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"content": "\u003cp>Advocates for safer streets are renewing calls for changes along San Francisco’s Market Street after a 32-year-old \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094311/fatal-collision-in-downtown-san-francisco-closes-down-market-street-intersection\">woman was struck and killed\u003c/a> while riding an electric scooter last week, saying the fatal crash highlights longstanding safety concerns along the busy corridor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yebin Kim, a San Francisco resident, was riding near Powell and Market streets downtown when she was struck by a commercial truck, San Francisco police said. At 8:18 a.m., officers found Kim in the street with life-threatening injuries. Medics attempted to save her, but ultimately pronounced her dead at the scene, police said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both the vehicle and the driver have been located, but the police said they are not providing additional comment at this time due to an open and active investigation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033116\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cars drive down Market Street in San Francisco on Jan. 20, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Claire Amable, spokesperson for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said Kim’s death is the second crash this summer involving a \u003ca href=\"https://sfbike.org/news/our-statement-on-the-death-of-yebin-kim-on-market-street/\">wheel\u003c/a> stuck in a Muni rail. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The group is holding a vigil to honor Kim at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the intersection where she died. They’re also calling for changes along the busy stretch — including shifting transit stops to center lanes so that they mix less with bikes and scooters, installing strips of rubber that make it harder for wheels to get stuck along rail crossings and making Market Street completely car-free again. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re in a place where people aren’t feeling as safe as they once did on Market Street,” Amable said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For nearly five years, cars could not \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11797529/san-franciscos-market-street-is-going-car-free-next-week-7-things-you-need-to-know\">drive\u003c/a> down Market Street following advocacy from groups like the Bicycle Coalition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last April, Mayor Daniel Lurie \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065918/waymo-uber-lyft-to-expand-on-sfs-market-street-despite-pushback-from-transit-groups\">opened\u003c/a> Market Street to select ride-hailing vehicles, including Waymo, Lyft Black and Uber Black as part of his downtown revitalization plan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Amable said that it’s unclear whether or not reopening the street to these vehicles has had any positive economic benefits but said that it has had an impact on safety. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though ride-hailing was not involved in this crash, Amable said, “Opening the street to luxury ride-hail last year has created so much confusion about who’s allowed to be on Market Street, and that is leading to unsafe street conditions on the corridor.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement to KQED, Mayor Daniel Lurie said his top priority is resident safety. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The tragedy on Market Street is heartbreaking, and my condolences go out to Yebin’s family and friends,” Lurie said. “As the city investigates the incident on Market Street, we will continue to move the work forward to create safer streets for all San Franciscans.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amable invited anyone who is concerned about “wrongful deaths on our streets, to come and to just be in community” at Friday’s vigil.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The tragedy on Market Street is heartbreaking, and my condolences go out to Yebin’s family and friends,” Lurie said. “As the city investigates the incident on Market Street, we will continue to move the work forward to create safer streets for all San Franciscans.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Advocates for safer streets are renewing calls for changes along San Francisco’s Market Street after a 32-year-old \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12094311/fatal-collision-in-downtown-san-francisco-closes-down-market-street-intersection\">woman was struck and killed\u003c/a> while riding an electric scooter last week, saying the fatal crash highlights longstanding safety concerns along the busy corridor. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yebin Kim, a San Francisco resident, was riding near Powell and Market streets downtown when she was struck by a commercial truck, San Francisco police said. At 8:18 a.m., officers found Kim in the street with life-threatening injuries. Medics attempted to save her, but ultimately pronounced her dead at the scene, police said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Both the vehicle and the driver have been located, but the police said they are not providing additional comment at this time due to an open and active investigation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12033116\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/03/005_KQED_CarFreeMarketSt_01222020_8366_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cars drive down Market Street in San Francisco on Jan. 20, 2022. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Claire Amable, spokesperson for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, said Kim’s death is the second crash this summer involving a \u003ca href=\"https://sfbike.org/news/our-statement-on-the-death-of-yebin-kim-on-market-street/\">wheel\u003c/a> stuck in a Muni rail. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The group is holding a vigil to honor Kim at 4:30 p.m. on Friday at the intersection where she died. They’re also calling for changes along the busy stretch — including shifting transit stops to center lanes so that they mix less with bikes and scooters, installing strips of rubber that make it harder for wheels to get stuck along rail crossings and making Market Street completely car-free again. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re in a place where people aren’t feeling as safe as they once did on Market Street,” Amable said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For nearly five years, cars could not \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11797529/san-franciscos-market-street-is-going-car-free-next-week-7-things-you-need-to-know\">drive\u003c/a> down Market Street following advocacy from groups like the Bicycle Coalition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Last April, Mayor Daniel Lurie \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065918/waymo-uber-lyft-to-expand-on-sfs-market-street-despite-pushback-from-transit-groups\">opened\u003c/a> Market Street to select ride-hailing vehicles, including Waymo, Lyft Black and Uber Black as part of his downtown revitalization plan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Amable said that it’s unclear whether or not reopening the street to these vehicles has had any positive economic benefits but said that it has had an impact on safety. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Though ride-hailing was not involved in this crash, Amable said, “Opening the street to luxury ride-hail last year has created so much confusion about who’s allowed to be on Market Street, and that is leading to unsafe street conditions on the corridor.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a statement to KQED, Mayor Daniel Lurie said his top priority is resident safety. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The tragedy on Market Street is heartbreaking, and my condolences go out to Yebin’s family and friends,” Lurie said. “As the city investigates the incident on Market Street, we will continue to move the work forward to create safer streets for all San Franciscans.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amable invited anyone who is concerned about “wrongful deaths on our streets, to come and to just be in community” at Friday’s vigil.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>A series of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/earthquakes\">earthquakes\u003c/a> struck the Bay Area on Thursday morning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The first and largest hit at 8:30 a.m., centered about \u003ca href=\"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75417557/executive\">2.4 miles north of San Leandro\u003c/a>, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency initially put it at magnitude 4.1, then revised it down to 3.9 and later to 3.8.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Residents reported feeling strong shaking in the East Bay, with rumblings across the water into San Francisco, according to social media \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/bayarea/comments/1vne0os/that_was_a_big_earthquake/\">posts\u003c/a> on Reddit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two smaller quakes followed at 9:07 a.m., four seconds apart. The USGS recorded one at \u003ca href=\"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75417577/executive\">magnitude 3.0\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75417582/executive\">second at 2.8\u003c/a>, also centered about 2 miles north of San Leandro.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>BART slowed service systemwide. The agency said trains were running at reduced speeds while crews completed safety track inspections and told riders to expect residual delays of up to 20 minutes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Hayward Fault runs through the area, from San Pablo Bay south to Fremont. The USGS said the initial quake was strong enough to trigger ShakeAlert, the West Coast early warning system, which issued its first message 3.7 seconds after the quake began. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No wireless emergency alerts went out to phones because the system only sends those when a quake is estimated at magnitude 5.0 or higher.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two smaller quakes followed at 9:07 a.m., four seconds apart. The USGS recorded one at \u003ca href=\"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75417577/executive\">magnitude 3.0\u003c/a> and a \u003ca href=\"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/nc75417582/executive\">second at 2.8\u003c/a>, also centered about 2 miles north of San Leandro.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BART slowed service systemwide. The agency said trains were running at reduced speeds while crews completed safety track inspections and told riders to expect residual delays of up to 20 minutes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Hayward Fault runs through the area, from San Pablo Bay south to Fremont. The USGS said the initial quake was strong enough to trigger ShakeAlert, the West Coast early warning system, which issued its first message 3.7 seconds after the quake began. \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cp>One of the easiest ways to remind myself that life is worth living is grabbing my current read and taking it out of the house with me. It’s an essential tote bag accessory, along with my keys, chapstick and sunscreen. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So imagine my surprise when I saw this post from a user whose friend took a picture of them reading — on what appears to be a lovely bench — captioned: “My friends called me performative cause this is how they found me lmao??” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s probably a joke — and it definitely sounds like something my friends would say ironically as well. (“Going to bring a book to the BTS concert so RM sees me reading in the audience and knows I’m not like other girls,” etc. etc.) But \u003ca href=\"https://www.instyle.com/elle-fanning-reading-interview-coach-11914208\">being a\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Lilys_verses/status/2082914715525611989\">“performative reader”\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">i.e., reading in public\u003c/a>, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_A7qvs5Gs\">various configurations\u003c/a> —\u003cem>has \u003c/em>turned into \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/books/performative-reading-trend-social-media-booktok-readers-weigh-in-rcna237393\">something of a jab\u003c/a> from \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/30/performative-reading-public-tiktok\">the Very Online\u003c/a>. And it’s for everyone, not just the apparent \u003ca href=\"https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/chore-coats-moustaches-and-female-fiction-meet-the-men-doing-the-performative-reading-meme-irl\">“pretentious guy on a dating app\u003c/a>” archetype.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://twitter.com/mariahyreva/status/2081521301714284976\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">\u003cem>The New Yorker’s \u003c/em>Brady Brickner-Wood\u003c/a> wrote, “If everything is potentially performative, how will we ever work up the courage to step outside of our sphere of normal, to risk being earnest and cringe, and experience something transformative?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And as Brickner-Wood said, “Reading a book is antithetical to scrolling; online platforms cannot replicate the slow, patient, and complex experience of reading a weighty novel.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So in celebration of reading outside — \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\">which \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a vibe\u003c/a> — I consulted some of the Bay Area’s writers, librarians and booksellers and went on the hunt to find excellent spots in the region that will let you sit down for a while with a good read. (As always, be sure to check the hours of any businesses on this list before heading out, to make sure it’s still open.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you don’t have something in your \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/tbr\">TBR list\u003c/a> that’s speaking to you right now, you can check out KQED’s Forum episode \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914694/whats-on-your-summer-reading-list-4\">interviewing Bay Area booksellers on some popular summer titles\u003c/a>. (I am currently reading \u003cem>The Brothers Karamazov\u003c/em> with a friend, which, I’ll admit, is not helping me beat the performative reading allegations.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jump straight to the best places to read in:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#east-bay\">East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#north-bay\">North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#peninsula\">South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The best places to read in San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Rae Alexandra, KQED Arts and Culture reporter and author of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077049/unsung-heroines-rebel-girls-of-the-bay-area\">\u003cem>Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vesuvio Cafe is a gorgeous bar right next to City Lights, the famous bookstore once frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a> (they also publish books, and \u003cem>Unsung Heroines\u003c/em> is one of them). Alexandra’s preference is at the end of the bar, near the front door.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094749\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vesuvio Bar in San Francisco, California, on July 13, 2017. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>It’s a habit that started by accident — going book shopping in City Lights and deciding I just \u003cem>had \u003c/em>to start reading what I’d bought immediately, so popping next door to the bar,” Alexandra said. “Vesuvio is quiet in the afternoon, so a nice place to read.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you want some nature reading with your City Lights read instead, take a 12-minute walk up Columbus Avenue to \u003cstrong>Ina Coolbrith Park,\u003c/strong> 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>. Alternatively, a little way up Columbus is \u003cstrong>Washington Square Park. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Golden Gate Park\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booknerderika?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Erika Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, high school librarian in Concord \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s hard \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to find a pretty spot in Golden Gate Park to read — but \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/conservatory-of-flowers/\">the Conservatory of Flowers\u003c/a> is probably my all-time favorite place to spread a blanket and rest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Librarian Naulu agrees. For her, the best spot is the area between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. “There are fountains and benches where you can sit and relax,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12022568\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View from the SkyStar Observation Wheel of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on March 4, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are music performances sometimes at the music concourse that can get distracting if you are looking for a quiet spot,” Naulu said. “I like the background music sometimes though.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What makes the park particularly excellent for readers is the plethora of bookstores also available nearby, including: \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La Promenade Café in the Outer Richmond\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Gloriana, owner of bookstore \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.betweenthebookendssf.com/\">\u003cem>Between the Bookends\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gloriana said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.lapromenadecafe.com/\">La Promenade Café\u003c/a> has “so many options for seating and it’s so cozy!” There are usually a good amount of customers inside, but “never too loud” and “food and coffee is pretty good,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And probably the most winning part of her rec: “It feels like you’re in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mRoCerrpY&list=RDY9mRoCerrpY&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQbG9maSBjb2ZmZWUgc2hvcKAHAdIHCQnECwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D\">a coffee shop lofi video\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Charlie’s Cafe in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Sirkka Miller, bookseller at Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Miller said Charlie’s Cafe has good coffee and, in the morning, is “well lit” and “nice and airy” in addition to being quiet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A bonus for Charlie’s is that it is \u003cem>right\u003c/em> next to Precita Park, which has \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/898/Precita-Park\">a butterfly garden\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081136\" 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-element-caption\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco. (Lonely Planet/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dolores Park in the Mission \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Grace Wathen, bookseller at \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thelovepotionlibrary.com/\">\u003cem>The Love Potion Library\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wathen said her usual spots are “anywhere I can read under a tree.” Near Dolores Park is \u003cstrong>Dolores Cafe\u003c/strong>, which includes outside seating and a pretty magnificent view of the park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you need a book, there are also stores near the park, including:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a>, around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The International Library of Young Authors in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This incredible sweet spot — which features titles written by young writers across the country — is a favorite of this reporter, as it’s also the home of literary magazines like McSweeney’s (founded by the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers) and The Believer. The “library” has comfy couches, plenty of sunlight and a pretty whimsical hidden room at the back. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The space sometimes hosts workshops for young people, so it’s best to check their schedule beforehand to make sure you’re able to pop in during the quiet, empty hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"east-bay\">The best places to read in East Bay\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clio’s in Oakland\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/gabbi.rose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Gabbi Sharp\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/67c8f1a4596bfd2f00183710\">\u003cem>the Black Authors Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> at the West Oakland Branch Library\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> is a stylish bar and bookstore. As Sharp said, “I always bring my own book to read. They have such cozy couches, a warm atmosphere, and they are open late!” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lake Chabot in Castro Valley\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Naulu recommends this \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/lake-chabot\">gated regional park\u003c/a> where people also boat and fish. “I like to walk the trails while listening to audiobooks,” Naulu said. “There are places to sit and read as well near the lake, but depending on the day, it can get busy and noisy with campers or other people.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You’ll need to pay for parking within the regional park itself, but there’s also parking available on the road just outside the park, which is free.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1378\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-1536x1058.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A woman reads a book at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lake Merritt in Oakland\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ablacklibrarian?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Makayla Walker\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, librarian in Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lake Merritt is a favorite, especially on sunny days, Walker said. There are also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/gardens.html\">specific gardens\u003c/a> within Lake Merritt to choose from. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps Lake Merritt is the place for a nice fantasy novel, considering \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/fairyland.html\">children’s amusement park Fairyland\u003c/a> is nearby as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bishop Ranch in San Ramon\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a large, lush open space, Naulu called Bishop Ranch a “hidden gem of San Ramon.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.bishopranch.com/venue/annabel-lake/\">Annabel Lake \u003c/a>nearby, with “a lot of benches around it that are perfect for reading,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081140\" 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-element-caption\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. (Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society.)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Book Society in Berkeley\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A wine lounge with \u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/menu\">a menu of snacks and nonalcoholic options\u003c/a> to choose from, the Book Society is a stylish space with popular titles for sale as well. There are also couches to lounge on, as well as soft chairs and bar stools. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"north-bay\">The best places to read in North Bay\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore in Mill Valley \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This cafe offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">a large menu\u003c/a>, allowing you to spend some time grazing while going through your book.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The cafe also doubles as an independent bookstore and an event space — so be sure to \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/events\">check out the calendar\u003c/a> if you’d like to see a live music show that day as well (or avoid one, if you’re seeking serenity!).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mill Valley Public Library\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Mill Valley branch has \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mill_valley_library/?hl=en\">wide glass windows, high ceilings and cozy lighting\u003c/a> that allow visitors to really feel like they are engulfed in the surrounding woods. In this reporter’s humble opinion, it’s probably one of the prettiest public libraries in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aqus Cafe in Petaluma\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/4149/climate-book-club\">\u003cem>KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A little away from the bustling downtown, Venton said that Aqus Cafe is “very welcoming to those bookishly quiet of us, who want to be around other people without necessarily talking to them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>would \u003c/em>like to be closer to downtown, Venton also recommended historic saloon \u003cstrong>McNears, \u003c/strong>adding that the staff there has “been kind and patient with me, letting me hide out upstairs reading and writing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oak Hill in Petaluma\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Venton said that this park has “everything you want.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are picnic tables, a kid’s playground, dog run, petanque court, basketball hoop and, most importantly for readers, “enormous live oak trees offering abundant shade over a large lawn,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"peninsula\">The best places to read in South Bay and the Peninsula\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fioli Estate in Woodside\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Recommendation from: Yung Le, co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This gorgeous, Austenland-like garden was actually Le’s previous recommendation to KQED for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend\">a literary-themed date\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\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 pricier option for a day out with a book. But people with \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">a SNAP (CalFresh) EBT card or a Discover and Go pass\u003c/a> from the library can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081141\" 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-element-caption\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003cbr> (Courtesy of Albert Dros via Fioli)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The A.M. Craft in San José\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Ly, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/silentbookclubsanjose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">\u003cem>San José Silent Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> moderator\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This cafe and restaurant is located in downtown San José, and Ly called \u003ca href=\"https://am-craft.mailchimpsites.com/about-us\">A.M. Craft\u003c/a> “my little hideout when I want to get some reading done on a Saturday morning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gimme a cold brew, pastry and a good read, and I’ll happily read for a few hours,” Ly said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Atherton Library in Atherton\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfbookgirl?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Ciera Pasturel\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, San Mateo County librarian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pasturel recommends specifically the patio of the Atherton Library, which is “under an enormous oak tree.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There is ample seating as well as a cafe that sells delicious coffee and pastries,” Pasturel added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Half Moon Bay Beach\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weather permitting, of course! Naulu said that she tends to take her e-reader to the beach instead of a physical book, since it “does get windy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it makes for a pleasant family outing, since she can settle with a book while her kids build sandcastles next to her.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of the easiest ways to remind myself that life is worth living is grabbing my current read and taking it out of the house with me. It’s an essential tote bag accessory, along with my keys, chapstick and sunscreen. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So imagine my surprise when I saw this post from a user whose friend took a picture of them reading — on what appears to be a lovely bench — captioned: “My friends called me performative cause this is how they found me lmao??” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So imagine my surprise when I saw this post from a user whose friend took a picture of them reading — on what appears to be a lovely bench — captioned: “My friends called me performative cause this is how they found me lmao??” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s probably a joke — and it definitely sounds like something my friends would say ironically as well. (“Going to bring a book to the BTS concert so RM sees me reading in the audience and knows I’m not like other girls,” etc. etc.) But \u003ca href=\"https://www.instyle.com/elle-fanning-reading-interview-coach-11914208\">being a\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Lilys_verses/status/2082914715525611989\">“performative reader”\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">i.e., reading in public\u003c/a>, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_A7qvs5Gs\">various configurations\u003c/a> —\u003cem>has \u003c/em>turned into \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/books/performative-reading-trend-social-media-booktok-readers-weigh-in-rcna237393\">something of a jab\u003c/a> from \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/30/performative-reading-public-tiktok\">the Very Online\u003c/a>. And it’s for everyone, not just the apparent \u003ca href=\"https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/chore-coats-moustaches-and-female-fiction-meet-the-men-doing-the-performative-reading-meme-irl\">“pretentious guy on a dating app\u003c/a>” archetype.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s probably a joke — and it definitely sounds like something my friends would say ironically as well. (“Going to bring a book to the BTS concert so RM sees me reading in the audience and knows I’m not like other girls,” etc. etc.) But \u003ca href=\"https://www.instyle.com/elle-fanning-reading-interview-coach-11914208\">being a\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Lilys_verses/status/2082914715525611989\">“performative reader”\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">i.e., reading in public\u003c/a>, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_A7qvs5Gs\">various configurations\u003c/a> —\u003cem>has \u003c/em>turned into \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/books/performative-reading-trend-social-media-booktok-readers-weigh-in-rcna237393\">something of a jab\u003c/a> from \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/30/performative-reading-public-tiktok\">the Very Online\u003c/a>. And it’s for everyone, not just the apparent \u003ca href=\"https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/chore-coats-moustaches-and-female-fiction-meet-the-men-doing-the-performative-reading-meme-irl\">“pretentious guy on a dating app\u003c/a>” archetype.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://twitter.com/mariahyreva/status/2081521301714284976\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://twitter.com/mariahyreva/status/2081521301714284976\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But as \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">\u003cem>The New Yorker’s \u003c/em>Brady Brickner-Wood\u003c/a> wrote, “If everything is potentially performative, how will we ever work up the courage to step outside of our sphere of normal, to risk being earnest and cringe, and experience something transformative?” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But as \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">\u003cem>The New Yorker’s \u003c/em>Brady Brickner-Wood\u003c/a> wrote, “If everything is potentially performative, how will we ever work up the courage to step outside of our sphere of normal, to risk being earnest and cringe, and experience something transformative?” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And as Brickner-Wood said, “Reading a book is antithetical to scrolling; online platforms cannot replicate the slow, patient, and complex experience of reading a weighty novel.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And as Brickner-Wood said, “Reading a book is antithetical to scrolling; online platforms cannot replicate the slow, patient, and complex experience of reading a weighty novel.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So in celebration of reading outside — \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\">which \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a vibe\u003c/a> — I consulted some of the Bay Area’s writers, librarians and booksellers and went on the hunt to find excellent spots in the region that will let you sit down for a while with a good read. (As always, be sure to check the hours of any businesses on this list before heading out, to make sure it’s still open.)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>So in celebration of reading outside — \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\">which \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a vibe\u003c/a> — I consulted some of the Bay Area’s writers, librarians and booksellers and went on the hunt to find excellent spots in the region that will let you sit down for a while with a good read. (As always, be sure to check the hours of any businesses on this list before heading out, to make sure it’s still open.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And if you don’t have something in your \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/tbr\">TBR list\u003c/a> that’s speaking to you right now, you can check out KQED’s Forum episode \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914694/whats-on-your-summer-reading-list-4\">interviewing Bay Area booksellers on some popular summer titles\u003c/a>. (I am currently reading \u003cem>The Brothers Karamazov\u003c/em> with a friend, which, I’ll admit, is not helping me beat the performative reading allegations.)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And if you don’t have something in your \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/tbr\">TBR list\u003c/a> that’s speaking to you right now, you can check out KQED’s Forum episode \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914694/whats-on-your-summer-reading-list-4\">interviewing Bay Area booksellers on some popular summer titles\u003c/a>. (I am currently reading \u003cem>The Brothers Karamazov\u003c/em> with a friend, which, I’ll admit, is not helping me beat the performative reading allegations.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jump straight to the best places to read in:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Jump straight to the best places to read in:\u003c/p>\n"
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"East Bay",
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null,
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null,
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#east-bay\">East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#east-bay\">East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#peninsula\">South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
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"text": "The best places to read in San Francisco",
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"text": "Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Rae Alexandra, KQED Arts and Culture reporter and author of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077049/unsung-heroines-rebel-girls-of-the-bay-area\">\u003cem>Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Rae Alexandra, KQED Arts and Culture reporter and author of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077049/unsung-heroines-rebel-girls-of-the-bay-area\">\u003cem>Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Vesuvio Cafe is a gorgeous bar right next to City Lights, the famous bookstore once frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a> (they also publish books, and \u003cem>Unsung Heroines\u003c/em> is one of them). Alexandra’s preference is at the end of the bar, near the front door.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Vesuvio Cafe is a gorgeous bar right next to City Lights, the famous bookstore once frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a> (they also publish books, and \u003cem>Unsung Heroines\u003c/em> is one of them). Alexandra’s preference is at the end of the bar, near the front door.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094749\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vesuvio Bar in San Francisco, California, on July 13, 2017. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094749\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vesuvio Bar in San Francisco, California, on July 13, 2017. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>It’s a habit that started by accident — going book shopping in City Lights and deciding I just \u003cem>had \u003c/em>to start reading what I’d bought immediately, so popping next door to the bar,” Alexandra said. “Vesuvio is quiet in the afternoon, so a nice place to read.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>It’s a habit that started by accident — going book shopping in City Lights and deciding I just \u003cem>had \u003c/em>to start reading what I’d bought immediately, so popping next door to the bar,” Alexandra said. “Vesuvio is quiet in the afternoon, so a nice place to read.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you want some nature reading with your City Lights read instead, take a 12-minute walk up Columbus Avenue to \u003cstrong>Ina Coolbrith Park,\u003c/strong> 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>. Alternatively, a little way up Columbus is \u003cstrong>Washington Square Park. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>If you want some nature reading with your City Lights read instead, take a 12-minute walk up Columbus Avenue to \u003cstrong>Ina Coolbrith Park,\u003c/strong> 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>. Alternatively, a little way up Columbus is \u003cstrong>Washington Square Park. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
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"text": "Golden Gate Park"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Golden Gate Park\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Golden Gate Park\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booknerderika?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Erika Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, high school librarian in Concord \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booknerderika?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Erika Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, high school librarian in Concord \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s hard \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to find a pretty spot in Golden Gate Park to read — but \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/conservatory-of-flowers/\">the Conservatory of Flowers\u003c/a> is probably my all-time favorite place to spread a blanket and rest.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>It’s hard \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to find a pretty spot in Golden Gate Park to read — but \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/conservatory-of-flowers/\">the Conservatory of Flowers\u003c/a> is probably my all-time favorite place to spread a blanket and rest.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Librarian Naulu agrees. For her, the best spot is the area between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. “There are fountains and benches where you can sit and relax,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Librarian Naulu agrees. For her, the best spot is the area between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. “There are fountains and benches where you can sit and relax,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12022568\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View from the SkyStar Observation Wheel of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on March 4, 2021.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12022568\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View from the SkyStar Observation Wheel of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on March 4, 2021.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There are music performances sometimes at the music concourse that can get distracting if you are looking for a quiet spot,” Naulu said. “I like the background music sometimes though.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“There are music performances sometimes at the music concourse that can get distracting if you are looking for a quiet spot,” Naulu said. “I like the background music sometimes though.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What makes the park particularly excellent for readers is the plethora of bookstores also available nearby, including: \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What makes the park particularly excellent for readers is the plethora of bookstores also available nearby, including: \u003c/p>\n"
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"Gardens of Golden Gate Park has its own bookstore in the park, near Lincoln Way and Ninth Avenue. The Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture is also nearby.",
"Green Apple Books on the Park is around a minute walk from the Ninth Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.",
"Borderlands Books (science fiction and fantasy focused) is around a 3-minute walk from the Stanyan Street entrance to Golden Gate Park.",
"Blackbird Bookstore and Cafe is around a 6-minute walk from the closest entrance on Lincoln Way to Golden Gate Park.",
"The Booksmith is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Stanyan Street to Golden Gate Park.",
"Globus Books is around a 7-minute walk away from the closest entrance on Fulton Street to Golden Gate Park.",
"Bound Together Bookstore 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."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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null,
"\n\n",
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null,
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
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{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
]
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{
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
]
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
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"innerHTML": "\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",
"innerContent": [
"\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"
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},
{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "La Promenade Café in the Outer Richmond"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La Promenade Café in the Outer Richmond\u003c/h3>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La Promenade Café in the Outer Richmond\u003c/h3>\n"
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"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Gloriana, owner of bookstore \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.betweenthebookendssf.com/\">\u003cem>Between the Bookends\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Gloriana, owner of bookstore \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.betweenthebookendssf.com/\">\u003cem>Between the Bookends\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gloriana said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.lapromenadecafe.com/\">La Promenade Café\u003c/a> has “so many options for seating and it’s so cozy!” There are usually a good amount of customers inside, but “never too loud” and “food and coffee is pretty good,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Gloriana said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.lapromenadecafe.com/\">La Promenade Café\u003c/a> has “so many options for seating and it’s so cozy!” There are usually a good amount of customers inside, but “never too loud” and “food and coffee is pretty good,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And probably the most winning part of her rec: “It feels like you’re in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mRoCerrpY&list=RDY9mRoCerrpY&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQbG9maSBjb2ZmZWUgc2hvcKAHAdIHCQnECwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D\">a coffee shop lofi video\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And probably the most winning part of her rec: “It feels like you’re in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mRoCerrpY&list=RDY9mRoCerrpY&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQbG9maSBjb2ZmZWUgc2hvcKAHAdIHCQnECwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D\">a coffee shop lofi video\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Charlie’s Cafe in the Mission"
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Charlie’s Cafe in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Charlie’s Cafe in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Sirkka Miller, bookseller at Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Sirkka Miller, bookseller at Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Miller said Charlie’s Cafe has good coffee and, in the morning, is “well lit” and “nice and airy” in addition to being quiet. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Miller said Charlie’s Cafe has good coffee and, in the morning, is “well lit” and “nice and airy” in addition to being quiet. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A bonus for Charlie’s is that it is \u003cem>right\u003c/em> next to Precita Park, which has \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/898/Precita-Park\">a butterfly garden\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>A bonus for Charlie’s is that it is \u003cem>right\u003c/em> next to Precita Park, which has \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/898/Precita-Park\">a butterfly garden\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"attrs": {
"id": 12081136,
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"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": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081136\" 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=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081136\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "Dolores Park in the Mission "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dolores Park in the Mission \u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dolores Park in the Mission \u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Grace Wathen, bookseller at \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thelovepotionlibrary.com/\">\u003cem>The Love Potion Library\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Grace Wathen, bookseller at \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thelovepotionlibrary.com/\">\u003cem>The Love Potion Library\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Wathen said her usual spots are “anywhere I can read under a tree.” Near Dolores Park is \u003cstrong>Dolores Cafe\u003c/strong>, which includes outside seating and a pretty magnificent view of the park.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Wathen said her usual spots are “anywhere I can read under a tree.” Near Dolores Park is \u003cstrong>Dolores Cafe\u003c/strong>, which includes outside seating and a pretty magnificent view of the park.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you need a book, there are also stores near the park, including:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you need a book, there are also stores near the park, including:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Dog Eared Books, around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.",
"Fabulosa Books, around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park."
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a>, around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a>, around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "The International Library of Young Authors in the Mission"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The International Library of Young Authors in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The International Library of Young Authors in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This incredible sweet spot — which features titles written by young writers across the country — is a favorite of this reporter, as it’s also the home of literary magazines like McSweeney’s (founded by the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers) and The Believer. The “library” has comfy couches, plenty of sunlight and a pretty whimsical hidden room at the back. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This incredible sweet spot — which features titles written by young writers across the country — is a favorite of this reporter, as it’s also the home of literary magazines like McSweeney’s (founded by the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers) and The Believer. The “library” has comfy couches, plenty of sunlight and a pretty whimsical hidden room at the back. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The space sometimes hosts workshops for young people, so it’s best to check their schedule beforehand to make sure you’re able to pop in during the quiet, empty hours.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The space sometimes hosts workshops for young people, so it’s best to check their schedule beforehand to make sure you’re able to pop in during the quiet, empty hours.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "The best places to read in East Bay",
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"text": "Clio’s in Oakland"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/gabbi.rose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Gabbi Sharp\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/67c8f1a4596bfd2f00183710\">\u003cem>the Black Authors Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> at the West Oakland Branch Library\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/gabbi.rose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Gabbi Sharp\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/67c8f1a4596bfd2f00183710\">\u003cem>the Black Authors Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> at the West Oakland Branch Library\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> is a stylish bar and bookstore. As Sharp said, “I always bring my own book to read. They have such cozy couches, a warm atmosphere, and they are open late!” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> is a stylish bar and bookstore. As Sharp said, “I always bring my own book to read. They have such cozy couches, a warm atmosphere, and they are open late!” \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Lake Chabot in Castro Valley"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Naulu recommends this \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/lake-chabot\">gated regional park\u003c/a> where people also boat and fish. “I like to walk the trails while listening to audiobooks,” Naulu said. “There are places to sit and read as well near the lake, but depending on the day, it can get busy and noisy with campers or other people.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Naulu recommends this \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/lake-chabot\">gated regional park\u003c/a> where people also boat and fish. “I like to walk the trails while listening to audiobooks,” Naulu said. “There are places to sit and read as well near the lake, but depending on the day, it can get busy and noisy with campers or other people.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You’ll need to pay for parking within the regional park itself, but there’s also parking available on the road just outside the park, which is free.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You’ll need to pay for parking within the regional park itself, but there’s also parking available on the road just outside the park, which is free.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-1536x1058.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-1536x1058.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A woman reads a book at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on Saturday, May 16, 2020. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094745\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A woman reads a book at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on Saturday, May 16, 2020. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Lake Merritt in Oakland"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ablacklibrarian?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Makayla Walker\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, librarian in Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ablacklibrarian?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Makayla Walker\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, librarian in Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lake Merritt is a favorite, especially on sunny days, Walker said. There are also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/gardens.html\">specific gardens\u003c/a> within Lake Merritt to choose from. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Lake Merritt is a favorite, especially on sunny days, Walker said. There are also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/gardens.html\">specific gardens\u003c/a> within Lake Merritt to choose from. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Perhaps Lake Merritt is the place for a nice fantasy novel, considering \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/fairyland.html\">children’s amusement park Fairyland\u003c/a> is nearby as well.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Perhaps Lake Merritt is the place for a nice fantasy novel, considering \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/fairyland.html\">children’s amusement park Fairyland\u003c/a> is nearby as well.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Bishop Ranch in San Ramon"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As a large, lush open space, Naulu called Bishop Ranch a “hidden gem of San Ramon.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As a large, lush open space, Naulu called Bishop Ranch a “hidden gem of San Ramon.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.bishopranch.com/venue/annabel-lake/\">Annabel Lake \u003c/a>nearby, with “a lot of benches around it that are perfect for reading,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.bishopranch.com/venue/annabel-lake/\">Annabel Lake \u003c/a>nearby, with “a lot of benches around it that are perfect for reading,” she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"imageCredit": "Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society. ",
"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": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081140\" 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=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081140\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "Book Society in Berkeley"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A wine lounge with \u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/menu\">a menu of snacks and nonalcoholic options\u003c/a> to choose from, the Book Society is a stylish space with popular titles for sale as well. There are also couches to lounge on, as well as soft chairs and bar stools. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A wine lounge with \u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/menu\">a menu of snacks and nonalcoholic options\u003c/a> to choose from, the Book Society is a stylish space with popular titles for sale as well. There are also couches to lounge on, as well as soft chairs and bar stools. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "The best places to read in North Bay",
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"text": "Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore in Mill Valley "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore in Mill Valley \u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This cafe offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">a large menu\u003c/a>, allowing you to spend some time grazing while going through your book.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This cafe offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">a large menu\u003c/a>, allowing you to spend some time grazing while going through your book.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The cafe also doubles as an independent bookstore and an event space — so be sure to \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/events\">check out the calendar\u003c/a> if you’d like to see a live music show that day as well (or avoid one, if you’re seeking serenity!).\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The cafe also doubles as an independent bookstore and an event space — so be sure to \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/events\">check out the calendar\u003c/a> if you’d like to see a live music show that day as well (or avoid one, if you’re seeking serenity!).\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "The Mill Valley Public Library"
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"heroImage": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Literary-Dates-Hangouts.jpg"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Mill Valley branch has \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mill_valley_library/?hl=en\">wide glass windows, high ceilings and cozy lighting\u003c/a> that allow visitors to really feel like they are engulfed in the surrounding woods. In this reporter’s humble opinion, it’s probably one of the prettiest public libraries in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Mill Valley branch has \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mill_valley_library/?hl=en\">wide glass windows, high ceilings and cozy lighting\u003c/a> that allow visitors to really feel like they are engulfed in the surrounding woods. In this reporter’s humble opinion, it’s probably one of the prettiest public libraries in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Aqus Cafe in Petaluma"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/4149/climate-book-club\">\u003cem>KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/4149/climate-book-club\">\u003cem>KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A little away from the bustling downtown, Venton said that Aqus Cafe is “very welcoming to those bookishly quiet of us, who want to be around other people without necessarily talking to them.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A little away from the bustling downtown, Venton said that Aqus Cafe is “very welcoming to those bookishly quiet of us, who want to be around other people without necessarily talking to them.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>would \u003c/em>like to be closer to downtown, Venton also recommended historic saloon \u003cstrong>McNears, \u003c/strong>adding that the staff there has “been kind and patient with me, letting me hide out upstairs reading and writing.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>would \u003c/em>like to be closer to downtown, Venton also recommended historic saloon \u003cstrong>McNears, \u003c/strong>adding that the staff there has “been kind and patient with me, letting me hide out upstairs reading and writing.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Oak Hill in Petaluma"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Venton said that this park has “everything you want.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are picnic tables, a kid’s playground, dog run, petanque court, basketball hoop and, most importantly for readers, “enormous live oak trees offering abundant shade over a large lawn,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There are picnic tables, a kid’s playground, dog run, petanque court, basketball hoop and, most importantly for readers, “enormous live oak trees offering abundant shade over a large lawn,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "The best places to read in South Bay and the Peninsula",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"peninsula\">The best places to read in South Bay and the Peninsula\u003c/h2>\n",
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"attrs": {
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"text": "Fioli Estate in Woodside"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Recommendation from: Yung Le, co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Recommendation from: Yung Le, co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This gorgeous, Austenland-like garden was actually Le’s previous recommendation to KQED for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend\">a literary-themed date\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\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 pricier option for a day out with a book. But people with \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">a SNAP (CalFresh) EBT card or a Discover and Go pass\u003c/a> from the library can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081141\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003cbr>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"text": "The A.M. Craft in San José"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Ly, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/silentbookclubsanjose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">\u003cem>San José Silent Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> moderator\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This cafe and restaurant is located in downtown San José, and Ly called \u003ca href=\"https://am-craft.mailchimpsites.com/about-us\">A.M. Craft\u003c/a> “my little hideout when I want to get some reading done on a Saturday morning.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Gimme a cold brew, pastry and a good read, and I’ll happily read for a few hours,” Ly said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "Atherton Library in Atherton"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfbookgirl?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Ciera Pasturel\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, San Mateo County librarian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pasturel recommends specifically the patio of the Atherton Library, which is “under an enormous oak tree.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There is ample seating as well as a cafe that sells delicious coffee and pastries,” Pasturel added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "Half Moon Bay Beach"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weather permitting, of course! Naulu said that she tends to take her e-reader to the beach instead of a physical book, since it “does get windy.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But it makes for a pleasant family outing, since she can settle with a book while her kids build sandcastles next to her.\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>One of the easiest ways to remind myself that life is worth living is grabbing my current read and taking it out of the house with me. It’s an essential tote bag accessory, along with my keys, chapstick and sunscreen. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So imagine my surprise when I saw this post from a user whose friend took a picture of them reading — on what appears to be a lovely bench — captioned: “My friends called me performative cause this is how they found me lmao??” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Yes, it’s probably a joke — and it definitely sounds like something my friends would say ironically as well. (“Going to bring a book to the BTS concert so RM sees me reading in the audience and knows I’m not like other girls,” etc. etc.) But \u003ca href=\"https://www.instyle.com/elle-fanning-reading-interview-coach-11914208\">being a\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/Lilys_verses/status/2082914715525611989\">“performative reader”\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">i.e., reading in public\u003c/a>, in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_A7qvs5Gs\">various configurations\u003c/a> —\u003cem>has \u003c/em>turned into \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/books/performative-reading-trend-social-media-booktok-readers-weigh-in-rcna237393\">something of a jab\u003c/a> from \u003ca href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/30/performative-reading-public-tiktok\">the Very Online\u003c/a>. And it’s for everyone, not just the apparent \u003ca href=\"https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/chore-coats-moustaches-and-female-fiction-meet-the-men-doing-the-performative-reading-meme-irl\">“pretentious guy on a dating app\u003c/a>” archetype.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as \u003ca href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/performative-reading?_sp=5af1db0a-9ac4-4ed6-a317-ecbb6b519457.1786058480642\">\u003cem>The New Yorker’s \u003c/em>Brady Brickner-Wood\u003c/a> wrote, “If everything is potentially performative, how will we ever work up the courage to step outside of our sphere of normal, to risk being earnest and cringe, and experience something transformative?” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And as Brickner-Wood said, “Reading a book is antithetical to scrolling; online platforms cannot replicate the slow, patient, and complex experience of reading a weighty novel.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So in celebration of reading outside — \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\">which \u003cem>is\u003c/em> a vibe\u003c/a> — I consulted some of the Bay Area’s writers, librarians and booksellers and went on the hunt to find excellent spots in the region that will let you sit down for a while with a good read. (As always, be sure to check the hours of any businesses on this list before heading out, to make sure it’s still open.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\">\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps://www.tiktok.com/@hopeurdoingwellbruh/video/7653930211234336031\n\u003c/div>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And if you don’t have something in your \u003ca href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/tbr\">TBR list\u003c/a> that’s speaking to you right now, you can check out KQED’s Forum episode \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914694/whats-on-your-summer-reading-list-4\">interviewing Bay Area booksellers on some popular summer titles\u003c/a>. (I am currently reading \u003cem>The Brothers Karamazov\u003c/em> with a friend, which, I’ll admit, is not helping me beat the performative reading allegations.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jump straight to the best places to read in:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#east-bay\">East Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#north-bay\">North Bay\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#peninsula\">South Bay and Peninsula\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The best places to read in San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vesuvio Cafe in North Beach\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Rae Alexandra, KQED Arts and Culture reporter and author of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12077049/unsung-heroines-rebel-girls-of-the-bay-area\">\u003cem>Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vesuvio Cafe is a gorgeous bar right next to City Lights, the famous bookstore once frequented by figures like \u003ca href=\"https://www.timeout.com/san-francisco/bars/vesuvio\">Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg\u003c/a> (they also publish books, and \u003cem>Unsung Heroines\u003c/em> is one of them). Alexandra’s preference is at the end of the bar, near the front door.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094749\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/VesuvioSFGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vesuvio Bar in San Francisco, California, on July 13, 2017. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>It’s a habit that started by accident — going book shopping in City Lights and deciding I just \u003cem>had \u003c/em>to start reading what I’d bought immediately, so popping next door to the bar,” Alexandra said. “Vesuvio is quiet in the afternoon, so a nice place to read.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you want some nature reading with your City Lights read instead, take a 12-minute walk up Columbus Avenue to \u003cstrong>Ina Coolbrith Park,\u003c/strong> 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>. Alternatively, a little way up Columbus is \u003cstrong>Washington Square Park. \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Golden Gate Park\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/booknerderika?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Erika Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, high school librarian in Concord \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s hard \u003cem>not \u003c/em>to find a pretty spot in Golden Gate Park to read — but \u003ca href=\"https://gggp.org/conservatory-of-flowers/\">the Conservatory of Flowers\u003c/a> is probably my all-time favorite place to spread a blanket and rest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Librarian Naulu agrees. For her, the best spot is the area between the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. “There are fountains and benches where you can sit and relax,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12022568\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/009_SanFrancisco_SkyStarWheel_03042021_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">View from the SkyStar Observation Wheel of the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park on March 4, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There are music performances sometimes at the music concourse that can get distracting if you are looking for a quiet spot,” Naulu said. “I like the background music sometimes though.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What makes the park particularly excellent for readers is the plethora of bookstores also available nearby, including: \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\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\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La Promenade Café in the Outer Richmond\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Gloriana, owner of bookstore \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.betweenthebookendssf.com/\">\u003cem>Between the Bookends\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gloriana said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.lapromenadecafe.com/\">La Promenade Café\u003c/a> has “so many options for seating and it’s so cozy!” There are usually a good amount of customers inside, but “never too loud” and “food and coffee is pretty good,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And probably the most winning part of her rec: “It feels like you’re in \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9mRoCerrpY&list=RDY9mRoCerrpY&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQbG9maSBjb2ZmZWUgc2hvcKAHAdIHCQnECwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D\">a coffee shop lofi video\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Charlie’s Cafe in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Sirkka Miller, bookseller at Dog Eared Books Valencia\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Miller said Charlie’s Cafe has good coffee and, in the morning, is “well lit” and “nice and airy” in addition to being quiet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A bonus for Charlie’s is that it is \u003cem>right\u003c/em> next to Precita Park, which has \u003ca href=\"https://sfrecpark.org/898/Precita-Park\">a butterfly garden\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1293\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/RomanceGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081136\" 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-element-caption\">People relaxing in the grass at Dolores Park in San Francisco. (Lonely Planet/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dolores Park in the Mission \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Grace Wathen, bookseller at \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thelovepotionlibrary.com/\">\u003cem>The Love Potion Library\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Wathen said her usual spots are “anywhere I can read under a tree.” Near Dolores Park is \u003cstrong>Dolores Cafe\u003c/strong>, which includes outside seating and a pretty magnificent view of the park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you need a book, there are also stores near the park, including:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.dogearedbooks.com/\">Dog Eared Books\u003c/a>, around a 6-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://fabulosabooks.com/\">Fabulosa Books\u003c/a>, around a 10-minute walk away from the closest entrance to Dolores Park.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The International Library of Young Authors in the Mission\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This incredible sweet spot — which features titles written by young writers across the country — is a favorite of this reporter, as it’s also the home of literary magazines like McSweeney’s (founded by the Bay Area’s Dave Eggers) and The Believer. The “library” has comfy couches, plenty of sunlight and a pretty whimsical hidden room at the back. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The space sometimes hosts workshops for young people, so it’s best to check their schedule beforehand to make sure you’re able to pop in during the quiet, empty hours.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"east-bay\">The best places to read in East Bay\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clio’s in Oakland\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/gabbi.rose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Gabbi Sharp\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/67c8f1a4596bfd2f00183710\">\u003cem>the Black Authors Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> at the West Oakland Branch Library\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cliosbooks.com/\">Clio’s\u003c/a> is a stylish bar and bookstore. As Sharp said, “I always bring my own book to read. They have such cozy couches, a warm atmosphere, and they are open late!” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lake Chabot in Castro Valley\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Naulu recommends this \u003ca href=\"https://www.ebparks.org/parks/lake-chabot\">gated regional park\u003c/a> where people also boat and fish. “I like to walk the trails while listening to audiobooks,” Naulu said. “There are places to sit and read as well near the lake, but depending on the day, it can get busy and noisy with campers or other people.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You’ll need to pay for parking within the regional park itself, but there’s also parking available on the road just outside the park, which is free.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1378\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094745\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/LakeMerrittReadingGetty-1536x1058.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A woman reads a book at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lake Merritt in Oakland\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/ablacklibrarian?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Makayla Walker\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, librarian in Oakland\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lake Merritt is a favorite, especially on sunny days, Walker said. There are also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/gardens.html\">specific gardens\u003c/a> within Lake Merritt to choose from. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Perhaps Lake Merritt is the place for a nice fantasy novel, considering \u003ca href=\"https://www.lakemerritt.org/fairyland.html\">children’s amusement park Fairyland\u003c/a> is nearby as well.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bishop Ranch in San Ramon\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a large, lush open space, Naulu called Bishop Ranch a “hidden gem of San Ramon.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s also \u003ca href=\"https://www.bishopranch.com/venue/annabel-lake/\">Annabel Lake \u003c/a>nearby, with “a lot of benches around it that are perfect for reading,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/BookSociety_Jan2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081140\" 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-element-caption\">Book Society is a wine lounge based in Berkeley. (Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell via Book Society.)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Book Society in Berkeley\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A wine lounge with \u003ca href=\"https://www.booksociety.social/menu\">a menu of snacks and nonalcoholic options\u003c/a> to choose from, the Book Society is a stylish space with popular titles for sale as well. There are also couches to lounge on, as well as soft chairs and bar stools. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"north-bay\">The best places to read in North Bay\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mill Valley Depot Café & Bookstore in Mill Valley \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This cafe offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/\">a large menu\u003c/a>, allowing you to spend some time grazing while going through your book.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The cafe also doubles as an independent bookstore and an event space — so be sure to \u003ca href=\"https://www.depotcafeandbookstore.com/events\">check out the calendar\u003c/a> if you’d like to see a live music show that day as well (or avoid one, if you’re seeking serenity!).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mill Valley Public Library\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Mill Valley branch has \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/mill_valley_library/?hl=en\">wide glass windows, high ceilings and cozy lighting\u003c/a> that allow visitors to really feel like they are engulfed in the surrounding woods. In this reporter’s humble opinion, it’s probably one of the prettiest public libraries in the Bay Area. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Aqus Cafe in Petaluma\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/4149/climate-book-club\">\u003cem>KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A little away from the bustling downtown, Venton said that Aqus Cafe is “very welcoming to those bookishly quiet of us, who want to be around other people without necessarily talking to them.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But if you \u003cem>would \u003c/em>like to be closer to downtown, Venton also recommended historic saloon \u003cstrong>McNears, \u003c/strong>adding that the staff there has “been kind and patient with me, letting me hide out upstairs reading and writing.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oak Hill in Petaluma\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Danielle Venton, KQED Science and climate reporter, host of KQED’s Climate Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Venton said that this park has “everything you want.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are picnic tables, a kid’s playground, dog run, petanque court, basketball hoop and, most importantly for readers, “enormous live oak trees offering abundant shade over a large lawn,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"peninsula\">The best places to read in South Bay and the Peninsula\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fioli Estate in Woodside\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Recommendation from: Yung Le, co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/anovelaffairbookcafe/\">A Novel Affair\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This gorgeous, Austenland-like garden was actually Le’s previous recommendation to KQED for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081122/bay-area-book-lovers-we-have-highly-literary-date-or-friend-hang-ideas-for-your-weekend\">a literary-themed date\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\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 pricier option for a day out with a book. But people with \u003ca href=\"https://filoli.org/visit/#!\">a SNAP (CalFresh) EBT card or a Discover and Go pass\u003c/a> from the library can get free and reduced admission.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/04/Filoli-AlbertDros-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12081141\" 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-element-caption\">Fioli, in Woodside, is an historic estate with landscape gardens that brings pure Pemberley vibes to the Peninsula. \u003cbr> (Courtesy of Albert Dros via Fioli)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The A.M. Craft in San José\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Amy Ly, \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://instagram.com/silentbookclubsanjose?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==\">\u003cem>San José Silent Book Club\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> moderator\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This cafe and restaurant is located in downtown San José, and Ly called \u003ca href=\"https://am-craft.mailchimpsites.com/about-us\">A.M. Craft\u003c/a> “my little hideout when I want to get some reading done on a Saturday morning.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gimme a cold brew, pastry and a good read, and I’ll happily read for a few hours,” Ly said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Atherton Library in Atherton\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfbookgirl?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D\">\u003cem>Ciera Pasturel\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>, San Mateo County librarian\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Pasturel recommends specifically the patio of the Atherton Library, which is “under an enormous oak tree.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There is ample seating as well as a cafe that sells delicious coffee and pastries,” Pasturel added.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Half Moon Bay Beach\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Recommendation from: Concord librarian Naulu\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weather permitting, of course! Naulu said that she tends to take her e-reader to the beach instead of a physical book, since it “does get windy.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But it makes for a pleasant family outing, since she can settle with a book while her kids build sandcastles next to her.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "san-franciscos-official-flower-turns-100-celebrate-with-a-free-dahlia-show-this-weekend",
"title": "San Francisco’s Official Flower Turns 100. Celebrate With a Free Dahlia Show This Weekend",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco’s Official Flower Turns 100. Celebrate With a Free Dahlia Show This Weekend | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you’ve ever wondered what hundreds of the most ornamental flowers with striking geometric forms would look like under one roof, there’s a free event in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-gate-park\">Golden Gate Park\u003c/a> this weekend that can give you a pretty good idea. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Dahlia Society of California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/dsc-annual-dahlia-show\">annual Dahlia Show and Competition\u003c/a> returns this Saturday and Sunday at the County Fair Building near Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. The show is free and open to the public. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than a hundred growers are expected to enter blooms for judging, with ribbons and cash prizes awarded in categories including Best in Show, photography and floral arrangements. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors enjoy dahlia flowers at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on July 24, 2023. (Li Jianguo/Xinhua via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Thousands of people pour through these doors over the weekends, and there’s something for everyone,” said Jenna Kaiser, a dahlia ambassador with the society. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a photo booth, and the orchid people will have a table there as well. The arrangement category is a big hit with the general public because there’s a theme to it.” This year’s arrangement theme is San Francisco icons, Kaiser said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’s an extra reason to celebrate. 2026 marks 100 years since the dahlia became San Francisco’s official flower.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city’s Board of Supervisors designated the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/official-sf-flower\">dahlia the official flower on Oct. 4, 1926\u003c/a>. The flower had already been growing in Golden Gate Park since the 1880s, and its ability to thrive in San Francisco’s cool summers and moist air helped make it a natural fit for the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the show, visitors can watch judges make their way through the entries with clipboards on Saturday, and by Sunday, the winning blooms will be marked by ribbons. There’s also a People’s Choice Award, where visitors can vote for their favorite flower. Voters can take part by visiting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfdahliasociety/\">society’s Instagram account\u003c/a> and casting their vote this weekend, Kaiser said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a room full of the most colorful, spectacular, perfect dahlias you’ve ever seen,” Kaiser said. “A sea of blooms.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Think your backyard dahlia could be a contender? You don’t have to be a professional grower to enter the show.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To compete, exhibitors must be members of a dahlia society affiliated with the American Dahlia Society. The Dahlia Society of California’s individual membership costs $10 a year and includes eligibility to participate in the annual show. The society welcomes growers at all levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1940\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094980\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED.jpg 1940w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED-1536x1055.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1940px) 100vw, 1940px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People visit a dahlia flower exhibition at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (Li Jianguo/Xinhua via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Exhibitors also need an exhibitor number and must follow the show’s classification and entry rules. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/annual-dahlia-show\">society’s show information\u003c/a> said entries must be in place by 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. The full show schedule includes the different classes and requirements for individual blooms, arrangements and other categories.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Volunteers at the Dahlia Society of California, founded in 1917, help maintain the historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/dahlia-dell\">Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park\u003c/a>, where more than 700 named varieties are grown. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Kaiser, that community is part of what makes the flower so addictive. “You get your feet wet, and then you can’t help yourself,” she said. “You want one of each [type of dahlia].” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/annual-dahlia-show\">\u003cem>The Annual Dahlia Show\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>at Golden Gate Park is free to attend and takes place this Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Dahlia Society of California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/dsc-annual-dahlia-show\">annual Dahlia Show and Competition\u003c/a> returns this Saturday and Sunday at the County Fair Building near Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. The show is free and open to the public. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More than a hundred growers are expected to enter blooms for judging, with ribbons and cash prizes awarded in categories including Best in Show, photography and floral arrangements. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors enjoy dahlia flowers at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on July 24, 2023. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Thousands of people pour through these doors over the weekends, and there’s something for everyone,” said Jenna Kaiser, a dahlia ambassador with the society. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s a photo booth, and the orchid people will have a table there as well. The arrangement category is a big hit with the general public because there’s a theme to it.” This year’s arrangement theme is San Francisco icons, Kaiser said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And there’s an extra reason to celebrate. 2026 marks 100 years since the dahlia became San Francisco’s official flower.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The city’s Board of Supervisors designated the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/official-sf-flower\">dahlia the official flower on Oct. 4, 1926\u003c/a>. The flower had already been growing in Golden Gate Park since the 1880s, and its ability to thrive in San Francisco’s cool summers and moist air helped make it a natural fit for the city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During the show, visitors can watch judges make their way through the entries with clipboards on Saturday, and by Sunday, the winning blooms will be marked by ribbons. There’s also a People’s Choice Award, where visitors can vote for their favorite flower. Voters can take part by visiting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfdahliasociety/\">society’s Instagram account\u003c/a> and casting their vote this weekend, Kaiser said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>During the show, visitors can watch judges make their way through the entries with clipboards on Saturday, and by Sunday, the winning blooms will be marked by ribbons. There’s also a People’s Choice Award, where visitors can vote for their favorite flower. Voters can take part by visiting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfdahliasociety/\">society’s Instagram account\u003c/a> and casting their vote this weekend, Kaiser said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s a room full of the most colorful, spectacular, perfect dahlias you’ve ever seen,” Kaiser said. “A sea of blooms.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s a room full of the most colorful, spectacular, perfect dahlias you’ve ever seen,” Kaiser said. “A sea of blooms.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Think your backyard dahlia could be a contender? You don’t have to be a professional grower to enter the show.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To compete, exhibitors must be members of a dahlia society affiliated with the American Dahlia Society. The Dahlia Society of California’s individual membership costs $10 a year and includes eligibility to participate in the annual show. The society welcomes growers at all levels.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>To compete, exhibitors must be members of a dahlia society affiliated with the American Dahlia Society. The Dahlia Society of California’s individual membership costs $10 a year and includes eligibility to participate in the annual show. The society welcomes growers at all levels.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094980\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED.jpg 1940w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED-1536x1055.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People visit a dahlia flower exhibition at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Exhibitors also need an exhibitor number and must follow the show’s classification and entry rules. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/annual-dahlia-show\">society’s show information\u003c/a> said entries must be in place by 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. The full show schedule includes the different classes and requirements for individual blooms, arrangements and other categories.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Kaiser, that community is part of what makes the flower so addictive. “You get your feet wet, and then you can’t help yourself,” she said. “You want one of each [type of dahlia].” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/annual-dahlia-show\">\u003cem>The Annual Dahlia Show\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>at Golden Gate Park is free to attend and takes place this Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you’ve ever wondered what hundreds of the most ornamental flowers with striking geometric forms would look like under one roof, there’s a free event in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-gate-park\">Golden Gate Park\u003c/a> this weekend that can give you a pretty good idea. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Dahlia Society of California’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/dsc-annual-dahlia-show\">annual Dahlia Show and Competition\u003c/a> returns this Saturday and Sunday at the County Fair Building near Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. The show is free and open to the public. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than a hundred growers are expected to enter blooms for judging, with ribbons and cash prizes awarded in categories including Best in Show, photography and floral arrangements. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1553502485-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors enjoy dahlia flowers at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on July 24, 2023. (Li Jianguo/Xinhua via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Thousands of people pour through these doors over the weekends, and there’s something for everyone,” said Jenna Kaiser, a dahlia ambassador with the society. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s a photo booth, and the orchid people will have a table there as well. The arrangement category is a big hit with the general public because there’s a theme to it.” This year’s arrangement theme is San Francisco icons, Kaiser said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And there’s an extra reason to celebrate. 2026 marks 100 years since the dahlia became San Francisco’s official flower.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The city’s Board of Supervisors designated the \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/official-sf-flower\">dahlia the official flower on Oct. 4, 1926\u003c/a>. The flower had already been growing in Golden Gate Park since the 1880s, and its ability to thrive in San Francisco’s cool summers and moist air helped make it a natural fit for the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the show, visitors can watch judges make their way through the entries with clipboards on Saturday, and by Sunday, the winning blooms will be marked by ribbons. There’s also a People’s Choice Award, where visitors can vote for their favorite flower. Voters can take part by visiting the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sfdahliasociety/\">society’s Instagram account\u003c/a> and casting their vote this weekend, Kaiser said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a room full of the most colorful, spectacular, perfect dahlias you’ve ever seen,” Kaiser said. “A sea of blooms.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Think your backyard dahlia could be a contender? You don’t have to be a professional grower to enter the show.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To compete, exhibitors must be members of a dahlia society affiliated with the American Dahlia Society. The Dahlia Society of California’s individual membership costs $10 a year and includes eligibility to participate in the annual show. The society welcomes growers at all levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1940\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094980\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED.jpg 1940w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/GettyImages-1162632631-KQED-1536x1055.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1940px) 100vw, 1940px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">People visit a dahlia flower exhibition at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (Li Jianguo/Xinhua via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Exhibitors also need an exhibitor number and must follow the show’s classification and entry rules. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/annual-dahlia-show\">society’s show information\u003c/a> said entries must be in place by 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. The full show schedule includes the different classes and requirements for individual blooms, arrangements and other categories.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Volunteers at the Dahlia Society of California, founded in 1917, help maintain the historic \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/dahlia-dell\">Dahlia Dell in Golden Gate Park\u003c/a>, where more than 700 named varieties are grown. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Kaiser, that community is part of what makes the flower so addictive. “You get your feet wet, and then you can’t help yourself,” she said. “You want one of each [type of dahlia].” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.sfdahlias.org/annual-dahlia-show\">\u003cem>The Annual Dahlia Show\u003c/em>\u003c/a> \u003cem>at Golden Gate Park is free to attend and takes place this Saturday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "the-san-francisco-rock-climbing-spot-known-for-its-shiny-surface",
"title": "The San Francisco Rock Climbing Spot Known For Its Shiny Surface",
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"headTitle": "The San Francisco Rock Climbing Spot Known For Its Shiny Surface | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#transcript\">View the full episode transcript\u003c/a>\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Beaver Street is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill toward Corona Heights, a few blocks from the Castro Theater.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tucked into the curve of this tiny street is a narrow park, and inside it, a 60-foot slab of rock that towers over a public playground. The rock is streaked with diagonal bands of red and tan that make it look almost like a slice of bacon — with a surface unlike any rock Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar had seen.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar first stumbled across the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105733887/beaver-street-wall\">Beaver Street rock wall\u003c/a> during a weekend outing with his daughters, to the Randall Museum of Science in Corona Heights Park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093864\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Stewart belays Ravi Bhoraskar as he climbs the Beaver Street wall in San Francisco’s Corona Heights Park. (Francesca Fenzi/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He described it as a “shiny, almost slippery-looking surface” with a few sparse holes “that you can potentially use to climb on.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The secluded crag felt like a revelation. He recently started rock climbing, and climbs weekly at his neighborhood gym in the Mission.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I was excited to learn that there is at least one [outdoor] climbing spot within the city, easily reachable by bus,” Bhoraskar said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A visible record of Bay Area geology\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar’s first clue to the origins of the Beaver Street rock came from a sign posted at its base. Known as a “slickenside,” the sign explained: “This smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Slickenside is a type of rock that forms along fault lines, like the San Andreas Fault that slashes diagonally across San Francisco. When two rocks on either side of the fault rub against each other, the friction between them can generate heat and super-fine particles of dust. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That dust acts like a lubricant, polishing the rock surface until it becomes glassy and smooth, just like the rock on Beaver Street. The colorful stripes on a slickenside formation even record the direction the rocks were moving, allowing geologists to track the movement of different faults across time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094715\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the City of San Francisco’s posted signage, the rock wall on Beaver Street is thought to be one of the largest exposed slickenside formations in the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This sign also serves as a reminder of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/savebsw/\">small municipal battle over access to the rock\u003c/a>. In 2014, the city instituted a permitting process for climbers hoping to scale the slick stone wall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco climbers protested and eventually persuaded the city to drop the permits — on the condition that local climbing groups and the signage at Beaver Street emphasized a “leave no trace” policy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How a Berkeley park changed climbing history\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The rock on Beaver Street is one of a handful of outdoor climbing areas in San Francisco proper, but across the bay in the Berkeley Hills sits another city park where climbers have pushed the sport forward for nearly a century.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/parks-recreation/parks/indian-rock-park\">Indian Rock Park\u003c/a> encompasses a collection of volcanic boulders in the hills overlooking the UC Berkeley campus. Long a \u003ca href=\"https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/slt_resources/indian-rock/\">place of significance to Ohlone people\u003c/a>, these boulders have also played an outsized role in the Bay Area’s climbing history. John Sherman remembers getting introduced to the sport here in the 1970s, when he was a student at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Well, it’s kind of a funny story,” Sherman said. “Some friends and I scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man in orange shirt and grey pants wearing a helmet and rock climbing shoes climbs a rock wall.\" class=\"wp-image-12093866\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ravi Bhoraskar climbs the Beaver Street wall, his first outdoor climbing experience. (Francesca Fenzi/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>A friend suggested that they take their contraband to Indian Rock Park. While they were sitting on the steps enjoying these illicit beverages, Sherman noticed people scrambling on the rocks nearby, practicing gymnastic moves just a few feet off the ground.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself,” he said. He came back a few days later, blundering his way through the first of many bouldering climbs in what would become his 50-year love affair with rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since,” Sherman said. Bay Area climbers might recognize Sherman by his nickname: Verm, short for Vermin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Verm would go on to become one of the pioneers of a relatively new style of climbing, called bouldering, where climbers perform ambitious, gymnastic moves with no ropes — all while staying relatively close to the ground.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just because bouldering involves less consequential falls than those taken by climbers on California’s soaring cliff faces, doesn’t mean falling off a boulder didn’t hurt.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We took a real beating back in those days,” Sherman explained of his early bouldering experiments at Indian Rock. “There weren’t that many people, like myself, who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.climbinggold.com/voices/john-sherman\">Sherman is now a climbing legend\u003c/a> within the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was the first person to scale and document hundreds of new routes in a now-esteemed bouldering area in Texas, called \u003ca href=\"https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks/activities/#rock-climbing\">Hueco Tanks\u003c/a>, and he \u003ca href=\"https://www.climbing.com/gear/crash-pads-safety-changed-bouldering-forever/\">helped to invent the “crash pads” that boulderers use to cushion their falls\u003c/a> today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But his most recognizable contribution to the Bay Area’s climbing culture is one that Sherman doesn’t like to talk about. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094719\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the skyline from the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He invented a system to grade the difficulty of bouldering climbs, dubbed the \u003ca href=\"https://rockclimbingrealms.com/bouldering-grades-explained/\">“V grading system” \u003c/a>— as in, the Vermin grading system. This is a system now widely used by climbing gyms, which rates the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up numerically (V1, V2, V3 and so on) as the difficulty increases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sherman said he dislikes how fixated other climbers have become with his grading system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience,” he said. He described the “nutrition” of the climbing experience as being all the things that make climbing worthwhile: the camaraderie, the “kinesthetic flow of the movement” and a communion with nature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“And then what happens afterwards?” he said. “Out pops a V grade.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A safer way to fall\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sherman prefers to think of himself as part of a long lineage of Bay Area climbers who have sharpened their skills on the urban rock faces available to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Indian Rock, for example, a group of Berkeley law students and mountaineers were \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/12/07/rock-climbing-indian-rock-mortar-rock\">preparing for ascents in Yosemite Valley as early as the 1930s\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mountain climbing at the time was extraordinarily dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward, and the safety equipment didn’t really work. Climbers used ropes made of hemp — stiff, dry, and prone to snapping if pulled too quickly. Most people assumed a fall on a climbing route was fatal.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The rope’s gonna break, and that’s it, you know?” Sherman said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An anchor chain at the top of the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the Berkeley students climbing at Indian Rock developed a counterintuitive idea to change that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The solution was all in how climbers handled the rope. If a belayer let the rope run through their hands and slowly absorbed the force of a fall, the rope was far less likely to snap — and could actually catch a falling climber without killing them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers began practicing these controlled, “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock, and they carried the life-saving technique with them to Yosemite. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/nylon-a-revolution-in-textiles/\">By the 1940s, nylon was commercially accessible\u003c/a>, and climbers began making stronger, more shock-absorbent ropes from it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer,” Sherman said. “The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Falling was no longer a death sentence, and the sport became more popular as a result. As new tools and techniques made climbing safer, the goals of the sport shifted too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Style was more important than difficulty, and you were more respected if you could walk up to a climb and climb it without falling … just figuring it out,” Sherman said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the 1960s, climbing was no longer just about the summit — it was about finding a creative way up each rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The secret climbs on University of California, Berkeley campus\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers still wanted to test themselves on big routes in Yosemite and Joshua Tree, but the Bay Area’s natural geology was limited, and climbing gyms weren’t yet common. So climbers had to look for training grounds in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jordan Schultz is the kind of climber who sees potential everywhere — even across the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s cataloged hundreds of “buildering” routes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think I listed, like, 300-plus routes just on campus,” Schultz said. “Pretty much every building is climbable, is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094710\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left to right, climbers Ace Landauer, Jordan Schultz, Tilly Holtz and Colin Wills hang from cracks in the “penny wall,” a spot on the UC Berkeley campus where rock climbers practice crack climbing techniques required for climbs in Yosemite Valley. ((Courtesy Jordan Schultz))\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schultz documented these routes — and the history behind them — in his guidebook, \u003ca href=\"https://campusingbook.com\">\u003cem>Campusing: A Secret History and Buildering Guide to UC Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>One of the university’s most famous unofficial routes is a crack running up the side of a brick building that houses the chemistry department.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it,” Schultz said. “I think that’s the beautiful part about it. You need to open your eyes to it, you know?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers have used this crack to practice technique since at least the 1960s, Schultz said, because it mirrors the kind of crack climbing common in Yosemite and other parts of the Sierra.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The spot has another name, too: the Penny Wall. According to Schultz, back in the 1960s, climbers practicing at the crack would stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach — a marker and quiet challenge to whoever climbed the crack next.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John Sherman honed his own crack-climbing technique on the Penny Wall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And as much as the Bay Area’s outdoor climbing sites have been the home of real breakthroughs in the sport of climbing, he said their true value is in the community of climbers that are drawn to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbing something like the rock on Beaver Street, tucked into the corner of a busy city, can still feel like being let in on a local secret — passed down by generations of climbers who have left something behind for the next adventurous climber: a penny, a piece of gear, or simply a tip to help newcomers navigate a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When you do go to these little areas, and make the effort to meet the locals [climbing there], the experience is so much richer,” Sherman said. “It doesn’t have to be Yosemite to give you a climbing experience and a community to hang out with.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>[baycuriousquestion]\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"transcript\">Episode transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price and you’re listening to Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When I was about six months pregnant with my first child, a friend of a friend passed along a maternity climbing harness … a full body nylon contraption that allows pregnant people to keep rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, I was not a rock climber at the time, but thought — “hey, why not? A lot of other activities I love, like running, have gotten really hard, but my legs are stronger than ever. Let’s climb!”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Soon I found myself halfway up a wall in Pinnacles National Park … having a blast, but also hearing the voice of my mother inside my head: \u003cem>“Oh, Olivia. You would.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To be honest, my stint with rock climbing was relatively short, but I was into it long enough to hit up most of the bigger climbing areas in the Bay Area. And I learned you don’t have to drive all the way to Yosemite to feel the thrill of scaling a cliff. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are a handful of urban climbing areas you might have walked past without a second look.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar [[boh-RAHS-car]] stumbled across one of those hidden rock walls … tucked into the hills of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It looked to me like a residential street. A bunch of cute houses, \u003cs>uh,\u003c/s> and, like, a little narrow path in the middle.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Beaver Street itself is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill towards Corona Heights. The Castro Theater is just a few blocks away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And tucked into the curve of Beaver Street is a narrow park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>And as you come in, you get this giant piece of shiny rock, which is the Beaver Street Wall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This big slab of rock towers 60 feet above a kids’ playground. It’s got these diagonal streaks of red and tan rock that honestly make it look almost like a slice of bacon. And it has an unusual texture…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s kind of like a shiny, almost slippery-looking surface, with some holes that you can potentially use to climb on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This interested Ravi because he recently got into rock climbing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Mostly indoors at the climbing gym. I was excited to learn that there is, like, at least one climbing spot right within the city, like, easily reachable by bus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And he wants to know … what is that slippery, striped bacon rock?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>How did it end up there, and why does it look so cool?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And most importantly…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Like, can I climb it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today we’re going to get answers for Ravi, of course. But we’ll also explore how Bay Area climbers have used city parks to practice their skills for decades — and ultimately push the sport forward. Turns out there’s a lot of rock climbing history anchored right here in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED producer Francesca Fenzi headed to Beaver Street with Ravi … to check out this unusual rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Birds singing, slight traffic sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> Ravi and I arrive at Corona Heights Park on a sunny weekend afternoon. We can hear birds singing … and the faint sound of traffic from Market Street carrying up the hill.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a playground, a dense pocket of trees, and then … this glistening rock wall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s not wet, but it \u003cem>looks\u003c/em> wet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The shiny surface is interrupted by a single jagged crack, which runs about six stories high. And at the base of the rock is a sign … which gives us a clue about how it got here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Known as a slickenslide, this smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It’s Slicken SIDE actually. Try saying that three times fast! \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Slickenside forms when two rocks inside a fault rub against each other. Imagine pressing your hands together as hard as you can and then sliding them back and forth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That friction creates heat — and tiny dust particles which act like a fluid — to polish the rock until it looks glassy and smooth. Just like the wall at Beaver Street. The colorful stripes even show the direction the fault was moving when a Slickenside was formed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the sign, this rock is thought to be one of the largest exposed Slickenside formations in the world. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Capitals, “Please do not chip holes in the rock face or alter the rock in any way.” And then it’s taped over Um, climbing on these rocks is by permit only. To obtain a permit, call some number.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I looked into getting a permit and it turns out you no longer need one to climb at Beaver Street. So Ravi is going to try to climb it today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And to make sure we don’t damage the rock, we’ve enlisted some help.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Hey, how you doing? I’m Max. Hey, Ravi. Ravi, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max Stewart owns a guiding company, called SAANO Adventures. And he’s offered to help us set up an anchor and climbing rope on the Beaver Street wall… \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> I’d be happy to. Did you bring some shoes? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I brought some shoes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Yeah? Okay. Cool.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Outdoor rocks don’t come with built-in safety equipment like the climbs in a gym, so we’ll need to secure our rope to something sturdy at the top of the rock wall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>There’s a little staircase here. Yep, there it is.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max leads us up and around the back side of the rock, to the top of a windy hill. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I can pick out landmarks like the diagonal slash of Market Street below, the Salesforce tower and the Bay Bridge in the distance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Directly in front of us is a steep drop off. It looks a lot more intimidating from up here! \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Isn’t that wild? So the playground. we met just right down there. There’s the sign that you were reading.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Separating us from the edge of the cliff is a chain link fence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> And then a bunch of heavy duty chains that we’re gonna use.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>These heavy duty chains bolted into the top of the wall are perfect for setting up what’s called a “top rope” climb, where a rope runs from the ground, up to an anchor, and back down to the climber, catching them if they fall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Always a little weird!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max explains that this is the same setup used by climbing gyms … even if it looks a bit different outside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, man. That was impressive. [to Ravi] Is this what you were expecting? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> No, not at all. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>A little different than the climbing gym, huh? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah, definitely.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I’ve climbed outside a bit myself and part of what I love is the sense of possibility. There aren’t any predetermined holds, you can find your own route up to the top. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Every single person is gonna have their own method for solving this. the gyms I think are a really good place to get started, to kinda just learn the ropes, but I really encourage people as soon as, you feel like you can do it, to get outside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Is this gonna be your first time climbing outside? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Uh, yes. Yes, this will be. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>No way, really? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Oh, it’s so fun.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of climbing over chain link fence\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> When was the last time you were hopping [00:07:00] fences to go climbing. Hey. It feels kinda like you’re doing stuff you’re not supposed to do, hopping fences and … It’s like good clean fun, but still kind of a throwback, you know?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>No laws were broken in the making of this podcast! But Max is right. Setting up the rope above Beaver Street really does feel like getting away with something.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A lot of urban climbs FEEL illicit because it seems kind of unnatural to be doing something we associate with mountains right in our backyards. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, there’s actually a long history of Bay Area climbers using whatever they can find to ready themselves for those more ambitious, wild ascents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Beaver Street is one of the only rocks you can climb outdoors in San Francisco, but just across the bay, in the Berkeley Hills, is another city park where climbers have been pushing the limits of the sport for almost a century.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John Sherman grew up in Berkeley. And he remembers getting introduced to climbing there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman:\u003c/strong> Well, it’s kind of a funny story. Some friends and I in high school, we scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where \u003cs>we, you know, \u003c/s>we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>So they made their way to Indian Rock park, a collection of volcanic boulders that was once an Ohlone meeting spot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And we were sitting on the steps there drinking this beer we had gotten, and I saw people climbing there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The climbers were just a few feet off the ground … practicing gravity-defying moves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Pretty soon, he was taking the bus to Indian Rock every day after school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And I would always have my climbing shoes in my book bag along with my textbooks and stuff, and I would stop there on the way home every day, go to Indian Rock and boulder till it got dark and then walk home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He was at the rock so often that his brother started describing himself as an only child.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since. And, you know, it’s been over 50 years now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The type of climbing John was doing is called bouldering. There aren’t any ropes, but people climb closer to the ground, using pads to cushion a fall. At least, they do now. But in the early days…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>We took a real beating and there weren’t that many people like myself who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up like that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John is a bit of a legend. He was the first person to climb a bunch of famous bouldering routes, he helped invent those cushioned pads, AND he created a system for ranking the difficulty of climbs — called the V grading system — that’s widely used today. It starts with the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up from there as the climbing gets harder — V1, V2 and so on. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The V comes from John’s lifelong nickname, given to him by a biology teacher at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>So he called me Sherman the Vermin. Got shortened to Verm and just kind of stuck.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John actually hates how fixated other climbers get on his V grading system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience. After you do a wonderful, you know, boulder problem, and you enjoy the setting that you’re in, the camaraderie of your climbing partners, the kinesthetic flow of the moves and everything, and then what happens afterwards? Out pops a V grade.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Instead, John likes to think of himself as part of a long line of climbers honing their skills at Indian Rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The early history that I know of that’s documented goes back to like the 1930s\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>At that time, a group of Berkeley law students — and mountaineers — had their sights on Yosemite Valley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And here is a collection of rocks where they could train.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The training part was important. Because at the time mountain climbing was super dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward. The safety equipment didn’t really work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers were using these flimsy ropes made out of hemp that were stiff and dry and tended to break if they got pulled apart too quickly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John says most people assumed that falling on a climbing route was a death sentence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The rope’s gonna break and that’s it, you know?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>But these Berkeley students, climbing at Indian Rock. They came up with a counterintuitive idea.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> More on their idea and how it revolutionized climbing after this quick break. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> UC Berkeley Students climbing at Indian Rock wanted to make climbing safer, and they discovered a technique that would really change the game. Francesca Fenzi takes it from here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> It was all in how you handled the rope… \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>If you let it run through your hands and slowly break the fall, that rope might not snap, and you can actually catch the leader if they fall, and they’re not gonna die.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>This was huge. Climbers started practicing these “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock. And they brought these life-saving skills to Yosemite with them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A decade later, in the 1940s, nylon was widely available. And climbers started using the stretchy fiber to make stronger, more shock-absorbant ropes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer. The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Falling on a rock climb was no longer a death sentence and that made the sport a lot more popular.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As new tools and techniques made climbs safer, the goals of climbing changed, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>Style was more important than difficulty.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John says by the time he got hooked, rock climbing was no longer just about getting to the top. It was about finding creative ways up a rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers were \u003cem>still \u003c/em>eager to test themselves on the big climbs in places like Yosemite and Joshua Tree. But the Bay Area’s natural geology was limiting. And climbing gyms — with their variety of simulated rock types — weren’t as common as they are today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So for Bay Area climbers to take their skills to the next level … they had to look in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Pretty much every building is climbable is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan Schulz is the kind of climber who looks at it “the right way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s 23 and sees climbing opportunities everywhere. Even the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s showing me one of the university’s most famous climbing “routes.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s a crack in the side of a brick building that houses the Chemistry department. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>This is the crack we’re looking at right here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It takes me a moment to “see” it the way Jordan does.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>To me, I’m looking at a brick wall with a parking sign on it. Yeah. And there’s a gap in the wall that’s maybe about an inch and a half thick. And it runs from the base of the wall to the the next story up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Yeah. That’s the climb. It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it. And then I think that’s the beautiful part about it, is that you need to open your eyes to it, you know?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says climbers have been using the crack in this building to practice their technique since at least the 1960s\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A lot of the style of climbing in Yosemite and the Sierras features a lot of cracks in the rock. And so, it offers a good training ground to learn some crack climbing technique that would help people climb better in the mountains.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says this spot has another name: the Penny Wall. Back in the 60s, when a climber was practicing at the crack, they’d stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>And so people would see, like, how high was the penny, and every so often it would get higher.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A challenge to the next climber…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A subtle way of communicating you know, who climbed a little higher and moved the penny up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Back at Beaver Street, our question asker Ravi is getting ready to place his own metaphorical penny on the wall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: All right, Ravi, let’s get your shoes on- Yep\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s about to climb outside for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene:\u003c/strong> How are you feeling about climbing it? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I’m excited. I’m also, yeah, a li- little nervous. Like, I don’t want to slip, but, no, mostly excited. Mostly feeling excited about climbing this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Your belay is on. And climbing. Okay. Climb on, sir.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area’s outdoor rock walls have been home to major breakthroughs in the sport. But as Max would say, they’re also good clean fun.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>What do you think of outdoor climbing versus, uh, in the gym? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> This is great. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Isn’t it so nice?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>And urban climbs like this one — tucked into corners of busy cities — feel like secrets, passed along by other members of this special club. People who’ve contributed a penny, or a pair of chains, or advice about how to get around a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Try and utilize that crack as much as possible. This guy’s got some bragging rights having this be his first outdoor climb, and he’s just absolutely sending it. Okay, I’m gonna lower you nice and slow. Just walk those feet down. Hey, nice work, man. That was amazing. Good job, man. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>First outdoor climb. Yeah. What a classic too, man. This is a, uh- That was amazing … that’s no slouch of a climb, man. That was, uh, you worked hard for that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer, or a new climber, like Ravi, a neighborhood rock can feel just as magical as Yosemite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>What’d you think of that glass section in the middle there? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> The glass section was definitely interesting. That was wild. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Well, what do you think? Should we, uh, pull these ropes?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds or rope falling from a great height\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Boom. That’s it. That’s the sound of the end of it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Classical music plays\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>That song is the perfect soundtrack. Was that your cellphone?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it was.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That story was brought to us by KQED reporter Francesca Fenzi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I’ve got two requests for you on our way out. First, Head to \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a> and VOTE in our public voting round to help us decide what story we should tackle next. All it takes is a few seconds and one click.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Second, consider becoming a member of KQED and supporting Bay Curious. We are relying more on listener donations than we have in the past and every dollar helps us to keep bringing you stories like this one. Head to \u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/podcasts\">donate.kqed.org/podcasts\u003c/a> to get started.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#transcript\">View the full episode transcript\u003c/a>\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Beaver Street is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill toward Corona Heights, a few blocks from the Castro Theater.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Beaver Street is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill toward Corona Heights, a few blocks from the Castro Theater.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Tucked into the curve of this tiny street is a narrow park, and inside it, a 60-foot slab of rock that towers over a public playground. The rock is streaked with diagonal bands of red and tan that make it look almost like a slice of bacon — with a surface unlike any rock Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar had seen.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Tucked into the curve of this tiny street is a narrow park, and inside it, a 60-foot slab of rock that towers over a public playground. The rock is streaked with diagonal bands of red and tan that make it look almost like a slice of bacon — with a surface unlike any rock Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar had seen.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar first stumbled across the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105733887/beaver-street-wall\">Beaver Street rock wall\u003c/a> during a weekend outing with his daughters, to the Randall Museum of Science in Corona Heights Park.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar first stumbled across the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105733887/beaver-street-wall\">Beaver Street rock wall\u003c/a> during a weekend outing with his daughters, to the Randall Museum of Science in Corona Heights Park.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093864\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Stewart belays Ravi Bhoraskar as he climbs the Beaver Street wall in San Francisco’s Corona Heights Park.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093864\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Stewart belays Ravi Bhoraskar as he climbs the Beaver Street wall in San Francisco’s Corona Heights Park.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He described it as a “shiny, almost slippery-looking surface” with a few sparse holes “that you can potentially use to climb on.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He described it as a “shiny, almost slippery-looking surface” with a few sparse holes “that you can potentially use to climb on.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The secluded crag felt like a revelation. He recently started rock climbing, and climbs weekly at his neighborhood gym in the Mission.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The secluded crag felt like a revelation. He recently started rock climbing, and climbs weekly at his neighborhood gym in the Mission.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I was excited to learn that there is at least one [outdoor] climbing spot within the city, easily reachable by bus,” Bhoraskar said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I was excited to learn that there is at least one [outdoor] climbing spot within the city, easily reachable by bus,” Bhoraskar said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "A visible record of Bay Area geology",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A visible record of Bay Area geology\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar’s first clue to the origins of the Beaver Street rock came from a sign posted at its base. Known as a “slickenside,” the sign explained: “This smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar’s first clue to the origins of the Beaver Street rock came from a sign posted at its base. Known as a “slickenside,” the sign explained: “This smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Slickenside is a type of rock that forms along fault lines, like the San Andreas Fault that slashes diagonally across San Francisco. When two rocks on either side of the fault rub against each other, the friction between them can generate heat and super-fine particles of dust. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Slickenside is a type of rock that forms along fault lines, like the San Andreas Fault that slashes diagonally across San Francisco. When two rocks on either side of the fault rub against each other, the friction between them can generate heat and super-fine particles of dust. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That dust acts like a lubricant, polishing the rock surface until it becomes glassy and smooth, just like the rock on Beaver Street. The colorful stripes on a slickenside formation even record the direction the rocks were moving, allowing geologists to track the movement of different faults across time. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That dust acts like a lubricant, polishing the rock surface until it becomes glassy and smooth, just like the rock on Beaver Street. The colorful stripes on a slickenside formation even record the direction the rocks were moving, allowing geologists to track the movement of different faults across time. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094715\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094715\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to the City of San Francisco’s posted signage, the rock wall on Beaver Street is thought to be one of the largest exposed slickenside formations in the world.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>According to the City of San Francisco’s posted signage, the rock wall on Beaver Street is thought to be one of the largest exposed slickenside formations in the world.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This sign also serves as a reminder of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/savebsw/\">small municipal battle over access to the rock\u003c/a>. In 2014, the city instituted a permitting process for climbers hoping to scale the slick stone wall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This sign also serves as a reminder of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/savebsw/\">small municipal battle over access to the rock\u003c/a>. In 2014, the city instituted a permitting process for climbers hoping to scale the slick stone wall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco climbers protested and eventually persuaded the city to drop the permits — on the condition that local climbing groups and the signage at Beaver Street emphasized a “leave no trace” policy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Francisco climbers protested and eventually persuaded the city to drop the permits — on the condition that local climbing groups and the signage at Beaver Street emphasized a “leave no trace” policy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "How a Berkeley park changed climbing history",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How a Berkeley park changed climbing history\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The rock on Beaver Street is one of a handful of outdoor climbing areas in San Francisco proper, but across the bay in the Berkeley Hills sits another city park where climbers have pushed the sport forward for nearly a century.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The rock on Beaver Street is one of a handful of outdoor climbing areas in San Francisco proper, but across the bay in the Berkeley Hills sits another city park where climbers have pushed the sport forward for nearly a century.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/parks-recreation/parks/indian-rock-park\">Indian Rock Park\u003c/a> encompasses a collection of volcanic boulders in the hills overlooking the UC Berkeley campus. Long a \u003ca href=\"https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/slt_resources/indian-rock/\">place of significance to Ohlone people\u003c/a>, these boulders have also played an outsized role in the Bay Area’s climbing history. John Sherman remembers getting introduced to the sport here in the 1970s, when he was a student at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/parks-recreation/parks/indian-rock-park\">Indian Rock Park\u003c/a> encompasses a collection of volcanic boulders in the hills overlooking the UC Berkeley campus. Long a \u003ca href=\"https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/slt_resources/indian-rock/\">place of significance to Ohlone people\u003c/a>, these boulders have also played an outsized role in the Bay Area’s climbing history. John Sherman remembers getting introduced to the sport here in the 1970s, when he was a student at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Well, it’s kind of a funny story,” Sherman said. “Some friends and I scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Well, it’s kind of a funny story,” Sherman said. “Some friends and I scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man in orange shirt and grey pants wearing a helmet and rock climbing shoes climbs a rock wall.\" class=\"wp-image-12093866\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ravi Bhoraskar climbs the Beaver Street wall, his first outdoor climbing experience.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man in orange shirt and grey pants wearing a helmet and rock climbing shoes climbs a rock wall.\" class=\"wp-image-12093866\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ravi Bhoraskar climbs the Beaver Street wall, his first outdoor climbing experience.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A friend suggested that they take their contraband to Indian Rock Park. While they were sitting on the steps enjoying these illicit beverages, Sherman noticed people scrambling on the rocks nearby, practicing gymnastic moves just a few feet off the ground.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A friend suggested that they take their contraband to Indian Rock Park. While they were sitting on the steps enjoying these illicit beverages, Sherman noticed people scrambling on the rocks nearby, practicing gymnastic moves just a few feet off the ground.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself,” he said. He came back a few days later, blundering his way through the first of many bouldering climbs in what would become his 50-year love affair with rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself,” he said. He came back a few days later, blundering his way through the first of many bouldering climbs in what would become his 50-year love affair with rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since,” Sherman said. Bay Area climbers might recognize Sherman by his nickname: Verm, short for Vermin.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since,” Sherman said. Bay Area climbers might recognize Sherman by his nickname: Verm, short for Vermin.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Verm would go on to become one of the pioneers of a relatively new style of climbing, called bouldering, where climbers perform ambitious, gymnastic moves with no ropes — all while staying relatively close to the ground.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Verm would go on to become one of the pioneers of a relatively new style of climbing, called bouldering, where climbers perform ambitious, gymnastic moves with no ropes — all while staying relatively close to the ground.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Just because bouldering involves less consequential falls than those taken by climbers on California’s soaring cliff faces, doesn’t mean falling off a boulder didn’t hurt.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Just because bouldering involves less consequential falls than those taken by climbers on California’s soaring cliff faces, doesn’t mean falling off a boulder didn’t hurt.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We took a real beating back in those days,” Sherman explained of his early bouldering experiments at Indian Rock. “There weren’t that many people, like myself, who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We took a real beating back in those days,” Sherman explained of his early bouldering experiments at Indian Rock. “There weren’t that many people, like myself, who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.climbinggold.com/voices/john-sherman\">Sherman is now a climbing legend\u003c/a> within the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.climbinggold.com/voices/john-sherman\">Sherman is now a climbing legend\u003c/a> within the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He was the first person to scale and document hundreds of new routes in a now-esteemed bouldering area in Texas, called \u003ca href=\"https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks/activities/#rock-climbing\">Hueco Tanks\u003c/a>, and he \u003ca href=\"https://www.climbing.com/gear/crash-pads-safety-changed-bouldering-forever/\">helped to invent the “crash pads” that boulderers use to cushion their falls\u003c/a> today.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He was the first person to scale and document hundreds of new routes in a now-esteemed bouldering area in Texas, called \u003ca href=\"https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks/activities/#rock-climbing\">Hueco Tanks\u003c/a>, and he \u003ca href=\"https://www.climbing.com/gear/crash-pads-safety-changed-bouldering-forever/\">helped to invent the “crash pads” that boulderers use to cushion their falls\u003c/a> today.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But his most recognizable contribution to the Bay Area’s climbing culture is one that Sherman doesn’t like to talk about. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But his most recognizable contribution to the Bay Area’s climbing culture is one that Sherman doesn’t like to talk about. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094719\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the skyline from the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094719\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the skyline from the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He invented a system to grade the difficulty of bouldering climbs, dubbed the \u003ca href=\"https://rockclimbingrealms.com/bouldering-grades-explained/\">“V grading system” \u003c/a>— as in, the Vermin grading system. This is a system now widely used by climbing gyms, which rates the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up numerically (V1, V2, V3 and so on) as the difficulty increases.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>He invented a system to grade the difficulty of bouldering climbs, dubbed the \u003ca href=\"https://rockclimbingrealms.com/bouldering-grades-explained/\">“V grading system” \u003c/a>— as in, the Vermin grading system. This is a system now widely used by climbing gyms, which rates the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up numerically (V1, V2, V3 and so on) as the difficulty increases.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sherman said he dislikes how fixated other climbers have become with his grading system.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Sherman said he dislikes how fixated other climbers have become with his grading system.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience,” he said. He described the “nutrition” of the climbing experience as being all the things that make climbing worthwhile: the camaraderie, the “kinesthetic flow of the movement” and a communion with nature.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience,” he said. He described the “nutrition” of the climbing experience as being all the things that make climbing worthwhile: the camaraderie, the “kinesthetic flow of the movement” and a communion with nature.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“And then what happens afterwards?” he said. “Out pops a V grade.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“And then what happens afterwards?” he said. “Out pops a V grade.”\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "A safer way to fall",
"level": 2
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A safer way to fall\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A safer way to fall\u003c/h2>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sherman prefers to think of himself as part of a long lineage of Bay Area climbers who have sharpened their skills on the urban rock faces available to them.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Sherman prefers to think of himself as part of a long lineage of Bay Area climbers who have sharpened their skills on the urban rock faces available to them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At Indian Rock, for example, a group of Berkeley law students and mountaineers were \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/12/07/rock-climbing-indian-rock-mortar-rock\">preparing for ascents in Yosemite Valley as early as the 1930s\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>At Indian Rock, for example, a group of Berkeley law students and mountaineers were \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/12/07/rock-climbing-indian-rock-mortar-rock\">preparing for ascents in Yosemite Valley as early as the 1930s\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mountain climbing at the time was extraordinarily dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward, and the safety equipment didn’t really work. Climbers used ropes made of hemp — stiff, dry, and prone to snapping if pulled too quickly. Most people assumed a fall on a climbing route was fatal.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Mountain climbing at the time was extraordinarily dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward, and the safety equipment didn’t really work. Climbers used ropes made of hemp — stiff, dry, and prone to snapping if pulled too quickly. Most people assumed a fall on a climbing route was fatal.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The rope’s gonna break, and that’s it, you know?” Sherman said.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“The rope’s gonna break, and that’s it, you know?” Sherman said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An anchor chain at the top of the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094716\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An anchor chain at the top of the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
],
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"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the Berkeley students climbing at Indian Rock developed a counterintuitive idea to change that.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But the Berkeley students climbing at Indian Rock developed a counterintuitive idea to change that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The solution was all in how climbers handled the rope. If a belayer let the rope run through their hands and slowly absorbed the force of a fall, the rope was far less likely to snap — and could actually catch a falling climber without killing them.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The solution was all in how climbers handled the rope. If a belayer let the rope run through their hands and slowly absorbed the force of a fall, the rope was far less likely to snap — and could actually catch a falling climber without killing them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climbers began practicing these controlled, “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock, and they carried the life-saving technique with them to Yosemite. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/nylon-a-revolution-in-textiles/\">By the 1940s, nylon was commercially accessible\u003c/a>, and climbers began making stronger, more shock-absorbent ropes from it.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Climbers began practicing these controlled, “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock, and they carried the life-saving technique with them to Yosemite. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/nylon-a-revolution-in-textiles/\">By the 1940s, nylon was commercially accessible\u003c/a>, and climbers began making stronger, more shock-absorbent ropes from it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer,” Sherman said. “The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer,” Sherman said. “The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.”\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Falling was no longer a death sentence, and the sport became more popular as a result. As new tools and techniques made climbing safer, the goals of the sport shifted too.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Falling was no longer a death sentence, and the sport became more popular as a result. As new tools and techniques made climbing safer, the goals of the sport shifted too.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Style was more important than difficulty, and you were more respected if you could walk up to a climb and climb it without falling … just figuring it out,” Sherman said. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Style was more important than difficulty, and you were more respected if you could walk up to a climb and climb it without falling … just figuring it out,” Sherman said. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By the 1960s, climbing was no longer just about the summit — it was about finding a creative way up each rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>By the 1960s, climbing was no longer just about the summit — it was about finding a creative way up each rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "The secret climbs on University of California, Berkeley campus",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The secret climbs on University of California, Berkeley campus\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The secret climbs on University of California, Berkeley campus\u003c/h2>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climbers still wanted to test themselves on big routes in Yosemite and Joshua Tree, but the Bay Area’s natural geology was limited, and climbing gyms weren’t yet common. So climbers had to look for training grounds in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Climbers still wanted to test themselves on big routes in Yosemite and Joshua Tree, but the Bay Area’s natural geology was limited, and climbing gyms weren’t yet common. So climbers had to look for training grounds in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jordan Schultz is the kind of climber who sees potential everywhere — even across the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s cataloged hundreds of “buildering” routes.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Jordan Schultz is the kind of climber who sees potential everywhere — even across the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s cataloged hundreds of “buildering” routes.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think I listed, like, 300-plus routes just on campus,” Schultz said. “Pretty much every building is climbable, is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“I think I listed, like, 300-plus routes just on campus,” Schultz said. “Pretty much every building is climbable, is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
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"imageCredit": "(Courtesy Jordan Schultz)",
"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094710\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left to right, climbers Ace Landauer, Jordan Schultz, Tilly Holtz and Colin Wills hang from cracks in the “penny wall,” a spot on the UC Berkeley campus where rock climbers practice crack climbing techniques required for climbs in Yosemite Valley.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094710\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left to right, climbers Ace Landauer, Jordan Schultz, Tilly Holtz and Colin Wills hang from cracks in the “penny wall,” a spot on the UC Berkeley campus where rock climbers practice crack climbing techniques required for climbs in Yosemite Valley.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Schultz documented these routes — and the history behind them — in his guidebook, \u003ca href=\"https://campusingbook.com\">\u003cem>Campusing: A Secret History and Buildering Guide to UC Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>One of the university’s most famous unofficial routes is a crack running up the side of a brick building that houses the chemistry department.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Schultz documented these routes — and the history behind them — in his guidebook, \u003ca href=\"https://campusingbook.com\">\u003cem>Campusing: A Secret History and Buildering Guide to UC Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>One of the university’s most famous unofficial routes is a crack running up the side of a brick building that houses the chemistry department.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it,” Schultz said. “I think that’s the beautiful part about it. You need to open your eyes to it, you know?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it,” Schultz said. “I think that’s the beautiful part about it. You need to open your eyes to it, you know?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climbers have used this crack to practice technique since at least the 1960s, Schultz said, because it mirrors the kind of crack climbing common in Yosemite and other parts of the Sierra.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Climbers have used this crack to practice technique since at least the 1960s, Schultz said, because it mirrors the kind of crack climbing common in Yosemite and other parts of the Sierra.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The spot has another name, too: the Penny Wall. According to Schultz, back in the 1960s, climbers practicing at the crack would stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach — a marker and quiet challenge to whoever climbed the crack next.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The spot has another name, too: the Penny Wall. According to Schultz, back in the 1960s, climbers practicing at the crack would stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach — a marker and quiet challenge to whoever climbed the crack next.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>John Sherman honed his own crack-climbing technique on the Penny Wall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>John Sherman honed his own crack-climbing technique on the Penny Wall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And as much as the Bay Area’s outdoor climbing sites have been the home of real breakthroughs in the sport of climbing, he said their true value is in the community of climbers that are drawn to them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And as much as the Bay Area’s outdoor climbing sites have been the home of real breakthroughs in the sport of climbing, he said their true value is in the community of climbers that are drawn to them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climbing something like the rock on Beaver Street, tucked into the corner of a busy city, can still feel like being let in on a local secret — passed down by generations of climbers who have left something behind for the next adventurous climber: a penny, a piece of gear, or simply a tip to help newcomers navigate a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Climbing something like the rock on Beaver Street, tucked into the corner of a busy city, can still feel like being let in on a local secret — passed down by generations of climbers who have left something behind for the next adventurous climber: a penny, a piece of gear, or simply a tip to help newcomers navigate a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When you do go to these little areas, and make the effort to meet the locals [climbing there], the experience is so much richer,” Sherman said. “It doesn’t have to be Yosemite to give you a climbing experience and a community to hang out with.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“When you do go to these little areas, and make the effort to meet the locals [climbing there], the experience is so much richer,” Sherman said. “It doesn’t have to be Yosemite to give you a climbing experience and a community to hang out with.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"\n[baycuriousquestion]\n"
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"text": "Episode transcript",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"transcript\">Episode transcript\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price and you’re listening to Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price and you’re listening to Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When I was about six months pregnant with my first child, a friend of a friend passed along a maternity climbing harness … a full body nylon contraption that allows pregnant people to keep rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When I was about six months pregnant with my first child, a friend of a friend passed along a maternity climbing harness … a full body nylon contraption that allows pregnant people to keep rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now, I was not a rock climber at the time, but thought — “hey, why not? A lot of other activities I love, like running, have gotten really hard, but my legs are stronger than ever. Let’s climb!”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Now, I was not a rock climber at the time, but thought — “hey, why not? A lot of other activities I love, like running, have gotten really hard, but my legs are stronger than ever. Let’s climb!”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Soon I found myself halfway up a wall in Pinnacles National Park … having a blast, but also hearing the voice of my mother inside my head: \u003cem>“Oh, Olivia. You would.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Soon I found myself halfway up a wall in Pinnacles National Park … having a blast, but also hearing the voice of my mother inside my head: \u003cem>“Oh, Olivia. You would.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>To be honest, my stint with rock climbing was relatively short, but I was into it long enough to hit up most of the bigger climbing areas in the Bay Area. And I learned you don’t have to drive all the way to Yosemite to feel the thrill of scaling a cliff. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>To be honest, my stint with rock climbing was relatively short, but I was into it long enough to hit up most of the bigger climbing areas in the Bay Area. And I learned you don’t have to drive all the way to Yosemite to feel the thrill of scaling a cliff. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are a handful of urban climbing areas you might have walked past without a second look.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There are a handful of urban climbing areas you might have walked past without a second look.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar [[boh-RAHS-car]] stumbled across one of those hidden rock walls … tucked into the hills of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar [[boh-RAHS-car]] stumbled across one of those hidden rock walls … tucked into the hills of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It looked to me like a residential street. A bunch of cute houses, \u003cs>uh,\u003c/s> and, like, a little narrow path in the middle.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It looked to me like a residential street. A bunch of cute houses, \u003cs>uh,\u003c/s> and, like, a little narrow path in the middle.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Beaver Street itself is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill towards Corona Heights. The Castro Theater is just a few blocks away.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Beaver Street itself is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill towards Corona Heights. The Castro Theater is just a few blocks away.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And tucked into the curve of Beaver Street is a narrow park.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And tucked into the curve of Beaver Street is a narrow park.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>And as you come in, you get this giant piece of shiny rock, which is the Beaver Street Wall. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>And as you come in, you get this giant piece of shiny rock, which is the Beaver Street Wall. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This big slab of rock towers 60 feet above a kids’ playground. It’s got these diagonal streaks of red and tan rock that honestly make it look almost like a slice of bacon. And it has an unusual texture…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This big slab of rock towers 60 feet above a kids’ playground. It’s got these diagonal streaks of red and tan rock that honestly make it look almost like a slice of bacon. And it has an unusual texture…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s kind of like a shiny, almost slippery-looking surface, with some holes that you can potentially use to climb on.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s kind of like a shiny, almost slippery-looking surface, with some holes that you can potentially use to climb on.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This interested Ravi because he recently got into rock climbing. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This interested Ravi because he recently got into rock climbing. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Mostly indoors at the climbing gym. I was excited to learn that there is, like, at least one climbing spot right within the city, like, easily reachable by bus.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Mostly indoors at the climbing gym. I was excited to learn that there is, like, at least one climbing spot right within the city, like, easily reachable by bus.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And he wants to know … what is that slippery, striped bacon rock?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And he wants to know … what is that slippery, striped bacon rock?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>How did it end up there, and why does it look so cool?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>How did it end up there, and why does it look so cool?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And most importantly…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And most importantly…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Like, can I climb it?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Like, can I climb it?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today we’re going to get answers for Ravi, of course. But we’ll also explore how Bay Area climbers have used city parks to practice their skills for decades — and ultimately push the sport forward. Turns out there’s a lot of rock climbing history anchored right here in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today we’re going to get answers for Ravi, of course. But we’ll also explore how Bay Area climbers have used city parks to practice their skills for decades — and ultimately push the sport forward. Turns out there’s a lot of rock climbing history anchored right here in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>KQED producer Francesca Fenzi headed to Beaver Street with Ravi … to check out this unusual rock.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>KQED producer Francesca Fenzi headed to Beaver Street with Ravi … to check out this unusual rock.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Birds singing, slight traffic sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Birds singing, slight traffic sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> Ravi and I arrive at Corona Heights Park on a sunny weekend afternoon. We can hear birds singing … and the faint sound of traffic from Market Street carrying up the hill.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> Ravi and I arrive at Corona Heights Park on a sunny weekend afternoon. We can hear birds singing … and the faint sound of traffic from Market Street carrying up the hill.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s a playground, a dense pocket of trees, and then … this glistening rock wall.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s a playground, a dense pocket of trees, and then … this glistening rock wall.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s not wet, but it \u003cem>looks\u003c/em> wet. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s not wet, but it \u003cem>looks\u003c/em> wet. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The shiny surface is interrupted by a single jagged crack, which runs about six stories high. And at the base of the rock is a sign … which gives us a clue about how it got here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The shiny surface is interrupted by a single jagged crack, which runs about six stories high. And at the base of the rock is a sign … which gives us a clue about how it got here.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Known as a slickenslide, this smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Known as a slickenslide, this smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It’s Slicken SIDE actually. Try saying that three times fast! \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It’s Slicken SIDE actually. Try saying that three times fast! \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Slickenside forms when two rocks inside a fault rub against each other. Imagine pressing your hands together as hard as you can and then sliding them back and forth. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Slickenside forms when two rocks inside a fault rub against each other. Imagine pressing your hands together as hard as you can and then sliding them back and forth. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That friction creates heat — and tiny dust particles which act like a fluid — to polish the rock until it looks glassy and smooth. Just like the wall at Beaver Street. The colorful stripes even show the direction the fault was moving when a Slickenside was formed.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That friction creates heat — and tiny dust particles which act like a fluid — to polish the rock until it looks glassy and smooth. Just like the wall at Beaver Street. The colorful stripes even show the direction the fault was moving when a Slickenside was formed.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to the sign, this rock is thought to be one of the largest exposed Slickenside formations in the world. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>According to the sign, this rock is thought to be one of the largest exposed Slickenside formations in the world. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Capitals, “Please do not chip holes in the rock face or alter the rock in any way.” And then it’s taped over Um, climbing on these rocks is by permit only. To obtain a permit, call some number.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Capitals, “Please do not chip holes in the rock face or alter the rock in any way.” And then it’s taped over Um, climbing on these rocks is by permit only. To obtain a permit, call some number.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I looked into getting a permit and it turns out you no longer need one to climb at Beaver Street. So Ravi is going to try to climb it today.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I looked into getting a permit and it turns out you no longer need one to climb at Beaver Street. So Ravi is going to try to climb it today.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And to make sure we don’t damage the rock, we’ve enlisted some help.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And to make sure we don’t damage the rock, we’ve enlisted some help.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Hey, how you doing? I’m Max. Hey, Ravi. Ravi, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Hey, how you doing? I’m Max. Hey, Ravi. Ravi, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max Stewart owns a guiding company, called SAANO Adventures. And he’s offered to help us set up an anchor and climbing rope on the Beaver Street wall… \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> I’d be happy to. Did you bring some shoes? \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I brought some shoes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Yeah? Okay. Cool.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Outdoor rocks don’t come with built-in safety equipment like the climbs in a gym, so we’ll need to secure our rope to something sturdy at the top of the rock wall.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Outdoor rocks don’t come with built-in safety equipment like the climbs in a gym, so we’ll need to secure our rope to something sturdy at the top of the rock wall.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>There’s a little staircase here. Yep, there it is.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>There’s a little staircase here. Yep, there it is.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max leads us up and around the back side of the rock, to the top of a windy hill. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max leads us up and around the back side of the rock, to the top of a windy hill. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I can pick out landmarks like the diagonal slash of Market Street below, the Salesforce tower and the Bay Bridge in the distance. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>I can pick out landmarks like the diagonal slash of Market Street below, the Salesforce tower and the Bay Bridge in the distance. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Directly in front of us is a steep drop off. It looks a lot more intimidating from up here! \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Directly in front of us is a steep drop off. It looks a lot more intimidating from up here! \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Isn’t that wild? So the playground. we met just right down there. There’s the sign that you were reading.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Isn’t that wild? So the playground. we met just right down there. There’s the sign that you were reading.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Separating us from the edge of the cliff is a chain link fence. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Separating us from the edge of the cliff is a chain link fence. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> And then a bunch of heavy duty chains that we’re gonna use.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> And then a bunch of heavy duty chains that we’re gonna use.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>These heavy duty chains bolted into the top of the wall are perfect for setting up what’s called a “top rope” climb, where a rope runs from the ground, up to an anchor, and back down to the climber, catching them if they fall.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>These heavy duty chains bolted into the top of the wall are perfect for setting up what’s called a “top rope” climb, where a rope runs from the ground, up to an anchor, and back down to the climber, catching them if they fall.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Always a little weird!\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max explains that this is the same setup used by climbing gyms … even if it looks a bit different outside.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max explains that this is the same setup used by climbing gyms … even if it looks a bit different outside.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, man. That was impressive. [to Ravi] Is this what you were expecting? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, man. That was impressive. [to Ravi] Is this what you were expecting? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> No, not at all. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> No, not at all. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>A little different than the climbing gym, huh? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>A little different than the climbing gym, huh? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah, definitely.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah, definitely.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I’ve climbed outside a bit myself and part of what I love is the sense of possibility. There aren’t any predetermined holds, you can find your own route up to the top. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I’ve climbed outside a bit myself and part of what I love is the sense of possibility. There aren’t any predetermined holds, you can find your own route up to the top. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Every single person is gonna have their own method for solving this. the gyms I think are a really good place to get started, to kinda just learn the ropes, but I really encourage people as soon as, you feel like you can do it, to get outside.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Every single person is gonna have their own method for solving this. the gyms I think are a really good place to get started, to kinda just learn the ropes, but I really encourage people as soon as, you feel like you can do it, to get outside.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Is this gonna be your first time climbing outside? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Is this gonna be your first time climbing outside? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Uh, yes. Yes, this will be. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Uh, yes. Yes, this will be. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>No way, really? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>No way, really? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Oh, it’s so fun.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Oh, it’s so fun.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of climbing over chain link fence\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of climbing over chain link fence\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> When was the last time you were hopping [00:07:00] fences to go climbing. Hey. It feels kinda like you’re doing stuff you’re not supposed to do, hopping fences and … It’s like good clean fun, but still kind of a throwback, you know?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> When was the last time you were hopping [00:07:00] fences to go climbing. Hey. It feels kinda like you’re doing stuff you’re not supposed to do, hopping fences and … It’s like good clean fun, but still kind of a throwback, you know?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>No laws were broken in the making of this podcast! But Max is right. Setting up the rope above Beaver Street really does feel like getting away with something.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>No laws were broken in the making of this podcast! But Max is right. Setting up the rope above Beaver Street really does feel like getting away with something.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A lot of urban climbs FEEL illicit because it seems kind of unnatural to be doing something we associate with mountains right in our backyards. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A lot of urban climbs FEEL illicit because it seems kind of unnatural to be doing something we associate with mountains right in our backyards. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But, there’s actually a long history of Bay Area climbers using whatever they can find to ready themselves for those more ambitious, wild ascents. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But, there’s actually a long history of Bay Area climbers using whatever they can find to ready themselves for those more ambitious, wild ascents. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Beaver Street is one of the only rocks you can climb outdoors in San Francisco, but just across the bay, in the Berkeley Hills, is another city park where climbers have been pushing the limits of the sport for almost a century.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Beaver Street is one of the only rocks you can climb outdoors in San Francisco, but just across the bay, in the Berkeley Hills, is another city park where climbers have been pushing the limits of the sport for almost a century.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>John Sherman grew up in Berkeley. And he remembers getting introduced to climbing there.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>John Sherman grew up in Berkeley. And he remembers getting introduced to climbing there.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman:\u003c/strong> Well, it’s kind of a funny story. Some friends and I in high school, we scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where \u003cs>we, you know, \u003c/s>we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman:\u003c/strong> Well, it’s kind of a funny story. Some friends and I in high school, we scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where \u003cs>we, you know, \u003c/s>we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>So they made their way to Indian Rock park, a collection of volcanic boulders that was once an Ohlone meeting spot. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>So they made their way to Indian Rock park, a collection of volcanic boulders that was once an Ohlone meeting spot. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And we were sitting on the steps there drinking this beer we had gotten, and I saw people climbing there.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And we were sitting on the steps there drinking this beer we had gotten, and I saw people climbing there.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The climbers were just a few feet off the ground … practicing gravity-defying moves.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The climbers were just a few feet off the ground … practicing gravity-defying moves.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Pretty soon, he was taking the bus to Indian Rock every day after school.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Pretty soon, he was taking the bus to Indian Rock every day after school.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And I would always have my climbing shoes in my book bag along with my textbooks and stuff, and I would stop there on the way home every day, go to Indian Rock and boulder till it got dark and then walk home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And I would always have my climbing shoes in my book bag along with my textbooks and stuff, and I would stop there on the way home every day, go to Indian Rock and boulder till it got dark and then walk home.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He was at the rock so often that his brother started describing himself as an only child.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He was at the rock so often that his brother started describing himself as an only child.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since. And, you know, it’s been over 50 years now.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since. And, you know, it’s been over 50 years now.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The type of climbing John was doing is called bouldering. There aren’t any ropes, but people climb closer to the ground, using pads to cushion a fall. At least, they do now. But in the early days…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The type of climbing John was doing is called bouldering. There aren’t any ropes, but people climb closer to the ground, using pads to cushion a fall. At least, they do now. But in the early days…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>We took a real beating and there weren’t that many people like myself who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up like that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>We took a real beating and there weren’t that many people like myself who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up like that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John is a bit of a legend. He was the first person to climb a bunch of famous bouldering routes, he helped invent those cushioned pads, AND he created a system for ranking the difficulty of climbs — called the V grading system — that’s widely used today. It starts with the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up from there as the climbing gets harder — V1, V2 and so on. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John is a bit of a legend. He was the first person to climb a bunch of famous bouldering routes, he helped invent those cushioned pads, AND he created a system for ranking the difficulty of climbs — called the V grading system — that’s widely used today. It starts with the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up from there as the climbing gets harder — V1, V2 and so on. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The V comes from John’s lifelong nickname, given to him by a biology teacher at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The V comes from John’s lifelong nickname, given to him by a biology teacher at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>So he called me Sherman the Vermin. Got shortened to Verm and just kind of stuck.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>So he called me Sherman the Vermin. Got shortened to Verm and just kind of stuck.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John actually hates how fixated other climbers get on his V grading system.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John actually hates how fixated other climbers get on his V grading system.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience. After you do a wonderful, you know, boulder problem, and you enjoy the setting that you’re in, the camaraderie of your climbing partners, the kinesthetic flow of the moves and everything, and then what happens afterwards? Out pops a V grade.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience. After you do a wonderful, you know, boulder problem, and you enjoy the setting that you’re in, the camaraderie of your climbing partners, the kinesthetic flow of the moves and everything, and then what happens afterwards? Out pops a V grade.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Instead, John likes to think of himself as part of a long line of climbers honing their skills at Indian Rock.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Instead, John likes to think of himself as part of a long line of climbers honing their skills at Indian Rock.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The early history that I know of that’s documented goes back to like the 1930s\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The early history that I know of that’s documented goes back to like the 1930s\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>At that time, a group of Berkeley law students — and mountaineers — had their sights on Yosemite Valley.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And here is a collection of rocks where they could train.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And here is a collection of rocks where they could train.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The training part was important. Because at the time mountain climbing was super dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward. The safety equipment didn’t really work.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The training part was important. Because at the time mountain climbing was super dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward. The safety equipment didn’t really work.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climbers were using these flimsy ropes made out of hemp that were stiff and dry and tended to break if they got pulled apart too quickly.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Climbers were using these flimsy ropes made out of hemp that were stiff and dry and tended to break if they got pulled apart too quickly.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>John says most people assumed that falling on a climbing route was a death sentence.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>John says most people assumed that falling on a climbing route was a death sentence.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The rope’s gonna break and that’s it, you know?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The rope’s gonna break and that’s it, you know?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>But these Berkeley students, climbing at Indian Rock. They came up with a counterintuitive idea.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> More on their idea and how it revolutionized climbing after this quick break. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>But these Berkeley students, climbing at Indian Rock. They came up with a counterintuitive idea.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> More on their idea and how it revolutionized climbing after this quick break. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> UC Berkeley Students climbing at Indian Rock wanted to make climbing safer, and they discovered a technique that would really change the game. Francesca Fenzi takes it from here.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> UC Berkeley Students climbing at Indian Rock wanted to make climbing safer, and they discovered a technique that would really change the game. Francesca Fenzi takes it from here.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> It was all in how you handled the rope… \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> It was all in how you handled the rope… \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>If you let it run through your hands and slowly break the fall, that rope might not snap, and you can actually catch the leader if they fall, and they’re not gonna die.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>If you let it run through your hands and slowly break the fall, that rope might not snap, and you can actually catch the leader if they fall, and they’re not gonna die.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>This was huge. Climbers started practicing these “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock. And they brought these life-saving skills to Yosemite with them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>This was huge. Climbers started practicing these “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock. And they brought these life-saving skills to Yosemite with them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A decade later, in the 1940s, nylon was widely available. And climbers started using the stretchy fiber to make stronger, more shock-absorbant ropes.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A decade later, in the 1940s, nylon was widely available. And climbers started using the stretchy fiber to make stronger, more shock-absorbant ropes.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer. The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer. The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Falling on a rock climb was no longer a death sentence and that made the sport a lot more popular.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Falling on a rock climb was no longer a death sentence and that made the sport a lot more popular.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As new tools and techniques made climbs safer, the goals of climbing changed, too.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As new tools and techniques made climbs safer, the goals of climbing changed, too.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>Style was more important than difficulty.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John says by the time he got hooked, rock climbing was no longer just about getting to the top. It was about finding creative ways up a rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John says by the time he got hooked, rock climbing was no longer just about getting to the top. It was about finding creative ways up a rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Climbers were \u003cem>still \u003c/em>eager to test themselves on the big climbs in places like Yosemite and Joshua Tree. But the Bay Area’s natural geology was limiting. And climbing gyms — with their variety of simulated rock types — weren’t as common as they are today.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Climbers were \u003cem>still \u003c/em>eager to test themselves on the big climbs in places like Yosemite and Joshua Tree. But the Bay Area’s natural geology was limiting. And climbing gyms — with their variety of simulated rock types — weren’t as common as they are today.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So for Bay Area climbers to take their skills to the next level … they had to look in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So for Bay Area climbers to take their skills to the next level … they had to look in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Pretty much every building is climbable is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Pretty much every building is climbable is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan Schulz is the kind of climber who looks at it “the right way.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan Schulz is the kind of climber who looks at it “the right way.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s 23 and sees climbing opportunities everywhere. Even the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s showing me one of the university’s most famous climbing “routes.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s 23 and sees climbing opportunities everywhere. Even the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s showing me one of the university’s most famous climbing “routes.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It’s a crack in the side of a brick building that houses the Chemistry department. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It’s a crack in the side of a brick building that houses the Chemistry department. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>This is the crack we’re looking at right here. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>This is the crack we’re looking at right here. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It takes me a moment to “see” it the way Jordan does.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It takes me a moment to “see” it the way Jordan does.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>To me, I’m looking at a brick wall with a parking sign on it. Yeah. And there’s a gap in the wall that’s maybe about an inch and a half thick. And it runs from the base of the wall to the the next story up.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>To me, I’m looking at a brick wall with a parking sign on it. Yeah. And there’s a gap in the wall that’s maybe about an inch and a half thick. And it runs from the base of the wall to the the next story up.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Yeah. That’s the climb. It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it. And then I think that’s the beautiful part about it, is that you need to open your eyes to it, you know?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Yeah. That’s the climb. It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it. And then I think that’s the beautiful part about it, is that you need to open your eyes to it, you know?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says climbers have been using the crack in this building to practice their technique since at least the 1960s\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says climbers have been using the crack in this building to practice their technique since at least the 1960s\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A lot of the style of climbing in Yosemite and the Sierras features a lot of cracks in the rock. And so, it offers a good training ground to learn some crack climbing technique that would help people climb better in the mountains.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A lot of the style of climbing in Yosemite and the Sierras features a lot of cracks in the rock. And so, it offers a good training ground to learn some crack climbing technique that would help people climb better in the mountains.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says this spot has another name: the Penny Wall. Back in the 60s, when a climber was practicing at the crack, they’d stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says this spot has another name: the Penny Wall. Back in the 60s, when a climber was practicing at the crack, they’d stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>And so people would see, like, how high was the penny, and every so often it would get higher.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>And so people would see, like, how high was the penny, and every so often it would get higher.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A challenge to the next climber…\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A challenge to the next climber…\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A subtle way of communicating you know, who climbed a little higher and moved the penny up.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A subtle way of communicating you know, who climbed a little higher and moved the penny up.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Back at Beaver Street, our question asker Ravi is getting ready to place his own metaphorical penny on the wall.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Back at Beaver Street, our question asker Ravi is getting ready to place his own metaphorical penny on the wall.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: All right, Ravi, let’s get your shoes on- Yep\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: All right, Ravi, let’s get your shoes on- Yep\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s about to climb outside for the first time.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s about to climb outside for the first time.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene:\u003c/strong> How are you feeling about climbing it? \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene:\u003c/strong> How are you feeling about climbing it? \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I’m excited. I’m also, yeah, a li- little nervous. Like, I don’t want to slip, but, no, mostly excited. Mostly feeling excited about climbing this.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I’m excited. I’m also, yeah, a li- little nervous. Like, I don’t want to slip, but, no, mostly excited. Mostly feeling excited about climbing this.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Your belay is on. And climbing. Okay. Climb on, sir.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Your belay is on. And climbing. Okay. Climb on, sir.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area’s outdoor rock walls have been home to major breakthroughs in the sport. But as Max would say, they’re also good clean fun.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area’s outdoor rock walls have been home to major breakthroughs in the sport. But as Max would say, they’re also good clean fun.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>What do you think of outdoor climbing versus, uh, in the gym? \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> This is great. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> This is great. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Isn’t it so nice?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Isn’t it so nice?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>And urban climbs like this one — tucked into corners of busy cities — feel like secrets, passed along by other members of this special club. People who’ve contributed a penny, or a pair of chains, or advice about how to get around a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>And urban climbs like this one — tucked into corners of busy cities — feel like secrets, passed along by other members of this special club. People who’ve contributed a penny, or a pair of chains, or advice about how to get around a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Try and utilize that crack as much as possible. This guy’s got some bragging rights having this be his first outdoor climb, and he’s just absolutely sending it. Okay, I’m gonna lower you nice and slow. Just walk those feet down. Hey, nice work, man. That was amazing. Good job, man. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Try and utilize that crack as much as possible. This guy’s got some bragging rights having this be his first outdoor climb, and he’s just absolutely sending it. Okay, I’m gonna lower you nice and slow. Just walk those feet down. Hey, nice work, man. That was amazing. Good job, man. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Thank you. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Thank you. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>First outdoor climb. Yeah. What a classic too, man. This is a, uh- That was amazing … that’s no slouch of a climb, man. That was, uh, you worked hard for that.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>First outdoor climb. Yeah. What a classic too, man. This is a, uh- That was amazing … that’s no slouch of a climb, man. That was, uh, you worked hard for that.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer, or a new climber, like Ravi, a neighborhood rock can feel just as magical as Yosemite.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer, or a new climber, like Ravi, a neighborhood rock can feel just as magical as Yosemite.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>What’d you think of that glass section in the middle there? \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> The glass section was definitely interesting. That was wild. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Well, what do you think? Should we, uh, pull these ropes?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds or rope falling from a great height\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Boom. That’s it. That’s the sound of the end of it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Classical music plays\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>That song is the perfect soundtrack. Was that your cellphone?\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it was.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That story was brought to us by KQED reporter Francesca Fenzi.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>I’ve got two requests for you on our way out. First, Head to \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a> and VOTE in our public voting round to help us decide what story we should tackle next. All it takes is a few seconds and one click.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Second, consider becoming a member of KQED and supporting Bay Curious. We are relying more on listener donations than we have in the past and every dollar helps us to keep bringing you stories like this one. Head to \u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/podcasts\">donate.kqed.org/podcasts\u003c/a> to get started.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Beaver Street’s shiny slab isn’t just a geologic curiosity — it’s part of a long legacy for Bay Area climbers who have used city rocks and buildings to train for the heights of Yosemite Valley.",
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"title": "The San Francisco Rock Climbing Spot Known For Its Shiny Surface | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ca href=\"#transcript\">View the full episode transcript\u003c/a>\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Beaver Street is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill toward Corona Heights, a few blocks from the Castro Theater.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tucked into the curve of this tiny street is a narrow park, and inside it, a 60-foot slab of rock that towers over a public playground. The rock is streaked with diagonal bands of red and tan that make it look almost like a slice of bacon — with a surface unlike any rock Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar had seen.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar first stumbled across the \u003ca href=\"https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105733887/beaver-street-wall\">Beaver Street rock wall\u003c/a> during a weekend outing with his daughters, to the Randall Museum of Science in Corona Heights Park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093864\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-3-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Stewart belays Ravi Bhoraskar as he climbs the Beaver Street wall in San Francisco’s Corona Heights Park. (Francesca Fenzi/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He described it as a “shiny, almost slippery-looking surface” with a few sparse holes “that you can potentially use to climb on.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The secluded crag felt like a revelation. He recently started rock climbing, and climbs weekly at his neighborhood gym in the Mission.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I was excited to learn that there is at least one [outdoor] climbing spot within the city, easily reachable by bus,” Bhoraskar said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A visible record of Bay Area geology\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bhoraskar’s first clue to the origins of the Beaver Street rock came from a sign posted at its base. Known as a “slickenside,” the sign explained: “This smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Slickenside is a type of rock that forms along fault lines, like the San Andreas Fault that slashes diagonally across San Francisco. When two rocks on either side of the fault rub against each other, the friction between them can generate heat and super-fine particles of dust. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That dust acts like a lubricant, polishing the rock surface until it becomes glassy and smooth, just like the rock on Beaver Street. The colorful stripes on a slickenside formation even record the direction the rocks were moving, allowing geologists to track the movement of different faults across time. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094715\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the City of San Francisco’s posted signage, the rock wall on Beaver Street is thought to be one of the largest exposed slickenside formations in the world.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This sign also serves as a reminder of a \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/savebsw/\">small municipal battle over access to the rock\u003c/a>. In 2014, the city instituted a permitting process for climbers hoping to scale the slick stone wall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco climbers protested and eventually persuaded the city to drop the permits — on the condition that local climbing groups and the signage at Beaver Street emphasized a “leave no trace” policy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How a Berkeley park changed climbing history\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The rock on Beaver Street is one of a handful of outdoor climbing areas in San Francisco proper, but across the bay in the Berkeley Hills sits another city park where climbers have pushed the sport forward for nearly a century.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/community-recreation/parks-recreation/parks/indian-rock-park\">Indian Rock Park\u003c/a> encompasses a collection of volcanic boulders in the hills overlooking the UC Berkeley campus. Long a \u003ca href=\"https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/slt_resources/indian-rock/\">place of significance to Ohlone people\u003c/a>, these boulders have also played an outsized role in the Bay Area’s climbing history. John Sherman remembers getting introduced to the sport here in the 1970s, when he was a student at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Well, it’s kind of a funny story,” Sherman said. “Some friends and I scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"alignleft size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A man in orange shirt and grey pants wearing a helmet and rock climbing shoes climbs a rock wall.\" class=\"wp-image-12093866\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED.jpg 1500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED-160x213.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/BeaverStreetClimbing_FF-5-KQED-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ravi Bhoraskar climbs the Beaver Street wall, his first outdoor climbing experience. (Francesca Fenzi/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>A friend suggested that they take their contraband to Indian Rock Park. While they were sitting on the steps enjoying these illicit beverages, Sherman noticed people scrambling on the rocks nearby, practicing gymnastic moves just a few feet off the ground.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself,” he said. He came back a few days later, blundering his way through the first of many bouldering climbs in what would become his 50-year love affair with rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since,” Sherman said. Bay Area climbers might recognize Sherman by his nickname: Verm, short for Vermin.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Verm would go on to become one of the pioneers of a relatively new style of climbing, called bouldering, where climbers perform ambitious, gymnastic moves with no ropes — all while staying relatively close to the ground.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Just because bouldering involves less consequential falls than those taken by climbers on California’s soaring cliff faces, doesn’t mean falling off a boulder didn’t hurt.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We took a real beating back in those days,” Sherman explained of his early bouldering experiments at Indian Rock. “There weren’t that many people, like myself, who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.climbinggold.com/voices/john-sherman\">Sherman is now a climbing legend\u003c/a> within the Bay Area and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He was the first person to scale and document hundreds of new routes in a now-esteemed bouldering area in Texas, called \u003ca href=\"https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks/activities/#rock-climbing\">Hueco Tanks\u003c/a>, and he \u003ca href=\"https://www.climbing.com/gear/crash-pads-safety-changed-bouldering-forever/\">helped to invent the “crash pads” that boulderers use to cushion their falls\u003c/a> today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But his most recognizable contribution to the Bay Area’s climbing culture is one that Sherman doesn’t like to talk about. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094719\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A view of the skyline from the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He invented a system to grade the difficulty of bouldering climbs, dubbed the \u003ca href=\"https://rockclimbingrealms.com/bouldering-grades-explained/\">“V grading system” \u003c/a>— as in, the Vermin grading system. This is a system now widely used by climbing gyms, which rates the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up numerically (V1, V2, V3 and so on) as the difficulty increases.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sherman said he dislikes how fixated other climbers have become with his grading system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience,” he said. He described the “nutrition” of the climbing experience as being all the things that make climbing worthwhile: the camaraderie, the “kinesthetic flow of the movement” and a communion with nature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“And then what happens afterwards?” he said. “Out pops a V grade.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A safer way to fall\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sherman prefers to think of himself as part of a long lineage of Bay Area climbers who have sharpened their skills on the urban rock faces available to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At Indian Rock, for example, a group of Berkeley law students and mountaineers were \u003ca href=\"https://www.berkeleyside.org/2023/12/07/rock-climbing-indian-rock-mortar-rock\">preparing for ascents in Yosemite Valley as early as the 1930s\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mountain climbing at the time was extraordinarily dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward, and the safety equipment didn’t really work. Climbers used ropes made of hemp — stiff, dry, and prone to snapping if pulled too quickly. Most people assumed a fall on a climbing route was fatal.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The rope’s gonna break, and that’s it, you know?” Sherman said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094716\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260810-BeaverStreetPortraits-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An anchor chain at the top of the Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Park in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2026. The rock wall is open to climbing and is primarily used for top-rope climbing. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the Berkeley students climbing at Indian Rock developed a counterintuitive idea to change that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The solution was all in how climbers handled the rope. If a belayer let the rope run through their hands and slowly absorbed the force of a fall, the rope was far less likely to snap — and could actually catch a falling climber without killing them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers began practicing these controlled, “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock, and they carried the life-saving technique with them to Yosemite. \u003ca href=\"https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/nylon-a-revolution-in-textiles/\">By the 1940s, nylon was commercially accessible\u003c/a>, and climbers began making stronger, more shock-absorbent ropes from it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer,” Sherman said. “The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Falling was no longer a death sentence, and the sport became more popular as a result. As new tools and techniques made climbing safer, the goals of the sport shifted too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Style was more important than difficulty, and you were more respected if you could walk up to a climb and climb it without falling … just figuring it out,” Sherman said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By the 1960s, climbing was no longer just about the summit — it was about finding a creative way up each rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The secret climbs on University of California, Berkeley campus\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers still wanted to test themselves on big routes in Yosemite and Joshua Tree, but the Bay Area’s natural geology was limited, and climbing gyms weren’t yet common. So climbers had to look for training grounds in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jordan Schultz is the kind of climber who sees potential everywhere — even across the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s cataloged hundreds of “buildering” routes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think I listed, like, 300-plus routes just on campus,” Schultz said. “Pretty much every building is climbable, is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094710\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260811-BEAVER-STREET-CLIMBING-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left to right, climbers Ace Landauer, Jordan Schultz, Tilly Holtz and Colin Wills hang from cracks in the “penny wall,” a spot on the UC Berkeley campus where rock climbers practice crack climbing techniques required for climbs in Yosemite Valley. ((Courtesy Jordan Schultz))\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Schultz documented these routes — and the history behind them — in his guidebook, \u003ca href=\"https://campusingbook.com\">\u003cem>Campusing: A Secret History and Buildering Guide to UC Berkeley\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>. \u003c/em>One of the university’s most famous unofficial routes is a crack running up the side of a brick building that houses the chemistry department.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it,” Schultz said. “I think that’s the beautiful part about it. You need to open your eyes to it, you know?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers have used this crack to practice technique since at least the 1960s, Schultz said, because it mirrors the kind of crack climbing common in Yosemite and other parts of the Sierra.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The spot has another name, too: the Penny Wall. According to Schultz, back in the 1960s, climbers practicing at the crack would stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach — a marker and quiet challenge to whoever climbed the crack next.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John Sherman honed his own crack-climbing technique on the Penny Wall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And as much as the Bay Area’s outdoor climbing sites have been the home of real breakthroughs in the sport of climbing, he said their true value is in the community of climbers that are drawn to them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbing something like the rock on Beaver Street, tucked into the corner of a busy city, can still feel like being let in on a local secret — passed down by generations of climbers who have left something behind for the next adventurous climber: a penny, a piece of gear, or simply a tip to help newcomers navigate a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When you do go to these little areas, and make the effort to meet the locals [climbing there], the experience is so much richer,” Sherman said. “It doesn’t have to be Yosemite to give you a climbing experience and a community to hang out with.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"transcript\">Episode transcript\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> I’m Olivia Allen-Price and you’re listening to Bay Curious.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When I was about six months pregnant with my first child, a friend of a friend passed along a maternity climbing harness … a full body nylon contraption that allows pregnant people to keep rock climbing.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, I was not a rock climber at the time, but thought — “hey, why not? A lot of other activities I love, like running, have gotten really hard, but my legs are stronger than ever. Let’s climb!”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Soon I found myself halfway up a wall in Pinnacles National Park … having a blast, but also hearing the voice of my mother inside my head: \u003cem>“Oh, Olivia. You would.”\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To be honest, my stint with rock climbing was relatively short, but I was into it long enough to hit up most of the bigger climbing areas in the Bay Area. And I learned you don’t have to drive all the way to Yosemite to feel the thrill of scaling a cliff. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are a handful of urban climbing areas you might have walked past without a second look.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bay Curious listener Ravi Bhoraskar [[boh-RAHS-car]] stumbled across one of those hidden rock walls … tucked into the hills of San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It looked to me like a residential street. A bunch of cute houses, \u003cs>uh,\u003c/s> and, like, a little narrow path in the middle.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Beaver Street itself is just two blocks long. It climbs from Castro Street up a steep hill towards Corona Heights. The Castro Theater is just a few blocks away.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And tucked into the curve of Beaver Street is a narrow park.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>And as you come in, you get this giant piece of shiny rock, which is the Beaver Street Wall. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This big slab of rock towers 60 feet above a kids’ playground. It’s got these diagonal streaks of red and tan rock that honestly make it look almost like a slice of bacon. And it has an unusual texture…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s kind of like a shiny, almost slippery-looking surface, with some holes that you can potentially use to climb on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>This interested Ravi because he recently got into rock climbing. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Mostly indoors at the climbing gym. I was excited to learn that there is, like, at least one climbing spot right within the city, like, easily reachable by bus.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And he wants to know … what is that slippery, striped bacon rock?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>How did it end up there, and why does it look so cool?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>And most importantly…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>Like, can I climb it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price: \u003c/strong>Today we’re going to get answers for Ravi, of course. But we’ll also explore how Bay Area climbers have used city parks to practice their skills for decades — and ultimately push the sport forward. Turns out there’s a lot of rock climbing history anchored right here in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>KQED producer Francesca Fenzi headed to Beaver Street with Ravi … to check out this unusual rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Birds singing, slight traffic sounds\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> Ravi and I arrive at Corona Heights Park on a sunny weekend afternoon. We can hear birds singing … and the faint sound of traffic from Market Street carrying up the hill.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a playground, a dense pocket of trees, and then … this glistening rock wall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar: \u003c/strong>It’s not wet, but it \u003cem>looks\u003c/em> wet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The shiny surface is interrupted by a single jagged crack, which runs about six stories high. And at the base of the rock is a sign … which gives us a clue about how it got here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Known as a slickenslide, this smooth rock face was once inside a fault. Its surface was polished by millions of years of geological activity.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It’s Slicken SIDE actually. Try saying that three times fast! \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Slickenside forms when two rocks inside a fault rub against each other. Imagine pressing your hands together as hard as you can and then sliding them back and forth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That friction creates heat — and tiny dust particles which act like a fluid — to polish the rock until it looks glassy and smooth. Just like the wall at Beaver Street. The colorful stripes even show the direction the fault was moving when a Slickenside was formed.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the sign, this rock is thought to be one of the largest exposed Slickenside formations in the world. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Capitals, “Please do not chip holes in the rock face or alter the rock in any way.” And then it’s taped over Um, climbing on these rocks is by permit only. To obtain a permit, call some number.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I looked into getting a permit and it turns out you no longer need one to climb at Beaver Street. So Ravi is going to try to climb it today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And to make sure we don’t damage the rock, we’ve enlisted some help.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Hey, how you doing? I’m Max. Hey, Ravi. Ravi, nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max Stewart owns a guiding company, called SAANO Adventures. And he’s offered to help us set up an anchor and climbing rope on the Beaver Street wall… \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> I’d be happy to. Did you bring some shoes? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I brought some shoes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Yeah? Okay. Cool.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Outdoor rocks don’t come with built-in safety equipment like the climbs in a gym, so we’ll need to secure our rope to something sturdy at the top of the rock wall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>There’s a little staircase here. Yep, there it is.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max leads us up and around the back side of the rock, to the top of a windy hill. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I can pick out landmarks like the diagonal slash of Market Street below, the Salesforce tower and the Bay Bridge in the distance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Directly in front of us is a steep drop off. It looks a lot more intimidating from up here! \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Isn’t that wild? So the playground. we met just right down there. There’s the sign that you were reading.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Separating us from the edge of the cliff is a chain link fence. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> And then a bunch of heavy duty chains that we’re gonna use.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>These heavy duty chains bolted into the top of the wall are perfect for setting up what’s called a “top rope” climb, where a rope runs from the ground, up to an anchor, and back down to the climber, catching them if they fall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> Always a little weird!\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Max explains that this is the same setup used by climbing gyms … even if it looks a bit different outside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Oh, man. That was impressive. [to Ravi] Is this what you were expecting? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> No, not at all. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>A little different than the climbing gym, huh? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah, definitely.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>I’ve climbed outside a bit myself and part of what I love is the sense of possibility. There aren’t any predetermined holds, you can find your own route up to the top. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Every single person is gonna have their own method for solving this. the gyms I think are a really good place to get started, to kinda just learn the ropes, but I really encourage people as soon as, you feel like you can do it, to get outside.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>Is this gonna be your first time climbing outside? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Uh, yes. Yes, this will be. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>No way, really? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Oh, it’s so fun.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sound of climbing over chain link fence\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart:\u003c/strong> When was the last time you were hopping [00:07:00] fences to go climbing. Hey. It feels kinda like you’re doing stuff you’re not supposed to do, hopping fences and … It’s like good clean fun, but still kind of a throwback, you know?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>No laws were broken in the making of this podcast! But Max is right. Setting up the rope above Beaver Street really does feel like getting away with something.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Music starts\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A lot of urban climbs FEEL illicit because it seems kind of unnatural to be doing something we associate with mountains right in our backyards. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, there’s actually a long history of Bay Area climbers using whatever they can find to ready themselves for those more ambitious, wild ascents. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Beaver Street is one of the only rocks you can climb outdoors in San Francisco, but just across the bay, in the Berkeley Hills, is another city park where climbers have been pushing the limits of the sport for almost a century.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John Sherman grew up in Berkeley. And he remembers getting introduced to climbing there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman:\u003c/strong> Well, it’s kind of a funny story. Some friends and I in high school, we scored some beer. Of course, we weren’t of legal drinking age, so we were really excited, and we wanted to find some place where \u003cs>we, you know, \u003c/s>we’d be semi-hidden to drink it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>So they made their way to Indian Rock park, a collection of volcanic boulders that was once an Ohlone meeting spot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And we were sitting on the steps there drinking this beer we had gotten, and I saw people climbing there.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The climbers were just a few feet off the ground … practicing gravity-defying moves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>That day I got fascinated with it, and I wanted to try it myself.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Pretty soon, he was taking the bus to Indian Rock every day after school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And I would always have my climbing shoes in my book bag along with my textbooks and stuff, and I would stop there on the way home every day, go to Indian Rock and boulder till it got dark and then walk home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He was at the rock so often that his brother started describing himself as an only child.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I got hooked, and I’ve been doing it every day since. And, you know, it’s been over 50 years now.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The type of climbing John was doing is called bouldering. There aren’t any ropes, but people climb closer to the ground, using pads to cushion a fall. At least, they do now. But in the early days…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>We took a real beating and there weren’t that many people like myself who were daft enough to go through that and keep beating themselves up like that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John is a bit of a legend. He was the first person to climb a bunch of famous bouldering routes, he helped invent those cushioned pads, AND he created a system for ranking the difficulty of climbs — called the V grading system — that’s widely used today. It starts with the easiest climbs at V0 and goes up from there as the climbing gets harder — V1, V2 and so on. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The V comes from John’s lifelong nickname, given to him by a biology teacher at El Cerrito High.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>So he called me Sherman the Vermin. Got shortened to Verm and just kind of stuck.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John actually hates how fixated other climbers get on his V grading system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>I just think of climbing grades as the excrement of the climbing experience. After you do a wonderful, you know, boulder problem, and you enjoy the setting that you’re in, the camaraderie of your climbing partners, the kinesthetic flow of the moves and everything, and then what happens afterwards? Out pops a V grade.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Instead, John likes to think of himself as part of a long line of climbers honing their skills at Indian Rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The early history that I know of that’s documented goes back to like the 1930s\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>At that time, a group of Berkeley law students — and mountaineers — had their sights on Yosemite Valley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And here is a collection of rocks where they could train.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The training part was important. Because at the time mountain climbing was super dangerous. The gear was heavy and awkward. The safety equipment didn’t really work.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers were using these flimsy ropes made out of hemp that were stiff and dry and tended to break if they got pulled apart too quickly.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>John says most people assumed that falling on a climbing route was a death sentence.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>The rope’s gonna break and that’s it, you know?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>But these Berkeley students, climbing at Indian Rock. They came up with a counterintuitive idea.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> More on their idea and how it revolutionized climbing after this quick break. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sponsor message\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> UC Berkeley Students climbing at Indian Rock wanted to make climbing safer, and they discovered a technique that would really change the game. Francesca Fenzi takes it from here.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi:\u003c/strong> It was all in how you handled the rope… \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>If you let it run through your hands and slowly break the fall, that rope might not snap, and you can actually catch the leader if they fall, and they’re not gonna die.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>This was huge. Climbers started practicing these “slow” rope falls by jumping off the boulders at Indian Rock. And they brought these life-saving skills to Yosemite with them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A decade later, in the 1940s, nylon was widely available. And climbers started using the stretchy fiber to make stronger, more shock-absorbant ropes.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>And then all of a sudden things got a lot safer. The nylon ropes were less prone to breaking than hemp ropes were.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Falling on a rock climb was no longer a death sentence and that made the sport a lot more popular.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As new tools and techniques made climbs safer, the goals of climbing changed, too.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Sherman: \u003c/strong>Style was more important than difficulty.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>John says by the time he got hooked, rock climbing was no longer just about getting to the top. It was about finding creative ways up a rock, and making the act of climbing itself beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Climbers were \u003cem>still \u003c/em>eager to test themselves on the big climbs in places like Yosemite and Joshua Tree. But the Bay Area’s natural geology was limiting. And climbing gyms — with their variety of simulated rock types — weren’t as common as they are today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So for Bay Area climbers to take their skills to the next level … they had to look in some unexpected places.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Pretty much every building is climbable is what I found out, if you look at it in the right way.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan Schulz is the kind of climber who looks at it “the right way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s 23 and sees climbing opportunities everywhere. Even the UC Berkeley campus, where he’s showing me one of the university’s most famous climbing “routes.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It’s a crack in the side of a brick building that houses the Chemistry department. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>This is the crack we’re looking at right here. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>It takes me a moment to “see” it the way Jordan does.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>To me, I’m looking at a brick wall with a parking sign on it. Yeah. And there’s a gap in the wall that’s maybe about an inch and a half thick. And it runs from the base of the wall to the the next story up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>Yeah. That’s the climb. It doesn’t really look like much when you look at it. And then I think that’s the beautiful part about it, is that you need to open your eyes to it, you know?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says climbers have been using the crack in this building to practice their technique since at least the 1960s\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A lot of the style of climbing in Yosemite and the Sierras features a lot of cracks in the rock. And so, it offers a good training ground to learn some crack climbing technique that would help people climb better in the mountains.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Jordan says this spot has another name: the Penny Wall. Back in the 60s, when a climber was practicing at the crack, they’d stick a penny onto the highest brick they could reach.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>And so people would see, like, how high was the penny, and every so often it would get higher.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>A challenge to the next climber…\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jordan Schulz: \u003c/strong>A subtle way of communicating you know, who climbed a little higher and moved the penny up.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Back at Beaver Street, our question asker Ravi is getting ready to place his own metaphorical penny on the wall.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: All right, Ravi, let’s get your shoes on- Yep\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>He’s about to climb outside for the first time.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene:\u003c/strong> How are you feeling about climbing it? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> I’m excited. I’m also, yeah, a li- little nervous. Like, I don’t want to slip, but, no, mostly excited. Mostly feeling excited about climbing this.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Your belay is on. And climbing. Okay. Climb on, sir.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>The Bay Area’s outdoor rock walls have been home to major breakthroughs in the sport. But as Max would say, they’re also good clean fun.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>What do you think of outdoor climbing versus, uh, in the gym? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> This is great. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Isn’t it so nice?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>And urban climbs like this one — tucked into corners of busy cities — feel like secrets, passed along by other members of this special club. People who’ve contributed a penny, or a pair of chains, or advice about how to get around a tricky stretch of rock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Try and utilize that crack as much as possible. This guy’s got some bragging rights having this be his first outdoor climb, and he’s just absolutely sending it. Okay, I’m gonna lower you nice and slow. Just walk those feet down. Hey, nice work, man. That was amazing. Good job, man. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Thank you. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>First outdoor climb. Yeah. What a classic too, man. This is a, uh- That was amazing … that’s no slouch of a climb, man. That was, uh, you worked hard for that.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi: \u003c/strong>Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer, or a new climber, like Ravi, a neighborhood rock can feel just as magical as Yosemite.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>What’d you think of that glass section in the middle there? \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> The glass section was definitely interesting. That was wild. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Well, what do you think? Should we, uh, pull these ropes?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Sounds or rope falling from a great height\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Max Stewart: \u003c/strong>Boom. That’s it. That’s the sound of the end of it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Classical music plays\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Francesca Fenzi in scene: \u003c/strong>That song is the perfect soundtrack. Was that your cellphone?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ravi Bhoraskar:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it was.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Olivia Allen-Price:\u003c/strong> That story was brought to us by KQED reporter Francesca Fenzi.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>I’ve got two requests for you on our way out. First, Head to \u003ca href=\"http://baycurious.org\">BayCurious.org\u003c/a> and VOTE in our public voting round to help us decide what story we should tackle next. All it takes is a few seconds and one click.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Second, consider becoming a member of KQED and supporting Bay Curious. We are relying more on listener donations than we have in the past and every dollar helps us to keep bringing you stories like this one. Head to \u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/podcasts\">donate.kqed.org/podcasts\u003c/a> to get started.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "San Francisco Police Misread License Plate and Violently Arrested Driver, Watchdog Says",
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"headTitle": "San Francisco Police Misread License Plate and Violently Arrested Driver, Watchdog Says | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> public defender’s office is demanding accountability after a watchdog agency \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicdefender.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/08/DPA-Ludwig-Findings.pdf\">found\u003c/a> two police officers used excessive force during a wrongful July 2024 arrest of a man they believed had stolen a car. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The man, Matthew Ludwig, was stopped at a traffic light in downtown San Francisco when Officer Vinesh Govindbhai smashed Ludwig’s driver’s side window with a baton, pulled him out of the car, pinned him down on the pavement and pepper-sprayed him in the face, according to a May 2025 complaint with the Department of Police Accountability.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was actually Mr. Ludwig who was trying to de-escalate the encounter,” said Brian Cox, integrity manager with the San Francisco public defender’s office, who analyzed the body camera footage of the incident and filed Ludwig’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicdefender.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/08/DPA-Complaint-Ludwig.pdf\">claim\u003c/a> with the DPA.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094753\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Still from body-camera footage of the July 4, 2024, arrest of Matthew Ludwig by San Francisco Police Department officers. (Courtesy of SF Public Defender via YouTube)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“He’s telling the cops, ‘Be cool.’ ‘Take it easy.’ But at each turn, it was the cops who escalated the situation,” Cox said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In police reports, Govindbhai and Officer Jonathan Zepeda said they’d followed Ludwig’s Honda Accord for several miles because they believed it was stolen. Only later, after the officers handcuffed Ludwig, did they realize they had entered the wrong license plate number, which was for a Toyota, not a Honda, the agency found. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPD declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing litigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2fBPUh_cREg\">Footage\u003c/a> shows Govindbhai opening the door and dragging Ludwig out by his hoodie as the driver protests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After struggling to handcuff Ludwig, whose left hand was pinned under his body, Govindbhai said, “You’re about to get sprayed.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He then pepper-sprayed Ludwig just inches from his face, a violation of department policy, which requires a minimum distance of 4.5 feet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They referred Ludwig for charges of resisting arrest and impounded his car.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the public defender’s office, Ludwig couldn’t afford to pay the fee to get his car released, and it was auctioned off. He was also charged with resisting arrest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The District Attorney’s office dropped the matter after Ludwig died in September 2025.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, the DPA report sustained allegations that the officers violated SFPD policy by conducting a traffic stop, using excessive force, pepper spraying Ludwig and issuing a citation — all without cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ He was attacked and injured and ultimately charged and dragged through the criminal legal system,” Cox said, “because they got the license plate wrong.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cox called for the officers to be disciplined and for an audit of the policies and information used to determine whether a car is stolen. That information currently is a black box, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The man, Matthew Ludwig, was stopped at a traffic light in downtown San Francisco when Officer Vinesh Govindbhai smashed Ludwig’s driver’s side window with a baton, pulled him out of the car, pinned him down on the pavement and pepper-sprayed him in the face, according to a May 2025 complaint with the Department of Police Accountability.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In police reports, Govindbhai and Officer Jonathan Zepeda said they’d followed Ludwig’s Honda Accord for several miles because they believed it was stolen. Only later, after the officers handcuffed Ludwig, did they realize they had entered the wrong license plate number, which was for a Toyota, not a Honda, the agency found. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2fBPUh_cREg\">Footage\u003c/a> shows Govindbhai opening the door and dragging Ludwig out by his hoodie as the driver protests.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In March, the DPA report sustained allegations that the officers violated SFPD policy by conducting a traffic stop, using excessive force, pepper spraying Ludwig and issuing a citation — all without cause.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ He was attacked and injured and ultimately charged and dragged through the criminal legal system,” Cox said, “because they got the license plate wrong.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cox called for the officers to be disciplined and for an audit of the policies and information used to determine whether a car is stolen. That information currently is a black box, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The city’s public defender has called for an audit of how and why officers can determine whether a car is stolen. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a> public defender’s office is demanding accountability after a watchdog agency \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicdefender.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/08/DPA-Ludwig-Findings.pdf\">found\u003c/a> two police officers used excessive force during a wrongful July 2024 arrest of a man they believed had stolen a car. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The man, Matthew Ludwig, was stopped at a traffic light in downtown San Francisco when Officer Vinesh Govindbhai smashed Ludwig’s driver’s side window with a baton, pulled him out of the car, pinned him down on the pavement and pepper-sprayed him in the face, according to a May 2025 complaint with the Department of Police Accountability.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was actually Mr. Ludwig who was trying to de-escalate the encounter,” said Brian Cox, integrity manager with the San Francisco public defender’s office, who analyzed the body camera footage of the incident and filed Ludwig’s \u003ca href=\"https://sfpublicdefender.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/08/DPA-Complaint-Ludwig.pdf\">claim\u003c/a> with the DPA.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094753\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/SFPDForce_1-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Still from body-camera footage of the July 4, 2024, arrest of Matthew Ludwig by San Francisco Police Department officers. (Courtesy of SF Public Defender via YouTube)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“He’s telling the cops, ‘Be cool.’ ‘Take it easy.’ But at each turn, it was the cops who escalated the situation,” Cox said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In police reports, Govindbhai and Officer Jonathan Zepeda said they’d followed Ludwig’s Honda Accord for several miles because they believed it was stolen. Only later, after the officers handcuffed Ludwig, did they realize they had entered the wrong license plate number, which was for a Toyota, not a Honda, the agency found. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The SFPD declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing litigation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2fBPUh_cREg\">Footage\u003c/a> shows Govindbhai opening the door and dragging Ludwig out by his hoodie as the driver protests.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After struggling to handcuff Ludwig, whose left hand was pinned under his body, Govindbhai said, “You’re about to get sprayed.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He then pepper-sprayed Ludwig just inches from his face, a violation of department policy, which requires a minimum distance of 4.5 feet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>They referred Ludwig for charges of resisting arrest and impounded his car.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to the public defender’s office, Ludwig couldn’t afford to pay the fee to get his car released, and it was auctioned off. He was also charged with resisting arrest.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The District Attorney’s office dropped the matter after Ludwig died in September 2025.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In March, the DPA report sustained allegations that the officers violated SFPD policy by conducting a traffic stop, using excessive force, pepper spraying Ludwig and issuing a citation — all without cause.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ He was attacked and injured and ultimately charged and dragged through the criminal legal system,” Cox said, “because they got the license plate wrong.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cox called for the officers to be disciplined and for an audit of the policies and information used to determine whether a car is stolen. That information currently is a black box, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you know your \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bart\">BART train’s\u003c/a> arrival time down to the minute, check it again. On Monday, almost all of them are moving.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BART rolls out a new \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/pdfs\">systemwide schedule\u003c/a> Aug. 10, shifting most departures by a few minutes — and, the agency said, cutting wait times and easing crowding across the network. Alicia Trost, BART’s chief communications officer, said riders should look up their trip in advance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Make sure you know if your train has been moved by a minute or two, because you’re going to be frustrated,” Trost said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency said nearly all of the timetable changes trace back to Daly City Station. It sits next to a BART yard, and trains heading out of service have to cross a tangle of track switches to reach it, holding up trains still carrying riders. Trost said BART made changes so that no longer happens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1346\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094457\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty-1536x1034.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The platform at the Daly City Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station is deserted on April 8, 2020, in Daly City, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/pdfs\">Starting Monday\u003c/a>, Daly City becomes a center platform station like Embarcadero or Montgomery. All San Francisco-bound trains leave from one platform. Platform 3 becomes exit-only, where Blue and Green Line trains unload before heading to the yard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Center platforms are the easiest to use, Trost said, because riders don’t have to figure out whether they’re on the right side.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re on a Blue or Green line train headed to San Francisco International Airport, BART advises switching to a Red or Yellow line train at Balboa Park, where the transfer happens on the same platform. Transferring at Daly City now means changing platforms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s what changes Monday:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Richmond-bound from San Francisco: Yellow and Red line trains spaced an even 10 minutes apart, instead of 5 and 15 minutes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Dublin- and Berryessa-bound: Gaps for the Green and Blue lines narrow from three and 17 minutes to eight and 12 minutes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bay Fair: Dublin riders headed to San José transfer across the platform to a waiting train, down from a 19-minute wait\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>MacArthur: Antioch riders headed toward Berkeley, El Cerrito or Richmond get a 4-minute connection, saving 17 minutes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Pittsburg: Better-timed connections to and from the BART-to-Antioch shuttle\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>SFO: Red and Yellow line trains no longer sit at the platform together, easing confusion over which leaves first\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Millbrae: Some Caltrain connections shift, and BART has posted a new transfer timetable\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Richmond-bound riders, the 10-minute spacing means taking the direct Red line or catching a Yellow line train and transferring at 19th Street. Trost said the MacArthur transfer is built with enough room to walk down the stairs and back up without running, and tied the new Bay Fair connection to growing demand from the Tri-Valley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BART is framing all of this as improvement without new spending. The agency is heading toward a fiscal cliff, as emergency funding that carried it through the pandemic runs out this fiscal year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fares that once covered roughly \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/financials/crisis\">70% \u003c/a>of BART’s operating budget now cover a fraction of that, though BART has seen some \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\">recent ridership recovery\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A regional sales tax measure to fund BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">qualified for the November ballot\u003c/a> in May. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That is why, in order to do better, we have to find a way to save money somewhere else or to just do things more efficiently with what we have,” Trost said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The schedule absorbs the 10-car trains BART added July 20 during peak hours, with shorter, six- and eight-car trains off-peak to keep costs flat. It also accommodates late-night construction between Daly City and Millbrae, where crews are replacing the train-control system. Expect delays through that stretch after 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmonahan\">\u003cem>Katherine Monahan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BART rolls out a new \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/pdfs\">systemwide schedule\u003c/a> Aug. 10, shifting most departures by a few minutes — and, the agency said, cutting wait times and easing crowding across the network. Alicia Trost, BART’s chief communications officer, said riders should look up their trip in advance.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Make sure you know if your train has been moved by a minute or two, because you’re going to be frustrated,” Trost said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The agency said nearly all of the timetable changes trace back to Daly City Station. It sits next to a BART yard, and trains heading out of service have to cross a tangle of track switches to reach it, holding up trains still carrying riders. Trost said BART made changes so that no longer happens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/pdfs\">Starting Monday\u003c/a>, Daly City becomes a center platform station like Embarcadero or Montgomery. All San Francisco-bound trains leave from one platform. Platform 3 becomes exit-only, where Blue and Green Line trains unload before heading to the yard. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Center platforms are the easiest to use, Trost said, because riders don’t have to figure out whether they’re on the right side.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re on a Blue or Green line train headed to San Francisco International Airport, BART advises switching to a Red or Yellow line train at Balboa Park, where the transfer happens on the same platform. Transferring at Daly City now means changing platforms.\u003c/p>\n",
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"Richmond-bound from San Francisco: Yellow and Red line trains spaced an even 10 minutes apart, instead of 5 and 15 minutes",
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"Bay Fair: Dublin riders headed to San José transfer across the platform to a waiting train, down from a 19-minute wait",
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"Pittsburg: Better-timed connections to and from the BART-to-Antioch shuttle",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Dublin- and Berryessa-bound: Gaps for the Green and Blue lines narrow from three and 17 minutes to eight and 12 minutes\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Bay Fair: Dublin riders headed to San José transfer across the platform to a waiting train, down from a 19-minute wait\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>MacArthur: Antioch riders headed toward Berkeley, El Cerrito or Richmond get a 4-minute connection, saving 17 minutes\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Pittsburg: Better-timed connections to and from the BART-to-Antioch shuttle\u003c/li>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Richmond-bound riders, the 10-minute spacing means taking the direct Red line or catching a Yellow line train and transferring at 19th Street. Trost said the MacArthur transfer is built with enough room to walk down the stairs and back up without running, and tied the new Bay Fair connection to growing demand from the Tri-Valley.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>BART is framing all of this as improvement without new spending. The agency is heading toward a fiscal cliff, as emergency funding that carried it through the pandemic runs out this fiscal year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That is why, in order to do better, we have to find a way to save money somewhere else or to just do things more efficiently with what we have,” Trost said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The schedule absorbs the 10-car trains BART added July 20 during peak hours, with shorter, six- and eight-car trains off-peak to keep costs flat. It also accommodates late-night construction between Daly City and Millbrae, where crews are replacing the train-control system. Expect delays through that stretch after 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmonahan\">\u003cem>Katherine Monahan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A single change at Daly City Station ripples across the system, shifting departure times and cutting some transfer waits as much as 17 minutes.",
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"title": "BART Launches a New Schedule Monday. Here’s What’s Different and Why | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you know your \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bart\">BART train’s\u003c/a> arrival time down to the minute, check it again. On Monday, almost all of them are moving.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BART rolls out a new \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/pdfs\">systemwide schedule\u003c/a> Aug. 10, shifting most departures by a few minutes — and, the agency said, cutting wait times and easing crowding across the network. Alicia Trost, BART’s chief communications officer, said riders should look up their trip in advance.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Make sure you know if your train has been moved by a minute or two, because you’re going to be frustrated,” Trost said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The agency said nearly all of the timetable changes trace back to Daly City Station. It sits next to a BART yard, and trains heading out of service have to cross a tangle of track switches to reach it, holding up trains still carrying riders. Trost said BART made changes so that no longer happens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1346\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094457\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty-160x108.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/DalyCityStationGetty-1536x1034.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The platform at the Daly City Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station is deserted on April 8, 2020, in Daly City, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/schedules/pdfs\">Starting Monday\u003c/a>, Daly City becomes a center platform station like Embarcadero or Montgomery. All San Francisco-bound trains leave from one platform. Platform 3 becomes exit-only, where Blue and Green Line trains unload before heading to the yard. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Center platforms are the easiest to use, Trost said, because riders don’t have to figure out whether they’re on the right side.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re on a Blue or Green line train headed to San Francisco International Airport, BART advises switching to a Red or Yellow line train at Balboa Park, where the transfer happens on the same platform. Transferring at Daly City now means changing platforms.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Here’s what changes Monday:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>Richmond-bound from San Francisco: Yellow and Red line trains spaced an even 10 minutes apart, instead of 5 and 15 minutes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Dublin- and Berryessa-bound: Gaps for the Green and Blue lines narrow from three and 17 minutes to eight and 12 minutes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Bay Fair: Dublin riders headed to San José transfer across the platform to a waiting train, down from a 19-minute wait\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>MacArthur: Antioch riders headed toward Berkeley, El Cerrito or Richmond get a 4-minute connection, saving 17 minutes\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Pittsburg: Better-timed connections to and from the BART-to-Antioch shuttle\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>SFO: Red and Yellow line trains no longer sit at the platform together, easing confusion over which leaves first\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Millbrae: Some Caltrain connections shift, and BART has posted a new transfer timetable\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Richmond-bound riders, the 10-minute spacing means taking the direct Red line or catching a Yellow line train and transferring at 19th Street. Trost said the MacArthur transfer is built with enough room to walk down the stairs and back up without running, and tied the new Bay Fair connection to growing demand from the Tri-Valley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>BART is framing all of this as improvement without new spending. The agency is heading toward a fiscal cliff, as emergency funding that carried it through the pandemic runs out this fiscal year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fares that once covered roughly \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/about/financials/crisis\">70% \u003c/a>of BART’s operating budget now cover a fraction of that, though BART has seen some \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12081663/the-ohtani-effect-and-more-whats-behind-bay-area-transits-comeback\">recent ridership recovery\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A regional sales tax measure to fund BART, Muni, Caltrain and AC Transit \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12084841/campaign-to-fund-bay-area-transit-smashes-signature-gathering-goal\">qualified for the November ballot\u003c/a> in May. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That is why, in order to do better, we have to find a way to save money somewhere else or to just do things more efficiently with what we have,” Trost said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The schedule absorbs the 10-car trains BART added July 20 during peak hours, with shorter, six- and eight-car trains off-peak to keep costs flat. It also accommodates late-night construction between Daly City and Millbrae, where crews are replacing the train-control system. Expect delays through that stretch after 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/kmonahan\">\u003cem>Katherine Monahan\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Police responded to a fatal crash on Friday morning at Powell and Market streets, one of downtown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>’s busiest intersections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officers found a person in the street with life-threatening injuries at 8:18 a.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department. Despite life-saving efforts, they were declared dead at the scene.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police located the vehicle and the driver, who is cooperating. Though the department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Unit has not yet released details on the driver or vehicle type, Reddit users claiming to be witnesses shared \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fwoman-fatally-struck-by-bus-v0-ozwijetdzzhh1.png%3Fwidth%3D745%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Db466dd1b405817ce36a9b8cab36a69e94606a23f\">photos\u003c/a> of a Surfside beverage delivery truck at the scene. There are reports as well of a scooter at the scene of the crash.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1438\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized.jpg\" alt=\"A complaint filed March 25 alleges a San Francisco Police Department officer violated city law through improperly participating in an FBI investigation.\" class=\"wp-image-10466122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-400x300.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-800x599.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-1440x1079.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-1180x884.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-768x575.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco police patrol car. (Alex Emslie/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased after notifying the family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a post on social media, the city’s office of emergency management asked residents to avoid the area of Powell and Market streets due to police activity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traffic \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913450/san-francisco-has-tried-to-make-its-streets-safer-for-pedestrians-has-it-worked\">fatalities\u003c/a> in San Francisco in 2026 continue to outpace last year’s numbers. Eleven people have been killed while walking in San Francisco as of June, part of 14 traffic deaths citywide, up from 13 at the same point in 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/data--traffic-fatalities\">according to city data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In December 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie signed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12067175/after-vision-zero-san-francisco-overhauls-approach-to-tackling-traffic-violence\">new street-safety plan\u003c/a> as part of a citywide overhaul of how it handles traffic safety after San Francisco’s Vision Zero policy expired last year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a developing story and will be updated.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased after notifying the family.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In a post on social media, the city’s office of emergency management asked residents to avoid the area of Powell and Market streets due to police activity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Traffic \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913450/san-francisco-has-tried-to-make-its-streets-safer-for-pedestrians-has-it-worked\">fatalities\u003c/a> in San Francisco in 2026 continue to outpace last year’s numbers. Eleven people have been killed while walking in San Francisco as of June, part of 14 traffic deaths citywide, up from 13 at the same point in 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/data--traffic-fatalities\">according to city data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In December 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie signed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12067175/after-vision-zero-san-francisco-overhauls-approach-to-tackling-traffic-violence\">new street-safety plan\u003c/a> as part of a citywide overhaul of how it handles traffic safety after San Francisco’s Vision Zero policy expired last year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A person died Friday morning at Powell and Market Streets. SFPD says the driver is cooperating with investigators.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Police responded to a fatal crash on Friday morning at Powell and Market streets, one of downtown \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>’s busiest intersections.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Officers found a person in the street with life-threatening injuries at 8:18 a.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department. Despite life-saving efforts, they were declared dead at the scene.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Police located the vehicle and the driver, who is cooperating. Though the department’s Traffic Collision Investigation Unit has not yet released details on the driver or vehicle type, Reddit users claiming to be witnesses shared \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fwoman-fatally-struck-by-bus-v0-ozwijetdzzhh1.png%3Fwidth%3D745%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Db466dd1b405817ce36a9b8cab36a69e94606a23f\">photos\u003c/a> of a Surfside beverage delivery truck at the scene. There are reports as well of a scooter at the scene of the crash.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1438\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized.jpg\" alt=\"A complaint filed March 25 alleges a San Francisco Police Department officer violated city law through improperly participating in an FBI investigation.\" class=\"wp-image-10466122\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-400x300.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-800x599.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-1440x1079.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-1180x884.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-768x575.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/SFPD-sized-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">San Francisco police patrol car. (Alex Emslie/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased after notifying the family.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In a post on social media, the city’s office of emergency management asked residents to avoid the area of Powell and Market streets due to police activity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Traffic \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101913450/san-francisco-has-tried-to-make-its-streets-safer-for-pedestrians-has-it-worked\">fatalities\u003c/a> in San Francisco in 2026 continue to outpace last year’s numbers. Eleven people have been killed while walking in San Francisco as of June, part of 14 traffic deaths citywide, up from 13 at the same point in 2025, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/data--traffic-fatalities\">according to city data\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In December 2025, Mayor Daniel Lurie signed a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12067175/after-vision-zero-san-francisco-overhauls-approach-to-tackling-traffic-violence\">new street-safety plan\u003c/a> as part of a citywide overhaul of how it handles traffic safety after San Francisco’s Vision Zero policy expired last year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a developing story and will be updated.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-simple-way-to-prevent-homelessness-is-growing-in-san-francisco-is-it-sustainable",
"title": "A Simple Way to Prevent Homelessness Is Growing in San Francisco. Is It Sustainable?",
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"content": "\u003cp>Esmeralda Celis didn’t know how her family would survive last winter. Her husband, who worked multiple restaurant jobs, was suddenly forced to leave the country for several months due to his immigration status. She was left to care for their four children for months without income in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, one of the country’s most expensive places to live.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once we hit January, I was scrambling to figure out how I’m going to pay for these bills, how I’m going to provide for my children, how I’m going to keep the roof over their head,” said Celis, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment near Civic Center. “It was extremely stressful. They saw mom in shambles.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Unsure of where to go, she told a counselor at her child’s school about their situation. They connected her with Compass Family Services, one of several nonprofits that recently received an injection of private philanthropic funding to help families on the brink of homelessness stay put. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit stepped in to cover her $2,600 monthly rent from January through May, tiding them over until Celis’ husband came back and could return to work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The instability of not having a home or roof would have been detrimental for my children,” said Celis, whose daughter has cystic fibrosis and requires breathing treatments and frequent medical visits. “This definitely helped with the stability and, more than anything, keeping my children’s peace.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093706\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis and her three children Pedro, 9, Josio, 3, and Aribelle, 11, pose for a photo at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Celis’ experience is growing increasingly common as the cost of living in San Francisco has skyrocketed, most recently driven by the artificial intelligence boom. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in the city is now $6,382, according to Zillow, up about $1,759 since last year. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083310/fewer-people-are-sleeping-on-san-francisco-streets-but-family-homelessness-is-up\">Families experiencing homelessness\u003c/a> increased by 15% since 2024, according to the latest point-in-time count of the city’s homelessness population. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/2026-point-in-time-count-preliminary-results\">actual number of people\u003c/a> in families experiencing homelessness increased by 34%, from 1,103 people in 2024 to 1,474 people in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the city has a vast network of support services for people experiencing homelessness, it’s now increasingly looking at how to prevent people from losing housing by offering support before an eviction notice hits or families are forced to leave. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Tipping Point Community, a philanthropic organization started by Mayor Daniel Lurie before he entered office, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12029619/luries-nonprofit-giving-san-francisco-11-million-prevent-family-homelessness\">donated $11 million last year\u003c/a> toward a yearlong pilot project targeting family homelessness with a focus on prevention. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nonprofits receiving the funding included Compass Family Services, Mission Economic Development Agency, APA Family Support Services, Mission Neighborhood Centers and Glide. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These groups have all worked in the community for several years, and are using the pilot program funds to help families cover a financial shock that might cause them to lose their home, whether that’s a pileup of medical bills or car maintenance so they can continue getting to work. The short-term relief has varied in amount and duration depending on a family’s situation, but has ranged from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearly 900 families in San Francisco have been supported through the pilot program so far. The pilot has extended another six months to the end of 2026, after which there will be an external analysis on the outcomes of the effort, according to Tipping Point executive director Sam Cobbs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re serving people who wouldn’t have traditionally touched the family homelessness system until much later on,” Cobbs said. “These organizations that we work with are incredible and, as we anticipated, are the first line of defense for families when they’re facing eviction or run into trouble.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The prevention-focused approach is gaining steam in communities around the country, largely fueled by private dollars and local government spending. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are no federal funding streams for this kind of homelessness prevention, and federal funding for affordable housing has declined in recent years as the cost of living has gone up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supporters say it’s a more cost-effective approach to other downstream homelessness solutions like adding new permanent supportive housing, which can cost upward of $600,000 per unit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2024, Santa Clara County adopted a homelessness prevention system modeled by the San Jose-based nonprofit Destination: Home into its broader public safety net. It now provides around 2,500 households at risk of homelessness per year with prevention assistance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Studies on the effort have shown that the upstream support can dramatically slow the pace of families entering homelessness. In Santa Clara County, 93% of families who received services early remained housed. Less than 10% became homeless two years later. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1367\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on housing and homelessness in San Francisco, California, on Sept. 19, 2024. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Overwhelmingly, people who receive that assistance are not showing up later in homeless shelters or street outreach programs, which suggests that the short-term assistance is really effective at helping folks maintain their housing or housing stability,” said Ryan Finnegan, deputy director of research for the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco does have a rental assistance program, called ERAP, and the pilot is seeking to find ways to improve that system to better serve families facing homelessness. In addition to funding the nonprofits’ work, Tipping Point is helping the city build a database of its homelessness response systems to better coordinate resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as the approach gains traction across the increasingly expensive Bay Area, some limitations are emerging. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One issue is simply finding the families who might benefit the most from the assistance. Programs often target families based on information in social services databases, or find families through existing nonprofits and networks on the ground, like Celis’ school counselor. But making actual connections can be difficult. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They do have the challenge of reaching people effectively, because who really answers unknown phone calls from the county government, you know, and especially if it’s people who really are facing a lot of disruptions to their housing stability,” Finnegan said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis hugs her daughter Josio, 3, at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then once short-term assistance dries up, Finnegan said, many families who are living on thin margins may still struggle to get by. In 2025, researchers at the Terner Center \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/research-and-policy/navigating-the-post-subsidy-cliff-considerations-for-families-approaching-the-end-of-rapid-rehousing/\">found\u003c/a> that as rental assistance programs ended, some families doubled up with other relatives, moved or faced threats of eviction.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The theory is that their incomes hopefully rise over time to meet the market rents, but in a place like the Bay Area where market rent is so high, that doesn’t really happen very often,” Finnegan said. “Maybe that one-time assistance helps them stay out of shelters for a year. And then in that second year, they’re back where they were.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jennifer Loving, who runs Destination: Home, said that prevention has been a success in many cities looking to slow the rate of homelessness. Part of that has been the local governments’ investment into prevention on a wider scale. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our partnership is deeply rooted with the city of San José and the county of Santa Clara, and they both contribute dollars to our system-wide prevention model. But it didn’t start out that way,” Loving said. “If we would have tried to sustain this with only private dollars, it wouldn’t be sustainable.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to prevention assistance, Santa Clara County has also been exploring guaranteed income pilots to help families longer-term. Loving said many families receiving the assistance ultimately need help digging out of poverty.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The underlying issue, Loving said, is that many working families simply can’t afford today’s housing market. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Frankly the thing that’s the best for everybody is rent they can afford,” Loving said. “Affordable housing is always going to be the number one most important issue. But production, development and funding for deeply affordable housing dried up,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In its most recent budget, San Francisco agreed to fund more than 700 additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087973/with-family-homelessness-up-san-francisco-looks-to-extend-short-term-rental-subsidies\">short-term rental subsidies\u003c/a>, which typically cover families for between two and five years, plus 75 long-term subsidies after a push from housing advocates. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People are realizing that philanthropy can only go so far. And this is the perfect use of philanthropy. You have flexible dollars to try something, understand what works and what doesn’t work. Then work with the government to scale what works,” Cobbs said. “Everything that we’ve done here has been hand in hand with San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Celis, the short-term rental relief was a lifeline, allowing her to avoid debt and keep the family’s housing situation steady.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But she said the city must do more to bring down the cost of housing for families like hers, who want to stay in a sanctuary city that’s close to their friends and doctors. Supporters of such assistance also point out that the approach helps preserve the diversity and breadth of the community, from gardeners to daycare employees and restaurant workers who don’t make sky-high tech salaries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Celis is hoping to one day secure a larger unit through the city’s housing lottery system. She’s waited years already.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a crisis out here,” Celis said. “The city really needs to hold their word to make it affordable, or we’re going to have more families leaving.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Esmeralda Celis didn’t know how her family would survive last winter. Her husband, who worked multiple restaurant jobs, was suddenly forced to leave the country for several months due to his immigration status. She was left to care for their four children for months without income in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, one of the country’s most expensive places to live.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Esmeralda Celis didn’t know how her family would survive last winter. Her husband, who worked multiple restaurant jobs, was suddenly forced to leave the country for several months due to his immigration status. She was left to care for their four children for months without income in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, one of the country’s most expensive places to live.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Once we hit January, I was scrambling to figure out how I’m going to pay for these bills, how I’m going to provide for my children, how I’m going to keep the roof over their head,” said Celis, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment near Civic Center. “It was extremely stressful. They saw mom in shambles.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Once we hit January, I was scrambling to figure out how I’m going to pay for these bills, how I’m going to provide for my children, how I’m going to keep the roof over their head,” said Celis, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment near Civic Center. “It was extremely stressful. They saw mom in shambles.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Unsure of where to go, she told a counselor at her child’s school about their situation. They connected her with Compass Family Services, one of several nonprofits that recently received an injection of private philanthropic funding to help families on the brink of homelessness stay put. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Unsure of where to go, she told a counselor at her child’s school about their situation. They connected her with Compass Family Services, one of several nonprofits that recently received an injection of private philanthropic funding to help families on the brink of homelessness stay put. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The nonprofit stepped in to cover her $2,600 monthly rent from January through May, tiding them over until Celis’ husband came back and could return to work. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The nonprofit stepped in to cover her $2,600 monthly rent from January through May, tiding them over until Celis’ husband came back and could return to work. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The instability of not having a home or roof would have been detrimental for my children,” said Celis, whose daughter has cystic fibrosis and requires breathing treatments and frequent medical visits. “This definitely helped with the stability and, more than anything, keeping my children’s peace.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The instability of not having a home or roof would have been detrimental for my children,” said Celis, whose daughter has cystic fibrosis and requires breathing treatments and frequent medical visits. “This definitely helped with the stability and, more than anything, keeping my children’s peace.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093706\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis and her three children Pedro, 9, Josio, 3, and Aribelle, 11, pose for a photo at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093706\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis and her three children Pedro, 9, Josio, 3, and Aribelle, 11, pose for a photo at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Celis’ experience is growing increasingly common as the cost of living in San Francisco has skyrocketed, most recently driven by the artificial intelligence boom. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in the city is now $6,382, according to Zillow, up about $1,759 since last year. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083310/fewer-people-are-sleeping-on-san-francisco-streets-but-family-homelessness-is-up\">Families experiencing homelessness\u003c/a> increased by 15% since 2024, according to the latest point-in-time count of the city’s homelessness population. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/2026-point-in-time-count-preliminary-results\">actual number of people\u003c/a> in families experiencing homelessness increased by 34%, from 1,103 people in 2024 to 1,474 people in 2026.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Celis’ experience is growing increasingly common as the cost of living in San Francisco has skyrocketed, most recently driven by the artificial intelligence boom. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in the city is now $6,382, according to Zillow, up about $1,759 since last year. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083310/fewer-people-are-sleeping-on-san-francisco-streets-but-family-homelessness-is-up\">Families experiencing homelessness\u003c/a> increased by 15% since 2024, according to the latest point-in-time count of the city’s homelessness population. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/2026-point-in-time-count-preliminary-results\">actual number of people\u003c/a> in families experiencing homelessness increased by 34%, from 1,103 people in 2024 to 1,474 people in 2026.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While the city has a vast network of support services for people experiencing homelessness, it’s now increasingly looking at how to prevent people from losing housing by offering support before an eviction notice hits or families are forced to leave. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While the city has a vast network of support services for people experiencing homelessness, it’s now increasingly looking at how to prevent people from losing housing by offering support before an eviction notice hits or families are forced to leave. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Tipping Point Community, a philanthropic organization started by Mayor Daniel Lurie before he entered office, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12029619/luries-nonprofit-giving-san-francisco-11-million-prevent-family-homelessness\">donated $11 million last year\u003c/a> toward a yearlong pilot project targeting family homelessness with a focus on prevention. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Tipping Point Community, a philanthropic organization started by Mayor Daniel Lurie before he entered office, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12029619/luries-nonprofit-giving-san-francisco-11-million-prevent-family-homelessness\">donated $11 million last year\u003c/a> toward a yearlong pilot project targeting family homelessness with a focus on prevention. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nonprofits receiving the funding included Compass Family Services, Mission Economic Development Agency, APA Family Support Services, Mission Neighborhood Centers and Glide. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nonprofits receiving the funding included Compass Family Services, Mission Economic Development Agency, APA Family Support Services, Mission Neighborhood Centers and Glide. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These groups have all worked in the community for several years, and are using the pilot program funds to help families cover a financial shock that might cause them to lose their home, whether that’s a pileup of medical bills or car maintenance so they can continue getting to work. The short-term relief has varied in amount and duration depending on a family’s situation, but has ranged from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These groups have all worked in the community for several years, and are using the pilot program funds to help families cover a financial shock that might cause them to lose their home, whether that’s a pileup of medical bills or car maintenance so they can continue getting to work. The short-term relief has varied in amount and duration depending on a family’s situation, but has ranged from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nearly 900 families in San Francisco have been supported through the pilot program so far. The pilot has extended another six months to the end of 2026, after which there will be an external analysis on the outcomes of the effort, according to Tipping Point executive director Sam Cobbs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nearly 900 families in San Francisco have been supported through the pilot program so far. The pilot has extended another six months to the end of 2026, after which there will be an external analysis on the outcomes of the effort, according to Tipping Point executive director Sam Cobbs. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re serving people who wouldn’t have traditionally touched the family homelessness system until much later on,” Cobbs said. “These organizations that we work with are incredible and, as we anticipated, are the first line of defense for families when they’re facing eviction or run into trouble.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re serving people who wouldn’t have traditionally touched the family homelessness system until much later on,” Cobbs said. “These organizations that we work with are incredible and, as we anticipated, are the first line of defense for families when they’re facing eviction or run into trouble.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The prevention-focused approach is gaining steam in communities around the country, largely fueled by private dollars and local government spending. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The prevention-focused approach is gaining steam in communities around the country, largely fueled by private dollars and local government spending. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There are no federal funding streams for this kind of homelessness prevention, and federal funding for affordable housing has declined in recent years as the cost of living has gone up. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There are no federal funding streams for this kind of homelessness prevention, and federal funding for affordable housing has declined in recent years as the cost of living has gone up. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Supporters say it’s a more cost-effective approach to other downstream homelessness solutions like adding new permanent supportive housing, which can cost upward of $600,000 per unit. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Supporters say it’s a more cost-effective approach to other downstream homelessness solutions like adding new permanent supportive housing, which can cost upward of $600,000 per unit. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In 2024, Santa Clara County adopted a homelessness prevention system modeled by the San Jose-based nonprofit Destination: Home into its broader public safety net. It now provides around 2,500 households at risk of homelessness per year with prevention assistance. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In 2024, Santa Clara County adopted a homelessness prevention system modeled by the San Jose-based nonprofit Destination: Home into its broader public safety net. It now provides around 2,500 households at risk of homelessness per year with prevention assistance. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Studies on the effort have shown that the upstream support can dramatically slow the pace of families entering homelessness. In Santa Clara County, 93% of families who received services early remained housed. Less than 10% became homeless two years later. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Studies on the effort have shown that the upstream support can dramatically slow the pace of families entering homelessness. In Santa Clara County, 93% of families who received services early remained housed. Less than 10% became homeless two years later. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-1536x1060.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on housing and homelessness in San Francisco, California, on Sept. 19, 2024. \u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Overwhelmingly, people who receive that assistance are not showing up later in homeless shelters or street outreach programs, which suggests that the short-term assistance is really effective at helping folks maintain their housing or housing stability,” said Ryan Finnegan, deputy director of research for the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Overwhelmingly, people who receive that assistance are not showing up later in homeless shelters or street outreach programs, which suggests that the short-term assistance is really effective at helping folks maintain their housing or housing stability,” said Ryan Finnegan, deputy director of research for the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Francisco does have a rental assistance program, called ERAP, and the pilot is seeking to find ways to improve that system to better serve families facing homelessness. In addition to funding the nonprofits’ work, Tipping Point is helping the city build a database of its homelessness response systems to better coordinate resources. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Francisco does have a rental assistance program, called ERAP, and the pilot is seeking to find ways to improve that system to better serve families facing homelessness. In addition to funding the nonprofits’ work, Tipping Point is helping the city build a database of its homelessness response systems to better coordinate resources. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But as the approach gains traction across the increasingly expensive Bay Area, some limitations are emerging. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But as the approach gains traction across the increasingly expensive Bay Area, some limitations are emerging. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One issue is simply finding the families who might benefit the most from the assistance. Programs often target families based on information in social services databases, or find families through existing nonprofits and networks on the ground, like Celis’ school counselor. But making actual connections can be difficult. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One issue is simply finding the families who might benefit the most from the assistance. Programs often target families based on information in social services databases, or find families through existing nonprofits and networks on the ground, like Celis’ school counselor. But making actual connections can be difficult. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“They do have the challenge of reaching people effectively, because who really answers unknown phone calls from the county government, you know, and especially if it’s people who really are facing a lot of disruptions to their housing stability,” Finnegan said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“They do have the challenge of reaching people effectively, because who really answers unknown phone calls from the county government, you know, and especially if it’s people who really are facing a lot of disruptions to their housing stability,” Finnegan said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis hugs her daughter Josio, 3, at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093703\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis hugs her daughter Josio, 3, at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Then once short-term assistance dries up, Finnegan said, many families who are living on thin margins may still struggle to get by. In 2025, researchers at the Terner Center \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/research-and-policy/navigating-the-post-subsidy-cliff-considerations-for-families-approaching-the-end-of-rapid-rehousing/\">found\u003c/a> that as rental assistance programs ended, some families doubled up with other relatives, moved or faced threats of eviction.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Then once short-term assistance dries up, Finnegan said, many families who are living on thin margins may still struggle to get by. In 2025, researchers at the Terner Center \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/research-and-policy/navigating-the-post-subsidy-cliff-considerations-for-families-approaching-the-end-of-rapid-rehousing/\">found\u003c/a> that as rental assistance programs ended, some families doubled up with other relatives, moved or faced threats of eviction.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The theory is that their incomes hopefully rise over time to meet the market rents, but in a place like the Bay Area where market rent is so high, that doesn’t really happen very often,” Finnegan said. “Maybe that one-time assistance helps them stay out of shelters for a year. And then in that second year, they’re back where they were.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jennifer Loving, who runs Destination: Home, said that prevention has been a success in many cities looking to slow the rate of homelessness. Part of that has been the local governments’ investment into prevention on a wider scale. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our partnership is deeply rooted with the city of San José and the county of Santa Clara, and they both contribute dollars to our system-wide prevention model. But it didn’t start out that way,” Loving said. “If we would have tried to sustain this with only private dollars, it wouldn’t be sustainable.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In addition to prevention assistance, Santa Clara County has also been exploring guaranteed income pilots to help families longer-term. Loving said many families receiving the assistance ultimately need help digging out of poverty.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The underlying issue, Loving said, is that many working families simply can’t afford today’s housing market. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Frankly the thing that’s the best for everybody is rent they can afford,” Loving said. “Affordable housing is always going to be the number one most important issue. But production, development and funding for deeply affordable housing dried up,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In its most recent budget, San Francisco agreed to fund more than 700 additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087973/with-family-homelessness-up-san-francisco-looks-to-extend-short-term-rental-subsidies\">short-term rental subsidies\u003c/a>, which typically cover families for between two and five years, plus 75 long-term subsidies after a push from housing advocates. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“People are realizing that philanthropy can only go so far. And this is the perfect use of philanthropy. You have flexible dollars to try something, understand what works and what doesn’t work. Then work with the government to scale what works,” Cobbs said. “Everything that we’ve done here has been hand in hand with San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Celis, the short-term rental relief was a lifeline, allowing her to avoid debt and keep the family’s housing situation steady.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But she said the city must do more to bring down the cost of housing for families like hers, who want to stay in a sanctuary city that’s close to their friends and doctors. Supporters of such assistance also point out that the approach helps preserve the diversity and breadth of the community, from gardeners to daycare employees and restaurant workers who don’t make sky-high tech salaries. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Celis is hoping to one day secure a larger unit through the city’s housing lottery system. She’s waited years already.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s a crisis out here,” Celis said. “The city really needs to hold their word to make it affordable, or we’re going to have more families leaving.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Esmeralda Celis didn’t know how her family would survive last winter. Her husband, who worked multiple restaurant jobs, was suddenly forced to leave the country for several months due to his immigration status. She was left to care for their four children for months without income in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, one of the country’s most expensive places to live.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Once we hit January, I was scrambling to figure out how I’m going to pay for these bills, how I’m going to provide for my children, how I’m going to keep the roof over their head,” said Celis, who lives in a two-bedroom apartment near Civic Center. “It was extremely stressful. They saw mom in shambles.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Unsure of where to go, she told a counselor at her child’s school about their situation. They connected her with Compass Family Services, one of several nonprofits that recently received an injection of private philanthropic funding to help families on the brink of homelessness stay put. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit stepped in to cover her $2,600 monthly rent from January through May, tiding them over until Celis’ husband came back and could return to work. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The instability of not having a home or roof would have been detrimental for my children,” said Celis, whose daughter has cystic fibrosis and requires breathing treatments and frequent medical visits. “This definitely helped with the stability and, more than anything, keeping my children’s peace.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093706\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-11-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis and her three children Pedro, 9, Josio, 3, and Aribelle, 11, pose for a photo at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Celis’ experience is growing increasingly common as the cost of living in San Francisco has skyrocketed, most recently driven by the artificial intelligence boom. The average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in the city is now $6,382, according to Zillow, up about $1,759 since last year. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12083310/fewer-people-are-sleeping-on-san-francisco-streets-but-family-homelessness-is-up\">Families experiencing homelessness\u003c/a> increased by 15% since 2024, according to the latest point-in-time count of the city’s homelessness population. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/2026-point-in-time-count-preliminary-results\">actual number of people\u003c/a> in families experiencing homelessness increased by 34%, from 1,103 people in 2024 to 1,474 people in 2026.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the city has a vast network of support services for people experiencing homelessness, it’s now increasingly looking at how to prevent people from losing housing by offering support before an eviction notice hits or families are forced to leave. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Tipping Point Community, a philanthropic organization started by Mayor Daniel Lurie before he entered office, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12029619/luries-nonprofit-giving-san-francisco-11-million-prevent-family-homelessness\">donated $11 million last year\u003c/a> toward a yearlong pilot project targeting family homelessness with a focus on prevention. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nonprofits receiving the funding included Compass Family Services, Mission Economic Development Agency, APA Family Support Services, Mission Neighborhood Centers and Glide. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These groups have all worked in the community for several years, and are using the pilot program funds to help families cover a financial shock that might cause them to lose their home, whether that’s a pileup of medical bills or car maintenance so they can continue getting to work. The short-term relief has varied in amount and duration depending on a family’s situation, but has ranged from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nearly 900 families in San Francisco have been supported through the pilot program so far. The pilot has extended another six months to the end of 2026, after which there will be an external analysis on the outcomes of the effort, according to Tipping Point executive director Sam Cobbs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re serving people who wouldn’t have traditionally touched the family homelessness system until much later on,” Cobbs said. “These organizations that we work with are incredible and, as we anticipated, are the first line of defense for families when they’re facing eviction or run into trouble.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The prevention-focused approach is gaining steam in communities around the country, largely fueled by private dollars and local government spending. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There are no federal funding streams for this kind of homelessness prevention, and federal funding for affordable housing has declined in recent years as the cost of living has gone up. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supporters say it’s a more cost-effective approach to other downstream homelessness solutions like adding new permanent supportive housing, which can cost upward of $600,000 per unit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In 2024, Santa Clara County adopted a homelessness prevention system modeled by the San Jose-based nonprofit Destination: Home into its broader public safety net. It now provides around 2,500 households at risk of homelessness per year with prevention assistance. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Studies on the effort have shown that the upstream support can dramatically slow the pace of families entering homelessness. In Santa Clara County, 93% of families who received services early remained housed. Less than 10% became homeless two years later. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1367\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12082708\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931.jpg 1980w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/GettyImages-2172244931-1536x1060.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1980px) 100vw, 1980px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a press conference on housing and homelessness in San Francisco, California, on Sept. 19, 2024. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Overwhelmingly, people who receive that assistance are not showing up later in homeless shelters or street outreach programs, which suggests that the short-term assistance is really effective at helping folks maintain their housing or housing stability,” said Ryan Finnegan, deputy director of research for the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Francisco does have a rental assistance program, called ERAP, and the pilot is seeking to find ways to improve that system to better serve families facing homelessness. In addition to funding the nonprofits’ work, Tipping Point is helping the city build a database of its homelessness response systems to better coordinate resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But as the approach gains traction across the increasingly expensive Bay Area, some limitations are emerging. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One issue is simply finding the families who might benefit the most from the assistance. Programs often target families based on information in social services databases, or find families through existing nonprofits and networks on the ground, like Celis’ school counselor. But making actual connections can be difficult. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“They do have the challenge of reaching people effectively, because who really answers unknown phone calls from the county government, you know, and especially if it’s people who really are facing a lot of disruptions to their housing stability,” Finnegan said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260729_SFFamiliesPilot_GC-3-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Esmeralda Celis hugs her daughter Josio, 3, at the Helen Diller Civic Center Playground in San Francisco on July 29, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then once short-term assistance dries up, Finnegan said, many families who are living on thin margins may still struggle to get by. In 2025, researchers at the Terner Center \u003ca href=\"https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/research-and-policy/navigating-the-post-subsidy-cliff-considerations-for-families-approaching-the-end-of-rapid-rehousing/\">found\u003c/a> that as rental assistance programs ended, some families doubled up with other relatives, moved or faced threats of eviction.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The theory is that their incomes hopefully rise over time to meet the market rents, but in a place like the Bay Area where market rent is so high, that doesn’t really happen very often,” Finnegan said. “Maybe that one-time assistance helps them stay out of shelters for a year. And then in that second year, they’re back where they were.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jennifer Loving, who runs Destination: Home, said that prevention has been a success in many cities looking to slow the rate of homelessness. Part of that has been the local governments’ investment into prevention on a wider scale. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our partnership is deeply rooted with the city of San José and the county of Santa Clara, and they both contribute dollars to our system-wide prevention model. But it didn’t start out that way,” Loving said. “If we would have tried to sustain this with only private dollars, it wouldn’t be sustainable.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In addition to prevention assistance, Santa Clara County has also been exploring guaranteed income pilots to help families longer-term. Loving said many families receiving the assistance ultimately need help digging out of poverty.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The underlying issue, Loving said, is that many working families simply can’t afford today’s housing market. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Frankly the thing that’s the best for everybody is rent they can afford,” Loving said. “Affordable housing is always going to be the number one most important issue. But production, development and funding for deeply affordable housing dried up,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In its most recent budget, San Francisco agreed to fund more than 700 additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087973/with-family-homelessness-up-san-francisco-looks-to-extend-short-term-rental-subsidies\">short-term rental subsidies\u003c/a>, which typically cover families for between two and five years, plus 75 long-term subsidies after a push from housing advocates. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People are realizing that philanthropy can only go so far. And this is the perfect use of philanthropy. You have flexible dollars to try something, understand what works and what doesn’t work. Then work with the government to scale what works,” Cobbs said. “Everything that we’ve done here has been hand in hand with San Francisco.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Celis, the short-term rental relief was a lifeline, allowing her to avoid debt and keep the family’s housing situation steady.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But she said the city must do more to bring down the cost of housing for families like hers, who want to stay in a sanctuary city that’s close to their friends and doctors. Supporters of such assistance also point out that the approach helps preserve the diversity and breadth of the community, from gardeners to daycare employees and restaurant workers who don’t make sky-high tech salaries. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Celis is hoping to one day secure a larger unit through the city’s housing lottery system. She’s waited years already.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a crisis out here,” Celis said. “The city really needs to hold their word to make it affordable, or we’re going to have more families leaving.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s Mission Bay\u003c/a> on Thursday morning celebrated the grand opening of the neighborhood’s first public school campus, more than a quarter century in the making.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mission Bay School, the district’s first new school in twenty years, will welcome its inaugural students, from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten, on Aug. 17.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The campus will eventually serve transitional kindergarten through fifth grade students, plus pre-kindergarteners in a connected early education program and older Mission Bay residents who are part of SFUSD’s Mission Bay Learning Hub. SFUSD has estimated that the school will be fully enrolled by 2032.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This building is fulfilling a promise that we made to our communities,” San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su said during a star-studded ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, featuring appearances from Mayor Daniel Lurie to Giants’ mascot Lucille. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094198\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Maria Su, SFUSD Superintendent, speaks at the opening ceremony of Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. The Mission Bay neighborhood has nearly doubled in population size in the last 15 years. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When we said, ‘As we build Mission Bay, we were going to make sure that there was a public school that was going to serve our families that were going to move in,’” Su said. “Here is a realization of that dream.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The modern, four-story building, funded by San Francisco’s 2016 school bond, features bright, airy hallways, colorful classrooms and breakout spaces and a well-stocked library, which overlooks a hard-top school yard. According to district documents, SFUSD \u003ca href=\"https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/files/CF9MNE5AE227/%24file/20220615%20Mission%20Bay%20School.pdf\">contracted\u003c/a> with McCarthy Building Company to complete the project for a sum of $95,390,000.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Surrounding the campus is burgeoning Mission Bay, which has nearly doubled in population size in the last 15 years. In that time, thousands of housing units have gone up in the neighborhood, which is near both Oracle Park and Chase Center. More than a dozen restaurants, coffee shops and community spaces have opened surrounding the venues and new builds. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What’s been missing, parents and city officials said Thursday, was a neighborhood school. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While SFUSD continues to see enrollment declines and is considering campus consolidations in the next few years, Mission Bay families have often had to travel to Daniel Webster Elementary, about a mile and a half away in Potrero Hill, or Bessie Carmichael Elementary in South of Market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When my daughter Mary was less than a year old, I would bring her to the building and grounds meetings for the school board and give public comment about how there really are families in Mission Bay and these kids are going to need a school,” resident Sarah Bertram said. “Mary’s now 13, but I’m thrilled that there are families here who are getting ready to send their kids to this school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents the neighborhood, said the opening was a “giant leap forward” for Mission Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[It’s] becoming the kind of complete, thriving, family-friendly neighborhood that every San Franciscan deserves,” Dorsey said. “A great neighborhood needs more than just housing, retail and offices. It also needs neighbors who know each other, and it needs a school where kids can walk to class and grow up together.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094194\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Children play on the playground during the opening ceremony of Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many families, that proximity is one of the biggest perks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lauren Loui, whose daughter Maggie is starting kindergarten, said the family takes Muni’s N Judah line three stops to get to school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We come here all the time. She knows it,” Loui said during Thursday’s grand opening.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Transitional Kindergarten teacher Tonecia Harvey lives even closer — a 12-minute walk, or four-minute bike ride.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I can see my house from my classroom,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094203\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tonecia Harvey, TK teacher, poses for a photo in her classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents were also excited about the campus’s facilities, built from the ground up over the last four years. The land, which was transferred from UC San Francisco to SFUSD in 2022, has been set aside for a school much longer, since 1988.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The building, the classrooms, everything’s so well thought out,” said mom Mythili Iyengar, whose son Seelan will enter kindergarten in just under two weeks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Early education classrooms on the first and second floors include low tables and a mini play kitchen, while the fourth floor, where the Learning Hub will now be housed, features multiple rooms with group work stations, whiteboards and mounted television screens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Seelan’s favorite part, he said, is his classroom, which he said even has hot glue guns.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the first day of school, he’s most excited to hold up a sign he made: “It says ‘I’m ready for kindergarten’ on it.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The campus will eventually serve transitional kindergarten through fifth grade students, plus pre-kindergarteners in a connected early education program and older Mission Bay residents who are part of SFUSD’s Mission Bay Learning Hub. SFUSD has estimated that the school will be fully enrolled by 2032.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This building is fulfilling a promise that we made to our communities,” San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su said during a star-studded ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, featuring appearances from Mayor Daniel Lurie to Giants’ mascot Lucille. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094198\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Maria Su, SFUSD Superintendent, speaks at the opening ceremony of Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. The Mission Bay neighborhood has nearly doubled in population size in the last 15 years.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The modern, four-story building, funded by San Francisco’s 2016 school bond, features bright, airy hallways, colorful classrooms and breakout spaces and a well-stocked library, which overlooks a hard-top school yard. According to district documents, SFUSD \u003ca href=\"https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/files/CF9MNE5AE227/$file/20220615%20Mission%20Bay%20School.pdf\">contracted\u003c/a> with McCarthy Building Company to complete the project for a sum of $95,390,000.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Surrounding the campus is burgeoning Mission Bay, which has nearly doubled in population size in the last 15 years. In that time, thousands of housing units have gone up in the neighborhood, which is near both Oracle Park and Chase Center. More than a dozen restaurants, coffee shops and community spaces have opened surrounding the venues and new builds. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What’s been missing, parents and city officials said Thursday, was a neighborhood school. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“When my daughter Mary was less than a year old, I would bring her to the building and grounds meetings for the school board and give public comment about how there really are families in Mission Bay and these kids are going to need a school,” resident Sarah Bertram said. “Mary’s now 13, but I’m thrilled that there are families here who are getting ready to send their kids to this school.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents the neighborhood, said the opening was a “giant leap forward” for Mission Bay.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“[It’s] becoming the kind of complete, thriving, family-friendly neighborhood that every San Franciscan deserves,” Dorsey said. “A great neighborhood needs more than just housing, retail and offices. It also needs neighbors who know each other, and it needs a school where kids can walk to class and grow up together.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“[It’s] becoming the kind of complete, thriving, family-friendly neighborhood that every San Franciscan deserves,” Dorsey said. “A great neighborhood needs more than just housing, retail and offices. It also needs neighbors who know each other, and it needs a school where kids can walk to class and grow up together.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lauren Loui, whose daughter Maggie is starting kindergarten, said the family takes Muni’s N Judah line three stops to get to school.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We come here all the time. She knows it,” Loui said during Thursday’s grand opening.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Transitional Kindergarten teacher Tonecia Harvey lives even closer — a 12-minute walk, or four-minute bike ride.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I can see my house from my classroom,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094203\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tonecia Harvey, TK teacher, poses for a photo in her classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The building, the classrooms, everything’s so well thought out,” said mom Mythili Iyengar, whose son Seelan will enter kindergarten in just under two weeks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Early education classrooms on the first and second floors include low tables and a mini play kitchen, while the fourth floor, where the Learning Hub will now be housed, features multiple rooms with group work stations, whiteboards and mounted television screens.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Seelan’s favorite part, he said, is his classroom, which he said even has hot glue guns.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On the first day of school, he’s most excited to hold up a sign he made: “It says ‘I’m ready for kindergarten’ on it.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The new school welcomes its first class of students on Aug. 17. ",
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"title": "‘I’m Ready for Kindergarten’: San Francisco’s Mission Bay Gets First Public School in 20 Years | KQED",
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"headline": "‘I’m Ready for Kindergarten’: San Francisco’s Mission Bay Gets First Public School in 20 Years",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s Mission Bay\u003c/a> on Thursday morning celebrated the grand opening of the neighborhood’s first public school campus, more than a quarter century in the making.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mission Bay School, the district’s first new school in twenty years, will welcome its inaugural students, from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten, on Aug. 17.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The campus will eventually serve transitional kindergarten through fifth grade students, plus pre-kindergarteners in a connected early education program and older Mission Bay residents who are part of SFUSD’s Mission Bay Learning Hub. SFUSD has estimated that the school will be fully enrolled by 2032.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This building is fulfilling a promise that we made to our communities,” San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su said during a star-studded ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, featuring appearances from Mayor Daniel Lurie to Giants’ mascot Lucille. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094198\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dr. Maria Su, SFUSD Superintendent, speaks at the opening ceremony of Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. The Mission Bay neighborhood has nearly doubled in population size in the last 15 years. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When we said, ‘As we build Mission Bay, we were going to make sure that there was a public school that was going to serve our families that were going to move in,’” Su said. “Here is a realization of that dream.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The modern, four-story building, funded by San Francisco’s 2016 school bond, features bright, airy hallways, colorful classrooms and breakout spaces and a well-stocked library, which overlooks a hard-top school yard. According to district documents, SFUSD \u003ca href=\"https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/files/CF9MNE5AE227/%24file/20220615%20Mission%20Bay%20School.pdf\">contracted\u003c/a> with McCarthy Building Company to complete the project for a sum of $95,390,000.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Surrounding the campus is burgeoning Mission Bay, which has nearly doubled in population size in the last 15 years. In that time, thousands of housing units have gone up in the neighborhood, which is near both Oracle Park and Chase Center. More than a dozen restaurants, coffee shops and community spaces have opened surrounding the venues and new builds. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What’s been missing, parents and city officials said Thursday, was a neighborhood school. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While SFUSD continues to see enrollment declines and is considering campus consolidations in the next few years, Mission Bay families have often had to travel to Daniel Webster Elementary, about a mile and a half away in Potrero Hill, or Bessie Carmichael Elementary in South of Market.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“When my daughter Mary was less than a year old, I would bring her to the building and grounds meetings for the school board and give public comment about how there really are families in Mission Bay and these kids are going to need a school,” resident Sarah Bertram said. “Mary’s now 13, but I’m thrilled that there are families here who are getting ready to send their kids to this school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents the neighborhood, said the opening was a “giant leap forward” for Mission Bay.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“[It’s] becoming the kind of complete, thriving, family-friendly neighborhood that every San Franciscan deserves,” Dorsey said. “A great neighborhood needs more than just housing, retail and offices. It also needs neighbors who know each other, and it needs a school where kids can walk to class and grow up together.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094194\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-17-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Children play on the playground during the opening ceremony of Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many families, that proximity is one of the biggest perks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lauren Loui, whose daughter Maggie is starting kindergarten, said the family takes Muni’s N Judah line three stops to get to school.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We come here all the time. She knows it,” Loui said during Thursday’s grand opening.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Transitional Kindergarten teacher Tonecia Harvey lives even closer — a 12-minute walk, or four-minute bike ride.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I can see my house from my classroom,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12094203\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/20260806_SFUSDNEWSCHOOL_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tonecia Harvey, TK teacher, poses for a photo in her classroom at Mission Bay Elementary School in San Francisco on Aug. 6, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parents were also excited about the campus’s facilities, built from the ground up over the last four years. The land, which was transferred from UC San Francisco to SFUSD in 2022, has been set aside for a school much longer, since 1988.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The building, the classrooms, everything’s so well thought out,” said mom Mythili Iyengar, whose son Seelan will enter kindergarten in just under two weeks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Early education classrooms on the first and second floors include low tables and a mini play kitchen, while the fourth floor, where the Learning Hub will now be housed, features multiple rooms with group work stations, whiteboards and mounted television screens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Seelan’s favorite part, he said, is his classroom, which he said even has hot glue guns.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the first day of school, he’s most excited to hold up a sign he made: “It says ‘I’m ready for kindergarten’ on it.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "how-to-explore-san-francisco-through-its-photo-booths",
"title": "How to Explore San Francisco Through Its Photo Booths",
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"headTitle": "How to Explore San Francisco Through Its Photo Booths | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>It may be 1 p.m. on a weekday, but that doesn’t stop \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Photo Booth Museum from being packed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Friends, couples and families huddle together among this collection of analog vintage photo booths from \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">as early as the 1940s\u003c/a> that are installed in the two rooms of this Castro District business. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Using these types of photo booths is a serious business — the pictures take some time to develop \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">without the help of digital sensors or printers\u003c/a>, and some groups are discussing their game plan on how to pose before entering the booth, referencing \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/discover/photobooth-trend\">various trends \u003c/a>they’ve seen on their feeds online. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093988\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Sarah Mohamad takes photos at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People are willing to wait in line,” said Doug Ellington, co-owner of \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/\">Photomatica\u003c/a>, the photo booth rental and restoration company which runs the museum. “They’re willing to wait five minutes for a picture [to develop], which is kind of insane.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many of the booths that were made in the 1950s were advertised as being fast, he said. Their exteriors often even featured atomic symbols and lightning bolts, boasting that you can get your photos in \u003cem>just\u003c/em> five minutes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Now the kids, they always ask, ‘I think it’s broken, my picture’s not coming out,’ and sure enough, sometimes, it’s just waiting to be developed,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#booth-jump\">Plan your own photo booth tour of San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s shrieking and giggling as members of one friend group jump in and out of a booth between flashes, so each person can have their personal picture on a black-and-white photostrip. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some visitors are patiently drying their strips, which come out of the machine a little damp, and some are even using blowdryers provided by the museum to speed up the process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chandler Thao and Manreet Randhawa of Sacramento are using their analog booth photo strip to “soft launch” their six-month relationship.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093822\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Manreet Randhawa (left) and Chandler Thao hold up their photo booth strip at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Photos carry a little bit of each person, is how I see it,” Randhawa said. “It’s a physical way to remember a place, a person, a relationship, a moment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the summer, the Photo Booth Museum is often this crowded, Ellington said — especially thanks to Gen-Z visitors who covet the analog machine’s vintage photostrips that come in black-and-white or color. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gen Z specifically takes a lot of pictures, and they’re not really with intent a lot of the time,” Ellington said. “You could take a thousand pictures in a day, literally, and it doesn’t cost you anything, and it just lives on your device.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But the idea of having a physical strip or a physical image is kind of a novelty for young people,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A photo booth love story\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Ellington, his love for analog photo booths started with his wife before they got married, 16 years ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She had taken him into his first one at vintage clothing store Wasteland in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. “‘These booths are different,’” he recalled her saying. “‘They make you look good.’” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For their wedding celebration, the couple wanted “the photo booth that makes you look like the one in Wasteland,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093815\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors look at their photos at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it was being unable to ultimately rent the kind of analog model they wanted that \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/about\">spurred him to build his own\u003c/a> photo booth — sparking a lifelong interest for him and his co-founder, Matt Dewalt, who helped him start Photomatica.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, Photomatica has photo booth “museums” in several cities across the country, like Los Angeles and Houston. The two and their team have also restored analog booths and built digital booths that can be found across the United States and even in Europe. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a really fun, wholesome experience,” he said. “You don’t throw away a photo strip, and I’ve been doing this for 16 years now.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vintage photo booths now come to \u003cem>them\u003c/em>, he said — often from old business owners of amusement parks, bowling alleys and carnivals. One booth even came from an arcade in South Africa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093817\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ellington said his hope is for San Francisco to eventually emulate a city like Berlin, where there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.aperturetours.com/blog/2017/berlin-photoautomat\">public photo booths on the streets\u003c/a>. “And they’re 3 euros, too, it’s unreal,” he said. “People that travel there know it as a photo booth city.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Seeking out a place’s photo booth is something that couple Thao and Randhawa said they look forward to when they visit somewhere. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Every city that we go to, we do have a photo shoot,” Thao said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"booth-jump\">Embark on the KQED Photo Booth Tour\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While not quite a fully fledged international photo booth city, San Francisco has no shortage of notable booths dotted around the city’s bars, businesses, stores and spaces — and we’ve created (and tested) an itinerary for you to explore many of them. We’ve even thrown in a few fun digital booths along the way. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your self-guided tour will start in San Francisco’s Mission District, then the Castro, Haight-Ashbury before circling back to Mission for the night, though of course you can pick and choose to create your own itinerary through the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1526\" height=\"1017\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093966\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg 1526w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1526px) 100vw, 1526px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo booth strips line the walls at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of these photo booths — many of which accept credit card or tap-to-pay and are around $7 to $8 for one photo strip — are within another business, like a restaurant or bar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So be sure to check the storefront’s timing to make sure it is open during the hours and days you want to visit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Start at: Mission Bowling Club\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3176 17th St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re tempted to play a couple of rounds of bowling while you’re here, Mission Bowling Club’s hours can \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/hours-info\">be found online\u003c/a> — but heads-up that \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/reserve-a-lane\">the cost of a bowling session\u003c/a> ranges from $58 to $78.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Food is also available at the bowling alley — and since it’s one of the few restaurants with a photo booth on the list, it could be a good place to get a bite to eat. (But, of course, there are great bites \u003cem>on the way \u003c/em>to your next photobooth.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, it’s an 11-minute walk to …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Kilowatt Bar\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3160 16th St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093825\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joy Zhang and Cicely Liu take photos at Club Photomatica. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This will be the first analog photobooth of the trek, located in a firehouse-turned-bar that \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/\">opened in 1994\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kilowatt is also a music venue, so along with grabbing a drink, you can \u003cem>also\u003c/em> check out \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/events\">its slate of shows on its online calendar\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Next stop is a 13-minute walk to …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Churchill Cocktail Bar \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 198 Church St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A swanky bar with cocktails and whiskeys that is \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/\">“inspired by the legendary Winston Churchill and WWII era accents.”\u003c/a> You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/menu\">the menu online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It is then a 7-minute walk to the …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Photo Booth Museum\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 2275 Market St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Varies\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You’ll find a lot of photo booth varieties and options in this Castro location, as well as opportunities to turn your photostrip into a keychain or buy it a frame for display. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093984\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors make key chains from photo booth strips. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Owner Ellington’s favorite is a sleek mid-century photo booth that is right next to the museum’s front desk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The curved old booth is so beautiful,” he said. “I feel like they really cared about how it looks.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, it is time to jump on a 17-minute bus ride (the 33 Muni) or take a half-hour-long walk to Haight, where you can visit:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hamu Studio\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 1612 Haight St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of digital photo booths\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hamu Studio has several very customizable photo booths, where you can choose from a variety of different types of strips and frames — and even select which take you want printed. Hamu also provides props to use in the photos.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093967\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093967\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan selects photos for a booth strip at Hamu Studio. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093827\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093827\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Khan uses a high-angle photo booth at Hamu Studio. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the real standout is the “high-angle” booth: a giant pink locker that has a camera and screen installed on the upper corner of the ceiling, resulting in photos that give a vague sense of being on an album cover. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, just a couple of doors down is:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Club Photomatica \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 1644 Haight St., located in 710 Collective\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Varies\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cost: Around $7 to $7.50\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093964\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors take photos at Club Photomatica, a shop that hosts analog and digital photo booths, on Haight Street. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Consider this to be a mini Photo Booth Museum since it’s also run by Photomatica, and has plenty of analog booths to choose from. Being located in the 710 Collective, a vintage thrift store, also provides an opportunity to browse the cute clothes this Haight business has to offer. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A 4-minute walk away is:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Amoeba Music \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 1855 Haight St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photo booth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This photo booth has the Amoeba Music logo splashed on the background of its pictures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, you can browse the many aisles of this sprawling record store that very much feels like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12092325/time-travel-to-san-franciscos-past-at-these-local-haunts\">a throwback to ’90s San Francisco\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that it’s procedure for an Amoeba employee to ask you to check your bag at the front desk before entering. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the next stop, catch a Muni bus (the 6 or the 7 east) and travel for around 13 minutes to get to …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Emporium Arcade Bar \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 616 Divisadero St\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This photo booth is inside a massive arcade bar with a ton of games — classic and new — that you can spend a couple of hours on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, take a 25-minute bus ride (the 24 Muni) to wind down your night back in the Mission, at …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3230 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack is a beloved Italian restaurant where you can stop for dinner. The photo strips in this location also come with a cheetah-patterned background. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, a 3-minute walk away is …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">El Rio \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3158 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Color\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This booth is located in a staple queer bar in the Mission with a breezy, huge outdoor patio where you can enjoy your drinks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093826\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Club Photomatica, a shop that hosts analog and digital photo booths, on Haight Street. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Rio also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.elriosf.com/\">live music as well as karaoke on Thursdays\u003c/a> (but this reporter has had rotten luck trying to get in the singing queue at a decent time in the night).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And then, next door, end your night at …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Knockout \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3223 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your last stop of the photo booth tour will be The Knockout’s analog booth — one of the few left in the city that Photomatica does not run. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This Mission punk bar also \u003ca href=\"https://theknockoutsf.com/\">hosts music, drag shows, dance parties and more\u003c/a>, and has been open for nearly 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honorable San Francisco photo booth mentions\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First of all, we’d be remiss not to mention that KQED HQ actually has its own free photo booth situated in our Mission District offices — especially since the resulting photo booth strip includes the KQED logo running at the bottom. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the building’s doors aren’t generally open to visitors, you can get full access to our photo booth during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/events\">KQED Live events, \u003c/a>which include shows like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6609/matcha-showdown\">Matcha Showdown, \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6616/mic-check-bay-area-music-showcase-feat-kamaiyah\">Mic Check Bay Area and\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6613/dating-with-dhaya-summer-lovin-edition\">Dating with Dhaya: Summer Lovin’ Edition\u003c/a>. (Let the photo booth tour above be your afterparty!)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093963\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photo booth, part of a mechanical machine, at the Musée Mécanique in Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some other notable photo booths that unfortunately were not in the path of this tour but are still absolutely worth checking out:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://museemecanique.com/\">Musée Mécanique\u003c/a> in Fisherman’s Wharf, also a treasure of vintage coin-operated machines and arcade games \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bingecoffeehouse.com/\">Binge Coffee House\u003c/a> on Valencia Street does not have a traditional photo booth, but rather a very cute, free camera and photo printer at the front of the store (customers also like to stick their receipt-like photo strips on the walls of the store)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Japan Center Malls in Japantown has a collection of customizable digital photo booths on the first floor that are similar in style to the Haight’s Hamu Studio, and there is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHy5DJnRq6h/?hl=en\">a photo booth storefront\u003c/a> on the bridge\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.potobox.com/pages/locations\">Potobox\u003c/a> in Stonestown Galleria \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dreamboxphotos/\">Dreambox Photos\u003c/a> in Chinatown, which provides backdrops like a San Francisco cable car\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.harasf.com/\">The Ha-Ra Club\u003c/a> in the Tenderloin\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a>, a queer bar near Valencia Street\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bloomssaloon/?hl=en\">Blooms Saloon\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Also not quite a photobooth, but still a great experience (and memento): aura photos, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a37159091/aura-photography/\">display colors on top of your image\u003c/a> to symbolize what you’re feeling at the moment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This reporter had an aura photo taken of her at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">the city’s zine fest\u003c/a> in 2024 by artist Sharon Zheng, who has \u003ca href=\"https://ur-aura.sharonzheng.com/\">a browser version\u003c/a> of her aura photo reader and also offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sharon/\">pop-up photo sessions\u003c/a> with printed photos and a little companion book to describe the meaning of the colors. \u003ca href=\"https://www.colorofourenergy.com/sanfrancisco\">Color of Our Energy\u003c/a> also accepts appointments for aura photos in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to hunt for even more photo booths?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This guide is nonexhaustive, and there are plenty of beloved photo booths still left throughout the city — plus many hobbyists, businesses and people in the know dedicated to finding them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093968\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some great places to start when looking for more photo booths in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photobooth.net/\">Photobooth.net \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/sf-photo-booth-crawl\">Photomatica’s San Francisco Photo Booth Crawl\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/find-a-booth-near-you\">Photomatica map\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boothbeacon.org/tours/san-francisco\">Booth Beacon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that not all of these websites are super up to date and may include photo booths that have been closed for a while or changed prices. (For example, despite being listed on Booth Beacon, KQED confirmed that clothing store Wasteland in Haight-Ashbury and Black Heart Tattoo on Valencia Street both no longer have a photobooth.) So be sure to give the hosting business a call and see if there is still a machine up and running to avoid disappointment.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It may be 1 p.m. on a weekday, but that doesn’t stop \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Photo Booth Museum from being packed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>It may be 1 p.m. on a weekday, but that doesn’t stop \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Photo Booth Museum from being packed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Friends, couples and families huddle together among this collection of analog vintage photo booths from \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">as early as the 1940s\u003c/a> that are installed in the two rooms of this Castro District business. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Friends, couples and families huddle together among this collection of analog vintage photo booths from \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">as early as the 1940s\u003c/a> that are installed in the two rooms of this Castro District business. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Using these types of photo booths is a serious business — the pictures take some time to develop \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">without the help of digital sensors or printers\u003c/a>, and some groups are discussing their game plan on how to pose before entering the booth, referencing \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/discover/photobooth-trend\">various trends \u003c/a>they’ve seen on their feeds online. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Using these types of photo booths is a serious business — the pictures take some time to develop \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">without the help of digital sensors or printers\u003c/a>, and some groups are discussing their game plan on how to pose before entering the booth, referencing \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/discover/photobooth-trend\">various trends \u003c/a>they’ve seen on their feeds online. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093988\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Sarah Mohamad takes photos at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093988\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Sarah Mohamad takes photos at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“People are willing to wait in line,” said Doug Ellington, co-owner of \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/\">Photomatica\u003c/a>, the photo booth rental and restoration company which runs the museum. “They’re willing to wait five minutes for a picture [to develop], which is kind of insane.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“People are willing to wait in line,” said Doug Ellington, co-owner of \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/\">Photomatica\u003c/a>, the photo booth rental and restoration company which runs the museum. “They’re willing to wait five minutes for a picture [to develop], which is kind of insane.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Many of the booths that were made in the 1950s were advertised as being fast, he said. Their exteriors often even featured atomic symbols and lightning bolts, boasting that you can get your photos in \u003cem>just\u003c/em> five minutes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Many of the booths that were made in the 1950s were advertised as being fast, he said. Their exteriors often even featured atomic symbols and lightning bolts, boasting that you can get your photos in \u003cem>just\u003c/em> five minutes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Now the kids, they always ask, ‘I think it’s broken, my picture’s not coming out,’ and sure enough, sometimes, it’s just waiting to be developed,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Now the kids, they always ask, ‘I think it’s broken, my picture’s not coming out,’ and sure enough, sometimes, it’s just waiting to be developed,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#booth-jump\">Plan your own photo booth tour of San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#booth-jump\">Plan your own photo booth tour of San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s shrieking and giggling as members of one friend group jump in and out of a booth between flashes, so each person can have their personal picture on a black-and-white photostrip. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>There’s shrieking and giggling as members of one friend group jump in and out of a booth between flashes, so each person can have their personal picture on a black-and-white photostrip. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some visitors are patiently drying their strips, which come out of the machine a little damp, and some are even using blowdryers provided by the museum to speed up the process.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some visitors are patiently drying their strips, which come out of the machine a little damp, and some are even using blowdryers provided by the museum to speed up the process.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chandler Thao and Manreet Randhawa of Sacramento are using their analog booth photo strip to “soft launch” their six-month relationship.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093822\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Manreet Randhawa (left) and Chandler Thao hold up their photo booth strip at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093822\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Manreet Randhawa (left) and Chandler Thao hold up their photo booth strip at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Photos carry a little bit of each person, is how I see it,” Randhawa said. “It’s a physical way to remember a place, a person, a relationship, a moment.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Photos carry a little bit of each person, is how I see it,” Randhawa said. “It’s a physical way to remember a place, a person, a relationship, a moment.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During the summer, the Photo Booth Museum is often this crowded, Ellington said — especially thanks to Gen-Z visitors who covet the analog machine’s vintage photostrips that come in black-and-white or color. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>During the summer, the Photo Booth Museum is often this crowded, Ellington said — especially thanks to Gen-Z visitors who covet the analog machine’s vintage photostrips that come in black-and-white or color. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Gen Z specifically takes a lot of pictures, and they’re not really with intent a lot of the time,” Ellington said. “You could take a thousand pictures in a day, literally, and it doesn’t cost you anything, and it just lives on your device.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Gen Z specifically takes a lot of pictures, and they’re not really with intent a lot of the time,” Ellington said. “You could take a thousand pictures in a day, literally, and it doesn’t cost you anything, and it just lives on your device.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“But the idea of having a physical strip or a physical image is kind of a novelty for young people,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“But the idea of having a physical strip or a physical image is kind of a novelty for young people,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "A photo booth love story",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Ellington, his love for analog photo booths started with his wife before they got married, 16 years ago. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For Ellington, his love for analog photo booths started with his wife before they got married, 16 years ago. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She had taken him into his first one at vintage clothing store Wasteland in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. “‘These booths are different,’” he recalled her saying. “‘They make you look good.’” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She had taken him into his first one at vintage clothing store Wasteland in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. “‘These booths are different,’” he recalled her saying. “‘They make you look good.’” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For their wedding celebration, the couple wanted “the photo booth that makes you look like the one in Wasteland,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For their wedding celebration, the couple wanted “the photo booth that makes you look like the one in Wasteland,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093815\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors look at their photos at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093815\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors look at their photos at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But it was being unable to ultimately rent the kind of analog model they wanted that \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/about\">spurred him to build his own\u003c/a> photo booth — sparking a lifelong interest for him and his co-founder, Matt Dewalt, who helped him start Photomatica.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>But it was being unable to ultimately rent the kind of analog model they wanted that \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/about\">spurred him to build his own\u003c/a> photo booth — sparking a lifelong interest for him and his co-founder, Matt Dewalt, who helped him start Photomatica.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now, Photomatica has photo booth “museums” in several cities across the country, like Los Angeles and Houston. The two and their team have also restored analog booths and built digital booths that can be found across the United States and even in Europe. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Now, Photomatica has photo booth “museums” in several cities across the country, like Los Angeles and Houston. The two and their team have also restored analog booths and built digital booths that can be found across the United States and even in Europe. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s a really fun, wholesome experience,” he said. “You don’t throw away a photo strip, and I’ve been doing this for 16 years now.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s a really fun, wholesome experience,” he said. “You don’t throw away a photo strip, and I’ve been doing this for 16 years now.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Vintage photo booths now come to \u003cem>them\u003c/em>, he said — often from old business owners of amusement parks, bowling alleys and carnivals. One booth even came from an arcade in South Africa. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Vintage photo booths now come to \u003cem>them\u003c/em>, he said — often from old business owners of amusement parks, bowling alleys and carnivals. One booth even came from an arcade in South Africa. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093817\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093817\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ellington said his hope is for San Francisco to eventually emulate a city like Berlin, where there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.aperturetours.com/blog/2017/berlin-photoautomat\">public photo booths on the streets\u003c/a>. “And they’re 3 euros, too, it’s unreal,” he said. “People that travel there know it as a photo booth city.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ellington said his hope is for San Francisco to eventually emulate a city like Berlin, where there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.aperturetours.com/blog/2017/berlin-photoautomat\">public photo booths on the streets\u003c/a>. “And they’re 3 euros, too, it’s unreal,” he said. “People that travel there know it as a photo booth city.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Seeking out a place’s photo booth is something that couple Thao and Randhawa said they look forward to when they visit somewhere. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Seeking out a place’s photo booth is something that couple Thao and Randhawa said they look forward to when they visit somewhere. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Every city that we go to, we do have a photo shoot,” Thao said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Every city that we go to, we do have a photo shoot,” Thao said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "Embark on the KQED Photo Booth Tour",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While not quite a fully fledged international photo booth city, San Francisco has no shortage of notable booths dotted around the city’s bars, businesses, stores and spaces — and we’ve created (and tested) an itinerary for you to explore many of them. We’ve even thrown in a few fun digital booths along the way. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While not quite a fully fledged international photo booth city, San Francisco has no shortage of notable booths dotted around the city’s bars, businesses, stores and spaces — and we’ve created (and tested) an itinerary for you to explore many of them. We’ve even thrown in a few fun digital booths along the way. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Your self-guided tour will start in San Francisco’s Mission District, then the Castro, Haight-Ashbury before circling back to Mission for the night, though of course you can pick and choose to create your own itinerary through the city. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Your self-guided tour will start in San Francisco’s Mission District, then the Castro, Haight-Ashbury before circling back to Mission for the night, though of course you can pick and choose to create your own itinerary through the city. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093966\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg 1526w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo booth strips line the walls at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093966\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo booth strips line the walls at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Most of these photo booths — many of which accept credit card or tap-to-pay and are around $7 to $8 for one photo strip — are within another business, like a restaurant or bar.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Most of these photo booths — many of which accept credit card or tap-to-pay and are around $7 to $8 for one photo strip — are within another business, like a restaurant or bar.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So be sure to check the storefront’s timing to make sure it is open during the hours and days you want to visit. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So be sure to check the storefront’s timing to make sure it is open during the hours and days you want to visit. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Start at: Mission Bowling Club"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Start at: Mission Bowling Club\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Start at: Mission Bowling Club\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 3176 17th St.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If you’re tempted to play a couple of rounds of bowling while you’re here, Mission Bowling Club’s hours can \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/hours-info\">be found online\u003c/a> — but heads-up that \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/reserve-a-lane\">the cost of a bowling session\u003c/a> ranges from $58 to $78.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If you’re tempted to play a couple of rounds of bowling while you’re here, Mission Bowling Club’s hours can \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/hours-info\">be found online\u003c/a> — but heads-up that \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/reserve-a-lane\">the cost of a bowling session\u003c/a> ranges from $58 to $78.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Food is also available at the bowling alley — and since it’s one of the few restaurants with a photo booth on the list, it could be a good place to get a bite to eat. (But, of course, there are great bites \u003cem>on the way \u003c/em>to your next photobooth.)\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Food is also available at the bowling alley — and since it’s one of the few restaurants with a photo booth on the list, it could be a good place to get a bite to eat. (But, of course, there are great bites \u003cem>on the way \u003c/em>to your next photobooth.)\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Afterward, it’s an 11-minute walk to …\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "Kilowatt Bar"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Kilowatt Bar\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Kilowatt Bar\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 3160 16th St.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093825\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joy Zhang and Cicely Liu take photos at Club Photomatica.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093825\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joy Zhang and Cicely Liu take photos at Club Photomatica.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This will be the first analog photobooth of the trek, located in a firehouse-turned-bar that \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/\">opened in 1994\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This will be the first analog photobooth of the trek, located in a firehouse-turned-bar that \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/\">opened in 1994\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kilowatt is also a music venue, so along with grabbing a drink, you can \u003cem>also\u003c/em> check out \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/events\">its slate of shows on its online calendar\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kilowatt is also a music venue, so along with grabbing a drink, you can \u003cem>also\u003c/em> check out \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/events\">its slate of shows on its online calendar\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Next stop is a 13-minute walk to …\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "Churchill Cocktail Bar "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Churchill Cocktail Bar \u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Churchill Cocktail Bar \u003c/h3>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 198 Church St.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A swanky bar with cocktails and whiskeys that is \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/\">“inspired by the legendary Winston Churchill and WWII era accents.”\u003c/a> You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/menu\">the menu online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A swanky bar with cocktails and whiskeys that is \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/\">“inspired by the legendary Winston Churchill and WWII era accents.”\u003c/a> You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/menu\">the menu online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It is then a 7-minute walk to the …\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "Photo Booth Museum"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Photo Booth Museum\u003c/h3>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 2275 Market St.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Varies\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>You’ll find a lot of photo booth varieties and options in this Castro location, as well as opportunities to turn your photostrip into a keychain or buy it a frame for display. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>You’ll find a lot of photo booth varieties and options in this Castro location, as well as opportunities to turn your photostrip into a keychain or buy it a frame for display. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hamu Studio has several very customizable photo booths, where you can choose from a variety of different types of strips and frames — and even select which take you want printed. Hamu also provides props to use in the photos.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 1644 Haight St., located in 710 Collective\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Cost: Around $7 to $7.50\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Consider this to be a mini Photo Booth Museum since it’s also run by Photomatica, and has plenty of analog booths to choose from. Being located in the 710 Collective, a vintage thrift store, also provides an opportunity to browse the cute clothes this Haight business has to offer. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This photo booth has the Amoeba Music logo splashed on the background of its pictures. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Afterward, you can browse the many aisles of this sprawling record store that very much feels like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12092325/time-travel-to-san-franciscos-past-at-these-local-haunts\">a throwback to ’90s San Francisco\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that it’s procedure for an Amoeba employee to ask you to check your bag at the front desk before entering. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For the next stop, catch a Muni bus (the 6 or the 7 east) and travel for around 13 minutes to get to …\u003c/p>\n",
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"text": "Emporium Arcade Bar "
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 616 Divisadero St\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This photo booth is inside a massive arcade bar with a ton of games — classic and new — that you can spend a couple of hours on.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Afterward, take a 25-minute bus ride (the 24 Muni) to wind down your night back in the Mission, at …\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This booth is located in a staple queer bar in the Mission with a breezy, huge outdoor patio where you can enjoy your drinks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093826\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Club Photomatica, a shop that hosts analog and digital photo booths, on Haight Street.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093826\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Club Photomatica, a shop that hosts analog and digital photo booths, on Haight Street.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>El Rio also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.elriosf.com/\">live music as well as karaoke on Thursdays\u003c/a> (but this reporter has had rotten luck trying to get in the singing queue at a decent time in the night).\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>El Rio also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.elriosf.com/\">live music as well as karaoke on Thursdays\u003c/a> (but this reporter has had rotten luck trying to get in the singing queue at a decent time in the night).\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And then, next door, end your night at …\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>And then, next door, end your night at …\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"level": 3,
"text": "The Knockout "
},
"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Knockout \u003c/h3>\n",
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"\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Knockout \u003c/h3>\n"
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"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Address: 3223 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Address: 3223 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n"
],
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Your last stop of the photo booth tour will be The Knockout’s analog booth — one of the few left in the city that Photomatica does not run. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Your last stop of the photo booth tour will be The Knockout’s analog booth — one of the few left in the city that Photomatica does not run. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This Mission punk bar also \u003ca href=\"https://theknockoutsf.com/\">hosts music, drag shows, dance parties and more\u003c/a>, and has been open for nearly 20 years.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This Mission punk bar also \u003ca href=\"https://theknockoutsf.com/\">hosts music, drag shows, dance parties and more\u003c/a>, and has been open for nearly 20 years.\u003c/p>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Honorable San Francisco photo booth mentions",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honorable San Francisco photo booth mentions\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honorable San Francisco photo booth mentions\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>First of all, we’d be remiss not to mention that KQED HQ actually has its own free photo booth situated in our Mission District offices — especially since the resulting photo booth strip includes the KQED logo running at the bottom. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>First of all, we’d be remiss not to mention that KQED HQ actually has its own free photo booth situated in our Mission District offices — especially since the resulting photo booth strip includes the KQED logo running at the bottom. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While the building’s doors aren’t generally open to visitors, you can get full access to our photo booth during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/events\">KQED Live events, \u003c/a>which include shows like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6609/matcha-showdown\">Matcha Showdown, \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6616/mic-check-bay-area-music-showcase-feat-kamaiyah\">Mic Check Bay Area and\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6613/dating-with-dhaya-summer-lovin-edition\">Dating with Dhaya: Summer Lovin’ Edition\u003c/a>. (Let the photo booth tour above be your afterparty!)\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While the building’s doors aren’t generally open to visitors, you can get full access to our photo booth during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/events\">KQED Live events, \u003c/a>which include shows like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6609/matcha-showdown\">Matcha Showdown, \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6616/mic-check-bay-area-music-showcase-feat-kamaiyah\">Mic Check Bay Area and\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6613/dating-with-dhaya-summer-lovin-edition\">Dating with Dhaya: Summer Lovin’ Edition\u003c/a>. (Let the photo booth tour above be your afterparty!)\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093963\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photo booth, part of a mechanical machine, at the Musée Mécanique in Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093963\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photo booth, part of a mechanical machine, at the Musée Mécanique in Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some other notable photo booths that unfortunately were not in the path of this tour but are still absolutely worth checking out:\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some other notable photo booths that unfortunately were not in the path of this tour but are still absolutely worth checking out:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Musée Mécanique in Fisherman’s Wharf, also a treasure of vintage coin-operated machines and arcade games ",
"Binge Coffee House on Valencia Street does not have a traditional photo booth, but rather a very cute, free camera and photo printer at the front of the store (customers also like to stick their receipt-like photo strips on the walls of the store)",
"Japan Center Malls in Japantown has a collection of customizable digital photo booths on the first floor that are similar in style to the Haight’s Hamu Studio, and there is also a photo booth storefront on the bridge",
"Potobox in Stonestown Galleria ",
"Dreambox Photos in Chinatown, which provides backdrops like a San Francisco cable car",
"The Ha-Ra Club in the Tenderloin",
"Mother, a queer bar near Valencia Street",
"Blooms Saloon in Potrero Hill"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://museemecanique.com/\">Musée Mécanique\u003c/a> in Fisherman’s Wharf, also a treasure of vintage coin-operated machines and arcade games \u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://museemecanique.com/\">Musée Mécanique\u003c/a> in Fisherman’s Wharf, also a treasure of vintage coin-operated machines and arcade games \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bingecoffeehouse.com/\">Binge Coffee House\u003c/a> on Valencia Street does not have a traditional photo booth, but rather a very cute, free camera and photo printer at the front of the store (customers also like to stick their receipt-like photo strips on the walls of the store)\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bingecoffeehouse.com/\">Binge Coffee House\u003c/a> on Valencia Street does not have a traditional photo booth, but rather a very cute, free camera and photo printer at the front of the store (customers also like to stick their receipt-like photo strips on the walls of the store)\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>Japan Center Malls in Japantown has a collection of customizable digital photo booths on the first floor that are similar in style to the Haight’s Hamu Studio, and there is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHy5DJnRq6h/?hl=en\">a photo booth storefront\u003c/a> on the bridge\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>Japan Center Malls in Japantown has a collection of customizable digital photo booths on the first floor that are similar in style to the Haight’s Hamu Studio, and there is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHy5DJnRq6h/?hl=en\">a photo booth storefront\u003c/a> on the bridge\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.potobox.com/pages/locations\">Potobox\u003c/a> in Stonestown Galleria \u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.potobox.com/pages/locations\">Potobox\u003c/a> in Stonestown Galleria \u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dreamboxphotos/\">Dreambox Photos\u003c/a> in Chinatown, which provides backdrops like a San Francisco cable car\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dreamboxphotos/\">Dreambox Photos\u003c/a> in Chinatown, which provides backdrops like a San Francisco cable car\u003c/li>\n"
]
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.harasf.com/\">The Ha-Ra Club\u003c/a> in the Tenderloin\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.harasf.com/\">The Ha-Ra Club\u003c/a> in the Tenderloin\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a>, a queer bar near Valencia Street\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a>, a queer bar near Valencia Street\u003c/li>\n"
]
},
{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bloomssaloon/?hl=en\">Blooms Saloon\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bloomssaloon/?hl=en\">Blooms Saloon\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Also not quite a photobooth, but still a great experience (and memento): aura photos, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a37159091/aura-photography/\">display colors on top of your image\u003c/a> to symbolize what you’re feeling at the moment. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Also not quite a photobooth, but still a great experience (and memento): aura photos, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a37159091/aura-photography/\">display colors on top of your image\u003c/a> to symbolize what you’re feeling at the moment. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This reporter had an aura photo taken of her at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">the city’s zine fest\u003c/a> in 2024 by artist Sharon Zheng, who has \u003ca href=\"https://ur-aura.sharonzheng.com/\">a browser version\u003c/a> of her aura photo reader and also offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sharon/\">pop-up photo sessions\u003c/a> with printed photos and a little companion book to describe the meaning of the colors. \u003ca href=\"https://www.colorofourenergy.com/sanfrancisco\">Color of Our Energy\u003c/a> also accepts appointments for aura photos in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This reporter had an aura photo taken of her at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">the city’s zine fest\u003c/a> in 2024 by artist Sharon Zheng, who has \u003ca href=\"https://ur-aura.sharonzheng.com/\">a browser version\u003c/a> of her aura photo reader and also offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sharon/\">pop-up photo sessions\u003c/a> with printed photos and a little companion book to describe the meaning of the colors. \u003ca href=\"https://www.colorofourenergy.com/sanfrancisco\">Color of Our Energy\u003c/a> also accepts appointments for aura photos in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n"
],
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{
"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Want to hunt for even more photo booths?",
"level": 2
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to hunt for even more photo booths?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to hunt for even more photo booths?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This guide is nonexhaustive, and there are plenty of beloved photo booths still left throughout the city — plus many hobbyists, businesses and people in the know dedicated to finding them. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>This guide is nonexhaustive, and there are plenty of beloved photo booths still left throughout the city — plus many hobbyists, businesses and people in the know dedicated to finding them. \u003c/p>\n"
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{
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
"sizes": "(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093968\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093968\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some great places to start when looking for more photo booths in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some great places to start when looking for more photo booths in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n"
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"Photobooth.net ",
"Photomatica’s San Francisco Photo Booth Crawl",
"Photomatica map",
"Booth Beacon"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003c/ul>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photobooth.net/\">Photobooth.net \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photobooth.net/\">Photobooth.net \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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{
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"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/sf-photo-booth-crawl\">Photomatica’s San Francisco Photo Booth Crawl\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/sf-photo-booth-crawl\">Photomatica’s San Francisco Photo Booth Crawl\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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{
"blockName": "core/list-item",
"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/find-a-booth-near-you\">Photomatica map\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/find-a-booth-near-you\">Photomatica map\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
]
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{
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"attrs": [],
"innerBlocks": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boothbeacon.org/tours/san-francisco\">Booth Beacon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boothbeacon.org/tours/san-francisco\">Booth Beacon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that not all of these websites are super up to date and may include photo booths that have been closed for a while or changed prices. (For example, despite being listed on Booth Beacon, KQED confirmed that clothing store Wasteland in Haight-Ashbury and Black Heart Tattoo on Valencia Street both no longer have a photobooth.) So be sure to give the hosting business a call and see if there is still a machine up and running to avoid disappointment.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that not all of these websites are super up to date and may include photo booths that have been closed for a while or changed prices. (For example, despite being listed on Booth Beacon, KQED confirmed that clothing store Wasteland in Haight-Ashbury and Black Heart Tattoo on Valencia Street both no longer have a photobooth.) So be sure to give the hosting business a call and see if there is still a machine up and running to avoid disappointment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Love hopping into a photo booth? Try our tried-and-tested photo booth tour through the Mission, Castro and Haight-Ashbury. ",
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"title": "How to Explore San Francisco Through Its Photo Booths | KQED",
"description": "Love hopping into a photo booth? Try our tried-and-tested photo booth tour through the Mission, Castro and Haight-Ashbury. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>It may be 1 p.m. on a weekday, but that doesn’t stop \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco’s\u003c/a> Photo Booth Museum from being packed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Friends, couples and families huddle together among this collection of analog vintage photo booths from \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">as early as the 1940s\u003c/a> that are installed in the two rooms of this Castro District business. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Using these types of photo booths is a serious business — the pictures take some time to develop \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/analog-photo-booth-guide\">without the help of digital sensors or printers\u003c/a>, and some groups are discussing their game plan on how to pose before entering the booth, referencing \u003ca href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/discover/photobooth-trend\">various trends \u003c/a>they’ve seen on their feeds online. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093988\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-01-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Sarah Mohamad takes photos at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“People are willing to wait in line,” said Doug Ellington, co-owner of \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/\">Photomatica\u003c/a>, the photo booth rental and restoration company which runs the museum. “They’re willing to wait five minutes for a picture [to develop], which is kind of insane.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many of the booths that were made in the 1950s were advertised as being fast, he said. Their exteriors often even featured atomic symbols and lightning bolts, boasting that you can get your photos in \u003cem>just\u003c/em> five minutes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Now the kids, they always ask, ‘I think it’s broken, my picture’s not coming out,’ and sure enough, sometimes, it’s just waiting to be developed,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#booth-jump\">Plan your own photo booth tour of San Francisco\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s shrieking and giggling as members of one friend group jump in and out of a booth between flashes, so each person can have their personal picture on a black-and-white photostrip. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some visitors are patiently drying their strips, which come out of the machine a little damp, and some are even using blowdryers provided by the museum to speed up the process.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chandler Thao and Manreet Randhawa of Sacramento are using their analog booth photo strip to “soft launch” their six-month relationship.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093822\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-22-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Manreet Randhawa (left) and Chandler Thao hold up their photo booth strip at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Photos carry a little bit of each person, is how I see it,” Randhawa said. “It’s a physical way to remember a place, a person, a relationship, a moment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During the summer, the Photo Booth Museum is often this crowded, Ellington said — especially thanks to Gen-Z visitors who covet the analog machine’s vintage photostrips that come in black-and-white or color. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Gen Z specifically takes a lot of pictures, and they’re not really with intent a lot of the time,” Ellington said. “You could take a thousand pictures in a day, literally, and it doesn’t cost you anything, and it just lives on your device.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“But the idea of having a physical strip or a physical image is kind of a novelty for young people,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A photo booth love story\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Ellington, his love for analog photo booths started with his wife before they got married, 16 years ago. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She had taken him into his first one at vintage clothing store Wasteland in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. “‘These booths are different,’” he recalled her saying. “‘They make you look good.’” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For their wedding celebration, the couple wanted “the photo booth that makes you look like the one in Wasteland,” Ellington said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093815\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors look at their photos at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But it was being unable to ultimately rent the kind of analog model they wanted that \u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/about\">spurred him to build his own\u003c/a> photo booth — sparking a lifelong interest for him and his co-founder, Matt Dewalt, who helped him start Photomatica.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now, Photomatica has photo booth “museums” in several cities across the country, like Los Angeles and Houston. The two and their team have also restored analog booths and built digital booths that can be found across the United States and even in Europe. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a really fun, wholesome experience,” he said. “You don’t throw away a photo strip, and I’ve been doing this for 16 years now.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vintage photo booths now come to \u003cem>them\u003c/em>, he said — often from old business owners of amusement parks, bowling alleys and carnivals. One booth even came from an arcade in South Africa. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093817\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-08-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ellington said his hope is for San Francisco to eventually emulate a city like Berlin, where there are \u003ca href=\"https://www.aperturetours.com/blog/2017/berlin-photoautomat\">public photo booths on the streets\u003c/a>. “And they’re 3 euros, too, it’s unreal,” he said. “People that travel there know it as a photo booth city.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Seeking out a place’s photo booth is something that couple Thao and Randhawa said they look forward to when they visit somewhere. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Every city that we go to, we do have a photo shoot,” Thao said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"booth-jump\">Embark on the KQED Photo Booth Tour\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While not quite a fully fledged international photo booth city, San Francisco has no shortage of notable booths dotted around the city’s bars, businesses, stores and spaces — and we’ve created (and tested) an itinerary for you to explore many of them. We’ve even thrown in a few fun digital booths along the way. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your self-guided tour will start in San Francisco’s Mission District, then the Castro, Haight-Ashbury before circling back to Mission for the night, though of course you can pick and choose to create your own itinerary through the city. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1526\" height=\"1017\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093966\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL.jpg 1526w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-24-BL-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1526px) 100vw, 1526px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo booth strips line the walls at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Most of these photo booths — many of which accept credit card or tap-to-pay and are around $7 to $8 for one photo strip — are within another business, like a restaurant or bar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So be sure to check the storefront’s timing to make sure it is open during the hours and days you want to visit. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Start at: Mission Bowling Club\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3176 17th St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If you’re tempted to play a couple of rounds of bowling while you’re here, Mission Bowling Club’s hours can \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/hours-info\">be found online\u003c/a> — but heads-up that \u003ca href=\"https://www.missionbowlingclub.com/reserve-a-lane\">the cost of a bowling session\u003c/a> ranges from $58 to $78.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Food is also available at the bowling alley — and since it’s one of the few restaurants with a photo booth on the list, it could be a good place to get a bite to eat. (But, of course, there are great bites \u003cem>on the way \u003c/em>to your next photobooth.)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, it’s an 11-minute walk to …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003cstrong>Kilowatt Bar\u003c/strong>\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3160 16th St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093825\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-26-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joy Zhang and Cicely Liu take photos at Club Photomatica. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This will be the first analog photobooth of the trek, located in a firehouse-turned-bar that \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/\">opened in 1994\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kilowatt is also a music venue, so along with grabbing a drink, you can \u003cem>also\u003c/em> check out \u003ca href=\"https://kilowattbar.com/events\">its slate of shows on its online calendar\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Next stop is a 13-minute walk to …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Churchill Cocktail Bar \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 198 Church St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A swanky bar with cocktails and whiskeys that is \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/\">“inspired by the legendary Winston Churchill and WWII era accents.”\u003c/a> You can check out \u003ca href=\"https://www.churchillsf.com/menu\">the menu online\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It is then a 7-minute walk to the …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Photo Booth Museum\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 2275 Market St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Varies\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>You’ll find a lot of photo booth varieties and options in this Castro location, as well as opportunities to turn your photostrip into a keychain or buy it a frame for display. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093984\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4.jpeg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4-160x107.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/image-4-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors make key chains from photo booth strips. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Owner Ellington’s favorite is a sleek mid-century photo booth that is right next to the museum’s front desk.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The curved old booth is so beautiful,” he said. “I feel like they really cared about how it looks.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, it is time to jump on a 17-minute bus ride (the 33 Muni) or take a half-hour-long walk to Haight, where you can visit:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hamu Studio\u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 1612 Haight St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of digital photo booths\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hamu Studio has several very customizable photo booths, where you can choose from a variety of different types of strips and frames — and even select which take you want printed. Hamu also provides props to use in the photos.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093967\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093967\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-31-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan selects photos for a booth strip at Hamu Studio. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"12093827\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093827\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-30-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Khan uses a high-angle photo booth at Hamu Studio. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the real standout is the “high-angle” booth: a giant pink locker that has a camera and screen installed on the upper corner of the ceiling, resulting in photos that give a vague sense of being on an album cover. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, just a couple of doors down is:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Club Photomatica \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 1644 Haight St., located in 710 Collective\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: A collection of analog and vintage photo booths\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Varies\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Cost: Around $7 to $7.50\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093964\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-27-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Visitors take photos at Club Photomatica, a shop that hosts analog and digital photo booths, on Haight Street. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Consider this to be a mini Photo Booth Museum since it’s also run by Photomatica, and has plenty of analog booths to choose from. Being located in the 710 Collective, a vintage thrift store, also provides an opportunity to browse the cute clothes this Haight business has to offer. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A 4-minute walk away is:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Amoeba Music \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 1855 Haight St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photo booth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This photo booth has the Amoeba Music logo splashed on the background of its pictures. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, you can browse the many aisles of this sprawling record store that very much feels like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12092325/time-travel-to-san-franciscos-past-at-these-local-haunts\">a throwback to ’90s San Francisco\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that it’s procedure for an Amoeba employee to ask you to check your bag at the front desk before entering. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For the next stop, catch a Muni bus (the 6 or the 7 east) and travel for around 13 minutes to get to …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Emporium Arcade Bar \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 616 Divisadero St\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This photo booth is inside a massive arcade bar with a ton of games — classic and new — that you can spend a couple of hours on.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Afterward, take a 25-minute bus ride (the 24 Muni) to wind down your night back in the Mission, at …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3230 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Both\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack is a beloved Italian restaurant where you can stop for dinner. The photo strips in this location also come with a cheetah-patterned background. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Then, a 3-minute walk away is …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">El Rio \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3158 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Digital\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Color\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This booth is located in a staple queer bar in the Mission with a breezy, huge outdoor patio where you can enjoy your drinks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093826\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-28-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Club Photomatica, a shop that hosts analog and digital photo booths, on Haight Street. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Rio also hosts \u003ca href=\"https://www.elriosf.com/\">live music as well as karaoke on Thursdays\u003c/a> (but this reporter has had rotten luck trying to get in the singing queue at a decent time in the night).\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And then, next door, end your night at …\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Knockout \u003c/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Address: 3223 Mission St.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Type of photobooth: Analog\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Color or Black/White: Black/White\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Your last stop of the photo booth tour will be The Knockout’s analog booth — one of the few left in the city that Photomatica does not run. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This Mission punk bar also \u003ca href=\"https://theknockoutsf.com/\">hosts music, drag shows, dance parties and more\u003c/a>, and has been open for nearly 20 years.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Honorable San Francisco photo booth mentions\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>First of all, we’d be remiss not to mention that KQED HQ actually has its own free photo booth situated in our Mission District offices — especially since the resulting photo booth strip includes the KQED logo running at the bottom. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While the building’s doors aren’t generally open to visitors, you can get full access to our photo booth during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/events\">KQED Live events, \u003c/a>which include shows like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6609/matcha-showdown\">Matcha Showdown, \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6616/mic-check-bay-area-music-showcase-feat-kamaiyah\">Mic Check Bay Area and\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/event/6613/dating-with-dhaya-summer-lovin-edition\">Dating with Dhaya: Summer Lovin’ Edition\u003c/a>. (Let the photo booth tour above be your afterparty!)\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093963\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260727-PlacesTimeTravel-05-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photo booth, part of a mechanical machine, at the Musée Mécanique in Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some other notable photo booths that unfortunately were not in the path of this tour but are still absolutely worth checking out:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://museemecanique.com/\">Musée Mécanique\u003c/a> in Fisherman’s Wharf, also a treasure of vintage coin-operated machines and arcade games \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bingecoffeehouse.com/\">Binge Coffee House\u003c/a> on Valencia Street does not have a traditional photo booth, but rather a very cute, free camera and photo printer at the front of the store (customers also like to stick their receipt-like photo strips on the walls of the store)\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>Japan Center Malls in Japantown has a collection of customizable digital photo booths on the first floor that are similar in style to the Haight’s Hamu Studio, and there is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DHy5DJnRq6h/?hl=en\">a photo booth storefront\u003c/a> on the bridge\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.potobox.com/pages/locations\">Potobox\u003c/a> in Stonestown Galleria \u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dreamboxphotos/\">Dreambox Photos\u003c/a> in Chinatown, which provides backdrops like a San Francisco cable car\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.harasf.com/\">The Ha-Ra Club\u003c/a> in the Tenderloin\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a>, a queer bar near Valencia Street\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/bloomssaloon/?hl=en\">Blooms Saloon\u003c/a> in Potrero Hill\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Also not quite a photobooth, but still a great experience (and memento): aura photos, which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a37159091/aura-photography/\">display colors on top of your image\u003c/a> to symbolize what you’re feeling at the moment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This reporter had an aura photo taken of her at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfzinefest.org/\">the city’s zine fest\u003c/a> in 2024 by artist Sharon Zheng, who has \u003ca href=\"https://ur-aura.sharonzheng.com/\">a browser version\u003c/a> of her aura photo reader and also offers \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sharon/\">pop-up photo sessions\u003c/a> with printed photos and a little companion book to describe the meaning of the colors. \u003ca href=\"https://www.colorofourenergy.com/sanfrancisco\">Color of Our Energy\u003c/a> also accepts appointments for aura photos in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to hunt for even more photo booths?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This guide is nonexhaustive, and there are plenty of beloved photo booths still left throughout the city — plus many hobbyists, businesses and people in the know dedicated to finding them. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12093968\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/08/260730-PhotoboothMapCrawl-07-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">KQED reporter Nisa Khan uses a photo booth at the Photo Booth Museum. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some great places to start when looking for more photo booths in San Francisco and the wider Bay Area include:\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photobooth.net/\">Photobooth.net \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/sf-photo-booth-crawl\">Photomatica’s San Francisco Photo Booth Crawl\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.photomatica.com/find-a-booth-near-you\">Photomatica map\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\n\n\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://boothbeacon.org/tours/san-francisco\">Booth Beacon\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that not all of these websites are super up to date and may include photo booths that have been closed for a while or changed prices. (For example, despite being listed on Booth Beacon, KQED confirmed that clothing store Wasteland in Haight-Ashbury and Black Heart Tattoo on Valencia Street both no longer have a photobooth.) So be sure to give the hosting business a call and see if there is still a machine up and running to avoid disappointment.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "a-community-for-formerly-incarcerated-san-franciscans-looks-to-homeownership",
"title": "A Community for Formerly Incarcerated San Franciscans Looks to Homeownership",
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"headTitle": "A Community for Formerly Incarcerated San Franciscans Looks to Homeownership | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Buying a house amid San Francisco’s spiraling \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">affordability crisis\u003c/a> can be daunting in even the most traditional of circumstances. But a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11867110/for-some-parolees-facing-homelessness-communal-houses-fill-the-gap\">group of formerly incarcerated residents\u003c/a> living in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is taking on the challenge by trying to buy their beloved Victorian rental, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/template.house/\">Template House\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their vision is to transition the property to a local land trust, ensuring the unique house can exist in perpetuity and offer a shot at communal living for people with experience in the criminal justice system. But as home prices across the city continue to rise because of the artificial intelligence boom, the deadline for the group to raise the money it needs to complete the deal is looming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The thing that I really want to do is to take this building off the speculative market. I want this house to be returned to this use case, and a land trust locks it in, in a way that’s really powerful,” said Zarinah Agnew, 44, who runs The Second Life Project, part of the nonprofit District Commons, which is helping steward the deal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>District Commons runs several communal homes in San Francisco. Template House was formed in 2019 with the specific goal of offering communal living for people exiting prison. The owners, local couple Jessy Kate and Robbie Schingler, supported the vision behind the abolitionist cooperative and agreed to give residents seven years to buy the four-bedroom house and its shady backyard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those seven years are now almost up. The five residents are furiously fundraising $1.4 million to purchase the $2 million house. They have secured roughly $63,000 so far through donations, largely from individuals, plus $100,000 in a low-interest loan, with the help of the consulting firm Land and Power, which has helped tenants purchase their buildings in California and New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087367\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087367\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zarinah Agnew sits inside Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Their deadline to close on the house is at the end of this year. While the owners support the vision and have kept the price stable to support the sale even as the housing market explodes, they plan to put it on the market if the current residents can’t meet their goal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For most, if not all, residents, that would mean moving out of the communal house and likely out of the city to find equivalent rents. Resident Eldridge Cruse, 56, said he pays $1,450 per month for his bed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Advocates of the model say the need is more pressing than ever. In addition to the AI boom pushing rents to nearly \u003ca href=\"https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/san-francisco-ca/?bedrooms=1\">$4,000 for a one-bedroom\u003c/a>, a shift toward tougher-on-crime policing and prosecution both locally and nationally is occurring, which can leave people who have been arrested or incarcerated facing more barriers to accessing stable housing.[aside postID=news_12087973 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/02/260127-SUPERBOWLHOMELESSNESS-13-BL-KQED.jpg']In San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/arrests-drug-seizures-and-federal-drug-trafficking-charges-surge-san-francisco-through\">arrests have surged in recent years\u003c/a> even as crime rates overall have \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/PoliceCommission7826_-__Crime_Trends_Notes.pdf\">decreased\u003c/a>. Public safety dominated political discussions and campaigns coming out of the pandemic, and the city has moved to put programs like a \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2026/06/08/nonprofit-keeps-95-clients-jail-court-sf-courts-want-kill/\">pretrial diversion program\u003c/a> on the chopping block. That has the potential to increase the jail population and create an even larger number of people with barriers to securing leases and closing housing deals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Template House is currently a permanent home for five residents. But the house often keeps a bed or two open for people in an emergency who are looking for a place to sleep while figuring out their next steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had two young guys come in from ICE detention who just needed a place to be. If they didn’t have an address, they were going to remain incarcerated,” said Agnew, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “It’s a way of being able to offer solidarity and pay it forward, so it’s nice to have a couple of empty beds.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Cruse, one of the original full-time tenants at Template House, the space has been an unexpectedly critical part of his journey reacclimating back into everyday society.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cruse arrived at Template House after spending 29 years in prison for being involved in a murder. Released without parole after his case was overturned in 2019, he didn’t qualify for transitional housing or other step-down programs. He connected with Agnew after a series of phone calls with lawyers and friends, and she offered him a place to crash at one of the other communal homes part of District Commons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he arrived, he immediately recognized some of the men he knew in prison sitting around a common area, and said he felt waves of relief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087365\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eldridge Cruse carries a pot of soup to the backyard for a dinner party at Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“What we’re trying to keep alive is that spirit of coming home to someplace that brings comfort instead of anxiety. And my success since I’ve been here has been attributed to me having such a soft landing,” said Cruse, who now is an assistant director at a homeless shelter in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after Cruse arrived in 2019, District Commons proceeded to add another house to their community of cooperatives at the Haight-Ashbury building that’s now Template House.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group landed on a strategy to work with Agnew’s nonprofit to purchase the house. Part of the thinking was that some people exiting incarceration might not have ample savings to put into buying a house and fundraising with the nonprofit could allow them to personally save in the meantime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also more straightforward to fundraise for a nonprofit than for individuals. And, residents can learn about the process of homeownership and the financial steps to get there, while avoiding some of the financial pressure to manage the dynamics of San Francisco’s unforgiving housing market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087369\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087369\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Residents and friends gather for a backyard dinner party at Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I can deal with the social aspect of this, but the management aspect, I leave it to the professionals,” Cruse said. “Who knows? Maybe one day I will be able to do it. But as of this time, it is very important for those who do know how to do this correctly that they do take the lead in it. And one day, then we’re able to take on those responsibilities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not everyone in the house has lived experience in prison, and integrating different life and financial backgrounds is part of the group’s theory of success, as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is always some difficulty that can come with living in co-ops. It’s never quite as rosy as some might try to portray,” said Jeremy Mack, who lived at the house for around two years during graduate school and does not have direct personal experience with the justice system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But ultimately, spaces like Template are filling such an important gap that exists in the city and in the Bay Area at large, and are really a beautiful oasis in a landscape right now that is increasingly carceral, that is increasingly difficult to navigate, and expensive for people who are coming out of incarceration,” Mack said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Residents and friends gather for a backyard dinner party at Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Template housemates say their long-term vision is a model of “mutually stewarded autonomy,” where they learn to run and manage the house together and ultimately take it off the market long-term by transferring it to a land trust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Community Land Trust is a sort of legal structure that can outlive your lifetime,” Agnew said. “We talked about whether people wanted to do a shared ownership model, but everybody said that that was too stressful and would be a lot of admin… People really wanted to focus on the family and home dynamic more than the operations and logistics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cruse said he already knows there’s demand, based on conversations he has with other formerly incarcerated people he knows and meets, whether that’s at backyard barbecues he co-hosts or just through community networks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, residents and their allies are hurrying to recruit potential donors and lenders in the next six months to make the model feasible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Template is our step forward to see if we can create this cooperative, self-managing ownership structure as an alternative to halfway houses at scale,” he said. “This is just the beginning of something that is needed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Buying a house amid San Francisco’s spiraling \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/affordability\">affordability crisis\u003c/a> can be daunting in even the most traditional of circumstances. But a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11867110/for-some-parolees-facing-homelessness-communal-houses-fill-the-gap\">group of formerly incarcerated residents\u003c/a> living in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood is taking on the challenge by trying to buy their beloved Victorian rental, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/template.house/\">Template House\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Their vision is to transition the property to a local land trust, ensuring the unique house can exist in perpetuity and offer a shot at communal living for people with experience in the criminal justice system. But as home prices across the city continue to rise because of the artificial intelligence boom, the deadline for the group to raise the money it needs to complete the deal is looming.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The thing that I really want to do is to take this building off the speculative market. I want this house to be returned to this use case, and a land trust locks it in, in a way that’s really powerful,” said Zarinah Agnew, 44, who runs The Second Life Project, part of the nonprofit District Commons, which is helping steward the deal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>District Commons runs several communal homes in San Francisco. Template House was formed in 2019 with the specific goal of offering communal living for people exiting prison. The owners, local couple Jessy Kate and Robbie Schingler, supported the vision behind the abolitionist cooperative and agreed to give residents seven years to buy the four-bedroom house and its shady backyard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But those seven years are now almost up. The five residents are furiously fundraising $1.4 million to purchase the $2 million house. They have secured roughly $63,000 so far through donations, largely from individuals, plus $100,000 in a low-interest loan, with the help of the consulting firm Land and Power, which has helped tenants purchase their buildings in California and New York.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087367\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087367\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zarinah Agnew sits inside Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Their deadline to close on the house is at the end of this year. While the owners support the vision and have kept the price stable to support the sale even as the housing market explodes, they plan to put it on the market if the current residents can’t meet their goal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For most, if not all, residents, that would mean moving out of the communal house and likely out of the city to find equivalent rents. Resident Eldridge Cruse, 56, said he pays $1,450 per month for his bed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Advocates of the model say the need is more pressing than ever. In addition to the AI boom pushing rents to nearly \u003ca href=\"https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/san-francisco-ca/?bedrooms=1\">$4,000 for a one-bedroom\u003c/a>, a shift toward tougher-on-crime policing and prosecution both locally and nationally is occurring, which can leave people who have been arrested or incarcerated facing more barriers to accessing stable housing.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In San Francisco, \u003ca href=\"https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/arrests-drug-seizures-and-federal-drug-trafficking-charges-surge-san-francisco-through\">arrests have surged in recent years\u003c/a> even as crime rates overall have \u003ca href=\"https://media.api.sf.gov/documents/PoliceCommission7826_-__Crime_Trends_Notes.pdf\">decreased\u003c/a>. Public safety dominated political discussions and campaigns coming out of the pandemic, and the city has moved to put programs like a \u003ca href=\"https://sfstandard.com/2026/06/08/nonprofit-keeps-95-clients-jail-court-sf-courts-want-kill/\">pretrial diversion program\u003c/a> on the chopping block. That has the potential to increase the jail population and create an even larger number of people with barriers to securing leases and closing housing deals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Template House is currently a permanent home for five residents. But the house often keeps a bed or two open for people in an emergency who are looking for a place to sleep while figuring out their next steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We had two young guys come in from ICE detention who just needed a place to be. If they didn’t have an address, they were going to remain incarcerated,” said Agnew, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “It’s a way of being able to offer solidarity and pay it forward, so it’s nice to have a couple of empty beds.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Cruse, one of the original full-time tenants at Template House, the space has been an unexpectedly critical part of his journey reacclimating back into everyday society.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cruse arrived at Template House after spending 29 years in prison for being involved in a murder. Released without parole after his case was overturned in 2019, he didn’t qualify for transitional housing or other step-down programs. He connected with Agnew after a series of phone calls with lawyers and friends, and she offered him a place to crash at one of the other communal homes part of District Commons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When he arrived, he immediately recognized some of the men he knew in prison sitting around a common area, and said he felt waves of relief.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087365\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087365\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-01-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eldridge Cruse carries a pot of soup to the backyard for a dinner party at Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“What we’re trying to keep alive is that spirit of coming home to someplace that brings comfort instead of anxiety. And my success since I’ve been here has been attributed to me having such a soft landing,” said Cruse, who now is an assistant director at a homeless shelter in San Francisco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after Cruse arrived in 2019, District Commons proceeded to add another house to their community of cooperatives at the Haight-Ashbury building that’s now Template House.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The group landed on a strategy to work with Agnew’s nonprofit to purchase the house. Part of the thinking was that some people exiting incarceration might not have ample savings to put into buying a house and fundraising with the nonprofit could allow them to personally save in the meantime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s also more straightforward to fundraise for a nonprofit than for individuals. And, residents can learn about the process of homeownership and the financial steps to get there, while avoiding some of the financial pressure to manage the dynamics of San Francisco’s unforgiving housing market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087369\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087369\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-14-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Residents and friends gather for a backyard dinner party at Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I can deal with the social aspect of this, but the management aspect, I leave it to the professionals,” Cruse said. “Who knows? Maybe one day I will be able to do it. But as of this time, it is very important for those who do know how to do this correctly that they do take the lead in it. And one day, then we’re able to take on those responsibilities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not everyone in the house has lived experience in prison, and integrating different life and financial backgrounds is part of the group’s theory of success, as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There is always some difficulty that can come with living in co-ops. It’s never quite as rosy as some might try to portray,” said Jeremy Mack, who lived at the house for around two years during graduate school and does not have direct personal experience with the justice system.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“But ultimately, spaces like Template are filling such an important gap that exists in the city and in the Bay Area at large, and are really a beautiful oasis in a landscape right now that is increasingly carceral, that is increasingly difficult to navigate, and expensive for people who are coming out of incarceration,” Mack said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12087368\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12087368\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/260611-TEMPLATEHOUSE-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Residents and friends gather for a backyard dinner party at Template House in San Francisco on June 11, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Template housemates say their long-term vision is a model of “mutually stewarded autonomy,” where they learn to run and manage the house together and ultimately take it off the market long-term by transferring it to a land trust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Community Land Trust is a sort of legal structure that can outlive your lifetime,” Agnew said. “We talked about whether people wanted to do a shared ownership model, but everybody said that that was too stressful and would be a lot of admin… People really wanted to focus on the family and home dynamic more than the operations and logistics.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Cruse said he already knows there’s demand, based on conversations he has with other formerly incarcerated people he knows and meets, whether that’s at backyard barbecues he co-hosts or just through community networks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, residents and their allies are hurrying to recruit potential donors and lenders in the next six months to make the model feasible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Template is our step forward to see if we can create this cooperative, self-managing ownership structure as an alternative to halfway houses at scale,” he said. “This is just the beginning of something that is needed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
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"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
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}
},
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"id": "bbc-world-service",
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"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
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"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
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"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
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}
},
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"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
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"order": 10
},
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
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},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
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"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
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"meta": {
"site": "radio",
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},
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
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}
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"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
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"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
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"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
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},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
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"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
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},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
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},
"how-i-built-this": {
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"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
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"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
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},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
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},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
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}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
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"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
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