JEWELRY

I spent the weekend in this LGBTQ-celebratory town just north of San Francisco, and it felt like a queer spin on small-town America

Beach scene with colorful umbrellas set apart for Social Distancing at Johnson's Beach, Guerneville, California, on the Russian River.

Colorful umbrellas dot the sand at Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, California, on the Russian River.Gary Saxe/Shutterstock

  • I spent three days in Guerneville, California, an LGBTQ-friendly town just north of San Francisco.

  • The town is full of queer-owned businesses, including an Old West-themed saloon.

  • I was struck by how friendly and welcoming the locals were, and plan to visit again soon.

Just 90 minutes away from San Francisco’s Castro district, the town of Guerneville is a unique, queer version of rural America.

Matt Charnock Guerneville California travel

Businesses in Guerneville, California.Matt Charnock for Insider

I’ve visited Guerneville over 10 times since moving to San Francisco in 2016, and each time I return, there’s a new gem to uncover.

In early July, I was eager for a break from my small San Francisco apartment and decided to spend a few days visiting friends in Guerneville and getting reacquainted with the town. Here’s what the trip

Read the rest
FASHION

Upscale men’s clothing designer Todd Snyder New York to open West

Hayes Valley is about to get a new source for high-end men’s clothing. The chic menswear designer Todd Snyder New York will be taking over the vacant space at Laguna and Hayes streets. The SF Business Times is reporting that the upscale fashion brand is leasing the retail location at 590 Hayes Street, which was formerly occupied by b8ta. The San Francisco-based electronics retailer closed all of its U.S. retail locations in February due to repeated break-ins and robberies, as reported by Hoodline. 


590 Hayes Street in San Francisco. | Photo Credit: Google Maps

 

The Hayes Valley Todd Snyder New York store will be the brand’s second store on the West Coast and is expected to serve as a flagship location for the West. This summer, the chain is also getting ready to open more of an outlet-style retail location at The Grove in Los Angeles. Todd Snyder has six

Read the rest