%7D%7Baid-091825%7D\">the WNBA store\u003c/a>, local brands like \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/collections/golden-state-valkyries-tees?srsltid=AfmBOooGOo08ctr3-Pf7IG-YyXXCATiZ8eSWRFcPNrBIMKdxNZOXHdbs\">Oaklandish\u003c/a> and retailers like \u003ca href=\"https://www.homage.com/collections/wnba-x-peanuts/products/peanuts-peppermint-patty-x-golden-state-valkyries\">Homage\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/golden-state-valkyries?srsltid=AfmBOootDt1JVfLmLqK5fBIm0qMA_zYCr5qdK117rjHshqK-zhYh9fxA\">Dick’s Sporting Goods\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, Bay Area designers unveil their own specialized fan merch around WNBA season and can be found on Instagram and at block parties and street festivals. They are unofficial — and unaffiliated with the WNBA — but some designs may be worth keeping an eye on.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Chase Center bag policy for Valkyries games?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Backpacks (except for single-compartment drawstring bags) of any kind are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">prohibited from entering the arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any other bag, including diaper bags, must be smaller than 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attendees with bags that do not meet the requirements can check them at 16th Street & Terry Francois Boulevard for $10. Bag check opens an hour before doors open and closes an hour after the event ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040681\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040681\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1020x665.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1920x1252.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) advances toward the basket at the Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Here are some more things \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-P\">you cannot bring into Chase Center\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Reusable bottles and cans\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Refillable water bottles or cups\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs over 11 x 17 inches or attached to any pole or stick\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Masks that cover the whole face (Face coverings to lower your risks of catching — or spreading — COVID-19, like N95 masks, are allowed. Limited face paint is acceptable.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lights, tripods and professional recording equipment\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Noise-making devices, such as air horns, whistles or cowbells\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons and self-defense items of any kind, including mace, knives and tasers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, bicycles and helmets\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can bring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-C\">Baby bags\u003c/a>, plastic baby bottles and formula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-S\">Strollers\u003c/a>, which can be checked in at Portals 13 or 52 during the event\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-U\">Umbrellas\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">Binoculars and their cases\u003c/a>, in most instances, but they will likely be searched.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Is food available at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Outside food and drink are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-F\">\u003cem>not\u003c/em> permitted \u003c/a>into the Chase Center. There are a lot of food stalls and bars within the center, with drink stands scattered throughout.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/food-and-beverage/\">a list of restaurants on the Chase Center website\u003c/a>, although in this reporter’s experience, not all of them will be open on the day of a game. But there will be reliable game-day bites, like chicken tenders and fries.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">\u003c/a>Where can I find parking near Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center has \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/\">a guide to its parking garage\u003c/a> on 99 Warriors Way, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/#event-day\">what to do during event days.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Chase Center website, event parking begins two hours before the start time, and the rate “is an additional $75, on top of any accrued public parking fees.” You can try \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/chase-center-tickets-san-francisco/venue/230012?addOnType=PARKING\">reserving parking on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040685\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan cheers after the Golden State Valkyries scored during their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also book a spot using \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/destination/san-francisco/chase-center-parking\">the third-party parking website SpotHero\u003c/a>, which may have cheaper parking options farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can take a chance on street parking in the area \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/drive-park/oracle-park-and-chase-center-special-event-parking-regulations\">by using this guide from SFMTA\u003c/a>, but be sure to be careful of parking tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about rideshare services like Uber, Lyft and Waymo at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting to Chase Center using a rideshare service will likely be pretty smooth — it’s getting \u003cem>out \u003c/em>of the area after a game that is almost certainly going to be a challenge. And due to surge pricing, it will also be far more expensive to get an Uber or Lyft as you exit the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/lyft/\">multiple designated pickup and drop-off zones\u003c/a> located around Chase Center, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Warriors Way & Terry Francois Boulevard\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mission Bay Boulevard (South)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fourth Street & Campus Way\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 1 and 2: Pier 52\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 3 and 4: Mission Rock Resort\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What are my public transit options at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules are always subject to change, so check the timetable for your route on the day of the event, and be cognizant of when service ends so you don’t get stuck far from home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A map of public transit options can be \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612744/2024/08/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg\">found on the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SF Muni\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any Chase Center patron who shows their event ticket at Muni turnstiles and boarding platforms can ride Muni \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/fares/your-chase-center-event-ticket-your-muni-fare\">without charge\u003c/a>. (This offer expires at 2 a.m.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a Muni Metro rail stop serving the venue on the T Third Street line, which connects Chinatown and Sunnydale. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/t-third-street\">the Muni Metro schedule\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040688\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040688\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Couple Cesar and Corrine Cueva pose for a photo, holding a sign that Cesar made, ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several BART stations offer convenient connections to get to the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 22 connects to the 16th Street and Mission BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Gene Friend Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 15 serves as a connection to the Montgomery Street BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Warriors Way.[aside postID=arts_13984639 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-31-BL_QED-KQED.jpg']You can transfer to the new Union Square Muni Metro rail station from Powell BART station via the underground corridor to take the T Third Street line or S Shuttle Mission Bay line to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find more information and schedules \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">on the BART website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you take Caltrain to San Francisco, you can walk 15–20 minutes along Fourth Street and turn left on Gene Friend Way to Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also transfer from the San Francisco Caltrain station to the Muni Metro T Third Street platform, which is located across the street, and take Muni to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are attending a weekend game, be sure to check \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares?active_tab=route_explorer_tab\">Caltrain’s weekend schedule to make sure you know when the last train leaves\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riders 18 and under can ride for \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares\">$1 one-way or buy a day pass for $2\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center offers guests \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">free bike valet\u003c/a> for up to 300 bikes beginning an hour before start time. The valet is available along 16th Street, on the south side of Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lyft.com/bikes/bay-wheels\">a Lyft/Bay Wheels bike share station\u003c/a> on Warriors Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center addresses \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/accessible-services/\">questions about accessibility\u003c/a> in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">online A-to-Z Guide\u003c/a>, which includes information about accessible parking, hearing assistance, ADA-compliant restrooms and service animals. For more questions, fans can contact \u003ca href=\"mailto:guestexperiences@warriors.com\">guestexperiences@warriors.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the guide, all entrances are wheelchair accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12049845\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12049845\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-1536x986.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) attempts to make a basket during the first quarter at the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The venue said guests can request complimentary wheelchair escorts by visiting the kiosks located at Portal 13 and Portal 53, or by texting 833-CC4-FANS. Wheelchairs are not available for rent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/#drive\">the parking garage\u003c/a> is available on a first-come, first-served basis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">the guide\u003c/a>, “disabled and accessible seating is available at Chase Center in all ticket price categories, based on availability.” Guests buying these seats “may purchase companion seating as well. Chase Center will attempt to reasonably accommodate any concern regarding guests with disabilities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">\u003c/a>I didn’t get tickets. Are there any Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will definitely be more watch parties popping up throughout the WNBA season (including at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thetwelfthmarin\">a Marin women’s sports bar\u003c/a> scheduled to open this summer), but spots that have aired Valkyries games or hosted viewing parties before include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/?brand=Thrive%20city\">Thrive City\u003c/a> (the venue connected to Chase Center) may show away games on a large screen outside the arena\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>George & Walt’s in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Line 51 Brewing in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Xingones Cantina in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>OUB Taproom in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>San Pedro Street in San José\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "It’s the Golden State Valkyries’ second-ever season as a professional women’s basketball team. Here’s how to attend a game in San Francisco.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>This spring, San Francisco’s Chase Center will once again morph into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>, the home of the Golden State Valkyries — who are beginning their second year in the Women’s National Basketball Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the team’s inaugural year, fans enthusiastically welcomed the Valkyries to the Bay Area sports scene. Home games \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/valkyries-have-stunned-the-wnba-nothing-has-held-us-back/#:~:text=The%20team%20sold%20out%20its,rebrand%20of%20the%20Chase%20Center.\">consistently sold out\u003c/a> and were so loud that even opposing players and their fans have taken notice on \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/warriors/comments/1lfu3np/why_is_the_valkyries_crowd_so_much_better_than/\">social\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.threads.com/@beltzner/post/DLG5Ur_RgiP/holy-moly-the-chase-center-sounds-as-loud-for-the-valkyries-at-least-on-the-broa\">media\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the Valkyries are back with \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/news/valkyries-draft-results-2026\">new players\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia\">new teams to play against \u003c/a>and another chance to make it to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">the WNBA playoffs\u003c/a> once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a newer fan, keep reading for our guide to how to attend a home game at Chase Center, including information about where to get tickets, parking and public transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">Where can I find parking near Chase Center for a Valkyries game?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area (if you didn’t get tickets)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you missed out on the Valkyries hype last year altogether, jump in this month by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">KQED’s 2025 guide on WNBA fandom and culture\u003c/a> to help you prepare. (Just keep in mind that some aspects of the guide may be outdated, like the team’s roster.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Valkyries’ 2026 schedule?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">current 2026 schedule\u003c/a> for home games is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>(Pre-season game) Saturday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 10, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, May 25, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 31, at 12:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 28, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040682\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040682\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score during their WNBA season opener on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Home games usually have halftime shows featuring performances by local acts, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVcW0azDyUr/\">a Bollywood dance group\u003c/a>. Vallejo rapper E-40 \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/e40-valkyries-halftime-performance/3871105/\">notably performed\u003c/a> at the inaugural game last year against the Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ away games are as scheduled:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 21, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, May 22, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, June 6, at 12 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 21, at 1 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 4, at 10 a.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 6, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 8, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 9, at 4 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 21, at 4:30 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can keep an eye on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule/broadcast-schedule\">the broadcast schedule\u003c/a> on the Valkyries’ website to see your options for streaming or live TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I get tickets to a Valkyries game?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets\">get tickets for home games\u003c/a> at the Valkyries’ official website, where options include mini-plans for multiple games or season tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Single-game tickets currently start at relatively affordable prices. As of publication, for example, tickets for the April 25 game start at \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C00644BAD39B7E6?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_SCHED_PG_PR1&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=SCHED_PG_PR1\">around $33 but run to over $248\u003c/a>. (Fans have noted that tickets have gotten \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/valkyries/article/valkyries-most-expensive-ticket-wnba-game-20325914.php\">more expensive as the hype for the team has grown\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-800x497.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1020x634.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1920x1193.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries at their home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some fans who have season tickets may sell individual games to other people. You may be able to find these offers on social media sites like Facebook groups. Valqueeries organizer Megan Doherty-Baker said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom#valkyries-schedule\">in 2025\u003c/a> that fan groups like hers may also have a quick connection to people who are looking to sell or just generously give out their tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But be careful, and verify the person before sending any money — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11956083/taylor-swift-levis-stadium-eras-santa-clara-tickets#taylorswifttickets\">ticket scams have been common in recent years\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What time should I arrive at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Doors are scheduled to open \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/\">at least 90 minutes\u003c/a> before a game starts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are new to the sport, like this reporter was last year, know that basketball games move \u003cem>fast,\u003c/em> and it is best to be in your seat at tip-off. Games, which are split into quarters, are around two to two-and-a-half hours long and it can be easy to miss something once play gets started (unlike, for example, baseball).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find Golden State Valkyries merch?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some select games and themed nights at Chase Center may have promotions or complimentary merch for all fans or people who arrive early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, on April 25, attendees will get \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">a free Valkyries shirt\u003c/a> that says, “Born in the Bay.” On July 20, the team will distribute a very cute plushie of Hello Kitty wearing Valkyries merch. Another special night to keep note of: June 28 is the 30th anniversary of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-M\">on the hunt for merch\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/en/\">the Valkyries have plenty\u003c/a> in the team’s signature\u003ca href=\"https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-prince-hole-purple-pop-music-history\"> pop-girl purple\u003c/a> — check out the stands at Portals 10, 21, 41, 42, 47 and 59.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040691\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1873px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040691\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1873\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg 1873w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1873px) 100vw, 1873px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans pose for a photo outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Golden State Shop right outside Chase Center, which stays \u003ca href=\"https://goldenstate.com/shop/\">open late after games\u003c/a>, also sells merch. Keep in mind: The line after a game will be \u003cem>long\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some merch can also be found online, including at the \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/\">official Valkyries shop\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://wnbastore.nba.com/Golden-State-Valkyries/t-13183796+z-9844603-3130371206?vap=1&ab=%7Bwt-static_graphic%7D%7Bpt-tlp%7D%7Bal-a_spot%7D%7Bct-team%7D%7Btt-valkyries%7D%7Baid-091825%7D\">the WNBA store\u003c/a>, local brands like \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/collections/golden-state-valkyries-tees?srsltid=AfmBOooGOo08ctr3-Pf7IG-YyXXCATiZ8eSWRFcPNrBIMKdxNZOXHdbs\">Oaklandish\u003c/a> and retailers like \u003ca href=\"https://www.homage.com/collections/wnba-x-peanuts/products/peanuts-peppermint-patty-x-golden-state-valkyries\">Homage\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/golden-state-valkyries?srsltid=AfmBOootDt1JVfLmLqK5fBIm0qMA_zYCr5qdK117rjHshqK-zhYh9fxA\">Dick’s Sporting Goods\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, Bay Area designers unveil their own specialized fan merch around WNBA season and can be found on Instagram and at block parties and street festivals. They are unofficial — and unaffiliated with the WNBA — but some designs may be worth keeping an eye on.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Chase Center bag policy for Valkyries games?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Backpacks (except for single-compartment drawstring bags) of any kind are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">prohibited from entering the arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any other bag, including diaper bags, must be smaller than 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attendees with bags that do not meet the requirements can check them at 16th Street & Terry Francois Boulevard for $10. Bag check opens an hour before doors open and closes an hour after the event ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040681\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040681\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1020x665.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1920x1252.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) advances toward the basket at the Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Here are some more things \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-P\">you cannot bring into Chase Center\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Reusable bottles and cans\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Refillable water bottles or cups\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs over 11 x 17 inches or attached to any pole or stick\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Masks that cover the whole face (Face coverings to lower your risks of catching — or spreading — COVID-19, like N95 masks, are allowed. Limited face paint is acceptable.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lights, tripods and professional recording equipment\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Noise-making devices, such as air horns, whistles or cowbells\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons and self-defense items of any kind, including mace, knives and tasers\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, bicycles and helmets\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can bring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-C\">Baby bags\u003c/a>, plastic baby bottles and formula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-S\">Strollers\u003c/a>, which can be checked in at Portals 13 or 52 during the event\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-U\">Umbrellas\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">Binoculars and their cases\u003c/a>, in most instances, but they will likely be searched.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Is food available at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Outside food and drink are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-F\">\u003cem>not\u003c/em> permitted \u003c/a>into the Chase Center. There are a lot of food stalls and bars within the center, with drink stands scattered throughout.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/food-and-beverage/\">a list of restaurants on the Chase Center website\u003c/a>, although in this reporter’s experience, not all of them will be open on the day of a game. But there will be reliable game-day bites, like chicken tenders and fries.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">\u003c/a>Where can I find parking near Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center has \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/\">a guide to its parking garage\u003c/a> on 99 Warriors Way, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/#event-day\">what to do during event days.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Chase Center website, event parking begins two hours before the start time, and the rate “is an additional $75, on top of any accrued public parking fees.” You can try \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/chase-center-tickets-san-francisco/venue/230012?addOnType=PARKING\">reserving parking on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040685\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan cheers after the Golden State Valkyries scored during their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also book a spot using \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/destination/san-francisco/chase-center-parking\">the third-party parking website SpotHero\u003c/a>, which may have cheaper parking options farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can take a chance on street parking in the area \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/drive-park/oracle-park-and-chase-center-special-event-parking-regulations\">by using this guide from SFMTA\u003c/a>, but be sure to be careful of parking tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about rideshare services like Uber, Lyft and Waymo at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting to Chase Center using a rideshare service will likely be pretty smooth — it’s getting \u003cem>out \u003c/em>of the area after a game that is almost certainly going to be a challenge. And due to surge pricing, it will also be far more expensive to get an Uber or Lyft as you exit the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/lyft/\">multiple designated pickup and drop-off zones\u003c/a> located around Chase Center, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Warriors Way & Terry Francois Boulevard\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mission Bay Boulevard (South)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fourth Street & Campus Way\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 1 and 2: Pier 52\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 3 and 4: Mission Rock Resort\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What are my public transit options at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules are always subject to change, so check the timetable for your route on the day of the event, and be cognizant of when service ends so you don’t get stuck far from home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A map of public transit options can be \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612744/2024/08/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg\">found on the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SF Muni\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any Chase Center patron who shows their event ticket at Muni turnstiles and boarding platforms can ride Muni \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/fares/your-chase-center-event-ticket-your-muni-fare\">without charge\u003c/a>. (This offer expires at 2 a.m.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a Muni Metro rail stop serving the venue on the T Third Street line, which connects Chinatown and Sunnydale. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/t-third-street\">the Muni Metro schedule\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040688\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040688\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Couple Cesar and Corrine Cueva pose for a photo, holding a sign that Cesar made, ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several BART stations offer convenient connections to get to the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 22 connects to the 16th Street and Mission BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Gene Friend Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 15 serves as a connection to the Montgomery Street BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Warriors Way.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>You can transfer to the new Union Square Muni Metro rail station from Powell BART station via the underground corridor to take the T Third Street line or S Shuttle Mission Bay line to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find more information and schedules \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">on the BART website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you take Caltrain to San Francisco, you can walk 15–20 minutes along Fourth Street and turn left on Gene Friend Way to Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also transfer from the San Francisco Caltrain station to the Muni Metro T Third Street platform, which is located across the street, and take Muni to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are attending a weekend game, be sure to check \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares?active_tab=route_explorer_tab\">Caltrain’s weekend schedule to make sure you know when the last train leaves\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riders 18 and under can ride for \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares\">$1 one-way or buy a day pass for $2\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center offers guests \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">free bike valet\u003c/a> for up to 300 bikes beginning an hour before start time. The valet is available along 16th Street, on the south side of Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lyft.com/bikes/bay-wheels\">a Lyft/Bay Wheels bike share station\u003c/a> on Warriors Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center addresses \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/accessible-services/\">questions about accessibility\u003c/a> in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">online A-to-Z Guide\u003c/a>, which includes information about accessible parking, hearing assistance, ADA-compliant restrooms and service animals. For more questions, fans can contact \u003ca href=\"mailto:guestexperiences@warriors.com\">guestexperiences@warriors.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the guide, all entrances are wheelchair accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12049845\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12049845\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-1536x986.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) attempts to make a basket during the first quarter at the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The venue said guests can request complimentary wheelchair escorts by visiting the kiosks located at Portal 13 and Portal 53, or by texting 833-CC4-FANS. Wheelchairs are not available for rent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/#drive\">the parking garage\u003c/a> is available on a first-come, first-served basis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">the guide\u003c/a>, “disabled and accessible seating is available at Chase Center in all ticket price categories, based on availability.” Guests buying these seats “may purchase companion seating as well. Chase Center will attempt to reasonably accommodate any concern regarding guests with disabilities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">\u003c/a>I didn’t get tickets. Are there any Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will definitely be more watch parties popping up throughout the WNBA season (including at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thetwelfthmarin\">a Marin women’s sports bar\u003c/a> scheduled to open this summer), but spots that have aired Valkyries games or hosted viewing parties before include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/?brand=Thrive%20city\">Thrive City\u003c/a> (the venue connected to Chase Center) may show away games on a large screen outside the arena\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>George & Walt’s in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Line 51 Brewing in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Xingones Cantina in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>OUB Taproom in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>San Pedro Street in San José\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "mpox-clade-i-san-francisco-2026-symptoms-rash-where-to-find-monkeypox-vaccine",
"title": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/healthnews\">Health\u003c/a> officials in San Francisco say the city now has its \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">first\u003c/a> case of a newer, potentially more severe mpox strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This variant of mpox — the disease formerly called monkeypox — is known as clade I, and has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">circulating in eastern and central Africa since 2023\u003c/a>, where it’s caused more than 53,000 cases among children and adults and at least 200 deaths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The disease usually spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sex.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that the city’s first clade I mpox case had been confirmed in a resident earlier this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The patient, who had not received the mpox vaccine, was hospitalized and is improving, according to SFPDH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency said that this clade I mpox patient had reported close contact with another person who had traveled internationally.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A more potentially severe strain\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that until now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">15 cases of clade I mpox \u003c/a>have been detected in the U.S. since late 2024. Over a quarter of these cases were diagnosed in March 2026 alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, all U.S. cases of clade I mpox — which are not linked — were in people who had either recently traveled to areas associated with the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa or parts of Western Europe with more recent outbreaks, or, like the San Francisco case, were linked to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11988132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11988132\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1315\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-800x548.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1020x699.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1536x1052.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A pharmacist prepares a dose of the Jynneos mpox vaccine at a pop-up vaccination clinic opened by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at the West Hollywood Library on Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">What are the symptoms of mpox?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"#WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In other parts of the world, clade I has proven a more severe strain of mpox compared to the clade II strain that caused an outbreak\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\"> in the Bay Area in 2022\u003c/a>, and that’s still circulating at low levels. But SFDPH said officials are still determining whether clade I mpox causes more severe disease than clade II mpox in the U.S., and stress that the risk of exposure to mpox “is low for individuals who are not in higher‑risk groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While anyone can get mpox, most reported cases in the United States are among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender persons who have sex with men,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921529\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"People lined up to get the monkeypox vaccine.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for an mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">A two-dose vaccine\u003c/a>, which offers protection against both clade I and clade II, remains available for eligible people at higher risk of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This development reminds us just how important it is to be fully vaccinated against mpox if you are at risk,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With summer travel and events quickly approaching, now is a great time to seek the mpox vaccine,” Philip said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about this new Bay Area case of clade I mpox, how mpox spreads, what symptoms to be aware of and who should get an mpox vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is clade I mpox, and where has it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close contact with someone who is infected and causes mpox disease. As the name might suggest, the virus is related to the smallpox virus, but it’s generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, according to the California Department of Public Health. In addition to fever, chills, headache and muscle pain, mpox can cause a painful rash — also known as lesions — that appears on many parts of the body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the World Health Organization declared a clade I \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988079/2024-mpox-vaccine-formerly-monkeypox-symptoms-rash\">mpox\u003c/a> outbreak that began in late 2023 in eastern and central Africa \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know\">a global emergency\u003c/a>. Historically, this strain has caused more severe illness and higher fatality rates than the other type of mpox, clade II.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11939831\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11939831\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg\" alt=\"a man in a blue shirt wearing a mask receives a vaccine shot from a nurse with black hair in a dark blue shirt\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fresno resident Gonzalo Garcia receives the mpox vaccine on Aug. 24, 2022. \u003ccite>(Larry Valenzuela/CalMatters/CatchLight Local)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since Jan. 1, 2024, more than 53,000 clade I mpox cases and more than 200 deaths have been confirmed in several countries throughout Central and Eastern Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was originally the epicenter of the outbreak), Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since March 2025, over 30 countries have reported over 37,000 cases of the strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first clade I mpox case outside the African continent \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/mpox-sweden-congo-9923d0ee8deb362b2af5416bb273d629\">was detected in Sweden\u003c/a> in August 2024. In November of that year, the first U.S. clade I mpox case was confirmed \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12014961/the-first-us-clade-i-mpox-case-has-been-found-in-the-bay-area-heres-what-to-know\">in a Bay Area resident\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is clade I different from the clade II mpox that hit the Bay Area in 2022?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\">The 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States \u003c/a>— which particularly affected gay and bisexual men, as well as trans and nonbinary people who have sex with men — was caused by clade II mpox, the less severe strain. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know#mpox-wastewater\">Read more about the 2022 outbreak.\u003c/a>[aside postID=news_12074909 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/PandaExpressRestaurantSignGetty.jpg']Wastewater \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjEQASABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgpNUFhWX0cyUl9HeIkBigEGOTY3NzIwwAEB&selectedChartId=967720\">data\u003c/a> shows that four years after the initial 2022 outbreak, clade II of mpox is still occasionally detected in the Bay Area’s wastewater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDPH, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Mpox-Data.aspx\">San Francisco\u003c/a> has seen over 1,000 cases of clade II mpox since the 2022 outbreak, but the state’s most recent data shows the average of new cases has dropped to under two people a week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Clade I cases in Central and Eastern African countries “at first spread through heterosexual intimate or sexual contact between adults, then spread likely occurred within households, including to children,” the CDC said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the agency notes that while the first cases outside that continent were primarily linked to travel to Central and Eastern African countries, as of late 2025 central Western European countries began reporting clade I mpox cases “among individuals who had no documented history of international travel” — cases which the CDC concludes were “likely related to intimate or sexual exposure among men who have sex with men.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC now “expect[s] additional cases” of clade I in Europe and the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of mpox, and how does it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close — usually skin-to-skin — contact with someone who is infected. This could be direct contact with the infectious rashes or scabs someone with mpox develops, scabs, having intimate physical contact with someone who has mpox, such as kissing, cuddling or sex. Coming into contact with infected bodily fluids or items that have been touched by rashes or fluids from an infected person can also expose you to the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The symptoms of clade I and clade II mpox are similar, SFDPH’s Janssen said, and they can often start as flu-like conditions, which is worth bearing in mind as the Bay Area enters respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus also appears as a rash or sores or spots that can resemble pimples or blisters on the skin anywhere on the body, including the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals and anus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12014828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12014828\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/AP24321658476826-scaled-e1776375452652.jpg\" alt=\"Blobs of brown with white and greenish smaller dots in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This colorized electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows Mpox virus particles, orange, found within infected cells, green. \u003ccite>(NIAID via AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These spots often start as red, flat spots that then become bumps before the bumps become filled with pus and turn into scabs when they break. These symptoms can be extremely painful. If you’re unsure about recognizing an mpox rash, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">the CDC has a photo guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">Mpox can have a long incubation period\u003c/a> — that is, the time between when you’re exposed to mpox and when you start to develop symptoms — that can range from three to 17 days, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you suspect you might have mpox symptoms — even if they’re subtle — see your health care provider right away or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-medicine\">consult one of SFPDH’s clinics for mpox testing\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The vaccine currently available in the U.S. (brand name: Jynneos) is a two-dose series, with roughly a month between doses. Maximal immunity will build two weeks after your second dose. If you only got one dose previously, go ahead and seek out your second dose ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vaccine “provides the best protection against the mpox virus and protects against both clade I and clade II,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">a statement \u003c/a>from the SFDPH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends the two-dose mpox vaccine to gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse people who in the past 6 months have had:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>More than one sexual partner and/or\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted infections.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s vaccine recommendations also include anyone who has had sex at a commercial sex venue like a sex club or bathhouse. See the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\"> CDC’s full mpox vaccine eligibility recommendations.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921194\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921194\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A long line of men wait in line in front of a Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for a the mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">San Francisco additionally recommends vaccination\u003c/a> for anyone living with HIV, anyone taking PrEP or who’s eligible to take it and sex workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the CDC updated its vaccination recommendations to extend to people traveling to countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">with clade I outbreaks\u003c/a>. The agency recommends getting both doses of the vaccine “if you anticipate experiencing any of the following” while traveling to these countries:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sex with a new partner\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex at a commercial sex venue, such as a sex club or bathhouse\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs or other trade\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party or festival.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The mpox vaccine was also originally only available for people aged 18 and older, but in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency-use authorization that allows providers to also give the vaccine to young people aged under 18 who are “determined to be at high risk” of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find an mpox vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have a regular health care provider, SFDPH recommends you ask them first about getting the mpox vaccine. Your vaccine will be free, but you may be charged a regular copay for seeing your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re eligible for the vaccine, your health insurance should cover the costs thanks to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">the CDC’s recommendations\u003c/a>. If you don’t have a regular health care provider or insurance, SFDPH said you can visit one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">these three recommended clinics in the city\u003c/a>. You can opt to schedule an appointment or choose a walk-in clinic, depending on what works best for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(As with the COVID-19 vaccine, receiving an mpox vaccine won’t make you \u003ca href=\"https://documentedny.com/2021/04/04/public-charge-rule-explained/\">a public charge\u003c/a> or affect any future immigration processes you may enter into, and you won’t be asked about your immigration status to receive the mpox vaccine.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If you live in or near San Francisco:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">a full list of mpox vaccine sites near you in San Francisco\u003c/a>. SFDPH confirms that you don’t have to be a city resident to get vaccinated for mpox in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also find an mpox vaccine clinic near you using \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">the state’s myturn.ca.gov site.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Getting an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some pharmacies offer mpox vaccination appointments online, along with other vaccines like COVID-19 and flu. But if you choose this route, you’ll be asked for insurance details — and it’s important to verify with your insurer ahead of time that they’ll cover the cost of an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, as the out-of-pocket costs you’ll be quoted may be steep. If you find your insurance doesn’t fully cover the cost, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">SFDPH said you can seek your vaccine at one of their clinics, while supplies last.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12021632\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12021632\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Department of Public Health on Feb. 6, 2014. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your mpox vaccine covered by insurance at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens — the way you can’t get your COVID-19 or flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either — and may have to seek it directly from a Kaiser provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re able to make an appointment online at a pharmacy for your mpox vaccine, you should consider calling that location ahead of time to verify that they do indeed have supplies in stock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">\u003cem>Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí \u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nkhan\">\u003cem>Nisa Khan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The case, detected in San Francisco, is the 16th in the U.S. so far of the newer, potentially more severe strain. ",
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"title": "San Francisco Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Case — What to Know and How to Find a Vaccine | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/healthnews\">Health\u003c/a> officials in San Francisco say the city now has its \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">first\u003c/a> case of a newer, potentially more severe mpox strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This variant of mpox — the disease formerly called monkeypox — is known as clade I, and has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">circulating in eastern and central Africa since 2023\u003c/a>, where it’s caused more than 53,000 cases among children and adults and at least 200 deaths.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The disease usually spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sex.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Thursday, the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced that the city’s first clade I mpox case had been confirmed in a resident earlier this week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The patient, who had not received the mpox vaccine, was hospitalized and is improving, according to SFPDH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency said that this clade I mpox patient had reported close contact with another person who had traveled internationally.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A more potentially severe strain\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that until now, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">15 cases of clade I mpox \u003c/a>have been detected in the U.S. since late 2024. Over a quarter of these cases were diagnosed in March 2026 alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, all U.S. cases of clade I mpox — which are not linked — were in people who had either recently traveled to areas associated with the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa or parts of Western Europe with more recent outbreaks, or, like the San Francisco case, were linked to travel.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11988132\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11988132\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1315\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-800x548.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1020x699.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1412778743-1536x1052.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A pharmacist prepares a dose of the Jynneos mpox vaccine at a pop-up vaccination clinic opened by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health at the West Hollywood Library on Aug. 3, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. \u003ccite>(Mario Tama/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">What are the symptoms of mpox?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"#WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>In other parts of the world, clade I has proven a more severe strain of mpox compared to the clade II strain that caused an outbreak\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\"> in the Bay Area in 2022\u003c/a>, and that’s still circulating at low levels. But SFDPH said officials are still determining whether clade I mpox causes more severe disease than clade II mpox in the U.S., and stress that the risk of exposure to mpox “is low for individuals who are not in higher‑risk groups.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“While anyone can get mpox, most reported cases in the United States are among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender persons who have sex with men,” the agency said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921529\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"People lined up to get the monkeypox vaccine.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57502_007_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for an mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">A two-dose vaccine\u003c/a>, which offers protection against both clade I and clade II, remains available for eligible people at higher risk of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This development reminds us just how important it is to be fully vaccinated against mpox if you are at risk,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco health officer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“With summer travel and events quickly approaching, now is a great time to seek the mpox vaccine,” Philip said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what we know about this new Bay Area case of clade I mpox, how mpox spreads, what symptoms to be aware of and who should get an mpox vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is clade I mpox, and where has it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close contact with someone who is infected and causes mpox disease. As the name might suggest, the virus is related to the smallpox virus, but it’s generally less severe and much less contagious than smallpox, according to the California Department of Public Health. In addition to fever, chills, headache and muscle pain, mpox can cause a painful rash — also known as lesions — that appears on many parts of the body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the World Health Organization declared a clade I \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11988079/2024-mpox-vaccine-formerly-monkeypox-symptoms-rash\">mpox\u003c/a> outbreak that began in late 2023 in eastern and central Africa \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know\">a global emergency\u003c/a>. Historically, this strain has caused more severe illness and higher fatality rates than the other type of mpox, clade II.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11939831\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11939831\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg\" alt=\"a man in a blue shirt wearing a mask receives a vaccine shot from a nurse with black hair in a dark blue shirt\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/01/082422_MonkeyPoxClinicFresno_LV__012-CM-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fresno resident Gonzalo Garcia receives the mpox vaccine on Aug. 24, 2022. \u003ccite>(Larry Valenzuela/CalMatters/CatchLight Local)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Since Jan. 1, 2024, more than 53,000 clade I mpox cases and more than 200 deaths have been confirmed in several countries throughout Central and Eastern Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (which was originally the epicenter of the outbreak), Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since March 2025, over 30 countries have reported over 37,000 cases of the strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The first clade I mpox case outside the African continent \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/mpox-sweden-congo-9923d0ee8deb362b2af5416bb273d629\">was detected in Sweden\u003c/a> in August 2024. In November of that year, the first U.S. clade I mpox case was confirmed \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12014961/the-first-us-clade-i-mpox-case-has-been-found-in-the-bay-area-heres-what-to-know\">in a Bay Area resident\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How is clade I different from the clade II mpox that hit the Bay Area in 2022?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11919070/monkeypox-in-the-bay-area-from-symptoms-to-how-to-find-a-vaccine-heres-what-we-know\">The 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States \u003c/a>— which particularly affected gay and bisexual men, as well as trans and nonbinary people who have sex with men — was caused by clade II mpox, the less severe strain. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000319/mpox-is-declared-a-global-emergency-again-heres-what-to-know#mpox-wastewater\">Read more about the 2022 outbreak.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Wastewater \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjEQASABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgpNUFhWX0cyUl9HeIkBigEGOTY3NzIwwAEB&selectedChartId=967720\">data\u003c/a> shows that four years after the initial 2022 outbreak, clade II of mpox is still occasionally detected in the Bay Area’s wastewater.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDPH, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Mpox-Data.aspx\">San Francisco\u003c/a> has seen over 1,000 cases of clade II mpox since the 2022 outbreak, but the state’s most recent data shows the average of new cases has dropped to under two people a week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Clade I cases in Central and Eastern African countries “at first spread through heterosexual intimate or sexual contact between adults, then spread likely occurred within households, including to children,” the CDC said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the agency notes that while the first cases outside that continent were primarily linked to travel to Central and Eastern African countries, as of late 2025 central Western European countries began reporting clade I mpox cases “among individuals who had no documented history of international travel” — cases which the CDC concludes were “likely related to intimate or sexual exposure among men who have sex with men.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC now “expect[s] additional cases” of clade I in Europe and the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Whatarethesymptomsofmpox\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of mpox, and how does it spread?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus spreads through close — usually skin-to-skin — contact with someone who is infected. This could be direct contact with the infectious rashes or scabs someone with mpox develops, scabs, having intimate physical contact with someone who has mpox, such as kissing, cuddling or sex. Coming into contact with infected bodily fluids or items that have been touched by rashes or fluids from an infected person can also expose you to the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The symptoms of clade I and clade II mpox are similar, SFDPH’s Janssen said, and they can often start as flu-like conditions, which is worth bearing in mind as the Bay Area enters respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mpox virus also appears as a rash or sores or spots that can resemble pimples or blisters on the skin anywhere on the body, including the face, inside the mouth, hands, feet, chest, genitals and anus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12014828\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12014828\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/AP24321658476826-scaled-e1776375452652.jpg\" alt=\"Blobs of brown with white and greenish smaller dots in the background.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">This colorized electron microscope image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2024 shows Mpox virus particles, orange, found within infected cells, green. \u003ccite>(NIAID via AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>These spots often start as red, flat spots that then become bumps before the bumps become filled with pus and turn into scabs when they break. These symptoms can be extremely painful. If you’re unsure about recognizing an mpox rash, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">the CDC has a photo guide.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/signs-symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/mpox/symptoms/index.html\">Mpox can have a long incubation period\u003c/a> — that is, the time between when you’re exposed to mpox and when you start to develop symptoms — that can range from three to 17 days, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you suspect you might have mpox symptoms — even if they’re subtle — see your health care provider right away or \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-medicine\">consult one of SFPDH’s clinics for mpox testing\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WhoseligibleforanmpoxvaccineintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>Who’s eligible for an mpox vaccine in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The vaccine currently available in the U.S. (brand name: Jynneos) is a two-dose series, with roughly a month between doses. Maximal immunity will build two weeks after your second dose. If you only got one dose previously, go ahead and seek out your second dose ASAP.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The vaccine “provides the best protection against the mpox virus and protects against both clade I and clade II,” according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/news-san-francisco-department-of-public-health-confirms-first-clade-i-mpox-case-in-san-francisco\">a statement \u003c/a>from the SFDPH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends the two-dose mpox vaccine to gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men, as well as transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse people who in the past 6 months have had:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>More than one sexual partner and/or\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A new diagnosis of one or more sexually transmitted infections.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s vaccine recommendations also include anyone who has had sex at a commercial sex venue like a sex club or bathhouse. See the\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\"> CDC’s full mpox vaccine eligibility recommendations.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11921194\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11921194\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A long line of men wait in line in front of a Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/08/RS57498_005_KQED_MonkeypoxVaccineLineSFGen_08012022-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hundreds of people wait in a walk-in line for a the mpox vaccine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on Aug. 1, 2022. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">San Francisco additionally recommends vaccination\u003c/a> for anyone living with HIV, anyone taking PrEP or who’s eligible to take it and sex workers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2024, the CDC updated its vaccination recommendations to extend to people traveling to countries \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/outbreaks/2023/index.html\">with clade I outbreaks\u003c/a>. The agency recommends getting both doses of the vaccine “if you anticipate experiencing any of the following” while traveling to these countries:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sex with a new partner\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex at a commercial sex venue, such as a sex club or bathhouse\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs or other trade\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sex in association with a large public event, such as a rave, party or festival.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The mpox vaccine was also originally only available for people aged 18 and older, but in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency-use authorization that allows providers to also give the vaccine to young people aged under 18 who are “determined to be at high risk” of infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find an mpox vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have a regular health care provider, SFDPH recommends you ask them first about getting the mpox vaccine. Your vaccine will be free, but you may be charged a regular copay for seeing your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re eligible for the vaccine, your health insurance should cover the costs thanks to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mpox/vaccines/index.html\">the CDC’s recommendations\u003c/a>. If you don’t have a regular health care provider or insurance, SFDPH said you can visit one of \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">these three recommended clinics in the city\u003c/a>. You can opt to schedule an appointment or choose a walk-in clinic, depending on what works best for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(As with the COVID-19 vaccine, receiving an mpox vaccine won’t make you \u003ca href=\"https://documentedny.com/2021/04/04/public-charge-rule-explained/\">a public charge\u003c/a> or affect any future immigration processes you may enter into, and you won’t be asked about your immigration status to receive the mpox vaccine.)\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>If you live in or near San Francisco:\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">a full list of mpox vaccine sites near you in San Francisco\u003c/a>. SFDPH confirms that you don’t have to be a city resident to get vaccinated for mpox in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also find an mpox vaccine clinic near you using \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">the state’s myturn.ca.gov site.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Getting an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some pharmacies offer mpox vaccination appointments online, along with other vaccines like COVID-19 and flu. But if you choose this route, you’ll be asked for insurance details — and it’s important to verify with your insurer ahead of time that they’ll cover the cost of an mpox vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, as the out-of-pocket costs you’ll be quoted may be steep. If you find your insurance doesn’t fully cover the cost, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-mpox-vaccines-testing-and-treatment\">SFDPH said you can seek your vaccine at one of their clinics, while supplies last.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12021632\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12021632\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/SFDepartmentPublicHealth-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Department of Public Health on Feb. 6, 2014. \u003ccite>(Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get your mpox vaccine covered by insurance at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens — the way you can’t get your COVID-19 or flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either — and may have to seek it directly from a Kaiser provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re able to make an appointment online at a pharmacy for your mpox vaccine, you should consider calling that location ahead of time to verify that they do indeed have supplies in stock.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">\u003cem>Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí \u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>and \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/nkhan\">\u003cem>Nisa Khan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "want-to-save-on-groceries-you-can-grow-your-own-garden",
"title": "Want to Save on Groceries? You Can Grow Your Own Garden",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> \u003cstrong>How We Get By\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you. The cost of food at Bay Area grocery stores went up by almost 6% in the last year alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm\">according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scouring the shelves for deals, buying off-brand or purchasing items in bulk are some options for reducing your food bills. But here in the Bay Area, with our year-round good weather, you could consider growing your own food — even if you’ve never done it before, or don’t have a big yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how can you get started growing your own garden, and what could you grow here in the Bay Area that might help reduce your grocery bill? We talked to the experts for their top tips and practical information for starting your own garden, no matter how small.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">Three simple foods to grow here in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">The beginner mistakes everyone makes (that you can avoid)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why grow your own garden?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take it from the experts: Growing your own food at home isn’t just beneficial to your wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost as important as saving money on your food is, what you grow is likely to be healthier,” said Maggie Mah, one of the University of California’s Master Gardeners who specialize in helping people grow their own food here in the Bay Area and nationwide. The food you grow is “going to be fresher,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maggie Mah, Marketing & Media Co-Chair and UC Master Gardener, stands beside her car with trays of tomato plants at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also have greater control over the food itself, she said, by growing a pesticide-free garden and producing the fruits and veggies you know you’ll eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But on top of that is really the sense of being empowered,” Mah said. “I find that it’s just great to be able to go out and pick big handfuls of green beans that I grew myself, or tomatoes or whatever it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a sense of reclaiming yourself in this day and age,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Start small\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first thing you should do, Mah said, is assess how much space you have and let that determine your gardening potential — and your path forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t worry: You don’t need all that much space. All it takes is \u003cem>some \u003c/em>access to the outdoors, even if that’s just a windowsill or railing which can hold a pot big enough for basics like herbs, some lettuce, tomatoes or even potatoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, advised Mah, decide what you want to grow. If your square footage is small, consider plants that produce a lot of fruits or veggies relative to their size — like tomatoes, rather than a space-intensive plant like a watermelon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Helen Lew removes deep-rooted weeds while seated in a demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re really pressed for space, remember you can always utilize vertical space for crops like pole beans or squash. You could even try \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/companion-planting-vegetable-garden\">inter-cropping or companion planting,\u003c/a> which is pairing similar plants to make the most of your space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and then as you build success and you build learning about your particular location and what works and what doesn’t work, you can really build upon that,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plants like tomatoes or broccoli thrive \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/container-gardening-basics\">even in somewhat small pots or buckets\u003c/a>. And lettuces need just a few inches of soil. Arugula in particular is a very quick, easy and nutritious crop, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You throw the seeds in the ground and a couple of days later, you’ve got arugula — and you can keep on harvesting it,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assess conditions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While you can work with different space limitations, one nonnegotiable when it comes to growing your own food is consistent access to sun, Mah said. “It takes six to eight hours of sun to be successful growing pretty much anything,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, “you don’t want to plant something that’s going to take a bunch of months to be able to harvest,” Mah said — so you’ll want to look for varieties that mature quickly, and that might depend on exactly where you’re located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080117\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Robeson tomato seedlings grow among dozens of varieties cultivated at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can find that information on the seed packet itself — but be aware that how quickly your food will grow is entirely location-dependent. And the Bay Area’s fog and microclimates, which can create dramatically different temperatures just a few miles away, can heavily influence a plant’s timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before choosing a plant, you should also consult a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/edible-gardening-and-planting-calendars\">planting calendar\u003c/a>, Mah said, and make sure you’re planting something that can grow at this time of year. The calendars are \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seed_chart.pdf\">location-specific\u003c/a> and often available where seeds and plants are sold or lent, so be sure you’re looking at information for your specific geographic region.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Prep your soil\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve decided on a plant, make sure your soil is prepared. You can get soil and — more importantly — compost from many different sources. \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-master-gardeners-stanislaus-county/composting-basics\">Compost is decomposed organic material\u003c/a> that helps add nutrients to your soil and boosts its health, and as a result, boosts the growth potential for your plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For one, you can get free compost via giveaway programs like the one for Berkeley residents \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/trash-recycling/free-compost-program\">at the Berkeley Marina.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddie Mendoza, who works at the marina, said the compost is usually delivered on Fridays from the Central Valley and that the supply lasts through the weekend. They sometimes also have \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/mulch\">woodchips and mulch\u003c/a> available, which can also boost the health of your soil or help with drainage, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080270\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080270 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-1536x969.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Velveteen Bean produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles. \u003ccite>(Brian Hicks/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But you have to bring your own tools to the marina — Mendoza suggested you pack a shovel and a few buckets — and it’s best to get there early, especially during peak weekends during the summer, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By Monday morning, it’s all gone,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even make your own compost pile, although Mah warned it might take a few months if starting from scratch. It’s easier than many people imagine, said Maggie Owsley, whose East Bay group \u003ca href=\"https://www.thevelveteenbean.com/\">The Velveteen Bean\u003c/a> produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that you need a huge bag of compost to start seeds, to start a garden,” Owsley said. “You actually can do a lot with what you’re making at home or what your neighbors are making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Decide whether you’ll choose seeds or plants — and get to know your local resources\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Seeds are the least expensive option when it comes to starting your garden — but be aware that where they lack in cost, they more than make up in time. So only go the seed route if you’re not in a hurry to harvest, said Odette Pollar, executive director of the East Bay-based Plant Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have the time, “seeds are always the easiest, the least expensive way to go,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you can purchase seeds at a garden store, you could also head to your local seed lending library for free seeds, where you’ll be highly encouraged to then harvest seeds from whatever resulting plant you grow and donate them back to the library (more on this below). The San Francisco Public Library system maintains a \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/potrero/potrero-branch-seed-lending-library\">Seed Lending Library at its Potrero Branch\u003c/a>, as does the \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.org/seed-lending/\">Oakland Public Library\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://smcl.org/blogs/post/san-mateo-county-libraries-has-seed-libraries/\">many Peninsula libraries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080123\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anne Blenman Hare, a UC Master Gardener since 2003, trims tomato plant stems at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Ecology Center, too, now hosts the \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/basil/\">Bay Area Seed Interchange Library\u003c/a>, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. and also does periodic seed exchange events, where participants can come learn about seed saving and shop for free seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to see these little things go in the dirt and you think, oh, this is never going to happen,” Mah said. “Then, all of a sudden, ‘boom.’ It’s really fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one advantage to starting with a plant: “You know they were alive when you brought them home,” Pollar said. You can get plants for relatively cheap at nurseries or at large stores like Home Depot.[aside postID=news_12040961 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-1312721999-1020x680.jpg']You can also find free (albeit mostly non-edible) plants at places like \u003ca href=\"https://theplantexchange.com/\">The Plant Exchange\u003c/a>, along with the pots to grow them in. While this East Bay group isn’t fully operational anymore since executive director Pollar retired in 2023, the group still promotes grassroots exchanges, cohosts events with other organizations and throws one-day plant sale events every few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At sales like these, you can find an abundance of tools like rakes and shovels, soil, decorative rocks and pots — and they’re all priced to sell, Pollar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our goal is for all neighborhoods to have exchanges,” Pollar said. “Just do it — throw it in your driveway. It’s a great way to get to know neighbors, but also to reuse and recycle and rehome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar also suggested scouring thrift stores, secondhand stores and online forums like Craigslist for free or low-cost gardening supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most effective way to lower your overall food costs at home, Pollar said, is to start growing plants like herbs that take up relatively little space but tend to be expensive at the grocery store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And from there, you can graduate from herbs to experimenting with slightly bigger plants like tomatoes, and even dwarf citrus fruit trees in pots.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lean on community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The absolutely best free resource you’ll find, Pollar said, is people with experience in gardening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might find them at your local nursery or garden store, or even at your local gardening club, where Pollar suggested you can meet people with experience and get your questions answered immediately. “And then that keeps \u003cem>you \u003c/em>motivated as well,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also source expertise from your neighbors or your local \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040961/in-the-bay-area-community-gardens-can-help-you-make-the-most-of-spring\">community garden\u003c/a>, Owsley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susan Patton-Fox and Kathy Fleming trim tomato plant stems among dense foliage at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Connect with people in your neighborhood,” Owsley said. “Connect with your community garden. Connect with someone who has nice pots outside their house. They are probably more than willing to talk to you about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gardeners are also extremely generous, and they’ll generally give you a clipping if you ask for it,” Pollar said. “They’ll usually offer — ‘do you want some?’ That’s a great way to start.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could draw wisdom from a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf\">UC Master Gardener\u003c/a> like Mah. She’s one of a whole staff that is available to help people grow their own food, for free. Their planting calendar, books and other no-cost resources are on hand to help anyone start a garden here in the Bay Area and beyond.[aside postID=news_12078915 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/012426_FREEOAKLANDUP_GH_011-KQED.jpg']The UC Master Gardeners’ best resource is their free help line, which “will give very detailed personal responses to people who call in with problems” about gardening, Mah said. You can reach the help line at 650-276-7430 for San Francisco and San Mateo counties, or 510-670-5645 for Alameda County. You can also reach the master gardeners via email or by \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/counties\">visiting their office in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the right advice, struggling gardeners often end up with the opposite problem: an overabundance of what they’ve grown. And soon, you’ll be the one giving back to the community, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and focus on what you and your family are going to eat reasonably,” she said. “Because it becomes kind of addictive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you have one successfully producing plant, you can propagate it for your or others’ future use — or find out \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/seed-saving-basics\">how to save seeds\u003c/a> to use in the future or donate back to your local seed library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there’s one thing Rebecca Newburn, who founded the \u003ca href=\"https://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/\">Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library\u003c/a>, has learned from growing her own garden and the gardening community, it’s generosity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You plant a lettuce plant, and you’re gonna get 500 from one,” she said. “It’s the most generous part of the universe — just planting a seed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">\u003c/a>What \u003cem>not\u003c/em> to do when gardening\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Mah said the key to gardening — and where many new gardeners get tripped up — is putting “the right plant in the right place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means not only keeping your plant healthy, but also giving it the particular balance of sun, drainage and compost it needs to thrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar warned about over- and under-watering, especially for beginner gardeners. Bugs can also be a problem, she said, but growing a garden in a planter or on a deck can help mitigate pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080121\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy Fleming, the UC Master Gardener Program’s first president, laughs as volunteers prepare plants for the Spring Garden Market sale at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep your expectations realistic and start slow, Pollar said: “What you want to do is have fun with this and not say, ‘OK, now half my vegetable intake I will be growing immediately,’” she said. “Maybe not so much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re really intent on making a dent in your food bill, you’ll need to plan ahead, Mah said. “There’s a rotation to pay attention to — what you’re planting and when,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/vegetable-crop-rotation\">Rotating your crops\u003c/a> not only ensures you’ll have food all year round, but it is also critical to keeping your soil healthy. Luckily, even “\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/cover-crops-soil-enhancement\">cover crops\u003c/a>” — the ones intended to replenish the nutrients in your soil, like fava beans — can be delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>How to grow three simple produce staples at home in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Broccoli\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can grow \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">broccoli\u003c/a> both in the spring and the fall, so no matter when you get your garden started, the planting season won’t be too far away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even start your broccoli seeds indoors to avoid any near-freezing temperatures — which may stunt the growth of young plants — then transfer them outside after six weeks into a bucket or planter at least 1 foot deep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080267\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080267 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Broccoli is a vegetable that can grow in the spring and fall. \u003ccite>(Ann Gahagen/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Make sure your plants are 12 inches apart (or maybe just start with one plant) and that your soil has adequate drainage and enough water, watering two to three times a week or less if leaves begin to turn yellow. And always harvest broccoli as soon as it’s mature and firm. You can keep harvesting even after you remove the main head, as smaller offshoots will start to form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to rotate this crop — by planting something else or moving its location between seasons — to avoid pest buildups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener broccoli guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/broccoli\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/broccoli\">Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tomatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The big thing to know about \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">tomatoes \u003c/a>is that they’re sun-lovers — they need at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight per day — so make sure you can provide that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can start your tomatoes as seeds or full plants, but wait to put them outside until daytime temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and nights are above 50 degrees. Until then, keep them indoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-160x98.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-1536x942.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tomatoes. \u003ccite>(Thomas Johnson/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tomatoes should be planted in at least 18 inches of soil to let them take root and need to be watered consistently, so don’t let them dry out. You may need stakes to support the plants if they’re especially tall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Harvest tomatoes when they have a little bit of “give” to them and aren’t rock hard, but before they’re fully soft. The more you harvest them, the more fruit they produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener tomato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/tomatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/5795_FactSheet_Growing%20Container%20Tomatoes%20in%20SF_v6.6.pdf\">San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Potatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most fun and easy staple to grow is the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">potato\u003c/a>, which can be planted all the way through the spring and summer, depending on your local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t even need seeds for this one, as you can actually plant an entire potato or just a piece of it. Just make sure any potato chunk you plant has an “eye”: the discolored, pocked part of the potato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A honeybee pollinates a flowering plant in the demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just dig about 8 inches down into a bucket or planter (it should be at least 18 inches deep with soil) and place your potato pieces around a foot apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep adding soil once the plant starts to grow and water the tubers once or twice a week — but only lightly to avoid rot. Once the leaves of the plant have gone yellow, use your hands to dig up the potatoes and discard any green ones, as those are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener potato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/potatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/growing-potatoes-grow-bags\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Not interested in any of these veggies? Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/your-alameda-county-garden-month-month\">Alameda County month-by-month planting calendar\u003c/a> for more ideas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> \u003cstrong>How We Get By\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, a KQED series exploring how people are coping with rising costs in the Bay Area and California. Find the\u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">\u003cem> full series here\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been feeling the sticker shock of grocery prices these days, it’s not just you. The cost of food at Bay Area grocery stores went up by almost 6% in the last year alone, \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/news-release/consumerpriceindex_sanfrancisco.htm\">according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scouring the shelves for deals, buying off-brand or purchasing items in bulk are some options for reducing your food bills. But here in the Bay Area, with our year-round good weather, you could consider growing your own food — even if you’ve never done it before, or don’t have a big yard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So how can you get started growing your own garden, and what could you grow here in the Bay Area that might help reduce your grocery bill? We talked to the experts for their top tips and practical information for starting your own garden, no matter how small.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">Three simple foods to grow here in the Bay Area\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">The beginner mistakes everyone makes (that you can avoid)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Why grow your own garden?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Take it from the experts: Growing your own food at home isn’t just beneficial to your wallet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Almost as important as saving money on your food is, what you grow is likely to be healthier,” said Maggie Mah, one of the University of California’s Master Gardeners who specialize in helping people grow their own food here in the Bay Area and nationwide. The food you grow is “going to be fresher,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080116\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080116\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_005-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Maggie Mah, Marketing & Media Co-Chair and UC Master Gardener, stands beside her car with trays of tomato plants at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also have greater control over the food itself, she said, by growing a pesticide-free garden and producing the fruits and veggies you know you’ll eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But on top of that is really the sense of being empowered,” Mah said. “I find that it’s just great to be able to go out and pick big handfuls of green beans that I grew myself, or tomatoes or whatever it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a sense of reclaiming yourself in this day and age,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Start small\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The first thing you should do, Mah said, is assess how much space you have and let that determine your gardening potential — and your path forward.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And don’t worry: You don’t need all that much space. All it takes is \u003cem>some \u003c/em>access to the outdoors, even if that’s just a windowsill or railing which can hold a pot big enough for basics like herbs, some lettuce, tomatoes or even potatoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, advised Mah, decide what you want to grow. If your square footage is small, consider plants that produce a lot of fruits or veggies relative to their size — like tomatoes, rather than a space-intensive plant like a watermelon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080118\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080118\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_007-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Helen Lew removes deep-rooted weeds while seated in a demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>And if you’re really pressed for space, remember you can always utilize vertical space for crops like pole beans or squash. You could even try \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/companion-planting-vegetable-garden\">inter-cropping or companion planting,\u003c/a> which is pairing similar plants to make the most of your space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and then as you build success and you build learning about your particular location and what works and what doesn’t work, you can really build upon that,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plants like tomatoes or broccoli thrive \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/container-gardening-basics\">even in somewhat small pots or buckets\u003c/a>. And lettuces need just a few inches of soil. Arugula in particular is a very quick, easy and nutritious crop, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You throw the seeds in the ground and a couple of days later, you’ve got arugula — and you can keep on harvesting it,” Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Assess conditions\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While you can work with different space limitations, one nonnegotiable when it comes to growing your own food is consistent access to sun, Mah said. “It takes six to eight hours of sun to be successful growing pretty much anything,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, “you don’t want to plant something that’s going to take a bunch of months to be able to harvest,” Mah said — so you’ll want to look for varieties that mature quickly, and that might depend on exactly where you’re located.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080117\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_006-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Paul Robeson tomato seedlings grow among dozens of varieties cultivated at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can find that information on the seed packet itself — but be aware that how quickly your food will grow is entirely location-dependent. And the Bay Area’s fog and microclimates, which can create dramatically different temperatures just a few miles away, can heavily influence a plant’s timeline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before choosing a plant, you should also consult a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf/edible-gardening-and-planting-calendars\">planting calendar\u003c/a>, Mah said, and make sure you’re planting something that can grow at this time of year. The calendars are \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/seed_chart.pdf\">location-specific\u003c/a> and often available where seeds and plants are sold or lent, so be sure you’re looking at information for your specific geographic region.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Prep your soil\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve decided on a plant, make sure your soil is prepared. You can get soil and — more importantly — compost from many different sources. \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/ucce-master-gardeners-stanislaus-county/composting-basics\">Compost is decomposed organic material\u003c/a> that helps add nutrients to your soil and boosts its health, and as a result, boosts the growth potential for your plants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For one, you can get free compost via giveaway programs like the one for Berkeley residents \u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/city-services/trash-recycling/free-compost-program\">at the Berkeley Marina.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eddie Mendoza, who works at the marina, said the compost is usually delivered on Fridays from the Central Valley and that the supply lasts through the weekend. They sometimes also have \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/program/uc-master-gardener-program/mulch\">woodchips and mulch\u003c/a> available, which can also boost the health of your soil or help with drainage, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080270\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080270 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1262\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-160x101.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/CompostFlickr-1536x969.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Velveteen Bean produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles. \u003ccite>(Brian Hicks/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But you have to bring your own tools to the marina — Mendoza suggested you pack a shovel and a few buckets — and it’s best to get there early, especially during peak weekends during the summer, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By Monday morning, it’s all gone,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even make your own compost pile, although Mah warned it might take a few months if starting from scratch. It’s easier than many people imagine, said Maggie Owsley, whose East Bay group \u003ca href=\"https://www.thevelveteenbean.com/\">The Velveteen Bean\u003c/a> produces and sells small-batch compost and teaches people how to build and maintain their own compost piles.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a myth that you need a huge bag of compost to start seeds, to start a garden,” Owsley said. “You actually can do a lot with what you’re making at home or what your neighbors are making.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Decide whether you’ll choose seeds or plants — and get to know your local resources\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Seeds are the least expensive option when it comes to starting your garden — but be aware that where they lack in cost, they more than make up in time. So only go the seed route if you’re not in a hurry to harvest, said Odette Pollar, executive director of the East Bay-based Plant Exchange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have the time, “seeds are always the easiest, the least expensive way to go,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While you can purchase seeds at a garden store, you could also head to your local seed lending library for free seeds, where you’ll be highly encouraged to then harvest seeds from whatever resulting plant you grow and donate them back to the library (more on this below). The San Francisco Public Library system maintains a \u003ca href=\"https://sfpl.org/locations/potrero/potrero-branch-seed-lending-library\">Seed Lending Library at its Potrero Branch\u003c/a>, as does the \u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.org/seed-lending/\">Oakland Public Library\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://smcl.org/blogs/post/san-mateo-county-libraries-has-seed-libraries/\">many Peninsula libraries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080123\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_018-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anne Blenman Hare, a UC Master Gardener since 2003, trims tomato plant stems at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The Berkeley Ecology Center, too, now hosts the \u003ca href=\"https://ecologycenter.org/basil/\">Bay Area Seed Interchange Library\u003c/a>, which is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m. and also does periodic seed exchange events, where participants can come learn about seed saving and shop for free seeds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to see these little things go in the dirt and you think, oh, this is never going to happen,” Mah said. “Then, all of a sudden, ‘boom.’ It’s really fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is one advantage to starting with a plant: “You know they were alive when you brought them home,” Pollar said. You can get plants for relatively cheap at nurseries or at large stores like Home Depot.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>You can also find free (albeit mostly non-edible) plants at places like \u003ca href=\"https://theplantexchange.com/\">The Plant Exchange\u003c/a>, along with the pots to grow them in. While this East Bay group isn’t fully operational anymore since executive director Pollar retired in 2023, the group still promotes grassroots exchanges, cohosts events with other organizations and throws one-day plant sale events every few months.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At sales like these, you can find an abundance of tools like rakes and shovels, soil, decorative rocks and pots — and they’re all priced to sell, Pollar said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Our goal is for all neighborhoods to have exchanges,” Pollar said. “Just do it — throw it in your driveway. It’s a great way to get to know neighbors, but also to reuse and recycle and rehome.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar also suggested scouring thrift stores, secondhand stores and online forums like Craigslist for free or low-cost gardening supplies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the most effective way to lower your overall food costs at home, Pollar said, is to start growing plants like herbs that take up relatively little space but tend to be expensive at the grocery store.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And from there, you can graduate from herbs to experimenting with slightly bigger plants like tomatoes, and even dwarf citrus fruit trees in pots.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Lean on community\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The absolutely best free resource you’ll find, Pollar said, is people with experience in gardening.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might find them at your local nursery or garden store, or even at your local gardening club, where Pollar suggested you can meet people with experience and get your questions answered immediately. “And then that keeps \u003cem>you \u003c/em>motivated as well,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also source expertise from your neighbors or your local \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12040961/in-the-bay-area-community-gardens-can-help-you-make-the-most-of-spring\">community garden\u003c/a>, Owsley said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080122\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080122\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_017-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Susan Patton-Fox and Kathy Fleming trim tomato plant stems among dense foliage at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Connect with people in your neighborhood,” Owsley said. “Connect with your community garden. Connect with someone who has nice pots outside their house. They are probably more than willing to talk to you about it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Gardeners are also extremely generous, and they’ll generally give you a clipping if you ask for it,” Pollar said. “They’ll usually offer — ‘do you want some?’ That’s a great way to start.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Alternatively, you could draw wisdom from a \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mgsmsf\">UC Master Gardener\u003c/a> like Mah. She’s one of a whole staff that is available to help people grow their own food, for free. Their planting calendar, books and other no-cost resources are on hand to help anyone start a garden here in the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The UC Master Gardeners’ best resource is their free help line, which “will give very detailed personal responses to people who call in with problems” about gardening, Mah said. You can reach the help line at 650-276-7430 for San Francisco and San Mateo counties, or 510-670-5645 for Alameda County. You can also reach the master gardeners via email or by \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/counties\">visiting their office in person.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the right advice, struggling gardeners often end up with the opposite problem: an overabundance of what they’ve grown. And soon, you’ll be the one giving back to the community, Mah said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Start small, and focus on what you and your family are going to eat reasonably,” she said. “Because it becomes kind of addictive.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you have one successfully producing plant, you can propagate it for your or others’ future use — or find out \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/seed-saving-basics\">how to save seeds\u003c/a> to use in the future or donate back to your local seed library.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If there’s one thing Rebecca Newburn, who founded the \u003ca href=\"https://www.richmondgrowsseeds.org/\">Richmond Grows Seed Lending Library\u003c/a>, has learned from growing her own garden and the gardening community, it’s generosity, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You plant a lettuce plant, and you’re gonna get 500 from one,” she said. “It’s the most generous part of the universe — just planting a seed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Thebeginnermistakeseveryonemakesthatyoucanavoid\">\u003c/a>What \u003cem>not\u003c/em> to do when gardening\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Mah said the key to gardening — and where many new gardeners get tripped up — is putting “the right plant in the right place.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That means not only keeping your plant healthy, but also giving it the particular balance of sun, drainage and compost it needs to thrive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pollar warned about over- and under-watering, especially for beginner gardeners. Bugs can also be a problem, she said, but growing a garden in a planter or on a deck can help mitigate pests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080121\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080121\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_014-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy Fleming, the UC Master Gardener Program’s first president, laughs as volunteers prepare plants for the Spring Garden Market sale at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep your expectations realistic and start slow, Pollar said: “What you want to do is have fun with this and not say, ‘OK, now half my vegetable intake I will be growing immediately,’” she said. “Maybe not so much.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you’re really intent on making a dent in your food bill, you’ll need to plan ahead, Mah said. “There’s a rotation to pay attention to — what you’re planting and when,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/article/vegetable-crop-rotation\">Rotating your crops\u003c/a> not only ensures you’ll have food all year round, but it is also critical to keeping your soil healthy. Luckily, even “\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/cover-crops-soil-enhancement\">cover crops\u003c/a>” — the ones intended to replenish the nutrients in your soil, like fava beans — can be delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ThreesimplefoodstogrowhereintheBayArea\">\u003c/a>How to grow three simple produce staples at home in the Bay Area\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Broccoli\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can grow \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">broccoli\u003c/a> both in the spring and the fall, so no matter when you get your garden started, the planting season won’t be too far away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can even start your broccoli seeds indoors to avoid any near-freezing temperatures — which may stunt the growth of young plants — then transfer them outside after six weeks into a bucket or planter at least 1 foot deep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080267\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12080267 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BroccoliFlickr1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Broccoli is a vegetable that can grow in the spring and fall. \u003ccite>(Ann Gahagen/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Make sure your plants are 12 inches apart (or maybe just start with one plant) and that your soil has adequate drainage and enough water, watering two to three times a week or less if leaves begin to turn yellow. And always harvest broccoli as soon as it’s mature and firm. You can keep harvesting even after you remove the main head, as smaller offshoots will start to form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Be sure to rotate this crop — by planting something else or moving its location between seasons — to avoid pest buildups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener broccoli guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/broccoli\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/broccoli\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/mg-sonoma/broccoli\">Sonoma County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Tomatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The big thing to know about \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">tomatoes \u003c/a>is that they’re sun-lovers — they need at least 6 full hours of direct sunlight per day — so make sure you can provide that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can start your tomatoes as seeds or full plants, but wait to put them outside until daytime temperatures are regularly above 70 degrees and nights are above 50 degrees. Until then, keep them indoors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080273\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080273\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1227\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-160x98.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/TomatoesFlickr2-1536x942.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tomatoes. \u003ccite>(Thomas Johnson/Flickr)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Tomatoes should be planted in at least 18 inches of soil to let them take root and need to be watered consistently, so don’t let them dry out. You may need stakes to support the plants if they’re especially tall.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Harvest tomatoes when they have a little bit of “give” to them and aren’t rock hard, but before they’re fully soft. The more you harvest them, the more fruit they produce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener tomato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/guide-growing-tomatoes\">Alameda County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/tomatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-06/5795_FactSheet_Growing%20Container%20Tomatoes%20in%20SF_v6.6.pdf\">San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Potatoes\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Perhaps the most fun and easy staple to grow is the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">potato\u003c/a>, which can be planted all the way through the spring and summer, depending on your local microclimate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You don’t even need seeds for this one, as you can actually plant an entire potato or just a piece of it. Just make sure any potato chunk you plant has an “eye”: the discolored, pocked part of the potato.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12080115\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12080115\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/041526GROWN-YOUR-OWN-GARDEN_GH_003-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A honeybee pollinates a flowering plant in the demonstration garden at the Gardening Education Center on April 15, 2026, in San Mateo. \u003ccite>(Gustavo Hernandez/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Just dig about 8 inches down into a bucket or planter (it should be at least 18 inches deep with soil) and place your potato pieces around a foot apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep adding soil once the plant starts to grow and water the tubers once or twice a week — but only lightly to avoid rot. Once the leaves of the plant have gone yellow, use your hands to dig up the potatoes and discard any green ones, as those are toxic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Specific UC Master Gardener potato guides for:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-marin-master-gardeners/document/potato\">Marin County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/potatoes\">Santa Clara County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/blog/hort-coco-uc-master-gardener-program-contra-costa/article/growing-potatoes-grow-bags\">Contra Costa County\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Not interested in any of these veggies? Take a look at the \u003ca href=\"https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardener-program-alameda-county/your-alameda-county-garden-month-month\">Alameda County month-by-month planting calendar\u003c/a> for more ideas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"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.",
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"mindshift": {
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"order": 12
},
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"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?",
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"order": 14
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"politicalbreakdown": {
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"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 5
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
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"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
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},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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