We Are Being Watched

Our fear of another 9/11 resulted in the erosion of our privacy rights. And now our fear of crime is pushing the surveillance state to a whole new level.

• By Ali Winston
• Tags: Feature, 9/11, surveillance state, privacy rights, civil liberties

WeedMaps Now Caters to Soccer Moms

The Internet's largest legal weed finder is a weathervane for the marijuana movement and the winds of change are blowing toward the mainstream.

• By David Downs
• Tags: Legalization Nation, WeedMaps, marijuana, dispensaries, delivery

When You Can't Understand Your Doctor

Legislation in Sacramento would pave the way for hiring 7,000 medical interpreters statewide to help non-English speakers. But does it go far enough?

• By Madeleine Thomas
• Tags: News, Medical interpreters, AB 1263, Obamacare, John Pérez

Lawmakers Should Reject Fracking Bill SB4

Last-minute amendments pushed by the oil and gas industry could do serious harm to California’s environment.

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Seven Days, Fracking, SB 4, Fran Pavley, Three Strikes, Prop 36

Letters for the Week of September 11

Readers sound off on gentrification in Oakland, police corruption, and our use of the word eponymous.

Corrections For the Week of September 11

Name of Canoe Club chef and a clarification on Contra Costa County Chief Assistant District Attorney Hal Jewett declining to comment.

Theater With a View

Ubuntu Theater Project stages plays about social justice in unusual settings.

• By Patrick Newson
• Tags: Culture Spy, Ubuntu Theater Project, Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round, SoleSpace, Park Day School Campus

Laughing With the Disabled

A comedy troupe made up of comedians with disabilities aims to educate and entertain at the same time.

• By Zaineb Mohammed
• Tags: Events, Comedians With Disabilities Act, Pacific Pinball Museum

Review: Aurora's Season Opener 'After the Revolution'

The personal is political in Amy Herzog's radical family drama.

• By Anna Pulley
• Tags: Theater, After the Revolution, Amy Herzog, Joy Carlin, Aurora Theatre

Sheath That Thing

How to broach the subjects of cock sheaths and bi fantasies.

• By Dan Savage

Populaire

Hunt and peck.

• By Kelly Vance
• Tags: Movie Review

Afternoon Delight

The mother and the prostitute.

• By Kelly Vance
• Tags: Movie Review

One-Night Stands

Repertory film listings for September 12-18, 2013.

Spectacular Cebiche

Pucquio serves elegant, high-end Peruvian cuisine out of a small Oakland kitchen.

• By Luke Tsai
• Tags: Restaurant Review, Pucquio

Making Farmers' Markets More Affordable

The Market Match program improves low-income families' access to fresh food.

• By Elly Schmidt-Hopper
• Tags: Food News, Market Match, farmers markets, CalFresh, Ecology Center, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association

Video

Lotta Heaven, Lotta Hell

Richmond virtuoso guitarist Jason Becker was supposed to be a star. Then the unthinkable happened.

• By Kathleen Richards
• Tags: Music, Bimbo's 365 Club, Video

Hip-Hop's Graduating Class

Thizzler.com's new compilation, The Bay Area Freshmen 10 Class of 2013, highlights the hottest up-and-coming local rappers.

• By Mosi Reeves
• Tags: Music, Thizzler, hip-hop, Bay Area Freshmen 10

California Symphony's New Leader

Following the controversial ousting of its founding music director three years ago, California Symphony hopes to launch a new era with Donato Cabrera.

• By Lou Fancher
• Tags: Music, California Symphony, Donato Cabrera

Chelsea Wolfe

Pain Is Beauty

• By Sam Lefebvre
• Tags: CD Reviews, Chelsea Wolfe, Great American Music Hall

Goodie Mob

Age Against the Machine

• By Jen Woo
• Tags: CD Reviews, Goodie Mob, Cee-Lo Green

Vista Chino

Peace

• By Henry York
• Tags: CD Reviews, Vista Chino, Kyuss, Slim's

Local Licks

This week, we review The Dodos, TaughtMe, and The Severely Departed.

• Tags: Local Licks, The Dodos, TaughtMe, The Severely Departed, Great American Music Hall

San Leandro Moves Forward with Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

• By David Downs
• Tags: Regulation & Legislation, dispensaries, san leandro, east bay, bay area

Tuesday Must Reads: Cal Students Face Severe Housing Shortage; Factory Farm Practices Lead to 23,000 Annual Deaths

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Health & Medicine, Environment

Buying Freshly Slaughtered Chicken in Oakland

• By Luke Tsai
• Tags: Saba Live Poultry, freshly slaughtered chicken, Halal, Amir Anl

A Sneak Peek at Plum's Five-Course Tasting Menu, Debuting Tonight

• By Luke Tsai
• Tags: Plum, Kim Alter, Daniel Patterson, Haven, Chris Johnson, tasting menu

The Best Temperature For A Vaporizer Is ...

• By David Downs
• Tags: Health & Medicine, vaporizers, vaporization, volcano vaporizer, theanswerpage

Richmond Mayor to Tour Ecuadorian Region Devastated by Chevron

• By John Geluardi
• Tags: Politics, Business, Environment

Monday Must Reads: Brown to Sign Immigrant Drivers’ License Bill; Bad Year for Environmental Legislation

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Environment, Immigration Reform

Republican Grover Norquist Jumps on the 'Fair Taxes for Weed' Train: Bipartisanship!

• By David Downs
• Tags: Regulation & Legislation, 280e, Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher

Friday Must Reads: Oakland Police Overseer Sides with Police Union; Judge Rejects Big Banks Suit Against Richmond

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Business, Law Enforcement & Crime

Weekender: This Weekend's Top Five Events

• By Zaineb Mohammed

Legislature Moves Forward on Plan to Improve Campaign Donor Reporting

• By Adelyn Baxter
• Tags: Politics

Video

Author Michael Castleman Slings 'Killer Weed' at Oakland's Diesel Book Store Next Wednesday

• By David Downs
• Tags: Cannabis Culture, Michael Castleman, Killer Weed, literature, fiction, events, Video

Thursday Must Reads: Governor Backs Minimum-Wage Hike; Senate Leader Shelves CEQA Reform

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Business, Environment, Transportation

Ammiano, Steinberg Throw A Medical Marijuana Hail Mary

• By David Downs
• Tags: Regulation & Legislation, SB 604, Rep. Tom Ammiano, California legislature, Sen. Darrell Steinberg, ASA, NORML, DPA

Wednesday Must Reads: Richmond Council Votes to Move Forward on Anti-Foreclosure Plan; Jerry Brown Opposes Renaming Bay Bridge for Willie Brown

• By Robert Gammon
• Tags: Politics, Business, Transportation

Mid-Week Menu: The Hog’s Apothecary Is Open, a Taiwanese Noodle Shop Is Coming to Uptown, and Chef Shuffles at Plum and Haven

• By Luke Tsai

Scarecrow Popcorn Serves Up the Chicago Mix

Plus, Uptown Oakland gets "faux" cronuts, Taiwanese noodles, and ICI ice cream.

• By Luke Tsai
• Tags: What the Fork, Scarecrow Popcorn, Pi Dan Noodle House, cronuts, ICI Ice Cream, Duende, What the Fork