Francisco

Dec. 21 (UPI) — Power has been largely restored after a widespread and unexplained blackout left swaths of San Francisco without electricity on Saturday, just days before Christmas.

Pacific Gas and Electric said in a statement Saturday afternoon that the blackout was affecting about 130,000 businesses and homes. At the time, the company said it had “stabilized the grid” and did not expect the blackout to further spread.

Late Saturday night, the company said crews restored about 95,000 customers. Of the 35,000 customers still without power Saturday night, another 10,000 have since had their service restored.

“We apologize for the delay in getting your power back on,” Pacific Gas and Electric said in a notice on its outage map around 3:45 p.m. local time Saturday. “Unforeseen issues can cause unexpected delays for our crews.”

Mayor Daniel Lurie said on social media that Muni lines — the diverse network of public transportation including buses, light rail, and historic street cars and cable cars — was affected by the blackout. The outage also affected city street lights, he said.

Because of that, Lurie said the city would increase its police presence overnight. The San Francisco Police Department later posted on social media that officers would be working to keep the city safe.

Meanwhile, emergency management officials urged residents to “stay home if you can, avoid all unnecessary travel, and check on neighbors safely.”

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system also said that it had closed its Powell Street and Civic Center stations downtown, which have since reopened.

The cause of the outage was not immediately clear but a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department told The New York Times that a fire at a large Pacific Gas and Electric substation in the South Market neighborhood contributed to the blackout.

A visit to San Francisco comes with culture, history and adventure, Craig Jones found out as he explored a city that brought the world a very famous bridge and the Grateful Dead

“The symbolism of San Francisco, since its very origins, is that this is the edge of the world. It has always represented some kind of frontier.”

It doesn’t take being by the bay all that long for the resonance of those words, from The Beat Museum’s art director Brandon Loberg, to truly hit home. The Golden City is a cultural colossus. But be under no illusion, San Fran is famous for a lot more than a bridge, Alcatraz and Mrs Doubtfire. As I found out during a tour of the hidden gems of the city.

The aforementioned museum is dedicated to the Beat Generation, an influential 1950s movement comprising notable writers such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, whose quest for tolerance and compassion remains relevant in 2025.

You’ll find the museum across from the legendary City Lights bookshop in the North Beach district. Don’t let the name deceive you, as San Francisco really isn’t that kind of coastal Californian city.

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Instead, North Beach is a rich, flavoursome tapestry of Italian-American identity. Since 1956, creatives have sought inspiration over coffee and pastries at Caffe Trieste, while Tony’s Pizza Napoletana celebrates Naples’ finest export with considerable acclaim. Tony Gemignani’s pizzas regularly take pride of place in round-ups of the world’s best.

After such indulgence, a stroll around the neighbouring Washington Square Park wouldn’t be the worst idea. Overlooking it is Saints Peter and Paul Church, where screen siren Marilyn Monroe married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio in 1954. For those after a small piece of iconic showbiz sparkle.

While there’s certainly a vast history to discover, San Fran is undeniably at the forefront of the here and now. Evidenced most visually in the Waymo taxis operating in the city. If you are brave enough, you can take a trip to the future in one of the 200 driverless cars. Fresh from nearby Silicon Valley, simply fire up an app, and you’ll soon be zig-zagging down Lombard Street without having to make small talk – you can also hook up any embarrassing music as loud as you like without guilt.

Whatever mode of transport you prefer, a stop at the tie-dye haven of Haight-Ashbury is an absolute must. It is synonymous with The Summer of Love, a real moment in American counterculture which saw an estimated 100,000 people come together, back in 1967, for a spiritual awakening that left a lasting imprint on society.

Pam Brennan is someone who lived the experience. When we met, she provided a vivid picture of the time and its legacy through her Haight-Ashbury Flower Power walking tour. “We used to call ourselves freaks as they made hippies seem desperate – then we claimed the word hippy back,” she told me.

Music greats Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell and Jimi Hendrix were championed in Haight-Ashbury – you’ll find a mural dedicated to the latter overlooking Haight’s fine array of wonderful thrift stores and eateries. The renowned Amoeba Music record shop is an ideal place to grab something from one of the area’s musical, and cultural, trailblazers.

Ask any true Haight-Ashbury local and The Grateful Dead stand above all the area’s other music artists, as great as many of them were. This year has marked the 60th anniversary of the band, formed by Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron ‘Pigpen’ McKernan, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann, with a series of events honouring their songs and, most importantly, their influence. Still today, ‘Deadheads’ from all over the world make the pilgrimage, for a selfie outside the distinctive purple house in Ashbury Street where the group resided with manager Rock Scully – back in the 1960s.

The Counterculture Museum, which is based on Haight Street and opened earlier this year, has a special Grateful Dead section alongside exhibits on San Fran’s significance in pioneering the LGBTQIA+ movement, the city’s battle for racial justice, and equality for women.

During a stay at Hotel Zepplin, in Post Street, you’ll identify subtle nods to San Francisco’s role in forefronting important social causes. The hotel, which describes itself as ‘a love letter to rebels and revolutionaries’, has 196 rooms, a gym and an accompanying diner called PLS on Post.

The significance of the Grateful Dead’s anniversary hasn’t been lost on the music-themed accommodation with record players and a selection of vinyl, coming as standard in suites alongside a sweet, cherry Garcia ice cream.

It is often said that if you can’t eat well in San Francisco, then there’s something very wrong. The Californian city is considered a culinary gem. A stone’s throw (in American distances…) from Hotel Zeppelin is Bombay Brasserie, which has a menu full of dishes celebrating flavours from India’s diverse regions.

While Hook Fish presents a relaxed, casual neighbourhood atmosphere. The seafood joint is an ideal perch to refuel after a no-rush stroll at Sunset Dunes Park. You’ll find elegance and a cocktail menu demanding to be conquered at celeb chef Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern. An unrivalled spot where the hours quickly float by, feasting on elevated American classics.

Whether in the sun or under the blanket of ‘Karl’, the city’s infamous fog, a ferry trip passing the Golden Gate Bridge and crossing to Sausalito ends with some of the most magnificent Italian cuisine imaginable.

Food and an authentic deep dive into San Francisco’s heritage can be explored during a walking tour with the aptly named Stretchy Pants group. The Mission district saunter provides a bite of life in the mainly Latin-American area, channelling the important stories its food tells. The message is clear, as guide Robert Magee states: “This area has always been a bastion of resistance to the establishment.”

This is echoed by gazing upon the Mission’s mesmeric murals. Enchanting in their colourful splendour, while pulling no punches. My Stretchy Pants experience concluded in the Castro neighbourhood. A groundbreaking, joyous celebration of the LGBTQIA+ movement. Vibrant and welcoming, it is home to the renowned Castro Theatre alongside a number of clubs and bars.

The Twin Peaks, housed on the corner of Castro and 17th, is a must-visit. It was the first American gay bar to have transparent plate-glass windows – that clear act of defiance was an inspiration to others. Next door there’s Hot Cookie where, let’s just say, many ‘playful’ sweet treats can be devoured. Let your imagination flow on that one…

For certain, there’s a memorable night out waiting in Castro. There’s much vibrancy to San Fran’s nightlife offering. Elsewhere, you can feel the history in the walls of The Great American Music Hall with it dating back to 1907. An Evening with Robin Williams, from San Francisco’s much-missed adopted son, was filmed there in 1982. While this year, the brilliantly bonkers Misfit Cabaret celebrated their 10th anniversary – they are irregular regulars at the O’Farrell Street institution.

Another diverse thread to the city’s cultural cloth comes in the shape of the annual festival Super Flex. The contemporary arts event takes over Chinatown’s streets. Among many 2025 highlights, seeing a hugely talented DJ orchestrate a street rave as he played an Earth, Wind, and Fire mix from a gigantic animatronic fish was something truly unique to behold.

After all that, a rest might be needed. A relaxing one can be found at the Kimpton Alton Hotel in the family-focused Fisherman’s Wharf area. The hotel offers 248 accommodation options, including spacious rooms and suites. It also has record players in their rooms, allowing you to give your Amoeba purchases a spin – additionally, you’ll find a selection of the Kimpton Alton’s picks in your room.

The hotel has a gym and Filipino restaurant Abacá serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is where yours truly discovered a fondness for ube. The purple yam, native to the Philippines, added an extremely bold and striking composition to an evening cocktail.

Fully recharged, Pier 39, and the Wharf’s other tourist attractions are on your doorstep – alongside some stunning water views. You can actually experience the latter first-hand by taking a solo expedition, on the waves, courtesy of City Kayak – based beside Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. There are routes for all abilities, beginner to club level, where you’ll almost certainly encounter one of San Fran’s native sea lions.

Once I’d stopped spinning in circles, I followed a number of Giants fans on the waves to Oracle Park, where some supporters watch the games, for free, from the stadium’s big screen, bobbing in their kayaks with a beer. If you love sport, this ritual is such a one-of-a-kind experience. Later, I also got to enjoy the action, from the stands, inside Oracle Park as the Giants hosted their rivals, the LA Dodgers.

As you head on the home run, the adorable Wag Brigade will make one last cute play in persuading you to extend your stay. Consisting of a team of adorable dogs, the pawsome San Francisco Airport initiative, launched in 2013, aims to make plane travel a little less stressful as they patrol SFO’s terminals.

Back home, you’ll be barking enthusiastically, reciting San Francisco’s tales.

Book the holiday

• Rooms at The Hotel Zeppelin start from $179 (approximately £133). You can book at zhotelssf.com.
• Kimpton Alton Hotel rooms start from $685 a night (approximately £512) and can be booked at altonhotelsf.com.
• British Airways flies from London Heathrow to San Francisco from £489 return, including taxes and carrier fees. Book on ba.com.
• You can find further information by visiting www.sftravel.com.

Dec. 12 (UPI) — The State Department is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Francisco Manuel Bermudez Cagua, an alleged leader of the Ecuadorian Los Choneros cartel who is wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges.

The reward, announced Thursday, is being offered under the Narcotics Rewards Program of the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

Bermudez Cagua, also known as Churron, is the alleged leader of Los Choneros, which was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorists by the Trump administration in September amid President Donald Trump‘s crackdown on illegal drugs and immigration.

Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York indicted Bermudez Cagua, along with Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, the principal leader of the Los Choneros, in a superseding indictment unsealed June 27, 2025, charging him with international cocaine distribution conspiracy, international cocaine distribution and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses.

“As alleged, Bermudez Cagua is a top lieutenant within the leadership of Los Choneros, an extremely violent foreign terrorist organization responsible for pumping drugs into the United States, causing harm to our communities, and wreaking havoc in his homeland of Ecuador,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in a statement.

According to the State Department, the 29-year-old Bermudez Cagua reports to Macias Villamar and became his right-hand man while in prison. Once they both escaped, Bermudez Cagua became Macias Villamar’s spokesperson.

“Bermudez Cagua regularly participated in the decisions Macias Villamar made related to the organization’s drug and weapons trafficking and served as an intermediary, relaying critical information between Macias Villamar and their associates,” according to the State Department website.

Los Choneros is considered one of Ecuador’s most violent criminal organizations and is linked to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel of Mexico. Ecuador designated the group as a terrorist organization in 2024, and the U.S.’ Treasury imposed sanctions against it that same year.

A San Francisco supervisor has proposed increasing the city’s film and television tax credit to lure more productions to the Bay Area.

Board President Rafael Mandelman introduced legislation Tuesday that would create a tiered rebate system based on local spending on items like San Francisco resident wages, services or goods.

To qualify, most productions must spend a minimum of $500,000 in the city and shoot at least five days of principal photography there. Those productions also get a 100% rebate on city agency fees, including permits and police services.

Then, under the new proposal, those projects could get 10% back on the first million dollars spent in San Francisco, then 20% on any qualified local spending beyond that, said Manijeh Fata, executive director of the San Francisco Film Commission.

“As localities across the state compete to attract more film production, San Francisco must stay in the game,” Mandelman said in a statement. “Strengthening our film incentive program will keep jobs in San Francisco and help ensure this important economic activity doesn’t bypass us.”

The legislation is expected to go to a committee hearing next month, with a final vote potentially at the end of January or early February, Fata said.

Though San Francisco’s production incentive was established in 2006, the program has been “underutilized,” said Supervisor Connie Chan, who is co-sponsoring the legislation.

“I support this legislative update so we can ensure the original intent and benefits of the program can be fully materialized,” she said in a statement. “I expect the film rebate program to deliver robust job opportunities for workers, creative promotion of our City through films that will boost tourism and increase sales tax revenue with film industry spending.”

San Francisco’s incentive proposal comes five months after California increased the cap on the state’s film and television tax credit program in an attempt to curb runaway production to other states and countries.

California now allocates $750 million annually to the program, up from $330 million. Legislators also broadened the type of productions eligible to apply for the credit.

Since then, more than three dozen TV shows, including a “Baywatch” reboot, and 52 films have been awarded tax credits.