Mike Sullivan loves his adopted city of San Francisco, and he loves trees. In The Trees of San Francisco he has combined his passions, offering a striking and handy compendium of botanical information, historical tidbits, cultivation hints, and more. Sullivan's introduction details the history of trees in the city, a fairly recent phenomenon. The text then piques the reader's interest with discussions of 71 city trees. Each tree is illustrated with a photograph--with its common and scientific names prominently displayed--and its specific location within San Francisco, along with other sites; frequently a close-up shot of the tree is included. Sprinkled throughout are 13 sidelights relating to trees; among the topics are the city's wild parrots and the trees they love; an overview of the objectives of the Friends of the Urban Forest; and discussions about the link between Australia's trees and those in the city, such as the eucalyptus. The second part of the book gets the reader up and about, walking the city to see its trees. Full-page color maps accompany the seven detailed tours, outlining the routes; interesting factoids are interspersed throughout the directions. A two-page color map of San Francisco then highlights 25 selected neighborhoods ideal for viewing trees, leading into a checklist of the neighborhoods and their trees.

Juana Briones de Miranda lived an unusual life, which is wonderfully recounted in this highly accessible biography. She was one of the first residents of what is now San Francisco, then named Yerba Buena (Good Herb), reportedly after a medicinal tea she concocted. She was among the few women in California of her time to own property in her own name, and she proved to be a skilled farmer, rancher, and businesswoman. In retelling her life story, Jeanne Farr McDonnell also retells the history of nineteenth-century California from the unique perspective of this surprising woman. Juana Briones was born in 1802 and spent her early youth in Santa Cruz, a community of retired soldiers who had helped found Spanish California, Native Americans, and settlers from Mexico. In 1820, she married a cavalryman at the San Francisco Presidio, Apolinario Miranda. She raised her seven surviving sons and daughters and adopted an orphaned Native American girl. Drawing on knowledge she gained about herbal medicine and other cures from her family and Native Americans, she became a highly respected curandera, or healer. Juana set up a second home and dairy at the base of then Loma Alta, now Telegraph Hill, the first house in that area. After gaining a church-sanctioned separation from her abusive husband, she expanded her farming and cattle business in 1844 by purchasing a 4,400-acre ranch, where she built her house, located in the present city of Palo Alto. She successfully managed her extensive business interests until her death in 1889. Juana Briones witnessed extraordinary changes during her lifetime. In this fascinating book, readers will see California’s history in a new and revelatory light.

San Francisco Bay was discovered in 1769. Eighty years later the city of San Francisco was a boom town with a population of 40,000. Here is the written and visual record of the discovery and exploration of San Francisco Bay, and the founding and settlement of Yerba Buena -- which became San Francisco. Recounted by the discoverers, explorers, foreign visitors, and early residents. Includes many historic maps, charts, illustrations, and the first two surveys of the town of Yerba Buena.

The exhibition "is an investigation into possible alternative futures, particularly those that question or overturn conventional notions of innovation in biological, social, environmental, and technological structures. ... Loosely structured around three thematic strands - the utopian, the speculative and the pragmatic - the exhibition furthers our understanding of how artists are addressing potentiality and the unknown, from the most desired future to the most feared."p. [2]

The golden age of postcards coincided with several momentous events in San Francisco history, including a major earthquake and fire destroying over one third of the city, rapid reconstruction, strikes, political upheaval, parades, festivals, and a worlds fair. From World War I through World War II, jazz-age San Francisco experienced a building boom of houses, skyscrapers, and engineering marvels such as the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge, creating a marvelous Bay Area landscape documented on thousands of ubiquitous, inexpensive picture postcards popular with both visiting tourists and local residents.

For Dummies Travel guides are the ultimate user-friendly trip planners, combining the broad appeal and time-tested features of the For Dummies series with up-to-the-minute advice and information from the experts at Frommer’s. • Small trim size for use on-the-go • Focused coverage of only the best hotels and restaurants in all price ranges • Tear-out “cheat sheet” with full-color maps or easy reference pointers San Francisco is one of the most exciting, inviting, unique, and eclectic cities in the world. From the Golden Gate Bridge to Lombardy Street to the Embarcadero…from Little Italy to Chinatown to Russian Hill, there’s an invigorating mix of attractions and cultures. This friendly guide helps you zero in on your "must sees" and plan your personal itinerary. Enjoy incredible upscale shopping or bargain-hunting in Chinatown, browse for books at City Lights, or hit Haight Street or Hayes Street for the latest trends Choose from all kinds of entertainment options, ranging from a Giants game to grand opera to theater to blues to leather-clad, fire-dancing performance artists Have a romantic dinner at Absinthe or Quince, sip a cappuccino in North Beach, enjoy authentic Italian pastas, or try the catch of the day Take a day trip to Berkeley, an overnighter to the coast, or a getaway to Wine Country, including winery tours and a mud bath Like every For Dummies travel guide, San Francisco For Dummies, 5th Edition helps you make the most of your vacation. It includes: Down-to-earth trip-planning advice Info on the best ships for every budget Tips on sightseeing at ports of call Handy Post-it Flags to mark your favorite pages Whether you want to experience the thrills and views provided by the cable cars, escape from Alcatraz, climb Telegraph Hill, bike in Golden State Park, or simply relax in a room with a private outdoor soaking tub, this guide helps you find your way in the City by the Bay.