Have a lively New Year's Eve, a good weekend, and a great next year celebrating San Francisco values. And remember to fear the beard.

Meanwhile, Jean and I will be making our 25^th annual New Year's Eve pilgrimage to Pompei's Grotto on Fisherman's Wharf. Pompei's is a gem of a family-owned Italian fish restaurant with Old World ambiance, red checkered table cloths, table lamps, splendid martinis and fresh-cracked dungeness crab. It's our favorite spot to start New Year's Eve. B3