The real estate and financial speculation (i.e. high tech/dot com bubble) that has taken place under a corrupt mayor (a development attorney for Catellus, the successor to the railways) here in San Francisco might be a future chapter in this book. This is a fascinating read. I've even taken an SF history class with an Alioto (family of a former mayor, Joseph A.), and I still learned a lot. Hilarious, informative, reads like fiction, based on fact. Pelosi, Feinstein, Boxer, Newsom, Brown, Burton, Warren Hinckle, Ted Fang... These are their predecessors. The newspaper publishers, reporters, prostitutes and corrupt politicians. Read about all of them. You won't be able to put it down!

Old San Francisco at its best. Interesting stories about fascinating people. And best of all, because it contains twenty separate stories, you can pick it up any time and read for twenty minutes or so without losing the context.

For a period of three decades Raymond Clary was San Francisco's most persistent defender of Golden Gate Park from those who sought to acquire the land for their exclusive use, to put up and expand buildings on the land, and to convert the land into money-making venues. Because his criticisms of park encroachers were caustic, witty and informed, it was to be expected that he incurred the wrath of those he rebuked. While Mr. Clary's sharp and eloquent voice has been stilled, despoilers of Golden Gate Park continue to clamor for buildings, museums, monuments, sports arenas, and facilities for special groups. The park needs defenders like Ray Clary to keep the land open, free and green for future generations. Though his books could benefit from condensation, they provide San Franciscans with instructions in the care of park environments it would be well for them to read and to heed.

The Making of Golden Gate Park is one work which must be a necessary reference; this says not only what a park was, or should be; but how it was set out in the beginning to be that special place in time. An interesting look at what created in sand had became a feature of the landscape of memories. Mr. Clary was a fantastic researcher with greater powers of understanding than even his public knew, envisioning how the park should look way into the future, many planners over the years borrowed his sentiments freely and grafted their public policy onto his outlines. One benefit being the Golden Gate Headlands National Park, an outgrowth of his promotion of open space for city-dwellers idea. Oddly enough, although he was praised by Herb Caen and much was done to preserve open-space, the main concept for conservation of this unique park as a very special and individual place aside from time has been consistantly resisted by every city and county functionary over the last 30-years!

I just finished this book and must say I really enjoyed it. The characters seem so real and the plot was very good. This is a good book to read if you want something not to dark and heavy with a little humor. Love Kate Austen and can't wait to read the next books in this series. I would like to know what will happen with her relationship with Michael. If your looking for a quick read pick up Jonnie Jacobs books as soon as you can. They will not dissapoint you.

I just completed the second in the Kate Austen series in lessthan a week. I can't wait for the next two books in the series toarrive from Amazon. Again, this was a wonderful mystery. The mystery is witty, suspenseful, and fun to read. Miss Jacobs neatly ties all of the characters and events together. She also has a wonderful sense of humor when it comes to raising children. Kate's relationship with her daughter is very amusing. There is a lot of intrigue between Kate and her new boyfiend/homicide detective Michael Stone. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Lou Spenser's dogged investigation into the death of her co-worker is suspenseful, witty, and sexy. If you have ever had a thing for lesbian cops this is your chance to indulge yourself! The characters are believable--you'll feel as though you know them, and you'll definitely want more Lou Spenser mysteries. Ms. Beale has to provide us with them!

Finally a well-written, fun and suspenseful mystery set in the Castro district of San Francisco. The author does an excellent job of telling the stories and lives of her gay and lesbian characters. I felt like I knew each character on an intimate level. By injecting the uniquely British wit of the protaganist, this book deals with the controversial issues of anti-gay crime, domestic violence, police brutality and political corruption while still being highly entertaining and humorous. I couldn't put it down! Buy this book as a holiday gift for your closest queer friends. They'll love you for it!

Ms Doss introduced a great concept: great walks in a great area. Her love for the Bay Area is almost unsurpassed by her knowledge and research into the areas she focuses on. Her writing style is fun, sentimental, and very descriptive. I took a lot of the walks she mentioned and had many enjoyable times. I heartily recommend all of her books if you can find them.

I remembered this book from a newspaper review years ago. My husband and I started using it for walking in San Francisco last month. We have been discovering places in San Francisco that we never imagined existed and learning about the history as well. It has been years since I have been so enthusiastic about a book.

Nicest format, best layout, best and last one I'll ever have to buy. The yearly updates really keep me up to speed. Thank you CT.

I'm never buying another book. Finally a book that I don't have to read a story to make a drink. The layout is logical & easy to follow with quantity & liquor in the order to be added, followed by how the drink is prepared ( blended, chilled, layered, etc.) followed by the kind of glass and ice and garnish. No time consuming BS to read through. It's got pictures of all the types of glasses so you don't have to guess, & a table of terminology so I didn't have to wonder what something meant. Has a cross reference by alcohol so I can show it to people who aren't sure of what it is they want i.e. "It had some Bailey's in it and was in a short glass and was kind of light brown... You know?" And all the coffee drinks are separated and the shooters are marked so they are easy to find. It even has a separate blank section with it's own index page for my own stuff and the house specialties of every place I've worked, and they update it every year so I don't have to buy another one. Great chart shows how to make my own layered drinks too. It even stays open to the page your reading until you close it. Best bar book I've ever had, HIGHLY recomend it.

I bought this book entirely on the fact that I spotted the discussion of "kinkeeper" when I skimmed through this book. This idea, though not original to the author of this book, was a real revelation to me when I first saw it in this book. It really blew me away, though in hindsight it seems so obvious. There is a gay couple in my family tree and I always wondered why the half who was my blood kin wasn't the same one who kept in touch with me, rather, it's his other half who regularly does. My other relatives, it's usually the half I'm related to by blood who keeps in touch with me. The instant I saw in this book the concept of "kinkeeper," all of a sudden I realized, my cuz wasn't the kinkeeper, rather, it was his life partner who had assumed that role in their communications with me! I had wondered previously if, on some level, something was wrong re my connection with my cuz. But in fact, all I needed to do in my own mind was, at least for this particular couple, to separate out the role of "kinkeeper" from my other usual expectations of blood kin. As a result of this book, therefore, I feel better now about my connection with my cuz. [Truth in reporting: This is the only part of this book that I've read so far. My rating does not apply to any other part of this book.]

This book offers an concise, realistic look into the everyday lives of gays and lesbians. The dynamics of "our" relationships and how we choose to make our homes, lives and create our families are revealed thru the tales of different couples. I found this book especially fascinating and useful in my situation. My partner and I have an extended chosen family as we live with another couple. We can relate to so many issues faced by some of the couples the book. This is a definite MUST READ for any gay couple!

What a beautiful book covering San Francisco California and done with Photograph's. Teh Photographer captures the joy and struggle along with the struggle of picking yourself up and starting all over after the most desvating earth quake the city had even seen.

J.B. Monaco was an Italian-Swiss photographer working in North Beach, San Francisco's Italian center, around the turn of the century. This book, written by Richard Dillon and documented with Monaco's photographs, gives the reader a true feeling for one of the early Italian American districts on the West Coast. Monaco's photos bring the book to life, each of them like a slice of time from turn of the century San Francisco. His images of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 are of particular interest, many of which capture images never seen in any photographic collection. The book is a must for anyone intereseted in San Francisco (and particularly North Beach) history, and the early Italian-American experience in the United States.

"Oranges on Golden Mountain" is an excellent children's book. The text by Elizabeth Partridge is complemented by Aki Sogabe's colorful illustrations.

"Oranges" tells the story of Jo Lee, a Chinese boy who emigrates to California, where he works as a fisherman with his uncle. He misses his mother, who is still in China, but he plants orange branches that she gave him to take on his journey.

This is a realistic immigrant story with some fantastic/supernatural touches that evoke traditional Chinese beliefs. Illustrator Aki Sogabe creates many memorable scenes: a letter writer engaged in Chinese calligraphy, the Dragon King flying over a stormy ocean, Jo Lee tending his orange saplings, and more. To sum up: this is an excellent book for children of all cultures.

Jo Lee has to leave China because his family orchard can not support everyone after two dry years in a row. Mother uses the last of the money Father sent to get Jo Lee to Fourth Uncle in California. She knows he will have food there and learn to fish. Jo Lee's comfort is that he can send his Hun, his dream spirit, to keep in touch with his family in China. He leaves his family orchard for California with the bundle of orange tree twigs his mother gives to him. When he reaches Golden Mountain, Fourth Uncle helps him plant the twigs.

When the orange twigs root and bloom, Jo Lee's hope bloom too. Then, when he sleeps, his Hun travels to China to tell his mother. A heart-tugging story of the sacrifice made by a Chinese boy to help his family during hard times.

The cut paper drawings, by illustrator Aki Sogabe, beautifully compliment this story. The white caps,the swirling water, the fishing net, the misty Hun, and the clouds are superb illustrations for this simple little story.

This book was very well written. It provided an in-depth analysis to the politics of Latin America. Francisco Durand is a great writer and also a famous professor of poltical sciences. Good job!

Sweeping changes in many Latin American nations have transformed business elites into key political and economic players. This volume analyzes the extent to which economic and political changes have convinced business elites to strengthen their employers associations to influence the policy process. Also explored are the implications of these changes for the consolidation of democracy.