![John Metcalfe, Bay Area News Group features reporter](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/john-metcalfe-mug.jpg?w=69)
Features reporter
John Metcalfe
John Metcalfe is a Bay Area News Group features reporter for The Mercury News and East Bay Times, covering nature, food, the arts, and notable things to do in the Bay Area for the Eat Drink Play section. He lives in Oakland with no pets unless you count a thoroughly embedded family of backyard raccoons. Follow him on Twitter at @citycalfe or on Facebook.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Expertise: Bay Area food and drink, hiking and outdoor recreation, arts and music, and anything else that falls under the umbrella of "fun."
All Stories
![From Palo Alto to Walnut Creek, Martinez and more, these ice creameries serve up amazing shakes. From Palo Alto to Walnut Creek, Martinez and more, these ice creameries serve up amazing shakes.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-MILKSHAKES-0728-01.jpg?w=122)
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Bay Area’s best milkshakes: Here are 9 places to try this summer
From Palo Alto to Walnut Creek, Martinez and more, these ice creameries serve up amazing shakes.
![The rustic Italian grab-and-go operation is serving Neapolitan-style pies, paninis, local beer and California wines. The rustic Italian grab-and-go operation is serving Neapolitan-style pies, paninis, local beer and California wines.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-50BESTA16-09XX_69299453.jpg?w=132)
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Michelin-recognized A16 pizza lands at Oakland airport
The rustic Italian grab-and-go operation is serving Neapolitan-style pies, paninis, local beer and California wines.
![Arion Press is a darling of art collectors and Silicon Valley types, who love its unique books made from historical literary materials. Arion Press is a darling of art collectors and Silicon Valley types, who love its unique books made from historical literary materials.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MAG-L-ARION-07XX-13.jpg?w=128)
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The world’s most unusual books are entirely made by hand at the Presidio
Arion Press is a darling of art collectors and Silicon Valley types, who love its unique books made from historical literary materials.
![The Mess Hall, led by a James Beard award-winning Momofuku veteran, plans to open in the national park in 2025. The Mess Hall, led by a James Beard award-winning Momofuku veteran, plans to open in the national park in 2025.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SJM-L-TUNNELTOP-07XX-08.jpg?w=132)
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An ambitious new food hall is coming to San Francisco’s Presidio
The Mess Hall, led by a James Beard award-winning Momofuku veteran, plans to open in the national park in 2025.
![Bad Animal was co-founded by a guy who ran an underground college in a used bookstore and sells rare books for up to $40,000. Bad Animal was co-founded by a guy who ran an underground college in a used bookstore and sells rare books for up to $40,000.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/MAG-L-BADANIMAL-07XX-09.jpg?w=132)
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Bad Animal: The radical, Dionysian bookshop and natural-wine bar in Santa Cruz
Bad Animal was co-founded by a guy who ran an underground college in a used bookstore and sells rare books for up to $40,000.
![From the East Bay's newest market on the shores of the Bay to a Campbell charmer, here are eight farmers markets to explore. From the East Bay's newest market on the shores of the Bay to a Campbell charmer, here are eight farmers markets to explore.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-MARKETS-07XX-10.jpg?w=132)
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Fresh finds: 8 great Bay Area farmers markets for summer delights
From the East Bay's newest market on the shores of the Bay to a Campbell charmer, here are eight farmers markets to explore.
![Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin presumably drowned in the Bay. But what if they didn't? Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin presumably drowned in the Bay. But what if they didn't?](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/MAG-ALCATRAZ-19.jpg?w=132)
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Is the infamous 1962 Alcatraz escape story all wrong? New book suggests ‘yes’
Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin presumably drowned in the Bay. But what if they didn't?
![The voracious animals are clearing dead vegetation that otherwise could fuel urban wildfires. The voracious animals are clearing dead vegetation that otherwise could fuel urban wildfires.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-GOATS-0715-02.jpg?w=140)
Watch a tsunami of goats storm down a Berkeley Hills road
The voracious animals are clearing dead vegetation that otherwise could fuel urban wildfires.
![You can sing, strum or just listen during the free Folk Music Festival San Francisco's Golden Gate Park -- the event's origins date to the 1940s. You can sing, strum or just listen during the free Folk Music Festival San Francisco's Golden Gate Park -- the event's origins date to the 1940s.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-GOODTIMES-0711-02.jpg?w=114)
Historic free Folk Music Festival returns to Golden Gate Park
You can sing, strum or just listen during the free Folk Music Festival San Francisco's Golden Gate Park -- the event's origins date to the 1940s.
![The brewery is also holding a big block party in Berkeley to celebrate on Saturday, July 13. The brewery is also holding a big block party in Berkeley to celebrate on Saturday, July 13.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-TRUMER-0712-01.jpg?w=132)
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Trumer Pils is brewing a new beer for its 20th Berkeley anniversary
The brewery is also holding a big block party in Berkeley to celebrate on Saturday, July 13.