Bay Curious

If you’re in Berkeley and wander far enough up Marin Avenue, there’s no doubt you’ll run into the Fountain at The Circle. The grand Beaux Arts fountain has become a symbol of the neighborhood and has inspired numerous paintings and drawings. It even has its own Berkeley Public Library card design.But this fountain also symbolizes a big moment in Berkeley’s history, and how one developer’s dream almost changed California history forever.Reported by Maggie Galloway.Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek and Katie McMurran. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Patricia Yollin, Carly Severn and Bianca Hernandez.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.

It might seem like everyone thinks their local airport is the worst of them all: the longest security lines, the worst food, the most delays.But we in the Bay Area have good reason to complain. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2018 SFO was the third-most-delayed major airport in the U.S. in terms of arrivals, with about 26 percent of arriving flights delayed. And that’s not unique to last year. Since 2010, SFO has consistently ranked in the top four of the most delayed airports, some years dipping as low as 69 percent of flights arriving on-time.Also, what’s the deal with the ‘O’ in SFO?Read the full web story on airport codes here: Why the ‘O’ in San Francisco’s Airport Code, SFO?Read the full web story on delays here: Why SFO Is Notorious For DelaysReported by Maggie Galloway and Jessica PlaczekBay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org

On a recent visit to San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House, KQED listener Michelle Morby didn’t like what she saw. In the middle of the champagne-sipping, pre-performance throng, she spotted someone wearing jeans and white sneakers.“That to me is completely offensive,” Morby said.Morby is someone who likes to dress up when she goes out.“If I got a ticket to the opera tonight, I would pull out a silk jumpsuit. I would wear it with the tallest platform sandals that I have. And I would do my makeup, and I would wear all my jewelry,” she said.Like beauty, fashion is very much in the eye of the beholder.So the fashion faux-pas prompted Morby to ask Bay Curious the question, “Why has the Bay Area become the Casual Capital of the World?”Read the full web version: How the Bay Area Came to be a Hub for Casual StyleReported by Chloe VeltmanBay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org

After Joseph Morales, an electrician from Chicago, moved to Emeryville this past winter, he found himself wondering: What’s with all the palm trees in the Bay Area? Like Joseph, they didn’t originate here. But they’re all over the place.Not that Joseph minds.“They remind me of vacation,” he says, “having a good time with a cold drink and sitting under a palm tree.” Then again: “Northern California doesn’t really seem to be the ideal location for palm trees. I’m expecting hot weather and sun and beaches. And there’s just palm trees and mountains and cold water. So it just seemed weird.”Read the full web version: Why Are There So Many Palm Trees in the Bay Area?Reported by Daniel PotterBay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org

Ever had your late night revels ended abruptly by the bartender announcing last call just before 2 a.m. here in the Bay Area?If this strikes a chord, you’re not alone.California’s 2 a.m. last call frustrates a lot of people. KQED listener Tara Downey even gets a little embarrassed by it when out-of-town friends visit.“I have friends that live in New York, and so when they come back here it’s a little bit of a shock to them,” she explained. “They’re kind of like ‘OK, where do we go next?’ And… there’s not really an answer for that. We go home.”Now she wants to know why last call is so early in San Francisco compared to other big cities.Read the full web version: Think Bay Area Nightlife Ends Early? That Could Be About to ChangeReported by Carly Severn. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.

Last year, Bay Curious received the question: “How do I make friends?”We tried reaching out to the question asker, but they never responded. However, surveys show many Americans often feel lonely, and a lot of those lonely people also feel socially isolated.Last episode we found tips for finding potential friends. This week we talk about how to make friend crushes closer, Aristotle’s ideas about friendship and the potential role of government in addressing social isolation.For a few tips on how to make friends closer check out the web post: Frustrated by Shallow Friendships? Here’s How to Deepen ThemReported by Carly SevernBay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Maggie Galloway, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.

There isn’t a clear path on how to make close friends. Some people find making friends even harder than dating. They say with romantic relationships there’s at least some semblance of steps: You ask a person out, you go out again, maybe you keep going on dates, maybe one person isn’t feeling it and the relationship ends, or perhaps both people are feeling it, you talk and then make your relationship “official”.Last year, Bay Curious received the question: “How do I make friends?”We tried reaching out to the question asker, but they never responded.Surveys show many Americans often feel lonely, and a lot of those lonely people also feel socially isolated.To help our question asker, we’re going to start off with tips for finding potential friends, then next week we’ll talk about how to make them closer.Read the full web version: How To Find New FriendsReported by Jessica Placzek. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Maggie Galloway and Paul Lancour. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.

Rayan Rafay was prepared to be blown away by Bay Area seafood when he moved here in 2016.After growing up on the East Coast, he had been amazed by the seafood he encountered when he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia.“It’s just this like magical wonderland of seafood,” he said. “Chefs just did things with seafood on the West Coast that I’d never even imagined in my lemon butter world of fish.”But when he got here, he was surprised not to see the local catch on many restaurant menus.So he asked Bay Curious: With the Pacific Ocean right there, why isn’t local seafood a bigger deal in the Bay Area?This week on Bay Curious, we explore the economics of seafood and the cultural changes need for it to get a star place on our dinner plates.Read the full web version: Why Isn’t Local Seafood a Bigger Deal in the Bay Area?==Reported by Ryan Levi.Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.

While the Bay Area is known for its sourdough, it’s often Dutch Crunch that really gets the attention of newcomers. The tasty bread is especially prevalent at local sandwich shops. Where did it come from? How is it made? In this episode of Bay Curious, reporter Amanda Font bakes us an answer.Find the web story, including images of the baking process: Why Does Dutch Crunch Seem to be the Best Kept Local Food Secret?==If you’re still craving carbs, check out this Bay Curious episode: What Makes San Francisco Sourdough Unique?==Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Robert Speight, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.

Spring cleaning, Marie Kondo-ing, whatever you want to call it — there is a massive purge of clothing coming out of people’s closets right now. Thrift stores across the country have reported unprecedented surges in their clothing donations.Bay Curious listener Ellen wants to know: What can you do with used clothing? What if it’s not suitable for donation sites? Can you recycle the material in the Bay Area?In this episode of Bay Curious, we sort a pile of clothes with a sustainable clothing expert, learn about a new business model and take a trip to a Goodwill sorting facility.Read the full web story: How to Responsibly Purge Your Closet in the Bay Area Reported by Sarah Craig.Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Robert Speight, Katie McMurran, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Suzie Racho, Ethan Lindsey, Pat Yollin and David Weir.Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org.Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.