Monica Turner

Spring is almost here, and with summer just around the corner it can only mean one thing: the Stark Insider calendar is filling up with a tonne of can't miss food and wine events across the Napa Valley. All of them -- so far -- feature familiar faces (CabFest and...

James Beard Award semi-finalists were announced this morning, and, once again, San Francisco is well represented. Usual suspects include Nancy Oakes (Boulevard) and Michael Tusk (Quince) who received nominations for outstanding chef. Acquerello, Foreign Cinema and Restaurant Gary Danko (review), were short-listed in the outstanding restaurant category. Those looking for a new, top-notch dining...

The word is in. Goo Goo Dolls, American Idol winner Kris Allen, Mayer Hawthorne and Plain White T's are among the artists scheduled to perform at next month's Yountville Live. Now in its second year, the festival features a combination of food, wine and music. Set in the heart of California's Napa Valley...

Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Andrew Llyod Webber's famed The Phantom of the Opera leads the upcoming Broadway San Jose season. Revealed today, the eight show line-up features a thoughtful mix of classic musicals such as Cabaret, Annie and The Sound of Music, alongside contemporary hits like Kinky Boots, Matilda...

For first time, Taste of Yountville schedules street festival to coincide with music event.

PBFW returns once again. This is going to be good. Next month, chefs, foodies, and fans of all things West Coast will sojourn to sunny California for the ninth edition of the storied Pebble Beach Food & Wine. The much anticipated annual event runs March 31 through April 3. Once again, an impressively...

Raises much-needed funds for Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy.

Drag queens. Beauty Queens. Movie Stars. Statesman. Activists. And rebels. Welcome to another evening of theater in San Francisco. Magic Theatre, now in its 49th year and one of our favorite venues around here on Stark Insider, today announced that it will "transform into Manila's mythical Studio 54." Thanks to the eagerly...

For Brie Larson being trapped in a room wasn't so bad after all. The newly minted Golden Globe winner (best actress) spoke to Stark Insider about the film that's been short-listed by many as one of the best of the past year. "There's so many reference points," she says. "It...

Your lunch and dinner plans just got a whole lot easier, at least for the week starting January 20th. That's when about 130 restaurants across San Francisco will offer two and three course fixed price lunch and dinner menus. Prices start at $15 (per person) for lunch and $40 for...