Franco Folini

–M’Gee Johnston

Watching the video of San Francisco’s North Beach Food Tour makes me hungry.  There are so many good places to satisfy that hunger in North Beach too.  The focaccia bread at Liguria’s Bakery on Stockton St. is truly in a class of its own.  The only thing the Soracco family makes at the bakery is focaccia and when they sell out, they close for the day and go home.  I never tire of eating it ~ it’s delicious and hearty but not overwhelming.  On holidays, the line stretches around the block.  A few blocks away on Francisco and Stockton is Freddie’s Sandwiches, which has been there for as long as I can remember (a long time).  Get a sandwich and go sit in the sun to enjoy it while you hear the sea lions bark from Pier 39 and watch the parrots of Telegraph Hill flap overhead.  Another old favorite is Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store on Columbus.  It feels like old time San Francisco when you walk in.  It’s comfortable and some say they make the best cappuccino in the neighborhood.

– Doug McConnell

Carl wrote the tease on the home page to my Big Sur Road Trip mobile post mentioning Jack Uhalde’s photography. Producing television and video stories is, at best, a team sport. Carl and I have long had the benefit of working with extraordinarily talented photographers, writers and editors who help us produce our best work. We have always put a premium on photography….and Jack Uhalde was and is one of the best videographers in the business.

Jack worked as Director of Photography with us for 10 years, and much of his work graces OpenRoad.TV. Jack and I traveled to the ends of the earth together finding and telling stories of all kinds. He was a terrific travel companion, and he always came home with spectacular sounds and pictures that made every story. Almost all of the Big Sur video you see was shot by Jack. One of these days I’ll pass along tales of some of our adventures along the OpenRoad of the West and the world. In the meantime, I hope you sit back and enjoy the work of a very talented guy…..and get inspired to hit the road yourself and pass along your work for all of us here to enjoy.