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Straight from the Streets Living in San Francisco has some definite advantages. Fantastic scenery, a community of Bohemian ideals, semi-reliable transportation and kickass Chinese food pretty much any time day or night. Unfortunately we also have to deal with being the fourth most expensive city in America, according to a 2005 study (though seriously who are they kidding, there is no way LA is more expensive.) But nevertheless, we are a city of creative movers and shakers, and an increase in rent only means we get to come up with some zany new ways to supplement our income. So c’mon, what’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to make a few extra bucks?
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 2:01 PM

She Works Hard for her Money Standing in their midst is Sadaisha Shimmers, a vision of gaudy fabulousness. The lights adorning her neck, fingers and head are bouncing off dozens of blue and white rhinestones attached to her face. Clad in fishnets and a black and white one-piece bathing suit, Shimmers disrupts the intimate conversation before she even reaches the table. “Hi, I’m Sadaisha, Peachy’s Puffs’ first drag queen. I’ve got something to suck, something to blow, something to chew and not just on me but on my lovely tray...
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 12:44 PM

Everyone Has a Vice Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It’s been a really, really long time since my last confession. I have committed each of the seven deadly sins more times than I can count; wrath, pride, envy, gluttony, sloth, greed and lust. And just between us…I enjoyed every minute of it.
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Tuesday, Apr 18 2006 1:56 AM

Straight from the Streets Everyone gets a precious few years here on earth and then poof, we’re gone forever. And while the debate continues to rage about what happens after we die, not many people are looking forward to finding out.
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Monday, Apr 17 2006 11:40 AM

Straight from the Streets In a world of blogs, MySpace posts for all the world to see and companies like MTV and Hot Topic packaging and marketing cookie cutter “edge” for consumers worldwide, can a true counterculture movement happen in modern day society?
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Tuesday, Mar 21 2006 9:37 AM

Toys for the Big Boys Scott Miller drops to his knees and takes a slow, cautious look around. The only sound is his heavy breathing and the crickets chirping in the night air. He continues to creep stealthily through the terrain, blending into the inky background thanks to his camouflage battle dress uniform.
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Monday, Nov 21 2005 7:55 PM

Editor's Letter Theorist Matthew Arnold refers to culture as "the best that has been thought and said in the world.” Maybe this guy has a point, but I think we all know culture isn’t that easy to define. And we’re not even going to try.
[ Story by Sabra Moallem ]
Friday, Oct 28 2005 11:48 PM

The Unconventional Conventionalists As the witching hour approaches on Saturday night, Bay Area misfits gather outside the Parkway Cinema in Oakland for a taste of their favorite cult movie experience, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The air is filled with the heavy scent of cloves as bodies clad in fishnets, corsets and black leather line up against the brick wall, eager to be let inside the theater.
[ Story by Amelia Gravagno ]
Wednesday, Oct 26 2005 12:53 AM

Only in San Francisco San Francisco: the irreverent capital of the world. Where else can one attend a baseball game, a war protest and a sex festival all in the same day? Where else could a citywide marathon become a costume party? Where else could the main tourist attractions be a closed prison, a crooked street and a bridge?
[ Story by Bryn Hollis and Amelia Gravagno ]
Monday, Oct 24 2005 12:41 PM

4 out of 5 People Have an STD; the Future Doesn't Have To HPV is a lesser-known sexually transmitted disease which spreads through skin-to-skin contact, so it can’t be prevented with condoms. The virus is responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and 90 percent of genital warts worldwide. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that by the age of 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired the infection.
[ Story by ]
Monday, Sep 26 2005 9:39 AM