48 Hills | Independent daily San Francisco news + culture

Good Taste: Michael Mina can keep a secret

New PABU-Chan sake tasting room is lowkey, with undisclosed bento boxes from heaven.

Food & Drink Tamara Palmer - December 9, 2025

Michael Mina’s grand and savory return to Union Square

The classic SF chef's Bourbon Steak comes with plenty of meaty buzz—but don't skip the pasta.

Food & Drink Marke B. - December 9, 2025

The creepy sleeping pods might not even be legal

Apartment bidding wars are a problem, too—and the city can put an end to it

Housing Tim Redmond - December 9, 2025

Under the Stars: Band of the moment chokecherry gets a glow up

Plus: RIP Jimmy Cliff, Momoko Gill's massive debut, K-Lone's radiant house, La Luz gets 'Extra,' Davia Schendel crashes, more

Music John-Paul Shiver - December 9, 2025

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Immigration

SF fires immigrant advocate—and activists are confused and angry

Tim Redmond - December 8, 2025

'It's just weird.' Why was Richard Whipple fired from the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs?

Music

‘Mood Swings’ crooner Mario: ‘San Francisco has always been supportive of R&B’

Joshua Rotter - December 8, 2025

The singer talks to us about his new release, whose title pays homage to a time 'when R&B was in your favorite movies.'

Stage Review

Drama Masks: A visceral crawl through our wild moment in ‘weird inkling’

Charles Lewis III - December 8, 2025

With poignant hullaballoo, Keith Hennessy and Circo Zero literally tore it up at the figure it out dance festival.

Music

Fred Again surprised SF with ecstatic ‘USB002’ set—yes, in this economy

Andrew Brobst - December 8, 2025

Cameras down, hands up, bangers on deck at the UK favorite's Cow Palace reveal. It may have been worth selling that kidney

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Win tickets to Dillinger Escape Plan, Tape B, Ranger Trucco, MYD

Music Marke B. - December 8, 2025

Go see a banging show on us. Here's how to enter.

Chan stands up to her male colleagues—and suddenly they’re acting all offended

The Agenda Tim Redmond - December 7, 2025

Plus: An attack on formula retail bans, and a way to save Muni—with fair and progressive taxes. That's The Agenda for Dec. 7-14

At Zinn Fair, Steve Martinot connects police brutality to US fascism’s rise

Lit Andy Gillis - December 4, 2025

SFSU Instructor Emeritus has written several books on racism and police; he'll speak at social justice gathering.

Rich Family Zoning Plan faces CEQA suit

Housing Tim Redmond - December 4, 2025

The city relied on a three-year-old EIR for a different project; will that survive a court challenge?

BIG WEEK: Emory Douglas, Miss Major, Golden Girls, Glitterbox, Gumby’s Junk…

Big Week Marke B. - December 4, 2025

Recombinant Fest, Peter Pan, '1000 Whispers from Our Future,' 'Kill Bill,' Mariah Carey Drag Brunch, 'Cabaret,' more to do!

Screen Grabs: ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ rolls onto big screens

Movies Dennis Harvey - December 3, 2025

Plus: Librarians, feminists, prophets, poets, Plastic Man, Kurosawa, an uncut 'Kill Bill,' and 300-minute 'Castration Movie.'

SF’s plan for crime and unhoused people looks more and more like Trump’s every day

Homelessness Tim Redmond - December 3, 2025

Mayor's plans seem awfully similar to Trump executive orders

Under the Stars: Fresh new music nods to wrap up your year

Music John-Paul Shiver - December 3, 2025

Bandcamp Friday picks, Tortoise returns, the Beatles' latest, '80s Japanese swagger, SFJAZZ and Castro 2026 lineups.

Good Taste: A wily peek at new Japanese cafe Wild Fox

Food & Drink Tamara Palmer - December 3, 2025

Vacant to Vibrant spot from SPRO Coffee Lab owners stars marvelous vegan takikomi onigiri and Matcha Mango Shizuku.

Score a free pass to new movie ‘Song Sung Blue’

Promotion Marke B. - December 3, 2025

We've got 20 passes to give away to a preview screening of Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson's new movie—but act fast

Rich Family Zoning Plan passes, 7-4

Housing Tim Redmond - December 2, 2025

To say this creates affordable housing is a wild fantasy. Yet Lurie's allies all lined up against tenants and vulnerable communities.

Live Shots: Dickens Fair 2025 takes the plum cake—just watch for the squirrel

Festival Jon Bauer and Patty Riek - December 2, 2025

Vast annual Christmas extravaganza at Cow Palace recreates Victorian London, and comes with a furry friend.

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Movies

Screen Grabs: ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ rolls onto big screens

Plus: Librarians, feminists, prophets, poets, Plastic Man, Kurosawa, an uncut 'Kill Bill,' and 300-minute 'Castration Movie.'

Movies Dennis Harvey - December 3, 2025

Bravery among the books: ‘The Librarians’ fight censorship

Screen Grabs: Let’s get weird for the holidays at Another Hole in the Head

Cult actor Patrick Warburton horses around in ‘Zootopia 2’

Music

Under the Stars: Band of the moment chokecherry gets a glow up

Plus: RIP Jimmy Cliff, Momoko Gill's massive debut, K-Lone's radiant house, La Luz gets 'Extra,' Davia Schendel crashes, more

Music John-Paul Shiver - December 9, 2025

Fred Again surprised SF with ecstatic ‘USB002’ set—yes, in this economy

Win tickets to Dillinger Escape Plan, Tape B, Ranger Trucco, MYD

Under the Stars: Fresh new music nods to wrap up your year

Art

Old Masters meet old laptop in John Tarahteeff’s evocative canvases

East Sacramento artist utilizes digital tools and love for classical painting in process he calls 'chasing surprise.'

Art Mary Corbin - December 1, 2025

Contrarian art giant Jim Melchert found hope in the cracks

‘Data Trust’ envisions a technology of equity

From ball courts to Chase Center, Adia Millett captures the visual jazz of interconnectedness

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Housing

The creepy sleeping pods might not even be legal

Apartment bidding wars are a problem, too—and the city can put an end to it

Housing Tim Redmond - December 9, 2025

SF’s plan for crime and unhoused people looks more and more like Trump’s every day

Rich Family Zoning Plan passes, 7-4

Supes toss homeless advocate off the oversight commission she helped create

Politics

Chan stands up to her male colleagues—and suddenly they’re acting all offended

Plus: An attack on formula retail bans, and a way to save Muni—with fair and progressive taxes. That's The Agenda for Dec. 7-14

The Agenda Tim Redmond - December 7, 2025

New D4 supe faces defining vote on Lurie’s Rich Family Zoning Plan

Sauter, Sherrill vote to give the mayor power to solicit private money with no oversight

Lurie goes west to defend his Rich Family Zoning Plan…

Opinion

It’s the city’s fault that a rare earthquake shack is almost gone

City planners were asleep at the switch as a key piece of SF history was deeply damaged

Opinion Marc Norton - November 23, 2025

Drama Masks: In no mood for theatrics

Gee, maybe San Francisco needs a few more billionaires

The GOP speaker finds some anarchists in San Francisco

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48 hillsIndependent San Francisco News + Culture

48 hillsIndependent San Francisco News + Culture

48 Hills is community-supported journalism

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