Jonesing for something new and different? Ever wanted to find some independent culture in your…read morebland city? Well now you can... LEGENDmag is here to help you navigate city life... independent! There is a basic site up now (and you can download the full, free, 64 page magazine PDF and subscribe to all future issues), but the good stuff is currently in private beta, so private message me if you want a sneak peek.

Teresa Williamson is one of the most inspiring women of San Francisco. She's the co-founder of…read moreTangoDiva.com and her first book Fly Solo is a must for every woman who wants to travel or was too scare to travel alone. Quote Teresa, "I wanted to empower women to travel" and her website does just that. You can view and read what other Divas think of places they've been from Greece to Haiti to Florida. The website always lists latest travel deals which is a plus. The women and some men I've met through Tango Diva have been inspiring, positive, and very helpful. I went to Teresa's book signing in SF and she said that TangoDiva.com is about to close their doors on open registration within the next month. So sign up quick.

Thank you, California Home and Design Magazine, for from time to time including photos of me in…read moreyour social pages. I really love attention and nothing makes me happier than to stare at pictures of myself and my fabulous friends in fine and respectable periodicals such as you. Paper City's got nothing on you guys. And you can quote me on that one (but hey, Paper City, don't let that discourage you). Narcissism aside, after growing up in the design business, I find CHDM one of the most interesting, diverse, engaging magazines of it's kind. Keep doing what you're doing and keep on supporting local SF business! And keep putting my fabulous face on those pages.

[Best of 2008: http://www.sfweekly.com/bestof/2008/award/best-free-print-music-magazine-1032587/]…read more It's easy to lose track of what's important in life. http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-coast-performer-san-francisco But every now and again, you're reminded, whether it be from seeing a couple kiss in the cold lamp-lit night or watching some homeless crackhead get hyphy in the middle of Market. And you feel fortunate for your relative lack of disfigurement and abundance of resources. You start hearing uplifting voices in your head. Self-fulfilling prophesies and delusions of grandeur. Motivational momentum. Something a big orange cat said in that Disney film. (Free West Coast indie music news.) I consider myself very fortunate. I quit my job, had enough money for traveling, and came back as an Editorial Assistant position opened at Performer. And while the position offered no money, it certainly wasn't without pay. I didn't have a background in journalism or English and, in all respects, I'm still a pretty shitty reader. Changing careers isn't easy, but then if it were it wouldn't be any fun. (Free live show and record reviews.) I've been reading Performer ever since we first moved into H.I.T. Wall Studios a few years back. The fact that the magazine devotes itself to the independent musician, as opposed to the casual music listener, sets it apart from other trade publications like Rolling Stone or Zero. Because West Coast Performer only deals with the West Coast, all the info proves itself useful and relevant. The longevity of the guides and articles ensures that I always have a copy around from each month. And seeing your name skip over time from "Editorial Assistant" to "Contributing Writer" is pretty cool, too. (Free gear reviews and in-depth tour guides.) From Performer, I ably transitioned to my current editing position, which, as luck would have it, was in the process of moving to a more convenient location. And when I finally went full-time and left Performer as an Editorial Assistant, Performer moved to this shinier but more distant location. It clicked like a jigsaw falling into place, and I feel caressed by the blessing of fine timing... and thus, I consider myself very fortunate. (Free at most places you frequent in attempts of looking hip: Guitar Center, record stores like Amoeba, bars like Edinburgh, etc.) "Remember who you are." A 20-something year-old with ten working digits and a guaranteed meal tonight, taking advice from a dead, cartoon lion.

The Pleasanton Weekly is a pro-real-estate-development freebie that purports to serve the local…read morecommunity, but which really does not. The competing paper -The Independent, provides much more balanced reporting of and perspective on local events. The only reason to have the PW sent to your home is so that you will have the pleasure of throwing it in the trash unread - at the paper's expense.

Not a bad paper, and it is free. Very local and pretty much only about Pleasanton; produced once a…read moreweek. Wish they had less bias or more viewpoints of both sides.

I love walking up 24th Street from BART, especially on a fantastic October day in San Francisco…read more I step out of BART make the "Boston Walk" up the hill to Dolores, sweat flowing down my face like Niagara Falls. Cell phone glued to my ear talking crap to my friends back East. My daily routine. Finally flat land approach Sanchez/24th, pass Bay Castle Cleaners wondering if my laundry is done but realizing I don't have money to pay for it, get to the newstand and see a new stack of papers. Pass by only to realize the cover of the Noe Valley Voice is a bit different. Could it be? I read that issue already...no wait...it has been a month my favorite little paper has come out with another issue. Grab it...tuck it in my Timbuktu bag....walk a bit faster only to stop and say hello to my new favorite people in Noe Valley, the staff at Bernie's (please see them you will be happy you did), finally my door. I bolt up the stairs clutching my Noe Valley paper like a Marina girl with a new Kate Spade clutch purse. Finally run into my bathroom and jump on the toilet knowing I will have some peace to tear into this black and white local literary gem. I savor my time with Noe Valley Voice. Reading it cover to cover. Wondering how I could ever dream of moving from my Noe Valley, because if I did the Voice would no longer be my monthly guilty pleasure.

Oh, I love the Noe Valley Voice for their effort to add a little spice to the otherwise "beige-y"…read morefeel of Noe Valley. They always crack me up with the list of most recent crimes in the area. It's not that it's funny to see that people are getting ripped off, I'm just entertained by anything remotely like "Law & Order." The Voice gives a lot of information that is prive only to the locals in Noe, which gives others a little peek into the sometimes strange, always appreciated politically correctness of the neighborhood. Although I find their articles to be a bit long winded and preachy at times, they do a fair job at reporting both sides of the story. If you write a scathing letter calling the favorite Noe Valley neighbor a "douche bag" they'll probably print it...and then the next month they'll print 50 scathing letters to counter what you've said. Promoting the local businesses is only one part of this paper's purpose. They also encourage community building, which is lacking in so many other SF "hoods." There is a specific need for independent papers. Every neighborhood in the city needs a "voice," after all.

This is such a great resource for the Bay Area music scene. These guys are good friends with the…read morepeople who run sonic living (they share a building over), and I have the say, between the two sites I've started spending so much more money on concerts and know about so many more bands. The owl mag is great because not only do they throw monthly parties, but they give away free tickets. I happened to get my hands on some of them. Winning free tickets is like winning the lottery, only you don't have to decide what to do with the money. As far as content on the web page, they seem to have a good staff of writers, as all the reviews are well composed and up to date. I don't often buy CD's so seeing the reviews here can often say me one way or the other.

A must-read if you live in the Mission District. This bilingual English-Spanish newspaper has been…read morekeeping the community informed for over 50 years. The articles are always timely, well-written and informative. This is an example of community journalism at its finest.

I am pleased that El Tecolote is out there serving the needs of the community. I enjoy its format…read moreand I think it offers a great opportunity for the local community to have a voice about issues and concerns that often go unnoticed by mainstream media. I must admit I am partial especially since El Tecolote is founded by my journalism professor at City College, Juan Gonzales. He serves as chair of the journalism department. The little paper has a fascinating history. See web link: http://eltecolote.org/content/ Check out its photo essays and the really great full color page designs. For a little local paper that alone is outstanding. I hope El Tecolote continues to thrive and grow.