Important Note: There is a huge cost incurred to participate in such an effort and not every establishment is able to do so. I listed restaurants in the Bay Area that have participated in other ways recently whether through general strike for immigrants or gave away food when the food stamps were paused. Please also support these restaurants year-round.

Sign up for my free weekly email newsletter with events and things to do each week beyond the regularly scheduled weekly events below including protests, fundraising, demonstrations, volunteering and more. 1 email per week (sent on Sundays).

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do

San Francisco newsletter: news, art, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, pop-ups, comedy, wellness & cultural events; food & drink recs. Bay Area events this weekend, San Jose things to do this week, East Bay activities

By Eddie Hernandez

Related Reads On Eddie’s List

• San Francisco Bay Area Social Justice, Activist & Grassroots Organizations

• 150+ Bay Area Restaurants Shutdown During General Strike

• Bay Area Restaurants Offered Food For SNAP Recipients During Shutdown

• San Francisco Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities

Restaurants United For A Global Day of Hospitality 2026

Created by years of practice at Masala y Maíz in Mexico City, the “Paga Lo Que Puedas / Pay What You Can” Global Restaurant Initiative invites restaurants all over the world to offer the full expression of their food and hospitality while allowing guests to pay what they are able for one day.

Eat What You Want, Pay What You Want Day 2026

Below is a list of San Francisco Bay Area restaurants participating this year (including a few that have been featured on Eddie’s List for weekly recommendations).

• Tacos Oscar

• Bombera,

• Merkado

  • They host an annual fundraiser event ‘My Taco, My Choice’ for reproductive rights each year (featured on Eddie’s List). Highly recommend you follow them for the next one.

• Reem's

• Sfizio

• Understory

• Valley Swim Club

• Acopio Alta Cocina Mexicana

• Al Pastor Papi (per their IG post which name was added)

For the full list of restaurants participating, you can check out the list below on the official site which lists all participants beyond the San Francisco Bay Area.

https://www.pagaloquepuedas-paywhatyoucan.com/

Pay What You Can Day: San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants

If you are participating but are not listed on the official page, flyer you can let me know and I will update the list I have.

Submit Tips!

Other Pay What You Can Days San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants

Beyond the August 26 date, some restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area may have similar offerings like Merchant Roots on first Tuesdays of the month (which appear to be sold out already). Understory in Oakland has offered a pay what you can daily dish since it has opened. Good Table Cafe in El Sobrante has a pay what you can business model.

Paga Lo Que Puedas Dia Restaurantes el Área de la Bahía de San Francisco, Pay What You Can Restaurants Oakland, San Jose, Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, East Bay, Berkeley, San Mateo, Palo Alto, Peninsula, Silicon Valley, Contra Costa, Alameda, North Bay, Pay What You Can Restaurant El Sobrante, Pay What You Can Restaurant Oakland, Pay What You Can Restaurant San Francisco

Last updated August 19, 2026

Bay Area Data Center News, Proposals, Meetings, Protests

There is a lot happening in the San Francisco Bay Area with respect to data centers and things are moving rather quickly. Meetings are not always well-promoted, real estate deals are often under the radar and actual use of buildings are not always being revealed in a timely manner. Cities and agencies are scrambling to address concerts, block leases and stop construction before it is too late.

Below is a super rought guide to help sift through all the news and help people find out what’s going on in their neighborhood, connect with other concerned residents, attend city council meetings, contact representatives and take action against these corporations.

I will update this guide often (see last updated date above) based on interest and feedback from readers.

Do You Have Tips, Updates Or News People Should Know About?

Submit Tips Here!

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend!

FAQ’s | IG | Directory | Contact | Sections: Social | Community | Travel | Food & Bev

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Fun events, unique things to do & curated activities. Sign up for free 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

Civic Engagement Opportunities, Resources San Francisco Bay Area

• Volunteer Opportunities San Francisco Bay Area

• Mission Driven Companies, Orgs Bay Area

• San Francisco Bay Area Protests Schedule

• Bars, Businesses With Facial, Retna Scanning San Francisco Bay Area

• California Cities & Counties Ending Flock Contracts (ALPR)

• San Francisco Bay Area Bars, Restaurants & Cafes Banning Smart Glasses

• Who Owns Your Cafe, Restaurant? Private Equity Owned Businesses Bay Area

San Francisco Bay Area Data Center Locations

Map of California data centers: See where projects are operating or planned near you.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2026/ca-data-center-map/

Missing:

• 274 Brannan, SOMA, San Francisco

• 630 Third Street, South Beach, San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Area Data Center Protests, Resistance Groups

• StopAI Meetings, San Francisco, Berkeley

• No Cow Palace Data Center

San Francisco Bay Area Data Center News

7/9/26 - Developer Eyes Cow Palace In Plan to Build Data Centers at Eight Bay Area Fairgrounds -SFist

7/20/26 - Residents protest planned data center at Pittsburg City Hall in Contra Costa County -NBC Bay Area

8/13/26 - San José Weighs Data Center Benefits as Residents Raise Environmental Concerns -KQED

8/15/26 - Developer, Councilmember Say Proposed Oakland Data Center Isn’t What You Might Think -KQED

8/17/26 - Is a data center coming to downtown Oakland? -Oaklandside

Data Center News From Beyond The Bay Area

• ‘We were a dying little town’: How Silicon Valley data centers are reshaping rural America -SF Chronicle

Bay Area Data Center Map, Bay Area Data Center Locations San Jose, South Bay Area Data Center Map, Silicon Valley Data Center Proposals, San Francisco Data Center News, Upcoming Data Center Construction Bay Area, Oakland Data Center Proposal, Pittsburg Data Center Protest, Oakland Data Center Protest, Cow Palace Data Center

San Francisco Bay Area 311 Services, Reports

First off, I wanted to create this guide to highlight the newest update of the 311 service in San Francisco (within the last month). The old system was clunky and required a lot of steps to submit a report, but this latest version makes filing reports much easier.

The 311 services are offered by many larger cities in the San Francisco Bay Area which are designed to track and fix issues that all under the jurisdiction of said cities. It also allows residents to track reports and hold officials accountable. Without it, things take longer to get fixed (if at all). For smaller cities, there are non-emergency numbers posted on city websites.

As someone who has filed more than my fair share of reports on 311, I have learned some tips to make sure which reports are worth your time, how to report them accurately to increase chances they are addressed by the city, and common mistakes people make with filing reports.

Related read: Why Does San Francisco Have So Much Trash?

What Can You Report On 311 Apps, Sites & Phone Calls?

• Noise complaints (look up quiet hours first as simply loud noises during the day may be a waste of time reporting).

• Fake construction signs (signs left after dates posted, dates/details that look fake but please check site/qr code to look up permits to make sure its the case).

• Cones on public street saving parking spots

• Fireworks. Not sure what that loud noise was? Check this page.

• Trash: feces, overflowing bins, dumpings

• Flyers/stickers on public poles (unless they adhere to local jurisdiction rules)

• Vehicles blocking driveways, intersections, bus stops, sidewalks, fire hydrants and muni lines (especially in inner Sunset)

• Defective sidewalks (cracks)

• Clogged sewer drains

• Overgrown trees (blocking street lights, stop signs, street permit signs etc.)

• Fallen trees

• Overgrown shrubs extending into sidewalks

• Bus stop broken glass, faded tow-away signs etc.

• Street lights out

• Abandoned vehicles

• Overgrown trees in roundabouts blocking visibility (other vehicles, bikes and pedestrians)

• San Francisco: Illegally painted red curb tips (can also email ccp@sfmta.com w/ photo, include red curb & house w/ street number visible for quicker response)

Report Lime Scooters Blocking Street, Knocked Over

• Scooters blocking sidewalks, dumped in streets (recommend contacting said companies with complaints as our city officials should not endure costs and resources to clean up their mess)

Other good uses of local 311 services? Comment below or send a tip!

Submit tips!

How To Submit 311 Reports San Francisco Bay Area

Some cities have 1, 2 or 3 methods to file 311 reports.

• Online website, 311 app or 311 phone number

• Solve311 App (alternative 311 app San Francisco; uses AI from photo to suggest correct category); also allows users to forward reports to the local supervisor.

• I recommend using app/site so you can submit proof (photos) but you can also call as well but be sure to submit photos in report to increase chances of success.

Related read: Bay Area Free Bulky Drop Off, Pickups Mattress, Furniture

How To Cancel 311 Reports

• SF: call San Francisco 311 (3-1-1 or 415-701-2311 from outside SF) to speak with customer service rep who can process cancellation for you (can’t do it within app)

• For other jurisdictions, look it up.

Related Read: Donate Batteries, E-Waste Recycling & More

Reasons Why 311 Reports Are Closed, Not Fixed

• Reported to the wrong jurisdiction

  • Highways are under Caltrans jurisdiction

  • Presidio: Non-Emergency Dispatch: Call (415) 561-5505 to report ongoing non-urgent issues like property damage, noise, or public safety concerns.

  • PG&E jurisdiction: downed power lines, overgrown trees tangled in power lines

• Incomplete report (missing details) i.e. pothole approximate depth, photo showing amount of trash, photos showing car in intersection (ideally capture plates too in photo frame)

• Filed incorrectly (wrong category marked)

• Didn’t give it enough time (issues are dealt with based on urgency, information provided, resources and more).

• Bad photo(s)

  • Solve311 app blurs photos or snaps them too late/early so subject is not in the photo; recommend uploading photo vs using in app camera

  • May need to take 2+ photos i.e. one of issue close up and one photo zoomed out to show exact location, provide context on size/urgency

• Bad photos (don’t show severity of the issue)

• Wrong address provided

• Already reported or the report was combined with another other report

• Bad reporter (filing too many complaints that are frivolous); could be you are not taken seriously as a result.

• Sometimes reports are closed inadvertantly so may have to report again.

• Offense if not that serious i.e. one piece of paper trash, car blocking sidewalk by 1 inch etc. Don’t report things like this; it only drains resources and reduces chances more serious issues are dealt with first.

Related Read: Clothing Donation Options San Francisco Bay Area

Alternatives To San Francisco Bay Area 311 Reports

• Get neighbors, friends to submit reports (more eyeballs on case)

• Contact news agencies (have documentation, show reports being closed/ignored, gather support from neighbors)

• Contact your local supervisors

• Contact mayor’s office.

San Francisco 311 Public Data Set

https://data.sfgov.org/City-Infrastructure/311-Cases/vw6y-z8j6

San Francisco Bay Area Cities With 311 Or SeeClickFix

SeeClickFix (acquired by CivicPlus in 2019) partners with several Bay Area cities to manage 311 inquiries. There is a list of cities below.

• San Francisco 311

East Bay 311 Services, Reports

• Alameda SeeClickFix: Oakland, Dublin, Milpitas, San Leandro, Alameda, Emeryville

• Contra Costa SeeClickFix: Clayton, Walnut Creek, Concord, Antioch

South Bay & Peninsula 311 Services, Reports

• San Jose 311

• SeeClickFix: Menlo Park, Atherton, Foster City, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Daly City

North Bay 311 Services: Solano, Marin, Napa, Sonoma

• SeeClickFix: Vallejo, Benecia, American Canyon, Yountville, St. Helena, San Rafael

311 App San Francisco, 311 Site Oakland, How To Report Trash 311 App, Report Graffiti 311 Site, Report Potholes Bay Area, Report Overgrown Trees Bay Area, Report Car Blocking Intersections, 311 Noise Complaints, Report e-scooters San Francisco, Scooter 311 Complaint Oakland, Report Abandoned Vehicles, Report Abandoned Lime Scooters, Report Knocked Over E-Scooters, Report Lime Scooter Parking, Lime Scooter Customer Complaints, SeeClickFix Cities Bay Area, SeeClivFix Cities East Bay, SeeClickFix Cities South Bay, SeeClivFix Peninsula, SeeClivFix Cities Solano, SeeClickFix Cities Marin, SeeClickFix Cities Napa

September Things To Do, Festivals, Activities Bay Area

Below please find the September 2026 San Francisco Bay Area events calendar filled with shows, talks, pop-ups, classes, live music, tech events, civic engagement, networking opportunities, street fairs, night markets, book events, festivals, cultural events, food and beverage events and more spanning Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, San Mateo, South Bay Area, East Bay and more.

September is one of the biggest months of the year for cultural events, festivals and outdoor events in the San Francisco Bay Area.

What Is Eddie’s List? Read more about Eddie’s List here.

September Events Oakland, San Jose, Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara

Things To Do In San Francisco Bay Area: San Jose, Oakland, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda & More, Events, Festivals, Parties, Concerts, Activities & More.

The monthly calendar is for paid supporters only (constantly updated, nearly every day, with more events than what is in the weekly newsletters- check back often!). This month’s calendar is loaded with events, more variety than ever and several events outside the Bay Area making for great options for weekend trips with families, partners or a solo trek.

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Learn more about me and why you should sign up for this newsletter and avoid fomo.

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do

San Francisco newsletter: news, art, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, pop-ups, comedy, wellness & cultural events; food & drink recs. Bay Area events this weekend, San Jose things to do this week, East Bay activities

By Eddie Hernandez

Several events below will not be in the free weekly email newsletter. If they are, they may sell out when weekly subscribers receive their newsletter.

Paid supporters also receive:

• access to online archives, as well as my exclusive curated guides.

• advance notice of events before they are sent out each week (online calendars)

September San Francisco Bay Area Calendar Of Events Features:

• last-minute events (not in free weekly email), all events for the rest of the month

• 20+ events beyond September to get on your radar (likely to sell out)

• select events outside the Bay Area (Sacramento, Tahoe, Mendocino, Santa Cruz/Monterey, Central Valley, Sierra Nevadas)

• 1 monthly recommendation to work remotely w/ wi-fi in the SF Bay Area

Access guides and the monthly calendar now!

Become A Paid Supporter!

Free Events, Shows, Concerts September Bay Area, San Jose

Check out these free regional guides to find more activities, events, seasonal pop-ups & things to do through the Bay Area.

Want to see more types of events in your area? Let me know below!

Let Me Know What You Want To See!

Eddie’s List Curated Guides

• San Francisco Bay Area Food & Drink Recommendations

  • Late Night, Outdoors, Happy Hours, First Dates, Date Nights & More

• San Francisco Bay Area Activities & Social Guides

  • Social Clubs, Classes, Art Fairs, Book Clubs, Trivia, Drag Events & More

• Things To Do In The Bay Area By Area:

  • East Bay | South Bay | Napa/Sonoma | Peninsula | Marin |

• Things To Do Beyond The Bay Area

  • Sacramento | Lake Tahoe | Central Coast | Central Valley

• New: The Rise Of Silent Culture In The Bay Area

• New: Citywide Garage Sales, Community Yard Sales Bay Area

• Updated: San Jose/South Bay Trivia Nights

September Bay Area Pop-Ups, Concerts, Shows, Performances

Am I missing something? Shoot me a note via the contact link in the weekly emails or see the FAQ page. Please be specific and be sure to read the guidelines (details, timelines) for event submissions.

1. Please note, there will be many more events added to the calendar in the coming days, weeks (updated several times a week, often each day)

2. Some of the best events come together within days of the event so check back often (best to check the time stamp above to see when it was last updated)

3. Similarly, I added events beyond the month you may be interested in and/or will likely sell out ASAP so be sure to check those out as well.

Events, Exhibits Bay Area Ending In September 2026

Things To Do San Francisco Bay Area September 2026: Napa, Oakland, East Bay, South Bay; Event Calendar Alameda, San Mateo, Santa Clara

• 6/11-September 3 - Filoli Summer Nights, Woodside

• 4/10-September 7 - Guías Espirituales|Spirit Guides - Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles, Sonoma Botanical Garden

• 7/3-September 7 - SF Mime Troupe’s WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy

• 7/10-September 12 - Hairspray (Musical), San Francisco Playhouse

• 5/16-September 13 - Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal, SFMOMA

• 7/11-September 18 - ArtSeed’s 20th Annual Open Call Exhibition, Presidio

• 7/3-September 20 - Forever Grateful Dead Experience, Haight Street Museum

• 5/14-September 24 - “Surf, Skate, Street” Art Exhibit at Marin Civic Center Gallery

• 5/17/25-Sept 27, 2026 - Women of Afrofuturism, Harvey Milk Terminal, SFO

• 7/25-Sept 27 - Free Shakespeare in the Park: Antony & Cleopatra, Cupertino, RWC & SF

Ongoing Events, Exhibits Ending Beyond September 2026

• 4/10-January 10 - ‘Motherboards’, San Jose Art Museum (women’s work in tech)

• 8/1-January 31 - Treasures of the Pharaohs, De Young Museum

Submit September Activities, Things To Do Bay Area

Submit Tips!

Bay Area Festivals, Shows & Events September 2026

Concerts, Shows, September San Jose, Oakland, San Mateo, Palo Alto

Read more

Labor Day Events 2026 San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose

Labor day weekend is a busy weekend here in the Bay Area as people often travel here on vacation, head out on one last weekend trip before the days get shorter, check out weekend activities, concerts, festivals and more. Some events happen annually across the Bay Area but some are one-time, last minute or recurring pop-ups.

Below are some of the events happening in the San Francisco Bay Area this year. Some events will be posted in the free weekly email newsletter. For those who wish to plan ahead, find events before they sell out, access more events beyond what is in the free weekly newsletter, you can view the September monthly event calendar now!

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). Curated news, culture & events each week. Tap the heart button or tell a friend! | Who Is Eddie?

FAQ’s | IG | Directory | Contact | Sections: Social | Community | Travel | Food & Bev

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Fun events, unique things to do & curated activities. Sign up for free 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events, News & Culture

Curated things to do, news, insider guides & local tips. San Francisco Bay Area event calendar, arts, crafts, festivals, galas, pop-ups, wellness, tech, shows, books, concerts, cultural, social guide, community & civic activities.

By Eddie Hernandez

Are Bay Area Costcos Open On Labor Day?

No, all Costcos are closed on Labor in the Bay Area and the entire United States.

Are Bay Area Costco Gas Stations Open On Labor Day?

No, Costco gas stations are also closed.

Are Bay Area Trader Joe’s Open On Labor Day?

Yes, Trader Joe’s are open on Labor Day.

Related read: Kid Friendly Places, Activities Bay Area

Labor Day Activities, Day Trips & Weekend Getaways

Some additional Labor Day events can be found in the guides below. These guides focus on more annual, bigger events and festivals.

• Lake Tahoe Activities, Things To Do

• San Joaquin Valley Events, Festivals & Things To Do

• Central Coast California Festivals, Things To Do

• Sacramento Festivals, Concerts, Events & Things To Do

Labor Day Exhibits, Shows San Francisco Bay Area

• 4/10-September 7 - Guías Espirituales|Spirit Guides - Fantastical Creatures from the Workshop of Jacobo and María Ángeles, Sonoma Botanical Garden

• 7/3-September 7 - SF Mime Troupe’s WRECKAGE: A Musical Tragicomedy

• 7/10-September 12 - Hairspray (Musical), San Francisco Playhouse

• 5/16-September 13 - Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal, SFMOMA

• 7/11-September 18 - ArtSeed’s 20th Annual Open Call Exhibition, Presidio

• 7/3-September 20 - Forever Grateful Dead Experience, Haight Street Museum

• 5/14-September 24 - “Surf, Skate, Street” Art Exhibit at Marin Civic Center Gallery

• 5/17/25-Sept 27, 2026 - Women of Afrofuturism, Harvey Milk Terminal, SFO

Submit Labor Day Activities, Things To Do Bay Area

Submit Tips!

Related read: Free Events, Activities & Things To Do San Francisco Bay Area

Labor Day Weekend Events, Concerts Bay Area, Oakland

Labor Day Weekend Events South Bay Area, East Bay, Alameda, Santa Clara.

See the full September Bay Area calendar of events for more activities, festivals, and things to do.

Read more

San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do This Week, Weekend

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). Curated news, culture & events each week. Tap the heart button or tell a friend! | Who Is Eddie?

FAQ’s | IG | Directory | Contact | Sections: Social | Community | Travel | Food & Bev

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Fun events, unique things to do & curated activities. Sign up for free 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

New & Updated Eddie’s List Guides

• Updated: August 2026 Bay Area Event Calendar (events added this weekend)

• New: September 2026 Bay Area Event Calendar more events added within 48hrs

• New: Sacramento Street Art, Graffiti Alley, Murals & Self-Guided Tours

• New: Bars, Businesses With Facial, Retna Scanning San Francisco Bay Area

• New: San Francisco Small Business Grants

Weekly Recommendation

This week’s recommendation is to check out Crumble & Whisk Patisserie in Oakland. This La Cocina Kitchen Incubator alum makes hand pies, pot pies, baked goods (try the cinnamon rolls) and one of their newer items is the breakfast sando, but they are known for their incredibly delicious cheesecakes. Give them a follow on IG to see what they are cooking up!

See archived weekly recommendations (drinks, plates, causes etc.).

San Francisco Bay Area Weekly News, Current Events

• Yemeni Coffee Is Taking Over The Bay Area -Eddie’s List

• 2nd act for Chakrabarti backers? Left-YIMBY Democratic club. -Mission Local

• Using Dating Apps To Find Jobs In The San Francisco Bay Area -Eddie’s List

• Corgi kills short-lived website that ranked its female employees -SF Gazeteer

• SFMTA is expanding fare enforcement, awareness across Muni system -ABC7

• Oh Lord, AI Reporters Are Actually Breaking Big News -Wired

• A new BART station in East Oakland? -Oaklandside

• A Driver’s Fatal Spiral After a SFPD Officer’s Typo -New York Times

• Don’t put green ‘compost’ bags in green Oakland compost bins -Oaklandside

Upcoming San Francisco Bay Area Events This Week

• Check w/ organizer (website, ticket page, & social media), as details can change.

• Advance notice + more exclusive events, tech & ongoing exhibits, events beyond the Bay Area in monthly calendars (more added soon, including last-minute events).

• Events below in SF unless noted. Use contact button for any/all inquiries. No DM’s.

Monday August 17 Events San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose & More

Read more

Why Are There So Many Yemeni Coffee Shops Now?

During the pandemic, a lof people became isolated either because of quarantine, WFH, friends moving away, places closing down and a growing need for third spaces, especially in the tech-heavy Bay Area where places have been known to close early.

There is a growing desire to build community, places like this have historically been the types of venues to foster such bonding. On top of that, people are drinking less alcohol, cost of going out has risen, and people are realising the cost of WFH has on their lives, as well as how much they took work friendships for granted.

San Francisco Bay Area Yemeni Coffee

Before 2022, there were no Yemeni coffee shops in the Bay Area. Yemeni coffee shops are sprouting up all over the San Francisco Bay Area.

This may seem pretty random but if you research migration patterns, you will see the Bay Area, Central Valley, New York and Michigan are popular areas where Yemeni immigrants have settled over the years.

Most of you have heard of the Delah, Haraz and Sana’s Cafe, but now we have a new Midwest one entering the market. The latest chain to lay down roots here in San Francisco comes all the way from Ohio of all places.

It’s off to the races as these coffee chains show no signs of slowing down and with the growth comes more late-night coffee options, which hopefully inspires other coffee shops to follow suit.

Related Reads on Eddie’s List

• Who Owns Your Local Coffee Shop, Restaurants (Private Equity)

• San Francisco Bay Area Co-Op Restaurants, Stores

• The Rise Of Banana Coffee San Francisco Bay Area

• Who Owns Your Local Newspaper, Media Publication

• San Francisco Bar, Restaurant Merchandise, Gift Ideas Guide

• Coffee Shop Laptop Etiquette

• Free Coworking Spaces San Francisco

Haraz Coffee

Haraz Coffee is the largest of the Yemeni coffee chains with a Bay Area presence as they operate in 16 states across the U.S. Currently, they have 5 California locations (two coffee shops in downtown San Francisco, Fremont, Roseville & Folsom) but that could soon change as they are franchising more locations.

Sana’a Cafe, San Francisco

Sana’asan Cafe started off in downtown San Francisco in 2023 and has been growing quickly. It now has 7 locations in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Rafael, Los Angeles and Lake Forest. Other locations (assumedly franchises or new locations) are in Redwood City, Mountain View & Hayward (not listed on the main website). Expect more places to open up as they are seeking partnerships on their website.

Delah Coffee, San Francisco

Delah opened it’s first Bay Area location in San Francisco the summer of 2022 and shortly thereafter, opened up another location in Oakland the following year in early 2023. They also have 7 locations now: 5 Bay Area locations (Berkeley & Dublin) as well as outposts in San Diego and Naperville, IL. You can expect more locations, and likely ones beyond the Bay Area, now that they have opened up a franchise business model.

Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co., Dearborn Michigan

First location opened up in 2021 in Michigan and now has 3 locations in the Bay Area San Francisco, Concord & Pleasanton and another in the Sacramento area (Folsom) with plans for a 2nd Sacramento area location and a third likely on the way. They are the fastest growing coffee shop on this list (12 in 2021; 25 in 2024

Arwa Yemeni Coffee, Richardson, Texas

Awra Yemeni Coffee features 12 locations including their sole Bay Area location in Sunnyvale, but if the competition provides any clues, don’t expect it to be the only one for much longer. If there was any doubt, yes, they are franchising as well.

Heyma Coffee, Berkeley

Heyma Coffee is one of the new coffee shops on this list, having opened in 2025. It currently has two locations (the other in SOMA), but it has made the news with their Dubai Chocolate Lattes. It currently does not list any franchising plans or opportunities at the moment.

Marib Coffee, Westerville Ohio

Marib Coffee is the latest Yemeni coffee shop with plans to lay down roots in San Francisco (Union Square, 2027). They have plans to open up 5 locations in California. If the upcoming downtown San Francisco location is another like the first location in Ohio (open until midnight), we may get another late-night coffee shop.

Gastrodiplomacy In The United States

The first thing that came to mind with the growth of Yemeni coffee shops was gastrodiplomacy, specifically the Thai Government Culinary Diplomacy Program in which the government help funded Thai restaurants abroad. I found no such program specifically for Yemeni coffee.

Late Night Yemeni Coffee Shops Bay Area

For the longest time, one of the biggest complaints about San Francisco coffee/cafe scene was lack of late night options. For those old enough to remember, Starbucks operated a 24 hour spot in Union Square at one point and the Laurel Heights location was open until 11pm I believe.

You would think that given the boom of WFH and people crowding cafes to work from since the pandemic that more late night options would surface but they haven’t, at least aside from Yemeni coffee shops.

Some places are open until 11pm and even midnight which is amazing given the main options are diners and gas station coffee shops with pots roasting for over 8 hours. On top of that, Yemeni coffee shops act more like third places rather than transactional American coffee shops with uncomfortable seating which we have been seeing as 3rd, 4th, 5th wave (I lost count) have sprouted all over the Bay Area in the last 5 years.

We’ll see how local and national chains respond to the competition.

How Is Yemeni Coffee Different?

Typically, coffee is darker and more complex than the more acidic and lighter/medium roasts you see in the Bay Area. As a dark roast coffee drinker, I for one welcome this. I typically prefer roasts from Graffeo and Verve. Read more about the Yemeni coffee process.

If you would like to support my efforts with informing the public with important & timely news, feel free to buy me a Yemeni coffee below.

Buy Me A Coffee

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Sacramento Street Art, Public Murals

Sacramento has some amazing street art and murals sprinkled across the city. Thanks to city structure with many alleys, open-minded landlords and business owners, creative artists and organizations like Wide Open Walls and Graffiti for good, the street art scene is a pretty unique scene. I grew up photographing street art in the San Francisco Bay Area over 20 years ago but I am drawn to culture that is there 1 hour east of us in Sacramento.

Below are some of my favorite Sacramento street art murals and pieces of street art. I will add more once I have more time to sort through photos, verify if pieces are still up and add more recommendations for clusters to view art yourself.

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area weekly newsletter: curated news, events (arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness & cultural) + food & drink recs. Free via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

Related Reads From Eddie’s List

• Free Things To Do In Sacramento

• Sacramento Food, Music Festivals, Annual Events

• Sacramento Trivia Nights: Folsom, Elk Grove, Rocklin, Davis & More

• Central Valley Annual Events, Festivals

• Day & Weekend Trips, Bay Area, Northern California

• Free Things To Do In The San Francisco Bay Area

• San Francisco Bay Area & California Artists Grants, Residencies

Sacramento Street Art & Artists

Orangutans by Bordalo II Street Art Mural, Midtown, Sacramento

Maren Conrad: Chuck Taylors Street Mural, Urban Roots Brewing

Maren Conrad: Mr. T Street Art Mural, Sacramento

Brett Crawford, Raccoons Street Art, Midtown Sacramento

Lipstick Garage Door: Call Me Maybe by Carrie Cottini, Sacramento Mural Alley

Lady Bird Mural, Midtown Sacramento Street Art by Maren Conrad

Jeremiah Kille: Street Art Mural, Midtown Sacramento

Street Art Mural Sacramento, Del Paso Blvd

Next To (Part Of?) Graffiti For Good

If you would like to support my efforts with informing the public with important & timely news, feel free to buy me a beer or coffee below.

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Soviet Princess Leia by Pixel Pancho, Midtown Sacramento

Sacramento R Street Corridor Street Murals

Leaves Well Street Art, Midtown Sacramento (taken in 2019)

Sacramento Mural Alley

Sacramento Mural Alley is located in East Sacramento at 32nd/33rd Street Ave alley.

https://sacramentomuralalley.com/

It’s where the above lipstick art piece can be found.

Sacramento Graffiti Alley

There are multiple alleys in Sacramento with graffiti like this one on Improv Alley around 17th. I am sure there are more around mid-town and East Sacramento but I will post updates here once I have had a chance to investigate more.

Sacramento Street Mural Map

Sacramento Street Art Map coming soon…

Have a favorite mural? Know an area with lots of street art in Sac or Bay Area?

Submit Tips!

Midtown Sacramento Street Mural Self-Guided Tour

• https://exploremidtown.org/midtownmurals/

• Sacramento Wide Open Walls 2018 Map

• Sacramento Midtown Mural Trail

• Midtown Second Saturdays (art walks, art markets, live music & more); May-Oct

Wide Open Walls Street Art Mural Map shows clusters of where street art can be found (best bang for your buck in term of density.

Sacramento Street Art, Sacramento Graffiti Map & Sacramento Mural Self-Guided Tour, Sacramento Street Artists, Sacramento Wide Open Walls, Sacramento Graffiti Alley, Street Art Alley East Sacramento, Best Street Art Sacramento, Graffiti For Good Sacramento, Sacramento Street Art Tour

San Francisco Bay Area Business Grants

These grants come and go, some are one-time, others are recurring. They are offered by cities, counties, states, community business distrcts, non-profits and private partnerships.

Do you own due diligence before signing paper work. Talk to current/past awardees. Monitor past awards in case they re-open. I don’t endorse any of these organizations nor am I affiliated with any of them but I am all for taking their money if they are giving it but do so with caution. Contact them directly for any questions.

That said, I would strongly look into networking with the right people in/connected to City Hall. Who knows, you may be able to negotiate free rent for more than a year (or two) in challenging neighborhoods if you know who and how to ask.

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Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events, News & Culture

Curated things to do, news, insider guides & local tips. San Francisco Bay Area event calendar, arts, crafts, festivals, galas, pop-ups, wellness, tech, shows, books, concerts, cultural, social guide, community & civic activities.

By Eddie Hernandez

Related Reads On Eddie’s List

• San Francisco Bay Area Artists Grants

• How To Market Your Events Bay Area

• Employee-Owned Businesses, Restaurants, Cooperatives Bay Area

Active & Ongoing San Francisco Business Grants

• Boundless San Francisco: Registrations Due Sept 11; Applications Due October 9

  • Crankstart to award up to $50M to 3 orgs w/ ideas to improve SF -NBC Bay Area; Family fund (Mike Moritz: SF Standard/VC, SFPD Surveillance Tech)

• Accessible Barrier Removal (ADA Compliance; up to $10k)

• Vacant-To-Vibrant (via SF New Deal; up to $10k, 3 months free rent downtown)

  • I’d talk to past and current participants before signing any paperwork.

• Automatic dishwashing grant (up to $2.5k)

• Commercial Washer Rebate (up to $1k)

• Civic Joy Block Parties (amounts vary)

  • Although open to individuals, this is a great way to get people to your business if you are new, have a new ownership, produces/services or looking to meet your community.

• Building Blocks Parklet Program (SF New Deal)

• Neighborhood Vibrancy Fund (SF New Deal)

  • Inner Sunset (more neighborhoods coming soon); apply before Aug 28, 2026

If you would like to support my efforts with creating and upkeeping free guides like this for everyone, you can buy me a coffee below.

Pending San Francisco Business Grants

• Vandalism Damage Grant For Small Biz; up to $2k (expected to re-open soon)

Past San Francisco Business Grants: Uncertain Future

Reach out to entity and ask if they are re-launching in the future.

• SF Shines Grant; Up to $10k for small biz equipment; application due 2/13/26

• SF Storefront Opportunity Fund; $50-$100k; Deadline 2/13/26

  • Uncertain if it is recurring or one-time

• Fire Disaster & Vehicular Damage Relief Grant awards up to $10,000

• Business Stabilization Grants (Legacy Businesses Only); Paused For Now

• San Francisco Downtown Business Fund (via SF New Deal)

This guide is only for San Francisco thus far. As with all guides, I update and expand guides based on interest. If you would like to see more opportunities in SF and beyond, like this post, leave comments below.

If you are offering a grant or know one I missed, let me know.

Submit Tips!

Alameda Business Grants

• Richmond: Small Business Facade Improvement Program

  • Ends 12/31/26 or until funds run out

  • For exterior improvements, up to $15k

• Oakland Small Business Resiliency Fund; $5k-$25k in 2025; Future status TBD

Contra Costa Business Grants

Solano Business Grants

Napa Business Grants

Sonoma Business Grants

Marin Business Grants

San Mateo Business Grants

Santa Clara Business Grants

• San José Small Business Start-Up Grant, $5k & $10k; deadline 3/6/26;

California Small Business Grants

• Sign up for the newsletter to learn about new funding CalOSBA. opportunities.

• Restaurants Care Resilience Fund (June 1-30, 2026); Sign up for next opening.

National Small Business Grants

• Entreprenista’s $5,000 Grant (quarterly; due November 30, 2026)

  • Women-owned/led company; $100K+ revenue; operating 1+ year

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Last Updated: August 11, 2026

Related Reads

• Should You Hide Your Title & Company On Your Dating Profile?

• Dating As An Engineer

• I Am Magnetic AF, Why Can’t I Find Anyone

• Dating As A Founder

• 2026 Modern Dating Trends

• Unattractive Qualities/Habits Dating

• The Impact Working From Home Has On Your Dating Life

• Where To Meet VC’s, Entrepreneurs & Founders Bay Area

Dating and finding a job have gotten harder since the pandemic and given how these different but similar activities are often compared to each other, it’s no wonder they are on a collision course. As people become more dependent on apps, the lines have blurred about intention. People have used dating apps to make friends, find tour guides, promote IG accounts, sell products and now to find jobs. Loneliness in the Bay Area has gotten worse, and it’s a matter of time before people find new creative dystopic and cringe ways to use dating apps.

Men Using LinkedIn As A Dating App

Men Are Messaging Women On LinkedIn

There have been countless articles on how some men have used LinkedIn for dating purposes over the years through unwanted direct messaging. Given how much dating apps have scaled back free features, ramped up pricing, introduced annoying and meaningless notifications and features no one asked for, some men have decided to bypass algorithms and message women directly on LinkedIn.

While this is nothing new, people are more aware of the frustrations of both the dating and job markets especially given the rise of AI and what that has yielded.

Thanks to AI, people are now applying to jobs in masses meaning more applicants per job opening. In turn, employers are now using AI to screen applications which has led to more frustration from job-seekers who are having a difficult time bypassing AI filters. Some have resorted to white text hacks, others have used AI to artificially enhance their resumes while others are using AI to mass apply to any and all openings regardless if they are remotely qualified.

This mass inefficiency in the job market has led many to seek out creative alternatives to stand out from the competition: using dating apps to find jobs, network with employees and obtain referrals.

Men & Women Using Dating Apps To Find Jobs

In the last two years, I have noticed an increase the trend whereby mostly women (but also some men) use popular dating apps, such as Hinge and Bumble, to find employees at companies they wish to apply to and seek out a referral for a job opening. It’s something I am not surprised by in the least but what is surprising is the reaction some guys have about being duped by women (more on that later).

How It Works

Typically, a reasonably attractive woman or man will go on dating apps and target individuals who work at a company they are interested in working for (the most common companies I have seen people being duped at are OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Tesla).

They they focus their efforts even further by finding targets that are either smart, have a bad profile, appear lonely, don’t have many options or who many appear rather naive (these are typically younger people new to dating and dating apps specifically). They keep it casual, ask generic questions, and then either try to ask about the persons job while chatting or wait to bring it up on a date.

For men, usually engineers, getting them to talk about themselves and their jobs is easy and so it’s usually not much work for women. You would think that once the ruse was up and a request for a referral was made, these young men would either end the date, deny the request or be so put off that a response was not needed but that is not always the case.

Some Guys Don’t Care

For young men on dating apps, there is quite a bit of despair. For people in their 20s, the gender ratios on apps for men seeking women are pretty bleak (it’s something I wrote about years ago which was featured in a news article by SFGate). Getting any sort of traction is welcomed even if it’s not authentic.

Some guys I talked to mentioned any matches or dates is better than none and in some cases, getting a cash bonus for referral was not the end of the world (even if they didn’t need the money). Case in point, guys who fell victim to this deception didn’t really mind it. They viewed it as a practice date and chalked it up to a learning experience.

These Occurrences May Be More Common In The Future

Given the dire job market, it’s likely these situations will happen even more frequently as job applications are managed by AI and the more people are laid off. Similarly, these deceptive interests on dating apps are often underreported (just like other dating scams).

It doesn’t help that some people don’t care about it either as apps usually don’t make changes unless there is serious pushback from users (often aided by the media’s help).

Furthermore, dating apps are blurring the lines of intention. These days, dating apps are also used (and marketed) for making friends, platonic hangouts, tour guides while traveling and more so it’s no surprise that fewer and fewer people are on apps for dating purposes.

• Tinder’s Tagline: Dating, Make Friends & Meet New People

• Bumble has a BFF and Bumble Bizz sections for friends and networking

People are quite lonely, especially those new to a city, have had friends relocate, have kids or get married or lost their job (and friends as a result). One of the main reasons I turn down potential clients is that they are unwilling to do the self-work which includes making friends, expanding hobbies, making time for dating and taking care of themselves.

It’s not out of the blue for people, especially men, to put the burden on women they are dating to be their friend, social planner, therapist, cook, cleaner etc. As such, they use dating apps before they are ready to actually date (or at least have healthy expectations about what dating is actually about).

Where To Meet Singles In The Bay Area

How To Know If Someone Is Interested In You (And Not Your Job)

First off, the easiest way to tell if someone is primarily interested in your job or company is to know if the other person is way out of your league. For some people, especially engineers at big tech companies, this is not always obvious.

Engineers are often treated like rockstars so they are use to being waited on hand and foot (salaries, perks, food, stocks etc). They think professional success is easily translated into dating success but that is rarely the case as dating involves more soft skills and different metrics for assessing market value.

The other red flags to look out for are:

• Is the other person unemployed?

• Does the person seem way too interested in your job or company more than you?

• Do you have absolutely nothing in common?

• Does the person live far away or are they using travel mode?

• Is the person in a relationship or married? (this one is a bit tricky, especially in the Bay Area given popularity of open relationships; some people may be fine with their partners marketing themselves on dating apps to land a job).

These are only red flags and it’s natural to ask about a job (especially when dating to assess lifestyle, how busy you are, how much time you have to date). Heck one of the most common questions asked on dating apps, singles mixers, networking events and even people you meet randomly everyday in life is: “What Do You Do For Work?”

If the conversations keep shifting back to work despite your efforts to talk about interests, hobbies and non-work stuff then you may have your answer.

Some people’s whole identity is work, sadly, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area. If that is something you encounter, well it’s up to you want you want. Some people seek an equal but in many cases, job/titles are irrelevant. Case in point, read the popular article: Women Need To Date Carpenters Like Men Date Yoga Instructors.

A few people have gone as far to not list their title or company on their dating profiles but that may be for other reasons i.e. make it harder to find them online and report them for bad behavior.

To bring this full circle, there is an old saying in the VC world that comes to mind: ask for money, get advice; ask for advice, get money. I guess when it comes to job-hunting and dating, it will soon be: ask for a date, get a job; ask for a job get a date.

Men Using Dating Apps To Find Jobs, Women Using Dating Sites For Networking; Men Using Hinge To Network, Women Using Bumble To Find Jobs, Men Flirting With Women On LinkedIn, Men Using LinkedIn As A Dating App, Is LinkedIn A Dating App? People Using Dating Sites To Find Jobs, Dating App For Job Search

Last Updated August 10, 2026 5:00PM

Bay Area Businesses Banning Smart Glasses

San Francisco, San Jose Bars, Restaurants, Coffee Shops Banning Smart Glasses

There is a growing trend of bars and restaurants in the UK that are banning smart glasses as mentioned in this Gizmodo article.

Smart glasses are at the center of concern for civil liberties advocates who are fearful that these devices can and will be used to record people without their consent, underage folks and in private spaces that are normally illegal but will be harder to prove with these discreet eyewear.

Pervert Glasses, as Meta Rayban glasses are commonly referred to now have an easy to locate url shortcut: https://pervertglasses.com/

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend!

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Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

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Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

San Francisco Bay Area Bars That Banned Google Glasses

Back in 2014, when Google Glass was a thing, several local bars and establishments banned Google Glass or similar eyewear devices that took video or photos. These include:

• San Francisco: Molotov's, The Willows, The Sycamore, Zeitgeist, Uptown, 500 Club, Bender's Bar

• Oakland: Heart and Dagger Saloon, Oakland

Since that was over a decade, I’d imagine these businesses would ban the latest version of these devices but there hasn’t been much discussion around that.

Some think the Meta glasses will go the same way but I am not as optimistic. When Google glasses came out they were much more obvious and noticeable. Meta glasses are harder to spot (see the John Oliver episode that talks about how Meta bought brand trust by partnering with Ray Ban).

On top of the design differences, the one major difference between Google glasses and Meta smart glasses is the price difference ($1,500 vs ~$300). That price drop alone gives this current iteration better chances of market penetration than the previous iteration.

Lawmakers are often slow to catch up with drawing up legislation to address new technology (if ever) and it is harder now given how much money these corporations are stockpiling and exerting force with lobbyists, lawyers, influencers on social media and more.

Businesses, Schools Banning Smart Glasses Bay Area

California's AB 3216 (Phone-Free Schools Act), requires every district to have a device policy by July 1, 2026. Some have specifically included smart glasses such as:

• Sequoia Union High School District, Redwood City (June 2026)

• Mountain View-Los Altos High School District (August 2026)

Submit Tips!

Smart Glasses News, Pervert Glasses Concerns Bay Area

• Man in Meta glasses prompts warning from USF (San Francisco) -SF Chronicle

• Think Twice Before Buying, Using Meta’s Ray-Bans -Electronic Frontier Foundation

• ‘I’ve lost followers’: influencers face backlash re: ‘pervert glasses’ -Guardian

• Big tech’s AI-powered ‘pervert’ glasses in losing battle w/ DuckDuckGo -SFGate

• Taylor Swift Bought Way Out of Biometric Surveillance. Kylie Wants to Sell It -Slate

If you would like to support my efforts with informing the public with important & timely news, feel free to buy me a beer or coffee below.

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San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do This Week, Weekend

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend!

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Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

New & Updated Eddie’s List Guides

• New: August 2026 Bay Area Event Calendar (more events added this weekend)

• Updated: San Francisco Bay Area Individual Artist Grants (more added this week)

• Popular: Dump Days, Where To Get Rid Of Mattresses, Bulky Items

• Important: EBT Discounts, Free Admission San Francisco Bay Area

• Popular: For More Social Activities Beyond One-Offs Below, See This

Weekly Recommendation

This week’s recommendation is to check out Little Hill Lounge in El Cerrito. This amazing bar and music venue is super welcoming, has great cocktails, and is a neighborhood staple that even city folks and out of towners love. It’s up for sale, so please enjoy and support this incredible space.

See archived weekly recommendations (drinks, plates, causes etc.).

San Francisco Bay Area Weekly News, Current Events

San Francisco Bay Area Bars, Businesses With Facial, Retna Scanning -Eddie’s List

Stanford Ends Flock Contract; Flock Pitches Uber/Lyft Plan -Bay Area Flock News

Waymo Behavior Now Harder to Decipher, Even After July 4th Fiasco -The Frisc

Kaiser nurses say technology is making jobs — and patient care — worse -CalMatters

BART’s schedule changes tomorrow w/ big improvements to reduce delays -BART

The journalist taking on the ‘tech fascists’ of Silicon Valley -The Guardian

SFMTA: Improvements Are Coming: Muni Service Changes Start Aug. 29 

I Went To A Torture Party With Polyamorous Bay Area Rationalists -Vice

How Protected Is Your Job If You Go on Leave? Not as Much as You Think -WSJ

Big tech’s AI-powered ‘pervert’ glasses are in a losing battle with DuckDuckGo -SFGate

• Speaking of pervert glasses, guess what happens when you click pervertglasses.com

Gun violence crackdown → 51 arrests, 76 firearms seized across East Bay -Oaklandside

Tri-Valley Cities Consider Privately Owned Event Center Backed by Public Funds -SFist

California craft liquor delivery about to end thanks to big money lobbying -CalMatters

Upcoming San Francisco Bay Area Events This Week

• Check w/ organizer (website, ticket page, & social media), as details can change.

• Advance notice + more exclusive events, tech & ongoing exhibits, events beyond the Bay Area in monthly calendars (more added soon, including last-minute events).

• Events below in SF unless noted. Use contact button for any/all inquiries. No DM’s.

Monday August 10 Events San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose & More

Read more

Last updated: August 9, 2026

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). Sent on Sundays via email only. If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend!

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Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Curated Bay Area events, news, & curated activities. Sign up for free 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

Submit Tips On Bay Area Businesses, Bars Using Surveillance

Facial scans at clubs, retna scans for worthless crypto coins & more…

Submit Tips Here!

Bars/Businesses w/ Biometric Device World (Sam Altman)

Sam Altman Iris Scan Company Locations

• Little Sweet (Tea Room),

  • Geary & 3rd Avenue, Inner Sunset, 790 Valencia, 555 20th St, 655 Montgomery, 333 Jefferson,

  • Other locations: 75 O’Farrell, 1660 Geary, 224 Kearny,17 Powell

• Gap Store, Marina

• TOJO Coffee Tea House, San Jose

• AvoToasty, Marina & 101 California

• The House by Edge & Node, Presidio

• Everytable, Berkeley

• Venture Dock, Palo Alto

• Stonestown Galleria, San Francisco

• Plantea, Mission Bay & 341 Kearny

If you would like to support my efforts with informing the public with important & timely news, feel free to buy me a beer or coffee below.

Buy Me A Coffee

Bars, Stores That Use Facial Recognition Or Scanning

• Grocery Outlet

• The Mix, Castro (uses PatronScan Guard+)

  • Update 8/14/26: will stop scanning faces but use tech to scan IDs

• 1015 Folsom, SOMA

  

• La Kalle, Sacramento

Not Sure If They Still Use It

• Khartoum, Campbell

  

Related Reads on Eddie’s List:

• Who Owns Your Cafe, Restaurant? Private Equity Owned Businesses Bay Area

• Nationwide Shutdown: 150+ Businesses Closing In The Bay Area 1/30

• Mission Driven Companies, Orgs Bay Area

• Civic Engagement Opportunities San Francisco Bay Area

• California Cities & Counties Ending Their Flock Contracts

• San Francisco Bay Area Bars, Restaurants & Cafes Banning Smart Glasses

Bars/Businesses That Stopped Using It After Backlash

• Toad Hall & Badlands pause use of surveillance technology -Bay Area Reporter

  • Stopped using after protests by artists and people on Reddit

  • I recommend you read about the owner of these establishments.

  • There is a Badlands in Sacramento, FYI

Surveillance Castro Bars, Facial Recognition Castro Bars San Francisco, Retna Scan Sam Altman, Badlands Facial Scans, Toad Hall Facial Recognition, Patronscan Bars San Francisco, World Orb Locations San Francisco Bay Area, Facial Recognition Bars In SF, Facial Recognition Badlands, Bay Area Civil Liberties Advocacy, San Francisco Civil Liberties

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend!

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Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events, News & Culture

Curated things to do, news, insider guides & local tips. San Francisco Bay Area event calendar, arts, crafts, festivals, galas, pop-ups, wellness, tech, shows, books, concerts, cultural, social guide, community & civic activities.

By Eddie Hernandez

Outside Lands Insider Tips, First Time Advice

• Hydrate, bring an emtpy water bottle

• Bring Chase card for discounts

• Have meeting points throughout the day

• Sunblock even if overcast/foggy; bring sunglasses

• Bring a battery pack (phone will drain taking videos, photos, trying to find a signal)

• Poop at home!

• Reserve lockers ahead of time (but really not needed if you pack light, efficiently)

• SOMA Stage sound is pretty bad (at least close to the stage)

• ETA walking distance is not realistic, expect longer times due to crowds, lines and distractions.

• Wear comfortable shoes for lots of walking, especially if you go multiple days.

• Take MUNI! It’s free with your wristband

• Bring hand sanitizer and extra tissue/TP just in case.

• Familiarize yourself with OSL bag policy

• Familiarize yourself with Outside Lands wristband registration (activation)

Related reads on Eddie’s List

• Late Night Bites, Dining San Francisco

• Things To Do Near Civic Center/Bill Graham Auditorium

• Things To Do Along 38R Bus San Francisco

• Where To Find Double 8 Buffalo Milk Soft Serve

• Where To Find Pliny The Younger

• Eddie’s List Best Drinks, Bites Recommendations Since 2022

• Best Solo Dining Spots Bay Area

• Stern Grove Ticket Sales, Tips

Outside Lands Music Festival Livestream

OSL Stream Schedule

Best Restaurants, Cafes, Bars Near Outside Lands…

Read this guide:

OSL Shuttles

Outside Lands Shuttles are prepaid, r/t 1 & 3-Day passes from the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (downtown SF) and drop off and pick up at the festival’s South Gate.

Outside Lands GA Entrance Map, MUNI Stops

• 26th & Fulton

• Middle Dr & Metson Rd aka b/t 33rd & 34th and Lincoln which the closest MUNI stop is 34th and Lincoln

Outside Lands GA+ & VIP Entrance Locations

• 36th Ave & JFK Drive

Since there is no direct path to go North & South of parks, plan ahead as there is bad reception, twists and turns and limited bathrooms in the park.

Bathrooms In Golden Gate Park (Before/After Concerts)

https://www.sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7494/List-of-Park-Properties-with-Restrooms

Outside Lands Night Shows

https://sfoutsidelands.com/festival-experiences/night-shows/

Can You Bring Food Into Outside Lands Music Festival?

Food is usually fine but keep in mind clear bag policy. They sometimes may give folks a hard time but usually let people go or just go to another screener.

Sneaking Into Outside Lands

See this post about a group’s attempt to sneak in this year (TLDR, didn’t make it past 2nd gate and they moved the fence in so can’t climb over).

Sneaking In Booze Into Outside Lands

Not so much these days, but it was good while it lasted…

Outside Lands Music Festival Road Closures (GGP)

https://sfrecpark.org/547/Golden-Gate-Park-Road-Closures

Outside Lands Lost & Found

Lost & Found is at the Info Booth (Polo Field) across from Dolores’.

Outside Lands Festival Outfits: What To Wear To OSL

• Bring layers (wind and fog can quickly change even if clear during the day)

• Avoid your company schwag fleece or shirt

• Avoid pervert glasses

OSL Ticket Scams

Outside Lands Ticket scams largely occur when people send money to strangers online and then expect them to send wristbands in mail. One should always exchange in person, bring a friend who has a wristband to confirm they are exactly the same and conduct exchanges at a police station.

Best Places To Get Dropped Off Outside Lands

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From free salsa dancing, outdoor dance parties, chess, exercise classes, speed-frieding events and more, San Jose is home to amazing opportunities to meet people, make friends and build community regardless of age, interest and social skills.

San Jose Events This Week, Festivals, Things To Do

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend! 29,000+ subscribers!

FAQ’s | IG | Directory | Contact | Sections: Social | Community | Travel | Food & Bev

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

San Jose Fun, Unique, Quirky Events, Street Fairs & Activities This Weekend 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

San Jose Public Library Events

San Jose Public Library Events For Adults, Kids, Families & More.

The San Jose Public Library branches feature an array of activities, talks, community events and more from chess, mahjong, cultural events & a whole lot more. Some events are one-offs, others are recurring, and a few are seasonal.

If you want to see more events at the San Jose Public Library, let the staff know (in-person, main contact forms or contacts listed on event pages). These incredible events don’t just happen magically and may not continue unless people are aware, ask for them, share them with others and attend events.

See what events are happening at the San Jose public library here.

Submit San Jose Events, Festivals, Shows & Activities To Eddie’s List

Promote your local San Jose show, art opening or community event on Eddie’s List.

Submit San Jose Events!

San Jose Farmers Markets

San Jose Farmers Markets are more than just a place for farmers to sell food. There are often other activities and vendors to enjoy a morning or afternoon, including prepared foods, live music, activities for kids, and more. San Jose Farmers’ Market events may vary by season, so be sure to confirm details before venturing out.

See San Jose Farmers’ Market events here.

Related San Jose Event, Activity Guides On Eddie’s List:

• San Jose Happy Hours

• Where To Meet Singles San Jose

• How To Make Friends In San Jose | How To Build Community

• San Jose Date Ideas

• San Jose Trivia Nights

• Things To Do Near Caltrain Stations

San Jose Volunteer Opportunities

If you are looking to meet people, make friends, build community (or possibly meet a romantic interest), volunteer opportunities in San Jose are the way to go.

There are many opportunities every day of the week, and while turnouts can vary, it’s helpful to become a regular, check out a few different orgs/shifts to see what works best for you.

Some volunteer events in San Jose are more interactive and social, but there are also ones that are more focused on work so individuals can just volunteer with little to no interaction if desired.

See San Jose Volunteer Opportunities here

San Jose Events This Weekend: Shows, Activities, Street Fairs & More

San Jose Fun, Unique, Quirky Events, Street Fairs & Activities This Weekend 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

Downtown San Jose Shows, Live Music This Weekend

Things To Do In San Jose Tonight

San Jose is home to some incredible music and performing arts venues such as:

• San Jose Theatres Events (Performing Arts)

• SAP Center Center Events (Upcoming San Jose Concerts)

• Levi’s Stadium Events, Santa Clara

• Paypal Park Events San Jose

• San Jose Improv Shows (Comedy Shows San Jose)

San Jose Outdoor Festivals, Street Fairs This Weekend

San Jose is home to many street fairs, festivals, and outdoor concerts throughout the year, but particularly from Spring to Fall. Many neighborhoods and business districts put on seasonal, annual, and weekly events for the community. These are just some of the many outdoor festivals and street fairs you will find in San Jose.

• San Jose Jazz Festival

• Cinco de Mayo Parade, Festival San Jose

• Silicon Valley Pride Festival

• Music in The Park Events San Jose

San Jose Community Events, Book & Crafts This Week

San Jose features some incredible cultural, creative, unique and fun events each week. If you are into books, talks, classes, performances and more, be sure to check out my free weekly email newsletter (sent of Sundays). I carefully curate events so you can spend more time exploring and less time scrolling.

You can get a rough idea of what is included in these other guides below.

• San Jose Book, Author & Writing Events

• Mahjong Events, Meetups San Jose

• San Jose Bike & Walking Groups

• San Jose Chess Events, Classes

San Jose Events For Kids, Families This Week

• Santa Row Events

• Valley Fair Mall Events

• San Pedro Square Events

• Gordon Biersch Night Markets

• Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

• San Jose Fairground Events

• Winchester Mystery House

More San Jose Conventions, Activities

• San Jose Mcenery Convention Center - convention center events are not promoted by the venue. I list many of them in my free weekly email newsletter.

Visit San Jose Events Calendar: Tonight, This Weekend

Upcoming events can also be found on Visit San Jose’s website (San Jose’s official tourism site). Anyone can submit events to Visit San Jose, but they likely have certain parameters regarding deadlines, type of events and more.

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Last Updated: August 4, 2026

Oakland has gotten a bad wrap over the years but it keeps going strong. There is incredible community here and vibrant arts scene (despite the lack of funding relative to San Francisco). Oakland is great for finding quirky events, pop-ups, unique activities, community activities. From free salsa dancing, outdoor dance parties, speed-frieding events and more, Oakland is home to amazing opportunities to meet people, make friends and build community.

Oakland Events This Week, Festivals, Things To Do

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend! 29,000+ subscribers!

FAQ’s | IG | Directory | Contact | Sections: Social | Community | Travel | Food & Bev

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Oakland Fun, Unique, Quirky Events, Street Fairs & Activities This Weekend 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

Oakland Public Library Events This Week

Oakland Public Library Events For Adults, Kids, Families & More.

The Oakland Public Library branches feature an array of activities, talks, community events and more from chess, mahjong, cultural events and more. Some are one-offs, some are recurring, others are seasonal. If want to see more events at the Oakland Public Library, let the staff know (in-person, main contact forms or contacts listed on event pages). These incredible events don’t just happen magically and may not continue unless people are aware, ask for them, share them with others and attend events.

See what events are happening at the Oakland Library here.

Submit Oakland Events, Festivals, & Shows To Eddie’s List

Promote your local Oakland show, art opening or community event on Eddie’s List.

List Oakland Event!

Oakland Farmers Markets

Oakland Farmers Markets are more than just a place for farmers to sell food. There are often others activities and vendors there to enjoy a morning or afternoon from prepared foods, live music, activities for kids and more. Oakland Farmers’ Market events may vary by season so be sure to confirm details before venturing out.

See Oakland Farmers’ Market events here.

Related Oakland Guides On Eddie’s List:

• Best Happy Hours Oakland

• Where To Meet Singles In Oakland

• How To Make Friends In Oakland | How To Build Community

• Oakland Date Ideas

• Oakland Trivia Nights

• Things To Do Near Jack London Square

• Things To Do Near Oakland BART Stations

Oakland Volunteer Opportunities

If you are looking to meet people, make friends, build community (or possibly meet a romantic interest), volunteer opportunities in Oakland are the way to go. There are lots of opportunities everyday of the week and while turnouts can range, it’s helpful to become a regular, check out a few different orgs/shifts to see what works best for you. There are some volunteer events in Oakland that are more interactive and social but there are also ones that are more focused on work where individuals can just volunteer with little to no interaction if desired.

See Oakland Volunteer Opportunities here

Oakland Picnic Spots

Oakland is great for sun and warm weather. Not as scorching as further inland like Walnut Creek and Pleasanton but clearer skies and more sun that San Francisco. Whether you are looking for a place to read, a romantic spot for a date or looking for something more social, check out the guide below. I also list more community and one-off picnics and pop-ups in my free weekly email newsletter (sign-up above).

See Oakland Picnic Spots here.

Oakland Events This Weekend: Shows, Street Fairs & More

Oakland Fun, Unique, Quirky Events, Street Fairs & Activities This Weekend 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

Downtown Oakland Shows, Live Music This Weekend

Things To Do In Oakland Tonight

Oakland is home to some incredible music and performing arts venues such as the Fox, Paramount Theatre, Oakland Arena, Henry J. Kaiser Center and more.

• Upcoming Oakland Arena Events

• Fox Oakland Shows This Week

• Paramount Theatre Events

• Henry J. Kaiser Center Events

• Yoshi's Oakland Shows

Oakland Outdoor Festivals, Street Fairs This Weekend

Oakland is home to many street fairs, festivals, and outdoor concerts throughout the year, but particularly from Spring to Fall. Many neighborhoods and business districts put on seasonal, annual, and weekly events for the community. These are just some of the many outdoor festivals and street fairs you will find in Oakland.

• Mosswood Meltdown

• Oakland First Fridays

• Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade

• Oakland Pride

Oakland Community Events, Book & Crafts This Week

Oakland features some incredible cultural, creative, unique and fun events each week. If you are into books, talks, classes, performances and more, be sure to check out my free weekly email newsletter (sent of Sundays). I carefully curate events so you can spend more time exploring and less time scrolling. You can get a rough idea of what is included in these other guides below.

• Oakland Book, Author & Writing Events

• Mahjong Events, Meetups Oakland

• Oakland Bike & Walking Groups

Oakland Events For Kids, Families This Week

• Oakland Zoo Events

• Oakland Fairlyland Events

• Oakland Museum of California Events

Visit Oakland Events Calendar: Tonight, This Weekend

Upcoming events can also be found on Visit Oakland’s website (Oakland’s official tourism site). Anyone can submit events to Visit Oakland, but they likely have certain parameters regarding deadlines, type of events and more.

Oakland Activities This Weekend, Oakland Event Calendar, Oakland Things To Do This Week, Oakland Festivals This Weekend, Oakland Outdoor Events, Oakland Summer Activities, Oakland Free Events, Where To Promote Events Oakland, Where To Submit Events Oakland, Where To List Oakland Events For Free, Where To Market Oakland Events, How To Advertise Oakland Events, Oakland Music Events Ths Weekend, Events Near Oakland BART This Week, Activities Near Oakland BART Stops This Weekend, Oakland Kid Activities This Week, Oakland Family Events This Weekend, Things To Do In Oakland Tonight, Oakland Events Tonight, Oakland Things To Do Tomorrow, Fox Theatre Events Oakland, Paramount Oakland Events This Week, Oakland Events Calendar

San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do This Week, Weekend

Eddie’s List is 100% reader-supported & is manually curated each week (no AI). If you love this newsletter, tap the heart button or tell a friend!

FAQ’s | IG | Directory | Contact | Sections: Social | Community | Travel | Food & Bev

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

Fun events, unique things to do & curated activities. Sign up for free 👇

Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Newsletter

San Francisco Bay Area curated news, food/drinks recs & event calendar: arts, crafts, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, day parties, pop-ups, comedy, wellness, book, quirky & cultural events). ~Sundays via email only.

By Eddie Hernandez

New & Updated Eddie’s List Guides

• New: August 2026 Bay Area Event Calendar (more events added this weekend)

• New: San Francisco Bay Area Individual Artist Grants (more added this week)

• New: California Cities/Counties Ending/Voting On Flock Cameras

• Updated: Last Mile Connectors, Free Buses/Shuttles Bay Area

• New: Free Paper/Document Shredding Events, Places Bay Area

• New: Sensory Inclusive Activities, Parks & Events San Francisco Bay Area

Weekly Recommendation

This week’s recommendation is to take a look at the free guides I put out there on Eddie’s List. It’s important info to help vulnerable communities, avoid tickets, create awareness around scams, build community, reduce vehicle break-ins, bike thefts, & garage break-ins, save money, find free/affordable things to do beyond what’s included in the weekly email, artists’ grants, tips on how/where to promote events, and a whole lot more.

I rely on your feedback, likes etc. to assess which ones to update. If there lists, resources or info you would like to see, please use the survey.

See archived weekly recommendations (drinks, plates, causes etc.).

San Francisco Bay Area Weekly News, Current Events

I got scammed out of $18,600 for a (SF apartment) rental scam -Reddit

• Related read: San Francisco Bay Area Apartment Scams -Eddie’s List

Who killed housing affordability in San Francisco? -Mission Local

Meet the ‘Merfolk’ Frolicking in NorCal’s Pools & Swimming Holes -KQED

Upcoming San Francisco Bay Area Events This Week

• Check w/ organizer (website, ticket page, & social media), as details can change.

• Advance notice + more exclusive events, tech & ongoing exhibits, events beyond the Bay Area in monthly calendars (more added soon, including last-minute events).

• Events below in SF unless noted. Use contact button for any/all inquiries. No DM’s.

Monday August 3 Events San Francisco Bay Area, San Jose & More

Read more

Below information is not legal advice. I am not a lawyer.

San Francisco Bay Area Apartment Rental Scams

There are plenty of rental scams out there and the Bay Area is home to some of the most common ones out there. Sites like Craigslist are still some of the best ways to find an apartment in 2026 but it’s not without headaches, scams and more. Similarly, platforms like Facebook are ripe with scams and Instagram is quickly catching up as people become too trusting and fail to do basic due diligence.

Below are some handy tips to avoid wasting money, time and embarassment from these professional scammers as well as advice on how to avoid gotchas from shady landlords and real estate agents.

Popular Read: Top Bay Area Slum Lords (old but still relevant)

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

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Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do

San Francisco newsletter: news, art, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, pop-ups, comedy, wellness & cultural events; food & drink recs. Bay Area events this weekend, San Jose things to do this week, East Bay activities

By Eddie Hernandez

San Francisco Bay Area Apartment Deposit Scams

One of the most common scams are deposit scams. Apartment deposit scams usually occur when a poster demands a deposit to view a list or hold an apartment until application, documents or similar materials are submitted. These are usually accompanied by listings that are too good to be true i.e. below market rates.

Related Reads On Eddie’s List

• How To Reduce Package Theft, Garage Break-Ins, Bike Theft

• San Francisco Crime Maps, Safety Tips

• How To Reduce Car Break-Ins San Francisco

• How To Avoid Parking Tickets San Francisco

• San Francisco Speeding Cameras

Bay Area Apartment Scams: Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok

It’s hard to identify scams on social media for apartment listings but most are exaggerated or instill FOMO rather than outright lie (but that does happen too). The vertical format on videos on social media make it hard to assess actual width and size of apartments.

The short duration only gives you a small clip from which you have to extrapolate. Given the public comment sections, you can feel pressured to act quickly or lose out, which is intentional on these Gen Z-type placements.

Beyond these formats and delivery styles, the use of wide-angle cameras used to create such videos just adds another level of deception.

Craigslist Apartment Rental Scams San Francisco

Craigslist is still gold when it comes to searching for apartment listings, but its like shopping at thrift shops or the bottomless barrels of Tinder. There is a tight window where a listing is either a scam (barely posted) or sketchy (been on the site too long). The ideal window is somewhere in between but that can be hours or just a few days.

A common scam is data harvesting. People submit applications or documents too quickly. It’s not needed to provide proof of identity when responding to Craigslist ads, but you do need to be aware of how you come off, what info you provide, how quickly you respond, and how succinct you are in your responses.

AI Apartment Scam San Francisco Bay Area

• Usually AI-generated photos, walk-throughs.

• See story here.

Fake Credit Score Sites

Some scams involve using fake credit score sites to obtain personal info.

How To Avoid Being Scammed During The Apartment Hunt

• Know what market rates are; understand the difference between too good to be true and a great value.

• Being asked for your social security or bank records before signing lease.

• Look up phone numbers and emails (learn how to do advance searches)

• Don’t hand over documents with sensitive info too quickly, easily.

• Do reverse image searches on photos

• Look up addresses of apartments; do contact info match public records or other listings? Do prices match historical values (relatively adjusting for inflation, time difference)

• Credit checks are common and fees can be assessed anywhere from $20-$50.

• If someone only communicates through Whatsapp or some unusal platform, it can be a scam.

• Look for phishing scams i.e. typos in email handles looking similar to official landlords and rental companies.

• Landlord insists on cash, crypto, gift cards, venmo, wire transfers for payments.

• Landlord charging higher than legal deposits or extra fees for WFH.

• Listings with just 1 or no photos. Can be a scam or someone didn’t post them yet (can be a way to beat the competition or waste your time).

• New scam! Someone shows you a listing they are renting out on Airbnb or showing you an abandoned building.

• Don’t use obscure or ‘secure’ websites to submit info or make payments.

• Look out for broken English, incomplete ads.

• Avoid filling out applications with personal info before seeing units. Some require you to show up during viewings or make appointments via email or text.

• Use laptops to hover over links before clicking on them. Look for typos.

• Screenshot listings you are considering.

If you would like to support my efforts with creating and updating free guides like this for everyone, you can buy me a coffee below.

Buy Me A Coffee

Roommate Apartment Scam (Rent-Control Units)

This is pretty rare but a new level of scam out there in the city. Given rent control, some people have insane deals and may try to get new roommates to overpay share despite it being a good deal.

Say a flat with 3 bedrooms goes for $1,500 a room but the original person on the lease is paying $2,500 for the entire flat. In theory, everyone should pay roughly the same amount ($833/room), give or take larger rooms, private bathrooms etc. but they charge more to new roommates.

I am not a lawyer nor is this legal advice but look up what is permissible with rates for roommates. Deals on apartments from rent control should be preserved and distributed.

Gift Card Reimbursement San Francisco Apartments

This is not a scame but more so an FYI as people are not familiar with the trend. Some landlords offer people a gift card, sometimes a sizeable i.e. $500-$2,000 or more for signing leases. This is usually done to maintain a high rental price to avoid reducing it as it can affect mortgage/loans. Look it up, I am not a commercial real estate professional. One would think they could negotiate a lower monthly rate but that is not preferred by landlords, thus the one-time payment via gift card.

Latest Bay Area Apartment Scams

• Someone copies an active listing (including showing/open house), has them tour with owner/landlord (unknowingly), directs you to send application, cashiers check/wire, waits until they cash everything. This is why you check official emails on original sites, contact owners/landlords in person rather than only sticking to relay messaging on Craigslist or Zillow etc.

What Happens If You Have Been Scammed?

• File police report, contact 7 On Your Side

How To Make Apartment Hunting Better For All

Report duplicate listings on Craigslist. Some agencies are notorious for this. I am not even hunting and I flag one company’s listings every so often.

Bay Area Slumlords, San Francisco Rental Scams, Bay Area Apt Scams, Rent Control Apartment Scams San Francisco, Craigslist Apartment Scams, Facebook Marketplace Apartment Scams, Apartment Rental Red Flags, Tik-Tok Apartment Scams, Tik-Tok Apartment Video Scams, Tik-Tok Apt Walkthrough Scams, AI Apartment Scams

Last Updated: 8/3/2026, 6:57PM

Sensory Inclusive Events, Venues & Parks Bay Area

A friend of mine recently mentioned how hard it was to find events, activities for kids that are sensory inclusive. A lot of information is scattered or very limited. My goal is to make sure people are aware such activities exist, help support organizers so that they have good turnouts so they are more likely to keep them happening in the future.

I am very much new to these spaces and activities and am doing my best to learn so that I can find more opportunities but also make sure others can familiarize themselves with the various focuses based on needs and abilities. Please check back for updates, more events added.

Sensory Inclusive Events, Venues & Parks San Francisco

• Chase Center Sensory Sensitivity Accommodations: Wellness Room

• Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds

• Mountain Lake Park, Inner Richmond/Presidio

• Sensory Friendly Nutcracker Performances, SF Ballet: December 27, 2026

• SF Chamber Orchestra Sensory Friendly Family Concert, Randall Museum, April 10, 2027

Did I Miss Something? Have A Tip? Submit Your Venues, Activities & Events

If I mislabled something or you have suggestions on additional information that would be helpful, please let me know (comment at the bottom or use the link below).

As I mentioned above, I am trying my best to educate myself among the various needs and abilities, what people are looking for and how to categorize them more accurately.

Some events are coming up quickly and some are seasonal so I wanted to get it out asap; I apologize if something is not accurate.

Send Tips!

Sensory Inclusive Events, Venues & Parks Peninsula

• CuriOdyssey Science Playground & Zoo, San Mateo

  • Sensory Sundays (usually 2nd Sundays)

• Spirited Play Labs, Belmont

  • Designed for disabled, neurodivergent, or behaviorally different children.

• Magical Bridge Playgrounds

  • Redwood City, Menlo Park, Daly City

  • Designed for those w/ physical, developmental, cognitive, or sensory disability.

Sensory Inclusive Events & Parks East Bay: Contra Costa County

• We Rock The Spectrum, Antioch (Indoor Play Area)

• Spirited Play Labs, Berkeley, San Ramon

  • Designed for disabled, neurodivergent, or behaviorally different children.

• Athan Downs Park, San Ramon

  • sensory-rich activities: Sway Fun® glider, OmniSpin® spinner, Roller Table

• Chuck-E-Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays (first Sundays; opens 2 hours early)

  • Brentwood

• Matteo’s Dream Playground for Children of All Abilities, Concord

  • For children who cannot walk, see or hear can play safely alongside children who can.

• Pine Meadow Park, Martinez (all abilities playground)

• Zyland, Concord (indoor playground & learning space)

  • Special Play is 1-2x/month, times vary (see calendar). They will add more events if demand increases.

If you would like to support my efforts with creating and updating free guides like this for everyone, you can buy me a coffee below.

Buy Me A Coffee

Sensory Inclusive Events, Venues & Parks East Bay: Alameda County

• Swings & Wings, Alameda (Sensory-Based Indoor Play Area)

• Legoland Discovery Center Bay Area, Milpitas

  • KultureCity bag, trained staff

• Emeryville Marina Park: Learn about sharks, rays & ecosystems, Aug 15, 2026

  • Support For Nuerodiverse Learners

• AMC Sensory Friendly Films

  • 2nd & 4th Sundays (family-friendly) & Wednesday evenings (mature)

    • AMC Bay Street 16 Emeryville, AMC Manteca 16

• Chuck-E-Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays (first Sundays; opens 2 hours early)

  • Hayward

• Imagine Playground at Dublin Sports Grounds

  • play structure & facilities for people with all kinds of special needs.

• Memorial Park, San Leandro (All Inclusive Park)

• Always Dream Play Park (part of Central Park), Fremont

Sensory Inclusive Events, Venues & Parks North Bay

• Dancers Movement, Santa Rosa

  • Adaptive Dance Classes (Spring & Fall)

• San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society (SFASA) Come Fish w/ Us, San Rafael

  • McNear’s Beach Pier: June 28, August 16, September 13 & 27, October 11

• Chuck-E-Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays (first Sundays; opens 2 hours early)

  • Fairfield, Rohnert Park

• Magical Bridge Playgrounds, Healdsburg

• Pioneer Park, Novato

Sensory Inclusive Events, Venues & Parks South Bay

• Autism Society Summer Pool Days, San Jose | June 7- August 9

• Chuck-E-Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays, Gilroy (1st Sundays; opens 2 hours early)

• Magical Bridge Playgrounds

  • Santa Clara, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Sunnyvale

• Rotary PlayGarden, San Jose

• Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose - Play Your Way Halloween: October 31

Other Sensory Events San Francisco Bay Area & Beyond

• Oogubi Signature Events (weekly events)

• Sensory Hour Turtle Bay Exploratorium Park, Redding: August 8th (next)

• Chuck-E-Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays (first Sundays; opens 2 hours early)

  • Citrus Heights, Modesto, Roseville, Sacramento, Salinas, Stockton

Sensory Inclusive Events San Francisco Bay Area, Sensory Activities For Kids Bay Area, Sensory Events Bay Area, Adaptive Parks Bay Area, Parks East Bay, All Abilities Playgrounds South Bay Area, San Jose, Children’s Activities Bay Area, Children’s Events San Francisco, Things To Do With Children East Bay, Summer Events For Kids South Bay Area, Children’s Curiosity Museum, Kids Museums Alameda, Kid’s Activities Marin, Sonoma, Baby Events Contra Costa, Family Friendly Events San Francisco, Family Friendly Activities Bay Area

Last Updated: August 7, 2026, 11:10AM

California Cities That Voted No Or Ended ALPR Contracts

This is a running list of cities, police departments, counties and related agencies in California that have either voted to end Flock camera contracts, voted no on implementing ALPR cameras or have dismantled cameras in their area.

There are ~117,000 flock cameras in the United States and ~13% can be found in California.

Related Reads on Eddie’s List & More:

• Who Owns Your Cafe, Restaurant? Private Equity Owned Businesses Bay Area

• Nationwide Shutdown: 150+ Businesses Closing In The Bay Area 1/30

• Mission Driven Companies, Orgs Bay Area

• Civic Engagement Opportunities San Francisco Bay Area

• San Francisco Bay Area Bars, Businesses With Facial, Retna Scanning

• Look Up What Surveillance Tech Your Local Police Dept Uses -EFF

• San Francisco Bay Area Bars, Restaurants & Cafes Banning Smart Glasses

Submit California Flock/ALPR Camera Updates

I will also post cities, agencies that are actively discussing renewing, canceling or limiting usage if/when possible if folks are interested. Please like this post so I know where to spend my time updating important community news and free guides like this for readers.

Submit Tips Here!

Runner-Up: Best Bay Area Local Website -48 Hills, Best of the Bay & San Francisco Bay Guardian 2024 & 2025!

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Eddie’s List: San Francisco Bay Area Events & Things To Do

San Francisco newsletter: news, art, festivals, volunteer, galas, classes, talks, music, street fairs, tech, pop-ups, comedy, wellness & cultural events; food & drink recs. Bay Area events this weekend, San Jose things to do this week, East Bay activities

By Eddie Hernandez

Northern California Cities Ending Flock Contracts

• Eureka City Council Votes No On Flock Cameras - February 6, 2025

• Santa Cruz votes to end Flock contract - January 13, 2026

• Canceled flock contracts in Los Altos Hills, Cupertino & Saratoga per 2/24/26 BOS vote.

  • Los Altos Hills Flock Contract: Discontinued local deployment January 2026

  • Does not apply to the city of Los Altos (different city)

• Mountain View flock cameras turned off after city council vote 2/2/24/26.

• Campbell has canceled their contract, using in-house system.

• El Cerrito votes to end flock contract 5/6/2026; scheduled full physical removal of its 40 cameras by August 18, 2026

• Stanford Dumps Flock Camera For Genetec Cloudrunner -August 2026

Southern California Agencies Ending Flock Contracts

• Oxnard Police Department Suspends Flock Cameras - February 27,2026

• Bishop (City) Council Moves Forward to Cancel Contract with Flock - June 23, 2026

• LAPD Ends Flock Contract - July 15, 2026 (flock safety lapd camera suspension)

If you would like to support my efforts with creating and upkeeping free guides like this for everyone, you can buy me a coffee below.

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Upcoming Discussions, Renewals & Votes On Flock Cameras

• Berkeley renews Flock camera contract, rejects expansion plan -May 8, 2026

• Alameda County Extends Flock Contract - June 30, 2026

• Redwood City residents urge review of Flock contract -Renews September 2026

• Richmond Deactivates Flock Cameras In Dec 2025; Issues temporary renewal in March 2026; (expires in December 31, 2026) but police dept seeks to renew it

• Grass Valley Council continues to address Flock camera concerns -July 30, 2026

• Santa Clara court will decide if Flock suit proceeds -KALW August 2026

• Palo Alto (30 Cameras) City Council To Audit Flock Agreement Aug 24, 2026

Related Flock Camera Incidents, News California

• San Jose Flock Camera Lawsuit - April 2026

• Three license plate reader cameras stolen near Highway 49 in Auburn -April 2026

• SFPD suspends access to flock camera network after improper queries - June 2026

• DeflockSF maps cameras all over the city.

• California may put restrictions on Flock camera data - August 2026

• Flock Pitched Plan To Turn Uber & Lyft Drivers Into Roaming Surveillance Vehicles -404 Media (August 7, 2026)

• Brentwood orders removal of HOA license plate readers approved by mistake -8/17/26

Retailers, Businesses Using Flock Cameras

• Home Depot

• Target

• Lowe’s

• Walmart

NorCal/Bay Area Retailers, Businesses Using Flock Cameras

• Bishop Ranch (Sunset Development Co), San Ramon

SoCal Retailers, Businesses Using Flock Cameras

• Fashion Valley (mall), San Diego

San Francisco Bay Area Flock Camera Resistance Groups

• Deflock SF

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