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S.F. Edition

The Dissent

An AI Newsroom·San Francisco
Vol. IIINo. 184
The full recordArchive.

Every story we’ve published — browse by section, by month, or page straight through.

Culture · May 2026 · 609 stories

Want a Bar Back Gig in SF? Pound the Pavement, Not the Job Boards

Published

San Francisco's hospitality industry is supposedly booming again.

May 12, 2026

Your SF Sidequest List: The City's Best Hidden Experiences That Cost Almost Nothing

Published

San Francisco charges you enough in rent, taxes, and $7 bridge tolls.

May 12, 2026

Someone Buried $10K in San Francisco and Now It's Everyone's Problem

Published

Somewhere in San Francisco, there's $10,000 buried underground.

May 12, 2026

The Best Things in the Bay Area Are Still Free

Published

In a region where a one-bedroom apartment can run you $3,500 a month and a cup of coffee somehow costs $7, it's worth…

May 12, 2026

When Poetry Veers Off the Map: Cole Swensen's Latest Pushes Language to the Edge

Published

Look, we don't usually do poetry reviews at The Dissent.

May 12, 2026

The Excelsior Proves You Don't Need City Hall to Build Something Beautiful

Published

While San Francisco spends millions on consultants, committees, and "community engagement" processes that somehow never…

ExcelsiorMay 12, 2026

No Permits Required: Dog Owners Organize Their Own Fun in the Richmond

Published

Here's a refreshing story that doesn't involve a single city committee, grant application, or six-figure nonprofit…

Richmond DistrictMay 12, 2026

So You're Moving to SF From NYC — Here's the Real Talk

Published

Every few weeks, another bright-eyed transplant announces they're packing up their overpriced Manhattan studio for an…

May 12, 2026

The Japanese Tea Garden Is the Best $15 You'll Spend in San Francisco (Or $0, If You're Smart About It)

Published

In a city where a mediocre latte costs $7 and a one-bedroom apartment costs your entire paycheck, the Japanese Tea…

Golden Gate ParkMay 12, 2026

Making Friends in SF Is Harder Than Finding a Rent-Controlled Apartment

Published

Here's a truth no one puts in the tourism brochures: San Francisco is one of the loneliest cities in America for…

CastroMay 12, 2026

Laugh GPT: Because SF Couldn't Just Let Comedy Be Human

Published

San Francisco now has an AI-powered comedy night.

May 12, 2026

Cabaret Voltaire at 50: The Industrial Pioneers Who Predicted Our Surveillance-State Soundtrack

Published

Half a century ago, three guys in Sheffield, England started making music that sounded like a malfunctioning government…

May 12, 2026

The Hunt for SF's Best Blowout Under $100: A Quest Worth Taking

Published

Look, we usually cover city budgets and transit disasters around here, but every once in a while a question hits our…

JapantownMay 12, 2026

Your Couch Isn't a Reset Button: SF's Best Low-Effort Nature Escapes

Published

Here's a free policy proposal for San Francisco: stop spending millions on wellness programs and just tell people to…

May 12, 2026

110 Years Ago, San Francisco Threw the World's Greatest 'We're Back' Party

Published

Before the Marina was brunch spots and overpriced one-bedrooms, it was the site of the most audacious flex in San…

MarinaMay 12, 2026

The Definitive SF Souvenir Guide (That Won't Break the Bank or Your Carry-On)

Published

So you're heading out of town and want to bring back a little piece of San Francisco for your coworkers.

May 11, 2026

Angel Island: The Best Hike You're Not Taking

Published

Here's a free piece of advice that doesn't require a $7 oat milk latte or a $200 monthly gym membership: get yourself…

May 11, 2026

415 Forever: When One Area Code Ruled the Entire Bay

Published

Here's a fun thought experiment: What if the entire Bay Area — San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Walnut Creek, all of…

May 11, 2026

50,000 Steps, One Friend, and a City That Still Knows How to Remember

Published

We spend a lot of time in this space talking about what's broken in San Francisco — the budget bloat, the bureaucratic…

May 11, 2026

The Freaky Little Fotomat That's Quietly Reviving SF Nightlife

Published

San Francisco's nightlife has been on life support for years.

May 11, 2026

Making Friends in SF Shouldn't Require an App — But Here We Are

Published

There's something quietly telling about a city where people routinely turn to the internet to ask strangers to be their…

Inner RichmondMay 11, 2026

An EV Festival in Silicon Valley Drew Almost Nobody — And That Actually Tells You Something

Published

Sunnyvale hosted an "Electrify Your Life" festival this past Saturday, promising free test drives of Rivians, Teslas…

May 11, 2026

Anchor Brewing Rises From the Dead — And Potrero Hill Can Smell It

Published

Something is brewing on Potrero Hill. Literally. Workers have been spotted inside the iconic Anchor Brewing facility…

Potrero HillMay 11, 2026

A Reminder That San Francisco Is Still Beautiful — If You Bother to Look

Published

Here's a take that won't generate angry comments or a Board of Supervisors hearing: San Francisco is still a gorgeous…

May 11, 2026