Life Style & Travel

SAN FRANCISCO—Armstrong Brewing, a brewery in South San Francisco announced on Tuesday, August 11 they are closing permanently due to its financial difficulty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as announced on their website. "To our loyal patrons and guests we are sad to announce that we will not be reopening for business and have made the difficult decision...

UNITED STATES—Many who enjoy gardening appreciate fragrant flowers. Many grow particular flowers specifically for their fragrance. Yet, not many consider why so many flowers are fragrant. Plants cannot enjoy their own alluring floral fragrances any more than they can enjoy their own delightful floral colors and forms. They do not expect people to enjoy their bloom either. Human appreciation...

UNITED STATES—Some sudden pizza's infused my psyche the moment I learned that a very great fan of my books was going to be passing through Los Angeles on a moving trip with her husband and a 52-foot truck en route from Washington state to Sun City, Arizona. This is the kind of thing to put any budding author into...

UNITED STATES—Modern urban home gardens are shadier and more confined than older suburban home gardens originally were. Modern homes are both taller and closer together on smaller parcels. Fences are also taller to compensate for the minimal proximity of adjacent homes. Less sunlight reaches the ground. There is not as much space available for shade trees. Nor is there...

The New Cities UNITED STATES—First I came for the dream. The dream was the thing, and for the dream I could afford anything. I could sleep on a wooden sidewalk –a sign of civilization then. Somebody one night offered me a blanket. After that I slept with a blanket and the crook of my elbow was a pillow while the blanket...

UNITED STATES—Grapevines that were not pruned aggressively enough last winter are tangled messes by now. Many grapevines that were pruned properly are tangled messes as well. That is their nature. Woody vines like grapevines grow rapidly and vigorously. They rely on other plants for support, and do what they must to get to the top. Woody vines are not...

UNITED STATES—On Thursday, July 23, The Federal Communications Commision approved a shorter number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to be used in 2022. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline, currently reachable at 1-800-273-8255, will additionally use 988 starting on July 16, 2022. Prior to the vote which approved this measure, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai stated: “My hope is that by establishing...

SAN FRANCISCO—Through the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s website, residents can find information on coronavirus services, news, and resources, including an interactive map of testing locations available to you no matter your insurance coverage. The website includes step-by-step instructions for anyone trying to get tested for COVID-19. This is a resource mainly for individuals without health insurance, as a...

THE BAY AREA—Childcare facilities are facing a difficult choice between the two: closing their institutions as to avoid the spread of coronavirus versus the idea of opening their facilities to escape financial collapse. Childcare programs are in crisis since a current rise in COVID-19 cases makes them reluctant to reopen their services. However, the facilities’ long-term closure will potentially...

UNITED STATES─There were both good and bad things that have come out of this pandemic. For starters, I have been doing much more cooking at home. On the flipside, I’ve wanted to eat out a bit more from doing so much cooking at home. So it is a double edged sword. We all know, and it is no absolute...