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Letter from the Editor Let’s be honest, we all want money. I work two jobs aside from going to school and running this magazine. I have a mouth to feed – the one on my face – if I don’t work, then it doesn’t get fed. And with the extra money I earn, I gamble with the hopes of doubling up by doubling down at casinos – after all, scared money don’t make money.
[ Story by Zoneil Maharaj ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 2:09 PM

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

Get Your Hustle On Playlist Hustlers come in all shapes and sizes, from single mothers, to revolutionary activists with day jobs. What connects them is the agency to move, the motivation to succeed despite difficult circumstances, and a drive to defy the obstacles that block the path to greatness. Move over “Eye of the Tiger”, these huslin’ ass tracks are guaranteed to stimulate yo lazy behind into making yo mama proud!
[ Story by Krishtine de Leon ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:55 PM

Girls Night Out The Booty Bag is perfect for a girl on the prowl. It is small enough to fit in your back pocket, yet it contains a pair of underwear, a mini-razor, two condoms, lube, aspirin, gum and a mini-flask for mouthwash or “liquid courage.” It also comes with a booklet of pick-up lines and advice.
[ Story by Maria Trombetta ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:52 PM

See the World on a Penny Every year, hundreds of people volunteer to work on organic farms around the world. In exchange for half a day’s work, you get room and board for up to six months and a chance to dip into the local life. Pick mushrooms in Alaska or plant trees in Ecuador! It’s more exciting than a regular vacation and all it costs is a little time.
[ Story by Maria Trombetta ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:48 PM

The Waiting Game By 7 a.m. the San Francisco Day Labor Program (SFDLP) on Cesar Chavez Street is already teeming with laborers. All of them, like Pacheco, are hoping to get hired today. Everyone arrives early to put their names on a sign-in sheet that determines the pecking order when employers call. Until then, it’s a waiting game.
[ Story by Kimberly Turner ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:44 PM

Get Your Gamble On Though it’s claimed that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, strip clubs, alcoholism and over-the-top gambling is just as readily available in San Francisco. What was often thought of as an older man’s hobby or addiction, depending on how you look at it, gambling has shuffled its way to our generation with no intention to fold.
[ Story by Jennifer Grass ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:39 PM

Take it Off Weaving her way through the crowd of men, Sophie Oh is scanning for anyone sitting alone. She knows that her paleness stands out under the black light and she opts to wear red lingerie to contrast against her pearly skin. She slows her movements and approaches a young man in the dark corner hiding under a hat. She greets him with a warm smile and a flip of her hair. She bends over him slightly, allowing his eyes to gaze over her buxom figure. She takes a seat next to him and crosses her legs. Protracting a smile, she laughs at his jokes while touching the delicate skin on her neck, while running long fingers over her legs and licking her pouty lips.
[ Story by Esperanza Velarde ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:35 PM

At the Mercy of the MUNI You may not know it, but there is a graveyard on the corner of Geary and Presidio. If you go there at 4:00 a.m. you will see real, live zombies walking around. Half asleep, in matching brown blazers, sweaters and pants, they wipe sleep from their eyes and cruise with ease to their destination—the San Francisco MUNI buses. There they sit for a good part of the day, driving our butts around town—from here to there, home to work, then back again.
[ Story by Katherine Ambellan ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:31 PM

Bucketman Fifteen white buckets surround Larry Hunt on the bustling corner of Powell and Market streets in downtown San Francisco. One of the larger buckets displays a bent cardboard sign with “Tips, please” scribbled in thin, black Sharpie. Another shorter bucket is used as his stool. And the other 13, he bangs the hell out of.
[ Story by Summer Sewell ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:28 PM

A Performer's Paradise With 15.2 million tourists visiting San Francisco each year, it’s no wonder downtown is replete with street performers all wanting their attention. Despite the myriad of entertainers cluttering tourist hot spots, there’s only a handful that have managed to become a must-see act...
[ Story by Esperanza Velarde ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:22 PM

Love it and Leave it Owning a car in San Francisco is exceedingly expensive. Even if the car is paid off, there are myriad costs involved including auto insurance, gas and maintenance. Add in the interminable search for parking every day, and personal car ownership becomes entirely too taxing. Car sharing offers the option of reserving well-maintained, newer cars for anywhere from half an hour to days at a time, gasoline and insurance included.
[ Story by Raymond Deplazes ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:18 PM

Help Wanted From socially plugged-in DJs to well-compensated and well-dressed girls whose job duties include showing up and sipping drinks, the business plan of a great night out is far more complex than “if you throw it, they will come.” And when the lights come on, everybody is partied out but only some have been paid to do it. Are you on the right side of the party payroll?
[ Story by Erin Feher & Catherine Cromelin ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:13 PM

Creative Alternatives to the Stuffy Desk Job These two young entrepreneurs show that graduating students aren’t necessarily doomed to desk jobs or working retail downtown – being a slave to that signature on the bottom of the receipt. But Wong’s success doesn’t just show an alternative way to decorate a messenger bag. It also carries a message that an individual can still start a small, creative business on a shoulder strap. All that is needed is creativity, talent, a thread of luck and the desire to throw the tie to the wind.
[ Story by Lesley Seacrist ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:09 PM

Riding the Streets: San Francisco bike messengers take the road Riding around the city delivering messages is an old profession, present in San Francisco since 1894. With a number of companies and experiences, those who ride claim that once your wheels hit the street you never look back. A hard way to make a buck, those who sacrifice good pay for the autonomy of biking all day admit that it is a challenging job, but worth it in the end.
[ Story by Stephanie Farebrother ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 1:05 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

Gold Diggers in Modern Society Katie Hegoas, 20, knows what she’s doing when it comes to scheming free drinks from guys at bars. She refuses to bring more than $10 out with her a night because she knows some guy will pick up the rest of her tab. Girls do this time and time again, having no reservations about using their sexuality to get what they want.
[ Story by Elly Swetz ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 12:38 PM

Urban Couture Du Jour Local urban couture is taking the Bay Area by storm with young hip hop-influenced entrepreneurs such as Prospect. With the Bay creating buzz across the nation in the music mainstream, local designers are showcasing their custom creations on the Bay’s top rap artists, as well as nationwide acts. Due to the rise in popularity of Bay Area music, these designers are in high-demand among the local scene and upper echelon of fashion.
[ Story by Krishtine de Leon ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 12:30 PM

From Happy Hour to Happy Endings Like it or not, we have become a service-oriented society. While tipping is discretionary, it’s important to remember that you are paying extra for quality service. If you think tipping is stupid, then don’t tip. But don’t complain if you get treated poorly or have to wait.
[ Story by Amy Machnak ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 12:20 PM

Party Producers Hegazy is a party promoter. As a partner in the production team Angel Majik, Hegazy is creating a buzz in Bay Area nightlife. You probably know him best (or at least his type) as one of those flyer guys, ready to bombard you with endless invitations to countless events after a sweaty night in the club. But in the end, Hegazy is just trying to show people a good time, and get paid doing it.
[ Story by Jessica Jones ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 12:13 PM

Tender Loving Care, Kids with Fur Dogs are the kids of the city. Walk through San Francisco’s loveliest parks and you’ll find leashes, not strollers. The SFSPCA estimates that there are 150,000 dogs in San Francisco. Compare this to the 31,633 children under the age of 5 and it’s obvious who people are dedicating their hearts to in this city. And many business-minded people are making a living off the city’s four-legged love affair.
[ Story by Nathan Nugent ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 12:06 PM

Confessions Of A Cabbie She makes a dangerously wide left turn on the damp streets of San Francisco at 2:00 a.m. The front of her cab almost scratches the pavement of the hill she is racing up. Bradley is so entertained by the Brazilian music she’s blasting in her cab that she almost passes two happily intoxicated ladies up before slamming on the brakes. “Hop on in, gals!” she yells in a voice that would remind anyone of their sweet grandmother after a few cocktails.
[ Story by Summer Sewell ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:59 AM

Human Guinea Pigs Inside the cold hospital room, doctors connected her to a set of machines to monitor her vital signs. They gave Arvogast a beverage to drink containing cranberry juice, vodka and the date-rape drug gamma hydroxbutyrate (GHB). She started to feel sleepy, so sleepy she could not keep her eyes open. The GHB took affect and she fell asleep, having intense dreams. After what felt like a great nap, she awoke to an awkward moment. Doctors hovered over her, watching her every move.
[ Story by April Jones ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:54 AM

Students Start Investing Most of the crowd appeared to be low-to-middle class. They carried promotional balloons and waited for the iPod raffle to spit out their names. Besides the buckets of cheesy inspirational one-liners, every other speaker promoted power-persuasive products like the Cash Flow board game and Secrets to Wealth influence and power DVDs. Meanwhile important tips were exchanged for those who paid to actively learn about investing in property to secure their future.
[ Story by Lesley Seacrist ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:49 AM

Travelin' George Ever wondered where your money has been before it found its way into your wallet? Why people often say, “Ew! Wash your hands before you eat! You don’t know where the money has been!” Well, there is a way to know exactly where your money has been and whose grimy hands have held it before yours.
[ Story by Catherine Cromelin ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:44 AM

Legislative Whorehouse Everyday, corporations and special interests pump $2 million into Washington D.C., giving truckloads of campaign contributions and donations to political parties. And when politicians are elected, they remember the generosity and enact legislation that will benefit their donors. Welcome to the land where elected officials bend over and let corporations pull their hair and slap their ass. Welcome to the D.C Church of Cheddar Stacks, what us citizens know as “American democracy.”
[ Story by Omeed Rafizadeh ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:32 AM

Half of our Budget According to the World Watch Institute, a global research think-tank, if the United States spent $36 billion in foreign aid and outreach programs, we could eliminate hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Instead, our government dumps billions into the military budget.
[ Story by Omeed Rafizadeh ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:18 AM

Trading Angst for Ardor Since the 1970s, LaRouche has preyed on naive idealists, twisting their passions to his purposes. By funneling them into his mysterious hydra of profit and non-profit corporations, he fuels his bevy of publications and lines his pockets.
[ Story by Sam Devine ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:11 AM

Young, Fabulous and Broke Don’t be fooled by the cover. Oprah’s go-to money expert may sport a scary spiky early 1990s do and overly-enthused aerobics-teacheresque smile, but she’s got the goods on the green stuff – dollars, that is. Suze Orman’s surprisingly readable “The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke” is a breezy overview of financial do’s and don’ts. Her tips range from how to pay off credit cards and student loans to building your credit and saving for your future dream car or – gasp – home.
[ Story by Erin Pursell ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:10 AM

How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less “How to Become Famous in Two weeks of Less” is Melissa de la Cruz and Karen Robinovitz’s gift: a how-to guide born of their blood, sweat and tears—for those who have been itching to claw their way to the top…quickly.
[ Story by V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:06 AM

Horoscopes Look into Erin's crystal ball...
[ Story by Erin Feher ]
Wednesday, May 17 2006 11:01 AM

Movie review: "Friends with Money" “Friends with Money”, a comedic drama written and directed by Nicole Holofcener (“Lovely and Amazing) tells the story of four friends dealing with money and their copious personal lives.
[ Story by Esperanza Velarde ]
Monday, Apr 24 2006 1:03 PM

On the Grind In the midst of nation-wide immigrant worker demonstrations and as the prospect of new immigration legislation heats up in the senate, Pacheco just needs to pay the bills. The San Francisco Day Labor Program, created in response to a campaign in the 90s by a group of merchants seeking to ban day laborers on Cesar Chavez Street, acts as a liaison between day laborers and employers. The program ensures that laborers have living wages and promotes the health and safety of workers. Employers range from contractors to companies setting up events (like the jazz festival) or people who just need an extra pair of hands around the house
[ Story by Kimberly Turner ]
Monday, Apr 24 2006 9:17 AM

THE FAUX HUSTLE “I get a rush!!!,” 26-year-old research assistant Robyn Reliford exclaims as she buzzes around the store, grabbing several colorful t-shirts to buy for a friend, her hair perfectly coiffed in a flip. “I have to buy something for myself,” she jokingly reminds herself out loud. Throughout the day, she pulls out her shiny credit card to pay for several purchases, out from the fat day planner that holds her list of things to buy. Reliford acknowledges that she “tries to save,” before letting out a laugh. And although she has paid off her bills for the month, she’s still staring at a debt that would equal a down payment for a house. But she’s not the only one. Today, it seems like everyone is racking up debt and buying unnecessary things while trying to keep up with the Joneses, in what has become a sort of “faux hustle.”
[ Story by V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi ]
Monday, Apr 24 2006 12:39 AM

Students Start Investing! Most of the crowd had the low to middle class appearance carrying around promotional balloons and waiting for the IPOD raffle to spit out their name. However, besides the buckets of cheesy inspirational one-liners and every other speech promoting power-persuasive products like the Cash Flow board game and Secrets to Wealth influence and power DVDs, the circulation of important tips were exchanged for those who paid to actively learn about investing in property to secure the future.
[ Story by Lesley Seacrist ]
Sunday, Apr 23 2006 11:23 PM

[X]press Magazine Spring 2006 Holding up a mirror to Bay Area culture.
[ Story by [X]press staff writers ]
Wednesday, Mar 22 2006 12:53 PM