Bet you thought the tree at Union Square was San Francisco's official holiday foliage, or perhaps the towering noble fir at City Hall? Nope, but the real deal has an interesting history.
Plus, Oakland Zoo mourns the death of its 50-year-old, watermelon-loving elephant, M'Dundamella; the city's Tuesday afternoon sirens go silent; trending tiki bars come under scrutiny; and more local headlines you may have missed this week.
Oakland Zoo elephant M'Dunda collapses, dies, SF Gate
The 50-year-old-African elephant—and Oakland Zoo resident of 26 years—passed away on Tuesday. Read more.
Tiki bars are built on cultural appropriation and colonial nostalgia. Where's the reckoning?, L.A. Times
These kitschy watering holes are all the rage these days, but they have a complicated history—laden with the objectification of Polynesian culture and odes to Western colonists. Read more.
What's the story behind San Francisco's official holiday tree?, Curbed SF
A nearly 140-year-old cypress tree is lighting up Golden Gate Park for the 90th time this year, with a whopping 550 lights. Read more.
Kamala Harris quits presidential race: 'one of the hardest decisions of my life,'SF Chronicle
Eleven months after 20,000 excited supporters rallied in Oakland to kick off the presidential campaign of our own Senator Kamala Harris, she has pulled out of the race, citing a lack of financial resources. Read more.
SF's Famous Tuesday Noon Sirens to Go Quiet for Two Years, SFist
The city's 109 sirens will undergo upgrades over the next two years—enjoy the silence. Read more.
