Total SF

Bison may not be native to San Francisco, but they have a lasting legacy in the history of the city and Golden Gate Park. Western Neighborhoods Project executive director Nicole Meldahl joins Total SF hosts Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub to talk about the 1891 bison arrival in S.F., numerous escapes, Dianne Feinstein's weird bison gift and that time the Golden Gate Park superintendent wanted to feed excess bison to the bears. Knight and Hartlaub also give an Official Animal of San Francisco update — talking about the demise of the seagulls.

Learn more about Western Neighborhoods Project at outsidelands.org.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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Methuselah the Australian lungfish arrived at the Steinhart Aquarium in 1938, when Willie Mays was six years old and Al Capone was still seeing time in Alcatraz. Cal Academy of Sciences biologist Ryan Schaeffer gives Total SF co-hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight a tour of the famous fish's enclosure, before talking about the life, care, puppy-like quirks and history of the world's oldest fish in a zoological settling.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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March is animal month on Total SF, where hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight showcase some of the most iconic animals in San Francisco, and poll listeners and readers to determine the official animal of San Francisco. First up is an up-close feeding with Claude the albino alligator, and an interview with California Academy of Sciences biologist Emma Kocina. She talks about Claude's training, the details behind his breakup with alligator roommate Bonnie and the strange things people drop in Cal Academy enclosures.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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C.J. Holmes joined the San Francisco Chronicle last year with some unique experience to cover the Warriors beat — he was a Division I basketball player who competed against current NBA stars. Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight meet Holmes, shoot around at a park near the newsroom, and ask Holmes about his journey from playing ball to covering the current world champions. Holmes also breaks down the wild and erratic current Warriors season, talking about the current chemistry while breaking down the possibilities for another playoff run.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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San Francisco is filled with excellent music venues, from historic spots including the Great American Music Hall and SF Masonic to the brand new Chase Center. Dublin poet Laureate James Morehouse joins hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight to draft their nine favorite music venues in San Francisco, and tell stories about some of their favorite concerts in the city. Morehead wrote the upcoming book "At the Barricade," celebrating San Francisco's music venues through his poetry and photography.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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For Valentine's Day, Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub, Heather Knight and Tony Bravo head to the Cupid's Span sculpture along the Embarcadero to pick 12 of the most romantic spots in San Francisco. The picks include some less obvious spots, including the most romantic view in San Francisco, a tour of Chinatown and North Beach and two romantic walks through the Presidio.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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This Valentine's Day is the 50th anniversary of Ruth Asawa's most community-minded work, her San Francisco Fountain, which was conceived with baker's dough and made with contributions from more than a hundred locals ages 3 to 90. Asawa's grandson Henry Weverka joins Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub, Heather Knight and Tony Bravo to talk about Ruth Asawa's legacy, growing interest in her work, the Apple Store controversy and the history and wonderful details of the fountain.

More information about Asawa and her work at www.ruthasawa.com.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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Anchor Brewing has been a big part of San Francisco for more than a century, surviving Prohibition as the only steam beer left in San Francisco, then leading the craft beer movement after innovative brewer Fritz Maytag took over in 1965. Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight got an Anchor Brewing tour from brewmaster Dane Volek, then sat down to talk about Anchor history, the controversial label change and what is was like joining the Anchor team as a 20-year-old San Francisco State student 15 years ago.

Also in the episode, Knight and Hartlaub take three calls from the Total SF Party Line. Ask a question or make a request to the Total SF team at 415-777-7413.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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With two new penguin chicks arriving at California Academy of Sciences late last year, Academy biologist Holly Rosenblum gave the Total SF team a behind-the-scenes tour — and an exclusive interview with the baby birds. Also in this episode, hosts Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub announce their new quest to find an official animal of San Francisco (the penguins are nominated!) and Rosenblum explains the international breeding program to save the African penguins — which includes travel on commercial flights.

Learn more about the African penguin colony and the best time to visit at calacademy.org

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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With wet weather hitting San Francisco, Stuart "Broke-Ass Stuart" Schuffman joins Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle archive to talk about free things to do in 2023. Choices include a free museum in the city with no fee, hidden parks near the Financial District, the best outdoor movie series and the best free basketball action in the city. Get tips from Broke-Ass Stuart and his new book Slouching Toward Neverland at www.brokeassstuart.com

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music from the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community," Castro Theatre organist David Hegarty and cable car bell-ringing by 8-time champion Byron Cobb. Follow Total SF adventures at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsf 

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