This retro funhouse in Alameda has all the pinball you’ll ever need. — By Davy Carren Our world is replete with distractions. Everything is competing for your attention. It can be exhausting just trying to negotiate your way through it. But I’ve got an idea: Put your phone away. Take off your earbuds. Unplug. Tune it all out. Play some pinball.

Highlights from San Francisco’s annual tacky costume and running marathon — A sunny day we’ve seldom seen this year, but Bay to Breakers still brought us joy and silly outfits. Halloween for spring? Groundbreaking. The annual race is actually a 12K, but it’s just a party for many. Per usual, nudity abound in this year’s festivities, albeit we kept our photo…

Castro Street shut down to mourn the loss of an icon — Fair warning: A photo of butts is within these words. By Adriana Roberts It was a night to remember at the Castro Theatre as a community came together to mourn — but mostly to celebrate — the life of iconic drag legend, Heklina, who sadly passed away last month while…

One restaurant, a buzzy pizza-meets-global-plates and natural wine spot on Nob Hill; the other, a sunny Mexican newcomer on peaceful Levi’s Plaza. — By Virginia Miller One restaurant, a buzzy pizza-meets-global-plates and natural wine spot on Nob Hill; the other, a sunny Mexican newcomer on peaceful Levi’s Plaza. They may have slipped your notice, but don’t let them. …

The English and Mandarin language barrier is one China has acknowledged, and it’s also an issue near to playwright David Henry Hwang. — By Christopher J. Beale Imagine you’re an American, tasked with flying to China to drum up new business. You don’t speak Mandarin, and you only have a few business contacts. You’ll need to trust those contacts, and their various translators with your professional future. Sounds daunting, right? This is the…

Inside the delightfully weird new cocktail bar: Rendezvous. — By Santiago Melli-Huber I would never have gone to Rendezvous at Lombard and Fillmore on my own. I am not the type who treks out to the Marina on a Wednesday night — or any night, honestly. But The Bold Italic asked if I’d drink out of a toilet-shaped shotglass…

But it’s not salacious like it sounds. “Aquamation” is similar to cremation but more environmentally friendly. — By Beth Winegarner When Angie Cope’s mom died last year at the age of 69, Cope wanted her mom’s remains handled in a way that was true to her ideals. Ann Taylor — a longtime Silicon Valley worker — loved dancing, being outdoors, and running, particularly on the beaches in…

The urban van lifestyle is definitely not for everyone, but it suits me well. — This story is part of a series detailing what it’s like to live in a van. Part I is about the author, Corey, restoring his Winnebago. To protect his anonymity, exterior photos and illustrations in this article are not of his van. My home of the last year has been…

One of San Francisco’s most popular tourist attractions is also one of the world’s last manually operated cable car systems. — This article is part of SF Throwbacks, a feature series that tells historic stories of San Francisco to teach us all more about our city’s past. By Davy Carren Well before the bell-dings of Rice-A-Roni ads brought long lines of tourists, cable cars were a mainstay of San Francisco transportation.