Steven Short

The music you’re hearing now is by folk, blues and jazz pioneer Barbara Dane. The Oakland resident has been performing since the 1950s and was a clear voice in the Peace & Justice and Civil Rights movements of that time.

Dane is planning a concert for her 85th birthday on Mother’s Day (05.13) at the Freight & Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley. Music begins at 8pm.

Makru is a San Francisco band with so many musical influences that we’ll just call their sound “world music.” But they call it “a unifying, positive vibe in the Bay Area."

Crosscurrents’ own Martina Castro sings with the group in both English and Spanish. They perform this Thursday (May 10) at the Brick and Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco. Doors open at 8pm.

Many visitors to San Francisco’s western neighborhoods enjoy the sweeping ocean view from above the ruins of the Sutro Baths. But, it’s pretty windy out there, which makes it difficult to enjoy at times. That is part of the reason for the new visitors center that opened there over the weekend. Catherine Barner is Vice President of Projects and Stewardship for the Golden Gate Parks National Conservancy.

(Chronicle) // A building invaded by members of the Occupy movement is vacant again after San Francisco police removed the protesters early this morning. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco owns the building, which was taken over yesterday during May Day protests… 

The San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Party is demanding that the Democratic administration in Washington immediately “cease all Federal actions in San Francisco, respect State and local laws, and stop the closure of City-permitted medical cannabis facilities.”