Bay Curious

Listener Michael Viray wrote in to Bay Curious asking to learn more about the origin story behind ethnic studies: “I’ve heard from one of my professors of ethnic studies at UC Davis that there was actually a revolution in the Bay Area for an ethnic studies field. Is this true? And how did it happen?” Today on Bay Curious, we’re revisiting the longest student strike in U.S. history. We'll learn abo...

San Francisco beat out Los Angeles, New York and Portland as the top vegan city in America. But with COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the food industry — will that title endure? In today's episode we explore what's made vegan eating so popular in the Bay Area, and then learn how businesses are coping during these challenging times. Additional Resources: Read: Vegan Food is Big in the Bay Area — But Will...

This week we learn how one enamored entrepreneur on a shoe-string budget gave birth to the Murphy bed in San Francisco. Then, we revisit one of our most-popular Bay Curious episodes of all time, about the Flintstone House in Hillsborough. The home's architect, who wasn't available for our original story, shares the backstory to his unique design. Additional Resources: Read - How A San Francisco Lo...

Bay Curious listener Scott has lived in the Bay Area his whole life. He's always wondered why the weather can be so different just a few miles apart. This week, we dig into Bay Area microclimates -- what are they, why do they exist, and do heat islands affect our weather. *This episode has been updated to fix an error in Andrew Oliphant's title. Additional Reading:  Why Does The Bay Area Have So M...

Bay Curious listeners Alex Kornblum, 8, and his dad, Heath Kornblum, were talking about their drinking water when they landed on this question: How long does it take for water to get from Hetch Hetchy to San Francisco? And how far does it travel? Resources mentioned in this episode: How Hetch Hetchy Valley’s natural beauty was sacrificed to quench SF’s thirst (SF Chronicle) Video: Hetch Hetchy: To...

Last year, this question won a public voting round on BayCurious.org: "The Fillmore district used to be known as the Harlem of the West. What's the story behind what happened to the city's once vibrant Black community and culture?" In this episode we explore the rise of the Fillmore as a cultural center for jazz, and the "urban renewal" that ultimately changed the identity of the neighborhood, and...

Juneteenth celebrations in the Bay Area are some of the largest, and longest-running in California. We offer a quick primer on the history of Juneteenth locally, and explore the legacy of Rachel Townsend, an activist and organizer who kept the Juneteenth spirit alive in San Francisco for years. This episode features an excerpt from KQED's The Bay. Reporting by Asal Ehsanipour and Devin Katayama. P...

We look back at protests from the civil rights era — both nonviolent and violent — to understand how these actions lead to changes in public policy. This history gives us ideas about how the media coverage and public opinion polls of today could be early signs that public policy change will follow. Featuring longtime San Francisco resident Darrell Rogers and Omar Wasow, an assistant professor of p...

This week we’re sharing an episode from Truth Be Told, made by our colleagues: Tonya Mosley, Isabeth Mendoza and Suzie Racho. They speak with Dr. Eddie Glaude, chair of Princeton's African American Studies Department, to parse out what's happening in America right now, and how to recenter on black joy and resilience.   Truth Be Told helps to correct the age-old diversity problem in the field of ad...

Visitors to Angel Island often learn about how the island was once an immigration processing and detention center where Chinese immigrants were made to wait for weeks or months in sordid conditions. Recently, a Bay Curious listener mused about another dark part of the island’s past: “I wonder about Angel Island and the history of Japanese internment camps.” Turns out the island served a specific r...

Bay Curious listener Columbia Shafer was walking along Grand Ave in Oakland one day, when she noticed a new Zachary's pizza shop opening. "They were putting new paint on the doors and it said 100% employee owned," she says. "It seems like a really high percentage of pizza places [in the East Bay] were cooperatives and employee owned." She wants to know ... why pizza? In this episode we dive into l...

There was a time when you couldn't go too long watching television without seeing a commercial for Rice-A-Roni. Many featured images of San Francisco, and ended with a catchy jingle — "Rice-A-Roni. The San Francisco Treat!" Bay Curious listener Kent Barnes has wondered if that advertising slogan is true. Was Rice-A-Roni actually created here in the Bay Area? Additional Resources Hear the full stor...

For KQED's annual Youth Takeover project, we hand the mic over to four Bay Area high school students who have been keeping audio diaries while under stay-at-home orders. Without the structure of school, their lives have been turned upside down and many of the high school traditions they've looked forward to for years — prom, yearbook signing, graduation — are cancelled. A longer version of this st...

Listener Russ Johnson asked how coronavirus is impacting undocumented Californians, and if leaders are working to help them. An estimated 2 million Californians are undocumented. Whether they're essential workers or have recently lost employment, none of them are eligible for federal aid right now. State and local governments, and non-profits are filling some of the void, but many are still left s...

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting people in ways big and small. Some are very personal. What's it like to date an immunocompromised person right now? And, listener Marcus Adams wants to know if hair stylists are allowed to make home visits if they take safety precautions. We've got answers. Additional Reading: Getting Through Coronavirus Blues: Cute GIFs and Weird Haircuts Under Stay-at-Home O...

As we shelter-in-place, a lot of people on Twitter are sharing the strange dreams they're having. We look into why that might be. And, listener Anne-Marie Rochè wants to know: Are there any positives for the natural environment from humans staying home? Additional Reading: Feel Like COVID-19 Is Invading Your Dreams? You're Not Alone Has Sheltering-In-Place Been Good For the Environment? Bay Area P...

There are so many bay windows in San Francisco, Oakland, and other cities around the Bay Area it would be easy to assume they were invented here. But were they? Listener Ayran Michaels wants to know: Why are they so prominent here? Additional Reading: Did San Francisco Put the 'Bay' in Bay Windows? Victorian Home Walk Reported by Christopher Beale. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrin...

Thanks to Judith Milgram and Ryan Stauffer for their questions. We cover how to shop safely, bring groceries home, and order takeout during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Additional Reading: How to Safely Grocery Shop During Coronavirus Shelter In Place Coronavirus in the Bay Area: Your Questions Answered Follow Coronavirus Voicemails @coronavoicemail or call 415-316-1542 to record your story of...

Bay Curious listener Paul Irving wanted to know: "What's the story with the bison in Golden Gate Park?" The park celebrates its 150th birthday this week, so we are re-running this episode digging into the backstory of the herd of American bison who call it home. And there are five cute updates to this story. Additional Reading: What's With the Bison in Golden Gate Park? Golden Gate Park Welcomes F...

Listener Mark Isaak heard that the spot on the earth from which you can see the most land is the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. But that the summit of Mount Diablo comes in second. Turns out, this is a widely-circulated factoid that goes back centuries. Is it true? Additional Reading: Does Mount Diablo Have the Biggest View in the World? Your Coronavirus Questions, Answered Reported by Asal Ehsanipo...

It has been a week, y'all. We're bringing you some tips on how to care for yourself, an inspiring story about how one neighbor his helping another, and a tour through the creative world of digital gatherings. Sit back, take a breath and hang with us. Links relevant to this episode: Sheltering in Place: What You Need to Know How to File for Unemployment in California During the Coronavirus Pandemic...

What are the recommendations for taking public transit? Should I go to work? Should I cancel upcoming travel plans? How long does the virus last on a doorknob? Can it be transmitted in the air? Will we be quarantined? Find the latest answers to these questions and more in this constantly-changing story. Additional Reading: Public Health Orders and Recommendations for Each Bay Area County Bay Area...

Question asker David Shayer has a lot of opinions... about billboards. He says the worst are electronic billboards that flash changing images at night. But in addition to an opinion, David has a question: "Why is Highway 101 plastered with billboards while Highway 280 doesn't have any billboards?" In this episode, reporter Christopher Egusa takes a roadtrip to find out more. Additional Reading: Gr...

San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood is bordered by some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city, yet it has a bad reputation. Tourists are told to avoid the area. You can often see drug dealing out in the open, and garbage on the streets. Today's question asker, Vy Nguyen, lives in the neighborhood and wants to know how the Tenderloin has stayed the same in a city where most low-incomes ar...

Question asker Lauren Fleming has noticed a lot of signs warning about coyote sightings in San Francisco parks. She wants to know how many coyotes live here, how they got here, and how they manage to live in an urban environment. In this episode, reporter Bianca Taylor meets a woman who has been observing the city's coyotes for thirteen years. Additional Reading:  San Francisco's Coyotes are Back,...