A crowd of merely hundreds would be a rare sight at a parade in San Francisco. But at Shanghai Pride, China’s first gay pride celebration, in a country where gay sex was illegal until 1997 and homosexuality is still widely stigmatized, a crowd of hundreds was a fabulous start.

Last week, a rainbow of faces gathered in the metropolis of Shanghai to kick off what supporters hope will become a yearly tradition. Festivities even included a symbolic marriage ceremony for two couples, even though gay marriage is illegal in China. The weekend was rounded out with a Hot Body Competition, a Queer Olympiad, and some drag shows.

It’s not clear whether China’s gay community would be thrilled with how things went. While the surprising turnout and the positive media coverage are definitely signs of progress, the government’s reaction was disturbing. During the week leading up to the main party, Shanghai authorities shut down several planned pride events. There were reports that police threatened some venues out of participating, and many blame anti-gay sentiment for the interference.

Still, previous attempts at pride celebrations in China have not been nearly as successful as this one. There’s a fight ahead, but Shanghai Pride 2009 is proof that things are beginning to change.

Click here for more on Shanghai Pride.

by Kay Dover, editorial

Higher fuel prices are already hitting gas stations around the United States (here in San Francisco, we’re already seeing gas edge above the $3 mark.) Does that mean airfares will follow the same path? Not if you’re Singapore Airlines. From almost every destination they serve in the United States, they are offering fares as low as $579 to Europe, $679 to Singapore and Southeast Asia, and $879 to Australia and India in the months of July and August. How can you not afford to book a ticket at those prices? It could up being less expensive than a summer road trip to the beach! For booking info, check out the Sinagpore Airlines website here

We are looking for an experienced Software Engineer to help develop and maintain our crawlers, parsers and distributed systems. Responsibilities would include planning features/bug fixes, developing code, seeking feedback from the team and testing deployment on beta/production servers. You’ll also be building REST-ful APIs that make it absurdly easy for other developers and companies to integrate with our apps. You would work closely with the CTO/CEO and engineering team in our San Francisco office. We’re a small team; you would be our seventh full-time employee and third full-time engineer.

This is a full-time position in San Francisco, CA. We are not interested in hiring part-timers or contractors.

SKILL SET
* 6+ years of experience with object-oriented languages (expert-level skills)
* You always use the best tool for the job, and you love learning new things - show us some interesting projects that you’ve done!
* Experience with agile development in a team setting preferred
* Expertise in large dataset optimization - ideally, you’ve had experience with large databases and distributed systems and you have scaled systems
* Familiarity with a broad range of technologies including XHTML, CSS, JS, SQL, SVN
* Ability to prioritize, multitask and manage work with regard to critical timelines
* You’re a high energy, startup person who loves to create elegant code that gets used by millions of people
* You love to push code into production

A LITTLE ABOUT US
Offbeat Guides is a high-tech travel company located in Union Square, San Francisco. At our core, we are a search engine and sophisticated digital publisher creating personalized online and printed travel guides from masses of public and private information. We love what we do - we get to learn about exotic locations, help mold real-life experiences and bring delight to so many travelers.

Please send your CV and something you’ve made that you’re proud of to careers@offbeatguides.com

Don’t let the steep hills intimidate you, San Francisco’s size makes it easy and accessible to explore on foot. It’s great news for visitors, as walking tours are the perfect way to sightsee, save on bus fare, and burn off all those sourdough bread-bowls and Ghirardelli chocolate. And as with so much in this city, there’s a walking tour for everyone! Here are a few local favorites.

If you’re a goofball:

Foot! Tours offers a gaggle of themed neighborhood walking tours all led by stand-up comedians. They’ve been voted “Most Eccentric Walks” by SF Weekly, and the guides work in entertaining games, puzzles and re-enactments along the way. The two to three-hour tours include “Go West, Young Woman: Daring Divas of the Past” and “Where’s the F-ing Beach in North Beach”. There’s something going on nearly every day.

Foot! Tours

(800)979-3370 (US)

(212)209-3370 (international)

http://www.foottours.com/

$30-45 a head

If you keep walking into things because you’re admiring the skyscrapers:

Then the San Francisco Architecture Walking Tour is for you. Guided by architecture historian Rick Evans, discover art deco treasures and hidden rooftop gardens, and learn the surprising stories behind some of the city’s most famous buildings. The two-hour tour, winner of the 2009 SF Weekly award for “Best Walking Tour of San Francisco”, happens daily, provided enough people sign up.

My Favorite City Tours

(415) 264-8824

www.architecturesf.com

$10 kids under 12

$20 adults

If you’re a creature of the night:

Glimpse the Gothic side of San Francisco with a vixen tour guide. Mistress Mina Harker leads groups of locals and visitors alike on this two-hour evening jaunt through Nob Hill, mixing true tales of city history with local legends and vampire lore. According to Mina, the tour is 85% fact, 15% fiction. She just won’t tell you which part’s which.

San Francisco Vampire Tour

(650) 279-1840

http://www.sfvampiretour.com/

Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00pm

$20.00 per mortal

$15.00 each for seniors, students, or groups of 10 or more

If you’re on a budget:

Choose from an overwhelming list of free (really!) neighborhood tours from the volunteer-based San Francisco City Guides. You’ll learn from knowledgeable locals about the city’s rich history and culture, while toning your calves climbing those famous hills. Several tours are offered each day, including “1906: Earthquake and Fire”, “Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission” and the “Prostitution Tour”.

San Francisco City Guides

(415)415-557-4266

http://www.sfcityguides.org/index.html

Free!

If you want a better deal:

Search Goldstar’s San Francisco pages for discounts of up to 50% on many of these tours if you order through them. Goldstar membership is free, and it’s a great resource for things to do in the city, always at reduced prices.

http://www.goldstar.com

Tour tips:

-Reserve your spot well in advance. Some tours sell out fast!

-Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

-Bring a camera, but ask your guide if photos are permitted before you shoot.

-Ask questions. Tour guides are chatty and usually happy to answer when time allows.

See you on the streets!

For more information on what to do in San Francisco, check out the Offbeat Guide to San Francisco here.

by Kay Dover, editorial

When you’re living in Pacific Heights, one of San Francisco’s most exclusive neighborhoods, ‘affordability’ looks hard to come by. With blocks of Victorian mansions and stunning views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Heights gives off the impression of luxury. The majority of activity takes place on Fillmore St, which is lined with high-end boutiques and expensive restaurants. While it may not look like an area where you can live on a shoestring budget, Sophie Klimt in our editorial team has discovered the secret to living the high life for under ten dollars in Pacific Heights.

SHOPPING:

Goodwill - 1700 Fillmore @ Post. The perfect place to pick up T-shirts at $1.99 each, or a vintage bag for $8. This store was recently re-organized and if you squint your eyes you can just about imagine you are in American Apparel…
Walgreens – 1899 Fillmore @ Bush. Who needs Kiehls? (shh…). You can pick up your cuticle scissors, shampoo and Almay concealer at the same time. Tip: Walgreens’ own brand is comparable to most of the brands they replicate and is several dollars cheaper.

Mayflower Market – 2498 Fillmore @ Jackson. Don’t go to nearby Mollie Stones for your cheese. Go here – they sell tasty blocks of Gorgonzola, Brie Gruyere and my favorite, Camembert. These are perfect for sandwich fillers and most cheeses are under $3. Avoid their grocery items as these are marked up, but head to their deli counter as they make big old sandwiches for only $5.

DINING:

The Grove – 2016 Fillmore @ Pine. A casual eatery decked out like a ski lodge, The Grove serves up large, delicious sandwiches priced between 7 and 10 dollars. They come with a big portion of Kettle Chips on the side. They also do excellent salads, including my favorite which comes with beets and goats cheese. Most of the time though, I cannot avoid their tomato soup at $5.25 for a big bowl, which is the creamiest and chunkiest soup I have ever tasted.

Royal Ground Coffee House – 2060 Fillmore @ Pine. Come here for your sweet treats. Ultimate Cookie’s pumpkin cream cheese cupcake ($2.25) is to die for, and there is also an extensive selection of cookies (some vegan) and cakes all around the $2 mark. Dangerously addictive and incredibly satisfying.

Mollie Stones – 2435 California Street, between Fillmore and Steiner. The salad bar is ridiculously overpriced ($9.99 per lb) but their selection of ready-made sandwiches at around $5 is a steal.

Crepevine – 2301 Fillmore @ Washington. Serving up huge crepes and omelettes, Crepevine is slightly more expensive than I’d like (around 8 or 9 dollars), but you do get a lot of food for your money and it’s always good for leftovers.

Noah’s Bagels – 2231 Fillmore @ Sacramento. Just a bagel is fine for me (wholewheat, sundried tomato or cheese), but I have seen customers walk out with some pretty fine looking bagelwiches for about $5.
Food Inc Trattoria – 2800 California @ Divisadero. Cute little restaurant which gets busier at lunchtime and is very slow for dinner. Try their soup of the day at $4.95, which is always flavorful and healthy, or nibble on one of their inventive sandwiches. Get the pear and melted brie and let me know if it’s good!

El Burrito Express 2 – 1812 Divisadero @ Bush. I love these burritos. My standby is the Cheese Bronco Burrito for $4 including tax, but you can buy the super size at only a few dollars more. Huge and amazing, particularly if you go with a flavoured tortilla, which I always get.

King of Falafel – 1801 Divisadero @ Bush. Not quite Pacific Heights, but still excellent. Their falafel is transcendent, and their falafel sandwich at only $5.89, is a bargain. They also serve vegetarian and meat combo plates which are only 7 or 8 dollars, and these come with a serving of pita bread.

For more information on what to do in San Francisco, check out the Offbeat Guide to San Francisco here.

By Sophie Klimt, editorial.

Well before I started interning at Offbeat Guides, I was just another visitor to San Francisco, eager to take advantage of all that this great city had to offer. Last year, I found one weekend in particular that seemed to culminate in a critical mass of tastes, sounds, and sights; so much in fact that it made me want to come back again and again to experience it. The third weekend in May is a perfect time to visit the Bay Area, especially if you can’t wait to get out between that seemingly endless period between New Year’s and Memorial Day weekend. Mark it on your calendar and be sure to hit at least one of these three must-attend events:

San Francisco Oyster Fest: Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, this festival is more than just about slurping down your favorite oyster; it’s a benefit, music concert, and history expo all rolled into one! Shuck a few of your local favorites from Drakes or Tomales Bay, enjoy the sounds, all while enjoying a breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tiburon Wine Festival: Just across the Bay in the sailing mecca of the North Bay, you can sample wines from all over California, including Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, as well as a few from France, Australia, and New Zealand. The festival usually has some decent music, as well as art showings and great food options from some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. Find a friend with a sailboat and cruise over to Tiburon from the Marina District, or take a ferry ride from the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Bay-to-Breakers: One of the oldest races in the United States starts at the Embarcadero on the Bay, winds through some of the most scenic neighborhoods in San Francisco, and ends spectacularly at the breakers of Ocean Beach. While the 12K run may be an epic test of your abilities on the hills, the atmosphere is anything but serious; runners are encouraged to lighten the mood with creative apparel. For those who aren’t interested in running, join the throng of 100,000 people who follow the race route with themed floats, wearing costumes, or even naked!

For more information on what to do in San Francisco this weekend, check out the Offbeat Guide to San Francisco here!

By Zain Iqbal, editorial.

Living in a foreign country you can experience a whirlwind of emotions, from homesickness, to excitment, to just plain old confusion on deciphering a new accent. We asked Laura Pring in our editorial team on her experiences in growing up British in America.

“I was lured to San Francisco by a friend of mine with tales of exotic foods,  great beers and days of endless sunshine. Well she was right. There are exotic foods, great beers and a good stream of sunny days .  I quickly became a fan of the cities’ sights, smells and characters.

However although there are many similarities of life in San Fran and life in London, (the weather is very similar….the days of endless sunshine was, I think a bit of a tall tale! ) there are many differences. Differences that are so small and subtle that even the most avid traveler can be left confused, disorientated and well truthfully left feeling quite stupid.

It began when I was in the supermarket and deciding to make a salad for dinner. But it wasn’t as simple as that it seemed.  “Where is the rocket…?” “What the hell is arugula?” “What is radicchio?” I was left staring at these ingredients, which I thought I knew, but had transformed into alien objects with weird and frankly… wrong names! I didn’t get my salad that night and instead I left with a pizza, something I thought I could rely on but it still had funny ingredients such as zucchini and an eggplant. I was confused….was there going to be egg on the pizza?

As I am all too familiar with these feelings of confusion, I have composed a translation list to help other expats to the US ease into American life and make the transition a decidely less baffling experience.”

Food related items: (American English to UK English)

Cilantro- fresh coriander

Zucchini – courgette

Eggplant – aubergine

Arugula or Rucola – rocket

Yams- sweet potatoes

Radicchio – red cabbage

Green onions- spring onions

Yellow onions- regular  onions that we are used to

Biscuits - (this is a very important one for all you Brits) Savory bread type things that get served at breakfast with gravy (another big difference…this gravy is not bisto liquidly gravy but thick, gloopy often with sausage meat, gravy.)

Cookie- biscuit

Jelly- Jam

Chips- crisp

French fries- chips

Garbanzo beans- chickpeas

Non-food related items:

Trunk- boot of car

Broiling- grilling

Grilling- Barbequing

Trash can- bin

Gas- fuel

Hob-stove

Couch-sofa

Comforter-duvet

Soccer-football

Curse- swear

Bandaid- plaster

By Laura Pring, editorial.

To find out where Laura and other people new to San Francisco go, check out the Offbeat Guides to San Francisco here