The most significant change to San Francisco’s landscape in 2011 involves a conjuring act that turns parking spaces into pedestrian nooks. They go by the name of parklets, a word that didn’t exist two years ago, and when 2011 arrived there were only four. Now there are 22, with six more approved and 44 in various stages of review. Their reach extends from Potrero Hill to the Outer Sunset, as far north as Washington Square and as far south as one planned for the Excelsior district. The latter parklet will be built by students at the Out of Site Youth Arts Center;… read more.

When most people ponder the past at the Transbay Terminal construction site, they imagine the hustle and bustle of gray-suited commuters swarming in and out of the Art Deco-style train depot in the mid-20th century. But archaeologists working at the site during demolition of the dingy old terminal last winter and construction of its grand replacement have unearthed artifacts that help reveal what it must have been like to live in the Irish working-class neighborhood that existed in that part of the South of Market in the mid- to late 1800s. They’ve dug up bottles that once held soda, booze and medical… read more.

San Francisco Business Times San Francisco will host the next America’s Cup, a coup for city officials who hope that luring sailing’s most prestigious event will pump more than $1 billion and 8,000 jobs into the region. The city’s selection was announced Friday afternoon by America’s Cup organizers and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom following a day of speculation that San Francisco had been chosen as host city and that an announcement was imminent. “The selection of San Francisco today to host the 34th America’s Cup marks the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter for our city and for the sport of… read more.

By: Jenny Pisillo , SFGate It’s orange and black all over the city of San Francisco today, as the bay area is euphorically celebrating the World Series win of their beloved Giants baseball team. With a super successful season behind them, it’s no doubt that Giants season tickets have become a hotter item than ever, with premium prices many times more than what one would pay before they earned the championship ring…. read more.

On tonight’s episode of 60 Minutes, Morley Safer visits San Francisco to find out more about the fabulous Market Street film that was made public several years ago.  Since its discovery, some local historians uncovered exactly when it was made and by whom. Watch the segment below – it’s a great glimpse into our city’s past.

By Robert Selna SFGate.com In 1987, San Francisco banned new restaurants on Noe Valley’s 24th Street because residents felt they were losing local shops to eateries that drove up rents and caused traffic jams. Now, with nearly 15 vacant storefronts, there’s a push to get the restaurants back. Today, the city’s Planning Commission is poised to undo the rule on 24th Street that allowed new restaurants only to replace old ones. The change would follow a trend in other parts of the city that are trying to cope with the down economy and recognizing the ever-increasing importance of dining to commercial vitality. Most… read more.