• A house in San Francisco listed for $488,000 is worth more than three times that.

• The catch is that there is already a tenant living there who has the right to do so for another 30 years.

• San Francisco is notoriously expensive and cheap real estate is rare.

A three-bedroom house in San Francisco is for sale for $488,000.

This may seem like a bargain in a notoriously expensive city where the average sales price is over $1.4 million.

According to the San Francisco Standard, the house is worth about $1.8 million – more than three times the market price.

However, there is a catch: the buyer may not be able to move in for 30 years.

According to a listing on Park North Real Estate, the property in Russian Hill, an upscale neighborhood of San Francisco, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and is 1,070 square feet.

However, it is also inhabited, and the tenant has a rental right until 2053.

The ad states that the tenant will pay $416.67 per month and will continue to pay that amount for the entire time he or she lives there.

Steven MacDonald, a legal expert on tenancy law, told ABC 7 News: “For some reason they gave this person a 30-year right of possession. I've seen this happen before. It's a pretty sloppy way of doing estate planning.”

He added: “They can do it that way. I think they should have done it differently.”

MacDonald said it would take a “very, very unique buyer” who would be willing to buy the property below value and wait decades to move in.

Ilia Smith, who lives on the street, said the listing surprised people in the neighborhood.

She told ABC 7 News: “Thirty years. I don't think I'll live to see that.”

According to the San Francisco Standard, the unusual offer for sale is due to a family drama.

As the local newspaper reported, the current tenant, 83-year-old Sandra Lee, lives there with her daughter Cheryl Lee, 66.

It belongs to Sandra Lee's son. Sandra Lee told The Standard that he put the house up for sale against her wishes.

She said her stepfather secretly negotiated a lease for her in 2018 that guaranteed her low rent and housing until 2053.

“If it weren’t for the rental agreement, [my son] “If I didn't know this was filmed in 2018, I don't know where we would be,” she told The Standard.

Business Insider was unable to reach the son for comment. Park North Real Estate also did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the greater San Francisco area is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world.

The Demographia International Housing Affordability Report ranked it as “impossibly unaffordable.”

Read the original article on Business Insider

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Jason Perry’s reputation for non-delivery took another huge leap forward today with the news that a senior figure involved with the Chinese property company that owns the landmark Nestlé Tower in the town centre is wanted in the United States over allegations of paying back-handers to local government officials to obtain permits for a construction project.

Towering embarrassment: Mayor Perry claimed he is going to hold talks with the Chinese developers

Only last week, Croydon’s part-time but very self-important Mayor was briefing that he was going to Get! Something! Done! about the stalled £500million development of the Nestlé Tower and the surrounding “Queen’s Quarter”.

“I very much want to get that moving,” Perry said, self-importantly.

“I am hopeful that they are coming in for a meeting soon to find out what they are doing.”

“They” are the Chinese developer Guangzhou R&F Properties Co Ltd, but the chances of anyone from R&F coming in to Croydon Town Hall for a friendly little chat over a cup of tea in the Mayor’s Parlour with Perry seems diminishingly small.

Zhang Li, the billionaire chief exec of R&F, is effectively under house arrest after paying a £15million bail bond following a court session in London yesterday, where it was heard that a provisional warrant issued in the Northern District of California accuses him of participating in a scheme to bribe public officials in San Francisco.

R&F issued a statement overnight saying that the company would be fighting this “false accusation”.

A lawyer for US prosecutors told Westminster Magistrates’ Court that the scheme involved the payment of bribes to officials for the benefit of an R&F-associated company, Z&L Properties Inc, which is based in the US and owned by Zhang.

The news of Zhang’s court case saw 13per cent of the value wiped off R&F’s share price on the Hong Kong stockmarket overnight.

Bailed out: R&F CEO Zhang Li

Until around three years ago, Zhang’s company was one of a handful of acquisitive “Chinese Tiger” developers with multi-billion property interests around the globe. But with the crash in the Chinese economy in 2020, linked to the covid pandemic, their various schemes – including in Croydon – all came to a grinding halt.

R&F, based near Hong Kong, acquired its Croydon properties – the Nestlé Tower, St George’s Walk beneath it and the neighbouring Grade II-listed Segas House – in a £60million deal in March 2017.

The Nestlé Tower has been standing vacant since the eponymous confectionary company quit Croydon (in a huff with the Tory-run council) in 2012.

R&F’s plans, all approved by officials in Croydon Council’s planning department, proposed three tower blocks across the site. Work on a £500million Queen’s Square project got underway in 2019, with the beginning of the repurposing of the 22-storey Nestlé office block into 288 private flats. But that all stopped in 2020, with the scaffolding erected remaining in place around the block ever since.

In 2021, R&F was reported in China as struggling to meet the Beijing government’s rules to reduce developers’ debt. Twelve months ago, a statement from the company said, “We remain committed to the borough, and are reviewing timelines for construction as our well-established vision for creating world-class regeneration and long-lasting investment opportunity in the area gets underway.”

Since when, nothing has happened.

Zhang, 69, is reported by Forbes magazine as being worth $2.3billion.

In court yesterday, Judge John Zani granted bail and imposed a 24-hour curfew on Zhang. The judge also said Zhang must be handcuffed to a member of his court-appointed private security team when he left his house for the purposes of attending court.

Presumably, the same conditions might be required if Zhang is ever to come to Croydon for tea with Mayor Perry…

The Croydon Sadvertiser last week reported cheerily that the project was to get right back on track. It quoted unnamed sources as saying that R&F was about to have talks with the Mayor over the Queen’s Quarter project.

Scandal: How Al Jazeera was reporting the story today

It all turns out to be Chinese whispers, with the only person named in the article in the little-read organ being the £81,000 per year Mayor himself.

He said: “I don’t like that we have that site stalled – I very much want to get that moving and get some investment in that site. We have heard that R&F have had difficulties elsewhere, I am hopeful that they are coming in for a meeting soon to find out what they are doing.”

Zhang’s extradition case and the lack of progress over the prestigious town centre site is just the latest example of Tory Perry’s impotency. Election promises to re-open Purley Pool and the announcement that he was bringing an interactive arts experience into the old Allders building have both so far failed to deliver, while the town centre continues to fester thanks to the inaction over the Westfield project that was instigated by Perry’s Tory chums Gavin Barwell and Boris Johnson.

Perry has proved more successful, however, in getting a healthy school street stopped from being implemented on a road parallel to his £1.3million house close to Lloyd Park.

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Have the Seahawks made progress on their biggest division rival? Did the Eagles’ punishing defense hold serve from last season? Have the Cardinals stopped their free fall?

The 49ers went without a first-round pick for the second year in a row, but there were still plenty of moves to watch on Thursday. Here are the six most notable from Day 1 of the draft…

No. 2: QB CJ Stroud, Texans

Had the Texans dropped a quarterback in the first round, there would have been speculation that a trade for Trey Lance was in the works. After all, Houston’s top two coaches, DeMeco Ryans, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik know Lance well, and Lance is familiar with the offense that Slowik is installing. In addition, the Texans had a ton of picks from last year’s Deshaun Watson trade to negotiate this year and next.

Instead, Houston wasted no time in snapping up Stroud, the quarterback of the future. The Panthers did the same up front with Alabama’s Bryce Young, while the Colts picked Florida’s Anthony Richardson in fourth place.

Teams that still have quarterback question marks either this year or next include the Commanders, Falcons, Packers, Vikings, Buccaneers, Titans and Patriots. That the last two being AFC teams is likely to put them at the top of the “ideal trade partners” list when Lance’s trade talk – inevitably – heats up again.

GO DEEPER

San Francisco 49ers NFL Draft Picks 2023: Grades, Fits, and Scouting Reports

No.5: CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks

As the 49ers build their defense back from the line, Pete Carroll’s defense is led from the secondary. His “Legion of Boom” teams were eventually fueled by cornerback Richard Sherman and safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

Carroll deviated a bit by taking Witherspoon so early. He is Seattle’s first first-round cornerback since 2006 (Kelly Jennings). Witherspoon will join Tariq Woolen, a fifth-rounder who made the Pro Bowl last year, at outside cornerback. They will eventually be paired with safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs to create what the Seahawks hope is a “Legion of Boom” of the latter days.

With the 20th pick, Seattle added Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a receiver group that already had DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The 49ers’ top three cornerbacks right now are Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and newcomer Isaiah Oliver.

The Seahawks could restore a dominant runner-up with the addition of Devon Witherspoon. (Courtesy Illinois)

No. 6: OT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals

The Cardinals have had a chaotic offseason. Coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired in January, while general manager Steve Keim decided to retire from the team.

Their leader of the defense, Budda Baker, has asked for a trade. And just before Thursday’s draft began, it was revealed that the Cardinals had traded third-round picks with the Eagles as part of a tampering case involving the hiring of new head coach Jonathan Gannon. (Philadelphia also sent Arizona a 2024 fifth-round pick.)

It’s no surprise, then, that Arizona stayed steady in Johnson, the top left tackle in the draft. Kyler Murray has been sacked 133 times since joining the league in 2019. The Cardinals, who won four games last season, also grabbed an additional second-round pick this year and next year, after trading, first- and third-round picks from the Texans from the No. 3 pitch.

No. 9: DT Jalen Carter, Eagles

The 49ers may have weakened their biggest NFC rival by signing Javon Hargrave into a free hand. The question now is whether Philadelphia replaced him with Carter.

Some saw the 314-pounder as the most talented player in the draft – a taller version of Hargrave. He was definitely one of the most controversial, having last month failed to contest two charges of racing and reckless driving following a car crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and Georgia recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy, no doubt causing him to slip.

The Eagles traded the 10th pick and a fourth-round pick of 2024 to the Bears to snap Carter on pick #9. They then traded the #30 pick for another pass rusher, Carter’s Georgia teammate Nolan Smith.

A possible frontline lineup when the 49ers visit Philadelphia this year: Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Carter, Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick…with Smith coming in from the sidelines.

No 12: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

While the Eagles, 49ers and Cowboys sit on the NFC, some believe the Lions — who have won eight of their last 10 games in 2022 — are knocking on the door.

However, their best pick seemed to contradict coach Dan Campbell’s bite-in-the-kneecap style. Gibbs is rabbit fast and an excellent pass catcher from the backfield. But it weighs less than 200 pounds and some are wondering if it will be a drive-by traffic jam.

The Lions and Campbell returned to their worker brand with number 18, Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell.

No. 29: DT Bryan Bresee, Saints

Yes, the Saints are an NFC rival. But that pick is significant for the 49ers as it was the last they sent to Miami in 2021 as part of the deal that allowed them to move up to No. 3 where they took Lance.

Since then, selections have gone from Miami to Denver and finally to New Orleans. The Saints taking a defensive tackle seems appropriate. That’s what the 49ers probably would have done if they’d held on to the pickaxe.

(Top Photo by Jalen Carter: Perry McIntyre / Georgia)

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RICHMOND — Can you ferry a boat, sling delicious hors d’oeuvres, tidy up bedsheets and make guests feel at home in a five-room inn in the middle of San Pablo Bay?

If so, the picturesque East Brother Light Station may have a job for you.

Applications are open for two new innkeepers to keep the nearly 150-year-old lighthouse up and running for two years, starting in April 2023.

“People who typically apply have been in the hospitality industry and they like working with the public; they’re people who have worked on boats for a long time,” said Tom Butt, Richmond’s outgoing mayor and president of the East Brother Light Station Inc., which runs the lighthouse. “It’s very attractive for those type of people: Boats and lighthouses are like peanut butter and jelly.”

Perched on a rocky mound near Point Molate and visible from the Richmond Bridge, the iconic bed-and-breakfast offers beautiful panoramic views of the San Francisco and San Pablo bays.

In addition to seasonal day visits and special events, visitors on the island can enjoy rented-out rooms inside the goldenrod California Victorian structures — surrounded by miles of shimmering salt water and the occasional harbor seal — Thursday through Sunday for $475 to $525 a night.

While it’s a dream job for some, the role is not an breeze or some cushy, luxury getaway.

“It’s a really cool place, but the one thing the job doesn’t allow you to do is sit around and drink piña coladas while enjoying the view,” Butt said. “It’s hard work.”

Innkeepers must assume the role of maid, boat captain, gift shop attendant, tour guide, host and chef with “high-quality culinary experience” to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. Applicants who are smokers, live with children or have pets will not be selected.

Additionally, at least one of the innkeepers must have a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential boat operator’s license, in order to safely ferry guests from the launch at 1900 Stenmark Drive in Richmond to East Brother Island and back.

Two previous innkeepers, Tiffany Danse and Tyler Waterson, estimated they worked at least 80 to 90 hours each week to maintain East Brother Light Station, which is a registered California Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The current innkeepers, Bryan and Stephanie Wesolek, will be leaving after their two-year commitment comes to a close at the end of March.

RICHMOND, CA – JAN. 27: A barge is pushed through the narrows between the East Brothers Light Station and Point San Pablo, part of the coastline of Richmond, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The newly chosen duo, which does not have to be a romantic couple, will be compensated with a majority portion of the profits of the inn, after the expenses of operation are subtracted. On top of benefits like a health care plan, two weeks of vacation and onsite living quarters on the nearly three-quarters of an acre island, the keepers’ gross pay in 2021-22 was $140,000 split between them.

Butt said there are other perks, too, such as tips and networking opportunities to land future gigs. “You might make me your future employer while working,” he said.

Butt said the staff is supported by volunteers who help out with maintenance of the facilities, such as painting and repair jobs around the grounds. While the $300,000 nonprofit has a list of 300 volunteers, there is a core group of a dozen stewards who work the grounds weekly, Butt said.

And without access to Wi-Fi, reliable cell service and plumbing — aside from a rainwater catchment and cistern system — the job takes the concept of “remote work” to another level.

The nonprofit, which Butt founded, has leased the island from the Coast Guard and run the business, primarily as a means to afford costly repairs and upkeep.

The restored inn was opened in 1980, a few decades after the Coast Guard decommissioned the island’s historic lighthouse keepers in favor of automatic boat beacons.

More information about East Brother Light Station and the innkeeper job can be found at www.ebls.org, and questions may be emailed to EastBrotherLightStationJOBS@gmail.com.

IJ reporter Adrian Rodriguez contributed to this report.

The post $140,000 job comes with San Francisco waterfront views, room and board — however there’s a catch – Marin Unbiased Journal appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

RICHMOND — Can you ferry a boat, sling delicious hors d’oeuvres, tidy up bedsheets and make guests feel at home in a five-room inn in the middle of San Pablo Bay?

If so, the picturesque East Brother Light Station may have a job for you.

Applications are open for two new innkeepers to keep the nearly 150-year-old lighthouse up and running for two years, starting in April 2023.

“People who typically apply have been in the hospitality industry and they like working with the public; they’re people who have worked on boats for a long time,” said Tom Butt, Richmond’s outgoing mayor and president of the East Brother Light Station Inc., which runs the lighthouse. “It’s very attractive for those type of people: Boats and lighthouses are like peanut butter and jelly.”

Perched on a rocky mound near Point Molate and visible from the Richmond Bridge, the iconic bed-and-breakfast offers beautiful panoramic views of the San Francisco and San Pablo bays.

In addition to seasonal day visits and special events, visitors on the island can enjoy rented-out rooms inside the goldenrod California Victorian structures — surrounded by miles of shimmering salt water and the occasional harbor seal — Thursday through Sunday for $475 to $525 a night.

While it’s a dream job for some, the role is not an breeze or some cushy, luxury getaway.

“It’s a really cool place, but the one thing the job doesn’t allow you to do is sit around and drink piña coladas while enjoying the view,” Butt said. “It’s hard work.”

Innkeepers must assume the role of maid, boat captain, gift shop attendant, tour guide, host and chef with “high-quality culinary experience” to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. Applicants who are smokers, live with children or have pets will not be selected.

Additionally, at least one of the innkeepers must have a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential boat operator’s license, in order to safely ferry guests from the launch at 1900 Stenmark Drive in Richmond to East Brother Island and back.

Two previous innkeepers, Tiffany Danse and Tyler Waterson, estimated they worked at least 80 to 90 hours each week to maintain East Brother Light Station, which is a registered California Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The current innkeepers, Bryan and Stephanie Wesolek, will be leaving after their two-year commitment comes to a close at the end of March.

RICHMOND, CA – JAN. 27: A barge is pushed through the narrows between the East Brothers Light Station and Point San Pablo, part of the coastline of Richmond, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The newly chosen duo, which does not have to be a romantic couple, will be compensated with a majority portion of the profits of the inn, after the expenses of operation are subtracted. On top of benefits like a health care plan, two weeks of vacation and onsite living quarters on the nearly three-quarters of an acre island, the keepers’ gross pay in 2021-22 was $140,000 split between them.

Butt said there are other perks, too, such as tips and networking opportunities to land future gigs. “You might make me your future employer while working,” he said.

Butt said the staff is supported by volunteers who help out with maintenance of the facilities, such as painting and repair jobs around the grounds. While the $300,000 nonprofit has a list of 300 volunteers, there is a core group of a dozen stewards who work the grounds weekly, Butt said.

And without access to Wi-Fi, reliable cell service and plumbing — aside from a rainwater catchment and cistern system — the job takes the concept of “remote work” to another level.

The nonprofit, which Butt founded, has leased the island from the Coast Guard and run the business, primarily as a means to afford costly repairs and upkeep.

The restored inn was opened in 1980, a few decades after the Coast Guard decommissioned the island’s historic lighthouse keepers in favor of automatic boat beacons.

More information about East Brother Light Station and the innkeeper job can be found at www.ebls.org, and questions may be emailed to EastBrotherLightStationJOBS@gmail.com.

IJ reporter Adrian Rodriguez contributed to this report.

The post $140,000 job comes with San Francisco waterfront views, room and board — however there’s a catch – Marin Unbiased Journal appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

RICHMOND — Can you ferry a boat, sling delicious hors d’oeuvres, tidy up bedsheets and make guests feel at home in a five-room inn in the middle of San Pablo Bay?

If so, the picturesque East Brother Light Station may have a job for you.

Applications are open for two new innkeepers to keep the nearly 150-year-old lighthouse up and running for two years, starting in April 2023.

Perched on a rocky mound near Point Molate and visible from the Richmond Bridge, the iconic bed-and-breakfast offers beautiful panoramic views of the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. In addition to seasonal day visits and special events, visitors on the island can enjoy rented-out rooms inside the goldenrod California Victorian structures — surrounded by miles of shimmering salt water and the occasional harbor seal — Thursday through Sunday for $475 to $525 a night.

While it’s a dream job for some, the role is not an (ocean) breeze or some cushy, luxury getaway.

Innkeepers must assume the role of maid, boat captain, gift shop attendant, tour guide, host and chef with “high-quality culinary experience” to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. Applicants who are smokers, live with children or have pets will not be selected.

Additionally, at least one of the innkeepers must have a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential boat operator’s license, in order to safely ferry guests from the launch at 1900 Stenmark Drive in Richmond to East Brother Island and back.

Two previous innkeepers, Tiffany Danse and Tyler Waterson, estimated they worked at least 80 to 90 hours each week to maintain East Brother Light Station, which is a registered California Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The current innkeepers, Bryan and Stephanie Wesolek, will be leaving after their two-year commitment comes to a close at the end of March.

RICHMOND, CA – JAN. 27: A barge is pushed through the narrows between the East Brothers Light Station and Point San Pablo, part of the coastline of Richmond, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The newly chosen duo, which does not have to be a romantic couple, will be compensated with a majority portion of the profits of the inn, after the expenses of operation are subtracted. On top of benefits like a health care plan, two weeks of vacation and onsite living quarters on the nearly three-quarters of an acre island, the keepers’ gross pay in 2021-22 was $140,000 split between them.

And without access to Wi-Fi, reliable cell service and plumbing — aside from a rainwater catchment and cistern system — the job takes the concept of “remote work” to another level.

The nonprofit East Brother Light Station Inc., which Richmond’s outgoing Mayor Tom Butt founded and now serves as board president, has leased the island from the Coast Guard and run the business, primarily as a means to afford costly repairs and upkeep.

The restored inn was opened in 1980, a few decades after the Coast Guard decommissioned the island’s historic lighthouse keepers in favor of automatic boat beacons.

More information about East Brother Light Station and the innkeeper job can be found at www.ebls.org, and questions may be emailed to EastBrotherLightStationJOBS@gmail.com.

The post $140,000 job on lighthouse comes with San Francisco views, room and board — however there’s a catch – East Bay Instances appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

RICHMOND — Can you ferry a boat, sling delicious hors d’oeuvres, tidy up bedsheets and make guests feel at home in a five-room inn in the middle of San Pablo Bay?

If so, the picturesque East Brother Light Station may have a job for you.

Applications are open for two new innkeepers to keep the nearly 150-year-old lighthouse up and running for two years, starting in April 2023.

Perched on a rocky mound near Point Molate and visible from the Richmond Bridge, the iconic bed-and-breakfast offers beautiful panoramic views of the San Francisco and San Pablo bays. In addition to seasonal day visits and special events, visitors on the island can enjoy rented-out rooms inside the goldenrod California Victorian structures — surrounded by miles of shimmering salt water and the occasional harbor seal — Thursday through Sunday for $475 to $525 a night.

While it’s a dream job for some, the role is not an (ocean) breeze or some cushy, luxury getaway.

Innkeepers must assume the role of maid, boat captain, gift shop attendant, tour guide, host and chef with “high-quality culinary experience” to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner. Applicants who are smokers, live with children or have pets will not be selected.

Additionally, at least one of the innkeepers must have a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential boat operator’s license, in order to safely ferry guests from the launch at 1900 Stenmark Drive in Richmond to East Brother Island and back.

Two previous innkeepers, Tiffany Danse and Tyler Waterson, estimated they worked at least 80 to 90 hours each week to maintain East Brother Light Station, which is a registered California Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The current innkeepers, Bryan and Stephanie Wesolek, will be leaving after their two-year commitment comes to a close at the end of March.

RICHMOND, CA – JAN. 27: A barge is pushed through the narrows between the East Brothers Light Station and Point San Pablo, part of the coastline of Richmond, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The newly chosen duo, which does not have to be a romantic couple, will be compensated with a majority portion of the profits of the inn, after the expenses of operation are subtracted. On top of benefits like a health care plan, two weeks of vacation and onsite living quarters on the nearly three-quarters of an acre island, the keepers’ gross pay in 2021-22 was $140,000 split between them.

And without access to Wi-Fi, reliable cell service and plumbing — aside from a rainwater catchment and cistern system — the job takes the concept of “remote work” to another level.

The nonprofit East Brother Light Station Inc., which Richmond’s outgoing Mayor Tom Butt founded and now serves as board president, has leased the island from the Coast Guard and run the business, primarily as a means to afford costly repairs and upkeep.

The restored inn was opened in 1980, a few decades after the Coast Guard decommissioned the island’s historic lighthouse keepers in favor of automatic boat beacons.

More information about East Brother Light Station and the innkeeper job can be found at www.ebls.org, and questions may be emailed to EastBrotherLightStationJOBS@gmail.com.

The post $140,000 job comes with San Francisco views, room and board — however there’s a catch – Every day Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Sweet summer romance turns into much more in the hands of playwright Lauren Yee as she explores the destructive power of fame in The Song of Summer. The show, which runs at the San Francisco Playhouse through August 14, also examines the choices we make that lead to unexpected consequences.

The story follows Robbie (Jeremy Kahn), an unusual singing sensation whose original melody has become the “song” of the summer. Unable to deal with his sudden fame and controversy over his song, Robbie runs to his small hometown and to the piano teacher (Anne Darragh) who encouraged his musical talent. He is surprised to find the daughter of his teacher Tina (Monica Ho) still at home. Robbie, who had a crush on Tina in high school, assumed she was pursuing the medical career she’d always wanted. Meanwhile, Robbie’s manager Joe (Reggie D. White) tracks down his AWOL star and tries to get him back to his performance and recording schedule.

Yee has given her characters a lot of interesting twists and turns and clever dialogue, but the main premise – Robbie as a rock star – just doesn’t quite fit. The key to his character and plot is his lack of confidence and awkwardness, which Kahn skillfully shows off. What doesn’t seem plausible is the opening sequence in which Robbie appears in front of an audience of mostly enthusiastic fans. His awkward movements show such a discomfort and discomfort in direct contrast to Tina’s comment on how he transforms into another person while singing – there is no transformation here.

Apart from this inconsistency, director Bill English skillfully helps his actors to discover the many nuances in their challenging characters, to move beautiful scenes and to create emotional climaxes. Ho as Tina vibrates with energy as she creates a sharp-tongued character full of barely hidden vulnerability. With white, there is also an energy and frustration just below the surface as it switches from one plan to another to get its star back on track. Meanwhile, Darragh embodies the supportive, adult, encouraging talent when she sees it, but also adds layers of deeper meaning with ease.

While English has considerable directing skills, he really outdoes himself with his scenic design. A spinning set (and a disciplined crew) move quickly from one scene to another with an extraordinary video backdrop that shifts from one image to another.

The San Francisco Playhouse is located at 450 Post St. Call 415-677-9596 or go online at sfplayhouse.org for tickets. Proof of vaccination is required and visitors are required to wear masks in the theater. For those who prefer to watch the show from home, on-demand video tickets are available.

Oakland Hills: Marriage will be the focus of August 6-22 when Woodminster Summer Musicals presents “I Do, I Do”. Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones (the creative team responsible for “The Fantasticks”) have turned the lackluster piece “The Fourposter” into a touching story of two soul mates who have lived through 50 years of marriage. Directed by Joel Schlader with the musical direction by Mark Dietrich and the choreography by Sarah Pon and Blake Hennessy-York. Gary Stanford Jr. and Leslie Ivy play George and Agnes.

The focus of the action is the four-poster bed and according to managing director Harriet Schlader, the set had to be redesigned to accommodate the very large set piece! Performances take place in the Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Seat assignments in the large facility are physically distant for security reasons and masks are required when moving around the facility. Tickets can be found at woodminster.com.

Oakland Plains: Unfortunately, the Oakland Theater Project had to cancel its personal performances of “The Dream Life of Malcolm X” due to COVID-19.

“We thank the patrons for their grace and understanding as we continue to try to navigate this new pandemic world by producing theater,” wrote Managing Director Colin Mandlin.

San Francisco: The Multi Ethnic Theater (MET) closed its live performance of “20th Century USA” on Sunday, but is hoping to offer the filmed version of the show in September. The production includes three one-act plays: George M. Cohan’s parody of a Broadway court drama “Common Clay”; William Inge’s story about autograph seekers and their prey “To Bobolink, For Her Spirit”; and Thornton Wilder’s road trip story, The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden. Personal appearances will take place at the Phoenix Theater, 414 Mason St., Suite 601, San Francisco. Call 514-420-8000 for reservations.

Also in San Francisco: The Magic Theater has announced a personal gala on August 5th from 6pm to 9pm to celebrate its new Artistic Director, Sean San José.

“What we’re going to do is have a big, big old party for everyone. Join us for an outdoor affair, completely live. The night will include music, DJs, dance performances, our city’s poet laureate (San Francisco) and your host Wonway Posibul, ”said San José.

The event will take place outside the fire station at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. Tickets can be found at magictheatre.org.

Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of their reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.

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Gray whales have begun their winter migration along the California coast and offer Bay Area residents numerous opportunities to observe the majestic marine mammals for the next several months.

There’s just one catch: perhaps the best onshore location to see the migrating whales is closed for construction.

The historic lighthouse and observation deck at the westernmost tip of Point Reyes National Seashore – known among whale enthusiasts and amateurs as the best vantage point for spotting whales rounding the Bay Area waters – are banned because Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is one Major is going through overhaul.

Despite the closure, there are plenty of other places to spot the whales on their southern streak from the arctic waters of Alaska to the shallow lagoons of Baja California, said Carlo Arreglo, a park ranger at Point Reyes.

“This is the time of year to see these charismatic superstar mammals,” he said.

From Bodega Head to Muir Beach Overlook and Point Bonita in the Marin Headlands, the north coast offers numerous elevated vantage points. Within the city limits, Fort Funston and the Lands End Lookout have good ocean views to spot spouts.

To the south, the parking lots on either side of the Devil’s Slide Trail provide accessible whale watching. The beaches at Point Reyes have less visibility, but visitors can peek at some spills – and see giant elephant seals in their winter mating season.

Hundreds of gray whales pass through the Bay Area every day at the height of the south migration in January. Pregnant whales, due to give birth in the warm waters of the Baja, are the first to migrate, followed by thousands more in pods of two to five individuals. In spring, the whales begin their journey back to Alaska with their newborn calves.

Elevated lookouts offer the best chance of spotting whales in the water. Bodega Head and Point Reyes are good bets as the whales use the protruding geography to navigate the coast, but the whales are visible from other coastal areas as well.

First, said Arreglo, scan the ocean for clouds of steam – these are the whales that exhale when they emerge for breath. The blowhole is the first part of the body to rise out of the water, followed by the back and tail as the whale dives beneath the surface in one graceful motion.

“Bring binoculars, it’ll help,” said Bill Keener, a whale researcher at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.

While whale runs can be spotted at any time of the day, Keener prefers to set off in the morning hours when the sun is angled off the water. Direct sunlight can make the whales difficult to spot.

The fact that gray whales can still be seen on the California coast – let alone in their thousands – is a small miracle, according to experts. The 40-ton marine mammals were near endangered by the 1930s, but their numbers began to recover with the decline in commercial whaling. Gray whales are now protected by international protection measures.

“California is one of the few places in the world where you can see multiple species of whales,” said Keener. “It’s an amazing wildlife opportunity right off our coast.”

Some local families have turned to whale watching, said Nancy Black, a marine biologist who runs the Monterey Bay Whale Watch. The company has done tours at half capacity, wiped surfaces, and practiced social distancing.

“It’s great – people usually get bored at home,” said Black.

Black noted that whale migration began a few weeks later that year, a trend she believes was due to climate change. Scientists studying gray whales say the warming of the arctic waters could change the whales’ feeding and migration habits. Climate change has also been cited as a possible culprit for the mass extinction, which resulted in an unusually high number of whale victims last year when more than a dozen carcasses washed up on the shores of the Bay Area.

Boats pass each other near Bodega Head in Bodega Bay, California on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Bodega Head is a popular place for whale watching.Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

Changed marine ecosystems worry Keener and his colleagues at the Marine Mammal Center. The harmful algae that thrive in warmer waters could pose problems for all marine life, he said, not just gray whales. Therefore, he feels compelled to raise awareness about the whales in order to protect them from future damage.

“These are some of the largest animals that have ever lived on the planet,” he said. “They live a different life than land mammals. They give birth underwater. They have big brains. They have these amazing migrations, ”said Keener.

Arreglo is also impressed by the mysterious mammals that live mostly invisible under the sea surface and pass giants that endure even though humans have hunted them almost to extinction.

“These massive creatures have a sense of mystery,” he said. “There is something to be said to have a secret in our life.”

Nora Mishanec is a contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec

If the Point Reyes lighthouse and observation deck are closed, here are 10 alternative locations in the Bay Area where you may be able to catch gray whales that are migrating this season:

Muir Beach overlooks the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Point Bonita in the Marin Headlands

Mori Point in Pacifica

Fort Funston in San Francisco

Devil’s Slide Trail off Highway 1 between Pacifica and Montara

Bodega Depart from Bodega Bay on the Sonoma County coast

Limantour Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore

Drakes Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore

North Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore

Lands End Lookout in San Francisco

See morecollapse

The post With traditional lookouts closed, listed here are the most effective Bay Space spots to catch migrating grey whales appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

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