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1 month ago | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro |Zara Stone
We spent all day working from the Rivian showroom in Hayes Valley, and no one tried to sell us a truck. Even after WeWork’s dramatic downsizing, San Francisco boasts an array of coworking spots where you can set up shop with your laptop, from the vibey Shack15 to the Ikea-adjacent Hej!Workshop and, of course, the Capital One Café in Union Square.
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1 month ago | 
sfstandard.com | Kevin Truong |Jillian D’Onfro
Rogelio Colindres, an immigrant from El Salvador, took over the Acre Cafe in the Presidio in 2012. Colindres renamed the shop, located in what was the pharmacy of a former Army hospital, and revamped the menu. In more than 10 years running Cafe RX, he has served breakfast and lunch to office workers and tourists taking in the Presidio’s verdant expanse.
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2 months ago | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro |Sara Deseran
Love is in the air, as are the wafting scents of truffle and garlic, as couples count down the hours until their Valentine’s Day dinner plans. If you’re nervous — about whether you scored the right reservation or if your date will be duly dazzled by your charm — you’re not alone. The restaurateurs are stressed out too. “To be blunt, when sex is involved, there is a nervousness,” said Ryan Cole, owner of romantic hot spots like Trestle, 7 Adams, and The Vault Steakhouse.
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2 months ago | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro |Kevin Truong
In 2021, a mentally disturbed man scrambled to the roof of the Castro Theatre and smashed the venue's signature neon marquee, mangling a symbol of an iconic San Francisco neighborhood. The sign had been in disrepair for years, often with a letter or two burned out from its lighted display. That metaphor was reflected in stories Castro residents and merchants told during the pandemic of declining street conditions, increasing vacancies, and the distinct feeling of an area in decline.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro
The stories told by small business owners in San Francisco generally veer more horrific than heartwarming. But a bright yellow shop at Pier 39 with a silly concept chosen on impulse has been a runaway success. Called Kwak, the store sells basically one thing: toy ducks. And it's damn good at it. The shop sold 50,000 ducks last year across roughly 600 styles. The shop is profitable, its founders say, and garnering interest from potential franchisees. It pays, apparently, to have a gimmick.
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Jan 13, 2025 | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro
The suspect in Thompson's killing, Luigi Mangione, has been lauded by some as a folk hero fighting back against the insurance industry. The specter of copycats has spurred some healthcare companies to heighten security for their execs. Eleven large firms - including insurer Cigna, healthcare provider Centene, and pharmacy chain Walgreens - dropped out of the conference in the wake of the shooting, according to Stat News. Some attendees are on higher guard.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro
As traditional insurers have fled, non-admitted providers are filling in the gap. That makes some consumer advocates nervous. "Up until this crisis started to develop a few years ago, I would never have recommended to any consumer that they even consider insuring their home through a surplus line insurer," said Amy Bach, executive director of the nonprofit United Policyholders.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro |Kevin Nguyen |Kevin Nguyễn
Perception has a funny way of leading reality. Thanks to a continued uptick in international travel and a packed calendar of high-profile events, 2025 is slated to be the year the important tourism industry finally starts shedding the baggage of San Francisco's reputation problem and thrives again. "We've been so caught up fighting this from a public relations perspective," said Anna Marie Prescutti, the newly appointed CEO of SF Travel, the city's official marketing organization.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro
San Francisco's budget just suffered another blow. As office buildings languish downtown, the city's transfer tax revenue - that is, the money it collects on real estate transactions - waned in the most recent fiscal year to its lowest point in more than a decade, according to a report from the city controller's office. San Francisco Business Times first reported the report's findings.
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
sfstandard.com | Jillian D’Onfro
Didn't get the message? If you're concerned because your phone didn't join the beeping chorus, we're here to help. To start, check your device settings and make sure you're set up to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts. The program, run by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, allows public safety agencies to issue alerts and warnings, but you must allow the messages through your phone's settings.
