Sam Spade's San Francisco

Friends of San Francisco Animal Care and Control are offering a FREE pet microchip implant clinic on Sunday, February 10th between 1 PM and 4 PM at the SanFrancisco Animal Care & Control office located at 1200 15th Street at Harrison.

No appointments are necessary, but you must come only between 1 PM and 4 PM and only on Sunday, February 10th to get the microchip and the implantation free of charge.

All pets must be either on a leash or in a carrier.

If you cannot prove through your photo ID that you are a current resident of the City of San Francisco, you must pay $15 for the microchip and implant at the time of service.

For more information call .

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Tues., February 5, 2008
7:00 pm, Free Event
Port Authority Room, San Francisco Ferry Building

Hosted by Book Passage

Meet former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Jr., as he talks about his new book Basic Brown ($26.00). Brown rose from a rural, segregated Texas to become the two-term mayor of San Francisco, the longest-serving Speaker of the California Assembly, and one of the most influential black politicians in America. Here, he offers advice, counsel, and anecdotes on a variety of political topics.

It’s a special treat to welcome Mayor Willie Brown to our Ferry Building store, because he—more than any other public official—was instrumental in creating the beautiful Ferry Building Marketplace that we have today. This is a great opportunity to see Da Mayor again and chat with him.

Buy an Autographed Copy

Resource links:
San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace - Complete Guide
Chinese New Year San Francisco 2008
San Francisco's Best Beefsteak Hamburger
Sam Spade's San Francisco Endorses Barack Obama
Coffee in the Castro
San Francisco's Fabulous Lesbian Chefs
Valentine's Cruise on San Francisco Bay

Please join Senator Ted Kennedy in Oakland and Senator John Kerry in San Francisco, where they will lead a rally for Senator Obama and explain why he is the one candidate who can bring about the kind of change we can believe in.

Special Event with Senator Ted Kennedy

Beebe Memorial Cathedral
3900 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609

Friday, February 1, 2008
Doors Open: 2:00 p.m.

Directions & RSVP:
http://ca.barackobama.com/oaklandkennedy

The event is free and open to the public.

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Canvass Kick-off Rally with Senator John Kerry

Everett Middle School Auditorium
450 Church Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Saturday, February 2, 2008
Doors Open: 9:30 a.m.

Directions & RSVP:
http://ca.barackobama.com/cakerryrally

The event is free and open to the public.

Sam Spade's San Francisco endorses Barack Obama for President of the United States.

I worked as a volunteer in Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968. Thirty-nine years ago, a couple of days before the California primary, I was a Kennedy campaign foot soldier. It was on that day, nearly four decades ago, that I met Robert Kennedy.

It was a brief receiving line greeting - a handshake, a smile, and he moved down the line. It was the second Kennedy hand I shook.

As a school boy in 1960 I was eager to be at the appointed time and place to see Senator John F. Kennedy come to town to run for President. As luck would have it I ended up in a strategic spot and when John Kennedy came close, I wiggled and squeezed my way to the front and, for a brief and shining moment, John F. Kennedy had his hand firmly surrounding mine and his eyes were meeting mine.

Those two moments remain among the most singular events of my life as an American citizen. The day I took the oath and was sworn into service in the United States Army was an equally singular day. Being an American is the core, the central nerve, the heart and the soul of my existence.

The Kennedys were the hope of our future. They were representative of goodness and justice. Following Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Kennedys were the leaders and the champions of the civil rights movement. They were the future of America. The Kennedy name and the Kennedy legacy is sacred in this country.

Yesterday we watched the Kennedy family pass that legacy and with it the hope and dreams of millions of Americans to Barack Obama. After all these many years the mantle of responsibility has again been passed.

It was first passed from John F. Kennedy to his brother Robert.

After Robert's assassination in Los Angeles two days after we shook hands, the Kennedy legacy passed to the youngest brother, Edward "Teddy" Kennedy, who was then and is now a United States Senator. For the next nearly forty years it would be held in trust by Senator Kennedy.

Now, President Kennedy's daughter, Caroline, and President Kennedy's brother, Teddy, have passed the Kennedy family dream to Barack Obama. It was a profound moment. The Kennedy legacy has been passed to someone outside the Kennedy family.

On October 26, 2006, I published a story in this blog titled, "Barack Obama, our Best Hope Since RFK". You can read the story by following the title link. It will explain why I believe in and trust Barack Obama.

When I was a young man, the first presidential election in which I campaigned was for Robert F. Kennedy. Now, forty years later, I am becoming an old man, and while I very sincerely hope this will not be my last presidential election, it is with extraordinary honor, privilege and sincerity that I offer the totality of my support to Barack Obama for President of the United States.

Now, join the future and watch this video of the Kennedy family endorsement of Barack Obama



Follow this link to Barack Obama.

- Thomas Dunn, Sam Spade's San Francisco

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STOP! You have reached an old and out-dated post.

There is a mass email circulating the globe that accuses Senator Barack Obama of being a Muslim who is part of a terrorist sleeper cell. The email suggests Senator Obama may be a plant who may one day become a traitor against the United States. The people who send that sort of spam email are among the lowest levels of human life anywhere.

Barack Obama is entitled to respect and honesty. He is a United States Senator. This smear attack is shameful to every true American. We are a nation of honest and fair people, at least that is our national core community.

The emails circulating about Senator Obama did not come from the Clinton camp. The emails are coming from people whose help the Clintons neither want nor appreciate. These spam creeps are working entirely on their own.

Nor are the emails coming from any of the Republican candidates. John McCain, although conservative, is still a good and honest man. He is a Vietnam veteran and true American war hero. Nobody questions the honesty and integrity of John McCain. The emails did not come from his camp.

Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani are also honorable Americans. The emails would not have come from them.

I have my own personal image of the authors of those emails. I see them as being overweight slobbish white men. They have poor educations and socially they are awkward.

They are boiling-mad racists. They cannot stand the thought of a black man in the White House. It would make them feel an even deeper sense of inferiority than that which already consumes them. They are uninspired losers. They are bland blobs of pale flesh and the only way they can feel better about their irrelevant existence is to try and tear somebody else down to their level.

My image of these creeps may be way off course, but whatever their appearance three things seem certain. They are hateful in spirit, destructive in personality and weak in self-esteem. Causing damage and destruction to other people is their form of orgasm.

So, if you chance upon wild accusations about Senator Barack Obama, do your part to set the record clear. Here's how you can help:

BARACK OBAMA and HIS CHURCH

Trinity United Church of Christ is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ. It is part of a liberal denomination that was the first to ordain an African American, a woman, and a gay man. Congregants have described it in the New York Times as a "warm and accepting community," and while it is a predominantly African American congregation, people of all backgrounds attend and are enthusiastically welcomed.

If you encounter an attack on Barack's church:

BARACK OBAMA and FAITH

Barack Obama is a committed and active Christian. He has been a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago for 20 years, where he continues to attend services with his family. Barack has never been a Muslim or practiced any other faith besides Christianity, and in January 2005 he was sworn into the U.S. Senate on his family Bible.

If you encounter an attack on Barack's faith:

BARACK OBAMA and PATRIOTISM

Barack Obama has been a community organizer, a civil rights attorney, and taught constitutional law for a decade. In both the Illinois and U.S. Senate he tackled ethics reform and has been an aggressive advocate for veterans rights. Barack's grandfather taught him to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and he regularly leads his fellow Senators as they recite it together.

If you encounter an attack on Barack's patriotism:

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Cash for College Workshop Dates

Cal Grants are one of the smartest ways to get cash for college - its money you don't have to pay back and it's guaranteed. If you are a graduating senior or recent graduate, meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements and submit two forms (FAFSA and GPA verification form) by March 2, 2008, you are guaranteed a Cal Grant.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D - San Francisco) has partnered up with San Francisco College Access to co-sponsor a series of "Cash for College" Cal Grant workshops throughout San Francisco.

Cash for College Workshop Schedule:

Saturday, January 26th in Chinatown from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm at Gordon J Lau Elementary School

Tuesday, January 29th in Bayview Hunter's Point from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Thurgood Marshall Academic High School

Wednesday, January 30th in the Richmond District at 6:30 pm at George Washington High School.

Thursday, January 31st in the Excelsior from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Balboa High School

Saturday, February 2nd in Ingleside from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm at City Arts & Tech.

Wednesday, February 13th in Chinatown from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Galileo Academy of Science and Technology High School

Saturday, February 16th at Civic Center from 1 pm- 4 pm at SF Main Public Library

Saturday, February 23rd at Civic Center from 1 pm- 4 pm at SF Main Public Library

For a complete list of "Cash for College" workshops sponsored by SF College Access please call .

For more information regarding Cal Grants, please visit CalGrants.org or call toll free 1-.

Contact Assemblywoman Fiona Ma by email at:

Or contact her San Francisco office at:

455 Golden Gate Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102. Call .

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Sweet Valentine Cruise
on San Francisco Bay

Searching for the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day with that special someone? Why not join the historic Red and White Fleet for the romantic and fun “Sweet Valentine Cruise” this coming February 14th. Departing at 5pm from Pier 43 ½ at the end of Taylor Street in San Francisco, this 2-hour cruise of San Francisco Bay is a wonderful way to spend the evening. Providing beautiful sights and a romantic atmosphere, this cruise is sure to be a memorable experience for you and your valentine.

In the photo: Red & White Fleet's Harbor Queen cruising beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

Enjoy spectacular views of the San Francisco waterfront and a lavish appetizer buffet by Boudin Bakery as you sail under the majestic Golden Gate, past the lush hillsides of the Marin Headlands and Angel Island State Park and around Alcatraz. Complimentary beverages of your choice – wine, beer, or soda – are also included in the ticket price.

Location: Departing from Pier 43 1/2.

Time: Thursday, February 14th. depart at 5:00pm, return at 7:00pm

Dinner: When you return, plan to enjoy a special Valentine's Dinner at one of San Francisco's world-renowned restaurants. To find the one that's perfect for you, visit: Top 100 Restaurants in San Francisco.

More information:
Red & White Fleet - Sweet Valentine Cruise
Golden Gate Bridge
Marin Headlands
Angel Island State Park
Alcatraz Island
Boudin Bakery

KNBR 680/Giants Annual Winter FanFest

Join thousands of fans for the KNBR 680/Giants Annual Winter FanFest. The event features player autograph and photograph booths, player Q&A stage, live KNBR broadcast, meetings with giants broadcasters and new manager Bruce Bochy, Giants six-game ticket packages for the 2007 season including the N.Y. Yankees and L.A. Dodgers will be available, self guided tours, an interactive kids zone, and more!

Time: 10:00am-3:00pm, Saturday, February 9th

More Information:

San Francisco Giants web site
KNBR Radio web site
About AT&T Park- general information
Taking MUNI Metro to AT&T Park
Parking Lot Map for AT&T Park (in .pdf format)

10th Annual
SF Indie Film Fest

The 10th Annual San Francisco Independent Film Festival (IndieFest) will feature more than 100 absolutely independent films and videos. You don't want to miss this exciting festival!

Screening Location: Roxie Theatre, 3117 16th Street; Victoria Theatre, 2961 16th Street; Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street .

Date & Times: February 7 - 20th. Check the SFIndie web site for films and showing times

More information:

SF Indie web site: www.sfindie.com
Castro Theatre
Roxie Theatre & New College Film Center
Victoria Theatre

A Buddhist Renaissance in Japan:
Shifting Paradigms and Subverting Traditions

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UPDATE NOTICE: This event was canceled by the Asian Art Museum. No reason or comment has been offered.
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Buddhism in Japan has been described recently by some of its own priests and scholars as "corrupt," "degraded" and, "anti-Buddhist."

To challenge these perceptions and reaffirm some of the tradition's most basic foundations, a concentrated and cross-sectarian effort is underway to de-emphasize money-making mortuary rituals and instead practice and promote a more socially-engaged Buddhism. Younger priests in particular are very concerned about contemporary Japan's "crisis of orientation" and the consequences of globalization in their communities.

Based on recent fieldwork in Japan, we will explore this "Buddhist renaissance" as a creative and innovative religious and political movement that challenges and subverts established narratives, beliefs, and institutions.

Event Location: Asian Art Museum Education Studio, by Café Asia. The Asian Art Museum is located at 200 Larkin Street (Civic Center).

Helpful Information: Registration is required. Nearby public transportation: BART, MUNI Metro light rail service, MUNI Lines 19 and 5.

Time: 6:30pm-7:30pm

Date: Thursday, February 7, 2008

More information:

Email:
URL:www.asianart.org

The most fabulous film noir festival returns to darken the Bay City and delight the most dedicated movie-goers in the world. Presented by the Film Noir Foundation, whose mission is to “rescue and restore America’s noir heritage,” this year’s festival continues its tradition of unearthing an astounding roster of rarities not available in any “home entertainment” format.

Come see NOIR on the BIG screen — as it was made to be seen! And this is not just any big screen - the festival will take place at the magnificent Castro Theatre!

“Czar of Noir” Eddie Muller will be back as your chaperone through the sinister, sexy, and sin-drenched streets of Noir City.

Advance tickets for NOIR CITY 6 are now available online through Brown Paper Tickets, including the Noir City Passport, your key to all NOIR CITY 6 events at the Castro Theater, from the opening-night tribute to Joan Leslie on Friday, January 25 until the lights dim on Sunday, February 3.

For more information contact:
Film Noir Foundation
Castro Theatre
Brown Paper Tickets

And, after the film ...
if you're planning to enjoy a hot cup of coffee
(that's a cup of Joe or Java to you Noir gumshoes)
then the following is an absolute MUST READ for you:
Coffee in the Castro

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Despite insane assignments from the Bush Administration, the men and women of the United States Armed Forces are managing - against high odds - to finally be restoring law and order in Iraq. They are once again proving a point known to every veteran, but seemingly missed by civilian authority - the best ambassadors and diplomats we have are our young men and women in uniform. They - not their leaders - are winning the minds and hearts of the Iraqi people.

In the photo: Iraqi citizens joining with U.S. soldiers to take back their country. DoD photo

More than 31,000 Iraqi citizens (mostly in Baghdad and the southern provinces) are providing security help by staffing more than 1,400 checkpoints. These 31,000 people are all concerned local citizens who want to take back their country from the crazy Islamic extremists.

An important milestone ...

When the citizens of a nation - any nation - begin to come up out their homes and rise-up it means the tipping point has arrived. The people are rising up. Right now those 31,000 Iraqi citizens are the best hope for their country and their future.

To date those concerned citizens have found more than 400 weapons caches, many of them containing IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device). In each case the citizens alerted and cooperated with the U.S. military. They are working with us in a way that parallels the way law enforcement agencies work in cooperation with one another. This too is a very promising development.

When Multinational Division Center (MDC) arrived in Iraq 10 months ago, there were on average 25 attacks per day in the division's area of responsibility, said Major General Rick Lynch, MDC Commander.

The Iraqis also have provided intelligence that has led to the capture of several high-priority targets the coalition had been seeking over the last 10 months, the general added.

Taking responsibility ...

Lynch said he believes this to be a result of the Iraqi citizens taking responsibility for their own country.

"I'm convinced that what happened was they just got tired of the violence, they got tired of the intimidation, they got tired of being told what they could and couldn't do," he added. "So now they've risen up."

"To keep from moving backwards and keep this window of opportunity open, we're spending a lot of time working with the Iraqi security forces to improve their capacity, and then do things like work on local governance and local economic development to maintain forward progress," General Lynch said.

On January 12th an Iraqi citizen's group from the Karkh district in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, turned over a large weapons cache. The cache held 21 mines, two anti-tank rockets, two 53 mm rockets with launchers, two 152 mm artillery rounds, fuses and three boxes of dynamite.

Also this past week, Iraqi citizens, alongside U.S. Special Forces soldiers, caught a suspected terrorist cell leader during a raid in Mosul. The suspect is believed to be responsible for several bomb attacks, kidnapping and murder.

An ill-advised adventure ...

The men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces are getting their job done despite the fact that the war was an ill-advised adventure. Against great odds and with the greatest of difficulty our military has been restoring law and order to the most lawless frontier on Earth. Their performance is distinguished and impressive.

As these men and women return home and hang their uniforms in the closet, I hope they consider careers in law enforcement. Those vets are a tremendous national asset and each city, county and state in America should be going all out to attract these fine candidates for public service. With these experienced veterans fully integrated into our government as peace officers, firefighters, medical responders - and city council members, boards of supervisors members, state legislators and U.S. Congress members - we will have a safer and better America.

The American military is the absolute best on Earth, not because they have great civilian leadership in Washington (in fact, quite the opposite is true - the Bush White House is astonishingly inept), but because the men and women who serve in our military are without comparison. They are a class of their own. They are Number One.

(Seaman William Selby, USN contributed to this story. Seaman Selby works for the New Media branch of American Forces Information Service)

References:
MNC-I (Multinational Corps Iraq)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (Multinational force HDQ, Baghdad)
U.S. DoD News Releases
CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command)
Multinational Task Force Marne
American Forces Information Service

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The Internal Revenue Service issued a notice on Friday that lists four illegal positions people choose that can sometimes send them to federal prison. For decades people have been coming up with a variety of schemes and arguments that are supposed to exempt them from paying taxes. None of those schemes work and the people who promote them are either deliberately deceptive or a few bricks short of a full load.

Notice 2008-14 lists positions identified as frivolous for purposes of the penalty under section 6702 of the federal tax code for filing a frivolous tax return or submitting to the IRS a frivolous request for a collection due process hearing or application for an installment agreement, offer-in-compromise, or Taxpayer Assistance Order.

Taxpayers who file a tax return or make a submission based on a position listed in this notice are subject to a $5,000 penalty. This notice adds to the positions listed in Notice 2007-30, 2007-14 I.R.B. 883. The positions that have been added are found in paragraphs 9(g), 11, 14, and 25.

The four new frivolous claims pertain to the following:

• Misinterpretation of the 9th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding objections to military spending.
• Erroneous claims that taxes are owed only by persons with a fiduciary relationship to the United States or the IRS.
• A nonexistent “Mariner’s Tax Deduction” (or the like) related to invalid deductions for meals.
• Certain instances of misuse or excessive use of the section 6421 fuels credit.

In 2006, Congress increased the penalty for frivolous tax returns from $500 to $5,000. The increased penalty amount applies when a person submits a tax return or other specified submission, and any portion of the submission is based on a position the IRS identifies as frivolous.

Notice 2008-14 will be published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin 2008-4 dated Jan. 28, 2008.

Other relevant links:

• IRS Debunks Frivolous Tax Arguments
• The Truth About Frivolous Tax Arguments
  
• Tax Scams and How to Avoid Them
• Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion: the Difference
• Taxpayer Advocate Service (an independent branch of the IRS)
• Franchise Tax Board (State of California)
• IRS Tax Relief for California Storm & Flooding Victims
• Law Offices of Robert L. Goldstein (established tax law firm in San Francisco - San Jose)
• IRS phone numbers and contact info
• Tax Protester Agruments
• The Tax Protest Movement in America
• Illegal Tax Protests - from the U.S. Dept. of Justice
• Tax Fraud Alerts - from the IRS Criminal Division
• IRS Criminal Investigation Division

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If you're out cruising in San Francisco's Castro District, complete the night (if you don't land a catch) with a soothing cup of coffee.

Of course there's Starbucks (4094 18th St.), sometimes called "Daddy Starbucks" for its Bear and Daddy clientèle who usually crowd the place.

Local chain Peets (2257 Market St.) has an outpost around the corner where they serve up their high-octane brew. But it's in the independent coffee houses where you will get the real local flavor.

Spike's Coffees & Teas (4117 19th St.) has their beans roasted right in the city of San Francisco by a fourth-generation roaster, and trains their baristas in the Italian manner. Pick up a pound of their organic, fair-trade Harvey Milk CRA blend, proceeds of which go directly to nearby Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, honoring San Francisco's openly gay supervisor, assassinated 30 years ago this year.

Longtime fixture Cafe Flore (2298 Market St.) remains the see-and-be-seen spot in the neighborhood, with a row of small tables strategically placed for the best people-watching along Market Street. Flore often hosts fundraising events for local charities, featuring performances by top local LGBT artists.

Mission coffee phenomenon Philz (4023 18th St.) brews up each cup individually, with exotic flavors such as cardamom; it's definitely worth the wait.

And if tea is more your style, spend a little zen time at Samovar Tea Lounge (498 Sanchez St.), featuring an expansive selection of teas from around the world. Be sure to try the pu-erh teas, little known here in the states, but enchanting with its deep and earthy tones. Extremely comforting on a chilly winter's eve.

If a cup of java just won't give you the kind of experience you want from a night in the Castro, then read: Naked Bodies, Hot Sex and Foggy San Francisco Nights. If you want information about the Folsom Street Fair, the leather community, bars and sex clubs in San Francisco, then here is the story for you: Folsom Street Fair 2008 - a complete guide

For a complete guide to our very best restaurants, cafes, clubs, events and destinations in San Francisco, all with a very insider and local perspective and tons of links, check out this story from Sam Spade's San Francisco:

Do you know that Lesbian chefs are very prominent in the fine dinner house community in San Francisco? Read the story: San Francisco's Fabulous Lesbian Chefs

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It may seem that, in the testosterone-driven restaurant world, a woman’s place is decidedly not in the kitchen. But a handful of "out" female chefs lead some of San Francisco's most esteemed eateries.

Traci des Jardins has long been a prominent figure in the city’s dining scene. Her flagship restaurant, Jardinière, recently unveiled a significant remodel to commemorate their tenth anniversary. The updated look eschews heavy, drapey fabrics and dark tones for a lighter, earthier look. Jardinière now also features a downstairs lounge where diners can nibble on sophisticated small plates over a cocktail or selection from the expansive wine list; the upstairs dining room remains a serene oasis for fine dining.

des Jardins oversees two other notable San Francisco restaurants: Mijita (1 Ferry Building, No. 44), a casual Mexican restaurant in the Ferry Building Marketplace, and Acme Chophouse (24 Willie Mays Plaza) in AT&T Park. She also recently raised her public profile by throwing her hat in the ring as a contestant on the Food Network's competition to find The next Iron Chef America.

Only in San Francisco, the online presence of the San Francisco Convention and Visitor's Bureau published this interesting look at San Francisco's comfortably-out Lesbian chefs. They are among the very best in the City. Here are more chefs selected by Only in San Francisco:

Fellow Iron Chef alumna Elizabeth Falkner has performed on-screen as sous chef to existing Iron Chef Cat Cora. Falkner's primary venue, Citizen Cake (399 Grove St.), has established her as the grande dame of the fancy pastry scene in the city. Her artfully arranged cakes, replete with layers of ultra-rich butter creme, are legendary. Falkner and her partner, Sabrina Riddle, have undertaken a new venture, Orson (508 Fourth St), in the city's burgeoning SoMa/South Beach district.

Inspired by the sophisticated dining scenes in Milan and New York, Orson occupies a former warehouse. The two women exert their design sensibilities on the vacuous space, complementing the industrial chic with a softer touch, including abstract paintings created by Falkner's father. A two-story climate-controlled wine tower and a custom DJ booth round out the edgy interior.

Citizen Cake has itself undergone a remodel, now sporting additional tables and bar seats, a larger bar and improved definition between the patisserie and the loft-like dining room. Falkner's satellite outpost, Citizen Cupcake, graces the turret of the Virgin Superstore, overlooking bustling Stockton and Market streets.

Another major force in pastry is chef Shuna Lydon, who was part of the team that launched Sens Restaurant, in the Embarcadero Center. Lydon brings a wealth of experience in some of the highest-profile kitchens in the the Bay Area, including Michelin three-starred French Laundry, and neo-Moroccan destination Aziza (5800 Geary Blvd).

Lydon's signature technique involves starting with traditional pairings, then introducing elements that challenge and surprise. For example, Pistachio Gift features rosewater-mastic ice cream rests aside a vanilla-sugar phyllo pastry confection, concealing pure pistachio frangipane within. A Honey-Cumin Pot de Creme sparkles with sea salt, bee pollen and an apple-white fig-toasted walnut salad reminiscent of charoset, the Passover delicacy. And if diners are especially lucky, Lydon will offer up something made with butterscotch. You haven't had butterscotch until you've had Lydon's butterscotch.

Speaking of the real thing, authentic Neapolitan thin-crust pizza is all the rage in the city these days, and chef Sharon Ardiana is cooking up some of the best in town. Ardiana opened Gialina (2842 Diamond St.) in the Glen Park neighborhood a year ago this January, to instant acclaim. As an homage to her emigrant Italian family, Ardiana uses seasonal and organic ingredients to create explosively flavorful pizzas, hearkening back to the freshness of vegetables grown in her family's own back yard where she grew up in Western Pennsylvania.

Ardiana is adept at combining ingredients to create flavors that are more than the sum of their parts. The popular Atomica combines mushrooms, chiles and red onions atop tomatoes and fresh mozzarella; even notoriously fussy food critic Michael Bauer of the San Francisco Chronicle approves.

Related stories from Sam Spade's San Francisco:
Restaurants in San Francisco - Inside Tips - the Ultimate Guide
Coffee in the Castro (best places for a hot cup of joe)
Top 100 Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area (The Chronicle's top 100 list)
Taxicab Crooks and Scam Cabs in San Francisco (an important warning you should read!)
San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace - Complete Guide (Fantastic meals, organic food)
San Francisco's Best Hamburger (in the tradition of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives)

Other resources:
CHOW's list of recommended restaurants (recommendations from local folks)
Only in San Francisco's restaurant search engine (find any restaurant you are looking for)
Menupages - see sample menus online before you go (a terrific service - give this a try!)
SanFrancisco.com's restaurant guide (lots of information and details here)
San Francisco Chroncile's Restaurant Roundup (cream of the Chronicle's top 100 list)

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