North Beach First Friday Art Crawl

North Beach First Friday Art Crawl

A fingernail moon glowed brightly low in the Maxfield Parrish dark blue sky. Live music, restaurant chatter and laughter filled the night air. The galleries were packed for last night’s First Friday art crawl, the art in the  galleries superb. Don’t miss Nicholas Coley’s new 

North Beach is San Francisco’s Heart

North Beach is San Francisco’s Heart

What’s not to love in North Beach, the heart of San Francisco? Carl Nolte’s Chronicle column surveys it all. Plus, a North Beach food shopping spree and a marvelous art exhibit.

Year of Italian Culture in America

Year of Italian Culture in America

2013 is the Year of Italian Culture in America, a campaign by Italy’s Foreign Minister to create renewed buzz and help Americans learn more about Italia. Events are planned throughout the U.S. San Francisco will play a leading role in the festivities. I can’t wait for spring 

Christmas Alley, Naples

Christmas Alley, Naples

I call it the “Holy Mile”, one of my favorite areas in the old part of Napoli. Baroque churches abound and a beautiful garden loaded with frescoes and majolica ceramic tiles is hidden behind the Santa Chiara Church and Monastery. Via San Gregorio Armeno, a 

Al Baccari Knows North Beach Best

Al Baccari Knows North Beach Best

The Chronicle’s front page Sunday Profile features Alessandro Baccari, Jr., an outstanding Italian-American historian, preservationist and collector. Al is North Beach’s non-resident historian too. He lives on West Portal now but was born and raised in North Beach. Al is 84 and he knows everything about 

The Purple Onion: Bye-Bye

The Purple Onion: Bye-Bye

The Purple Onion, the North Beach cellar club where Phyllis Diller, Woody Allen, Richard Pryor and the Smothers Brothers performed early in their careers, will close next month. A new owner has new plans for the building. A comedy cooperative staged shows at the Purple 

Chinese Bakery Replaces Victoria Pastry

Chinese Bakery Replaces Victoria Pastry

Victoria Pastry has been in North Beach since 1914. The Vallejo and Stockton corner bakery closed last month to move to a new space on Filbert and Powell on the other side of Washington Square Park. As word about Victoria’s closing spread many wondered whether 

North Beach Festival Next Weekend

North Beach Festival Next Weekend

The 58th Annual North Beach Festival is next weekend, June 16-17. Don’t miss this opportunity to revel in all that North Beach has to offer. The weather will be superb. Stroll Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. Enjoy music, ranging from The Carol 

North Beach First Friday Festivities

North Beach First Friday Festivities

  Columbus & Coit from the Transamerica building. Click to expand. Enjoy a beautiful night in North Beach tomorrow. Celebrate the first day of June with your friends and neighbors. Wander the Village Streets and check out what 18 particpating galleries, shops, restaurants and bars have 

North Beach Walking Tour Saturday!

North Beach Walking Tour Saturday!

Fans who took my tour a few months ago called to see if I would do a tour of North Beach for out-of-town guests this Saturday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m. Do you want to join us? Get to know my my favorite restaurants, bakeries, food shops, art galleries 

North Beach 2012 – A New Dawn

North Beach 2012 – A New Dawn

A new dawn in San Francisco’s North Beach? Will the Village be stronger in 2012 than it has been in 60 years?

North Beach Boutique Crawl Thursday Night

North Beach Boutique Crawl Thursday Night

The annual North Beach Holiday Boutique Crawl – this Thursday, December 8, 6-9pm – is a great opportunity to discover the new businesses and to renew your ties to merchants who have been here for years.

Deep Dish in North Beach?

Deep Dish in North Beach?

Will Capos on Vallejo bring deep dish pizza to North Beach?

Song of Pulcinella Mural In Hiding

Song of Pulcinella Mural In Hiding

3 weeks to the day since the heavily damaged North Beach Song of Pulcinella mural was rescued from the dumpster and he’s back in his all his glory. Today we gathered at Emerald Tablet where the artist Vranas restored his mural. We had to position