Say what you will about architects, the good ones tend to be optimists. For instance, they believe that they can use design to create cozy nooks for everyday people in brash big cities. Such faith is heartening — and often no match for how cities really work. I was reminded of this blunt truth while lounging in the publicly accessible ground floor of 505 Brannan St. near Mission Bay, the new headquarters for Pinterest.

San Francisco’s public spaces — it’s not always apparent they’re public

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If children obsessed with buses and trains and all manner of public transportation could envision their dream office, it would be San Francisco’s cable car barn. Many of the people who work there grew up in the city, loved riding the cable cars as kids, and can’t quite believe they make their living tending to a fleet that doubles as a national historic landmark.

While decorating a cable car, I discovered the magic of San Francisco — again

Nancy Pelosi did the impossible — she out-Trumped Trump on live TV. When it comes to media ambushes, our reality TV star president is the master. Just ask “Little Marco,” “Lying Ted,” “Low Energy Jeb” and the other Republicans he dispatched in 2016. So when President Trump decided to take on Pelosi and her fellow Democratic congressional leader Sen.

Trashing Trump: Pelosi takes ownership of the president

The steel gangway from the pier in Oakland up to the main deck of the container ship Bai Chay Bridge was long, steep and a bit slippery, and Jamieson Prevoznak was having a tough time. He was hauling a heavy black plastic sack over his shoulder. The sack was full of Christmas presents. “Sometimes,” he said, “I think Santa Claus has it easy.

Volunteer ‘ministry of hospitality’ soothes seafarers with fellowship, supplies

Aparna Bhardwaj’s 15-year-old son, Nikash, and his best friend wanted to camp out all night in front of the new Shake Shack in Palo Alto before its opening. They wanted to be first in line. But it’s finals week, so the devoted mother made a deal with the boys. She would leave their house just 5 minutes away in Menlo Park at 6 a.m., she said, and save them a place at the front of the line — as long as they promised to study for their math final on Monday. Done, the boys said.

Bay Area’s first Shake Shack burger shop shakes up crowd with euphoria

A warning to all Santas. Don’t get plastered. And yet, Santa will get plastered. Hundreds of Santas. That’s what happens at SantaCon, the annual ad hoc gathering in downtown San Francisco of wobbly men and women in Santa and Mrs. Claus suits. It’s unofficial, it’s an institution, it’s either charming or obnoxious.  Ready or not, it’s on for Saturday. In San Francisco, SantaCon is acknowledged if not sanctioned.

San Francisco’s public spaces — it’s not always apparent they’re public

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