The Chatterbox

Nopa/Western Addition residents have been (im)patiently waiting for updates on when the Namu Gaji crew was going to open their latest project on Divisadero, NAMU STONEPOT, and that time is sooooo close: Thursday July 27th! Last night, the Lee brothers gave me a sneak peek of the space,…

Some quick updates on new openings for you: if you want to say Pilates class be damned, or you had a little too much chardonnay, you can head on over to MAC’D in the Marina for build-your-own mac and cheese, with bases like cheddar or French onion soup mix,…

And…now ~FARINA~’s liquor license was seized by the state. Mission Local noted it was selling at auction for a minimum of $225K, which will be going toward the $275K Farina owes in back taxes and penalties. No word yet on who purchased the license, and for how much.…

SF’s Mission Cheese has opened their second project, but this one’s in Berkeley and it’s called MAKER’S COMMON on University in Berkeley. Sarah Dvorak, Oliver Dameron, and Eric Miller have opened both a market and an eatery fully stocked with the best in American craft goods:…

Marin County residents not only get sun for the summer, they also get a couple new businesses from SF folks, starting with a location of WISE SONS BAGELRY, which just opened in Marin Country Mart in Larkspur. On the menu: fresh-baked bagels, schmears, bagel sandwiches, and new salads (like The…

Fans of the Neapolitan pizzas at IL CASARO in North Beach will have a second location to visit by the end of 2017. Opening in the former Chilango on Church Street, co-owner Francesco Covucci (with Peter Fazio) tells me they are targeting December for their new Castro location. Il Casaro’…

I never thought I’d see the day that I could write that the long-closed JULIUS’ CASTLE (since 2007) is going to reopen on Telegraph Hill. (My grandpa Ernie is smiling from the other side, he loved that place.) After all kinds of NIMBY complaints and opposition, the Planning Commission…

There are a few upcoming projects for you to keep an eye on, starting with a big collaboration at the former Renoir Hotel, which will open as SAN FRANCISCO PROPER HOTEL this summer (August 2017) from Proper Hospitality and The Kor Group, with design by Kelly Wearstler. This 131-room flagship…

After reading a post in Hoodline that Pete Mrabe (Don Pisto’s, Pete’s, Chubby Noodle) has opened SYLVIA’S BAKESHOP in the former North Beach Baking Co. space in North Beach, I followed up with him for a few more details. It ends up the bakeshop isn’t using…

Just in case you were getting addicted to YOUNG FAVA’s spring onion burrata dip for delivery, founder Anthony Strong has decided to put everything on hold. The Turtle Tower kitchen proved to be too small to handle the demand (it’s SO HARD to be popular), so now he’…