Bay Curious
393 episodes - English - Latest episode: 15 days ago - ★★★★★ - 928 ratingsBay Curious is a show about your questions – and the adventures you find when you go looking for the answers. Join host Olivia Allen-Price to explore all aspects of the San Francisco Bay Area – from the debate over "Frisco", to the dinosaurs that once roamed California, to the causes of homelessness. Whether you lived here your whole life, or just arrived, Bay Curious will deepen your understanding of this place you call home.
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Episodes
How Eucalyptus Got Here, and Why It Burns
April 11, 2024 10:00 - 16 minutesDepending on whom you ask, eucalyptus trees are either an icon in California or a fire-prone scourge. In today's episode, reporter Daniel Potter takes us on a journey through how this non-native tree came to the state. We'll learn why it was planted in such large numbers in the first place. Then we explore why some Eucalyptus groves have become a concerning wildfire threat. Additional Reading: Eucalyptus: How California's Most Hated Tree Took Root Read the transcript for this episode Sign ...
Abalone: The Treasured Sea Snails Disappearing Off California's Coast
April 04, 2024 10:00 - 20 minutesBay Curious listener Lorraine Page likes to comb the Pescadero beaches for treasures in her spare time. She used to find abalone shells often, but says in the last ten years she hasn't seen any. She wants to know: what happened to all the abalone? Additional Reading: Climate Change-Induced Heatwaves Are Decimating California's Kelp and Abalone Bay Curious Podcast Garage Event April 11 Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company ...
Where Are All the School Buses?
March 28, 2024 10:00 - 22 minutesBay Curious listener Jules Winters has great memories of riding the school bus as a kid in suburban Philadelphia. When she moved to the Bay Area, she immediately noticed there weren't as many of those big yellow buses taking kids to school. She wants to know why. Additional Reading: Why Doesn't California Have More School Buses? How the San Francisco School Lottery Works, And How It Doesn't Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Your su...
Queer, Fabulous and Proud: SF’s Drag History
March 21, 2024 10:00 - 24 minutesLove it or hate, drag is a hot topic of conversation now. And you really can’t understand how we got to this point nationally without heading to San Francisco. Today we’re taking a crash course through decades of drag herstory to better understand it’s larger impact on San Francisco, and the country. Additional Reading: How SF's Drag Queens Shaped the City (and the World) Show your love by donating! Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest...
Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe at SLAC
March 14, 2024 10:00 - 19 minutesOn Interstate 280, just south of the Sand Hill Road exit, near Stanford, there is this overpass that crosses over a long, skinny building. Bay Curious listener Eric Nelson has wondered what that building is for years. Turns out, scientists are unraveling the mysteries of the universe inside SLAC. We take you on a tour. Additional Reading: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe Inside SLAC Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Your supp...
Why Is It So Hard to Fix Our Own Stuff Now?
March 07, 2024 11:00 - 19 minutesEver wonder why it can be so hard to fix your own appliances, laptops and other gadgets? Well, you're not alone. And there's a reason why so many things head to the landfill these days, rather than getting fixed. Bay Area "Fix It" advocates are taking matters into their own hands, while they wait for state laws to catch up. Additional Reading: Bay Area's 'Fix It' Culture Thrives Amid State's Forthcoming Right to Repair Law March 14 Sustainable Fashion Event: Mend, Fix, Style Sign up for ou...
Hidden in the Oakland Hills Is An Outdoor Gallery of Murals
February 29, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutesHike near Leona Heights in Oakland, and you might come across vibrant graffiti art painted on the concrete remnants of an old conveyor tram that transported rock down the hill. This week on the show, reporter Katherine Monahan reveals the history of this place, and talks to artists who have transformed it into an art gallery hidden in the woods. Additional Reading: Read the transcript for this episode Web story: Hidden in the Oakland Hills Is An Outdoor Gallery of Murals Sign up for our ne...
Has Aggressive Driving Gotten Worse? And Two Other Transit Qs
February 22, 2024 11:00 - 22 minutesIt's a three-part transit lightning round! First we look at if aggressive driving has gotten worse in recent years. Then we take a trip on the San Francisco Water Taxi, and discover a low-cost way to get out on the San Francisco Bay. Finally, we crunch on the numbers on if the SMART Train in Sonoma and Marin is easing traffic along the 101 corridor. Buckle up, the answers are coming fast and furious this week. Additional Reading: Read the transcript for this episode Is the SMART Train Easin...
Unwrapping SF's Rich Chocolate History
February 15, 2024 11:00 - 16 minutesWhen listener Beth Caissie moved to San Francisco she'd heard of Ghirardelli Chocolate, but she was surprised there were so many other fabulous chocolate shops around. She wondered if the lineage stretches all the way back to the Gold Rush. It does! And because high quality chocolate was produced here, innovative chocolate makers from all over the world have put their own cultural twist on the sweet treat. Additional Reading: From Ghirardelli to Socola: Unwrapping S.F's Chocolate History W...
Prop 1: Big Changes to Mental Health Funding
February 08, 2024 11:00 - 21 minutesCalifornia's primary is just around the corner, on March 5, 2024. This year, there's a statewide Proposition on your primary ballot, but don't worry we've got you covered. Prop 1 asks voters two big questions: Should mental health funding be used for housing? And should the state borrow money to build more housing and treatment facilities? There's tons of interesting stuff in this one. Additional Reading: Episode Transcript Did the Emptying of Mental Hospitals Contribute to Homelessness? ...
Why Piedmont Is A Separate City From Oakland
February 01, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutesLook closely at a map of Oakland and you'll notice an odd spot that seems to have been cut out. That's the city of Piedmont. Bay Curious listener David Levine wanted to know how and why Piedmont came to be separate. And he's curious about how that history has affected the relationship between the two places. KQED's Chris Hambrick went to find out. This episode first aired in 2019, but we still get questions about it on the regular. Additional Reading: Why Is Piedmont A Separate City From Oak...
Squirrelmania!
January 25, 2024 11:00 - 18 minutesLast year, we invited Bay Curious listeners to submit questions about squirrels, and wow did you deliver! In today's episode KQED's Angela Corral joins in as we tackle the nut economy, why squirrel tails are so fluffy, where they sleep and how long they nurture their young. Additional Resources Yes, That Squirrel Might Be Taunting Your Dog. And More Squirrel Facts Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest...
The Hidden History of Fort Scott
January 18, 2024 11:00 - 17 minutesWander onto the parade ground of Fort Scott, and one of the first questions that comes to mind is: "What is this place?" A large grassy field is bordered by tall beige buildings with red roofs. Their windows are boarded up and the place feels deserted. It's particularly odd because Fort Scott is just steps away from epic views over the Golden Gate Bridge, a well-traveled cycling path, and one of the biggest thoroughfares running through the park. But none of that bustle seems to reach this co...
Two Water Temples ... Why?!
January 11, 2024 11:00 - 16 minutesThe Bay Area's two water temples can be an unexpected finding if you stumble upon one. Stately, round, and featuring tall stone columns, the open-air structures look like they've been plucked right from ancient Rome. Bay Curious listener Will Hoffknecht wanted to know why these monuments exist and look the way they do. KQED’s Katherine Monahan traces their story back to the European colonization of San Francisco, and finds discontent about what they symbolize around our state. *This episode h...
San Francisco's Sliver of Alameda
January 04, 2024 11:00 - 14 minutesWhen Bay Curious listener Lori Bodenhamer looks at Google Maps, she's always wondered why a small slice of Alameda island is part of San Francisco. The answer takes us all the way back to women the Spanish colonized the area. Additional Reading: Why Is Part of Alameda Island in San Francisco? Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcas...
Dialing POP-CORN
December 21, 2023 11:00 - 14 minutesFor decades there was a phone service in Northern California that would read you the time and date if you dialed POP-CORN, the letters that represented 767-2676. That service went dark back in 2007, and Bay Curious listener George wants to know why. In this nostalgic episode, we take a romp through the innovative technlology that powered time-and-date services, and meet the beloved voice behind POP-CORN, Joanne Daniels. Additional Reading: Read the transcript for this episode You Used to B...
How Italians Were Treated As 'Enemy Aliens' During WWII
December 14, 2023 11:00 - 19 minutesDuring World War II, 10,000 Italian citizens living in California were forced to leave their homes as part of security measures meant to protect the West Coast from enemy invasion. Others were forced to register as enemy aliens, and were subject to property seizures, curfews and travel restrictions. On this week’s show, Pauline Bartolone investigates what West Coast Italians faced during WWII, how it was different from what Italians experience elsewhere, and why many people — including Italia...
How Anchor Brewing Started the Craft Beer Craze
December 07, 2023 11:00 - 25 minutesIn the 1960s and 70s, American beer drinkers didn't have many options. Large brewers were pumping out beer that was bland, tasteless and characterless. But in San Francisco, one small brewer was doing it differently. Their methods weren't new — they were making beer the old fashioned way — but their brew stood out as robust and flavorful among the sea of lackluster options. Their beer garnered a lot of attention — and helped launch a craft brewing revolution. This week on the show, producer A...
The Future of Fog
November 30, 2023 11:00 - 17 minutesFoggy days are a fact of life in the Bay Area, but climate change could lead to fewer of them in the coming years. While that might be welcome news to some, the truth is fog is an important weather phenomenon for all kinds of reasons. This week, reporter Dana Cronin demystifies the mist and finds out what we might expect for the future of fog. Additional Reading: With Climate Change, What Will Happen to the Bay Area’s Fog? Read a transcript of this episode Sign up for our newsletter Enter...
Rethinking San Jose's Urban Sprawl
November 16, 2023 11:00 - 23 minutesSan Jose is the most populated Bay Area city with a million residents. Yet, for a city its size, it feels pretty spread out. And that's not great for climate change or population growth. This week we're sharing an episode of the podcast Sold Out from our colleagues at KQED. Reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi takes stock of why San Jose is a so characterized by urban sprawl, and how the city is looking at ways to build for a denser, greener future. Additional Reading: How the Bay Area's Biggest City ...
The Poster Queen of the Fillmore
November 09, 2023 11:00 - 18 minutesThe Fillmore Auditorium is so chock full of musical history, it feels like the building itself has a soul. Nowhere is that better on display than in the theater's iconic poster room, filled with colorful framed signs for hundreds of shows through the decades. Since 1985, concertgoers have gotten their own free copies of the posters as they leave the theater. But who is the person behind these awesome keepsakes? Reporter Bianca Taylor introduces us to Arlene Owseichik, the creative director re...
The Marijuana Minister of the Castro
November 02, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutesDuring the height of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, in a small church a few blocks from the heart of the Castro, one pastor changed the experience of communion and committed felonies to comfort his flock. Reporter Christopher Beale brings us this story, which he originally produced for his podcast "Stereotypes: Straight Talk from Queer Voices," and later aired on The California Report Magazine. Additional Reading: 'Acts of Great Love': How the Marijuana Minister of the Castro Helped Hi...
The Demon of the Belfry
October 26, 2023 10:00 - 21 minutesOne hundred twenty-eight years ago, San Francisco was haunted by a bizarre, brutal murder case. And in terms of macabre ingredients, this story truly had it all. In the final episode of our Boo Curious series, reporter Carly Severn digs into the story of Theo Durrant, and the subsequent media frenzy around this case that draws parallels with our modern-day obsession with 'true crime.' Additional Reading: Murder in the Belfry: How the Story of Theodore Durrant Captivated Victorian San Franci...
Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan
October 19, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutesOne chapter in the Bay Area's long tradition of local subcultures is often overlooked: America’s first official satanic church was started right here in San Francisco. In the third installment in our Boo Curious series, producer Amanda Font finds the devil in the details of The Church of Satan's larger-than-life founder, Anton LaVey, and the Black House where it all started. It's a story filled with lust, intrigue and a fair amount of theatrics. Additional Reading: How the Church of Satan W...
A Spooky Mansion & The Notorious Lone Tree
October 12, 2023 10:00 - 21 minutesThis is the second episode in our month-long BOO Curious series! Today we've got a double feature. First, we look at how 19th century estate in Oakland became the undisputed star of spooky films dating back to the 1970s. Then, we head a little south to Hayward, where the centuries-old Legend of the Lone Tree inspires intrigue with its story of love, betrayal ... and gruesome murder. Additional Reading: Dunsmuir: The Oakland Mansion that Inspired Hollywood Nightmares The Legend of Lone Tree ...
The House Sarah Winchester Built
October 05, 2023 10:00 - 21 minutesWelcome to the first episode in our October series we're calling BOO Curious! We're kicking off this month of stories about creepy places in the Bay Area with a trip to a tourist attraction that's steeped in ghostly legend: the Winchester Mystery House. This unusual, sprawling Victorian mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, who is said to have kept building onto the house for decades in order to keep the spirits at bay. Is there any truth to this story of paranormal paranoia? Reporter Carly ...
Bay Curious Presents Spooked: Teacher's Pet
September 28, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutesStarting next week, we've got a whole month of stories about creepy, eerie and potentially haunted places in the Bay Area planned for you, as part of a series we're calling BOO Curious! To get you in the mood for spooky season, we thought we'd share a ghost story from our friends over at the Spooked podcast, from Snap Judgment Studios and KQED. Kristen Cortez is a new teacher in beautiful Los Gatos, California. From her classroom window, she can see rolling, golden hills. Redwood trees. The s...
Is Our Bottle Recycling System Garbage?
September 21, 2023 10:00 - 23 minutesHave you ever looked at your grocery receipt and seen a charge that says "CRV" next to your canned soda or bottled beer? That stands for California Redemption Value, and it's supposed to be a $.05 or $.10 deposit that consumers can then get refunded when they recycle the beverage container. The problem is, most people never get their money back because... well, it's hard to find a place to trade them in. Reporter Steven Rascón follows the money to see what happens to all those nickels and dim...
The Burrito. The Myth. The Legend.
September 14, 2023 10:00 - 22 minutesYou may have seen articles use "Mission-style" to describe a certain kind of burrito you can find at taquerias in San Francisco's Mission District. They're wrapped in foil, loaded with delicious stuff, and weigh almost as much as a newborn. But does the term "Mission-style" really mean anything? Reporter César Saldaña went to the neighborhood to talk with some long-time taqueria owners to find out more about these big burritos. Additional Reading: What Is a Mission-Style Burrito? Maybe … a M...
Why The Iconic Claremont Hotel Was Dry For So Long
August 31, 2023 10:00 - 16 minutesThe Claremont Hotel in Oakland was once the biggest hotel on the West Coast. With it’s castle-like architecture and primo views, it’s been a stomping grounds for celebrities and dignitaries since it opened in 1915. But in the years before and after Prohibition, the hotel lacked an amenity that might surprise you. It didn’t have a bar. Speculation has long flown around about why — and this week on Bay Curious we talk to the experts to set the record straight. Additional Reading: A ‘No Booze Z...
The Original San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
August 24, 2023 10:00 - 10 minutesThe San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is the longest bridge in California. But the one you drive across today is not the original bridge — that one was built in 1929. Reporter Rachael Myrow looks into the history of the first bridge to cross the San Francisco Bay, and what happened to it. Additional Reading: The First San Mateo-Hayward Bridge was a Big Deal in 1929 Read a transcript of this episode Have a question for Bay Curious? Ask us! Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia cont...
‘Maison Bleue’: The S.F. Landmark You’ve Never Heard Of
August 17, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutesAt 3841 18th Street in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood sits a light blue Victorian, not unlike the countless other homes of that style in the city. Except this one is a major tourist destination—if you're French, that is. What makes this particular Blue House so special? We turn to NPR Culture Correspondent Chloe Veltman (who is half French herself) for the the very musical answer to this question. Additional Reading: The San Francisco Landmark You’ve Never Heard Of … Unless You’re Frenc...
The Rise and Fall of the 'Harlem of the West'
August 10, 2023 10:00 - 17 minutesIf you were walking down San Francisco’s Fillmore Street in the 1950s, chances are you might run into Billie Holiday stepping out of a restaurant. Or Ella Fitzgerald trying on hats. Or Thelonious Monk smoking a cigarette. In this episode, originally aired in 2020, reporter Bianca Taylor explores the rise of the Fillmore as a cultural center for jazz, and the "urban renewal" that ultimately changed the identity of the neighborhood, and forced out many of its residents. Additional Reading: How...
Can We Turn Ocean Waves into Energy?
August 03, 2023 10:00 - 15 minutesCalifornia is aiming to be powered 100% by clean energy by 2045, but there’s still a long way to go. With 840 miles of coastline, could California turn to the ocean as a potential source of power? Reporter Holly J. McDede explores past and present attempts to harness the power of waves, and whether this technology may finally be about to crest. Additional Reading: California Needs Renewable Energy. Could We Harness the Power of the Ocean? Read a transcript of the episode Sign up for our ne...
Oppenheimer, UC Berkeley and the Atomic Bomb
July 27, 2023 10:00 - 14 minutesIf you're like most people, by now you've been inundated by buzz about the new movie, "Oppenheimer," which chronicles the life of the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb. When he was selected for the Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer was a professor at UC Berkeley. Science reporter Lesley McClurg looked into his time at Berkeley, and how he and the school itself helped to make the devices that ended WWII. Additional Reading: Read the transcript for this episode Sign up f...
What's Going on With Pro Women's Sports in the Bay Area?
July 20, 2023 10:00 - 19 minutesOur question asker noticed the Bay Area has many professional men's teams but not a single women's or non-binary professional team. What gives? Smaller cities are able to pull it off, why can't we? In this episode we dive into the history of elite women's sports in the region. We'll learn about some professional teams from yesteryear, plus new efforts underway to make a women's team succeed here. Additional Links: Read a transcript of this episode. Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sier...
Can Empty Offices Become Homes?
July 13, 2023 10:00 - 17 minutesThe office vacancy rate in downtown San Francisco is hovering around 30%. Meanwhile, thousands of people are living without shelter on city streets. Bay Curious listener Judith Gottlieb wonders if those empty offices can be converted into housing for people experiencing homelessness. In this episode of Bay Curious, we'll break down what it takes to turn an office into a home, and explore another option for housing people that is gaining more traction. Additional Reading: Could Empty Offices...
The Martini: A Story with a Twist
July 06, 2023 10:00 - 12 minutesThe martini is iconic. Not just because of James Bond, but the glass it’s served in, those neon signs in front of old school bars … it even has its own emoji. It was also created in the Bay Area, though where, specifically, is up for debate. As part of a collaboration with The California Report Magazine, reporter Bianca Taylor shakes up this story about the martini's origins for the series Golden State Plate. Additional Reading: Golden State Plate: The Story of the Martini, Straight Up, With...
Mac Dre and Lyrics on Trial
June 29, 2023 10:00 - 29 minutesOne of the first instances of rap lyrics being used during a criminal trial goes back to the early 90s, and the trial of legendary rapper Mac Dre. Dre is best known as one of the pioneers of 'hyphy' music, which helped put Bay Area hip-hop on the map. There’s a lot of lore around what happened during Mac Dre’s trial, so as part of That’s My Word, KQED’s yearlong project on Bay Area hip-hop history, reporter Jessica Kariisa set out to discover what really happened. Additional Reading: Did Ma...
Are the Redwoods Doing Okay?
June 22, 2023 10:00 - 19 minutesPeople travel from all over the world to see California's beautiful redwood forests. But some of these spectacularly tall and long lived trees aren't doing as well as they once were, particularly the ones in urban settings. Reporter Dana Cronin explores what makes these magnificent giants so unique, and why they're facing growing challenges. Additional Reading: The Bay Area's Famous Redwood Trees Are Struggling Read a transcript of this episode Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company mont...
Bay Curious Presents: A Book!
June 15, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutesIn May, Bay Curious published the book, "Bay Curious: Exploring the Hidden True Stories of the San Francisco Bay Area." It brings a fresh eye to some of our most popular podcast episodes, and covers brand-new, never-before-heard stories researched for the book. Host Olivia Allen-Price spoke to Alexis Madrigal on KQED Forum about how Bay Curious got its start, what’s in the new book and, perhaps most fun of all, we played trivia with call-in guests on the show. We had so much fun taping this s...
The Iron Horse Trail
June 08, 2023 10:00 - 17 minutesThe Iron Horse Regional Trail runs more than 30 miles through the San Ramon Valley. But many folks who walk or ride their bikes along this paved path may not know it used to be a railroad line. This week, reporter Amy Mayer rides the rails through locomotive history in the San Ramon Valley to learn how the trains may have shaped the surrounding cities. Additional Reading: This 30-Mile East Bay Trail has Roots on the Railroad Read a transcript of this episode Take our audience survey Enter...
Zero Emission Cars and a Golden Gate Lookalike
June 01, 2023 10:00 - 18 minutesThis week we've got a two-question lightning round for you. First, reporter Pauline Bartolone investigates whether the growing popularity of zero emission vehicles is making a noticeable difference in Bay Area air quality. Then, video producer Anna Vignet looks into the history of a bridge with a strikingly similar appearance to the Golden Gate Bridge... in Portugal. Additional Reading: Are Zero-Emission Vehicles Making a Dent in California's Air Pollution? What's With the Golden Gate Brid...
Bay to Breakers: Half Race, Half Party
May 25, 2023 10:00 - 17 minutesBay to Breakers in San Francisco is much more than just an annual race. The event has become notorious for its party-like atmosphere, with thousands of people running the 7.5 mile route in wild costumes, or wearing absolutely nothing at all. With its 110+ year history in the city, how did Bay to Breakers go from an ordinary race to a kind of festival-on-foot? Reporter Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman chases down the answer and explores the event's highs and lows on this week's episode. Additional Readin...
Crows Everywhere!
May 18, 2023 10:00 - 17 minutesCrows seem to be everywhere these days, noticed listener Kevin Branch. He asked Bay Curious: "Why are there so many? Are crows replacing other familiar birds, such as mockingbirds, blue jays and red-winged blackbirds? Is there a plan to reduce crow populations?" KQED's Dan Brekke takes us on a journey to find those answers in this updated episode which first ran in 2019. Additional Reading: Crows Are Crowding Your Bay Area Skies. Why? Read a transcript of this episode Take our audience sur...
Why Are Stores Locking Up Basic Necessities?
May 11, 2023 10:00 - 20 minutesYou may have noticed that your local chain big box or drugstore has locked certain items behind plexiglass, requiring you to hail an employee to grab things like deodorant or laundry detergent. Companies say know this is annoying, but that it's necessary to prevent theft. So does it actually work? How big of a problem is retail theft anyway? Reporter Katherine Monahan went shopping for the answer. Additional Reading: Why Are Retail Stores Locking Up Basic Necessities? Read a transcript of t...
A History of Children's Fairyland
May 04, 2023 10:00 - 19 minutesFor generations, parents have been taking their young kids to Children's Fairyland, a storybook-themed amusement park next to Oakland's Lake Merritt. So what's the 'Once upon a time...' of this beloved East Bay cultural gem, which may even have inspired Walt Disney? Reporter Pauline Bartolone takes a journey with her own little one to learn about Fairyland's 72-year history. Additional Reading: The Future Looks Bright for Children's Fairyland, as It Seeks to Better Reflect Oakland's Cultural...
Real High Schoolers of the Bay Area
April 27, 2023 10:00 - 31 minutesHigh School—It's a pretty wild time in our lives. You're still growing and figuring out who you are, while juggling schoolwork, relationships, responsibilities, and rapidly-approaching adulthood. As part of KQED's Youth Takeover week, four high school students have been sharing audio diaries with us over the past few months. They let us into what's happening in their lives, and all the joys and heartbreaks of being a teenager. Additional Reading: Inside the Lives of Four Bay Area Teens Read...
Is Picking California Poppies Illegal?
April 20, 2023 10:00 - 12 minutesAfter a wet winter, California hillsides are carpeted with wildflowers — especially our glowing, golden orange state flower, the California Poppy. In honor of this super-bloom, we're reprising our episode from 2017 about a rumor concerning these little beauties: that it's illegal to pick them. Reporter Jessica Placzek helps us answer that question, and discovers more about them and their use by indigenous peoples. Additional Reading: Can You Go To Jail For Picking California's State Flower? ...
San Francisco's Little Slice of Paris
April 13, 2023 10:00 - 21 minutesDuring California's Gold Rush when miners flocked to the Bay Area, so too did people selling goods to those fortune seekers. One of these businesses grew to become a historic Union Square department store that brought a taste of French finery to those San Franciscans who could afford it. Reporter Christopher Beale explores the origins and legacy of the 100+ year run of 'City of Paris.' Additional Reading: How the City of Paris Department Store Once Embodied 'All Things French' for San Franci...