THIS WEEK AT THE VOICE FOR THURS., OCT. 15, 2026
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by Mike Ege
Editor in Chief, The Voice of San Francisco
GUILFOYLE AGONISTES: Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former first lady of San Francisco, is not in a great place right now.
If you haven’t been living under a rock lately (and this writer increasingly finds he has to ask), you know Kimberly. She first hit the national spotlight as the high-profile, socialite second chair in the infamous 2002 Diane Whipple murder-by-dog-mauling case, then as the wife of then-Mayor Gavin Newsom.
From there, she parlayed her prosecutorial credentials into gigs as a legal analyst for Court TV, ABC and CNN, followed by a Fox News hosting gig — until she bailed out under a cloud of workplace bullying and sexual harassment allegations. Her next career move? A cushy landing in the lap of Trumpism — and, more literally, in the lap of Donald Trump Jr.
That last lap didn’t last, and Guilfoyle was handed yet another parachute — this time, as ambassador to Greece, a post she apparently saw as a platform for accumulating another kind of grease.
The gaffes began shortly after she was sworn in. At a Nov. 5 embassy dinner, she reportedly told guests they’d be invited back if Greece bought American liquefied natural gas (LNG). Otherwise, they might find themselves off the guest list.
Greek officials valued her direct connections to Trump, but reports also described frustration among embassy staff, including complaints about partying and her management style. That Trumpian magic soon wore thin, too, after Guilfoyle allegedly suggested at another (un)diplomatic dinner that the U.S. could destabilize the Greek government if it wanted to.
Meanwhile, the ambassador was apparently still working the grift within the Trump circle. Trumpist operative Eric Deters alleged that Guilfoyle repeatedly hit him up for cash infusions, with her latest plea for help paying a six-figure American Express bill proving to be the last straw. The White House asked her to resign — reportedly while the story was unfolding in public — and she did. According to The Daily Beast, she then began to spiral, simultaneously defending her reputation, deferring to the Trumps and mulling whether to take back her resignation.
Will Ambassador Guilfoyle land yet another parachute? It’s possible. Trump biographer Michael Wolff says she may know too much to be left in the lurch. Then again, he also says the Trumps never much cared for her.
Might she be permanently exiled in Greece? She did cultivate a coterie of fans there, notably Greek-American billionaire John Catsimatidis, and Panagiotis Toumanidis, publisher of the perhaps now unfortunately named Attica Times, which routinely lavished cloying coverage on Kimberly.
Or she could be carted off to Club Fed, giving American TV viewers the spectacle of San Francisco’s former Barrister Barbie being dragged away, arms thrust skyward, screaming, “Attica! Attica!”
Whether she’d mean it the way Al Pacino did is another question.
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Top News
CRIME
TROY MCALISTER PLEA DEAL UPDATE
Hearing postponed until November; DA handling of translation issues questioned
by Susan Dyer Reynolds
Yesterday Judge Eric Fleming once again postponed the plea hearing for Troy McAlister, the man who killed Hanako Abe and Elizabeth Platt in 2020 while fleeing a robbery in a stolen car (link to my other story). The next hearing is set for Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m.
TRANSPORTATION
What to know about the Muni-themed clothes and totes at Uniqlo’s new downtown store
Uniqlo customers can only find the exclusive Muni designs at the Market Street store.
by Jerold Chinn
NEWS
California attorney general joins fight to save National Archives in San Bruno
The 99th lawsuit against the Trump administration seeks to keep the San Bruno Archives Center open.
by John Trasviña
Quote of the week
“Food gardening is a low-trust activity in a high-trust world. You have to be vigilant against destruction.”
— Elizabeth Statmore on her own backyard adventures in a city filled with rats, in “Lettuce is easy to grow!”
Nomi toon
In Case You Missed It
CULTURE
The beauty of Bruma: S.F.’s elite hotels have brought pride back to the city
The city’s finest hotels are experiencing a glamorous renaissance.
by Erica Sandberg
ASIAN VOICES
Pacific Legal Foundation joins suit challenging UoA admissions
High-scoring Palo Alto grad rejected by 16 out of 18 colleges he applied to.
by Liz Le
A&E
‘Awakening Beauty: The Art of Eyvind Earle’
Celebrated retrospective includes new works and galleries.
by Sharon Anderson
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EVENTS
Out and about, Oct. 15–20
What to do this weekend and beyond.
By Lynette Majer
Managing Editor, The Voice of San Francisco
There are a variety of events to choose from in the next few days, whether indoors or outdoors, from theater and dance to a fall festival, a night market, and more. Read on for my picks.
Thursday, Oct. 15
Lovers of beautiful things won’t want to miss the San Francisco Fall Show, the renowned international art, antiques, and design fair on the West Coast (although some say it’s the best in the country). This year’s show will celebrate Métallique Chic — think Rococo gilding, Brutalist metalwork, Art Deco chrome, Georgian silverware, burnished surfaces, patinas, and time-worn bronze. Over 40 top international designers and artisans will offer a wide range of decorative arts spanning all styles and periods, including paintings, furniture, ceramics, photography, and more. Other features include lectures, special programming, and food for purchase by Cultivar. Through Sunday at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. Tickets: $55
The world premiere of the immersive theater experience Our Loving Companions celebrates the bond between people and their pets. Audiences will experience a range of emotions from laughter, joy, and devotion to grief that we all share with our furry companions. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a small photo of their loving companions, past or present, to add to the art installation at the theater. (And I’d suggest also bringing a box of tissues.) Most shows are followed by a facilitated discussion for those who wish to participate. 7:30 p.m. tonight at The Marsh through Sunday (3 p.m.). Tickets from $35.
The Smuin Contemporary Ballet continues its fall program in San Francisco, French Kiss, featuring a revival of Stabat Mater, by Michael Smuin to honor his lasting influence; a world premiere by My’Kal Stromile, after his commissions with the Paris Opera Ballet and the Boston Opera; and French Kiss, by Amy Seiwert, which the San Francisco Chronicle described as a “sweet, chic dessert.” 7:30 p.m. tonight and Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Cowell Theater. Tickets from $25.
Enjoy the Big Art Loop — Portside at the Waterfront Walkabout with live music, interactive craft activities, and pop-ups. Stroll at your own pace or sign up for a guided tour. 5 to 8 p.m. between Pier 14 and the Exploratorium. Free admission, sign up here for guided tours.
Friday, Oct. 16
Kick off Halloween at Sundown Cinema’s screening of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice at Crane Cove Park. Pack a picnic or feast from the local food trucks, enjoy the preshow entertainment, and bring some canned goods to support the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, 5 p.m. (film at 6 p.m.). Free admission. RSVP for a chance to win a pair of reserved seating tickets and up to $1,000 for your Amazon Wish List.
Tonight is Fort Mason’s Night Market. Enjoy more than 25 food and beverage options from Off the Grid, live music, workshops, over 50 retail vendors, public art installations, and more. 5–10 p.m. Free.
Saturday, Oct. 17
The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival is a Bay Area tradition. Now in its 54th year, the festival features a gigantic pumpkin weigh-off championship, live music, arts and crafts from local artists, food and drink (yes, pumpkin-infused ales), Farmer Mike, a costume contest, and more. Through Sunday. Free admission.
The San Francisco Opera is hosting a Costume Sale, where the public can purchase authentic costumes from the opera’s productions. You’ll find Victorian dresses, Renaissance doublets, embroidered military uniforms, whimsical fantasy creations, and more made by skilled artisans as well as stage props and other opera merchandise. 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Opera’s Scene Shop (826 Burlway Road, Burlingame) through Sunday. Tickets from $5 (timed entry).
Sunday, Oct. 18
Spend some time out on the water at a community rowing event in traditional wooden rowboats with skilled instructors. Looks like fun! 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at India Basin Waterfront Park. Free admission.
Enjoy an elegant reception followed by a four-course feast prepared by 35 of the Bay Area’s most acclaimed restaurants at the Foodwise Sunday Supper: A Farm to City Feast, which supports Foodwises’s farmers’ markets, food access initiatives, and education programs. 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Ferry Building. Tickets: $185.
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