Sf bay area maps

This holiday season, restaurants in the Bay Area are operating closer to pre-pandemic normal than ever before — though a confluence of respiratory illnesses on the rise could mean trouble, already forcing the temporary closure of one popular San Francisco eatery. During the first winter of the COVID-19 pandemic , in 2020, restaurants were completely shuttered except for takeout. While vaccines and boosters led to the easing of public health measures during the holiday season in 2021, many Bay Area restaurants temporarily closed down as the original omicron variant sent cases soaring to unprecedented heights. This year, while wastewater samples indicate a new coronavirus surge is under way, restaurants are allowed to operate essentially without COVID restrictions. That means they’ve welcomed back big group reservations and large holiday parties, and especially with the recent chilly weather, more people are opting to dine indoors. But this year also brings a new obstacle: … [Read more...] about Time to rethink indoor dining again? These are the Bay Area’s ‘tripledemic’ risks

A mountain lion that entered a Santa Rosa home and dragged a dog outside on Nov. 28 was euthanized by a Sonoma County trapper on Dec. 3, officials said. California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Ken Paglia said the agency had issued a depredation permit to the county for the animal, which had also killed goats on the same property. Rebecca Kracker, the owner of the dog and goats, was relieved the wild animal was killed but wrote in a lengthy Dec. 4 Facebook post that she wishes the issue had been resolved sooner. "This animal was undeniably sick and in need of being put down," Kracker wrote on Facebook. "... Losses happen, but this cat was out of control. It posed a safety threat considering that it was bold enough to enter my home and take a 70 lb border collie. Then had no concern for the presence of humans and continued stalking my house for hours following the attempted kill." Kracker shared a detailed account of the mountain lion's attack on Facebook. She … [Read more...] about ‘Shock’: Mountain lion enters Bay Area home, drags dog outside

On the heels of the recent 2022 Michelin Guide announcements , restaurant reservation service OpenTable has released some accolades of its own. A total of five Bay Area restaurants made OpenTable's list of "Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants in America" for this year. Three of these restaurants are in San Francisco: old-school red meat institution House of Prime Rib , upscale Greek restaurant Kokkari Estiatorio and waterfront Peruvian spot La Mar Cebicheria Peruana. The other two were in Napa County: Italian restaurant Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa and French eatery Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. OpenTable generated its list from more than 13 million reviews on its site between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022 — reviews that can only be written by diners who book reservations via OpenTable. A restaurant's overall score is determined by "overall diner rating, user klout, total number of reviews, and regional overall rating," according to a press release . House of Prime … [Read more...] about OpenTable names 5 Bay Area restaurants among ‘most beloved’ in America

After Thursday’s quarrel with isolated thunderstorms , strong winds and downpours, the Bay Area will be in a bit of a weather lull this Friday morning. But this period of light showers will be short-lived as another winter storm sets its sights on California this weekend. A strong low-pressure system over the Gulf of Alaska will spin into California late Friday night and into Saturday morning, bringing round-after-round of heavy rain and snow showers to the coast. These showers will spread to the Bay Area and Sierra Nevada by Saturday afternoon, becoming more intense along ski resorts and passes in the Tahoe area through Sunday morning. Bursts of rain and winds will then spread south along Highway 1, encompassing the LA and San Diego metros by Sunday afternoon. The stage is set for a statewide winter storm that will introduce some challenges for residents and travelers alike all weekend long. The ‘weather engine’ for this weekend The engine for this upcoming winter storm … [Read more...] about Thunderstorms, heavy rain in the forecast for Bay Area this weekend. Here’s when the storm arrives

Months after most people cast their masks aside, Bay Area health officials are encouraging them to put face coverings back on as the region gets hit with a triple threat of respiratory viruses — COVID-19, flu and RSV. But don’t expect the type of sweeping government mandates we saw during the first two years of the pandemic. “Masking is a personal choice,” Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told NPR’s All Things Considered on Thursday. “You don’t need to wait for CDC’s recommendation, certainly, to wear a mask.” California and the Bay Area are seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, positivity rates, and hospitalizations just as the holidays get into full swing, prompting inevitable questions. What are the current best practices for staying healthy? How much caution is needed? And will masks be required? Blanket government mandates are unlikely at this point — but with exceptions. Given the risk of pushback from the public, … [Read more...] about Is the Bay Area heading back to mandatory masking? Here’s what to expect

There is nothing quite like Tal Palo on the Peninsula. A combination Mexican cafe and shop opening Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 149 Main St. in downtown Los Altos, it’s a deeply personal homage to the lives and roots of co-owners Adriana Dominguez and Aaron Porter. In a space designed to feel like an extension of their home, the couple will serve a small, often-changing menu that parallels their home cooking: two kinds of chilaquiles and molletes, toast topped with refried beans, melted cheese and salsa. Chilaquiles will be made with crispy, house-made tortilla chips and two kinds of roasted salsa: one red and mellow with a mix of dried chiles, one spicy and green from a base of tomatillos. They’ll be served with black beans and a slice of toast to soak up the rich sauce. The menu will expand to include dishes like pozole, pan dulce (Mexican pastries, such as conchas ) and tacos on fresh tortillas. Some days, they’ll grind masa for fresh corn tortillas; others, they’ll lean on the … [Read more...] about Spicy chilaquiles with homemade tortillas star at new Bay Area cafe