If you tell South Africans that some crime trends have improved over the past three decades, many will react with disbelief.

Embarcadero Park won't have the flair of China Basin Park or Presidio Tunnel Tops, former Chronicle Urban Design Critic John King writes. But there's still time to make it a success.

Every day in class, students are encouraged to ‘visualise’, ‘imagine’ or ‘picture’ concepts in their minds. Some find this ...