TRAVEL
January 31, 2010 | By Christopher Reynolds and reporting from san diego and san francisco
Every year, millions of people find themselves craving a vacation from greater Los Angeles. Many of these people don't want to cross state lines or climb mountains or contend with deserts, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, redwoods, Gold Country or Mickey Mouse. Which leaves them facing this question: San Francisco or San Diego? Or, as some people would phrase it: Think or swim? It is a per-capita fact that one city has more surf shops and the other has more college graduates. But there's more to this choice than that.
TRAVEL
January 31, 2010
WHERE TO STAY IN SAN DIEGO Old: The U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway; (619) 232-3121, www.usgrant.net. Built in 1910, the 270-room Grant stands in the middle of downtown. It got a $60-million face-lift between 2004 and 2006. Its dignified public rooms befit a place that has hosted 14 presidents; lobby displays extol the heritage of the current owners, the casino-operating Sycuan Indians of San Diego County. Upscale features include the Grant Grill restaurant. However, if you want to swim, you have to use the Westin's pool across the street.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 29, 2010 | By Dan Weikel
The $2.25 billion in federal stimulus funds awarded this week to the California high-speed rail project ensures that construction can proceed on a 520-mile route between Anaheim and San Francisco within three years, rail officials said Thursday. Mehdi Morshed, executive director of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, said the infusion of federal dollars would pay for completion of the project's engineering and environmental reviews and provide a significant amount of seed money to start building the system by September 2012, as required by the federal grant.
SPORTS
January 17, 2010
at Pepperdine 83, San Francisco 68: Five players scored in double figures to help the Waves start 3-0 in the West Coast Conference for the first time since 2002. Lorne Jackson led the way with a career-high 21 points. Pepperdine (7-12 overall) and 17th-ranked Gonzaga, the only unbeaten teams in WCC play, will meet Thursday in Spokane, Wash. Dior Lowhorn had 14 points for the Dons (7-12, 2-2). at Loyola Marymount 81, Santa Clara 70: Ashley Hamilton scored 15 points and had 10 rebounds as the Lions (10-9, 1-2 West Coast Conference)
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 11, 2010 | By Maura Dolan
The Proposition 8 same-sex marriage trial that starts today can be watched live at federal courthouses in Pasadena, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Seattle and Brooklyn, N.Y. The broadcast is expected to start at 8:30 a.m. Public access at remote viewing locations will be on a first-come basis. No photographs or recordings of the broadcast will be permitted. The trial is expected to last about three weeks. Video of the trial also will be available on YouTube.com, and the nonprofit group that launched the lawsuit said it would provide updates on its website, www.equalrightsfoundation.
SPORTS
January 7, 2010 | By Steve Harvey
During their Super Bowl years a decade ago, the St. Louis Rams were called "the Greatest Show on Turf." Now they're the greatest show under turf. The Lambs (1-15) were buried, 6-28, by San Francisco on Sunday to win the Bottom Ten title over Detroit (2-14), which deserves a career achievement award for going 2-30 over the last two years. St. Louis' offensive offense averaged just under 11 points per game, lowest in the league. The Lambs were even outscored this season by Oakland, which had the distinction of scoring one third-quarter touchdown all season.
SPORTS
December 31, 2009 | By Steve Harvey
The No. 2 toothless Detroit Lions aren't in contention for very many honors these days, but they have achieved one distinction -- worst team of the decade. Averaging a bit more than four victories per season, the Lions have posted a mark of 42 wins and 117 losses dating back to 2000. Next crummiest are the Cleveland Browns at 56-103 and Oakland ("Commitment to Ridiculousness") Raiders at 62-97. The Lions also have a chance for another distinction -- worst team of the year. All they need is a loss to Chicago, combined with a victory by the No. 1 St. Louis Lambs over San Francisco, to win the Bottom Ten title.
SPORTS
December 28, 2009
at Atlanta 31, Buffalo 3: T.O. reaches 1,000 receptions, complains he would have 2,000 if he ever had a decent quarterback. at Cincinnati 17, Kansas City 10: There is no appropriate witticism to make when a team makes the playoffs five days after burying a teammate. at Cleveland 23, Oakland 9: A confused Al Davis immediately begins devising a way to stop Jim Brown next season. at Green Bay 48, Seattle 10: How dramatic would a Green Bay-Minnesota playoff game be?
TRAVEL
December 27, 2009 | By Avital Binshtock
ALAMEDA, CALIF. New Year's Eve on the USS Hornet When, where: Dec. 31, USS Hornet Highlights: Aboard this historic aircraft carrier, three dance floors come alive with big-band music as attendees get dance lessons, party favors and a panoramic view of San Francisco's skyline from the flight deck. There will also be a midnight countdown and a silent auction; the event is black-tie optional but period, swing and formal military attire are encouraged.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
December 23, 2009 | By Maria L. La Ganga
San Francisco officials are debating whether to make this famously liberal city the first in the nation to require retailers to prominently post the amount of radiation emitted by cellphones. Although there is no scientific consensus that the ubiquitous devices cause health problems, Mayor Gavin Newsom plans to call for an ordinance next month that would require the conspicuous display of radiation levels wherever the phones are sold. Some hail the proposal as evidence of San Francisco's long tradition of environmental activism; this was the first city in America to ban plastic bags and prohibit a class of chemicals called phthalates from use in children's products.