Evening Gown, Tuxedo and An Unprovoked Attack

One weekend night of the big San Francisco Black & White Ball, a huge formal event attended by thousands of people, I'd picked up a decked out couple in tux and evening gown.  They were excited as we drove through the  lower Haight district toward the extravaganza.  We were only a minute into the ride when unexpected excitement happened in front of us.  A man in a suit was on the sidewalk, walking past several teenage boys sitting in front of a housing project.  Suddenly, one of the boys vaulted off the low wall, away from his companions and slugged the passing man.  His glasses flew off into the street, and he

That Guy Macing Everyone Needs a Cape

I drove my taxi one Friday night through the "Triangle" night life section of Cow Hollow, near the Marina.  Normally, the police presence is about 6-8 SFPD officers and 4-6 Highway patrol officers. This control keeps a lid on the acting out by testosterone and alcohol-laden men, egged on by proximity to pretty, young, alcohol-laden women.  This night there was no presence at all.  No squad car fenders peeking out from the alleys, no clusters of officers watching the proceedings.  Of course, a sizable fight broke out between two groups of young men in front of one of the popular bars.  As the chaotic scene of jumping, boxing, kicking and falling young men

Robbery in a Garage-Way.

Driving my Taxi up Noe Street in the Castro about 11:00pm, I noticed some commotion in front of a garage door.  Three men had surrounded a Hispanic gay man.  He appeared to be hemmed in and uncomfortable.  I stopped my cab in the middle of the street, got out, stood at the rear of the car and shouted, "Is everything OK over there?  Two of the three men locked eyes on me and stared.  The third took a few steps in my direction,