Letters from our Editor

Money is emotional. It carries baggage—shaped by our earliest memories, our missteps and sometimes real trauma. Fear, guilt and shame often shape financial decisions. And financial strain, in turn, can surface as anxiety, stress, even anger. “Playing with...

I've always disliked the proverb, “Ignorance is bliss.” If only I had the choice, I sometimes grumble to myself. I tend to believe the opposite—that paying attention matters—even if our information-saturated world has lately challenged this notion,...

They arrive in my mailbox every few days—little seasonal dispatches from the wider consumer world. A department store’s curated wish list for the holidays. A home-furnishing guide urging a spring refresh. Retro patio furniture promising the arrival...

When we think of style, fashion often comes first to mind. And as of this writing in mid-October, it’s hard not to think of the recently departed Diane Keaton—actress, icon and master of the turtleneck—whose singular blend...

“October,” wrote author Bonaro W. Overstreet, “is a symphony of permanence and change.” She might just as well have been speaking of aging—or what some call the autumn of our lives. Like the blaze of fall colors,...

In an era defined by disconnection and distraction, we find ourselves drawn more than ever to what grounds us: truth, art, food, love and place. For our annual Best of the East Bay issue, with a special...

We journey near and far this issue, with a focus on travel and entertainment. Summer brings greater possibility of both, so we aim to provide options and inspirations for readers. We also explore the preservation of local...