48 Hills | Independent daily San Francisco news + culture

Low, low turnout so far for crucial local election; what does that mean?

Wiener opponents look for progressive votes as Preston, the only democratic socialist to hold local office in years, pushes for Chan

Campaign Trail Tim Redmond - May 28, 2026

BIG WEEK: Margaret Cho, Bay Area Book Fest, Porch Fest, Brewfest, New Sam Wo…

Fou Fou Ha!, Aja Monet, Lea Delaria, 'The Barber of Seville,' Agnes Varda, Shigeto, DVS1, DocFest... what to do!

Big Week Marke B. - May 28, 2026

Screen Grabs: Fêting a visionary film noir genius

Cinematographer John Alton was all over the genre. Plus: three by Agnes Varda, a slew of French noirs, and Brendan Fraser gets miscast.

Movies Dennis Harvey - May 28, 2026

Ladytron resurfaces, with the cool synth pleasures of ‘Paradises’

'Without electroclash, there’s no Lady Gaga,' says band that embodied and transcended that scene, returning to SF.

Music Joshua Rotter - May 27, 2026

Gaming

The brilliant new puzzler made by a Davis student partially out of spite

Leah Isobel - May 27, 2026

Lucas Immanuel's 'The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time' turns retro mystery role-play inside out and sideways.

Featured

How many ‘l’s are in ‘Google’?

Marke B. - May 27, 2026

As local newsrooms embrace AI, 48 Hills remains 100% human. But our matching $50K fundraiser deadline looms.

Onstage

Drama Masks: Living beyond the shadow of a ‘Doubt’

Charles Lewis III - May 27, 2026

Anticipating Opera Parallèle’s latest—as the Pope rails against AI. Plus: SF Opera's upcoming streams, and a new SF Symphony leader.

Art Review

In a different light: How Venice fixed Monet

Lou Fancher - May 26, 2026

From canals to water lilies, de Young pays homage to two months in 'La Serenissima' that rejuvenated virtuoso's career.

Sponsored link

Win free tickets to acclaimed Deadhead doc opening DocFest!

Contest Marke B. - May 26, 2026

This Thursday, 'ride shotgun with the swirling world of Deadheads as Dead & Company embarks on its final tour.'

Shoegaze dreamers Chapterhouse leap back into ‘Whirlpool,’ 35 years on

Music Joshua Rotter - May 26, 2026

'Incredible pop tunes hidden in all that noise': UK outfit's landmark LP swam in scene's deep end—and still grows in influence.

Screen Grabs: 25th DocFest brings high-heeled anarchy, Amazing Sea Monkeys, rock star wangs

Movies Dennis Harvey - May 25, 2026

Oakland tent evictions, queer rights in Cuba, a Palestinian comedy club, NOFX and Grateful Dead jams also on menu.

OPINION: Commissions are about engagement. Abolishing them is a bad idea

Opinion Tim Paulson - May 25, 2026

I was a commissioner. Then I was fired. Here's why we need more, not less, civic participation

New Melgar-Lurie plan for affordable housing is great; cutting other funding is not

Housing Tim Redmond - May 24, 2026

Expanding the Housing Trust Fund could bring in $125 million a year. Repealing Prop. I could wipe out almost as much

A legendary planning commissioner plans to retire after 20 years of exceptional service

The Agenda Tim Redmond - May 24, 2026

Mandelman can now reshape panel to be more developer-friendly. Plus: Dorsey's drug-free housing bill is back—but who's going to pay for it? That's The Agenda for May 24-June 1

Screen Grabs: Soapy ‘Diamonds’ may just be the Italian ‘Steel Magnolias’

Movies Dennis Harvey - May 21, 2026

Plus: Hitchcock Fest hits the Balboa, while Alamo Drafthouse celebrates Brian De Palma's Hitchcockian breakthroughs.

Drama Masks: Taking an inch… and finishing the hat

Stage Review Charles Lewis III - May 21, 2026

'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' at NCTC cranks things up and down. Plus: The colorful drama of SFMOMA's 'Woman in a hat'

Under the Stars: Sweet summer sounds heat up, from Yerba Buena to SFJAZZ

Music John-Paul Shiver - May 21, 2026

Dub Mission, Dirtybird Campout, Total Accord Fest, more roll in with the fog. But why is DJ Shadow dissing SF?

BIG WEEK: Carnaval, World Goth Night, American Football, secret Hologram burger…

Big Week Marke B. - May 21, 2026

Primitive Ring, Foodieland, Laraaji, Hitchcock Fest, 'Songs from a Sinking Ship,' Terry Riley at 90, more to do!

Composer Tyler Taylor’s ‘secret’ mission: sneak some sax back into the symphony

Music Marke B. - May 21, 2026

Emerging Black Composers Project-winner brings 'Embers' to Davies Hall, pushing a marginalized horn to center stage.

Lurie wants to undermine Free City College

City Hall Tim Redmond - May 20, 2026

The life-changing program that has attracted national attention is facing a devastating budget cut—in defiance of the will of the voters

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Movies

Screen Grabs: Fêting a visionary film noir genius

Cinematographer John Alton was all over the genre. Plus: three by Agnes Varda, a slew of French noirs, and Brendan Fraser gets miscast.

Movies Dennis Harvey - May 28, 2026

Screen Grabs: Soapy ‘Diamonds’ may just be the Italian ‘Steel Magnolias’

Boots Riley is here to boost you

Screen Grabs: Forbidden, foreboding ‘Hitler, A Film From Germany’ returns

Music

Ladytron resurfaces, with the cool synth pleasures of ‘Paradises’

'Without electroclash, there’s no Lady Gaga,' says band that embodied and transcended that scene, returning to SF.

Music Joshua Rotter - May 27, 2026

Shoegaze dreamers Chapterhouse leap back into ‘Whirlpool,’ 35 years on

Under the Stars: Sweet summer sounds heat up, from Yerba Buena to SFJAZZ

Composer Tyler Taylor’s ‘secret’ mission: sneak some sax back into the symphony

Art

In a different light: How Venice fixed Monet

From canals to water lilies, de Young pays homage to two months in 'La Serenissima' that rejuvenated virtuoso's career.

Art Review Lou Fancher - May 26, 2026

Blending archeology and translation, Paola de la Calle’s art digs deep

Karyn Gabriel’s ceramic sculptures ask, ‘Is beauty important?’

Brian McDonald’s waggish works key into an overstimulated world

Sponsored link

Housing

New Melgar-Lurie plan for affordable housing is great; cutting other funding is not

Expanding the Housing Trust Fund could bring in $125 million a year. Repealing Prop. I could wipe out almost as much

Housing Tim Redmond - May 24, 2026

Cutting fees for developers has not encouraged much new housing

Tax on big business for housing has been a huge success

The best and worst of CA housing policy, on display at UCLA conference

Politics

Low, low turnout so far for crucial local election; what does that mean?

Wiener opponents look for progressive votes as Preston, the only democratic socialist to hold local office in years, pushes for Chan

Campaign Trail Tim Redmond - May 28, 2026

A legendary planning commissioner plans to retire after 20 years of exceptional service

Lurie wants to undermine Free City College

Pelosi endorses Chan. What does that mean for the Congressional race?

Opinion

OPINION: Commissions are about engagement. Abolishing them is a bad idea

I was a commissioner. Then I was fired. Here's why we need more, not less, civic participation

Opinion Tim Paulson - May 25, 2026

Letter to the Editor: Lurie’s ‘Reset Center’ is a disaster waiting to happen

Progressives never push term limits

What if Tom Steyer wasn’t a billionaire any more?

Sponsored link

Performance

Drama Masks: Living beyond the shadow of a ‘Doubt’

Anticipating Opera Parallèle’s latest—as the Pope rails against AI. Plus: SF Opera's upcoming streams, and a new SF Symphony leader.

Onstage Charles Lewis III - May 27, 2026

48 hillsIndependent San Francisco News + Culture

48 hillsIndependent San Francisco News + Culture

48 Hills is community-supported journalism

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