In this flashback episode from 2018, "Check, Please! Bay Area" host Leslie Sbrocco joins host Peter Hartlaub to talk about the show's origins, why they ply guests with wine before a show, her sparkling wine-themed tattoo and the "Check, Please! Bay Area Kids" four-part special, which enters its second season on October 2019.. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Theme music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Oct 03, 2019•41 min
Episode 97 of The Big Event is a tribute to Golden State Warriors jerseys. With the team announcing new jerseys for Chase Center, host Peter Hartlaub is joined by The Chronicle's Tony Bravo and Ann Killion to pick the best jerseys in team history — The City and The Town both score well — and choose the worst jersey in Warriors history. They discuss the question: How old is too old for men to wear jerseys? And finally, they relive the greatest moment in Chronicle press conference history: Tony Br...
Sep 30, 2019•38 min•Ep. 97
Warriors president Rick Welts joins the San Francisco Chronicle's #TotalSF team Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight for a The Big Event/SF City Insider podcast crossover. Welts makes the case to add the Chase Center to the new 49 Mile Scenic Route being created by Knight and Hartlaub, and talks about living in San Francisco, his friendship with NBA legend Bill Russell and submits to Knight's City Insider lightning round.. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Ship...
Sep 24, 2019•30 min•Ep. 96
Episode 95 of The Big Event is a tribute to KFOG, with three classic KFOG veterans: longtime morning show newsman Peter Finch, DJ Renee Richardson and producer Irish Greg McQuaid. After talking about emotions surrounding the recent decision to end the KFOG call letters, the trio talk to host Peter Hartlaub about their early years at the station, what Dave Morey is up to now, their favorite and least favorite guests over the years and other fun stories from the beloved rock station. Produced by P...
Sep 17, 2019•51 min•Ep. 95
In this The Big Event flashback, Chronicle education reporter Jill Tucker joins host Peter Hartlaub to talk about covering the 2017 Wine Country Fires, and then pay tribute to the 1970s/1980s amusement park Marine World Africa U.S.A. They cover the history of the park and some personal highlights — including Jill Tucker's job as a Marine World safari boat driver. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Sep 12, 2019•45 min
Episode 94 of The Big Event is a hard look at the 49-Mile Scenic Drive - and what should stay and go for the new #TotalSF 49-Mile Scenic Route. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight and pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub talk about their successful attempt to cover the 49-mile Scenic Drive in one day without using a car. The second half of the podcast is a discussion of what we should keep for the new route. We'll be taking reader suggestions and plan to unveil the 49-Mile Scenic Route...
Sep 07, 2019•42 min•Ep. 94
Episode 93 of The Big Event is a both-feet-first jump into the 49-Mile Makeover. #TotalSF founders Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight will be covering the existing 49-Mile Scenic Drive route on Sept. 4 by foot, bike, skates, bus - anything but a motor vehicle that they're piloting. They talk about their plans for a new route with reader help, air out the arguments they've been having and invite two experts — Kristine Poggioli and Carolyn Eidson, authors of "Walking San Francisco's 49-Mile Scenic ...
Sep 02, 2019•32 min•Ep. 93
Episode 92 of The Big Event is a tribute to "The Rock," the 1996 movie starring Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery. Host Peter Hartlaub, Chronicle columnist Heather Knight and editor-in-chief Audrey Cooper induct the film into the SF Cinema Greatest of All Time - despite some reluctance from Cooper. The Chronicle will screen "The Rock" at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, at the Balboa Theatre, as the second #TotalSF movie night. Buy tickets here. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Ri...
Aug 29, 2019•40 min•Ep. 92
Episode 91 of The Big Event is a John Travolta visit to The Chronicle. The actor goes through his archive photo file, talks about fandom and his new film “The Fanatic,” a drama/horror movie is about a horror movie fan who meets his hero and their tense encounter escalates into violence. Travolta says he learned early to be nice to fans. He also talks about his flying, his preference to give away memorabilia, his decision to shave his head and his approach to playing an on-the-spectrum man. Produ...
Aug 26, 2019•29 min•Ep. 91
Episode 90 of The Big Event is a The Bands We Follow episode, with Chuck Prophet saluting a band he's been following since childhood — The Rubinoos. With host Peter Hartlaub and Chronicle pop music critic Aidin Vaziri conducting the interview, Prophet talks about his childhood, falling in love with San Francisco and his discovery in his early teens of The Rubinoos, a Berkeley based band that came up in the 1970s - putting out two amazing albums before their careers stalled. Now with Prophet as a...
Aug 21, 2019•44 min•Ep. 90
Episode 89 of The Big Event is an interview with Renel Brooks-Moon, longtime Bay Area radio personality, and public address announcer for the San Francisco Giants since 1999. Brooks-Moon visits the Chronicle archive, to speak with host Peter Hartlaub about her early years at KMEL (and one year at KFRC with Dr. Donald D. Rose), her work as a Giants PA announcer and the influence of her father Nathaniel Brooks, an educator who in 1968 became the first black principal in San Francisco. Produced by ...
Aug 13, 2019•50 min•Ep. 89
Episode 88 of The Big Event is an introduction to the 49-Mile Scenic Drive makeover, where host Peter Hartlaub and Chronicle columnist Heather Knight begin the process of looking at the 80-year-old path through San Francisco, and how to improve on it for S.F. residents in 2019. Hartlaub and Knight kick the project off by interviewing Eric Kingsbury, a San Franciscan who recently walked the entirety of the 49-Mile Scenic Drive. Kingsbury encountered a coyote and poison oak, and has many ideas to ...
Aug 09, 2019•50 min•Ep. 88
Episode 87 of The Big Event is a tribute to Dwight Clark, the San Francisco 49ers great who died in 2018 after a battle with ALS. With the book "Letters to 87" coming out on Aug. 7, 2019, host Peter Hartlaub is joined by the book's editor and NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers reporter Matt Maiocco, KNBR host Brian Murphy and photographer Brad Mangin. The Dwight Clark fans share stories, history and talk about the book. More information at www.lettersto87.com Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tid...
Aug 05, 2019•46 min•Ep. 87
Episode 85 of The Big Event is an interview with Ear Hustle co-hosts Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, who created one of the biggest hits of the current podcast boom, bringing visitors inside San Quentin State Prison. After a tour in the Chronicle archive to look at old San Quentin photos, host Peter Hartlaub talks about Woods’ first months outside of prison, after his life sentence was commuted by Gov. Jerry Brown late last year. Hartlaub, Woods and Poor also talk about the changes during current...
Aug 01, 2019•36 min•Ep. 85
Episode 84 of The Big Event is a tribute to the Sony Metreon, the 1999 mall that was supposed to redefine the urban entertainment experience, but failed within a few years. Host Peter Hartlaub is joined by San Francisco Chronicle Food editor Paolo Lucchesi (a teen who visited the Metreon in 1999) and Chronicle urban design critic John King (who wrote about it during its launch). Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community." Learn ...
Jul 25, 2019•44 min•Ep. 84
Episode 83 of The Big Event is a conversation with Will Durst, who is about to start a new column with the San Francisco Chronicle. Durst, who has been involved in the Bay Area comedy scene since the 1970s, begins by interviewing host Peter Hartlaub. Then Hartlaub and Durst talk about the plans for the column, his history as a column writer and why Durst is still optimistic about San Francisco. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Co...
Jul 22, 2019•35 min•Ep. 83
Episode 82 of The Big Event is an interview with David Perlman, who covered the Apollo 11 moon landing for the San Francisco Chronicle on July 20, 1969. Science writer Perlman, 100, who retired from The Chronicle in 2017 at age 98, remembers what it was like near Mission Control in Houston, his expense report, the excitement in San Francisco and his thoughts about space travel in 2019. Perlman is interviewed by The Big Event host Peter Hartlaub, and guests Steve Rubenstein and Leah Garchik. Prod...
Jul 15, 2019•37 min•Ep. 82
Episode 81 of The Big Event is a history of the Skate Patrol and Golden Gate Park roller skating tribute with David Miles Jr., the park's "Sk8father" who has been made roller skating in San Francisco a career for most of the past 40 years. Miles Jr. talks about his first time in San Francisco, how he got involved with lobbying City Hall on behalf of skaters, and the group's plans for the 40th anniversary - with events from July 11-14.. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by...
Jul 11, 2019•46 min•Ep. 81
Episode 80 of The Big Event is an interview with Dan "the Automator" Nakamura, the San Francisco native who has made unexpected and memorable music with Handsome Boy Mordeling School, the Gorillaz and Dr. Octagon. Dan the Automator comes to the Chronicle archive studio to speak with host Peter Hartlaub with two new movie projects, helping shape the band Hello Peril's sound in the Netflix hit "Always Be My Maybe." He also composed the score for Olivia Wilde's "Booksmart." Produced by Peter Hartla...
Jul 08, 2019•45 min•Ep. 80
In Episode 79 of The Big Event is a flashback episode to November 2018. TV star and maker Adam Savage joins host Peter Hartlaub to talk about living in San Francisco, his past working in local theater and special effects, and his new Science Channel show "Mythbusters Jr." Savage, who worked on the original "Mythbusters" for 13 seasons, has lived in San Francisco for 30 years, He also talks about his favorite S.F. movie, his first day in San Francisco and his work as a child actor - including his...
Jul 04, 2019•47 min•Ep. 79
This bonus flashback The Big Event episode is a 2018 interview with 49ers great Jerry Rice, who appears in the documentary "In Search of Greatness," now available for download on iTunes and Amazon. The wide receiver talks to host Peter Hartlaub about his first trip into S.F. to be introduced as a 49er - also his first time in a plane - and his continued love for the fans. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
Jun 26, 2019•29 min•Ep. 78
Episode 77 of The Big Event is an interview with Jonas Rivera, producer of Pixar's "Toy Story 4," which is out on June 21. Rivera started working as a Pixar intern before the original "Toy Story" came out, and won Academy Awards for producing "Up" and "Inside Out." He's also a lifetime Bay Area resident and Oakland Athletics superfan. Chronicle Oakland A's beat writer Susan Slusser joins the discussion. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off the al...
Jun 17, 2019•39 min•Ep. 77
Episode 76 of The Big Event is a tribute to Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors for most of the last half century, and premiere Bay Area concert venue. Host Peter Hartlaub is joined by two more longtime Bay Area residents, Chronicle sports columnist Ann Killion and metro editor Demian Bulwa. They talk Oracle Arena history, favorite moments, and what the legacy will be after the Warriors move back to San Francisco later this year. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Ri...
Jun 12, 2019•34 min•Ep. 76
“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” director Joe Talbot and star Jimmie Fails come to The Big Event archive studio to talk about the scrappy road to making the indie movie that the longtime friends co-wrote. Host Peter Hartlaub asks about the 5-year production of the film, and the struggles (and heartwarming joy) of relying on the kindness of strangers for location scouting. And Hartlaub, Talbot and Fails all share their Danny Glover stories. The S.F.-based actor is a star in the film. Produce...
Jun 04, 2019•41 min•Ep. 75
Episode 73 of The Big Event is an interview with Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John in the new biopic "Rocketman." Host Peter Hartlaub talks asks Egerton about his friendship with Elton John, his approach to singing classic songs and what memorabilia he kept from the "Rocketman" shoot. (It's big, and going in his kitchen.) Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off the album "Community." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jun 02, 2019•24 min•Ep. 74
A crossover episode of The Big Event and San Francisco City Insider podcasts, recorded live on May 16, 2019, at the Betabrand Podcast Theater in the Mission District. San Francisco Chronicle pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub and San Francisco columnist Heather Knight interview BFF.fm online radio founder Amanda Guest, The Nocturnists podcast host Dr. Emily Silverman and Muni Diaries co-hosts Tara Ramroop and Eugenia Chien. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset S...
May 28, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 73
Episode 72 of The Big Event is an interview with Penelope Houston, lead singer of the legendary 1970s punk band the Avengers. Houston joins host Peter Hartlaub and Chronicle music critic Aidin Vaziri to talk about San Francisco, her solo career (including most recent album "On Market Street"), and her work at the S.F. Public Library, where she's curating a punk rock archive. And she talks about why she still enjoys touring with the Avengers and singing the old songs, which still have relevance i...
May 20, 2019•53 min•Ep. 72
Episode 70 of The Big Event is a tribute to the 1997 movie "The Game," by David Fincher. Chronicle columnist Beth Spotswood and The Big Event host Peter Hartlaub celebrate the greatness of the movie, name a few flaws, discuss David Fincher's dislike for the film (and whether that matters) and estimate how much a real-life The Game would cost. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off the album "Community" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...
May 14, 2019•48 min•Ep. 71
Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik announced in her May 1 column that in June, she will leave the newspaper after 47 years. Host Peter Hartlaub and reporter Steve Rubenstein sat down with Garchik to talk about her first day in San Francisco, her beginnings as a columnist and what she plans to do next. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Theme music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 01, 2019•38 min•Ep. 70
Kaseem Bentley, the son of a Muni bus driver, moved to Los Angeles a couple years ago. But he came back to record his debut comedy album, "Lakeview," filled with crowd interactions, storytelling and seemingly endless Bay Area references, from the 5 Fulton bus to the Serramonte Mall. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 30, 2019•50 min•Ep. 70
