NorCal Pizza Ranked ‘Best In The World’ + Another Massive Sea Lion Making Waves At Pier 39: Saturday Smiles

The weekend is the perfect time to catch up on some of the lighter news you may have missed during the busy workweek. Read on to learn about another massive sea lion making a splash at Pier 39 and find out more about a herd of handcrafted elephant sculptures headed to the East Bay.

San Francisco Pizzeria Ranked Among Best In The World

• Find out where the top pizzerias rank, according to an Italy-based culinary guide.

Pleasanton Pizza-Making Couple Each Earn 3rd Place In State Competition

• The owners of Much Ado About Pizza each took third place in a different division of the California Pizza Challenge.

Napa Valley Winery Ranks In Top 10 Tasting Room Vote

• USA Today readers ranked a Napa Valley winery ahead of every California winery in its 2026 tasting-room awards.

Danville Bakery & Patisserie Opening Pleasanton Location

• Maison Benoit, an award-winning Danville bakery, will open a second location on Main Street in Pleasanton in early 2027.

Another Massive Sea Lion Is Making Waves At SF's Pier 39: Report

• Experts say San Francisco's famed pier offers plenty of food for these rotund sea lions.

Herd Of 30 Life-Size Elephants Coming To Bay Area

• The Great Elephant Migration will bring a herd of handcrafted elephant sculptures modeled on real wild elephants to the East Bay this fall.

Students Help Small Businesses Find $105K In Potential Savings In Bay Area

• High school students are helping South Bay businesses identify energy and water upgrades, rebates and other ways to cut costs.

Rohnert Park Pet Food Pantry Seeks Donations To Restock

• The pantry needs wet and dry food for dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens to help local families.

Let us know if you have an idea for a nice news story in your town. Email your story tips to autumn.johnson@patch.com.