Ocean Beach went full crop circle at this massive sand art gathering
For one afternoon, Ocean Beach became a gallery for raked masterpieces in San Francisco — then the waves took it all away.
Last weekend looked like TikTok-famous 2024 aliens had ditched the cornfields in 2025 to gentrify Ocean Beach — upgrading the coarse, unkempt sand with sprawling geometric patterns. Spirals, peace signs, and sunrays stretched across the shore, anchored by a simple message: “Be Kind.” Beachgoers wove through the designs, careful but inevitably disruptive, because this was art meant to be temporary.
Read the latest by Courtney Muro
Forgive me, Father, for I have served a look
San Francisco’s most glamorous excuse to drink in a cathedral returned with a masquerade theme, a million-dollar fundraiser, and a photobooth that captured just how committed we all were to the bit. From couture moments to an after-after-party detour that left us wildly overdressed in a dive bar, Carnivale at Grace Cathedral delivered faith, fashion, and a little bit of sin.
Read the latest by Saul Sugarman
How Boudin Bakery baked its way through history
San Francisco’s got a long history of reinvention, but one thing that hasn’t changed? The city’s love for Boudin’s sourdough. In this historical jaunt, we dig into how a scrappy Gold Rush-era bakery survived earthquakes, corporate takeovers, and shifting food trends—all while sticking to its old-school fermentation process.
Read the latest by Alec Scott
What we’re doing this week
Game Developers Conference returns
The Game Developers Conference is the world's premier event for professionals in the game industry, bringing together programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, and business leaders. This five-day conference offers a comprehensive schedule of lectures, panels, and roundtable discussions covering topics such as programming, design, audio, production, business, and management.
In addition to the educational sessions, GDC features the GDC Expo, where companies showcase the latest game development tools, platforms, and services. Attendees can also look forward to the Independent Games Festival and the Game Developers Choice Awards, celebrating innovation and excellence in game development.
WHEN: March 17–21, 2025
WHERE: Moscone Center, 747 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Israel Philharmonic returns to Davies
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is scheduled to perform at Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday, with a program that includes Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5: one of his most well-known and emotionally charged symphonies, composed in 1888. A pre-concert benefit will be available the same night, with cocktails and dinner at 5:30 PM, followed by the concert and a post-concert dessert reception with Maestro Shani and IPO musicians.
WHEN: Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 7:30 PM, with a pre-concert benefit at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
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The Bold Italic publishes first-person stories on topics that are on the brains and lips of San Franciscans. We’re a hub for conversations to be heard and discussed, and we celebrate all that’s great about living in San Francisco and the Bay Area. We hope our continuing conversation will get you thinking, talking, and inspiring you to share your opinions with us on living in San Francisco.
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