THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURS., OCT. 29, 2026
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
If you’re walking around North Beach this week you may notice some shooting going on — of the movie kind.
Parts of Grant Avenue got a 1930’s costume change, including signs on the Savoy Tivoli dressing it up as a cafe offering a salami sandwich and a root beer for five cents (!). Meanwhile, parts of Powell Street served as a classic car show of sorts as scores of period vehicles lined the curb. Some camera work for the film took place in Pacific Heights and other parts of town earlier this month.
The movie is called Fog City, and the director is Dan Pritzker, the filmmaker and musician who also happens to be from those Pritzkers — the Hyatt hotel heirs. Dan’s brother John runs the property investment firm Geolo Capital and is also a major philanthropist and political donor, having given $1M to the campaign for Mayor Daniel Lurie’s charter reform ballot measures. A third brother, Tom Pritzker, stepped down as executive chairman of Hyatt earlier this year after the release of the Jeffrey Epstein case files revealed a frequent association with the accused sex trafficker, though no evidence of misconduct. All three are cousins of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Fog City’s plot revolves around an ensemble of characters living in San Francisco during the construction of the Golden Gate bridge, between 1933 and 1937. One of those characters is a police inspector, which probably explains the staged gunplay set to take place at the North Beach shoot.
Meanwhile, the election is less than a week away, and evidently Mayor Lurie still has coattails big enough for both House race rivals Scott Wiener and Connie Chan. Over the weekend voters got a slick mailer from Chan’s campaign that included pictures of the mayor, who has remained neutral in the race, being seemingly cozy with the candidate. It was enough for Dan Wheeler, an early contender who withdrew from the race, to surmise “An implied endorsement from Mayor Lurie is a big deal. I don’t think Connie would dare send out a flyer unless she had gotten permission to do so.”
Wanna bet, Dan? The Chronicle reports that a PAC supporting Wiener also put out a similarly toned mailer, describing the Mayor and the State Senator as “partners for public safety.” Meanwhile, Lurie remains officially neutral and mum.
And speaking of cognitive dissonance in messaging, the current writers at the Standard’s Power Play newsletter (which yours truly helped start up) breathlessly relate that Chan’s campaign now kisses up to Lurie after condescendingly chiding the mayor as a capitalist running dog in multiple Sing Tao Daily interviews.
In other words, Power Play seemingly discovered about Chan what old timers have known about progressive-aligned bilingual politicians, from Leland Yee on down, for years: They like to talk out of differing sides of their mouth, depending on what side of town they are talking to.
And with less than a week until the official election day, the Department of Elections reports that roughly 18 percent of the 533,500-plus ballots issued for the November 3 election have been turned in so far, compared to about 16.5 percent at the same relative point locally during the Biden midterms. Or 37 percent nationally, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
Still blanking out over local ballot measures? Take a look at this season’s cheat sheet. And vote early and often.
Check out links to our latest content below, or just bookmark our homepage to see the latest.
Top News
REYNOLDS RAP
City leaders rally behind a deported felon convicted in a drive-by killing and facing two current domestic violence cases
Milton Ramos-Rodriguez has a notorious criminal past going back to his teens; mayor and supervisors still defend sanctuary for all.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
On Monday Oct. 19, a viral video showed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting a man in the South of Market area. San Francisco leaders immediately rallied to defend Milton Ramos-Rodriguez, 51, a twice deported citizen of El Salvador and alleged affiliate of the Sureños gang convicted of killing a person in a 1992 Mission District drive-by shooting with two open domestic violence cases. As I discovered after a deeper investigation, Ramos-Rodriguez has a notorious criminal history that goes back to his teen years — including two occasions where he spent years on the run as a wanted felon.
A&E
Commentary: San Francisco artists open their doors as the city’s creative future hangs in balance
Over 300 artists welcomed visitors during the 52nd annual Open Studios, offering a window into the creative community’s resilience amid rising costs, funding delays, and uncertainty.
by Taylor Snowberger
TRANSPORTATION
Construction preparation work underway for Muni’s new Potrero bus yard
Crews are preparing the site for a major rebuild of Muni’s Potrero bus yard, with demolition and construction expected to begin early 2027.
by Jerold Chinn
Quote of the week
“Eventually, they get traded to Dallas, and everyone is happy. Except the spouses. San Francisco Rules.“
— Will Durst on unhappy ballplayers in San Francisco, in “Not from here?”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
REYNOLDS RAP
Sanctuary for all? Only two supervisors answer my questions while mayor’s office plays coy
San Francisco’s sanctuary city laws make it all but impossible for even violent, career felons like Milton Ramos-Rodriguez to be deported.
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
CITY HALL
San Francisco bigwigs turn out for District 6 Open House
Mayor Lurie, Supervisor Dorsey, District Attorney Jenkins join city departments and agencies to address area needs
by Erica Sandberg
OPINION
Election Day is Californians’ last chance to vote on up to 1,000 judges
‘Why you won’t see them on your ballot or know about the ones you do see.
by John Trasviña
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EVENTS
Out and about Oct. 29–Nov. 4, 2026
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
Happy Halloween — once again! I’m fairly confident most of you have your plans set, from neighborhood trick-or-treating to decorated houses to the adult versions, but just in case, I’ve included a few more options below, along with some music, theater, dance, opera, and more, like several films.
Thursday, Oct. 29
This is my kind of Halloween celebration: Practical Magic 2 Movie Night at Oracle Park, which continues the story of the Owens sisters, portrayed by Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock, descended from a line of witches with a family curse. Doors 6 p.m.; film 7:30. Tickets: $28
Trick-or-Treat at the Ferry Building Marketplace and enjoy Halloween crafts, spooky music, playful games, trick-or-treaters in their best costumes, and plenty of Halloween spirit for all. 4 to 6 p.m. Free admission, but RSVP here so organizers don’t run out of candy, which would be tragic for everyone, right?
We can always count on the Exploratorium to deliver a fun-filled evening, especially this time of year, with some creepy science things like the Creepatorium, which sounds like it will live up to its name with events like their world-famous cow’s eye dissection, an exploration of our survival instincts, spooky vibes, and a costume contest, plus dancing to the music by LosGothsCo. 6 to 10 p.m. Ages 18 and up. Tickets $23.
Elim Chan Conducts Adams and Mendelssohn is a program of choral works by Brahms, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, Arvo Pärt Magnificat featuring the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and Adams’s Doctor Atomic Symphony. Also enjoy a preconcert talk with Chan in conversation with Benjamin Pesetsky followed by a performance of Adams’s acclaimed aria “Better My Heart” from Doctor Atomic. 7:30 p.m. through Saturday at Davies Symphony Hall. Tickets from $45.
An Unkindness, is billed as a “dark theatrical circus of aerial, acrobatics, physical theatre, and haunted storytelling” featuring a lost crow, an injured stranger, a cemetery, and strange inhabitants. 7 and 9 p.m. at the Great Star Theater through Saturday (1 to 2:30 p.m.) Tickets from $40.
Friday, Oct. 30
If you’re up for a party of thousands of humankind perhaps the aptly named Nightmare on Front Street is for you. Schroeder’s, Harrington’s, and the Royal Exchange will offer Halloween-themed food and libations, plus live music, spooky activities, and lots of costumes. 2–10 p.m. between California and Sacramento streets. Free admission, RSVP here.
The Spirits and Spirits: Haunted Chinatown Cocktail Tour promises an evening of exploring Chinatown’s haunting alleys, tracing the historic cocktail route from the Barbary Coast day, ghostly talks and dark history, including iconic eerie locations, and more. 7 and 9:30 p.m. through Saturday. Tickets $66 (includes a Mai Tai).
Enjoy a screening of the silent film classic Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, John S. Robertson’s 1920 adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella starring John Barrymore as a doctor wrestling with spilt identities. The live score will be performed by renowned organist and composer Dorothy Papadakos on Grace Cathedral’s famous pipe organ. 8 p.m. at Grace Cathedral. Tickets from $25.
© TriStar Pictures, Rastar Productions, and other relevant production studios and distributors. | MovieStillsDB.com
Calling all Dolly Parton fans, which has to be everyone: Dress in your best Dolly outfit and head to this screening of Steel Magnolias: Dolly Parton Tribute Screening with Costume Contest Steel Magnolias. “Lively discourse” and popcorn provided, but bring your tissues and go early to enjoy vintage commercials..
Manon’s family plans to send her to a convent — she’s young, beautiful, and enjoys the finer things in life after all, but she falls for the handsome Chevalier and they run away to Paris where their relationship “endures twist after turn.” 7:30 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday at the War Memorial Opera House. Tickets from $36.
Saturday, Oct. 31
Make it a movie Saturday starting with Labyrinth (10 a.m. and 6 p.m.); It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! (12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.); and The Shining (1:45 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.) at the 4 Star Theater.
The officers at SFPD’s Mission Station will host a Trick-or-Treat event and hand out candy. Visit the link above for additional Halloween events at select stations across the city. Free admission.
Sunday, Nov. 1
This sounds like a civilized way to spend a Sunday afternoon: Civic Strings: Enlightenment and America, a varied program of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sam Marshall, Florence Price, Scott Joplin, and Bates/Ward (an audience singalong of America, the Beautiful). 3 to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church (22 Waller Street). Free admission; donations welcome ($20 suggested). RSVP at the link above.estaurants here. Through Nov. 9. Brunch/lunch from $10; dinner from $30.
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