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Yesterday's Olympic torch run — the only one slated to takes place in the states after a slew of other U.S. cities canceled their celebrations — had suspense, mystery and intrigue, along with an undercurrent of potential danger. Thousands of protesters supporting a free Tibet, as well as those celebrating China's upcoming Olympics, gathered along the 6-mile route scheduled to host the torch run. But, little did they know, the San Francisco police (and their Chinese "thug" cohorts) had something else in store. . . . (photo)
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The 2008 Beijing Olympics are still four months away, but they've already started with a bang. Activists who oppose China's occupation of Tibet have been holding huge protests as the Olympic torch makes its customary pre-games lap around the globe. In the past week, the torch toured Paris and London with an entourage of local policemen and Chinese security personnel. In spite of all the guards, protesters forced the torch to be extinguished for the first time in modern Olympic history. If you want to get in on all of the "Free Tibet" fun, the Olympic torch will be stopping in fourteen more cities between tomorrow and April 29th. The good people at Google have made a map showing all of the remaining cities along the torch's route. The tour includes such exciting destinations as San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and the hometown of everyone's favorite despot — Pyongyang!
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There's no workout less satisfying than the free yoga class at your gym. You know, the one with sticky, sweat-speckled floors, the constant bang of dropped weights, and that tweaky, cut-rate Pilates instructor just trying to pick up extra cash. Why settle for half-assed when the Bay area is teeming with great yoga teachers and studios in every neighborhood? These are the best places to get your hala-asana on, whether you're a beginner or a near-yogi. Almost every studio offers a great deal on packages for first timers, so take advantage and try at least a few. (jackpotfbd/flickr)
"Hard Core" and "knitting" don't often turn up in the same sentence, but in this era of makers and doers and DIY, knitting has gained prominence as the pseudo-ironic pastime of choice for urban hipsters and their grandmas alike. I say "pseudo" because it's very easy to get sucked into this hobby until you dream earnestly of purls and puke circular needles. That's the other side of hardcore here, along with sweaters with knit skulls on them and people who store their needles in their piercings (I kid you not).
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Gansevoort South, Miami.
All-you-can-eat specials are usually only offered in Vegas or suburbia. In cities like San Francisco, the restaurants are wiser and the diners greedier — a side effect of paying ridiculous rents and having constant munchies. Short of hitting the Daly City Sizzler or milking the Olive Garden's unlimited salad and bread sticks, what's a serious eater/cheap bastard/tapeworm-haver to do? Luckily, if you know where to look you can find some excellent restaurants with unlimited buffets, steaks, cocktails, and tempura right under your nose. So go forth and binge, purge, and binge some more. (photo)
Much like bumper stickers, tattoos say something about you. Sure, they don't scream "angry sailor" like they used to, thanks to tattoos being welcomed into the "mainstream" (and by mainstream, we mean Britney). Since you're inked for life, it only makes sense to deliberate over your artist like making a car purchase — no returns, and getting rid of it is more trouble than it's worth. Here are some of the best tattoo shops in San Francisco. I happen to like Japanese-style tattoos (which make up the majority of the pics here) but all these tattoo shops offer a variety of styles. So what are you waiting for? Go grab some ink! (photo)
This morning the Today Show, took a look at the latest symptom in America's sick obsession with celebrity— fake Paparazzi parties. The Today folks weren't the first to get to this story, but their segment was extra funny because they sent their camera crews to accompany a group of Texan "newlyweds" who took pretend paparazzi along for their big night out. The women led by Kendall, a "call center administrator," had a pack of fake stalker photographers chase them through the streets of Austin. The clip includes interviews with the suburban wannabe starlets shamelessly explaining their craving for attention and shots of the bewildered reactions the group of pseudo-celebrities receives from confused bystanders.
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The Guardian selects the best design hotels under £100 around the world. In Scandinavia there are both Stockholm's Hotel Clarion Sign and Copenhagen's Danhostel, while in Buenos Aires there's Home Hotel. In Sri Lanka, Geoffrey Bawa's Kandalama gets a mention; in Paris it's Hotel La Manufacture; and, in San Francisco, there's the Hotel Kabuki. [The Guardian]
Is your relationship in need of some spark? Are you looking to bring some healthy exploration into the bedroom? Unhealthy exploration? Anyone who's not your significant other? A ball-gag? San Francisco is hands-down one of the best cities for curious couples interested in a little guilt-free kink. Unfortunately, finding a third for your ménage à trois requires being in the right place at the right time. Craigslist is a crap shoot, and escorts can be icky (well, except for her, she's smokin'), so we've made a list of spots filled with willing hotties for every taste. Be classy: buy them some drinks first and a cab after. 
Ahh, the college bar scene. The 21st birthday celebrations, the many rounds of shots, the "girls' night out" storming of the bars. San Francisco has colleges, but it isn't really a college town: so where do nubile young coeds go to imbibe? Surely the dorms and nearby craphole housing units have raging 20 and under parties, but as a non-student, they're usually hard to find and hard to crash, and sometimes being called an old perv stings. Instead, throw yourself in destiny's way and head over to these bars. They are the unofficial watering holes of colleges in San Francisco, and will not be uber-trendy (it helps with sneaking in 19 and 20-year olds). They'll also be easy on the wallet and packed with other students. Let the college games begin.
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