"And up through the ground came a bubblin' crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea." But seriously. That's not oil on the beach at the terminus of Noriega Street and 48th Avenue in the Sunset District of San Francisco. It's actually itty-bitty pieces of magnetite, a gritty, black, shiny rock that is found around the Bay Area as well as New Zealand and Australia. When neighborhood resident Janice Leonard first called, ChronicleWatch dashed out to the beach expecting to see a squishy, smelly sand-oil mix, possibly left over from the November Cosco Busan oil spill.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

The 79-page report is the second of two reports required after an incident like that of the spill Nov. 7, 2007, that leaked nearly 54,000 gallons of oil after the Cosco Busan tanker ship struck a tower fender of the Bay Bridge.

Published by NBC News (Channel 11) on May 17, 2008.

In addition, the San Francisco Police Department plans to increase its presence during the race to provide traffic control and monitor crowds.Common arrests during the race include public intoxication and indecent exposure, according to police.The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway.

Published by NBC News (Channel 11) on May 17, 2008.

In addition, the San Francisco Police Department plans to increase its presence during the race to provide traffic control and monitor crowds.Common arrests during the race include public intoxication and indecent exposure, according to police.The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway.

Published by NBC News (Channel 11) on May 17, 2008.

In addition, the San Francisco Police Department plans to increase its presence during the race to provide traffic control and monitor crowds.Common arrests during the race include public intoxication and indecent exposure, according to police.The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway.

Published by NBC News (Channel 11) on May 17, 2008.

The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway. The finish line closes at noon.

Published by KTVU News (Channel 2) on May 17, 2008.

The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway. The finish line closes at noon.

Published by KTVU News (Channel 2) on May 17, 2008.

The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway. The finish line closes at noon.

Published by KTVU News (Channel 2) on May 17, 2008.

Officers responded around 5:15 a.m. to Eighth and Mission streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood where Bontrager had crashed into a parking meter, police Sgt. Wilfred Williams said.

Published by CBS News (Channel 5) on May 17, 2008.

The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway. The finish line closes at noon.

Published by ABC News (Channel 7) on May 17, 2008.

The race begins at 8 a.m. at the intersection of Howard and Main streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood and travels 7.46 miles through Golden Gate Park to the finish line on Great Highway. The finish line closes at noon.

Published by ABC News (Channel 7) on May 17, 2008.

Officers responded around 5:15 a.m. to Eighth and Mission streets in the city's South of Market neighborhood where Bontrager had crashed into a parking meter, police Sgt. Wilfred Williams said.

Published by CBS News (Channel 5) on May 17, 2008.

"And up through the ground came a bubblin' crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea." But seriously. That's not oil on the beach at the terminus of Noriega Street and 48th Avenue in the Sunset District of San Francisco. It's actually itty-bitty pieces of magnetite, a gritty, black, shiny rock that is found around the Bay Area as well as New Zealand and Australia. When neighborhood resident Janice Leonard first called, ChronicleWatch dashed out to the beach expecting to see a squishy, smelly sand-oil mix, possibly left over from the November Cosco Busan oil spill.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Most guests who stop in to Luce in San Francisco's new InterContinental will think of it simply as a hotel restaurant. It's in the lobby of the marble- and glass-encrusted monolith, minimally buffered from the check-in counter by an open 70-seat bar that diners walk through to get to the main dining room.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

The California-Italian menu was devised by Dominique Crenn, who spent a couple of weeks touring and tasting at the various Frescobaldi properties in Italy. Reared in France, she worked for nearly 10 years in San Francisco at Campton Place, 2223 Restaurant, Yoyo Bistro and Stars under Jeremiah Tower.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

The California-Italian menu was devised by Dominique Crenn, who spent a couple of weeks touring and tasting at the various Frescobaldi properties in Italy. Reared in France, she worked for nearly 10 years in San Francisco at Campton Place, 2223 Restaurant, Yoyo Bistro and Stars under Jeremiah Tower.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

The California-Italian menu was devised by Dominique Crenn, who spent a couple of weeks touring and tasting at the various Frescobaldi properties in Italy. Reared in France, she worked for nearly 10 years in San Francisco at Campton Place, 2223 Restaurant, Yoyo Bistro and Stars under Jeremiah Tower.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Orange is the new black. At least, that's what it looks like at the corner of Scott and Lloyd streets in the Duboce Triangle neighborhood, where there's more sunny orange than asphalt black or concrete gray. Several barricades stand around the junction, flanked by folding orange and white signs, and, yes, you guessed it, orange cones.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Judy Appel married her lesbian partner at San Francisco City Hall in 2004, then saw their marriage annulled by the California Supreme Court six months later. Now they plan to remarry, with the court's blessing and with the knowledge that their newly legal union might be undone by the state's voters in November.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Judy Appel married her lesbian partner at San Francisco City Hall in 2004, then saw their marriage annulled by the California Supreme Court six months later. Now they plan to remarry, with the court's blessing and with the knowledge that their newly legal union might be undone by the state's voters in November.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

More than 50 philanthropists and financial advisers joined an emergency briefing Friday at the San Francisco Foundation, looking for effective ways to get cyclone relief into Burma in the face of formidable resistance by the Burmese government.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Most air pollution from motor boats comes in the harbor, when the boat is idling or running at low speed, said Michael Chrisman, California's secretary of resources, who went for a demonstration ride on the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the most famous Austrian this side of Sigmund Freud, was expected at the event, held at the St. Francis Yacht Club, but did not show up.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

In less than 30 days, gay and lesbian couples will be allowed to marry anywhere in the state. However, Lori Rogers is betting San Francisco will be a prime location. "We have the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. You can't get this anywhere," says Rogers.

Published by ABC News (Channel 7) on May 17, 2008.

A rare brush fire burned about two acres in Golden Gate Park Friday afternoon.

Published by ABC News (Channel 7) on May 17, 2008.

Hours before the California Supreme Court issued its decision on gay marriage, Mayor Gavin Newsom heard rumblings that the justices would uphold the state's ban.

Published by KTVU News (Channel 2) on May 17, 2008.

He prepared for defeat, knowing his stance on the issue often has been a lonely one since he opened San Francisco City Hall's doors in 2004 to a same-sex wedding spree, a move that set the stage for Thursday's historic ruling. The same court had ordered him to stop the nuptials.

Published by KTVU News (Channel 2) on May 17, 2008.

The San Francisco Giants and San Francisco Police Department initiated a new get-tough policy at AT&T Park Friday night. They are cracking down on juveniles who drink alcohol. In addition, they say they will go after adults who get drunk.

Published by KTVU News (Channel 2) on May 17, 2008.

A Peninsula high school senior accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of another young man during a fight outside AT&T Park Friday night appeared in San Francisco Superior Court Friday morning, where he postponed an expected not guilty plea to what his attorney called "a tragic accident."

Published by CBS News (Channel 5) on May 17, 2008.

When I arrived at Martuni's I was a wreck. My right contact was askew and causing tears to leak in a steady stream down my face. It was hot out and my summer dress was soaked in sweat. I was the picture of a person who needed a drink.

Published by SF Weekly on May 17, 2008.

Orange is the new black. At least, that's what it looks like at the corner of Scott and Lloyd streets in the Duboce Triangle neighborhood, where there's more sunny orange than asphalt black or concrete gray. Several barricades stand around the junction, flanked by folding orange and white signs, and, yes, you guessed it, orange cones.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on May 17, 2008.

Two people were stabbed near The Warfield venue in San Francisco tonight, according to the fire department. Two ambulances were dispatched close to Market and Sixth streets at 7:55 p.m. The two victims were transported to area hospital for stab wounds but their condition has not been released.

Published by San Francisco Crime blog on May 17, 2008.