Abdul Shokoor Khusrawy can remember when the bombs started falling on his house, during the Mujahideen rule in Kabul. He was painting in the attic when the first bomb hit. He threw himself onto the ground, grabbing his canvas as shrapnel filled the house. The house was partially destroyed; his father was badly injured. In the following months and years, this became a routine for Khusrawy. "My family would say, ......

Razzle-dazzle Christmas light decorations might be the stuff of comedy films — think the Griswold family in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" — but Alex Dourov of Livermore has been taking the tradition seriously for more than a decade. Dourov documents the best-lit houses in the Bay Area (and beyond) on his website, Lights of the Valley. Right now, the site features photos and videos of decorations and light shows at 314 homes. You ......

Killing My Lobster's "Coffee Wars" is a mockumentary on YouTube that chronicles the epic - and scalding hot - battle between SF coffee establishments like Ritual Roasters and Blue Bottle. "It started in San Francisco's Mission district," says the mockumentary's Kendra Burns, PhD. "The Mission district's hipster population was running out of ways to diss' one another. So, they turned to coffee." And so the "Coffee Wars" start. We sat ......

The pro-gay marriage group brought out a secret weapon today: absolutely fabulous sequined silver Go-Go Boots. Molly McKay, the national media director of Marriage Equality USA, said the secret behind her confidence that today's hearing will go her way could be found on her feet. "I think that very soon wedding bells will ring in California," said McKay. McKay on her boots:  ...

Does the thought of another day of wandering the aisles of some nondescript deparment store to syrupy holiday music make you cringe? Sleep through Black Friday? It's not too late: here's a round-up of neat arts and crafts events where you'll be sure to find original holiday gifts. And even if you don't find that perfect gift, I'll bet you've never shopped with real live penguins before! Gift Idea #1: ......