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San Francisco nature alliance wants to paint the city green

Reimagining San Francisco wants 30% of the city to be biologically diverse green space by 2030.

News

The Californians who speak a non-English language at home

Over 1 in 4 people in the state are foreign-born, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

San Francisco urges 911 and 311 calls for people in crisis

San Francisco is on track to record the most overdose deaths since 2020.

California rolls out pilot for digital driver's license program

The pilot program, currently authorized in limited capacities, aims to speed up ID checks in a quick and secure manner.

Best pizza spots in San Francisco, according to our readers

We asked, and Axios San Francisco readers answered our call to determine the best pizza spots in the city.

Food and Drink

We asked, and Axios San Francisco readers answered our call to determine the best pizza spots in the city.What&#x27;s happening: Reader favorites include spots like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flour and Water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.flourandwater.com/" data-vars-content-id="332dbee8-0ac7-4746-a726-cb1c2f30eb1f" data-vars-headline="Best pizza spots in San Francisco, according to our readers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.flourandwater.com/" target="_blank">Flour and Water</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Little Star Pizza" data-vars-click-url="https://www.littlestarpizza.com/" data-vars-content-id="332dbee8-0ac7-4746-a726-cb1c2f30eb1f" data-vars-headline="Best pizza spots in San Francisco, according to our readers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.littlestarpizza.com/" target="_blank">Little Star Pizza</a>, and Megan&#x27;s personal favorite, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Outta Sight Pizza" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thatsouttasight.com/#/" data-vars-content-id="332dbee8-0ac7-4746-a726-cb1c2f30eb1f" data-vars-headline="Best pizza spots in San Francisco, according to our readers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thatsouttasight.com/#/" target="_blank">Outta Sight Pizza</a>.

Rocky road ice cream's disputed origins in Oakland

Conflicting accounts from Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and Fenton's Creamery lay claim to the flavor's invention.

Rocky road ice cream — the richness of chocolate, gooeyness of marshmallow and crunchy texture of nuts. It&#x27;s a childhood staple in America — and it was first invented just across the water in Oakland.Yes, but: There are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="different accounts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kqed.org/news/11774993/golden-state-plate-rocky-road-ice-creams-bumpy-history" data-vars-content-id="4ec739b1-07eb-4b01-b652-938d9513dac7" data-vars-headline="Rocky road ice cream&#x27;s disputed origins in Oakland" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kqed.org/news/11774993/golden-state-plate-rocky-road-ice-creams-bumpy-history" target="_blank">different accounts</a> of who actually first came up with the flavor.

Photo of a Rocky Road ice cream scoop sitting in a waffle cone. It's held against the backdrop of a beach.

San Francisco to serve as IKEA's first Swedish Deli in the U.S.

The new dining options will feature "sustainable, plant-based options" separate from IKEA's traditional food hall.

Business

San Francisco&#x27;s hotly anticipated IKEA, which opens Wednesday, will serve as the company&#x27;s first U.S. location for its Swedish Bite and Swedish Deli stores, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Francisco Chronicle reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/sf-ikea-food-18286214.php" data-vars-content-id="4cecb59d-c52f-4b6c-9921-bc23e0849b27" data-vars-headline="San Francisco to serve as IKEA&#x27;s first Swedish Deli in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/sf-ikea-food-18286214.php" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle reports</a>.Driving the news: Both will offer &quot;sustainable, plant-based options&quot; separate from IKEA&#x27;s traditional food hall, per the Chronicle.

Photo of a man holding plates while walking in IKEA's food hall

Things to do in the Bay Area: Aug. 11-13

Highlights include textiles by LGBTQ artists, Filipino and Pacific Islander festivals and rare noir films.

Things to Do

Make the most of your last few weeks of summer! Here are some things to do this weekend — both indoors and out.<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">&quot;Queer Threads&quot;</h2>🧵 Head down to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San José Museum of Quilts &amp; Textiles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/" data-vars-content-id="f9db0aeb-bcb5-4f4a-99c2-f6b6a99c54d9" data-vars-headline="Things to do in the Bay Area: Aug. 11-13" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sjquiltmuseum.org/" target="_blank">San José Museum of Quilts &amp; Textiles</a> to check out the traveling exhibition &quot;Queer Threads&quot; as it nears its closing date on Aug. 20. The group show highlights 38 works by LGBTQ artists — dating all the way back to the early post-Stonewall days.

Illustration of a beach scene inside of a briefcase.

Top Eats: Mr. Charlie's plant-based "Frowny Meals"

Mr. Charlie's is the antithesis of those well-known golden arches.

I flew in from Seattle Monday for Axios San Francisco&#x27;s anniversary event and when searching for quick vegan lunch options near my hotel, was happy to find a spot just a few blocks away: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mr. Charlie&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://mrcharlies.co/" data-vars-content-id="37f81e20-1189-4213-ba0e-fdc4d0f058db" data-vars-headline="Top Eats: Mr. Charlie&#x27;s plant-based &quot;Frowny Meals&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mrcharlies.co/" target="_blank">Mr. Charlie&#x27;s</a>.Details: Located across the street from a McDonald&#x27;s on Sutter Street, Mr. Charlie&#x27;s is the antithesis of those golden arches.

Photo of a red to-go fast food box that says "Mr. Charlie's" in yellow at top with a yellow frowny face below and the words "Turn that Frown Upside Down" sitting on a yellow table.

Things to do in the Bay Area: Aug. 4-6

On our radar: The 2023 World Dog Surfing Championships.

There&#x27;s so much happening this weekend I almost wish I had a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Time-Turner" data-vars-click-url="https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Time-Turner" data-vars-content-id="0eb25d55-6a24-4bd1-a3c3-0ebc44b188f6" data-vars-headline="Things to do in the Bay Area: Aug. 4-6" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Time-Turner" target="_blank">Time-Turner</a> — that&#x27;s a Harry Potter reference — so I can attend them all.<h2 class="text-h6 !font-sans !font-normal !leading-[1.2em]">Free National Parks Day</h2>Entry to all <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national parks and monuments" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm" data-vars-content-id="0eb25d55-6a24-4bd1-a3c3-0ebc44b188f6" data-vars-headline="Things to do in the Bay Area: Aug. 4-6" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm" target="_blank">national parks and monuments</a>, including Muir Woods and Yosemite, is free Friday. You can also board for free <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="all of the historic vessels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/historic-vessels.htm" data-vars-content-id="0eb25d55-6a24-4bd1-a3c3-0ebc44b188f6" data-vars-headline="Things to do in the Bay Area: Aug. 4-6" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/historic-vessels.htm" target="_blank">all of the historic vessels</a> at the Hyde Street Pier of San Francisco&#x27;s Maritime National Historical Park.

Top Eats: Tasty Pot's Sichuan flavors will set you on fire

Each pot comes with its own designated list of ingredients, but you can order add-ons.

The time has come to share my comfort food — Tasty Pot&#x27;s Sichuan flavor hot pot.How it works: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tasty Pot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tastypotusa.com/" data-vars-content-id="3de352e0-d541-4f59-8f47-2ccd4237ebab" data-vars-headline="Top Eats: Tasty Pot&#x27;s Sichuan flavors will set you on fire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tastypotusa.com/" target="_blank">Tasty Pot</a> is a Taiwanese restaurant chain known for its individualized hot pot style. Instead of sharing a huge pot with a few other people, you get to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="customize your own" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tastypotusa.com/menu" data-vars-content-id="3de352e0-d541-4f59-8f47-2ccd4237ebab" data-vars-headline="Top Eats: Tasty Pot&#x27;s Sichuan flavors will set you on fire" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tastypotusa.com/menu" target="_blank">customize your own</a>.

Good Meat's no-kill chicken tastes like … chicken

Proponents of cultivated meat argue it's better for the environment but acknowledge more work needs to be done to make it more cost-effective.

Alameda-based Good Meat is getting closer to bringing its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cell-cultivated chicken" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/07/06/jose-andres-lab-grown-chicken-china-chilcano" data-vars-content-id="1c9555a1-1501-4d2d-91f5-daba1a60e059" data-vars-headline="Good Meat&#x27;s no-kill chicken tastes like … chicken" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2023/07/06/jose-andres-lab-grown-chicken-china-chilcano" target="_self">cell-cultivated chicken</a> to the masses.Why it matters: Proponents of cultivated meat argue it&#x27;s better for the environment, but acknowledge more work needs to be done to make it more cost-effective.

Top eats: Piglet & Co. takes Asian comfort food to the next level

The restaurant focuses not on traditional Taiwanese cuisine but rather on flavors inspired by personal experiences.

Run by husband-and-wife team Chris Yang and Marcelle Gonzales Yang, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Piglet &amp; Co." data-vars-click-url="https://www.pigletandco.com/" data-vars-content-id="8e3e53de-4242-4e86-afa0-6de05cf78628" data-vars-headline="Top eats: Piglet &amp; Co. takes Asian comfort food to the next level" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.pigletandco.com/" target="_blank">Piglet &amp; Co.</a> opened earlier this year with an array of plates inspired by Taiwan and its night market culture. State of play: The restaurant focuses not on traditional Taiwanese cuisine but rather on a mix of modern Asian flavors drawn from their own personal tastes and experiences.

Four Bay Area restaurants awarded their first Michelin star

Northern California dominated the highly coveted awards this year.

Four Bay Area restaurants received their first Michelin star at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2023 Michelin Guide California" data-vars-click-url="https://michelinmedia.com/c0/california-stars-come-out-shine-2023-michelin-guide-ceremony/" data-vars-content-id="be1d2b67-e9d4-4741-a306-ebb74451bdcd" data-vars-headline="Four Bay Area restaurants awarded their first Michelin star" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://michelinmedia.com/c0/california-stars-come-out-shine-2023-michelin-guide-ceremony/" target="_blank">2023 Michelin Guide California</a> ceremony this week.Driving the news: Northern California dominated the highly coveted awards this year.

Photo of a person picking up a tray of Thai dishes

Food and Drink 🍽