Berkeley has agreed to halt natural gas ban

Associated Press BERKELEY — The city of Berkeley, California, has agreed to halt enforcement of a ban on natural gas piping in new homes and buildings that was successfully opposed in court by the California Restaurant Association, the organization said. The settlement follows the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ refusal to reconsider a 2023 … Read more

UC Berkeley under fed. investigation over recent disruption of speake

(JTA) — The violent disruption to an Israeli speaker’s appearance on campus last month has triggered negative headlines and a criminal investigation at the University of California, Berkeley. Now, the school is facing a federal discrimination investigation, too. The US Department of Education announced the investigation into Berkeley’s handling of antisemitism on Tuesday, just … Read more

‘Shining on international stage’: Chinese developers of OpenAI’s text-to-video generator Sora receive acclaim at home

At least two Chinese developers involved in building Sora, the newly released text-to-video generator from ChatGPT creator OpenAI, have received acclaim on the mainland for their efforts, showing how the advanced generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology has ignited interest across the country where the Microsoft-backed start-up’s services are not officially available. Unveiled by OpenAI on … Read more

Blackbelly Market taking over il porcellino salumi

Il porcellino salumi will be closing its deli doors at the end of the month, but owner Bill Miner has left the shop in trusted hands. Blackbelly Market is opening its first Denver location in the space at 4324 W. 41st Ave., just off Tennyson Street, in late February. Il porcellino salumi’s smoked turkey sandwich … Read more

37-year-old Berkeley Thai restaurant loved by Cal students has closed

Berkeley Thai House, a Thai restaurant popular with UC Berkeley students, has closed after 37 years. The iconic second-story spot just two blocks from campus closed its doors on Dec. 15, the restaurant shared on Instagram. The news was first reported by the San Francisco Business Times.  Fans of Berkeley Thai House can still enjoy their … Read more

Berkeley cafe featured on ‘Today’ show to close after 45 years

A cook works behind the line at Homemade Cafe in Berkeley, which is closing on Jan. 1, 2024. Jessie R. via Yelp/Courtesy A Berkeley cafe that became a national news story for its free breakfast tickets is closing after 45 years. Homemade Cafe, which opened in 1979 at the corner of Sacramento St. and Dwight … Read more

A noteworthy artist’s work not enough to save this Carmel hotel

The exterior of Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Craig Howell via Flickr CC 2.0 What happens when a building slated for demolition features noteworthy works of art on it? Should it all come down? Or is it up to the powers that be to protect it even if consensus is that the structure is no … Read more

Bay Area author pioneered travel that went outside ‘mainstream appeal’

Bay Area author Elaine Lee traveled to 69 countries and curated a forum of ideas in her anthologies. Courtesy of Elaine Lee There has been a recent explosion of travel stories from hosts who push borders — ranging from “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” to “Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi” or Stephen Satterfield’s recent series … Read more

The enduring power of See’s Candies in Oakland

Oakland’s Rockridge district is synonymous with great food, from breakfast sandwiches and kouign-amann to the finest gourmet pasta. Lately, it’s also becoming a destination for chocolate. The 1-mile stretch of College Avenue from Broadway to Ashby is peppered with no fewer than five confectioneries.  Plunked in the center sits an old-school See’s Candies shop. And … Read more

Popular Berkeley bagel shop opens newest Bay Area location

Berkeley’s Boichik Bagels plans to open its new Santa Clara location this week. Lydia Daniller/Courtesy of Boichik Bagels Santa Clara’s long-awaited location of Boichik Bagels is finally expected to open on Dec. 7, owner Emily Winston announced on Instagram. Winston first announced her popular Berkeley bagel business would be opening a bagel shop at 2050 … Read more