Letters from San Francisco
On Burns Night
As we know it, "Auld Lang Syne" is a poem by Robert Burns, but that is simply a later version of a song that has its origins in the oral [...]
Hallowed hall
Nestled between a cannabis dispensary and a Celtic dive bar in a particularly seedy corner of San Francisco’s culturally diverse Richmond District is Family Billiards, which first opened its doors [...]
Ships and shipping
Christopher Winner’s recent “Boyhood Empire” series includes many tales of ocean liners. As San Franciscans, ships resonate with us, as we recall our own glory days of transpacific voyaging. Matson [...]
A death and a discovery
The San Francisco literary community was saddened to hear of the death of Robert D. Haines Jr. earlier this year. A long-time member of the Book Club of California, Robert [...]
Walking the dog
She was, as the car door panel indicated, a dog behavioralist. And her car was of course full of dogs, most of whom were complacently still as she pulled into [...]
Bridge under water
The expression “water under the bridge” is generally understood to mean that what’s done is done, so let’s move on and forget about it if we can. It’s an expression [...]
Fall snapshots
In San Francisco, autumn began on a melancholy note. The passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein has been marked by many a somber ritual. It was here in San Francisco, as [...]
The Order of Malta Clinic
Established more than 900 years ago, The Order of Malta dates back to 1048 A.D., with the dispatch of hospitaller monks destined for Jerusalem to care for and heal pilgrims [...]
Summer in the city
Italian themes resonate here as our gentle spring segues into a fogbound summer this month, following several outstanding cultural events staged by our dance company and a remarkable waterfront museum. [...]
Seeking ruins and rebirth
Ruins have long held my fascination. Having knocked around a bit in Rome in 1984 as the “Rome Daily America” was in steep decline, I developed a more mature appreciation [...]
A Most Wanted Man
Hamburg, terrorism and disloyalty are Le Carré's bread-and-butter in no. 21.
Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime
Awareness of the sublime can hit you suddenly, in a gallery say. Patricia Hampl recommends eyes wide open.
Author
Patrick Burnson worked for The Rome Daily American and the International Herald Tribune early in his career. After a long tenure with various business trade media, he now writes about art and entertainment in the San Francisco Bay Area for visitors and commuters reliant on the region’s ferry system.