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ON OUR COVER February 2010
A lemon shark, one of the stars of Requiem, by Bryce and Jen Groark of Living Ocean Productions, breaching the surface of the sea. Requiem and more than 50 films will be screened during the 7th Annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, February 3-7 at Theatre 39 on PIER 39. Requiem will be shown during the Festival’s shark program on Saturday, February 6. Read the feature story on pages 12-13 of this issue to dive deeper, and visit www.oceanfilmfest.org for tickets and the full Festival lineup. Photo by Bryce Groark/Living Ocean Productions. More... 
TRANSFORMING THE LARKSPUR LANDING SHOPPING CENTER
Larkspur Landing means many things to local residents. First, it is a regional ferry terminal with an enormous parking lot and high-speed boats that whisk commuters back and forth to the City. More... Bay Area Shipping Community Gears up for Spring SeasonThe California Maritime Academy invites Bay Crossings readers to its Sixth Annual Gala Saturday, March 27 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel on Union Square in San Francisco. More... Transportation Internships for High School StudentsHigh school students from throughout the Bay Area are invited to apply for paid summer work experience in the field of transportation through the High School Internship Program sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES January 2010This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. More... Port of Oakland Truckers Receive Last-Minute Funding for Emissions ImprovementsShortly before the deadline for the emissions reduction regulation at state ports was set to take effect, the Air Resources Board (ARB) announced an additional $11 million in funding that will partly pay for more than 1,200 retrofits and more than 100 new trucks serving the Port of Oakland. More... S.F. Private Clubs Keep Sporting Traditions AliveWhen someone announces that they’ve finished a round of golf, the question is generally: “What did you shoot?” Cultural Currents this month profiles three clubs that all involve some aspect of shooting: golf, billiards and shotguns. More... 
A Holiday Tradition for the Birds…
and Bird-Lovers
The Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count is citizen science in action—an effort to collect information about bird populations across the Western Hemisphere to help guide conservation action by groups like San Francisco Baykeeper. More... 
Who Watches the Water?
In the last two columns, I talked about how the skipper of one vessel knows what to do when interacting with another vessel. More... 
Sail the Seven Seas Without Leaving San Francisco
Ocean and film lovers from around the Bay Area and beyond are preparing to take a dive into the seven seas—without getting wet—at the Seventh Annual San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, running February 3 – 7 at Theatre 39 on PIER 39. More... 
Determined Resident Brings Slice of Nature to City’s Sidewalks
It’s no secret that a garden can greatly improve a person’s quality of life and overall wellbeing. More... SF Beer Week To Celebrate Craft Beer in the Bay AreaFor the second year, SF Beer Week is set to entertain, feed and present craft beer to thousands of beer lovers from across the country and around the world. More... 
Flyway Festival Celebrates Return of Millions of Migrating Birds
Once again, local and regional bird lovers are throwing a wild party for our migrating neighbors from the north at the peak of migration season. More... 
Around the bay in February 2010
Vintage and classic vehicle owners are invited to apply for entry to the Second Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, to be held May 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Marin County Fairgrounds, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael. More... 
ON OUR COVER JANUARY 2010
As the Bay Area’s dean of aerial photography, frequent Bay Crossings contributor Barrie Rokeach has kept his lens trained on the region’s iconic and lesser known bridges for more than three decades, revealing angles and aspects apparent to neither the motorists who cross them nor land-based observers. This month, we are proud to feature a gallery of his stunning images. A full poster version of the photograph used on this months cover is available at www.rokeachphoto.com More... A New Wave of Legal Action to Stop Sewage Spills to the BaySan Francisco Baykeeper filed three new lawsuits last month to prevent sewage spills into San Francisco Bay from the City of Millbrae, the City of San Carlos and the West Bay Sanitation District. More... 
Bar Pilots Reaffirm Ties to Maritime Academy
The San Francisco Bar Pilots Association (SFBPA) is renewing and strengthening its long-standing support for the California Maritime Academy with a combination of scholarships and support for enhanced recruitment efforts totaling over $75,000. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JANUARY 2010This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost $40. More... 
Will Men Be Mad for Fashion Again?
Men making the same old New Year’s resolutions regarding sobriety, diet and/or relationships may wish to consider something different: a style upgrade. More... S.F. Welcomes First New Bike Lane in Three YearsMayor Gavin Newsom—along with bicyclists, city leaders, neighborhood groups and business owners—recently welcomed San Francisco’s first new bike lane in more than three years, located at Scott and Oak streets along the city’s popular “Wiggle” bike route. More... Protecting the Bay’s Most Sensitive AreasWhen I received news of the Dubai Star oil spill in late October, I immediately turned to the Bay’s oil spill contingency plan, the document that governs how federal and state government agencies respond to an oil spill. More... 
WRITTEN ON THE WIND
Last month, I brought up the topic of the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (the ColRegs). I explained how these Rules govern the interaction between vessels by designating one vessel as “stand-on” (required to hold course and speed) and the other as “give-way” (required to maneuver around the stand-on vessel). More... 
The Art of Bridges, From the Air
We cross them daily, and mostly take them for granted as utilitarian conveyances that get us from point A to point B. But seen from the air, the Bay Area’s eight toll bridges become works of sculptural art that complement and accent the region’s crowning scenic jewel, the San Francisco Bay. More... 
Conference Hopes to Ignite Biomass Industry
As the use of biomass for the production of clean energy, cleaner-burning fuels and non-toxic chemicals has grown, so too has California’s role in the biomass industry. More... 
Oakland Firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard Make a Wish Come True
In December, a Coast Guard crew from Air Station San Francisco flew Luis Castillo, an 18-year-old living with cancer, around the San Francisco Bay in an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter. More... 
Bay Bridge Project Rings in New Year With Good News
The coming of the New Year brings a boatload of good news for the Bay Bridge East Span replacement project. More... 
Around the bay in January
The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau’s popular “Dine About Town San Francisco” restaurant promotion provides food and wine enthusiasts with an incentive to experience many of San Francisco’s finest restaurants at a fraction of the price. More... 
ON OUR COVER DECEMBER 2009
Amtrak’s Locomotive No. 2015, which travels on the Capitol Corridor line, was upgraded with a “Repower” kit manufactured by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division. More... U.S. EPA Takes Action Against San Francisco “Muni” following 2005 SF Bay Oil SpillThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking action against the San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority following federal violations of the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. More... Honda Announces Major New Richmond FacilityLast month, American Honda Motor Company announced the opening of a third West Coast port facility in Richmond. More... MTC Weighs Plans for Bay Area Bridge Toll HikesOver the past decade, the Bay Area toll bridges have been strengthened to meet modern seismic safety standards and bridge tolls were raised to help pay those costs. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES DECEMBER 2009Every Saturday 12PM – 2PM or 2:30PM - 4:30PM - Introduction to Sailing Course, OCSC Sailing, Berkeley, 510-843-4200, www.ocscsailing.com This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost $30. More... 
Damrau Reflects on S.F. Opera Debut
Diana Damrau, the effervescent coloratura soprano who made her San Francisco Opera debut in the title role of The Daughter of the Regiment this season, met with Paul Duclos for a brief interview shortly before her final performance. More... 
Mega-Yachts Flock to Warmer Waters for the Winter
Now is the season for mega-yachts to retreat from cold arctic waters to the warmer climes of the tropics. More... 
Right-of-Way Rules Yield the Best Results
I have been sailing the Bay four or five days a week for more than 22 years, and on only two occasions have I been the only boat on the water. More... Working the Capitol for a Healthier San Francisco BayAt the beginning of the 2009 California Legislative Session, there were few reasons to be optimistic about the prospect of passing new laws to protect San Francisco Bay. More... 
Upgraded Capitol Corridor Trains to Deliver Huge Benefits Across Region
Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened emission standards for diesel-powered locomotives. More... 
Unique Holiday Gifts from Richmond’s Shores
The holiday season is once again upon us, and it’s time to start seeking out the perfect gifts for the special people in your life. More... Jack London Square Lights Up for the HolidaysA new tradition begins in Oakland this year, an interactive holiday light spectacular sure to delight revelers throughout the season. More... 
Bay Bridge Makes Headlines This Fall With Detour Operation and Emergency Repairs
Bay Area bridges have been in the spotlight this fall with a series of events that have given the region’s residents a heightened awareness of the imperative to complete the process of bringing the spans up to current earthquake standards. More... 
Extreme Engineering: The Labor Day Weekend Detour Operation
Construction crews moved nearly 7,000 tons of steel at the Bay Bridge construction site on Yerba Buena Island over Labor Day weekend in September 2009. More... 
Around the bay in DECEMBER 2009
A holiday tradition since 1994, more than 100 boats adorned with lights and holiday decorations will parade along San Francisco’s waterfront at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 11. More... 
ON OUR COVER Novemer 2009
Airship Ventures is a company that provides the opportunity to take a leisurely trip in a Zeppelin NT over the San Francisco Bay. More... 
Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) begins South San Francisco Ferry Terminal Construction
Construction on the South San Francisco Ferry Terminal began in October at Oyster Point Marina with an official groundbreaking ceremony, as civic leaders kicked off the start of the $26 million ferry terminal. Ferry service is scheduled to launch in 2011. More... 
Port of Oakland Completes Harbor Deepening
In mid-September, Port of Oakland officials—joined by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the California State Coastal Conservancy—announced and celebrated the substantial completion of the “-50 Foot Project,” which deepened the shipping lanes in Oakland’s harbor to 50 feet. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES November 2009This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost $40. More... 
Asian Art Museum Debuts ‘Emerald Cities’ Exhibit
Now on view at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum is Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam & Burma, 1775-1950, the first exhibition of its kind to use a systematic approach to present artworks from this region and period. More...
Asian Art Museum Debuts ‘Emerald Cities’ Exhibit
Now on view at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum is Emerald Cities: Arts of Siam & Burma, 1775-1950, the first exhibition of its kind to use a systematic approach to present artworks from this region and period. More... 
Centenarian Steam Tug Graces Alameda Drydock
The 102-year old steam-powered, ocean-going tug Hercules is now in drydock at Bay Ship & Yacht’s Alameda yard for maintenance and repair work. More... Cleanup of Contaminated Bay Area Sites to Create 500 JobsIn October, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the U.S. More... 
Academy of Art Pushes Sustainability on Campus and in Students’ Careers
At last count, the Academy of Art University held the keys to 31 properties scattered throughout San Francisco. More... 
Airway to Heaven!
Whenever I fly, I try to get a window seat. Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with looking down at the geographical wonders that constantly seem to unfold on the ground from the perspective of an airplane. And I believe many of you share my enthusiasm. More... 
Coast Guard Training Center in Petaluma Installs Four-Acre Solar Array
Nestled among the rolling green hills of the Petaluma countryside, Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma (TRACEN) serves as the training hub for many of the Coast Guard’s jobs and specialty schools. More... WHY WE SAILSailing has been described as “the art of going nowhere slowly, while getting wet, cold and scared.” If that’s the truth of it, then why sail at all? All sailors have their own personal reasons, of course, some of which may be very private and never expressed in public. More... 10th Annual Biletnikoff Foundation Celebrity Crab Fest & Sports AuctionRhe 10th Annual Biletnikoff Foundation Celebrity Crab Fest & Sports Auction will be held from on Friday, November 13 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Last year’s sold-out event raised $60,000 for the foundation. Master of ceremonies will be Greg Papa, Bay Area sports broadcaster and radio voice of the Oakland Raiders. More... 
Defending the Right to Swimmable Waterways
On a sunny Saturday morning in September, thousands of Bay Area residents marked the 25th Anniversary of Coastal Cleanup Day by picking up trash from Bay shorelines, beaches and parks. More... 
San Francisco Voted #1 U.S. City to Visit for 17th Year in a Row
Condé Nast Traveler announced today that its readers have voted San Francisco the number one city to visit in the United States. More... Around the bay in November 2009Get into the holiday spirit by attending the largest holiday chocolate festival in the Bay Area. More... 
ON OUR COVER October 2009
The habitat of the San Francisco Bay was historically dominated by tidal salt marsh. Today, salt is still being harvested from giant evaporation ponds along the southeastern shores of the Bay. More... 
CRYSTAL CRUISES RETURNS TO SAN FRANCISCO
Crystal Cruises has announced its return to the Port of San Francisco in 2011, featuring nine 12-day voyages to Alaska and a 19-day Panama Canal cruise to New York. More... Matson Navigation Honored With Quality AwardOakland-based Matson Navigation has been honored for the seventh consecutive year with Logistics Management magazine’s annual Quest for Quality award in the Ocean Carrier category. More... Interactive Trip Planner Gets Users to Bay Area Park Sites Via Public TransportationNow you can get out to your favorite trails and find new ones, all on public transit. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES OCTOBER 2009This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost $40. More... 
Unique Bay Bridge Project Photos on Display
Regular ferry commuters saw a number of new faces when the Bay Bridge was shut down for overdue retrofitting. More... 
Acclaimed Documentary Series “Saving the Bay”
to Premiere on KQED
From the Gold Rush to the Golden Gate Bridge, and through World’s Fairs and World Wars, San Francisco Bay has been central to the identity of one of the world’s leading economic, academic, recreational and cultural regions. More... 
Stimulus Money to Aid Refit of Golden Gate Transit’s Ferries
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is currently on track to complete a $40 million refit of its seven-ferry fleet, and has also embarked on a program to upgrade its ferry terminals, starting with the facility in Sausalito. More... 
Bay Area Solar Energy Co-op Leads the Way
At a solar energy forum organized by Sustainable Fairfax in 2001, six homeowners hatched a plan to band together and use their collective buying power to realize their shared dream of going solar. More... 
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF EARTHQUAKES…
With the exception of earthquakes, only the wind makes waves. From the smallest ripples on a tiny pond to the great heaving swell of the deep ocean, all waves are generated by the wind. More... 
Free Music Festival in Golden Gate Park to Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Woodstock
West Fest, a free concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, will take place on October 25 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park. More... Protecting Marine Life from the Delta to the Golden Gate and BeyondSan Francisco Bay is part of the largest estuary on the West Coast, a merging of freshwater flows from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean. More... 
October is “SHARKtober” at Aquarium of the Bay
Providing a final and affirmative answer to the age-old question of whether there really are sharks in the San Francisco Bay, Aquarium of the Bay is proud to present SHARKtober, a month-long celebration of these enigmatic animals. More... 
Around the bay in October
Alameda’s Pacific Pinball Museum and Novato’s Pinball Revival Company announce the Third Annual Pacific Pinball Exposition, to be held at the Marin County Civic Center Exhibition Hall in San Rafael on October 2-4. More... 
ON OUR COVER September 2009
The City of Vallejo and Vallejo Transit will present a Rider Appreciation Day on Thursday, September 10th. More... 
Blue Thunder Rumbles the East Bay
Alameda’s Bay Ship & Yacht has been in the ship building business since the 1970s, building everything from mega-yachts to barges. More... Tugboat Captain Henning Dead at Age 41August was filled with unpleasant news for the Bay Area maritime community. More... 511 Transit Named One of 10 Great Government Web SitesThe 511 Transit page at www.transit.511.org has been cited by Government Computer News as one of 10 great government Web sites nationwide for 2009. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES SEPTEMBER 2009This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost $40. More... 
Olympic Swimmers to Compete in Thrilling Tiburon Mile
Olympic competitors and all manner of other swimmers will vie for first place at the tenth anniversary of the Bay Area’s most remarkable open-water race, the RCP Tiburon Mile, on Sunday, September 13 at 9 a.m. More... 
It’s Time to Talk Like a Pirate Again
It’s that time of the year again. Yes, September 19th is officially Talk Like A Pirate Day! So, here are several more expressions commonly used ashore that have their origins in life at sea. More... 
San Francisco First in Nation to Adopt Sustainable Tourism Guidelines
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries—in fact, according to the World Trade Organization, it ranks right behind the oil and technology industries in terms of total economic impact. More... 
Richmond Revamps a Vision
Take a vision for a vibrant city center initially conceived in the 1930s, later fleshed out by renowned architect Timothy Pfleuger in the 40s, update it to modern-day relevance with historical significance, and do it all ahead of schedule and under budget. More... San Francisco Brewers Bring Their Best to Brews on the BayThe San Francisco Brewers Guild will be holding its sixth annual Brews on the Bay craft beer festival on September 12 and 13. More... 
A Watershed Moment for the Clean Water Act
San Francisco Baykeeper was founded on the principle that the San Francisco Bay and its connected rivers, creeks, and wetlands belong to the communities that depend on them—and must be protected accordingly. More... 
Around the bay in September 2009
This Labor Day weekend, top-notch music and stars of the contemporary art scene will be showcased on the sparkling bay shores of Sausalito’s Mediterranean-like seaside village as Sausalito hosts the West Coast’s ultimate Art and Music Experience. More... 
ON OUR COVER August 2009
Over the last few years, producers and event venues have come up with comprehensive and inventive strategies for minimizing the impact of their events on the environment. Pictured is the stunning view from the Treasure Island Music Festival, which takes place annually in October. Photo by Josh Withers More... 
From My Berth
Last month’s feature story about California’s budget crisis raised an obvious question in my mind about Angel Island. More... Transportation 2035 Plan for the Bay Area ReleasedThe Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) newly released Transportation 2035 Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area: Change in Motion, is now available for viewing online, along with other companion technical reports, at www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/2035_plan. More... Port of Oakland Wins EPA Stimulus GrantWith the goal of creating jobs, boosting local economies, reducing diesel fuel emissions and protecting human health, the U.S. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES August 2009This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing with a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost is $40. More... Beach Books? Not ExactlyBy all appearances, ferry riders are avid readers. A cursory look around on a weekday morning, and you’ll see a tome tucked beneath almost every commuter’s arm. More... 
Oil Spill Captain Gets Prison Sentence
John Joseph Cota, the pilot who caused the Cosco Busan, a 900-foot long container ship, to collide with the Bay Bridge and discharge approximately 53,000 gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay, was sentenced in July to serve 10 months in federal prison. More... 
Mariner of the Seas Completes Series of Calls at Port of San Francisco
Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas has successfully completed a series of seven in-transit calls at the Port of San Francisco. More... 
Event Producers Strive to Lighten Their Footprint
Large-scale events—such as trade shows and music festivals—have historically earned high marks for bolstering local economies and low marks for earth-friendliness. More... 
WHEN TO SAY WHEN
This past June, I was teaching a Coastal Passage Making course—a one-week program that involves sailing out the Golden Gate and up and down the California coast. More... 
The City of Vallejo Celebrates 23 Years of Ferry Service with
Free Day Passes for Monthly Riders
The City of Vallejo and its operating units Vallejo Transit and Baylink, will present a Rider Appreciation Day in September kicking off a 3-day celebration of 23 years of the ferry service from Vallejo to San Francisco. More... Bio Bus Brings Foragers to East BayHop on the TransportedSF biodiesel bus on Sunday, August 9 and head for the East Bay Hills to channel your inner foodie with a day of foraging for wild edibles in the sun. More... Vallejo Ferry Aids in Coast Guard RescueThirty-three people were rescued from a vessel taking on water in the vicinity of Suisun Bay by the Coast Guard, Contra Costa Sherriff’s Department, and the Good Samaritan Baylink passenger ferry Intintoli. More... 
Preparing for Climate Change in the Bay
In the last 200 years, San Francisco Bay has undergone profound changes, and the health of the Bay has varied dramatically. More... 
Around the bay in August
On August 15 and 16, the City of Oakland will present the Ninth Annual Art & Soul Oakland. More... 
ON OUR COVER JULY 2009
As of press time, the future of California’s state parks remains in limbo. A modified version of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest budget—which proposes eliminating all state funding for parks during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years—is being readied for the state legislature’s vote. Photo courtesy of California State Parks More... San Francisco Transportation Board Passes Bike Lane Expansion PlanBicyclists, community leaders and city policy makers cheered the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors historic decision on June 26th to nearly double the number of dedicated bike lanes on city streets. More... 
MTC Veteran Joins Obama Administration
Therese W. McMillan assumed her post as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) on June 30. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JULY 2009Every 12PM – 2PM or 2:30PM - 4:30PM - Introduction to Sailing Course, OCSC Sailing, Berkeley, 510-843-4200, www.ocscsailing.com Saturday This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing with a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost is $40. More... 
Summer Exhibits Heat Up Area Museums
While the big news in local museum circles is the Tut extravaganza at the DeYoung, Bay Crossings readers are encouraged to check out three other, less-heralded exhibitions recently installed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) and the Asian Art Museum. More... 
Can Our State Parks Be Saved?
As of press time, the future of California’s state parks remains in limbo. A modified version of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest budget—which proposes eliminating all state funding for parks during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years—is being readied for the state legislature’s vote. More... 
S.F. Taxi Fleets Move From Yellow to Green
San Francisco law mandates that, by 2011, taxi companies operating in the City must average no more than 38 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually per fleet vehicle. More... 
Waterfront Dining Along Richmond’s Shoreline
Now that July is here, summer is in full swing in the Bay Area, and people are converging on the water and waterfront attractions. More... 
IT’S SUMMER AGAIN!
Summertime in the Bay Area has the conditions necessary to create strong, steady, reliable winds. More... Hornet Celebrates 40th Apollo AnniversaryThe USS Hornet Museum is commemorating the 40th anniversary of its historic, safe recovery of Apollo 11 with Splashdown 2009, a three-day festival to take place on the ship. More... 
Alternatives to Once-Through Cooled Power Plants
A few months ago, this column focused on once-through cooling, a harmful technology in use at three Bay Area power plants. More... 
You Can Make a Difference in a North Bay Youth’s Life
Big Brothers Big Sisters currently provides mentors to over 1,500 Youth in the North Bay counties of Marin, Napa, Sonoma and Solano. More... 
Around the Bay in July 2009
Offbeat and little known stories about the San Francisco Southern waterfront will come to life on Tuesday, July 14. More... 
ON OUR COVER
On May 21st, the wax version of President Barack Obama came to San Francisco in style aboard Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht, the USS Potomac. More... 
Tricky Traffic Shift to Close Bay Bridge Over Labor Day Weekend
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge will be closed in both directions over the Labor Day weekend in September 2009 to accommodate an operation critical to the construction of the bridge’s new East Span. More... Port of Oakland to Adopt Air-Quality MeasuresThe Oakland Board of Port Commissioners took a bold step to address community and environmental concerns about impacts on air quality from its maritime operations last month when its seven members voted unanimously to adopt and implement a “Maritime Air Quality Policy Statement” and “Early Actions” to reduce air pollutant emissions and related health risks. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JUNE 2009This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing with a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. More... 
San Francisco Poised for Major
Bike Lane Expansion
Cycling advocates, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and City leaders are hailing a City decision expected in June to double the number of bike lanes on city streets, as a three-year injunction that has frozen all physical bike improvements is finally nearing an end. More... 
Obama to Raise Waxes in San Francisco
On May 21st, the wax version of President Barack Obama came to San Francisco in style aboard Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht, USS Potomac, with all of the pomp and circumstance that would be provided for the real deal. More... 
Cultural Currents
When Bay Crossings caught up with David Gockley, San Francisco Opera’s sixth general director, he was busy preparing for the company’s summer season, which features three major productions: La Traviata, Tosca and Porgy & Bess. More... 
Sunset District Project to Triple City’s Solar Output
On May 12, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave San Francisco-based Recurrent Energy the go-ahead to install 25,000 solar panels on the rooftop of an eight-block reservoir in San Francisco’s Sunset District. More... 
TREASURE ISLAND
In the mid-1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed the 403-acre Treasure Island on the shoals north of Yerba Buena Island. More... 
Free Festival Opens Sailing to Everyone on the Longest Day of Year
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people look out at the sailboats, tall ships, windsurfers and kiteboarders on the Bay. More... 
Camp Reynolds Presents Civil War Days at Angel Island State Park
For over a decade, Angel Island State Park has hosted Civil War Days, a family-oriented event that educates through tours, activities, demonstrations and interaction with park staff and Civil War re-enactors. More... Check Out Free Kayaking, Rowing and Dragon Boating at Jack London SquareGet a paddle in the water and try out kayaking, rowing and dragon boating at Jack London Aquatic Center’s (JLAC) free second annual “Summer Splash.” More... 
Protecting the Bay by Watchdogging Government Agencies
San Francisco Bay is at the center of the Bay Area and the extensive network of housing, transit, retail and industry that sustains the more than seven million people who live here. More... My Saving Ways Around The HouseIt was hard, but one day I decided to let go of most of my magazine and newspaper subscriptions, with a few treasured exceptions. More... 
Around the bay in June 2009
This summer Oakland’s waterfront will serve as a screening room for a series of aquatic-themed films—all offered free to the public. More... 
ON OUR COVER
On May 1, Blue & Gold Fleet will launch RocketBoat, a thrilling new addition to its lineup that will speed passengers around the Bay. Photo courtesy of Blue & Gold Fleet. More... The Hostile Takeover of San Francisco BaySan Francisco Bay is known throughout the world for its majestic natural beauty, and San Francisco Baykeeper works every day to protect the health of the birds, fish and other aquatic animals that make the Bay so special. More... McKenna to Speak at Industry LuncheonJames McKenna, President and CEO of Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), will be the featured speaker at Pacific Transportation Association’s Annual Ports and Terminals Luncheon. The event takes place on May 7 at Scott’s Restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square. More... LETTER TO THE EDITORWe received the following letter in response to Bill Picture’s report on the Port of Oakland’s efforts to clean up truck pollution. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESEvery Saturday 12PM – 2PM or 2:30PM - 4:30PM - Introduction to Sailing Course, OCSC Sailing, Berkeley, 510-843-4200, www.ocscsailing.com This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing with a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost is $30. More... 
Blue & Gold Fleet Welcomes its Newest, High-Speed Addition
On May 1, Blue & Gold Fleet is launching RocketBoat, a new addition for the 2009 season. This dual- engine speedboat, powered by a mixture of bio-diesel fuel, will travel at 44 knots and is sure to provide thrills for its 135 passengers. RocketBoat will operate this season until October 31. More... SPRINGTIME BLOOMING ON ANGEL ISLANDColors are some of the most remarkable springtime features of Angel Island. The terrain sparkles with ruby reds, sapphire blues, topaz yellows, pearly whites, and emerald greens—but these colors come from wildflowers, not gemstones. More... 
Sausalito-San Francisco Trip Named World’s Second Best Ferry Ride
The ferry ride from Sausalito to San Francisco Ferry was recently named the second most exciting ferry ride in the world in a poll of professional travel writers conducted by the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). More... 
Ducks Unlimited Strives to Bring Wetlands Back
Memphis-based Ducks Unlimited is currently overseeing four large-scale wetland and tidal marsh restoration projects here in the Bay Area. More... 
Green Matters: Richmond is Keeping Score
The City of Richmond is well on its way to meeting its goal of implementing fourteen of the twenty-one Urban Environmental Accords introduced in 2005 on World Environment Day by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, the United Nations Environmental Program, the University of California at Berkeley and a number of environmental groups. More... 
YERBA BUENA ISLAND
For most of us, the only time we might think about Yerba Buena Island is while we’re driving through the tunnel that connects the eastern and western spans of the Bay Bridge. More... Somber Anniversary for U.S.S. IowaLast month marked the 20th anniversary of a gun turret explosion in which 47 sailors on the U.S.S. Iowa lost their lives. More... Plastic Bags Are the Target of Major New Conservation EffortSave The Bay has launched a major new campaign, called “The Bay vs. the Bag,” with the goal of significantly reducing pervasive plastic bag pollution in Bay Area waterways. More... 
Weta’s Newest Ferry Pisces Adds Pizzazz To Regional Ferry Service
With the arrival of Pisces in April, 2009, WETA can boast completion of two 149-passenger vessels that are the first of their kind in the nation. More... 
Around the bay in May 2009
With the recent completion of the reconfigured Larkspur Ferry Terminal parking lot, to acknowledge the addition of new customer amenities for bicyclists added during the project, Golden Gate Larkspur Ferry is offering free ferry rides for bicyclists on weekends in May 2009, including Memorial Day. More... 
ON OUR COVER APRIL 2009
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Community Art Program is presenting After Dark, Photos by Tom Paiva through April 30th at the LunchStop Café at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter at 101 Eighth Street in Oakland just across from the Lake Merritt BART Station. The show is open for viewing from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. weekdays free of charge. More... Port of Oakland Gets Its Own Stimulus PackageTwo new developments promise to give the Port of Oakland competitive cargo advantages in the future. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES APRIL 2009Every Saturday 12PM – 2PM or 2:30PM - 4:30PM - Introduction to Sailing Course, OCSC Sailing, Berkeley, 510-843-4200, www.ocscsailing.com This two-hour skippered charter is designed to provide folks who are considering getting into sailing with a real glimpse of the sport, our club and our people. Cost is $30. More... Local Power Plants Harm Bay WildlifeIn the wake of increasingly alarming climate-change data and a growing movement to reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels, energy issues have risen to the top of the national environmental agenda. More... A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANGEL ISLAND PART 2Last month, we looked at the pre-history and early history of Angel Island. This month, I’ll bring it up to the 21st century. More... 
Opening Day on the Bay 2009
Pacific Inter Club Yacht Association hails the start of the Yachting season on Sunday April 26th with Opening Day on the Bay. The day is starts with a Blessing of the Fleet hosted by Corinthian YC in Tiburon. More... 
Port of Oakland Accelerates Consideration of Clean-Air Plan
Last month, the Oakland Port Commission moved the voting date for the Comprehensive Truck Management Plan (CTMP), an effort intended to reduce air pollution caused by the hundreds of diesel trucks that carry goods to and from the Port of Oakland each day, from August to May. More... 
It Takes a Massive Crane to Build a Monumental Bridge
An immense, barge-mounted crane dubbed the "Left Coast Lifter" that will be used to help build the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge’s new suspension span passed under the Golden Gate and into San Francisco Bay on Thursday, March 12. More... 
AFTER DARK
These images, along with this month’s cover photo, are part of an exhibition on display in Oakland. More... Safety at Sea Seminar Offered to Local SailorsAn officially-sanctioned Safety at Sea Seminar will be held at California Maritime Academy in Vallejo Saturday, April 11. More... 
Around the bay in April 2009
Yes, art floats at this fun Sausalito event on the water. On Saturday, April 25, Sausalito’s colorful floating homes community will present the seventh annual Artists of Issaquah free exhibition. More... 
Once-Dilapidated S.F. Piers Become a Hot Spot
With the addition of an ultra-hip restaurant and renewed attention to their sensational bayside views, Piers 1 ½, 3 and 5 have become a success story for the Port of San Francisco, and have emerged as one of the city’s newest hot spots. More... 
ON OUR COVER MARCH 2009
Harbor seals have an almost feline appearance: rounded head, flat muzzle, long whiskers, and large dark eyes. They’re comparatively small—only about 250 pounds, with an average length of 5 feet. Like all true seals, they lack external ears, and cannot rotate their hind flippers around to move on land; instead, they inchworm their way across the sand, blubber quivering. Their color can range from nearly all white with a few dark markings to nearly all black with white markings. Photo courtesy Farallones Sanctuary/Jamie Hall. More... Tanker Accident Averted at Golden GateCommercial revenues and freight volumes are down everywhere in the San Francisco Bay, with all port authorities saying that business has never been worse. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES MARCH 2009Learn some stuff and have some fun! Enjoy nautically themed seminars and entertainment along with other like minded sailor folks! More... “Mysteries of the Bay” Crossword Challenge: First Five Completed Entries Win a Baykeeper T-Shirt!The San Francisco Bay defines much of the lifestyle of the Bay Area. The Bay is an avenue for worldwide commerce and local transportation, an arena for outdoor sports and recreation and a breathtaking local attraction that draws residents and visitors alike. More... 
BABY BOOM COMING SOON TO BAY AREA BEACHES
Pupping season is a time to be especially aware of your marine environment, because inadvertent human interference can literally be fatal to harbor seals. By learning more about the process, we can respect and protect these precious creatures. More... 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ANGEL ISLAND PART 1
Covering 740 acres and rising to a height of almost 800 feet, Angel Island is the second-largest island in San Francisco Bay—only Alameda is larger. More... 
Alliance Works to Preserve Open Space
Last month, the Greenbelt Alliance released a list of some of the 3.5 million acres of undeveloped land that it believes needs to be protected from urban sprawl. More... 
Group Aims to Revamp Playgrounds
Since its creation in 2001, the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance has been advocating for the asphalt playgrounds at the city’s elementary schools to be put to smarter and healthier use. More... 
Look Who’s Calling Richmond Home!
Hero Arts, an international craft stamp manufacturing company, has found a new home inside the recently renovated Historic Cannery Building on Harbour Way in Richmond’s Marina district. More... Seventh Annual Eco Career Day for High School Students at Crissy Field CenterThe Crissy Field Center—located in the heart of the Presidio—will host its 7th Annual EcoCareer Day on Saturday, March 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. allowing hundreds of Bay Area high school students to meet professional activists, educators, scientists, and business leaders and learn about a wide range of environmental jobs. More... 
Around the bay in March 2009
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Community Art Program is presenting After Dark, Photos by Tom Paiva, through April 30th at the LunchStop Café at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, located at 101 Eighth Street in Oakland just across from the Lake Merritt BART Station. More... 
Bay Crossings Launches New Website with Interactive Ferry Schedules
Bay Crossings is pleased to announce that our website now features an interactive map of the San Francisco Bay ferry routes and schedules. More... 
ON OUR COVER FEBRUARY 2009
Bay Ship & Yacht Co. of Alameda was awarded a million-dollar contract for the restoration of the National Maritime Museum’s historic three-masted, steel-hulled, square-rigged sailing ship Balclutha. Photo by Eric Balderston, courtesy Bay Ship & Yacht. More... APL Announces Headquarters in PhoenixWhen we reported last month that APL would be leaving Oakland for a more "affordable" home, many readers may have assumed that another seaport city would be the logical alternative. As it turns out, that’s not the case. More... 
‘Miracle on the Hudson’ Highlights Emergency Role for Ferries
The dramatic ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River on January 15 has highlighted the critical role that water transit can play in emergency response situations. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES FEBRUARY 2009. More... 
All Areas of Historic Angel Island Immigration Station Now Open
The restoration of the Immigration Station on Angel Island has reached a major milestone. For the first time ever, all areas within the historically significant barracks—where priceless poems of detained Chinese immigrants are etched into the walls—will be open to the public on February 15th. More... A Chance for Change: What a New Administration’s Water Policies Could Mean for the Bay and BeyondSan Francisco Baykeeper has worked for almost two decades to protect the San Francisco Bay from pollution. More... 
Maritime National Historic Park’s Sailing Ship Balclutha Gets a Facelift
A million-dollar contract was recently awarded by the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park to Bay Ship & Yacht Co. of Alameda for the restoration of the historic three-masted, steel-hulled, square-rigged sailing ship Balclutha. More... 
Marin Library Debuts Green Books Section
To accommodate and further encourage the public’s growing interest in sustainability, the Marin County Free Library’s Civic Center Branch has dedicated an entire section to titles related to green design, green building, green business practices and eco-conscious living. More... 
San Mateo Promotes Green Living
The County of San Mateo’s new Green Bag Lunchtime Lecture Series is serving up free, lunch-break-length lessons on sustainability to eco-minded county employees and green-curious members of the general public. More... TALK SAILOR TO ME!The rich and colorful language of the sea has influenced our conversations ashore for millennia. We all talk like a sailor on a regular basis, without any thought as to the origins of some of the expressions we use. More... First Annual SF BEER WEEK Celebrates Bay Area Brewing RootsAmerica’s craft beer movement began in the San Francisco Bay Area, with Anchor Brewing’s rescue by Fritz Maytag in 1965 and the founding of New Albion Brewing in 1976. Craft beer has since grown into the Silver Age of American brewing, with over 1,400 small craft breweries operating today. More... New Boat Owners May Have 2008 Tax BreakRecreational boat owners who paid state sales taxes on a boat purchase, or those who secured a bank loan to finance a boat, may have some tax deductions available when filing their 2008 federal income tax return. More... 
8 WASHINGTON TO BRING LIFE TO WATERFRONT LOCATION
San Francisco Waterfront Partners, the team behind the recently revitalized Piers 1 ½, 3 and 5, have announced plans for 8 Washington, proposing a mix of housing and public amenities that would revitalize a corner of waterfront property that currently consists of a small, unsightly parking lot and a private club. More... 
Around the bay in February 2009
The 13th Annual Flyway Festival on February 6-8 promises more guided hikes and outings, tours and workshops on Vallejo’s Mare Island than ever before. More... 
ON OUR COVER JANUARY 2009
The City of Richmond recently agreed to terms with American Honda Motor Company on a 15-year contract. The Port of Richmond’s Point Potrero Marine Terminal has been a Northern California port of entry and automobile processing facility for more than 30 years. More... 
City of Richmond Approves $87.5 Million Honda Contract
The City of Richmond and the Auto Warehousing Company recently agreed to terms with American Honda Motor Company on a contract that will pay the City $87.5 million over the next 15 years, with the possibility of two five-year extensions. More... MTC Invites Comments on Long-Term Transit PlanThe Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) invites residents throughout the nine-county Bay Area to review and comment on a draft long-term plan detailing policies, programs and projects to guide Bay Area transportation through 2035. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JANUARY 2009Every Wednesday 7PM - 9PM – Winter Wednesday Seminar Series, Club Nautique, Sailing School, 800-343-SAIL, www.clubnautique.net Learn some stuff and have some fun! Enjoy nautically themed seminars and entertainment along with other like minded sailor folks! Check out www.clubnautique.net/winterwednesdays for the full scheduled of events. Seminars will run from November through March. Reservations required. Please call to reserve your seat today! More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JANUARY 2009Every Wednesday 7PM - 9PM – Winter Wednesday Seminar Series, Club Nautique, Sailing School, 800-343-SAIL, www.clubnautique.net Learn some stuff and have some fun! Enjoy nautically themed seminars and entertainment along with other like minded sailor folks! Check out www.clubnautique.net/winterwednesdays for the full scheduled of events. Seminars will run from November through March. Reservations required. Please call to reserve your seat today! More... Slowing the Flow of Pollution Runoff to the BayWhile the rainy season in the Bay Area can mean an end to nice weather and much-loved outdoor activities, it’s an important and productive time for our environment; rain prompts new plant growth after many dry months and replenishes water reserves for drinking and irrigation. More... 
Days and Nights on Angel Island
Editor’s Note: Hannah Bright is the daughter of Angel Island’s Park Maintenance Chief, and she was kind enough to write this first-person account of teen life on (and off) the island. More... 
WETA Christens Its Revolutionary New Ferry
On December 12, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) christened Gemini, the first of its new fleet of ferries that will enhance the region’s emergency response capability and water transit network. More... 
Booming Biodiesel Industry to Hold Conference in S.F.
San Francisco’s cutting-edge efforts to promote the use of biodiesel have earned it the honor of hosting the Sixth Annual National Biodiesel Conference and Expo. More... A Winter StormThe San Francisco Bay Area is under the protection of the Pacific High all summer. This is a huge area of high barometric pressure centered on the eastern Pacific Ocean, between the Hawaiian Islands and us. More... 
Ferry Building Wins Coveted Environmental Award
Governor Schwarzenegger recently announced that the Ferry Building of San Francisco has won the 2008 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) for its Green Initiatives. More... Oakland’s Chinatown Celebrates Chinese New Year with Eighth Annual BazaarThe Chinese Lunar New Year is regarded as the biggest and most important holiday of the year. The holiday is synonymous in scope and size with the celebration of Christmas in western culture. More... 
NEW HYBRID FERRY FOR ALCATRAZ CRUISES
On Friday morning, December 12, at Pier 33 in San Francisco, Alcatraz Cruises introduced the Hornblower Hybrid, a wind-, solar- and diesel-powered hybrid vessel. More... 
Around the bay in January 2009
The unique plasma sculpture exhibit currently on display at the FLOAT Gallery in Oakland will be leaving soon; it warrants a visit before it is gone. Seven Bay Area plasma & neon sculptors serve a tasty array of one-of-a-kind plasma creations. More... 
ON OUR COVER DECEMBER 2008
Named Gemini, this 149-passenger ship will launch WETA’s new ferry fleet and is expected to be put into use daily on one or two bay area commuter ferry runs. Photo courtesy WETA. More... Winter Months Are No Holiday From Sewage Spills in the BayIs fall turns to winter, many of us look forward to the holiday season and to celebrations with friends and family. More... Neptune to Shed Jobs, Relocate HeadquartersEconomic conditions and the cost of doing business in the Bay Area have forced a shipping industry icon to move its corporate headquarters to another part of the country. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES DECEMBER 2008Every 7PM - 9PM – Winter Wednesday Seminar Series, Club Nautique, Sailing School, 800-343-SAIL, www.clubnautique.net More... 
Four Parks for the Price of One
Angel Island State Park was created in 1954 with approximately 36 acres, just a tiny fraction of the island’s land. More... THE BEST SAILING DAYS ARE IN THE WINTERSan Francisco Bay is quite rightly famous around the world for its strong summer afternoon winds. It’s not uncommon for the wind in the Slot to reach 25 to 30 knots by mid-afternoon. More... 
Gemini, WETA’s First New Ferry, Reports for Duty
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) recently announced the arrival of its first new vessel. More... 
S.F. Plans Historic Green Makeover for Civic Center
A green makeover is being planned for San Francisco’s historic Civic Center area, thanks to a partnership forged by the City with the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). More... 
We Wish You a Beery Christmas
Yet another reason to love the holiday season is the annual emergence of seasonal holiday beers offered at most local breweries. More... JACK LONDON SQUAREThe 32nd Annual Lighted Yacht Parade will take place Saturday, December 6 along the waterfront of the Oakland/Alameda Estuary. More... 
Unique Holiday Gifts from Richmond's Shores
It’s that time of year again, when the malls become parking lots and the major department stores require hand-to-hand combat skills to get the latest and greatest popular gift that everyone just has to have. More... 
Around the bay in December 2008
On Sunday, December 14 at 5:00 p.m., the Mission Dolores Basilica Choir will perform its 17th Annual Candlelight Christmas Concert, a stirring and inspiring experience that promises to be the perfect way to usher in the Christmas season. More... 
ON OUR COVER NOVEMBER 2008
Bucking national trends, the Vallejo Baylink Ferry will lower prices this month! Adult fares will be reduced from $15.00 to $13.00, while youth fares will go from $7.50 to $6.50. More... Tragic Anniversary: One Year After the SpillOn November 7, 2007, the Cosco Busan container ship collided with the Bay Bridge, spilling more than 50,000 gallons from the ship’s enormous fuel tanks and causing San Francisco Bay’s largest vessel-related oil spill in over a decade. More... Documentary on Long-Distance Boat Race PremieresMorning Light, the Roy Disney-produced documentary film following one of the youngest crews ever to enter the prestigious biennial TransPac offshore sailing race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, premiered in movie theaters nationwide last month. Among the 11 final crew members chosen from well over 500 applicants was Cal Maritime cadet Piet van Os of La Jolla, CA, who served as navigator and watch captain. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESEvery Wednesday 7PM – 9PM, FREE Nautical Seminars & Entertainment, Club Nautique, Sailing School, 800-559-CLUB, www.clubnautique.net November thru March come learn some stuff and have some fun! Weekly from our Alameda location we’ll be hosting seminars and showing nautically themed movies. Refreshments and snacks will be served. FREE - Space limited. Reservations required. For schedule go to: www.clubnautique.net/winterwednesdays More... 
Vallejo’s Baylink Ferry Reduces Fares
The City of Vallejo has collaborated with the Solano Transportation Authority (STA), the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to develop a Transitional Operating Funding Plan to resolve the Baylink Ferry 2008/2009 deficit and allow the rollback of ferry fares effective November 1, 2008. More... Free Audio Tours Spotlight Bay Area’s Transit-Oriented DevelopmentsAs part of their preparations for the Rail-Volution conference that brought more than 1,000 transportation and urban planning professionals to San Francisco in the last week of October, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) have released a series of five narrated audio tours of transit-oriented developments (TODs) and public transit corridors around the region. More... 
Tragedy Avoided During Spectacular “Angel Fire”
More than 275 firefighters from across Northern California were called to duty to control and perform mop-up operations for a wildfire that started on Angel Island the evening of Sunday, October 12. More... 
Golden Compass
What’s gold and orange and red all over? The Bay Area’s fall foliage—if you know where to look. Here’s your compass pointing to three leafy backroads rich in autumn colors. Pack your hiking boots and rack up your bikes to enhance your leaf-peeping pleasure. More... 
New Academy of Sciences Building Showcases the Future of Green
The new home of the California Academy of Sciences, which reopened in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park on September 27, recently received the U.S Green Building Council’s (USGBC) highest mark, Platinum-level certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This distinction makes it both the greenest museum in the world and the largest Platinum-rated public building in the world. More... 
How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?
Once again, the San Francisco SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is excited to be partnering with Macy’s on the presentation of the 22nd Annual Holiday Windows Adoption Outreach event to give homeless cats and kittens, dogs and puppies a second chance to find loving homes. More... 
NIGHT LIGHTS
Last month, I talked with you about Aids to Navigation—the lighthouses, buoys, and beacons that mark channels and hazards and guide vessels about the Bay. Knowing where other vessels are and where they are going, however, requires some other specialized knowledge and practice. More... 
Fresh Hand-Crafted Beer Made in Wine Country
Built in 1882, the vaunted Calistoga Inn is located along the banks of the Napa River. Offering turn-of-the-century, comfortable rooms at reasonable rates—especially for Napa Valley—the European style of the hotel is reflected in the shared bath accommodations and quaint guestrooms. More... JACK LONDON SQUAREThe first-of-its kind election night gala will begin on November 4th at 5 p.m. when the Potomac sails from her home berth in Oakland’s Jack London Square just as the polls are closing on the East Coast. More... 
Stanley Takes the Helm as WETA Moves Forward
Established to develop and operate a regional passenger ferry system on San Francisco Bay, the former Water Transit Authority (WTA) completed its Implementation and Operation Plan in 2003. The first two of its ferries were under construction as the WTA embarked on the first leg of its system, a new ferry operation between South San Francisco and Oakland. More... Around the bay in NOVEMBERWhile San Francisco rarely sees snow, there are plenty of opportunities to experience a cool holiday tradition at four ice skating rinks in the city: More... 
ON OUR COVER OCTOBER 2008
While on the Jeremiah O’Brien at the 5th annual Brews on the Bay festival, Publisher Joel Williams had a unique vantage point for the Rolex Big Boat Series. Check out Page 14 for more of the amazing views. More... The Increasing Threats to Bay BirdsExperiencing the San Francisco Bay’s amazing array of wildlife is one of the many pleasures of living in the Bay Area. Countless creatures call the Bay home, and millions of birds stop over during their annual migration. More... Biodiesel Facility Proposed for Pier 92San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has announced a proposed agreement between the Port of San Francisco and Darling International to build a biodiesel production facility near Pier 92 in the port’s Southern Waterfront. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES OCTOBER 2008Climb on board a beautiful sailboat and participate in a regatta to raise funds for The Leukemia Lymphoma Society. More... Recent Legal Action Shows L.A. Port Program Model is the Way to Clean Air in OaklandTwo key developments in the past month at the Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports are likely to play a big factor in the "Clean Truck" business model proposed in the Bay Area. More... Port of San Francisco Welcomes First Mega-Cruise Ship to Newly Expanded Drydock at Pier 70The 952-foot cruise ship Star Princess arrived at the newly expanded Pier 70 drydock on September 26th, beginning the Port of San Francisco’s new chapter in its rich maritime history. More... 
Greening Angel Island State Park
Angel Island State Park, as part of the California State Park system, is charged with carrying out the organization’s mission statement to "provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation." More... 
Napa Valley High
It’s harvest time in Napa. Celebrate the region’s wild side with three big-view hikes and two under-the-radar wineries. Hike, sniff, swirl, and sip. Repeat as needed. More... 
Strange Bedfellows Oppose “Green” Proposition 7
Proposition 7, a voter initiative co-sponsored by former San Francisco Supervisor Jim Gonzalez, promises to accelerate clean energy development in California by increasing the amount of electricity that utility companies are required to purchase from renewable sources. More... 
Big Boats Race Through the Bay
On September 13th, Bay Crossings Publisher Joel Williams was attending the 5th annual Brews on the Bay beer festival on the Jeremiah O’Brien, during which the Rolex Big Boat Series races were being held on the Bay. More... 
LIGHTS IN THE DARK
As winter arrives and the hours of daylight decrease, I sometimes find myself sailing on into the dark. More... 
Low Supply Sends Hop Prices Soaring
Gas prices have almost doubled in the past few years, and the effects have been far-reaching, especially on those who have long commutes and those who drive for a living. More... Halloween Creatures Will Invade Webster Street in AlamedaPint-sized ghosts, goblins and other assorted small creatures will invade Webster Street in Alameda Friday afternoon Oct. 31, for the annual "Halloween on Webster Street" festivities. More... 
Richmond’s Marina Bay Scene Features World Class Cuisine
Liane Ingham, the owner and operator of A Private Affaire Catering and the Artisan Kitchen—both located in Richmond’s Marina Bay neighborhood—has a passion for excellence and an eye for detail. More... 
Around the Bay in October 2008
Support the Richmond Rotary Peace Project and tour both the Historic Winehaven Building and the Wine Master’s Winehaven Cottage in Point Molate, Richmond. More... 
ON OUR COVER SEPTEMBER 2008
Publisher Joel Williams snapped this photo during his trip to Angel Island, where he took a Segway tour. The Segway program, started in March 2007 in conjunction with Angel Island Tram Tours and Events, was the first of its kind in a California State Park. There are several guided tours offered each day; the cost is $65 and includes a training session. For more information on the tours available as well as the times and reservations, visit www.angelisland.com. More... San Francisco Bay: Sensitive Habitat or Marine Junkyard?Cruise through Richardson Bay, the Oakland Estuary or the sloughs near Redwood City, and you will see dozens of abandoned boats of all makes and sizes. More... APL and Port of San Francisco Celebrate Cargo MilestonesLate in 2008, global shipping leader APL will mark the 160th anniversary of its founding. And this summer its year-long birthday celebration continued on San Francisco Bay. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES SEPTEMBER 2008Labor Day 10AM – 6PM - Used & Demo Boat Sale, California Canoe & Kayak, Half Moon Bay, 800-366-9804, www.calkayak.com Weekend California Canoe & Kayak’s biggest sale of the year! Get a great deal on a well maintained used or demo boat or take advantage of sale prices on new boats and gear. More... 
New Sailors Help a Great Cause
Club Nautique and Teams-in-Training have joined forces for Sail For A Cure 2008. This is a comprehensive fundraising and sailing training program to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and it culminates in the Leukemia Cup Regatta at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Tiburon on Sunday, October 5th. More... 
A Segway Is the Easy Way to See Angel Island
If you are not familiar with the Segway, it is that crazy contraption with two wheels that you stand straight up on while driving. More... 
Marquee Mendocino
It’s easy to see why Mendocino has been the location for more than 50 films, including classics like James Dean’s "East of Eden." More... 
Green Conference Brings Environmental Innovation to San Jose
The third annual West Coast Green conference, taking place September 25-27 at the San Jose Convention Center, promises to be a many-ring circus that will satisfy the senses and sensibilities of innovators, businesses and consumers searching for ways to exist more intelligently and responsibly. More... 
Trumer Offers Imported Flavor with Local Freshness
Trumer Brauerei, on 4th Street in Berkeley, is one of the most unique breweries I have ever visited. More... Free Medicine Take-Back on National Estuaries DayThe San Francisco Estuary Project will sponsor a free medicine take-back event with Teleosis Institute to celebrate National Estuaries Day. More... 
ARRRGH! TALK LIKE A PIRATE
Each year, September 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Have a little fun sprinkling your speech with a few "arrrghs," an occasional "avast there, matie," and the odd "ahoy." More... 
Cal Maritime Training Ship Rescues Two Off West Coast
The California Maritime Academy’s 500-foot training ship Golden Bear rescued two California fishermen Sunday evening, August 17th, approximately 80 miles off the Monterey Peninsula. More... 
Around the bay in SEPTEMBER 2008
Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square (HSMPS), the group recently identified by the U. S. Navy as the only organization qualified to give the historic warship U.S.S. Iowa a final berthing as a floating memorial and museum in Vallejo is inviting families, supporters and the public to an open house at the Mare Island Museum to discuss progress towards a permanent Mare Island berthing. More...
ON OUR COVER SEPTEMBER 2008
Publisher Joel Williams snapped this photo during his trip to Angel Island, where he took a Segway tour. The Segway program, started in March 2007 in conjunction with Angel Island Tram Tours and Events, was the first of its kind in a California State Park. There are several guided tours offered each day; the cost is $65 and includes a training session. For more information on the tours available as well as the times and reservations, visit www.angelisland.com. More... San Francisco Bay: Sensitive Habitat or Marine Junkyard?Cruise through Richardson Bay, the Oakland Estuary or the sloughs near Redwood City, and you will see dozens of abandoned boats of all makes and sizes. More... APL and Port of San Francisco Celebrate Cargo MilestonesLate in 2008, global shipping leader APL will mark the 160th anniversary of its founding. And this summer its year-long birthday celebration continued on San Francisco Bay. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES SEPTEMBER 2008Labor Day 10AM – 6PM - Used & Demo Boat Sale, California Canoe & Kayak, Half Moon Bay, 800-366-9804, www.calkayak.com Weekend California Canoe & Kayak’s biggest sale of the year! Get a great deal on a well maintained used or demo boat or take advantage of sale prices on new boats and gear. More...
New Sailors Help a Great Cause
Club Nautique and Teams-in-Training have joined forces for Sail For A Cure 2008. This is a comprehensive fundraising and sailing training program to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and it culminates in the Leukemia Cup Regatta at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Tiburon on Sunday, October 5th. More...
A Segway Is the Easy Way to See Angel Island
If you are not familiar with the Segway, it is that crazy contraption with two wheels that you stand straight up on while driving. More...
Marquee Mendocino
It’s easy to see why Mendocino has been the location for more than 50 films, including classics like James Dean’s "East of Eden." More...
Green Conference Brings Environmental Innovation to San Jose
The third annual West Coast Green conference, taking place September 25-27 at the San Jose Convention Center, promises to be a many-ring circus that will satisfy the senses and sensibilities of innovators, businesses and consumers searching for ways to exist more intelligently and responsibly. More...
Trumer Offers Imported Flavor with Local Freshness
Trumer Brauerei, on 4th Street in Berkeley, is one of the most unique breweries I have ever visited. Its uniqueness, however, stems from something it doesn’t do—that is, it doesn’t make more than one style of beer. The entire brewery, and it’s a big one, is set up to make the flagship Trumer Pils, and that’s it! More... Free Medicine Take-Back on National Estuaries DayThe San Francisco Estuary Project will sponsor a free medicine take-back event with Teleosis Institute to celebrate National Estuaries Day. More...
ARRRGH! TALK LIKE A PIRATE
Each year, September 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Have a little fun sprinkling your speech with a few "arrrghs," an occasional "avast there, matie," and the odd "ahoy." More...
Cal Maritime Training Ship Rescues Two Off West Coast
The California Maritime Academy’s 500-foot training ship Golden Bear rescued two California fishermen Sunday evening, August 17th, approximately 80 miles off the Monterey Peninsula. More...
Around the bay in September 2008
Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square (HSMPS), the group recently identified by the U. S. Navy as the only organization qualified to give the historic warship U.S.S. Iowa a final berthing as a floating memorial and museum in Vallejo is inviting families, supporters and the public to an open house at the Mare Island Museum to discuss progress towards a permanent Mare Island berthing. More... 
ON OUR COVER AUGUST 2008
We asked our old friend Loren Earle-Cruickshanks, creator of some of our most memorable covers, to come up with a witty, whimsical shot for this issue, and the result is the fantastic cover you saw when you picked up the issue. Loren loosely based the image on the idea that, "With gas prices what they are these days, you never know who you’ll see on the ferry!" Make sure to check out Earle-Cruickshanks’ website at www.lecphoto.com, and we’d like to offer special thanks the Blue & Gold Fleet for allowing access for the photo shoot. More... This Year’s Drought Requires More Than Just Turning Off Your Tap While You BrushCalifornia is currently in the midst of a severe drought. Our streams and rivers are carrying only about 40 percent of their average water flow, and smoky skies have clouded the Bay Area for weeks as wildfires born of dry conditions rage in nearby communities. More... PTA Stages Annual Steamship NightThe Pacific Transportation Association will be staging its annual Steamship Night dinner on Thursday, September 18 at the San Francisco Marriott. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES August 2008Paddling your kayak on the open water as the last rays of sun drop behind Mt Tam is a mystical experience you won’t soon forget. More... 
“DOG DAYS OF SUMMER”
Man’s Best Friend and America’s Favorite Pastime – a Winning Combination More... 
Discovering the Magic of Angel Island
Offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay. More... 
Fun Dips
Like treasure hunts? Then head for the hills near Auburn and have an adventure that could be straight from a sequel to The Goonies. More... 
Political Efforts Bring Solar Power Into the Light
Bay Area lawmakers have made serious headway recently in the effort to create incentives for commercial and residential solar application. And local agencies say that the expected spike in solar-generated wattage will make the Bay Area a solar model for other parts of the country. More... 
Magnolia Pub Celebrates 10 Years in the Haight with a Magnificent Makeover
Located at the corner of Haight and Masonic in a turn-of-the-century Victorian, Magnolia Pub and Brewery opened in 1997 after extensive alterations to the building to enable the brewing equipment to fit in the basement. More... 
Three-Day Music Festival Comes to Golden Gate Park
In a partnership with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly Productions and Starr Hill Presents will bring the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival to San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park August 22-24. Radiohead, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Jack Johnson will headline the inaugural multi-faceted, three-day festival that will also feature over 50 other popular acts including Steve Winwood, Widespread Panic, Wilco and Beck. More... 
CLIPPER COVE
Clipper Cove, a place name that appears on no chart, is one of the most popular anchorages in all of San Francisco Bay. It is bounded by Treasure Island on the north and Yerba Buena Island on the south. More... JACK LONDON SQUARECalifornia Canoe & Kayak and Jack London Square sponsor the 8th Annual Support Strokes Paddle Fundraiser on Saturday, August 23. Event time is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is open to non-paddlers as well as paddlers from novice to expert. Participants new to the sport have the opportunity to take a kayaking class with California Canoe & Kayak for half price or paddle in a tandem with an experienced paddler. More... 
The City Was Born at the Port, and It Still Thrives
The Port of San Francisco is not just another port. It is where the City of San Francisco began, and, in reality, where California was born. More... 
Around the bay in August 2008
The national public art exhibit "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" is coming to the Crissy Field Promenade from August 5 through October 12. Cool Globes is public art with a purpose, featuring 40 larger-than-life custom-designed globes that depict simple solutions to global warming. Cool Globes was inspired by a Chicago-area environmental activist and mother of four, Wendy Abrams, who wanted to do something to showcase what people can do to help combat global warming. More... 
ON OUR COVER
On Wednesday, July 23 at noon, the Golden Gate will provide the venue for more than a dozen historic Tall Ships—sails unfurled and driven before the wind, living emblems of our storied maritime beginnings—as they sail into San Francisco Bay for five days of spectacular local events. Cover photo courtesy of Lyons Imaging. More... How Healthy is Summertime on the Bay?Welcome to summer in the Bay Area: the fog is rolling, the Bay is crowded with windsurfers, swimmers and sailors, visitors are filling tour boats, and residents are flocking to shoreline parks and beaches for picnics and playtime. More... S.F. Opens Public Boat Launch FacilityWith considerable fanfare, the Port of San Francisco officially opened the Pier 52 Boat Launch last month. It is located just south of AT&T Park on Terry Francois Boulevard, and is the only public boat launch in the City. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JULY 2008Every Wed. 6PM – 8PM - Wednesday Night Sail, OCSC Sailing, Berkeley, 510-843-4200, www.ocscsailing.com Set sail aboard one of our larger yachts skippered by a professional OCSC skipper and enjoy a relaxing sunset out on the Bay. You can soak in the beauty of the evening while not lifting a finger; or pitch in and take the helm. Following the sail we will serve chili, chips, salsa, and beverages. A great time to get to know other like-minded sailors. $30 for members, $40 retail. Call to make your reservation. More... WETA Appoints New Executive DirectorAt its June 19 meeting, the Board of Directors of the WETA announced the appointment of Jonathan Stanley as WETA Executive Director. Mr. Stanley will begin work at WETA on July 21, 2008. More... 
Embarcadero Station Kiosk Wins Community Awareness Award
The California Transportation Foundation recently gave top honors to the In Transit information kiosk in the annual Tranny Award competition. More... 
THE WINDS OF SUMMER
The Central Bay of San Francisco is known throughout the sailing world as one of the grandest of all places to sail. More... 
On the Bay
It’s been said that only 4 percent of people who live in the Bay Area actually get out on the bay. Don’t be a bystander: take the plunge this summer. More... 
GREEN PAGES JULY 2008
Solar Institute and Schoolhouse Bring Solar Power to Life More... 
Parade of Tall Ships Leads Festival of Sail Into The Golden Gate
By William Hogan In 2006, the Bay Area turned out to welcome the future: the arrival of the Queen Mary II, Cunard’s new international flagship liner, on her virgin voyage to San Francisco. More... 
Ace Ciders Are Riding High
On a recent, extremely hot day, I attended the Beerfest in Santa Rosa. Although there were hundreds of fabulous hand-crafted beers to quench my thirst, some of the most refreshing drinks I tried were the ciders. More... JACK LONDON SQUAREFourth of July Celebration on the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet More... 
Richmond’s Hidden Waterfront Jewel
You could easily drive past the sign for the Richmond Yacht Harbor, LTD on Cutting Boulevard without ever noticing what lies behind the modest little red building that houses the Shop Office in the parking lot. More... 
Restored Trainmaster Building Finds Perfect Tenant
The City of Richmond’s magnificently restored Ford Point Building was just awarded one of only 15 National Preservation Honor Awards by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. More... 
Around the bay in July 2008
Join your San Francisco Giants, alumni, executives, and other sports celebrities at the Giants Community Fund’s 18th annual Golf Classic on July 21 at the Olympic Club. This is your chance to tee off with the pros while benefiting the Community Fund and lending support to their award-winning flagship program, Junior Giants Baseball. More... 
ON OUR COVER JUNE 2008
Ladonna Bubak took this photo of Summer Sailstice founder John Arndt waving with two fellow workmates from the magazine Latitude 38, Rob Grant and Mary Briggs, aboard John’s Ranger 33 Summer Sailstice. The boat will, of course, be part of the festivities at Summer Sailstice on Treasure Island. More... 
Numbers Surge for Bike to
Work Day 2008, Despite the Heat
Spurred on by skyrocketing gas prices, concerns about global warming and the fact that it was also an official "Spare the Air" day, a record number of cyclists turned out for Bike to Work Day on May 15, 2008. More... APL veteran honored by Bay Area World Trade CenterScott Smith, corporate relations director for container shipping leader APL, has been honored by the Bay Area World Trade Center for his 41 years of service to the transportation and logistics industry. Smith, a 24-year APL veteran, received the Bay Trade Global Award last month at ceremonies in Oakland attended by more than 250 people, including 25 consuls general and ambassadors from around the world. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JUNE 2008Every 9AM – 12PM - Tomales Bay Morning Paddle, Blue Waters Kayaking, Tomales Bay, 415-669-2600, www.bwkayak.com Sat & Sun This gentle naturalist-led tour includes an introductory kayak lesson and is perfect for first-time paddlers – young and old. Bring the whole family along for a fun adventure of paddling and nature watching! Cost $68 includes equipment. More... 
New Bay Area Ferries Can Be Built Locally
San Francisco Bay is drenched in shipbuilding history. Since the Gold Rush, wooden boats have been built and repaired on the bay. More... 
AVAST! Pirates Invade Vallejo
The second annual Northern California Pirate Festival comes into port Father’s Day Weekend, June 14 & 15 at the Vallejo Waterfront right next to the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. More... 
Perfect Pitch
With gas prices hitting all-time highs, we’ve rounded up some coastal camping destinations that aren’t far from home. From hidden hike-ins to comfy canvas bungalows to a simple car-camp, here are three perfect places to pitch a tent this summer. More... 
Companies, Citizens and Governments Try to Break Down Barriers to Solar Energy
Despite Americans’ general acceptance of the reality of the climate change crisis, and their consequent acceptance of renewable sources of energy as a viable solution, advocates say that solar energy’s mass application faces many of the same obstacles that it did thirty years ago. More...
Companies, Citizens and Governments Try to Break Down Barriers to Solar Energy
Despite Americans’ general acceptance of the reality of the climate change crisis, and their consequent acceptance of renewable sources of energy as a viable solution, advocates say that solar energy’s mass application faces many of the same obstacles that it did thirty years ago. More... (THE NOT YET) SIR FRANCIS DRAKEThis June marks the 429th anniversary of the not-yet Sir Francis Drake’s visit to California. While there is still some question as to exactly where he sailed (or more to the point, where he anchored) there is no doubt that more than 40 years before the Mayflower deposited the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, Francis Drake was in California. More... 
Free Festival Opens Sailing to Everyone on the Longest Day of Year
Every day, hundreds of thousands of people look out at the sailboats, tall ships, windsurfers and kiteboarders on the Bay. Many wonder how they can join in with the elegant sails cutting the water. More... California Craft Beers Dominate the World StageThe World Beer Cup is a bi-annual international competition open to all breweries worldwide. It is often referred to as the "Olympics of Beer Competitions" because it is one of the few international competitions around today. More... JACK LONDON SQUARECalifornia Canoe & Kayak hosts the 2nd annual Reel Paddling Film Festival at the Jack London Aquatic Center on June 14 that will benefit the JLAC Youth Kayaking Programs. More... 
National Liberty Ship Memorial S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien Celebrates 65th Anniversary and Implements Marketing Plan to Raise Repair Funds
Most heroes retire at age 65 … but not the one named Jeremiah O’Brien. In 2008, the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien, home to the National Liberty Ship Memorial, will celebrate her 65th year afloat by opening the hatches to what is hoped will be new generation of people hungry to rent the ship for their next special event and thus secure the World War II veteran’s continued life afloat. More... California’s Salmon On the Brink of ExtinctionMany people were surprised by recent headlines about the collapse of the Chinook salmon fishery in California. The Bay has been an essential throughway for one of California’s last remaining salmon populations, which is the anchor for the state’s still-substantial commercial fishing industry. More... 
Around the bay in June 2008
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series will make its only Northern California stop during the 2008 racing season at Infineon Raceway for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 20 - 22. More... 
ON OUR COVER
Publisher Joel Williams took this photo of a large container ship at the Port of Oakland. The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners recently took a bold step to address community and environmental concerns about impacts on air quality from its maritime operations. More... 
Help Shape the Future of Bay Area Transportation
Spring brings a new wave of opportunities to help shape the Bay Area’s Transportation 2035 Plan, a work in progress sponsored by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). More... Port of Oakland and Union Take Steps to Reduce EmissionsBay Area dockworkers with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 responded last month to an alarming health risk assessment released by the California Air Resources Board and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES May 2008Every Sat & Sun 9AM – 12PM - Tomales Bay Morning Paddle, Blue Waters Kayaking, Tomales Bay, 415-669-2600, www.bwkayak.com This gentle naturalist-led tour includes an introductory kayak lesson and is perfect for first-time paddlers – young and old. Bring the whole family along for a fun adventure of paddling and nature watching! Cost $68 includes equipment. More... WTA CEO Steps DownSteve Castleberry, Chief Executive Officer of the Water Transit Authority (WTA), has announced his resignation, which was accepted with regret at the newly formed Water Emergency Transit Authority’s (WETA) March 31 Board of Directors meeting. More... Vallejo Ferry to Offer Special Ballpark ServiceThe City of Vallejo announced the launch of special direct ferry service to all weekend and holiday San Francisco Giants games played at AT&T Park this season. More... 
San Francisco Celebrates Bridge Approach Milestone
At an April event celebrating the completion of a key segment of the new West Approach to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cut through the ceremonial chain with a torch. Opened to traffic seven months ahead of schedule, this element of the tricky retrofit-by-replacement of the mile-long elevated freeway through downtown San Francisco provides eastbound motorists with a straighter and safer pathway to the bridge. More... 
Dog Day on the Bay
Set sail with your canine companion! The San Francisco SPCA, in conjunction with Hornblower Cruises & Events, hosts a nautical adventure for sea dogs and their humans. More... 
East Side Story
Beyond industrial Oakland and suburban Walnut Creek lie areas of the East Bay popping with adventures. With spring temperatures and fresh colors in the hills, now’s the time to go. More... 
Reaping Green Rewards
Bay Area non-profit has devised a strategy to increase corporate accountability and overhaul socially irresponsible business practices and, in the process, better ensure the safety of both consumers and the environment. More... 
SERIOUS FUN
In the course of my job as a sailing instructor, I am out on the Bay or the ocean four or five days a week. In the 20 years I’ve been doing this, I can recall less than a half-dozen times when I was the only sailboat on the Bay. More... A Beer Festivus for the Rest of UsSpring is here and summer is just around the corner. For most people this means planning outdoor weekend trips to the waterfront or the mountains. For me it means looking forward to the many fabulous beer festivals that take place in and around the Bay Area. More... The Impacts of Our Morning RoutinesI have a fairly standard morning routine: I shower, wash my hair and apply moisturizer, then have breakfast. It’s an average morning that I am sure is similar to many people’s—but I’m guessing that few of us consider our morning routines to have a direct impact on local water quality. More... JACK LONDON SQUAREJoie de Vivre Hospitality has announced their purchase and plans to renovate the Waterfront Plaza Hotel at Jack London Square. More... 
Mountain Hardwear: The Mountain Moves to the Bay
Mountain Hardwear, the newest addition to the Ford Point Building in Richmond’s Marina Bay, is all moved in, and the company has created a truly unique and comfortable work environment for its dedicated employees. More... 
Around the bay in May
The Great Vallejo Race is now reputed to be the largest inland regatta in the United States, drawing from 300 to 500 sailboats annually. This year’s race will take place on May 3-4 under the aegis of the Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco Bay. More... 
ON OUR COVER APRIL 2008
Photographer and OCSC Sailing School Member Greg Tarczynski took this shot of fellow OCSC members passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. Opening Day on the Bay on April 27 marks the official opening day of the Northern California sailing season. More... 
Getting to the Bay Area’s Blooming Places
It’s already bloomin’ beautiful in the Bay Area due to the early arrival of mild weather this spring. More... 
Longshoremen call for Iraq war protest at ports on May 1
Nearly one hundred Longshore Caucus delegates voted to support a resolution calling for an eight-hour "stop work" meeting during the day-shift on Thursday, May 1 at Bay Area ports to protest the war by calling for the immediate, safe return of U.S. troops from Iraq. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES APRIL 2008Every 6PM - 8PM - Wednesday Night Sail, OCSC Sailing, Berkeley, 510-843-4200, www.ocscsailing.com Wed. Set sail aboard one of our larger yachts skippered by a professional OCSC skipper and enjoy a relaxing sunset out on the Bay. You can soak in the beauty of the evening while not lifting a finger; or pitch in and take the helm. Following the sail we will serve chili, chips, salsa, and beverages. A great time to get to know other like-minded sailors. $30 for members, $40 retail. Call to make your reservation. More... Port of Oakland Dredging Becomes Solution Instead of ProblemThe Port of Oakland and the Bay Area’s environmental community have come a long way in working together for the common good. More... WETA Brings New Authority To Life to Build Robust Ferry NetworkGovernor Schwarzenegger appointed four Bay Area residents to the new Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) in March: Charlene Haught Johnson as chair; former Vallejo Mayor Anthony Intintoli Jr. as vice chair; Alameda Mayor Beverly Johnson; and Gerald Bellows. More... 
Combo Classics
Spring is here and the North Bay is ready with some double-header adventures featuring bikes, hikes, camps, kayaks, and…good wine. More... 
The Garbage Patch Kids
A few hundred nautical miles off the coast of California, ocean currents collide to create a swirling vortex known as the Pacific Gyre. At the center of that vortex lies a fast-growing pool of garbage—most of which is terrestrial in origin—that environmentalists have dubbed "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch." More... 
Opening Day on the Bay – Join the Parade
Opening Day on the Bay, on Sunday in April 27, is the official opening day of the Northern Californian sailing season and will feature over 200 boats, beautifully decorated and adorned, heading across San Francisco Bay in parade formation starting at 12:00 p.m. Dating back to 1917 and organized by the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association, the parade sails from the shadows of the Golden Gate Bridge to just past Pier 39. More... 
Variety is King at Third Street AleWorks
Conveniently located just a few blocks off Highway 101 in downtown Santa Rosa, Third Street AleWorks has a spacious, welcoming open dining area. More... 
THE WORLD’S SECOND OLDEST PROFESSION?
Sailing isn’t the world’s oldest profession, but it does go back a very long way. The earliest depiction of a sailboat is on a piece of Egyptian pottery dating from about 3200 BC. More... Oakland Hosts Largest Sailboat Show on the West CoastStrictly Sail Pacific, the largest sailboat show on the West Coast, comes to Oakland’s Jack London Square from April 16 through April 20 with attractions for all sailing enthusiasts—from experienced racers and cruisers, to those who have never stepped foot aboard a sailboat. More... Protecting the Bay from Urban RunoffBay Area storm drains channel runoff into our creeks and empty into the Bay without any treatment or filtering. More... 
Fabulous at Five
Developer Chris Meany and his "Dream Team" of architects and builders gave themselves a well-deserved pat on the back on Friday, March 7 to mark the 5th anniversary since the lovingly renovated Ferry Building was reopened to the public. More... 
Around the bay in APRIL 2008
On Saturday, April 26, Sausalito’s colorful floating homes community will present the Artists of Issaquah exhibition. More... 
ON OUR COVER
This is a computer rendering of the master plan for Treasure Island’s green makeover, which is still a work in progress. More... 
Bay Bridge East Span:
So Much Happening,
So Little to See
One of the largest, most complex construction projects ever undertaken in California is happening right under our noses and yet has been largely unnoticed by Bay Area residents. More... 
Proposed Port Rule Threatens Cruises
Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco port officials are protesting a proposed rule by the federal Homeland Security Administration’s Department of Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that threatens San Francisco’s core cruise business: Alaska, Pacific Northwest and Mexico cruises. More... 
The Future of the Vallejo Ferry Should Be Bright
A Report from the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Rick Wells More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES MARCH 2008March 8 8:30AM - 3:30PM - Introduction to Sea Kayaking, UCSF Outdoor Programs, 415-476-2078, www.outdoors.ucsf.edu Enjoy the beautiful Bay. Learn the skills and gain the confidence to begin paddling on your own in a single kayak. Price includes professional instruction, wetsuit, paddle jacket, and all kayaking equipment. Cost $110. More... 
13th Annual
Bark & Whine Ball Goes to the Dogs
Critter Lovers At Work (CLAW), a volunteer fundraising arm of the San Francisco SPCA, will present the 13th Annual Bark & Whine Ball on Thursday, March 6th at the San Francisco Gift Center Pavilion. More...
Mendonoma Time
Just as rugged and beautiful as Big Sur, but much farther off the radar, the Mendocino-Sonoma Coast is the perfect place to slow down and decompress. Clock out early on a Friday and turn off the cell phone—it’s Mendonoma Time. More... 
Extreme Green Makeover for Treasure Island
Treasure Island is about to get a serious, top-to-bottom green makeover. More... Sick of SewageIn January 31, heavy rains and operator error caused an overflow of sewage at a treatment plant in Marin County. More than 2.7 million gallons of partially treated sewage spilled out of the plant and into Corte Madera Creek, which flows into Richardson Bay. More... 
A Reason to Visit Antioch
I must admit that I have only been to Antioch once before, for a friend’s wedding; I assumed it would be a while, if ever, before I returned. More...
CURRENT EVENTS
I was sitting on a grassy hillside, enjoying a late lunch midway through a stroll around Angel Island. The Golden Gate, the entire central Bay, and the San Francisco skyline were spread out below me. More... 
Ahoy, Tall Ships in Oakland!
Two tall ships return to Jack London Square from March 6th to March 24 bringing unforgettable maritime history experiences to school children and the general public. More... 
The Cannery Building – A Richmond Gem Comes Back to Life
The historic Cannery Building at 1200 Harbour Way, located just blocks away from Richmond’s beautiful Marina Bay, is enjoying a new lease on life. More... 
Around the bay in March
The San Francisco Brewers Guild and Slow Food San Francisco present the Slow Beer Festival on Saturday, March 1st, in Golden Gate Park. More... 
ON OUR COVER February 2008
This photo of the San Francisco Ferry Building was taken by our Publisher, Joel Williams, from the Baylink Ferry leaving for Vallejo. More... 
New Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Vista Point Provides Public Shoreline Access
Regional and state officials recently celebrated the official opening of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Vista Point, marking the completion of the Richmond-San Rafael Seismic Retrofit Project. More... U.S. Merchant Marine Gets Shot in the ArmIn a move that may spell more jobs for young seafaring professionals, container carrier APL will train U.S. maritime academy cadets aboard its internationally flagged container ships. More... Cruise Industry Boffo from Passenger IncreaseWhile stories abound about the tidal wave of cargo moving through America’s ports, a similar story is unfolding in the cruise industry, which last year saw 9 million U.S. passenger embarkations, a 4.5 percent increase over 2006, and $35.7 billion in total economic impacts, a 10 percent increase. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESFebruary 2 10AM – 3PM - Tomales Bay Kayak Tour, Outback Adventures, Larkspur, 415-461-2222, www.outbackadventures.com Experience one the premier paddling destinations in California on this guided kayak tour. Colorful sea stars slide beneath your kayak as majestic Thule Elk roam the hillsides. $85 including equipment. More...
Parting with the Parks
More than seven million people live in the Bay Area. It’s a crowded place, and the state’s designated open spaces give us an accessible outlet for enjoying the outdoors. More... 
East Bay Coalition Aims to Incubate Green Corridor
The buzz of activity at a typical city hall grinds to a halt between Thanksgiving and January 2. But the mayors of Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and Emeryville were determined not to let the holiday season slow the momentum of their joint plan to nurture a strong, regional green economy. More... 
Exorcising the Ghost Fleet of Suisun Bay
Environmental groups are challenging the U.S. Maritime Administration for its failure to protect the waters of the San Francisco Bay and Delta Estuary from pollution created by a ghost fleet of toxic ships near Benicia. More... 
Hop off the Highway for Blue Frog’s Grog
When people think about beer made in Fairfield, they probably have in mind the huge Budweiser brewery that travelers see on the way to Lake Tahoe. More... WHO AM I?Is you cross the Bay each day on the ferry, or look out onto the Bay while riding public transit, you can’t help but see sailboats. There may not be many on weekdays, but on weekends there can be hundreds. More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE
The USS Hornet Museum in Alameda will unveil a new public exhibit on February 9 that focuses on the history of aerial firefighting in California. Museum visitors will have the opportunity to meet firebomber pilots who courageously combat wildfires from the air. The grand opening event begins at 1 p.m. More... 
Around the Bay in February
Now in its fifth year, the United States’ premier "cinemaquatic" event offers a weekend of inspirational films and lively discussions on environmental issues, marine science, and ocean sports as well as ocean exploration and coastal and island cultural history. More... 
ON OUR COVER
January 2008 More... 
Ed Roberts Campus Closing Funding Gap
East Bay elected officials, transportation agencies and organizations serving people with disabilities have joined together in a coalition to close a $10 million gap in funding for the Ed Roberts Campus (ERC), enabling construction to start in early 2008. More... Oakland Nonprofit Serves Urgent Needs of Ship WorkersThen the Cosco Busan struck the Bay Bridge last November, scores of community and environmental groups rushed to respond to the emergency. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JANUARY 2008Every 10AM - 4PM - Basic Keelboat 1, Spinnaker Sailing, San Francisco, 415-543-7333, www.spinnaker-sailing.com. Sat/Sun Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12 hour, 2-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More...
Half-Tank Getaways
You’ve heard of one-tank wonders? We’re upping the ante with overnight excursions that are less than 130 miles round-trip from San Francisco. These three escapes were made for relaxing winter weekends. So pick a trip, set a date, and hit the road. More... 
What Goes Up Must Go Green:
S.F. Takes the LEED in Environmentally Friendly Buildings
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of a proposed amendment adding strict green building requirements to the City’s existing building codes was barely audible above the din of construction equipment at a December 12 press conference held at 555 Mission Street, the site of a new office tower showcasing new standards in environmentally responsible design and construction. More...
What Goes Up Must Go Green:
S.F. Takes the LEED in Environmentally Friendly Buildings
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of a proposed amendment adding strict green building requirements to the City’s existing building codes was barely audible above the din of construction equipment at a December 12 press conference held at 555 Mission Street, the site of a new office tower showcasing new standards in environmentally responsible design and construction. More... 
On the Water and in the Courtroom, Baykeeper Patrols S.F. Bay Pollution
The San Francisco Bay is part of the largest estuary on the entire Pacific Coast of the Americas. One of the most biologically productive water bodies in the world, the Bay supports commercial and recreational fisheries, including Chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Bay mussel, and Dungeness crab. More... Absinthe Madness Strikes in Bay AreaAbsinthe has been around for centuries and was the drink of choice among artists and authors like Picasso, van Gogh and Hemingway. Artistic minded people often claimed that consuming absinthe gave them inspiration and opened their minds to new thoughts. More... Sailing the Bay in JanuaryWhen was the last time you sailed in January? Most people never do. And it’s too bad, because winter is a great time of year on the Bay. I remember one day in particular: A friend and I sailed from Berkeley over to Tiburon, docked at Sam’s Anchor Cafe, had a great lunch, then enjoyed a pleasant reach back home. We had the Bay to ourselves all day. It rained most of the way over and back, of course. But that wasn’t an issue; it was just part of the experience. More... JACK LONDON SQUAREThe Ellington – Jack London Square’s Celebrated Condominium Tower Now Open More... 
Around the bay in January 2008
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as Oakland marks Dr. King’s 79th Birthday. The event will feature a keynote address by U.S. Rep. More... 
ON OUR COVER December 2007
This picture of an oiled bird on the beach at the mouth of Strawberry Creek in Berkeley was taken by Susan Schwartz of Friends of Five Creeks. More... 
Environment Ranks High in Transportation Poll
Bay Area residents express high levels of concern about air quality and global warming impacts, and they show a willingness to accept denser development in their neighborhoods for the sake of open space and clean air in the region. More... 
The Bay Oil Spill: From the
People Who Brought Us Hurricane Katrina
I contacted several of the watersport companies that I work with every month to compile our Waterfront Adventures section, and I asked them how the recent oil spill affected their businesses. More... 
How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?
The San Francisco SPCA is excited to be partnering once again with Macy’s on the presentation of the 21st Annual Holiday Windows Adoption Outreach event. From now through January 1, adorable cats and dogs, kittens and puppies seeking loving homes take up residence in their very own magical pet place in the windows of Macy’s Union Square store at Stockton and O’Farrell Streets. The SF/SPCA and Macy’s kicked off the 2007 holiday season on Friday, November 16 with a red curtain unveiling of the windows by former San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES December 2007Every Sat/Sun 10AM - 4PM - Basic Keelboat 1, Spinnaker Sailing, San Francisco, 415-543-7333, www.spinnaker-sailing.com Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12 hour, 2-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More... Marin Solar Coalition Selects Recommended SupplierGoSolarMarin announced that its recommended supplier, SPG Solar of Novato, had agreed to provide its discounted pricing throughout Marin County to all homeowners, small businesses and non-profit organizations. More... 
Community Bank Reinvents Itself
Just a few years ago, Community Bank of the Bay was staring bankruptcy in the face. But, thanks to a new president who was able to convince the bank’s board of the many benefits to be reaped by approaching banking from a philanthropic angle, the downtown Oakland lender has regained solid financial footing and implemented unique programs intended to effect positive change both locally and globally. More... 
Effects of Oil Disaster Will Be Felt for Years
In the early morning heavy fog of November 7, a 902-foot cargo ship collided with the wooden fender of the delta tower base of the Bay Bridge, spilling 58,000 gallons of bunker fuel into the San Francisco Bay. More... Moylan’s Serves Up Classy BrewWhen Brenden Moylan opened Marin Brewing Company in the Larkspur Landing Shopping Center back in 1989, there were only around 100 brewpubs across the country. Six years later, as both his business and the industry grew dramatically, he wanted to open another one. More... Yet another reason to love the holiday season is the annual emergence of the seasonal holiday specialty beers offered at most local breweries. Here’s a list of a few of the holiday beers available thiAnchor Brewing Company – 1705 Mariposa St, San Francisco (415) 863-8350 The 2007 Christmas Ale marks the 33rd annual release of this spiced holiday ale. Dark, rich and full of flavor, each year’s top-secret recipe is slightly different. More... 
Magnolia Celebrates Tenth Anniversary
On Monday, November 5, Magnolia Pub & Brewery officially celebrated its birthday at the coolest music venue in San Francisco, the legendary Great American Music Hall, with the Everyone Orchestra (EO). More... Reality and PerceptionThe collision of the Cosco Busan along a pier of the Bay Bridge, and the subsequent spilling of 58,000 gallons of oil in the Bay, will cause controversy for some time. Among the questions is whether and to what extent the pilot, Captain John Cota, who has 25 years of experience in the Bay, made some error in judgment. More... 
Annual Yacht Parade Lights Up Oakland/Alameda Waterfront
The 31st Annual Lighted Yacht Parade will take place Saturday, December 1st along the waterfront of the Oakland/Alameda Estuary. The parade is hosted and organized by the Encinal Yacht Club, the Oakland Yacht Club and the Marina Village Yacht Harbor and will begin just after sunset, around 5:30 p.m. More... 
Unique Holiday Gifts from Richmond’s Shores
It’s that time of year again, when the malls become parking lots and the major department stores require hand-to-hand combat skills to get the latest and greatest popular gift that everyone just has to have. However, some of the most unique and thoughtful gifts are found in out-of-the-way places. More... 
Around the bay in DECEMBER 2007
Have you ever noticed the lights that shine from the top of Angel Island each December? Angel Island Association calls them "Angel Lights" and encourages "adoptions" of the lights by the public to help fund its work on Angel Island State Park. "Adoptions" are gifts not only to the Association but to friends and loved ones. More... 
ON OUR COVER NOVEMBER 2007
On October 9th, Joel Williams photographed the CSL Acadian bringing the first shipment of sand and gravel from Vancouver Island to the newly-constructed aggregate receiving, storage and distribution terminal owned by Eagle Rock Aggregates and located in the Port of Richmond. More... 
New Aggregate Distribution Center Opens at the Port of Richmond
On October 9th, the first shipment of sand and gravel from Vancouver Island arrived at the newly-constructed aggregate receiving, storage and distribution terminal owned by Eagle Rock Aggregates and located in the Port of Richmond. More... 
Schwarzenegger Signs Bill Establishing New Water Emergency Transportation Authority
On October 15, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the Bay Area Council-sponsored Senate Bill 976 (Torlakson, D-Antioch). SB 976 creates the Bay Area’s first new transportation authority of the 21st Century, the Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA). More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES NOVEMBER 2007Sat/Sun Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12 hour, 2-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More... 
Disc Golf Flies High in the Bay Area
It probably wasn’t too long after the Frisbee was introduced that someone figured out it was a fun idea to fling one towards a target. In the 40 years since then, the simple task of tossing a Frisbee at something has morphed into the growing sport of disc golf. More... 
Ridership Soars During Spare the Air/Free Transit Campaign
Transit ridership rose by 22 percent over baseline levels on the two Spare the Air days of 2007, Wednesday, Aug. 29, and Thursday, Aug. More... Region Wins in National Competition for Anti-Congestion GrantsThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has designated the San Francisco Bay Area as an Urban Partner, pledging $158.7 million in federal funds to implement and expand innovative traffic-relief programs in the region, the second most congested in the country. More... 
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Offers Art-by-the-Inch
Art by the Inch, a mural over 100 feet in length, will be featured at this year’s annual fundraiser at the new Marin Museum of Contemporary Art (MarinMOCA) on November 3rd from 4 to 7 pm. More... 
GREEN PAGE
The vast majority of plans for cleaning up the environment call for removing some unwanted substance from the air, soil or water. More... GREEN PAGEGoSolarMarin announced last month that it had sent a Request for Proposal (RFP) to 15 solar companies that had expressed an interest in bidding on a "group installation" contract to bring solar power to Marin County homeowners. More... 
Boats Are Like Children
Boats are like children. Not in what they are, but in what they do. They both are here on earth mainly to remind us—the adults and, ostensibly, the people in charge—that we are not the center of the universe. More... Six Bay Area Breweries Win Big at Largest U.S. Beer FestivalThe Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious beer competitions; it’s certainly the most important one in the United States. Over 100 professional beer judges evaluate more than 2,800 beers entered by almost 500 different domestic breweries. This October marked the 26th year of this enormous festival, which took place this year at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. More... JACK LONDON SQUARE November 2007On Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, American veterans will be honored and will receive free admission and tours during a special Veterans Day ceremony at the USS Hornet Museum aircraft carrier at the former naval air station in Alameda. The event is open to the public. More... 
Richmond’s Historic Ford Point Building Craneway – This Scenic East Bay Area Event Venue Awaits You!
The Ford Point Building’s massive Craneway was open to the public for the first time in over 20 years when it served as a venue during Richmond’s first Home Front Festival By-the-Bay, which took place from September 28th through the 30th. The Craneway, a stunning 40,000 square foot space enclosed on three sides by two-story glass walls, is located where the Ford Building meets Richmond’s waterfront. More... Around the bay in November 2007Jack London Square has a better – and greener – way to light up the holidays at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 23rd. More... 
ON OUR COVER OCTOBER 2007
Veteran Bay Area aerial photographer Barrie Rokeach took to the skies several times over Labor Day weekend to capture the various stages of the operation to replace a massive chunk of the Bay Bridge deck (see our story on pages 12 and 13). Based in Berkeley, Rokeach is both a pilot and a photographer, shooting for major commercial clients, book publishers, magazines and the like. More... 
TransLink® Offers More Convenience for Golden Gate Transit and Ferry and AC Transit Riders
It’s been nearly a year since TransLink® cards were distributed to loyal Golden Gate Transit and Ferry and AC Transit riders for the card’s "pre-launch" break-in phase. The goal was to have a limited group of riders help work out any kinks in the system. But word spread and others started requesting the card: By July 2007, 5,500 commuters were paying fares with TransLink, taking 4,700 trips a week with the cards. More... Ferry Saga Slogs OnControversy continues to simmer around the National Park Service’s decision to award the lucrative Alcatraz ferry contract to proudly non-union ferryboat operator Hornblower Cruises. On September 18, players on one side of the issue testified before the House Natural Resource Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. Notably absent was Terry MacRae, Chief Executive Officer of Hornblower. More... Q&A: Emergency Needs Prompt Ferry ChangesA new law brings the Vallejo, Alameda/Oakland and Harbor Bay ferries under the aegis of an expanded Water Transit Authority (WTA), now renamed the Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA). Riders have raised questions about how this change will affect ferry service and what role the new WETA will have. Here, Bay Crossings addresses some of these questions. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES OCTOBER 2007Every 10AM - 4PM - Basic Keelboat 1, Spinnaker Sailing, San Francisco, 415-543-7333, www.spinnaker-sailing.com. Sat/Sun Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12 hour, 2-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More... 
Gosolarmarin Organizes Homeowners Seeking Solar Power
Sosolarmarin, a non-profit coalition of San Rafael homeowners interested in purchasing solar energy, will hold its first meeting Monday, October 1, in the Tamalpais Room at the San Rafael Corporate Center. Dana Armanino, the Green Business Coordinator for Marin County, will attend the meeting and be available to answer questions. More... 
Rolex Big Boat Regatta Thrills Race Fans
The choppy waters and changing currents of the Bay proved challenging for even the most seasoned sailors in last month’s Rolex Big Boat Series. The annual regatta, a San Francisco tradition since 1964, is widely regarded within the sailing community as one of the West Coast’s premier sailing events. Hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, it consistently attracts some of the country’s top competitors and fastest boats. More... 
Smooth Move: Massive New Bay Bridge Deck Segment Slides Into
Place With Ease
So smooth, it was like sliding in a drawer. That’s how one local news organization described the delicate process of rolling in a new 6,500-ton segment of the upper deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge over Labor Day weekend. The operation also was remarkably fast, with the installation taking a little under three hours, about half the time originally predicted. In fact, nearly every aspect of the complex retrofit-by-replacement just to the east of the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel was so well-orchestrated that Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) were able to shave 11 hours off the schedule, and reopen the bridge to traffic at 6 p.m. on Labor Day proper – far ahead of the original deadline of 5 a.m. on Tuesday. More... Skill, Intelligence, and Training"I was born so long ago that I grew up before the era of gasolene. As a result, I am old-fashioned. I prefer a sail-boat to a motor-boat, and it is my belief that boat-sailing is a finer, more difficult, and sturdier art than running a motor. Gasolene engines are becoming fool-proof, and while it is unfair to say that any fool can run an engine, it is fair to say that almost any one can. Not so, when it comes to sailing a boat. More skill, more intelligence, and a vast deal more training are necessary." --Jack London More... 
When You’re Hot, You’re Hot
From 1898 to 1909, the Wunder Brewing Company was located at Greenwich and Scott Streets in San Francisco. Recently, four native San Franciscans revived the name of the noted brewery for a brewpub located on Ninth Avenue in the vicinity of Golden Gate Park. Their goal is to serve great beer with fantastic food in true San Francisco style. More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE OCTOBER 2007
Paws on the Square Bring your family and furry friends down to Jack London Square for a day of contests, vendor booths, and entertainment to sooth those savage beasts. Hop-A-Long animal rescue shelter will be on hand to provide valuable information on pet adoption and spay and neuter practices. Date: Saturday, October 13 Time: 10AM to 2PM Location: Foot of Broadway More... 
Richmond’s Maritime Industry - Bay Area’s Best
The city of Richmond is well known for its rich maritime history. During World War II, over seven hundred war ships were constructed at Kaiser Shipyards, which made it the largest shipbuilding operation in the United States. More... 
Historic Steam Yacht Sails Again in RichmondV
The Cangarda, a majestic 126-foot yacht built in 1901, will soon be steaming out of Richmond with a new lease on life. The ship is one of only three Edwardian-era steam yachts in the world, and the last one in America. She is currently in the final stages of restoration at Rutherford’s Boat Shop in Richmond Yacht Harbor, which is well known for their work restoring classic yachts as well as their flawless work in marine woodworking, structural and interior work and traditional rigging. More... 
Around the bay in OCTOBER
Harvest Festival Comes to San Francisco Ferry Building The Ferry Building Marketplace celebrates its fifth annual Harvest Festival the weekend of October 26th - 28th with a range of events, including organic wine and beer tasting, honey tasting, olive oil tasting, live music, and a barnyard by the bay. The Friday, October 26 organic wine and beer tasting from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. benefits the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), one of the oldest and largest organic certifiers in the country. Throughout the weekend, marketplace merchants will be offering a delightful abundance of special fare, tastings and demonstrations. More... 
ON OUR COVER August 2007
In this stunning photo by Scott Hargis, a competitor in the August 2007 U.S. Windsurfing Nationals competition rides a wave against a beautiful City backdrop, showcasing a popular Bay sport. Thanks to its unique conditions, windsurfers on the Bay can easily reach speeds of 25 mph. More... 
Toll Plaza Innovations Boost FasTrak® Advantage
The Bay Area’s FasTrak® electronic toll collection program shifted into even higher gear this summer, with the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) and Caltrans converting more lanes at the region’s state-owned toll bridges to FasTrak®-only and restriping bridge approaches to set off FasTrak®-only lanes well in advance of the toll plazas. Officials expect the combination of toll plaza improvements and an aggressive marketing campaign to boost the number of FasTrak® customers by 20 percent over the next year. More... 
Emergency Repairs for
San Francisco Ferry Terminal Berth
A large crane was barged in to the San Francisco Ferry Terminal in August to perform dock repairs to the Golden Gate Ferry berth. On June 7, a Vallejo Ferry vessel experienced a control problem, causing the vessel to collide with the inner berth fendering at the San Francisco Ferry Terminal, damaging the guide pile. The damage caused Golden Gate Ferry to immediately discontinue use of the berth. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES August 2007Every Sat/Sun 10AM - 4:30PM - Basic Keelboat 1, Spinnaker Sailing, San Francisco, 415-543-7333, www.spinnaker-sailing.com Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12-hour, two-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More... 
Summer of Love Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Free Concert
The Summer of Love in 1967 marked the convergence of thousands of lost young souls to San Francisco looking for an alternative to the mainstream lifestyle. Peace, love and personal freedom were the ideals of this anti-establishment counterculture that also embraced drugs as an escape from the reality of the Vietnam era they faced. Freedom of expression was encouraged at all levels as people experimented sexually, spiritually and chemically. People questioned authority and dug deep within themselves and their community, searching for inner peace and a communal harmony through love, art and music at the "Human Be-Ins" held in Golden Gate Park. Bands like the Grateful Dead and the Jefferson Airplane often played free concerts in the Park to support the movement. More... 
U.S. Windsurfing Nationals Competition Roars Through Bay
Look out over the Bay on any given day and you’ll likely spot a variety of watercraft: Massive, hulking container ships entering through the Golden Gate en route to docks in Oakland, cruise ships full of tourists bound for Fisherman’s Wharf, ferries, Coast Guard cutters, sailboats, and catamarans. Zipping among them like meteors are tiny vessels that seem to be all sail and no hull. Barely twelve feet long and with masts about fifteen feet high, they plane over the waves at speeds of thirty miles per hour and more. More... 
Statute of Liberty Ferry Contract for Hornblower Raises Bay Area Concerns
In July, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that a ten-year concessions contract would be awarded to San Francisco-based Hornblower Yachts, Inc. to provide upgraded ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York Harbor. More... 
St. Francis Yacht Club Hosts Rolex Big Boat Series Regatta
The St. Francis Yacht Club will be hosting the 42nd annual St. Francis Perpetual Trophy Regatta, known as the Rolex Big Boat Series, on September 14 - 17. Six different classes will compete for trophies as well as specially engraved Rolex timepieces that have been donated by the race sponsor, Rolex Watch, USA. Two races are scheduled for Thursday through Saturday with the featured Bay-Tour Race scheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m. More...
Sailors Say Sacramento Sucks, But That’s How They Like It
Bay sailors have a saying that explains our great summer winds: "Sacramento sucks." Now, some people may take exception to that. But, meteorologically speaking, it’s pretty much true. More... San Francisco Brewers Bring Their Best To Quench Thirsty CrowdsThe San Francisco Brewers Guild will be holding its fourth annual Brews on the Bay craft beer festival on September 8th and 9th. The event takes place at the National Liberty Ship Memorial, SS Jeremiah O’Brien, at Pier 45 near Fisherman’s Wharf. More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE
Paws on the Square Bring your family and furry friends down to Jack London Square for a day of contests, vendor booths, and entertainment to sooth those savage beasts. Hop-A-Long animal rescue shelter will be on hand to provide valuable information on pet adoption and spay and neuter practices. Date: Thursday, September 13 Time: 10AM to 2PM Location: Foot of Broadway More... 
Richmond’s Home Front Festival By-the-Bay Promises Fun in a Big Way
The City of Richmond will celebrate its rich history on September 29th & 30th with the first annual Home Front Festival By-the-Bay. The festival will be held at three separate locations: Marina Bay Park, the Ford Building and Shipyard #3. More... 
Around the bay in September 2007
International Culinary Summit Sets Table in San Francisco Gastronomy by the Bay is coming to the Historic San Francisco Ferry Building and Hotel Vitale over Labor Day Weekend. This is the first international gourmet food festival where European and local chefs have the opportunity to come together to explore current and future culinary trends. The festivals’s three full days of culinary events run from Saturday through Monday and include round-table discussions with European and local chefs, gourmet food demonstrations, exclusive receptions, chef book signings, and an all-star gala dinner. Cooking demonstrations will be held during the Farmers Market on Saturday, September 1st. For information and ticket packages call 415-551-5190 or visit us online at www.gastronomyfestivals.com. More... 
ON OUR COVER August 2007
Harmony Corsi-Clark and Bob Stein (with shark fin) frolic in the surf while Don Case kitesurfs in the background. Photo was taken by Loren Earle-Cruickshanks, a conceptual, commercial and fashion photographer based out of San Francisco. To see more of his work visit http://www.lecphoto.com, or email him at info@lecphoto.com More... 
Labor Day Weekend Closure Looms for Bay Bridge
The countdown is under way to the start of a full closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge over the 2007 Labor Day weekend, during which two operations — a critical seismic retrofit to the bridge deck and FasTrak® lane reconfiguration — will be performed. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 31, the bridge will close to traffic in both directions, and will remain closed until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4. More... Virgin America Readies Its Cargo Operations and Aircraft NamesUpstart airline Virgin America will begin its freight operations concurrently with the start of its passenger service this summer. In a recent interview, Virgin America’s manager of cargo Jason Lazich told Bay Crossings that the company will be moving a diverse mix of commodities. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES August 2007Every 10AM - 4:30PM - Basic Keelboat 1, Spinnaker Sailing, San Francisco, 415-543-7333, www.spinnaker-sailing.com. Sat/Sun Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12 hour, 2-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More... Latin Music Festival Comes to Jack London SquareJack London Square presents the first annual Latin Music Festival on August 11, 2007 from 11 AM – 7 PM with a full day of live music and dancing, a diverse musical line-up, traditional dance including Maestros del Folklor Mexicano, ethnic foods and Hispanic arts & crafts. Dance to hot Latin pop, jazz and rock, sizzling samba and salsa. Bring your dancing shoes and join us at the Pavilion Stage at Broadway and Water Streets. Admission is free. More... 
Water Dog Lake Park Offers Cycling Challenges and Rewards
There are two general categories of mountain bikers: those who like to climb, and those who like to go downhill quickly. The two do not share much common ground; their bikes look quite different, and they even speak in unique ways. To be a true mountain biker, however, a bicyclist should always be able to ride anywhere, on any trail. Water Dog Lake Park in Belmont puts this idea to the test. More... 
Photography Seminar Focuses on Capturing Life-Size Whale Images
The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (www.NCUPS.org) proudly presents a very special seminar with Bay Area artist and marine mammal conservationist Bryant Austin, creator of "Whales in Public Spaces: A Life-Size Whale Photography Exhibition," on Friday, August 10, 2007. Composed over the past two field seasons with the South Pacific Humpback Whales, Bryant Austin explores and develops methods and techniques to produce life-size photographs of his subjects, up to twelve feet high by ninety feet long. For Austin, the size of the photograph is secondary; it is the personhood of the whale, best expressed in the eye, which he explores in depth. More... 
The Freighter Voyage Home
I knew it was not going to be a cruise with deck chairs and little umbrellas in my drinks. But in early July, I had the chance to fulfill a childhood dream with a voyage on a "bulk carrier" freighter. The CSL Acadian was chartered from British Columbia to the Bay Area to carry 70,000 tons of sand and gravel for use as concrete in the new east section of the Bay Bridge. More... 
U.S. Windsurfing Nationals Return to Bay Area
The U.S. Windsurfing Nationals are returning to San Francisco this month. The premier windsurfing event in the continental United States, this World Cup competition showcases local, national and international windsurfers racing in some of the most challenging waters anywhere. The competition will unfold from August 7th through August 11th and will be based at Crissy Field, where spectators will be able to follow the course races as well as see the popular slalom competition. More... Making Your Sailboat Look GoodAnyone can sail, but not everyone can sail well. Of course, "sailing well" depends on how you define the phrase. If it means moving a vessel by the power of the wind, then it’s impossible not to sail once the boat casts off. With any wind at all and sails hoisted, almost anyone can move a boat more or less in the direction they want it to go. It takes a special sailor, however, to bring that same boat to a dead stop in the wind in order to pick up a mooring, for instance, or retrieve a crewmember’s hat that has blown overboard. More... 
Lagunitas:
A Brewery Like No Other
Chicago native and home brewer Tony Magee established Lagunitas Brewing Company 13 years ago in the small town of Forest Knolls, just east of Lagunitas in western Marin County. The brewery’s first incarnation was a very small-scale operation connected to a local market; Magee was forced to relocate because the septic system could not handle the amount of wastewater affluent that the growing brewery was producing. Lagunitas moved to an industrial park area just off of Highway 101 in Petaluma and has never looked back. More... 
Authority Selects Signature Point for Potential Future Richmond Ferry Terminal
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) is a regional agency formed in 1999 and authorized by the State of California to operate a comprehensive Bay Area public water-transit system. The authority’s goal is to develop a reliable, convenient, flexible and cost-effective expanded water-transit system that will get drivers out of their cars and into environmentally-responsible, state-of-the-art ferries. More... 
Around the Bay in August 2007
Benicia’s Best Artists Rise to the Occasion Arts Benicia will be featuring the works of 16 local artists who have risen to the top of their respective Master of Fine Arts classes this year at the annual "Cream – from the top" exhibit. The exhibit runs through August 26 and culminates with the Artists’ Forum on Saturday, August 25 when San Francisco Chronicle art critic Kenneth Baker and California College of Art instructors Glen Helfand and Linda Fleming will be in attendance. More... 
ON OUR COVER July 2007
The new Bay Trail maps for the nine Bay Area counties are now available. This image, from the cover of the San Francisco trail guide, shows pedestrians and bikers near Fort Mason in typical, early July weather conditions. See story, page 21. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Bay Trail Project. www.baytrail.org More... Agricultural Shippers Struggle to Compete in the Global MarketplaceSan Francisco – Calling for dramatic action to avert a looming "transport crisis," Peter Friedmann, the Agricultural Transportation Coalition’s executive director, urged shippers here to apply political pressure "before it’s too late." More... Stuck in the Slow Lane? It’s Time to Change LanesThe FasTrak advantage at Bay Area toll plazas is about to get a whole lot bigger — and so is the disadvantage of paying bridge tolls with cash. Starting in July, more cash lanes at the Bay Area’s state-owned toll bridges will be permanently converted to FasTrak-only lanes. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES July 2007Every 10AM - 4:30PM - Basic Keelboat 1, Spinnaker Sailing, San Francisco, 415-543-7333, www.spinnaker-sailing.com. Sat/Sun Come and experience the thrill of sailing on the San Francisco Bay with this introductory 12 hour, 2-day course that will familiarize you with all of the fundamental aspects of sailing on the bay. Call for Pricing. More... 
Biking Ironic
One of San Francisco’s many charms is its size—it’s a small enough city to go almost anywhere by bike. But real estate is fought for, and few green scraps of natural land are left for the public to explore beyond tightly corralled urban parks. The irony: From San Francisco, most people have to get in a car and drive to a place to go biking "off road," which is counter to the carless ideal of many a bike rider. Fortunately, the drive to the Marin Headlands isn’t far. More... Thanks for the ViewAnthony Sandberg is the founder of OCSC Sailing in Berkeley, and from his nearby apartment, he looks out over the marina and a three-bridge view of San Francisco Bay. Part of the beauty of Anthony’s view is the sailboats dotting the water. More... 
“Marin” Gets Overhaul
Bay Ship & Yacht recently completed the full refit of the Golden Gate Ferry, Marin. The vessel arrived in the shipyard on November 13, 2006, and resumed serving the commuters of the San Francisco Bay Area from its berth in Larkspur last month. More... Green PointsTaxi! Green taxi! If you see a green Toyota Prius is picking up and dropping off passengers in the city of San Francisco - it’s the Green Cab. The two-car cab company is expanding their fleet of autos that run on alternative-fuels. www.sfgreencab.com More... 
Winners of Team Bike Challenge Honored
OAKLAND — The Team Bike Challenge, a contest organized by The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) as part of Bike to Work Day/Month, encourages bicycle commuters to form teams—made up of their colleagues, friends, neighbors or local officials—to take on biking as a mode of transportation during the month of May. Participants earned points each time they biked. The top-placing teams overall and from each of the Bay Area counties, and a Bike Commuter of the Year from each county, were announced in June. More... 
Building Condos for Green Urban Living and the Return Investment
The Pacific Coast Builders Conference, held in San Francisco last month, paid tribute to the green building craze sweeping town like proverbial wildfire, in part due to mandates passed in recent years stating all municipal buildings must build to green code, and also because San Francisco, as usual, leads the way in being kind to the planet on many fronts. More... 
Marina Bay’s New Heyday!
Richmond’s Marina Bay has a rich history that stems from its use as an industrial shipyard that was essential to the World War II home front effort. Its transformation from a U.S. Naval shipyard to a thriving community located around a beautiful marina with stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and several parks available for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike is an incredible success story. More... 
A Brewing Balancing Act at Rafters
Rafters Grille & Brewery is a San Rafael brewpub that takes pride in offering an all natural product without any chemicals or additives. They do not add finings, filter or force carbonate their beers. According to Brewmaster, Dan Duncanson, "Everything is as natural as it gets." More... JACK LONDON SQUAREIf you want to taste the best BBQ the Bay Area has to offer, pack up the family and head down to Jack London Square for the first annual East Bay BBQ competition on the Fourth of July. More... 
Spare the Air/Free Transit:
A new incarnation of the Bay Area’s popular Spare the Air/Free Transit program kicked off last month with the official June 1 start of the summer smog season. Thanks to $8.5 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, a record 29 separate transit systems from all nine Bay Area counties will provide free commutes on up to four Spare the Air weekdays through October 12. More... 
Ferry Rides to Bay Trail Adventures
Summertime, and the bikin’ is easy, thanks to new Bay Trail maps that give bicyclists, as well as walkers, skaters and wildlife watchers, a fresh look at sites and adventures along San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. A total of 40 miles have been added since the last Bay Trail maps were published in 2003. With easy access by ferry to many Bay Trail points, hiking and biking the Bay Trail is the perfect summer experience. More... 
Around the bay in July 2007
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Summer of Love, the San Francisco Giants will revive the atmosphere of the ’60s at the AT&T ballpark with music and pre-game festivities. The first 20,000 fans will receive a "Summer of Love" T-shirt, and The Summer of Love Revue will perform music reminiscent of 1967 before the opening pitch. More... 
ON OUR COVER
Northview from the top of a Nike silo down to the San Pablo Bay below. More... 
INDUSTRY NEWS
Lynn Fritz, who made his fame and fortune by anticipating change in the global supply chain arena, has been using that same skill set to redefine emergency logistical support for this community. In what is being hailed as the first cross-sector disaster preparedness partnership of its kind, The Fritz Institute has launched The Bay Area Preparedness Initiative as a national model for disaster relief. More... 
Bay Area Ports Awarded Millions in Homeland Security Grants
SAN FRANCISCO – The Port of San Francisco announced that it has been awarded $1.52 million from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for port security enhancements. More... Annual “Airline Fair” Hits Big by Any MeasureThe San Francisco Air Cargo Association’s annual "Airline Fair," staged near SFO last month, generated a lot of goodwill and fellowship, but also was freighted with a new sense of urgency. More... Expanded Angel Island, Tiburon Ferry RunningThe Blue & Gold Fleet’s weekend "Farmers’ Market" service that connects Tiburon with the Ferry Building is set and running. The service from the Ferry Building to Tiburon and Angel Island began last month. More... Naked Woman Rescued By Golden Gate FerrySAN FRANCISCO -- The crew of the high-speed Golden Gate Ferry Del Norte rescued a naked woman who was swimming in the channel in the area of Paradise Cay last month, the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District reported. More... Using the Internet on Your BoatAccess to the Web is all-pervasive, and an everyday "staple" to most of us. We use the Web to communicate with friends and business colleagues, to surf, to research information, and to play games, trade stocks and download music and movies. More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE
OAKLAND -- This June the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) will be releasing a new local food guide and program for the Bay Area. Buy Fresh, Buy Local will boost farm viability and will bring more transparency to our food system through point of purchase information about the provenance of our region’s food. More... 
Summertime Along Richmond’s Shoreline
With June comes the beginning of summer in the Bay Area and the convergence of humanity to the water and waterfront attractions. More... 
Marin Brewing Co.
Brendan Moylan, brewer and owner of The Marin Brewing Company, knew he wanted to open a brewpub after he visited Buffalo Bill’s Brewery in Hayward in the mid 80’s when he was still a beer salesman. According to Moylan his reaction was, Oh my God, he’s got a bar, he’s got a brewery and the brewery makes beer for the bar and there all in the same building. This is great! I gotta do this. The seed was in his head from that point on, and he made a promise to himself that he was going to create his own brewpub. It took about two or three years, but Moylan made good on his commitment. More... Controlling the Wine Storage Environment NaturallyThere are a range of options when considering wine storage solutions, from expensive propositions to "el cheapo" bargain basement finds to free! We all love free. More... 
Scientists Successfully Administer Antibiotics to Injured Whales
The two whales, a mother and her calf, which were stuck in the shallow waters of the Sacramento River last month, sustained some significant injuries; however, veterinarians successfully administered antibiotics to help the two whales combat infection. The antibiotics were administered using custom made syringes deployed via a remote operating apparatus into the muscle tissue of both whales. More... 
AVAST! Pirates Invade Vallejo
The first annual Northern California Pirate Festival will take place Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17 along the Vallejo Waterfront at Marina Green just north of the Vallejo Ferry Terminal. More... COAST GUARD CORNERHigh Winds Cause Heavy Case Load USCG, Alameda, May 5 - Due to the harsh winds the Bay Area experienced in May, USCG Station San Francisco underwent an extensive caseload: More... Fair Weather ExperienceYep. Even Captain Ahab, crazy as he was, could wake out of his monomaniacal trance and appreciate a good sailing day. And June in the San Francisco Bay offers an abundance of fair weather sailing. It lies in the cusp between the less consistent weather in May and the white-knuckle winds of July. More...
Biking Trails
Whether you’re skilled and able or clumsy and chubby you can ride a bike, you, yes you. And, believe it or not, off-road mountain biking is safer and softer than riding on pavement. No cars or traffic lights, just you tooling around on some dirt underneath the trees. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESJune 2007 More... 
Maze Repairs Expedited While Commuters Cope
The Maze meltdown became the Maze miracle when two East Bay freeway connectors closed by a spectacular accident and fire reopened ahead of the announced schedule — and when predicted traffic chaos failed to materialize. More... 
Around the Bay
In June More... 
ON OUR COVER
May 2007 More... WORKING WATERFRONTWaterfont Industry News and Events More... WORKING WATERFRONTCalifornia Ag “Task Force” to Evaluate China’s Transport Infrastructure More... 
COAST GUARD CORNER
Alameda, Apr. 23 - Members of the Coast Guard Cutter Sherman offload more than 40,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $500 million. More... New Angel Island, Expanded Tiburon Ferry Service Set for Ferry Building, Weekend MarketThe Blue & Gold Fleet plans mid-day departures from the Ferry Building to Tiburon and Angel Island starting May 14. New weekend "Farmers’ Market" service connecting Tiburon with the Ferry Building is also set. More... Taking out the Technology TrashThe disposal of used computer equipment and cell phones is a burgeoning problem in the United States and is likely to get front and center attention as "green" thinking becomes more mainstream. More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE
Yoshi’s is celebrating their 10 year anniversary at Jack London Square and their 35th year presenting world-class jazz and Japanese food in the Bay Area. More... 
Point Richmond’s Unique Restaurants Boast Big Flavor, Fine Pairings
Point Richmond has a distinctive, quiet small town feel to it. From the historic buildings to the friendly faces of the people walking down the street, the city has a certain lost-in-time atmosphere. More... Clean Air Grant Funds Shorepower Plug-in for Cruise Ships at Pier 35 in San FranciscoSan Francisco — The $1.9 million clean-air grant awarded to the Port of San Francisco and Princess Cruises to install shoreside power for cruise ships calling on Pier 35 responded to the long-time concerns from environmentalists about cleaning up cruise ship air pollution. More... Green PointsThe University of California 10-campus system has passed a new far-reaching "Environmental Sustainability Policy" that includes provisions on energy, global warming, waste, and eco-friendly purchasing. More... 
GREEN PAGES
New State-of-the-Art Recycling Facility Ups the Ante on Efficiency More... GREEN PAGESThaddeus’ Ruminations: Feeding the Organic Plant More... 
BREW REVIEW
Russian River Brewing Company, aka Funkytown More... 
Case Anticipates His Next Mission
while living, Working on a Spy-Boat More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESMay 2007 More... 
SAILING ADVENTURES
Heaving-to More... 
Milk, Eggs, Bananas, FasTrak!
Retail Sales of FasTrak® Toll Tags on the Rise More... 
With Bay Bridge Closed, Focus on Ferries & Bart for Labor Day Travel Plans
Whether you’re an East Bay bride planning an early September wedding in San Francisco, a Peninsula football fan awaiting the Tennessee Vols’ appearance at UC Berkeley, or anyone else looking to travel across the bay this Labor Day weekend, here’s some simple advice: take BART — or ride a ferry. More... 
Around the Bay
In May More... 
ON OUR COVER April 2007
Setting Sail More... 
WATERFRONT VIEWS
It’s Time to Sail More... WORKING WATERFRONTNews Briefs More... 
Opening Day’s Pages of Time Parade
The "Opening Day on the Bay" parade, sponsored by BoatU.S., is a celebration of the official start of San Francisco’s boating season. The celebration begins with a parade of decorated boats, representing Bay Area Yacht Clubs and numerous "special interest" boats owned by various individuals and institutions in our community. It’s an event for public participation and viewing of decorated boats at locations from Crissy Field to PIER 39. More... 
TECHNOLOGY
IPTV: New Wave Video Hitting Its Stride More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE
War of 1812 “Pirate Ship” Educational Vessel to Visits The Square, Sail at Dusk More... JACK LONDON SQUARESupport Strokes Fundraiser Paddling to Win the Race to Fight Cancer More... JACK LONDON SQUAREStrictly Sail Pacific Boat Show Features Five Days of Boats, Gear More... 
SAILING ADVENTURES
Setting Sail... or not More... 
Richmond’s Shoreline:
More “Green” Will Be Seen More... 
NEWS
Avast! Prepare to Be Boarded! More... GREEN PAGESArmanino Goes Organic More... GREEN PAGESGreen Points More... 
GREEN PAGES
Celebrating the Freedom to Burn, Cleanly, on Ocean Beach More... GREEN PAGESGreening from the Outside In More... LIBATIONSPainting the Day We Went Straight to Alcatraz More... 
BREW REVIEW
Gordon Biersch: Born From Tradition More... 
Working Waterfont
Answers for the April 2007 Crossword More... COAST GUARD CORNERThe U.S. Coast Guard patrols our coastlines, bays, ocean and estuaries, helping to keep our waters safe. More... 
Bike to Work Day
May is National Bike Month and that means it’s time for Bike to Work Day and the Team Bike Challenge. This year’s celebration of bicycling as a fun and viable means of transportation will be May 17. Interested in riding more than just one day in May? Sign up for the Team Bike Challenge. See adjacent story for more details. More... 
Team Bike Challenge
Are you a competitor? Does winning run in your blood? Are you passionate about environmental issues? The Team Bike Challenge could be your chance to go pedal to pedal against other commuters throughout the month of May and see who can ride the most. You don’t have to be a pro cyclist for this bike competition, and it’s not about going fast. More... 
Around the Bay
In April 2007 More... 
Unusual Sighting of Pampanito
Presenting an unusual sight in the Alameda Oakland Estuary, the famed WWII submarine USS Pampanito paid a call to the Bay Ship and Yacht drydock facilities, where, with the assistance of a diver, she was slowly lifted out of the water and carefully positioned on blocks under water. Once out, the 300 foot long submarine looked more like a beached whale than the terror of the seas. More... 
All Hail, The Queen!
In Feb. 4, throngs of locals and tourists alike turned out to witness the Bay Area’s maiden call for the Queen Mary 2, the largest passenger liner ever to sail beneath the Golden Gate. More... Working WaterfrontBlue & Gold Fleet has applied to the California Public Utilities Commission to increase its fares on the Tiburon/Sausalito and San Francisco runs. This is among the last surviving, private (non-subsidized) services in the state. More... Extracting Money While on the RoadWhether by land and or by sea, when spring rolls around most of us are thinking about vacations and getaway weekends. Once again, technology comes to the rescue by keeping us in touch with friends, family and work via cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Blackberrys and notebooks. More... 
Jack London Square Begins New Tradition with a “Crab Crawl”
JLS, Oakland, CA -- In celebration of the Bay Area’s Dungeness crab, one of our richest culinary treasures, Jack London Square presents its first annual Crab Crawl on Saturday, March 24 from 10AM – 5 PM. More... 
Richmond’s Waterfront: A Place to Be for Industry
The bustling residential area around Richmond’s Marina Bay was once a thriving industrial mecca where the Kaiser Shipyards were located during WWII. More... 
Raising the Curtain Once Again at Vallejo’s Empress Theatre
Since 1911, generations of Solano County residents have enjoyed an exciting stream of films and live stage performances at Vallejo’s own Beaux-arts theatre, The Empress, designed by local architect William Jones. More... Thaddeus’ RuminationsA farm equipment auction is an event that most people have never had the pleasure of experiencing. These events tend to be for a small niche of people, and the number is only getting smaller. More... Zapped Away to an Array of ZinWe said this a long time ago: We never met a Zinfandel we didn’t like. More... Keep the Delta CleanThe Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta system is the largest estuary on the United States Pacific Coast. More... Green PointsSan Francisco International Airport has begun installing grid-connected, solar panels that help create power at Terminal 3. More... 
Alameda Dealership Recharging Short Journeys by Car with Electricity
Over 200 people traveled from all around the Bay Area to visit O’Connell Electric on Webster St., on Feb. 10. That’s the day the Bay Area’s only all-electric car dealer opened on the isle of Alameda. More... Berkeley Receives $500 Million Nod to Lead Alternative Fuel Research ProgramIn Feb. 1, executives from BP announced at a press conference held on the UC Berkeley campus that the London-based energy giant has pledged $500 million over the next 10 years for an alternative energy research facility to be built here in the Bay Area. More... 
Tale of Two Chalets
The Beach Chalet is located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park where the Park meets the Pacific Ocean at the Great Highway. Originally opened to the public in 1925, the building provided changing rooms and a lounge for beach goers and dining on the second floor with a spectacular view of the ocean and beach. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESMarch 2007 More... 
Dockside Dwelling: From Ship to Shore
A friend from New York came to visit, so naturally we took a boat ride. All the while my friend was filled with excitement, admiring the spires of the city landscape, the hills rising toward Mt. Tamalpais. We gazed out at Grizzly Peak and the Berkeley hills. More... Moving Ahead BlindlyLights play funny tricks on you at night when you’re sailing — especially in a busy area like San Francisco Bay. More... Coast Guard Search SuspendedUSCG, San Francisco, CA -- The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for Dr. Jim Gray at 5:30PM on Feb.1. After four solid days of searching an area of over 132,000 square miles in optimal search conditions, Coast Guard search and rescue units found no trace of Dr. Jim Gray or his vessel the Tenacious. More... 
The Future of Traffic Congestion at Your Fingertips
TC has once again expanded its award-winning 511 traveler information service by adding a new Web-based feature that allows motorists to estimate the length of a trip in terms of minutes and hours before they hit the road. More... 
New Bay Bridge East Span:
Massive Foundation Piece Passes Through Panama Canal More... 
Around the Bay in March 2007
Training season has begun for professional baseball. Oakland & San Francisco go to bat against each other on Mar. 11, 13, 30, 31. More... 
The return of the Crossword
Answers to the February 2007 Puzzle More... 
ON OUR COVER February 2007
It looks like science fiction, but it’s real. More... 
WAM-V!
Looks Like There’s a New Sea God in Town More... 
Deal in the Works to Bring Mammoth Cruise Ships into the Bay
When the Queen Mary 2 steams into Pier 27 on Feb. 4, she will truly lord over the Embarcadero. More... Bay Crossings Staff ReportThere is a projected $10 million cost overrun for the completion of the South San Francisco ferry terminal that may force the elimination of a planned breakwater. More... Avoid PC Repairs, Know Your SoftwareThere are millions of PC users throughout the country from every imaginable demographic. Some are PC-savvy, while others prefer to know as little about their computer as possible. One thing we all have in common at some point is PC problems and the need to repair them. More... JACK LONDON SQUAREThe Renaissance School Celebrates Black History with Art, Music, Literature More... 
Richmond’s East Brother – an Island Like No Other
East Brother Island, an island only three-quarters of an acre in size, sits just off the eastern shore of Richmond in the San Pablo Straits — the body of water that separates the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. More... 
Question of a Good Catch
Go to almost any local grocery store and you’ll find the seafood counter case filled with local crab, catfish, trout, two kinds of sole, swordfish, oysters in and out of the shell, mussels and a rainbow of shrimp from mini to mammoth. More... Like Water for WineDockside Dwelling: From Ship to Shore More... Winding Down on the Russian River Wine RoadOh, aren’t we so lucky to live in an area where an hour’s drive can have you setting foot in a fine winery? There are several directions to go, but in mid-January we headed to Sonoma County to check out the Russian River Wine Road Association’s Winter Wineland event. More... 
Thaddeus’ Ruminations
A Few Degrees Makes a Difference More... 
Bay Area Setting the Business S-BAR
Students to Experts Creating Sustainable Success from Triple Bottom Line, Up More... 
Touro’s Two-Year Plan for a Sustainable University in Vallejo
Touro University is about to come above the radar screen for the citizens of Vallejo. More... 
Big Porch View at Century-Old West Point Inn
A window to the world from the biggest front porch awaits those who dare to get out of their cars and hike to the 102-year old, West Point Inn, a secluded rustic getaway perched between the trees on the southern slope of Mt. Tamalpais. More... 
21st Amendment Breaks Craft Brewing Tradition
Pardon me, but I believe there’s a watermelon in my beer More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESFebruary 2007 More... Running AgroundThere are two types of sailors on San Francisco Bay: those who have run aground, and those who will admit it. It’s not that Bay sailors are inept; Bay waters are shallow. More... Winter at the NorCal Waters’ EdgeU.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco urges coastal water safety, especially in winter, and to know and consider hazards before going past the water’s edge. More... 
Bay Area’s Newest Bridge Nearing Completion
Crews are now putting the finishing touches on the second span of the Benicia-Martinez Bridge — the Bay Area’s newest bridge — in preparation for its opening later this year. More... 
Around the bay in February
. More... 
Around the Bay
in January 2007 More... 
On Our Cover
Although ground has yet to be broken, the City of San Rafael is support a development plan to replace the Loch Lomond Marina with townhouse. More... Long term homeport agreement reached with State agency overseeing Bay Area FerriesSan Francisco, CA — The Port of San Francisco announced on Dec. 13, that it has signed a five-year lease with the San Francisco Bay Water Transit Authority (WTA) for WTA’s headquarters and operations center. More... Two Royal Visits Launch a DebateTake out your top-hat and coattails. Put on your finest furs. The Queen is coming to town, actually two Queens. But you won’t need a royal invitation to see them. One of them is longer than two football fields put together; the other, almost twice that size. More... Capitol Corridor Success Marks Trends in Alternative TransportationOakland, CA — Dec. 12 marked 15 years of service for the Capitol Corridor, an intercity passenger train service for people traveling along I-80, I-680 and I-880 freeways and the third busiest Amtrak-operated intercity route in the nation. More... Dockside Dwelling: From Ship to ShoreFor a fast-growing niche of independent-minded travelers, small-ship cruising provides the ultimate vacation value. More... 
Trailing Wolf Tracks & Jack London History
Do you know Jack? Come to the birthday celebration and learn a bit about the life of Jack London (1876-1916), a man born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, who lived as a seaman, writer, socialist and hobo. More... 
DESTINATION
Jack London Square is a perfect place to visit at night or spend the day - especially this month with Jack London’s birthday celebration, the Farmers’ Market and the Elvis look-alike contest. More... Do Computer Games Cause Attention Deficit Disorder?Your 8-year old is bouncing off the walls, moving from one conversation to the next without a break in between. He can’t stop fidgeting and stops listening to you after you’ve uttered your second sentence. More... 
Richmond Leader on the Trail for Coastal Parks and Recreation
The City of Richmond is home to over 6,000 acres of City and Regional Parks. Some of the most striking of the over 50 Richmond parks are located along its 32 miles of shoreline. Richmond can boast about its coast as it has more shoreline than any other Bay Area city, and almost 23 miles of it is on the San Francisco Bay Trail, a planned 500-mile recreational and transportation corridor encircling San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. More... New Year, New Wine, BeaujolaisSome of the best books in our wine library at home have been found at annual library sales at the $5 and $10 tables. Open year-round is Book Bay at Fort Mason in San Francisco, a treasure trove with hundreds of used books. It is great fun to visit periodically to find out what’s "new" on the shelves. Never have we come out empty handed, and are always surprised at the finds. More... 
Solar Sailor Ferry Updates
Solar Sailor Holdings Ltd. is the Sydney, Australia-based company that has a contract with a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of Hornblower to design the first of two 600 pax hybrid solar and wind powered ferries for the Alcatraz run. See May 2006 issue of Bay Crossings. More... 
Green Hotel Doors Open for Sustainable Business
Just this past November, the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel opened its doors and, with that, became the first hotel in California and only the second hotel in the nation to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification. The LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) standard guarantees a building, as a whole, from the wood it’s built with to the day-to-day functions, is sustainable and ecologically sound. More... Thaddeus’ RuminationsSoil, seeds and water are key components to growing any plant. It was no surprise to see my younger brother putting this thought to practice by eating some dirt, swallowing a watermelon seed and washing it down with some water. Pretty clever for a little kid growing up on an organic farm — but then, he also choked down a couple spoonfuls of compost as fertilizer. More... Developing California’s First Green Hotel"When one tugs at one thing in nature, he finds it hitches to the rest of the universe." — John Muir More... 
Thirsty Bear Offering an Eclectic Experience for Brew Enthusiasts
Eclectic is how one can describe the fare at Thirsty Bear Brewing Company. This 10-year-old brewery, features a tantalizing list of handcrafted brews, a full bar with an extensive selection of single malt scotches and Spanish brandies and fine liquors, which complement a menu of authentic Spanish tapas and main dishes made with the finest specialty ingredients from Spain. More... 
PHOTO FEATURE January 2007
Last year, our own San Rafael based Dennis Anderson was named one of the top ten hospitality photographers, by Hospitality Design Magazine in New York. His early black and white art photos give a clue as to why. In 1970, the SF Art Institute was hot bed of creativity for photography. Imogene Cunningham taught there, and Dennis’s work from that period was published a lot and later purchased by the New York and San Francisco Museum(s) of Modern Art. More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES JANUARY 2007. More... Standing on and Giving WayThere is a kind of corny truism that if you don’t change your course, you’ll end up where you’re headed. More... Sail, Boat in Winter WeatherHigh surf and hazardous weather advisories were in effect for hazardous sea conditions throughout most of December. More... The NorCal Water’s EdgeCoast Guard Sector San Francisco urges safety on and around California coastal waters, especially during winter months. Know and consider the hazards before you go past the water’s edge. More... 
You Can’t Drive on It Yet, But Skyway Deck Is in Place
The last two massive concrete deck segments that make up the Skyway of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span were lifted into place mid-morning on December 7 in a balancing act that was an engineering achievement in itself. Construction crews lifted the segments — the larger piece tipping the scales at 776 tons — in tandem at both ends of their common bridge pier column, to equalize stress. More...
Around the bay in JANUARY
. More... 
California Wine Country Tours
Departs from San Francisco Ferry Building is the wine country’s Most Comprehensive winery tour. More... 
Grocery Cart
Is the most functional cart available for anyone that shops regularly at farmer’s markets. More... 
ON OUR COVER
This stunning photograph appears in chapter 7, Skaggs & Mare Island, in "The Islands of San Francisco Bay," a book co-created by James A. Martin and Michael T. Lee. It’s a one of a kind reference book, as it features images, history and ecology for all of the islands in the Bay. More... 
Aquatic Park Lagoon Reopens for Swimming
AQUATIC PARK, SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s Aquatic Park Lagoon re-opened for swimming on Nov. 20, after five days of being closed due to multiple swimmers receiving bites from a seal or sea lion. More... Using 511 Services for Travel Assistance During Holiday SeasonOAKLAND -- The Bay Area’s 511 service is a resource for travelers that can be especially helpful during the holiday season. Travelers and commuters can find out how long it will take to drive to Grandma’s house, how many parking spots are left at the airport or when to catch the next train for some holiday shopping. The 511 information is toll-free and available 24/7. The same information is also available on the Web at 511.org. More... 
Rolls-Royce of Marine Lifts Raises Yacht Servicing Bar
West Coast’s first lift and transfer system for superyacht service and maintenance complete in Port Alameda More... 
The 30th Annual Lighted Yacht Parade
Each year on the first Saturday in December, the Lighted Yacht Parade kicks off the holiday season. Bay Area boat owners decorate their boats for a parade, while hundreds of spectators gather along the waterfront at specified viewing areas or at restaurants that afford them a view of the Oakland/Alameda Estuary. More... 
Enterprise Zone Enhances Richmond’s Economic/Community Development Opportunities
The City of Richmond’s employers and employees scored a big victory last month when they were notified that Richmond had been granted a new conditional State Enterprise Zone Designation. More... 
Dockside Dwelling
Spotlight on the Lighted Boat Parades More... 
Thaddeus’ Ruminations
What makes it organic More... 
Dungeness Crab: Pull and Crack ‘em Yourself
How’s fresh crab for dinner sound? Just make a beeline for your favorite fish counter and load up, right? Well, maybe. Or why not go crabbing? More... Around the Bay in December. More... Speakeasy Ales & Lagers: The Eyes Have ItSpeakeasy Ales & Lagers, a microbrewery located in an industrial area of Bayview/Hunters Point, has two large eyes that peer out from a black background, which are painted on the side of the building to guide visitors to the entrance on their loading dock. These shifty and shadowy eyes are a mysterious part of the Speakeasy logo, which is also used on their labels and merchandise. More... Speakeasy Ales & Lagers: The Eyes Have ItSpeakeasy Ales & Lagers, a microbrewery located in an industrial area of Bayview/Hunters Point, has two large eyes that peer out from a black background, which are painted on the side of the building to guide visitors to the entrance on their loading dock. These shifty and shadowy eyes are a mysterious part of the Speakeasy logo, which is also used on their labels and merchandise. More... Wine Wise BuysEspecially at holiday time we shop for celebratory goods, traveling through aisles of shelves laden with attractive merchandise, our eyes sharp for familiar labels and price tags. It is like an inner bottom line that will determine whether we buy or not. If there is a special occasion afoot, this might be overridden, but we do look for the best bargain, and we should. More... 
Photo of the Month
. More... December Waterfront Activities. More... United States Coast GuardThe U.S. Coast Guard patrols our coastlines, bays, ocean and estuaries, helping to keep our waters safe. Here are a few incidents the USCG responsed to in November. More... keeping warm onboard"It was a dark and stormy night," so the old story by George Bulwer-Lytton begins. Dark and stormy isn’t nearly as bad as freezing cold. During the short days of winter many boaters suffer from the cold. More... View from the HelmToys, Boats, Toys, Boats, Toys, Boats More... 
Do Online Training on the Boat — or Anywhere Else
Looking for something new to do on the boat for either pure enjoyment or professional enhancement? Internet-based training options are available in virtually every field — from computer technical certifications to law and other professional degree programs. Many of these programs are either certified or accredited — and an online course-taking option ideally fits those who are constantly on the move. More... 
As Tolls Rise, So Do the Benefits of Getting FasTrak®
A very necessary $1 toll increase will go into effect on the Bay Area’s seven state toll bridges in January, bringing the toll to $4 for autos and other two-axle vehicles. Now here’s the good news: You can put off the pain of the toll hike for a month by signing up for FasTrak® electronic toll collection. More... 
Now AC Transit and Golden Gate Riders Can Pay Their Fares the Smart Way, With TransLink®
The Bay Area’s TransLink® transit-fare smart card began the first stage of a regionwide expansion in late November with the activation of TransLink equipment on all AC Transit and Dumbarton Express buses as well as on all Golden Gate Transit buses and in Golden Gate Ferry terminals. More... 
Destination of the Month: Angel Island State Park
Angel Island State Park will run a trial weekday ferry service from the town of Tiburon during the month of December. More... 
ON OUR COVER
Fans in the Black Hole end zone, and the rest of “Raider Nation,” jump to their feet when Oakland scores first against Arizona, with 4:25 left in the first quarter of the Oct. 22 game. Final score Raiders 22 - Cardinals 9. More... Port Oakland Ranked Fourth TierFourth largest port in U.S. deemed last in line for security funding by Homeland Security More... Clean Tech Competitors Rewarded at City HallCompetition opens doors to green business; local legislation and incentives follow More... Welcome to Green Hotel CaliforniaGaia Napa Valley, the first LEED certified state hotel, opens for business, while San Francisco’s Orchard Garden’s opening projected for this month More... Cruise Yacht to Ship, Like a President or AstronautThe USS Potomac and the USS Hornet announce the inauguration of a new opportunity to experience history on Wed., Nov. 8 as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht, the USS Potomac, departs Jack London Square for lunchtime cruise to the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet. More... Dockside Dwelling: Living Ship to ShoreJump in, get your feet wet More... Around the Bay5 Honky Tonk Moondance Tickets for the Rolling Stones concert have been on sale since the end of August for the mere cost of $99-$400 each. If you’re going, you’ll see the legendary Stones and Van Morrison. Oakland Coliseum. Sun., 6:45PM. (510) 625-TIXS. www.ticketmaster.com More... 
Thaddeus’ Ruminations
This fall’s two acres of beet were a huge success, but my point of view is biased seeing how it is my responsibility to seed, water and help keep bugs and weeds from harming all the crops on our 240-acre organic farm. The reality is that the beginning of this crop’s life was quite dramatic. More... Brew ReviewSan Francisco Brewing Company is San Francisco’s original brewpub and the fourth brewpub in the country, according to Allan G. Paul the founder and brewmaster who first opened his doors in January 1986. It is located in the heart of the old Barbary Coast, in a building built in 1907 at the intersection of Columbus and Pacific Avenues, where Chinatown, North Beach and the Financial District all meet. More... Blue Skying Bay Recreational Ferry ServiceHere, a précis of a lively discussion regarding the future for recreational ferry service on San Francisco Bay. More... Champagne AdventuresJust mention the word "champagne" and a rainbow of positive reactions unfurl, for sparkling wine seems to broadcast special celebrations or an occasion like nothing else. Some of our champagne occasions have been true adventures. They were adventures because not everything always started out right, but somehow it was resolved in the long range of experience. More... 
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Sail boats have had adjustable leeches for many years and any serious boat sailor would not consider sailing without the ability to tighten or loosen the leech as needed, so why not a windsurf sail? More... WATERFRONT ACTIVITIESNovember 4 10AM - 3PM – Bair Island - Corkscrew Slough, San Francisco Bay, California Canoe & Kayak, 800-366-9804, www.calkayak.com More... Feasting on a Full SeasonIn most parts of the country November means the end of the boating season. Yachts there are pulled from the water and shrink-wrapped against the bitter winter weather. They won’t wet their keels again before Memorial Day. More... 
View from the Helm
What if everyone held their gratitude and waited, until the fourth Thursday of November, to spout it out in just one day? Would the universe be able to contain itself with all that appreciation being given at once, or would it burst at the seams? Just in case, we practice gratitude, in smaller doses, frequently. It is often too easy to get caught up in tasks than remind ourselves to stop and breathe in our good fortune. More... United States Coast GuardThe U.S. Coast Guard patrols our coastline, bays, ocean and estuaries, helping to keep our waters safe. Here are a few USCG responses from October. More... Virtual Gaming Transcends RealityLearning and fantasizing by playing games dates back to ancient Egypt, but the virtual realities of Internet-based and virtual reality games and experiences today take participants to levels that transcend the routines and limitations of daily life. More... Bay Area Pavement Quality Remains in Danger ZoneDespite a slight improvement in pavement conditions on the Bay Area’s nearly 19,500 miles of local streets and roads in 2005, 18 percent of the region’s pavement is in "poor" or worse condition, and fully one-third is rated only "good" or "fair," according to a new report released by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). More... 
MTC Honors Contributions to Bay Area Transportation
A total of 10 "Excellence in Motion" awards were presented by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) at a ceremony at the San Francisco Ferry Building in late October. The winners of MTC’s 27th Transportation Awards Program range from U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to urban neighborhood activists who reclaimed their local streets, to a high school that convinced students to carpool to instead of driving solo. More... 
In the End Zone
Oakland has a reputation. It’s where the big, scary-looking Raider fans attempt to frighten any foe in town. They’re loud, they carry clubs and they are absolutely dedicated to defending their home turf. You don’t want to mess with them! Their headquarters is in the end zone of McAfee Stadium – it’s called the More... 
On the Cover
Beauty, Amanda Abreau, screams as her seacreature beast, Bryan Johnson, gets a little too close. Shot on location on the docks of the Hanjin Terminal in Oakland. More... 
ON OUR COVER
Beauty, Amanda Abreau, screams as her seacreature beast, Bryan Johnson, gets a little too close. More... 
Bay Crossings Saves Historic Wheelhouse, Bids Adieu to Fresno
Her start was plying the Oakland-San Francisco route in the 1920’s. She wound up linking San Rafael and Richmond and, during the 1940s, in her twilight, served Seattle. From there, she was auctioned off to the colorful Bay Area figure Arnold Gridley, creator of the motorized cable cars. More... 
New Alcatraz Ferry Service Cleared to Set Sail
Like a dense morning fog burned away by the afternoon sun, a last minute effort to scuttle the new Alcatraz ferry service evaporated without even making it to court. More... Hercules Poised to be Next Major Transportation HubWith plans currently underway for a new ferry terminal and its own designated stop on the Capitol Corridor train line, which provides service between San Jose and the Sacramento area, the sleepy town of Hercules finds itself poised to be the region’s next major transit hub. More... Dear Editor:I wish to respond to an editorial in the September 2006 issue of Bay Crossings concerning the Oak to 9th project. Mr. Winston, the author, lauds the effort as a means primarily of providing affordable high-density housing for the economically disadvantaged. At first glance, a noble undertaking. The editorial calls the opposition spurious, and includes a reference to racism (politely referred to in the article as ...the queasy issue of equality) that is sure to get everyone’s attention. More... Enjoy Columbus’ Day Riverboat Style on a Bay Celebration Dinner CruiseBoard Bay Celebration for a Columbus Day Bay cruise / dinner that includes wine tasting, Italian food, Italian music, all inclusive in price, with a cash bar for all other beverages. More... Join the Carsharing Movement, Get a Flexcar in the SquareDo you know that for every carshare vehicle, approximately 15 private automobiles are taken off the road? Not to mention reducing miles driven, emissions and parking congestion. More... 
Questing for Ocean Everest in a Winged Submarine
In the 136 years since Verne wrote his story of underwater adventure and exploration, humans have still barely explored the depths of the oceans that cover nearly two-thirds of Earth’s surface. If local submersible engineer, Graham Hawkes, fulfills his own visions, he, too, will be able to join Captain Nemo and Professor Arronax in the knowledge of what lurks deep beneath the sea. More... Internationally Renowned Underwater Photographer to Speak at The Northern California Underwater Photographic SocietyThe California Underwater Photographic Society proudly presents a special speaking engagement by professional photographer, Jason Bradley, Fri., Oct. 13 at 8PM. More... 
That’s Wharf Entertainment
I’ve always enjoyed the street performers at Fisherman’s Wharf. More... 
Lower Costs Expected to
Put More Drivers on FasTrak®
The Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) is making it easier than ever for motorists to take advantage of the region’s FasTrak electronic toll collection program. Beginning Oct. 1, the opening prepaid toll balance required for new customers will drop to $25 from the current $40. More... 
Bus Filters Remove Tons of Soot From Bay Area Air
Bay Area residents can expect the region’s normally excellent air quality to become even better in the years ahead, as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the area’s transit systems near completion of an unprecedented diesel cleanup program. More... 
Late Night Characters Pitch New Nocturnal Bus Service
San Francisco, CA — Characters usually associated with the wee hours, including a fairy tale princess, are walking around at night in the San Francisco Bay Area. More specifically, they are riding the buses in an advertising campaign that promotes the region’s new All Nighter bus service. More... Halloween EventsCrissy Field Center’s first annual haunted house. Adults and youth (9 years and up) are invited to come and encounter sludgy, smoggy ghosts and goblins in a crazy, cool maze of enviro-horror. More... 
South-Enders Enduring Cold Currents Since 19th Century
Ok, folks, now pay attention, says Kim Hooper, addressing the twenty-or-so swimmers gathered in front of a large hand-painted map of the San Francisco Bay. A few people in the group look distinctly nervous. More... October Waterfront ActivitiesJoin Sea Trek’s Michael Morgan and gain an intimate glimpse into the world of the Tule Elk. More... 
History of Hansen Sails
In the late 70’s and early 80’s, windsurfing became popular in Maui, the Columbia River Gorge and also on the Bay around Berkeley and San Francisco. These areas became focal points for the sport. Berkeley was the perfect place to learn windsurfing skills and to test and develop equipment. More... View from the Helm: Boating spiritFrom now through the end of the year (yikes, is 2006 really on its way out?) the spirits are coming to life: haunting spirits, the spirit of thanks and giving and the holiday spirit. In October, the spookiest of spirits arrive and then segue into sweeter ones based on gratefulness and appreciation. More... October Boating EventsThe 26th Annual Women Skipper’s Regatta is an event benefiting the Tall Ship Semester for Girls (TSSG). Open to all yachts with valid PHRF certificate. More... 
Golden Gate Tall Ships’ Blue Angels Cruise on the Gas Light
Come join the Golden Gate Tall Ships Society Blues Cruise to see the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels. We will be enjoying the precision aerial show from the decks of the reproduction turn-of-the century Scow Schooner the Gas Light. Cruise includes full lunch and beverages as well as a magnificent view of this spectacular event. Location to board is Schoonmaker Marina, Sausalito. More... 
Ward Cleaveland Memorial Scholarship Cruise
Sunset sail with desserts and hot beverages onboard the Lynx. The Lynx is a relatively new ship to our area. Built as a representation of an 1812 privateer, the crew dresses in costume and provides a lovely show on a beautiful ship. This event is a fundraiser for the Ward Cleaveland Memorial Scholarship fund. Location to board is Pier 40 south of Bay Bridge, Northnof Ball Park. More... 
Boating to find the fountain of Youth
A few weeks ago I helped an 89 year old gentleman bring his beloved 28’ Tollycraft down from Loch Lomand to the dock at McGrath Yachts in Sausalito. The day was blustery and we had a bit of difficulty getting out of the slip. However, he was an experienced skipper and we had no further problems on the trip down bay. He and his wife have owned the boat since 1977. Boating had been a large part of their life, spending summers in the Delta and winters cruising the Bay in the company their friends and fellow members of the United States Power Squadron. More... 
Dockside Dwelling: Living Ship to Shore
Shipbuilding was the prime reason Matthew Turner came to Benicia over 125 years ago, turning out sailing vessels from Shipyard Cove in the 1880’s. More... 
Grand Living Today at Richmond’s Marina Bay
Richmond’s Marina Bay is rich with culture, history and endless opportunities to explore and have fun. One of the Bay Area’s most desirable places to live, play and work, this is also the site where Rosie the Riveter built WWII liberty ships in the Kaiser Shipyards. Today, the public marina at picturesque Marina Bay provides 750 boat slips along with a boat ramp and a shoreline esplanade perfect for early evening strolls. More... Remember the ENIACThe future of technology is so predominant that we seldom reflect on the history of computing, and what sparked its development in the first place. More... 
The Great Cork Debate
Every time you turn around these days, someone seems to be ranting about corks in wine bottles. And when you open a wine bottle, it’s a toss up on what kind of cork will be there. Then you have to deal with it. More... Brew ReviewMagnolia Pub & Brewery in San Francisco has a Grateful Dead theme and, since I consider myself a Deadhead, I put on a tie-dye, slipped on my Birkenstocks and headed down to the Haight to meet with Owner/Head Brewer Dave McLean and sample his brews. More... Around the baySoon you’ll begin to hear the roar, look outside and catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels racing in the sky during Fleet Week. More... Bridge Closure Prompts Ferry Operators to Expand Labor Day Weekend ServiceOAKLAND, CA — The Alameda-Oakland Ferry and the Vallejo Baylink Ferry will expand their services to help transbay travelers cope with the eastbound closure of the Bay Bridge during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. More... 
On the Cover
Sonoma/Napa beekeeper guru, Serge Labesque tends to a hive and, as it appears, one of the resident bees keeps watch. Seasonally, it’s prime time for lavender honey. See story on page 22. More... Editor’s story"Honey, can you hear that? We’ve got bees," More...
Waterfront Activists Sue to Ground New Alcatraz Ferry
Hornblower Yachts’ upstream battle to land the lucrative Alcatraz ferry contract just got tougher. Labor groups have already mounted legal challenges against Hornblower’s service agreement with the National Park Service, which is slated to take effect Sept. 25. Now, waterfront activists have jumped into the fray. More... Spare Me Sparing the AirThe Bay Area’s Spare the Air / Free Transit program made quite a splash during the recent heat wave. More... Let There be a “There” for Oakland"What was the use of my having come from Oakland, it was not natural to have come from there, yes, write about it if I like or anything, if I like, but not there, there is no there there." More... 
Autum Boat Show Extravaganza Boasts a Boat for Every Need
The 35th annual Northern California Fall Boat Show is returning to Jack London Square with vessels to 70 feet at the docks, and over 150 trailer boats on land insure that there is a "boat for every need" at this nautical event. More... 
Venetian Renaissance
Oakland is not necessarily the first place that comes to mind when looking for a romantic escape, yet, since 1999, Lake Merritt has held a hidden glimpse into the Old World romance of gondola cruises. More... 
What’s Up with Fisherman’s Wharf?
A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle lauded the attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf. That has to be historic. More... North Bay Focus:Napa Valley, CA — Come join us at the prestigious 23rd Annual Napa Valley Harvest Festival presented by the Kiwanis Club of Napa More... 
Bid Adieu to Bridge Closures After Labor Day Weekend
To transbay travelers who endured lengthy closures of the eastbound Bay Bridge last fall and again this June, and now face a 77-hour blockade of the bridge’s lower deck over Labor Day weekend More... 
EasyConnect Provides Commute Freedom and Reduced Fuel Cost Near Pleasant Hill BART
Afield test of a project that provides alternative modes of transportation for employees who leave their cars at home launched in the vicinity of the Pleasant Hill BART station this summer. More... Dockside Dwelling: Waterfront Living Ship to ShoreIt’s only been a few months since I moved off my boat where I lived for three years to live as a landlubber in a condo, again. More...
Bees to Honey
It was a warm spring day in 1984, and I had just arrived for my first day of work as a laboratory assistant for a honeybee researcher with the USDA bee facility in Baton Rouge, LA. More... September Boating EventsYachts of traditional design and construction with a minimum of 30 ft. on deck are eligible to compete in this regatta. More... View from the Helm: cost of a herringHarvest is a word that can be used as a noun or a verb. And we can and do harvest a great harvest from our Northern California coastal waters. More... 
Waking the Dragons
There is nothing like the rolling thunder of a Taiko drum to get your heart pounding in anticipation of dragon boats, large canoes carved in the form of exotic dragons, competing as they race across the waters of the San Francisco Bay. More... 
CalCup Racing,
it all started when...
The 1980’s and early 1990’s was an intoxicating time for racing in the Bay. It was during this era that CalCup was born. More... September Waterfront ActivitiesLearn the special skills and strategies for paddling California’s wild and magnificent open coast as we reveal the secrets of maneuvering in this ever-changing environment.vv More... 
CalCup First-timers and Favorable Winds
Only time would tell if the correct location had been chosen and the winds would be kind to those who were participating in the August CalCup race. More... Reinventing the PDAThey began as personal organizers and expanded into the Internet and wireless worlds to give users greater access to information. More... 
The Secret’s Out:
The city of Richmond is well-known for its rich maritime history. Today the waterfront and surrounding area is flourishing with maritime activity catering to both the leisure and commercial communities. More... 
Sampling St. George’s Distilled, World Class Spirits
Some of the best liquor poured in the Bay area is produced here as well. And now cocktail connoisseurs can watch the magic being made, and then sample it on site, at the St. George Spirits’ distillery in Alameda. More... Brew ReviewSan Francisco was once the capitol of brewing for the entire west coast. More... Right Recipie Hits the Spot at the Right TimeThe "spot" is certainly some mythical place in our emotional makeup that becomes very real when hunger, thirst and some fatigue join forces to cry out for relief. More... Around the Bay"Bee Keeping in the City" will give insight to the bee colony and the benefits bees provide to the planet. More... 
On Our Cover
Patrick Roddie is a Belfast-born, self-taught photographer based in San Francisco. He specializes in photographing people - to capture who they are, not just what they look like. More... Editor’s NoteEditor’s Note: I met someone recently who told me he’s leaving the Bay Area because there’s so much going on that he can never decide what to do; so he does nothing. Hmm… There certainly were a lot of options to choose from when deciding what would be in our "Hip" issue, too. And, nautical, technical, theatrical, with a swig of margarita decadence, we got it covered - a look at waterfront life right now and a look into the future. Too much? May...be... we like too much of a good thing. More... San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau Presents Marketing Plan for City’s $7.37 Billion Tourism IndustryThe San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) will present its sales and marketing plan for fiscal year 2006/2007 in a special briefing for SFCVB members on Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 8 to 10AM at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, 600 Stockton St. More... 
Museum Plans for Presidential Battleship USS Iowa Docked at Vallejo’s Waterfront
If non-profit group Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square has its way, Vallejo Baylink Ferry riders may soon be treated to views of the battleship USS Iowa as they arrive at the Vallejo ferry building. More... Oakland City Council Approves $1.1 million in Cultural Funding GrantsThe Oakland City Council approved $1.1 million in fiscal year 2006-07 grants to Oakland-based nonprofit organizations and individual artists through the City’s Cultural Funding Program. More... 
Oakland Metro Operahouse Shows Must See Performances
The Oakland Metro Operahouse is a black-box theater located the corner of 2nd St. and Broadway, downtown, just one block from Jack London Square. More... 
Floating World Utopia
For the last fifteen years, Bay Area resident David Grassi has dreamed of one-day creating his own floating utopia. More... Top Ten Reasons to Escape to Point Reyes This SummerPoint Reyes, CA – Gas prices at or above $3 a gallon, sweltering heat, need a break from work, looking for a place to relax and reenergize? Point Reyes is just the tonic you’re looking for. More... 
Free-Ride Offer Lures
Thousands on Spare the Air Days
No fare! Thanks for sparing the air." That’s the upbeat message that greeted transit riders throughout the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area during a three-day smog alert in late June. More... 
November Ballot Gives Voters Chance to Restore Transportation Network
With the Bay Area’s fleet of ferries, buses and railcars rapidly aging, local streets increasingly pockmarked by potholes and congestion at the region’s most notorious freeway bottlenecks going from bad to worse, More... Dockside Dwelling: Living Ship to ShoreThere’s nothing like the serenity of relaxing at home at the end of the day, sipping a glass of wine, while watching the sunset over the water. More... 
ol’ pros, new “nos” surround america’s most popular spectator sport
When you first walk into the Grandstands at Infineon Speedway, in Sonoma, your first impression is that it’s much like any other sports venue. More... Empress Dances and CruisesHave you ever wished you could be out on the water on a beautiful day? Seeing all of the boats that cover the bay on weekends is one of the joys of living in the Bay Area. More... August Boating EventsMaster Mariners Benevolent Association Events More... View from the Helm: what’s so hip about boating?Look at the sleek ads in the yachting magazines. (Look at ours first and last, of course!) There’s plenty to make you drool. More... 
CalCup Race Day Details Keeps Windsurfers on Their Toes
CalCup is an annual series of windsurfing races held in the Bay Area that has 20+ years of history in the Bay. More... 
Learn to Turn
What an incredible summer for surfing. If you’ve been out there it’s likely that you learned pretty quickly that the key to "surfing" is balance and weight transfer on the board. Most beginners learn on a long-board and figure out how to stand-up. Steering comes next, so let’s focus on how to take advantage of our hips and feet to turn a long-board. More... WATERFRONT ADVENTURESKayaking is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the natural setting of the lovely coast side region of Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay. Get up close and personal with harbor seals, marine birds and other wildlife. No previous experience necessary! $49 including equipment. More... 
Proposed Richmond Community by Toll Brothers
Benefits Shoreline and Inner City Redevelopment
Over the past several years, the Richmond shoreline has undergone significant revitalization, whereby miles of shoreline along the San Francisco Bay have been infused with new life. More... 
Creating Your Own Home Entertainment Center
Home entertainment center planning used to be clearing a space in the den or the living room for a television or a radio. Then came stereo and surround sound, followed by flat panel HDTV and the Internet. More... Pandora Streams Music with Preferred “DNA”At one time, all of your favorite music was unknown to you. Then came that epochal moment of discovery when the music struck chords within you, and the sound resonated through to your core. It was for that moment that Pandora Internet radio was created. More... 
Brew Review
Right in the heart of downtown Berkeley on Shattuck Street, just blocks from the UC Campus, is Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse. But, owners and brothers John and Reid Martin had an uphill battle convincing city officials that a small brewery would fit into the downtown commercial district. More... Hail to the Margarita KingGiovanni, The Margarita King, is making new waves - air, sound and otherwise, with his special product, The Margarita King Cocktail. Everything you need is already in the bottle: double gold, prize winning tequila from Mexico, a special blend of lemon and lime juices, sugar cane, and a unique double distilled orange liqueur. It was formulated by Giovanni himself, who earned his Margarita King title the hard way. More... Around the BayIndy Car is here. Learn about the gear, the rules, the points and the physical exptremes drivers endure, learn the Indy Car song and sing it as you endure the traffic More... 
Editor’s note
Living in a city on the edge of the water provides choice; somedays even the weather is a choice. More... 
ON OUR COVER
Mike Percey, won 1st Place in the SF Speed Sailing competition. He and fellow windsurfer, Bill Weir, tied for first, both with times of 37.27 mph. More... Watching for Shapes and Signals in the FogThe topsail schooner, Californian appeared out of the mist like a ghost from the past. More... View from the Helm: Oh say can you seeThere are numerous 4th of July fireworks displays around The Bay. More... 
West Oakland Flames
For residents of West Oakland, the sky-scorching flame-bursts and heavens-reaching lightning-crackles lighting up the night sky above Seventh Street on July 14 & 15 can mean only one thing – it’s time, once again, for The Crucible’s annual Fire Arts Festival. More... Change in the AirThousands of Bay Area travelers in June to rode public transit free of charge on the first Spare the Air Day of the 2006 summer smog season. More... Bar Forecasting for Bay Area BoatersThe National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area Forecast Office is working together with the Coast Guard and the local marine community to make the waters outside the Golden Gate safer for mariners. More... 
Vallejo Baylink Ferry Celebrates Anniversary, Fetes 6-Millionth Passenger
Vallejo’s storied Baylink Ferry threw itself a bash June 15th to mark 20 years of service and pulled passenger Jess Manibusan out of line to honor him as the six millionth passenger. More... 
Solano Vote Axes Fourth Vallejo Ferry
Not everyone gets to celebrate 20 successful years in business by having investors cut their funds. More... Hunter’s Point Tests Tall Redevelopment PlansA red flag went up recently for those keeping an eye on the goings-on at the Hunters Point Shipyard More... 
GREEN LIGHT FOR OAK TO 9TH
The Oakland City Council has given a green light to the controversial Oak to 9th development project on the city’s waterfront just south of Jack London Square. More... AROUND THE BAYNever a dull moment running along the water through The City -- with its changing views, winds and terrain. More... 
FAIRS and FIFA
National and International Tradition
Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton Through July 9 More... 
Oakland’s Biggest Independence Day
Celebration is at Jack London Square!
Come to Jack London Square for your 4th of July Celebration. More... 
New Plan Puts Drivers on Fastrak for Speedier Travel
The travel forecast just turned brighter for transbay drivers who want to keep their cash in their pockets — and their foot on the accelerator — by paying bridge tolls electronically with FasTrak®. More... Rebounding Economy Sparks New Surge in Freeway CongestionIf your drive to work seems to be taking longer than it did a couple years ago, it’s no illusion. More... 
THE GRAT RACE DRIVERS NAVIGATE THE NORTH BAY
The 2006 National Guard Great Race celebrates the ultimate automotive adventure with a 4,100-mile race of time and endurance from Philadelphia to San Rafael. More... Dockside Dwelling: Living Ship to ShoreI’m convinced the two best things about waterfront living are the timeless allure of the water and the wonderful community embracing it. More... 
A VOICE FOR MODERN LIVING
BOBBY WINSTON: Dwell seems to be heard, seen and talked about everywhere. More... Watching for Shapes and Signals in the FogThe topsail schooner Californian appeared out of the mist like a ghost from the past. More... View from the Helm: Oh say can you seeThere are numerous 4th of July fireworks displays around The Bay. More...
West Oakland Flames
For residents of West Oakland, the sky-scorching flame-bursts and heavens-reaching lightning-crackles lighting up the night sky above Seventh Street on July 14 & 15 can mean only one thing – it’s time, once again, for The Crucible’s annual Fire Arts Festival. More... 
SPEED >> ON THE WATER <<
Windspeed records were officially recorded for the first time on the Bay More... WATERFRONT ADVENTURESLet’s pack our kayaks and take a real kayaking adventure to Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. More... 
Use Your Imagination...
Necessity is usually the diving board for the jump into a creative solution. More... 
Brew Review
Iron Spring Pub & Brewery in Farfax has been "Trying to win over the North Bay, one beer at a time" says the brewpub’s proprietor, Michael Altman. More... 
Richmond's Marina: The Gourmet Bay
Jean-Yves Charon and Paul Levitan founded Galaxy Desserts in 1998. More... TREND WATCHING: MAKING THE MOVE TO MULTIPLE ISPsThis year, the Bay Area commemorated the centennial of the 1906 Earthquake and invariably conversations surfaced on disaster recovery and preparedness. More... 
ON OUR COVER
Personal trainer Claudia Berman (claudia@physicalbliss.com) rides a bike in San Francisco’s Bernal Park -- just one of the places in the Bay Area where people ride, hike & enjoy urban and bay views. Photo by Loren Earle-Cruickshanks. See his photography at www.lecphoto.com More... Ferry Building Line DebutsRecreational ferry service is now available from the Ferry Building. The newly minted Ferry Building Line, an offshoot of waterfront stalwart the Red & White Fleet, has scheduled three 90-minute cruises weekdays with four on weekends for the summer season. The Ferry Building Line is the first to offer such service from the Ferry Building. More... 
Solar Ferry Contract Sets Sail
A solar ferry is one step closer to landing in San Francisco Bay, although its path continues to be the source of rumors and muttered questions. More... 
Blue Greenway
San Francisco city agencies, along with business and residents in The City’s southeast sector, have exciting plans for the 13 miles of waterfront stretching from AT&T Park, adjacent McCovey Cove to Monster Park. Their shared vision, which has been dubbed the Blue Greenway, calls for a shared-use (pedestrian and bicyclist) pathway, dotted with open, green spaces, improved bay access points and public art displays. More... 
A Proper Inauguration
Gardening and boating don’t usually go hand-in-hand. However, on the 90th annual Opening Day on the Bay celebration, it was gardening that got me an invitation on board the Pacific Inter Club Yacht Association committee boat. More... June Boating EventsTall Ship 3-day Women’s Challenge begins -- an adventure trip for women that explores ocean sailing in and beyond the San Francisco Bay. More... View from the Helm: Family PortraitAll of us were aware of the unusual weather. In a month when we normally begin enjoying the blossoming of the trees and the warmth of the spring sun, about the time we are packing up our winter clothes and pulling out our summer clothes, we were still pulling our coats snugly around us and walking with our heads down to avoid the sting of the rain and the cold wind. More... June 2006 Around the BayClassic cars like Lotus, Ferrari and Jaguar, some vehicles date to pre-World War I, will be racing on the world-famous road course at the Infineon Raceway. More... 
West Approach to Bay Bridge Enters Critical Phase
Driving across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco? Then get ready for another twist in the road — and more prolonged ramp and lane closures — as Caltrans embarks on the next major stage in its delicate retrofit-by-replacement of the Bay Bridge West Approach. More... 
511 Rideshare to Reward Commuters Who Share the Ride
With retail gasoline prices hitting $3 a gallon statewide, the 511 Regional Rideshare Program is joining forces with Safeway to kick off an incentive campaign for commuters who share the ride to work. More... 
Lighting up the Bay
June fairs and festivals
Come play a game and win a prize for your sweetie, then watch the opening night fireworks. Carnival open Noon until midnight during June. Looking ahead to July 3 ... disco king "Boogie Man," KC and the Sunshine Band will perform. More... 
Flight Into an Era
When I arrived at the quiet Sonoma Valley Airport, an old military jeep pushing out the SNJ-4 WWII era war bird, one that I would be flying in that day, greeted me. More... Brew ReviewDowntown Joe’s is located in the heart of Napa on Main Street along side the Napa River. More... Old-Fashioned American SakeThe Bay Area offers several opportunities to sample adult beverages right at the source -- beer at the Anchor Brewery in Potrero Hill and the Speakeasy Brewery near Hunter’s Point, and vodka and other spirits at the Hangar One and St. George Spirits distilleries in Alameda. More... 
Suiting up to Surf
Summer is the best time to learn how to surf in San Francisco because the waves tend to be smaller and more manageable, and the weather is generally nicer. More... Windspeed on waterFor centuries, people have been obsessed with speed and getting beyond the boundaries to which we are confined. More... June Waterfront Activities. More... 
Embarcadero’s Easy Riders
The Bike Hut is not a bike shop -- it’s a hut. This seemingly obvious distinction goes well beyond the name. More... Bay Trail Leading Shoreline RenaissanceWhile sitting at a restaurant on the City of San Leandro shoreline 20 years ago, then State Senator Bill Lockyer mused on the topic of public access and the San Francisco Bay. More... 
First-time Homebuyer from San Francisco Chooses Waterfront Living at Marina Bay in Richmond
Spectacularly situated on the shores of San Francisco Bay in Richmond, Marina Bay, The Shores at Marina Bay and The Cove at Marina Bay are three gated condominium home communities that are all attracting first-time homebuyers with a rare combination of quality, value, and convenience More... 
Mp3 players
There is no grocery store, sidewalk, shopping mall, freeway, airport or park without MP3 players. People have incorporated MP3s into their lives, and when the packing starts for those trips away from home, complete music catalogues allow MP3 users to take a little piece of home – and themselves – with them. More... New Blue Greenway Blue Greenway Public Art Trail: Art Auction for WaterfrontAn exciting component that has been taking shape through the Mayor's Blue Greenway Task Force is an Art Trail element along San Francisco's southern waterfront. More... Vallejo Baylink Ferry Rescues SwimmerAusually quiet sailing from Vallejo to San Francisco on the M/V Solano ferryboat turned into a rescue mission for its captain and crew on Sunday. More... 
Solar Ferry in Limbo
Local activists are once again crying "foul" on the San Francisco Waterfront, this time over a pending contract with Hornblower Yachts Inc. for an eco-friendly ferry service for the Alcatraz Island tours. More... Believe it or Not… Hunter’s Point Redevelopment Plan Keeping Strong Community BaseThirty-two years after its closure by the Navy and seven mayors later, the first phase of redevelopment at the Hunter’s Point Shipyard is finally underway. More... May Boating EventsSail Aboard the Schooner Seaward Fundraiser: Help raise money and awareness about TSEA. The sail will leave from Jack London Square in Oakland at 5PM. More... From the Helm: Sea LegacyA steady stream of ships has carried on commerce in the Bay Area for over 150 years. It used to be that privately owned schooners, brigantines and ships were the vessels of trade. More... Anchored to this Nautical SanctuaryI have lived on a boat in San Francisco Bay for over 20 years. My husband, Captain Sweetie, Noodles, our resident toothless tiger and I, fit very nicely on board our PT 38 trawler, Dancing Dragon. More... Happening locallyTour 180 studios in 8 buildings and purchase art directly from the artists. Free admission and parking. Hunter’s Point Shipyard, 701 Innes St., SF. More... 
Kayaking and Canoeing
Race and Fundraiser
California Canoe & Kayak (CCK) is proud to sponsor the Sixth Annual Support Strokes Race and Fundraiser, a challenging, 15.5-mile sea kayak and canoe paddle around Alameda Island to raise money for breast cancer advocacy, research, and treatment. More... 1906 Earthquake Photo ExhibitThose wishing to learn more about the Great Earthquake of 1906 are advised to visit The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art exhibition, which is on display until May 30. More... Oakland Bakery Celebrates 120 YearsColombo Sourdough French Bread is one of the country’s original sourdough breads, dating back to its beginning in 1886 in Oakland, CA. Many French baking families came to N. CA in the middle 1800s during the Gold Rush days. More... 
New East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
Destined to Become a Distinctive Landmark
For the 260,000-plus drivers traversing the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge each day, the only sign that a major construction project is under way is the line of giant red cranes standing at the ready. But just below motorists’ line of sight, work on the new East Span has been proceeding at a steady pace. More... 
Benicia Open Studios
One of the Bay Area’s most diverse, vibrant and accessible Artists’ Open Studios takes place the weekend of May 6 & 7 in Benicia. More... 
The Drawbridges of Alameda County
One foggy morning around the turn of the 20th century, Seamus McGrath arrived at work drunk. This, according to those who knew him, was not unusual. Seamus was a drawbridge tender, assigned to one of the drawbridges on San Francisco’s busy waterfront. More... Heart of NobuWe think the Bay Area has just about everything a person could want, but there’s something missing: a Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant. More... Dispelling the Myth of the Glorified BrewerI brewed my last batch of beer in 1999, and I’ve left the whole brewing scene behind me. But, I still feel the pain in my back each morning that reminds me of the physical toll brewing has taken on my body. More... 
Dare to Kiteboard
Bay area residents take note, Spring is finally here, and that means Kiteboarding season is here. Already, my phone is ringing, e-mails are pouring in and I am running around getting everything ready for what will be the biggest year ever in a new and evolving water sport. I teach Kiteboarding in the Bay Area, and right now, I am a very busy guy. More... May Waterfront ActivitiesThe Cold Water Surf Club invites everyone concerned about the environment to join us in a beach clean up at Bolinas Beach. More... 
Port Story
Maritime: Nostalgia or Future?
At midnight on a high tide, a cruise ship enters the Bay, sliding through the Golden Gate as hundreds of cargo ships have done since the Gold Rush. The passengers who are awake can see the world-famous bridge illuminated above them as they enter the calm waters. More... 
Wine.com Relocates Headquarters to Richmond’s Historic Ford Building
Wine.com, a popular Internet wine merchant, is establishing its headquarters and main distribution facility in the 517,000 square foot Ford Point Building. More... 
Purchasing a Laptop is a Personal Choice
For the first time, laptop sales exceeded those of their desktop counterparts in 2005. Three major reasons were the portability that laptops offer, the growing availability of WIFI/wireless technology, and the new "affordability" of laptops for average consumers. More... April Waterfront ActivitiesApr 2 10AM - 12PM – Ocean Beach Cleanup, Surfrider Association (SF Chapter), Ocean Beach at Sloat Blvd, www.sfsurfrider.org More... 
Klaus Lange’s Distinct Palette
Klaus Lange was having lunch recently at Z Café, on Auto Row in Oakland. Lange, who is a merchant seaman, a chef, and a photographer, has an exhibit of his photographs in the café through April. More... 
Mark your calendar!
is the San Francisco Bay Area’s 12th annual Bike to Work Day—a celebration of bicycling as a healthy, fun and viable form of transportation. More... 
Ferries to the Rescue
The Great Earthquake of April 18, 1906, and the fire that convulsed the San Francisco afterward for four long days, created one of the largest civilian evacuations by water in history. More... Subject: port of SF - parking metersHere’s some interesting tidbit about Parking Meters under the jurisdiction of the Port More... Subject: Why WTA Will Undermine New Ferry Service To The NorthAh yes, so a Marin Supervisor, like all the rest from Marin, takes money from anti-transit interests, and then gets appointed to help promote mass transit? More... 
Two Fireboats Save the Waterfront
San Francisco is a city surrounded on three sides by water and on two sides by major earthquake faults. The City has two fireboats, the Phoenix and the Guardian. More... View from the Helm: A taste of the boating life at Boat Fest ’06The boat business is really all about people. That’s our philosophy. More... 
Boating for Bragging Rights
Aspot of bad luck kept Johnny Owens from participating in last year’s Opening Day on the Bay, a judged parade of theme-decorated boats that helps kicks off the official boating season here in the Bay Area every April. More... 
Bay Area Sailing Season Begins on the “Potomac”
Presidential yacht, Potomac, Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famed "Floating White House" will participate in Opening Day on the Bay on Sun., April 30. More... North Coast Wave RiderIf you haven’t noticed, the last couple months it’s been raining cats, dogs and even a few snowmen in the usually fair city of San Francisco. More... 
Riding the Sail
Is the winter season loosens its grip on the northern hemisphere, we wait in anticipation of the coming seasons. Clothes are bought and houses are cleaned, as the gloom of winter is replaced by wild, warming, ever-changing spring. Daydreams take flight. Our bodies become restless in their quest for activity, and we find ourselves exploring new venues of adventure. More... 
So, You Want to be a Brewer?
Prior to 1978 it was illegal to brew beer at home for personal consumption. We can thank California Senator Alan Cranston for introducing legislation to legalize homebrewing, and President Jimmy Carter for signing it into law. More... Cheers for BeerSome people are quite content to buy their necessities and luxuries, but there is another part of the population that enjoys the process of making things themselves. More... Grand Central SpacesImagine it: The Ferry Building as an amazing intermodal transit hub, with ferries pulling up to wide, mobile ramps that take disembarking passengers into a beautiful naturally lit concourse. A wide pedestrian bridge connects directly to Market Street, More... 
Port Story
Part I of of Port Story detailed the romanticized vision and real-life condition of San Francisco’s waterfront blight. Part II shines a light on those rising to the challenge, those who are planning ways to preserve and build public spaces, without compromising integrity or stability. More... 
Richmond Rivets Unique Home Front History to Future Economic Prosperity
The Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park comprises numerous distinct sites throughout the city of Richmond. Altogether, they tell the story of a community’s war effort and production on a massive, unprecedented scale. More... 
Shooting Mare Island
Fetterly Gallery of the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation presents "Shooting the Island: Photographers View Mare Island." This exhibition features nearly 50 evocative and atmospheric color and black and white photographs from eight contemporary artists, all of whom have photographed Mare Island over the past three years. More... Communications “To Go”Worldwide Internet cafes, the U.S. metro WIFI revolution and "disposable" phone numbers are facilitating low-cost mobile communications around the world, making it easier for travelers to stay in touch with home and work. More... 
Rebounding Economy Prompts Rise in Freeway Congestion
Brake lights could be proof that the Bay Area economy has begun to bounce back from the high-tech meltdown of recent years. Traffic congestion on Bay Area freeways increased last year for the first time since 2000, according to the latest congestion-monitoring data released by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Caltrans District 4. More... LETTERSKudos for your interview with State Senator Alan Lowenthal. It is about time that the word is spread about the working conditions of our Port truck drivers. More... Bay Area Ferries Proposed For Disaster Recovery ServiceIn view of the Bay Area’s vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes, as well as terrorist attacks, State Senator Don Perata of Oakland, and President pro Tempore of the California State Senate, is considering an additional role for the Bay Area’s regional ferry system — disaster recovery service. More... 
Global Shipping Revolution in Cargo
April marks two important anniversaries for the Bay Area. San Francisco is pulling out all the stops for the first one, the centennial anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake. The second anniversary, however, while equally important in terms of the effect it had on both the region’s landscape and its economy, is unlikely to be met with the same level of fanfare. More... 
One Million Miles of Fun
The Pacific Cup Yacht Club (PCYC) announced this year’s celebration of one million miles of fun racing to Hawaii. Race organizers will be providing a special set of awards to commemorate this milestone. More... 
From the Helm: White Holly’s Purpose
This is a true story about a Bay Area treasure ship. It’s a story good for the soul about the proud vessel White Holly, and how she came full circle, from Bay Area and back again, over the course of her distinguished, service-oriented career. More... News Around the Bay... More... March Waterfront Activities... More... 
Mavericks is ON!
Peter Mel of Santa Cruz spent much of January and February on-call. He could spend his time doing whatever he wanted, but he knew that at any moment his cell phone could ring, and when it did, he would drop everything and respond. More... Surfing! Northern California’s Great Big Water SportIt’s cold, it’s foggy, there are sharks and the waves are unpredictable, but sunrise to sunset there are people out surfing along the Bay Area beaches. What is wrong with these people? More... 
Ahoy, Tall Ships in Oakland!
Brig Lady Washington, a full-scale replica of the first American vessel to explore the Pacific Northwest coast, will be sailing into Oakland this month (Mar. 8-20) for the Tall Ships Tour. More... Fifteen Minutes of Stop and ShopOne of the best incentives for locals to stop and shop at the Ferry Building Marketplace is the 15-minute white zone in front of the building. Customers can run in for call-ahead, pre-orders or shop for last minute groceries, and not have to park in the lot and walk to the building. More... 
Mistral Rotisserie Provencale
Most people, when they think of French cooking think of rich sauces. Mistral Rotisserie Provencale is a company with food prepared in the classic style in the south of France. More... 
Antique Phoenix
Filled with friendly merchants and lively music, world-famous artists and palate-pleasing cuisine, Benicia, just 37 miles from downtown San Francisco, is one of the worst-kept secrets in the heart of the Bay Area. More... 
Richmond Welcomes Anchor Cove to the Waterfront
Richmond’s Marina Bay is rich with culture, history and endless opportunities to explore and have fun. Once the site where "Rosie the Riveter" built WWII liberty ships in the Kaiser Shipyards, Marina Bay is being transformed into one of the Bay Area’s most desirable places to live, play and work. Today, Richmond is home to more miles of the San Francisco Bay Trail than any other Bay Area city, as well as a picturesque 750 boat Marina and a shoreline esplanade perfect for early evening strolls. More... 
Port Story
The Port of San Francisco’s headquarters is an old C&H sugar warehouse at the base of Washington Street, next door to the Ferry Building’s upscale markets. Inside, it’s as though the 1990s never ended. More... Technology Service Options Changing for Small BusinessLarge companies have their own technology staffs, but what if you’re a small business under 100 employees with technology needs that can be just as critical to your business? Understanding your business information needs (and their criticality) is paramount to your technology strategy—a major factor when you make decisions like whether to hire your own IT staff, or outsource your technology support. More... Winemakers of ChangeWhen our editor chose the theme of this month’s issue, she suggested as our topic the changes that have taken place in the winemaking industry, especially how some New World techniques and philosophies have influenced Old World traditions. More... Table Set for Wine.com in City of RichmondAs Bay Crossings was going to press, Wine.com and Orton Development were nearing finalization of an announcement: More... Still lots of static around the cellular radiation debateOver 200 million Americans rely on cell phones for personal and business use. Growing numbers of households are dropping wire-line communications altogether, opting for 100 percent wireless lifestyles. Economical and convenience benefits are well understood, but what about the cell phone-brain cancer link debate we’ve been hearing about for 10 years? More... 
BOOK REVIEW
With those New Year’s resolutions behind us, might it now make sense to just give in and admit that we’re weak, troubled, and savagely fond of the occasional wee tipple? More... New World of Organic Vines… Slowly ClimbingAll of us on this planet are becoming increasingly aware of our fragile environment, what is happening to eco-systems and what is happening to our health. There are grass roots organizations, and even government agencies, devoted to educating us about conservation resources and promoting better environmental practices for large corporations. A lecture we attended last year, under the auspices of the Conservatory of Flowers, pointed out how important it is for every person to conserve, reuse and recycle materials. Our daily choices matter in determining the state of our lives, and we want them to be the best. More... Restaurants Using Organic IngredientsSome are raw food-vegan, some are vegetarian and some decant organic wine More... 
Eliminating the Middleman
Food food starts with good ingredients. When you consume food that is organic, the hands that bag your produce are often the same that picked the fruit, tilled the soil and sowed the seeds that grew to fill your plate, your senses and your belly. More... 
Sunshine After the Flood
It would take more than a little water and mud to keep Napans down. Within days after the New Year’s Eve flood, Napa Valley was returning to normal. Thanks to the partway completed Flood Control Project, damages were primarily limited to a need for carpets and furniture in the affected areas. More... 
Medicinal, Exotic, Organic Mushrooms
I think there’s a mushroom for everyone," Ian Garrone says. That might seem a presumptuous statement, especially if one’s definition of mushroom is derived from what is commonly found at most commercial grocery stores. But hold on, because after seeing and tasting the mushrooms that the Garrones cultivate and sell at Far West Fungi, those impressions are likely to change. More... 
JACK LONDON SQUARE
Jack London Square, set along a natural estuary on the site where the city of Oakland first began in 1852, is poised to become the next "hot spot" for urban waterfront living. More... 
Welcome to the Richmond Shoreline
Richmond is revitalizing its scenic waterfront by stimulating private investment in waterfront neighborhoods. Richmond has more shoreline than any other city on the San Francisco Bay. A total of 32 miles of waterfront offers breathtaking views of the San Francisco skyline, Mt. Tamalpais and Marin County. More... 
21st Century Treasure Island
In the Military Base Conversion & Realignment Program of 1993, the US Congress and the President slated Naval Station Treasure Island, along with numerous other military bases throughout the country and the Bay Area, for closure. Early on, the US Dept. of Defense designated The City and County of San Francisco as the "Local Base Reuse Authority", responsible for the conversion of the base to civilian use. The Navy Base property involves not only the 403-acre man-made Treasure Island (TI) with approximately 2.5 million square feet of non-residential buildings and 1,000 family housing units, but also the 32.5-acre northern half of Yerba Buena Island (YBI) and its historic structures. More... AROUND THE BAYOne of the world’s leaders in recycling automobile steel and iron components, Sims Group America, just completed its 30th anniversary at the Port of Redwood City, where it recycles more than 200,000 vehicles per year. The Port Commission is considering approving Sims’ option to continue operations through Sept. 2015, on the condition of completing of a modernization program, which they have done, which was verified by the Port. More... Whale Migration Along the California CoastWhale Watching involves a lot of watching. Some days you see them, others, you don’t. Right now, you may see two species of whales in the Pacific or in the Bay, as they continue their migration along the California coast. More... 
Les Wilkerson,
Advanced Diver
The son of a charter fishing boat captain, Les Wilkerson grew up on and near the water in Boca Grande, FL. He started diving in 1969 after an illicit foray into a swimming pool with gear "borrowed" from a friend’s father. Entranced by the experience, he talked his parents into allowing him to take a course and become a certified SCUBA diver. After serving in both the Army and Marine Corps., which gave him the opportunity to dive in exotic locations around the world, he settled in Contra Costa County and began operating a freelance open-water and technical dive training company out of his home. More... 
Above and Beneath the Veneer of Rugged Coast
Divers submerged, while those above board watched for whales More... View from the Helm: Between the SeasonsThe rain stops and the winds subside. Deep blue fills the sky and we search for our misplaced sunglasses so that we can look upon the brightness of the mirror-like Bay. More... 
Beltline Brawl
Who would believe that the City of Alameda and the two largest railroads in the West would both make misleading statements in legal filings to the Federal Surface Transportation Board? The story is convoluted, but it boils down to an $18 million property in the middle of Alameda that used to be the Alameda Beltline Railroad Yard. Interestingly enough, virtually all of the tracks accessing this yard have been illegally removed. More... 
BC INTERVIEW
The views of Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach, Senate District 27) ought to be of interest to Bay Crossings’ readers, as he recently became chair of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. He also serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Subcommittee on California Ports and Goods Movement, and is a member of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. We spoke by phone with the Senator. More... 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
I love the story you have about the Madonna Del Lume on your website www.baycrossings.com More... Alcatraz Ferry Contract Moves to CourtThe contract awarded to Hornblower Yachts, Inc. last September by the National Park Service to provide ferry service from the City of San Francisco to Alcatraz Island has been contested by Blue and Gold Fleet LP in the US Court of Federal Claims... More... Forty Years of Saving the BayIn 1965, Governor Pat Brown signed the McAteer-Petris Act to create the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. The bill creating BCDC was passed after a massive grassroots effort, led by Save The Bay (then Save San Francisco Bay Association), which mobilized citizens to write letters, attend hearings and journey by the busload to Sacramento to demand action that would stop wholesale filling of San Francisco Bay... More... View from the Helm: A Bounty of DreamsHe was just a tot the first time he laid eyes on her. She was on display at the Hyde Street Pier. As always, there was much to see and do at the pier... More... Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions from BoatU.S.To help boaters have even better boating experiences in 2006, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water suggests these resolutions that will make your boating safer, cleaner, and more rewarding for everyone aboard... More... Arround the Bay... More... 
Winter’s Calm Waters
Kayaking enthusiasts are a lot like birds: they tend to head south in the winter. This time of year, most kayak outfitters are busy organizing trips to Costa Rica, Baja, and other tropical destinations. And while escaping the Bay Area’s rainy season to camp on the beach in Baja is a great vacation, there’s no reason not to stay active locally, too, right through the winter months. In fact, winter kayaking offers some of the best conditions of the year... More... 
A Migration Celebration Takes Wings
The San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival, headquartered on Mare Island in Vallejo, is the Bay Area’s only 3-day celebration of the annual migration of waterfowl and shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway. In its tenth year, the Festival has attracted a loyal regional following. Participants are attracted to the Flyway Festival – in spite of it being held in the dead of the winter – because that is when migration through the San Francisco Bay is at its peak... More... 
Groundbreaking Green
On a visit to Napa County, you will soon be able to consider another color besides red or white. Green building is a trend ripening in the form of an eco-resort called the Gaia Napa Hotel... More... 
DESIGN & Contemporary Flow
Contemportary living spaces located close to or on the waterfront are gaining in popularity: loft-living and hi-rising real estate in neighborhoods on the edge of the Bay are a bourgeoning reality. Since our environment affects our quality of life, we begin our focus on Waterfront Living. This month, we feature Logue Studio Design - an award-winning San Francisco design firm that specializes in contemporary residential and commmercial design. modern architechture does not have to be sparce. The inside can match the beauty of the views of the Bay and the hills outside. More... Living Well: Surrounded by WaterIsurrender to it, allow it to encompass me completely. That is, when I’m in or on the water. I confess — I have never lived more than a few feet or miles from an ocean or bay, Atlantic and Pacific. I’m not the mountain type, nor am I enamored by the plains or deserts... More... 
Two Lives Ago on Treasure Island
Treasure Island is a man-made island built on the shoals that lie on the north side of Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay. Before it was built, the sandy shoals nearest Yerba Buena Island were visible at extremely low tide, but to the north, the water deepened, shoals could not be seen, and bed rock existed only 60 feet below water level... More... ZINFANDELFor a long time, Cabernet Sauvignon was King as far as red wine drinking Americans were concerned, and Pinot Noir was Queen. Along came the Prince, a smooth, soft, drinking wine, Merlot, which was formerly a blending wine with Cabernet... More... Speaking on the Legal Side of VoIPVoice over Internet Protocol technology (VoIP) usage has soared in 2005, with rapid consumer adoption through purveyors like Vonage and growing business adoption as well... More... The power of nature... an artist at sea... rough riders and a flash of ImperialismCoinciding with the centennial of San Francisco’s great earthquake and fire, comes a haunting tome almost too heavy for most coffee tables... More... 
Runners hoof it to the Far Side of the finish line
They came, they ran... some moo’d More... Telecommuting Helps Balance Work, FamilyComputers, the Internet and advanced communications have enabled hundreds of thousands of people across the nation to telecommute. These individuals find that they can work at home and also be more available to their families. Who are these telecommuters, and what does it take to be successful at it? More... 
LETTER to the EDITOR
The National Park Service at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is seeking comments regarding a proposed project involving rehabilitation of the amphitheater within the Aquatic Park National Historic Landmark District. This project would entail repair, and in some cases substantial reconstruction, of the 1939 structure’s bleachers and underground workspaces. The rehabilitation, projected to begin in the fall of 2007, would close the amphitheater bleachers, and much of the grassy area immediately adjacent, to the public for 12-18 months. More... From the Helm of a Yacht: Deck the RailsWe blink and the sights and sounds of the holidays are upon us once again. Holiday festivities are in full swing. The sites and sounds and smells are deliciously familiar. Folks gather together with loved ones. Good food abounds. More... 
Vibrant Vallejo
For most of its history, the City of Vallejo has been closely associated with the United States Navy. The presence of the bustling Mare Island Naval Shipyard molded Vallejo’s identity as a "Navy Town." When Mare Island closed ten years ago, Vallejo embarked on an exciting new path to the future, but the community’s heritage is still visible in the many historic buildings and landmarks in the old downtown neighborhood. What was once a struggling urban core is now being transformed into a vibrant new shopping district featuring unique shops, restaurants, antique stores and other attractions. More... 
Jack London Square Rising
The rap on Oakland’s Jack London Square is that it has all the charm of an East European government building and the luck of someone who buys a pumpkin farm only to find Halloween cancelled. More... Port of Oakland and Port of Sacramento: A World-Class Partnership?The nation’s fourth-busiest container port, the Port of Oakland, wants to run the Port of Sacramento as an inland branch to help handle growing Asian cargo. Talks between the two ports could lead to container-carrying barges between San Francisco Bay and Sacramento. More... 
Diving Above Sea Level
It’s 8 o’clock in the morning when dive instructor Ted Heublein gathers his group of scuba enthusiasts for a rundown of the day’s diving activities. They plan three dives for the day, and expect to reach depths of up to 85 feet, in water temperatures of around 51 degrees. More... Celebrating GrapesIt’s not often that everybody is happy with what is going on, but those in the California wine industry are popping all their buttons right now, with the spreading news of the high quality and high yield of the winegrape harvest this season. High yield does not always mean high quality, we hasten to add, which we all know is true with any product or endeavor. More... 
Bay Crossings’ Boulette Bash
Bay Crossings threw a for-no-reason-whatsover bash at the peerless Boulette’s Larder at the Ferry Building. Here’s the tale of the tape. More... 
The Bay Area, Coffee Capital of the West
Does the corner of Walnut & Vine streets in Berkeley mean anything to you? It didn’t to me, other than the fact that it is a block away from where I grew up. I do remember it as a quiet corner with a Friends (Quaker) Meeting House facing two non-descript stores, which seemed to be empty much of the time. On the fourth corner was a Mormon Church, which, on Sundays, attracted quite a crowd of non-coffee drinkers (the faith preaches against the use of tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine). Little did they realize the temptation that would arise directly across the street. More... Cautionary Tale for Bay ShippersSan Franciscans are hardly strangers to natural catastrophes. Our quakes of ’06 and ’89 of the last century are well documented, and most of us are reconciled to the idea that another big shake will occur in our lifetimes. More... Corrections to BC’s October IssueThe Big Game at San Francisco’s Waterfront story: More... 
MERRY FERRY IS BACK ON GOLDEN GATE FERRY
After a few year hiatus, due to budget cuts, Golden Gate Larkspur Ferry has partnered with the Water Transit Authority to bring back the popular "Merry Ferry." More... 
The “Big Game” at San Francisco’s Waterfront
Bay Area college football fans will soon turn their attention to the "Big Game" rivalry between CAL and Stanford. But the CAL Bears won’t be the only team wearing blue and gold colors, determined to win. More... 
Grassroots Vision of Public Access Puts Bay Water Trail on the Map
Over the river and through the woods, into the water you can go, from 86 access points all around the Bay. Water sport and other outdoor adventure enthusiasts are celebrating the passing of AB 1296, the first bill to support and protect public, region-wide access to the largest natural resource in the area — the San Francisco Bay. More... 
Around the Bay
The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation Presents the 15th Annual "Bowl Across the Bay".... More... 
The Cirque Is Coming!
French-Canadian art-circus Cirque du Soleil’s latest production, "Corteo," which opens in San Francisco on Nov. 11, reflects a growing movement in the ever-evolving world of circus arts. Cirque revolutionized the art form in the mid-1980s by bringing a strong theatrical sensibility to the circus and doing away with animal acts, along with two of the traditional circus’ three rings. More... 
Dinner and a Circus
From the misbehaving on and off stage at the saloons along San Francisco’s Pacific Street Corridor (heart of the Barbary Coast) in the years following the Gold Rush, to the bawdy one-liners and flirty peek-a-boo shows of the vaudeville and burlesque eras, to the radical self-expression of Burning Man, the unusual, the naughty and the avant-garde have always had a home in the Bay Area. More... 
Venetian-StyleTravel in the City of Angels
Bangkok is not the "real" name for the capital of Thailand. The actual name for the city known as Bangkok is very long, about 100 words, and is locally shortened to the first two words: "Krung Thep"; but the long name refers to it as a city of angels. More... A Few Words About Wine Labels:We have become more aware of wine labels this season because of our taking a very interesting class at City College of San Francisco on the history of food and wine in France. More... Brando, Ahab and the Great White WayNew Books of Appeal to Ferry Commuters More... 
The Integrity Blues
Compact disks have been the medium of recorded music for the past 15 years. If you’ve only ever listened to CD’s, you might not even know how original vinyl records sounded. You probably would not think that the musical integrity of the recording is an issue… but there are some people who do. More... Scientific Fuel for ThoughtBay Crossings is happy to introduce Angus MacDonald, a doctor of Engineering Physics, University of Virginia, 1969, as our new science correspondent. We regret that, in a previous article, last minute editorial changes were made which included scientific errors. We feel sure that Dr. MacDonald’s articles will help our readers understand the science behind what we see in the world around us. More...
WTA Locks in Federal Money for Bay Area Ferry System Expansion
The San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) announced that the recently passed federal transportation bill "SAFETEA-LU" designated the WTA as the recipient of $14 million for ferry boat and terminal construction, while greatly increasing the national fund which provides WTA with significant additional funding each year. More... The View from the Helm of a YachtThe Readers of Bay Crossings typically see vistas of San Francisco Bay from the shore, a ferry deck or from one of our beautiful bridges. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by the beauty of the hills and the water. More... Up in Arms About Alcatraz"It ain’t over ’til it’s over," with the Alcatraz contract, as our cover story, "The Big Game," makes plain. Still, the National Park Services’ decision to overturn precedent and negotiate with the upstart Hornblower Cruises in preference to the incumbent operator, The Blue and Gold Fleet, is stunning. More...
The “Big Game” at San Francisco’s Waterfront
Bay Area college football fans will soon turn their attention to the "Big Game" rivalry between CAL and Stanford. But the CAL Bears won’t be the only team wearing blue and gold colors, determined to win. More...
A Potomac Runs Through It
Bay Crossings chartered former presidential yacht the Potomac last month to run a triangle cruise between Richmond, San Francisco and Oakland. Our excuse was to show off Richmond’s inexpressibly beautiful waterfront – longest of any jurisdiction on San Francisco Bay – to movers and shakers. A grand time was had by all. More...
A Potomac Runs Through It
Bay Crossings chartered former presidential yacht the Potomac last month to run a triangle cruise between Richmond, San Francisco and Oakland. Our excuse was to show off Richmond’s inexpressibly beautiful waterfront – longest of any jurisdiction on San Francisco Bay – to movers and shakers. A grand time was had by all. More... Common Sense Infrastructure for California’s Diverse PortsWes Starratt’s contention that "Oakland’s major problem is the deepening of its channels," as opposed to experiencing the same kind of congestion-related difficulties that LA / Long Beach has to deal with ("One Size Fits All - Not for California’s Diverse Ports," August 2005) may be off the mark a little in that the Port of Oakland and all its Bay Area sibling ports seem headed for some kind of meltdown, if we can’t figure out PDQ how to deal with our own crumbling infrastructure. More... 
The Battle for Alcatraz
In a move that shocked waterfront regulars, the National Park Service awarded a 10-year contract to provide ferry services to Alcatraz to a division of Hornblower Cruises & Events. More... 
Surveillance and Explosive Testing Program on SF and Larkspur Ferries
Comb your hair, straighten your tie and be ready, because you may be on camera, not necessarily a camera wielded by a tourist snapping views of the bridges, but more likely a surveillance camera designed to maintain security on Bay Area ferries. More... 
Blessing the Fishing Fleet
The annual Italian Heritage Parade in North Beach is a chance for local Italian-Americans to proudly honor the outstanding achievements of their ancestors. For the rest of The City, it’s a fun reminder of the cultural footprint left behind by the thousands of Italian-born immigrants who planted new roots here in the Bay Area. More... 
HOTEL MAC: Landmark of Epicurean Elegance in the Heart of Point Richmond
Point Richmond is a quiet community with homes stretching south from the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on both sides of a ridge, which forms an amphitheater with the heart of town as the stage. Three short streets in the heart of town form a triangle that points at the Hotel Mac. More... 
Hotel Mac’s Quick Paella
Regular Paella can take many hours including baking in the oven, which can also dry the dish. This version is quick in comparison, flavorful as the original but does not dry out. More... 
Family Man and Hotel Mac’s Executive Chef, Jamie Molina
At 43, Chef Jamie Molina has become one of the fine and respected creative chefs in the Bay Area. He’s the Executive Chef of Hotel Mac in Point Richmond, CA. More... THE VAMPIRE TOUR OF SAN FRANCISCOOn Friday & Saturday Nights, at 8:00 pm, your host, Mina Harker, takes you to six stops. Each has a story about how vampires played a role in the stop’s history. Please join us on a tour of local history and dark mystery. More... 
FERRY BUILDING MARKETPLACE BOUNTIFUL HARVEST FESTIVAL
The Ferry Building Marketplace celebrates its third annual Harvest Festival with a range of free events including: Pumpkin Carving, Butter Churning, Apple Pressing, Face Painting, Live Blue Grass Music and a Barnyard by the Bay. More... LIBATIONSNow, it’s the time of year to change into our autumn clothes, colors, and choose from menus of hearty foods and warming drinks. We have taken a particular shine to apple lore and all the amazing things made from apples. More... 
Sample HALL Wines from the Barrels of the 1885 Winery
When visiting our tasting room here in St. Helena, many guests depart without ever realizing that just a short stroll away sits a part of Napa Valley history quite literally carved in stone. More... 
Chinatown Is Haunted
By day, the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown are bustling with meandering groups of map-slinging tourists, and locals on their way from the market clutching pink plastic bags with the ingredients for that night’s dinner. But when the sun disappears behind Twin Peaks and the shops along Grant Avenue close for the evening, locals believe the restless spirits of their ancestors roam Chinatown’s desolate side streets, dark back-alleys and narrow passageways. More... BOATING EVENTThe Peralta Sail and Power Squadron is presenting a public, safe-boating class on Wednesday evenings, beginning October 12. More... BOOK REVIEWWhile the porous nature of America’s borders continues to be a hot issue in the post-9/11 era, Homeland Security is hardly a new concept. Students of history realize that this nation has long been threatened by renegade forces seeking to undermine our sovereignty and exploit our weaknesses. More...
WTA Locks in Federal Money for Bay Area Ferry System Expansion
San Francisco — The San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) announced that the recently passed federal transportation bill "SAFETEA-LU" designated the WTA as the recipient of $14 million for ferry boat and terminal construction, while greatly increasing the national fund which provides WTA with significant additional funding each year. More... 
Wine Country
St. Clement Vineyards www.stclement.com Phone: (707) 967-3033/(800) 331-8266 St. Clement Vineyards 2867 St. Helena Highway St. Helena, CA 94574 Wine Sales & Tastings Daily Winery Tours by Appointment More... 
The Ticket Window
Sausalito Wooden Boat Tour www.sausalitowoodenboattour.com Phone: (415) 332-6608 History & Mystery on the Sausalito Waterfront Featured on this walking tour: Original floating homes & houseboats, historic marinship district of WWII, art studios and wooden boat shops, classic yachts, traditional work boats, hand hewn traditional wooden boats... and stunning vistas with lots of local lore. More... Berg Views Port Sonoma as a Transit HubWhen Bay Crossings, upon hearing that the $286 billion Federal Transportation and Highway Bill includes $20 million for the proposed ferry terminal at Port Sonoma at the mouth of the Petaluma River, we reached into our files and found this unpublished interview with Skip Berg, one of the owners of that property, and, naturally, a proponent of high-speed ferry service from Port Sonoma to San Francisco. More... Wharf Fishermen Protest First Rent Increase in Two DecadesFor years, the Port of San Francisco stayed away from any thought of raising rents for the fishermen at the city’s number one tourist attraction, Fisherman’s Wharf. In fact, it has been 20 years, since the fishermen last received an increase in their berth rents, which are currently the lowest on the entire coast. More... Top Ten Tips from BoatU.S.Fuel prices may have stabilized lately, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try and get more out of each tank of gas. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) has a few tips that could help stretch your fuel dollars More... Hydrogen Seen as Lightweight Solution to Pollution ProblemsIn 1970 the environmental movement was just beginning, and steam cars were being suggested as an alternative to fossil fuel-powered automobiles. That year, General Motors built a steam car and put it on display at the Detroit Auto Show. The car was a Pontiac GTO with an extended hood and a trunk full of relays; it even had an air conditioner. It was the perfect way to demonstrate that steam cars could be very nice, and quite impractical. General Motors did not want to do anything but continue to sell gas-guzzlers. More... “Hold on to your Octopus!”With the words, "Hold on to your Octopus!" I was initiated into the world of Hong Kong ferries. The Octopus is an electronically stored-value fare card used to ride the ferries. It is also used for trains, subways, trams, buses, and even to purchase items at convenience stores. Soon, it will be used to pay for taxi cabs. Shanghai has implemented that option in to their system already. More... Summer Ends on a Love NoteOrganizers of San Francisco’s Loveparade are expecting at least 50,000 people to take to the streets later this month for the annual celebration, the stateside cousin, of Berlin’s legendary techno parade and festival. More... Farmer’s Markets GrowFor years now, increasingly pressed-for-time consumers have opted for convenience over quality when it comes to shopping for their families. Let’s face it, most supermarkets are open twenty-four hours. And that’s helpful when you’re a busy homemaker or a time-strapped, nine-to-five type trying to squeeze shopping in between the dozen or so other errands on that day’s "to do" list. More... Featured EventsOn Labor Day weekend, the quaintly picturesque seaside city of Sausalito becomes the backdrop for a world-class group of artists displaying their arts and crafts at the annual Sausalito Art Festival. Join the over million people who have come to this harbor town to take in the scenery. Over 20,000 original works of art will be on display, along with the beautiful view of the Bay. More... Late HarvestSomeone said that you cannot get just one new thing in your living room, or kitchen, without adding other new things, because the new thing can make the old things look bad by comparison. So please consider the leap you might be taking in becoming fond of late harvest wines. And we promise you, it is very easy to become attached to these jewel-toned beauties. More... The Art of WineNapa Valley has developed into, perhaps, some of the most well-known wine country in Northern California. Over the years, the area’s rich, fertile ground and choice temperatures have enabled wine growers to cultivate some of the finest grapes, and produce Sonoma County’s world-renowed wines and distinct tastes. More... Summertime ReadsThe Battle of The Hetch Hetchy: America’s Most Controversial Dam And the Birth of Modern Environmentalism By Robert W. Righter Oxford University Press © 2005 More... One Size Fits All — Not for California’s Diverse PortsCalifornia is a highly diversified state, and so too are its ports. Dominating the state’s maritime picture are the bustling twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. They are the state’s largest ports through which more than one third of the imports for the entire United States pass, largely in the form of containers from Asia. These two ports are in stark contrast to the State’s other ports, such as the Humboldt Bay Harbor District at Eureka, with its focus on the export of forest products, the Port of San Diego, with its focus on imported tropical fruit and automobile industries, and the Port of Hueneme, near Oxnard, with a similar cargo mix. More... Tanger to Sète by FerryI recently went from Tanger, Morocco to Sète, France by Comarit ferry. It was quite a long trip, (roughly over 40-hours) but overall, a comfortable journey. More... Jack Ehrhorn - A Bay Treasure Sails AwayJack Ehrhorn, born in San Francisco Nov. 9, 1919 sailed throughout his life there for 86 years. It can only be guessed that on July 22, 2005 when he died, he sailed out on his boat, Flame. More... Pockets of Hip |