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Oakland’s Cat Town Cafe a creative, humane space for adoption

Jennifer Coryell of Oakland plays with a cat at the newly established Cat Town Cafe in Oakland.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

The future of pet adoption has arrived in Oakland: It’s arrived in the form of a local cafe that serves up cappucinos, teas and lattes alongside a variety of pastry delights.

Thanksgiving, hacked

The big meal of the year gets a re-do from Tyler Florence and 4 equally inventive chefs.

Biochemical research associate Brenna Gibson works on creating protein-fortified dips at the offices of Hampton Creek in San Francisco in August.

Unilever, Hampton Creek in food fight over mayo

In the battle for market share of the white, creamy spread that is America’s most popular condiment, “mayonnaise” is a loaded word.

Researchers Laura Anderson (left) and Nate Fletcher with the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Laboratory look for starfish at Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz.

Mysterious killer of starfish identified

Scientists have identified a virus that they believe is the mysterious killer that is wiping out starfish along the Pacific coast, but they can’t figure out why it suddenly became so deadly or whether it will continue its reign of destruction.

Anchor Veronica De La Cruz adjusts her hair before filming a promotion for the 6 p.m. KPIX newscast at the station’s studios.

Veronica De La Cruz finding new paths in TV news

Veronica De La Cruz was 24 years old and working at CNN when the great Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 hit.

Tony Wakin, a World War II veteran and resident of Vallejo who was formerly stationed at Mare Island during his service with the Navy, listens to redevelopment proposals during the Vallejo City Council meeting on Thursday, November 13, 2014, in Vallejo, Calif. The Vallejo City Council heard several proposals for the redevelopment of Mare Island, including two from American Indian groups hoping to develop casinos on the former naval base.

Indian tribes competing to build huge casino in Vallejo

The ink is barely dry on the rejection that California voters dealt in this month’s election to an off-reservation tribal casino plan in the Central Valley, but already two similar proposals have popped up — right in the heart of the Bay Area.

By Ruthe Stein

Carell tackles 'Foxcatcher’ role head-on

Curry takes big leap forward, as do Warriors

Against the Lakers on Sunday night, Warriors guard Stephen Curry got his teammates involved, then took over the game.

Head coach Steve Kerr looked up at the scoreboard five minutes into the Warriors’ 136-115 destruction of the Lakers on Sunday night and saw that point guard Stephen Curry had already accumulated six assists.

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Think Obamacare’s affordable? You’re stupid

In this file photo Jonathan Gruber, professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, participates in a Capitol Hill hearing on the overhaul of the heath care system in Washington. His off-the-cuff remarks in recently released videos have created a firestorm.

DEBRA SAUNDERS: Before he became the Obama administration’s least favorite overpaid expert, economist Jonathan Gruber was its darling — but now Gruber is in the doghouse because he was captured on video being brutally honest.

Report: State among worst in child homelessness

The sheer number of kids in California who have nowhere to call home and the failure of the state’s leaders to address the crisis place it 48th among the 50 states for dealing with children’s homelessness.

World’s most giving nations: U.S. and Burma

No surprise that the United States — the planet’s wealthiest nation — tops the annual index of the most philanthropic countries in the world.

Amber alert issued for boy kidnapped in Calaveras County

The California Highway Patrol issues an Amber alert after a 14-year-old boy is kidnapped in the Sierra foothills Monday.

Petting-zoo stabber held in San Leandro crash that killed boy

Laura Larios, (left) and her daughter Viviana Alarcon, a close friend of the victim and Sky Zaste, also a close friend arrange at the corner of Ashland Ave. and East 14th St. on Wednesday Nov. 12, 2014 in San Leandro, Calif., after 14-year-old Ivan Cruz was struck and killed by a driver fleeing from Alameda County Sheriff's deputies last evening.

Sonny Anderson, 34, who was once arrested for nearly killing an elderly woman and for stabbing animals at a Hayward petting zoo, is accused of being the driver that killed a boy in San Leandro during a high-speed flight from sheriff’s deputies.

Photo business closes rather than shoot same-sex weddings

Confronted over their decision not to take pictures at same-sex weddings, a Bay Area photography company opts to permanently put on its lens caps and shut its doors.

Bay Area should see rain starting Wednesday

After flirting with a little drizzle, the Bay Area may see its first stretch of prolonged rain of the season this week.

Tenants hero Gullicksen remembered at memorial

A photo of Ted Gullicksen hangs on the wall during a memorial service for him at Mission High School on Sunday. Friends and family of Ted Gullicksen, a long-time San Francisco housing rights activist, gathered at Mission High School in San Francisco, Calif., to honor him at a memorial service on Sunday, November 16, 2014.

With his trademark bullhorn, shorts, and thick Boston accent, Ted Gullicksen was as fierce a fighter for tenants rights as San Francisco has ever seen, personally preventing the eviction of thousands of renters.

Major 'urban outlet’ center planned for Candlestick

A 500,000 square-foot "urban outlet" shopping center, seen here in an artist's rendering, will be built at Candlestick Point under a new agreement reached between home builder Lennar Corp. and retail developer Macerich.

The former stadium at Candlestick Point will become home to a 500,000-square-foot “urban outlet” shopping center under a new agreement reached between home builder Lennar Corp. and retail developer Macerich.

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City Exposed

Making golf clubs suits this retired teacher to a tee

Floyd Glenn, 81, adjusts the shaft on a modern club at his golf shop Dogleg Inc. in San Francisco, Calif. Glenn has been running his own shop for 24 years since retiring as a San Francisco school teacher.

By Mike Kepka

A recent Monday, 10:22 a.m.: Floyd Glenn doesn’t do anything that’s not worth doing well.

Open Forum

Oakland loves its zoo, but don’t let it build on ridgeline

Lead elephant keeper Gina Kinzley hands out pins and information at the Oakland Zoo on August 12, 2014 in Oakland, CA. The zoo celebrated world elephant day with a series of exhibits focused on the plight of African elephants with signed petitions and buttons advocating for outlawing the sale of ivory in California

By Laura Baker and Norman LaForce

The Oakland City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to grant the Oakland Zoo a “conservation easement” on Knowland Park, the city’s largest remaining open space, to expedite an expansion project that has been mired in controversy for the past 17 years.

Stanford, Cal both seeded into NCAA men’s tournament

By Tom FitzGerald

Given a sixth seed and a bye in the first round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament, Stanford was too busy celebrating Monday to quibble that it didn’t get a higher seed.

Teardown begins at old ballpark — seats being ripped out

By Matier & Ross

It’s the beginning of the end for Candlestick Park — workers using sledgehammers have begun tearing out thousands of seats from the former home of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers.

The license allows Charles Manson, 80, to wed Afton Elaine Burton, a 26-year-old who visits the notorious inmate. moved to Corcoran to be hear him in prison. This Oct. 8, 2014 photo provided by the California Department of Corrections shows 80-year-old serial killer Charles Manson. A marriage license has been issued for Manson to wed 26-year-old Afton Elaine Burton, who left her Midwestern home nine years ago and moved to Corcoran, California to be near him. Burton, who goes by the name "Star," told the AP that she and Manson will be married next month. (AP Photos/California Department of Corrections)

Charles Manson obtains license to marry in prison

Associated Press

CORCORAN, Kings County — Mass murderer Charles Manson has gotten a license to marry a 26-year-old woman who visits him in prison.

Robb Beresford and Courtney Henry perform in the world premiere of Lines Ballet’s “Shostakovich.”

Lines Ballet: New work reunites Alonzo King, Zakir Hussain

By Allan Ulrich

Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet spans seven years in the career of a unique artist during its fall season concert, which opened on a wave of triumphant dancing Friday evening at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater.

Petting-zoo stabber held in San Leandro crash that killed boy

By Henry Lee

A parolee once arrested for nearly killing an elderly woman and for stabbing animals at a Hayward petting zoo is accused of being the driver who killed a 14-year-old boy in San Leandro during a high-speed flight from Alameda County sheriff’s deputies.

Roman Tomanov and Vitali Tomanov fly high in the aerial straps act in Cirque du Soleil's "Kurios -- Cabinet of Curiosities"

'Kurios’: best Cirque du Soleil show in long time

By Robert Hurwitt

The acrobats, aerialists and contortionists are refreshingly original and, quite simply, awesome.

Judy Seiber suggests a piece of fabric can be a quick fix for a table cloth, as part of her fall entertaining ideas displayed at her Home and Garden shop, "Emily Jourbert" in Woodside, Calif, on Thursday October 29, 2009.

Bay Area's Top Shops

This year, The Chronicle's Style editors tapped into a talented pool of local tastemakers who love to shop as much as our editors do — from style-savvy bloggers like Anh Sundstrom of 9to5Chic, to innovative business leaders like Popsugar founder Lisa Sugar.

The Chronicle Top 100 restaurants

Each year, critic Michael Bauer revisits every restaurant on the previous year's list, and also all the new places that deserve to be considered.

Archaeologist Eric Brandan Blind excavates the walls of the Presidio Officers’ Club in June 2005.

Portals of the Past: the complete series

Every Saturday, Gary Kamiya's "Portals of the Past" tells one of the lost stories of San Francisco, using a specific location to illuminate the city's extraordinary history - from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach, to the Gold Rush delirium and beyond.

C.W. Nevius

Bad guys in S.F. find easy pickings in parked cars

Talk about unintended consequences. When San Francisco began to experience a rash of cell phone thefts, there were two reactions. First, the police department focused on the crimes.

Jon Carroll

A familiar setting, still eternally unfamiliar

I’ve been here before, or a place very much like it. My mood is never good, although I am encouraged by the feeling that the worst is over. Except for the hit my wallet is going to take — that will come later.

Scott Ostler

Borland eases pain of Willis’ aching toe

Burning questions regarding the 49ers, A's, Warriors, etc., hot off the press.

Leah Garchik

Pre-Thanksgiving scramble for the spilled turkeys

A truck on its way to deliver more than 25,000 pounds of frozen turkeys to a distributor that would send them to Costco overturned in San Ramon before dawn on Wednesday morning.