San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors just pulled off the most delightfully chaotic move possible: officially declaring October 17 as “Broke-Ass Stuart Day”.

If you’re wondering who the hell Broke-Ass Stuart is, buckle up for a quintessential San Francisco story of a broke, brave journalist who turned his love for dive bars and city stories into a legitimate cultural phenomenon.

From Broke to Iconic

Stuart Schuffman arrived in San Francisco with nothing more than a notebook, a hangover, and dreams of documenting the city’s most authentic spaces. What started as photocopied zines about cheap adventures transformed into BrokeAssStuart.com, a beloved independent media outlet that has stubbornly survived when other publications have vanished faster than affordable housing.

A True San Francisco Legend

Supervisor Myrna Melgar described him as a “cultural icon, rabble-rouser, and avid world traveler” - basically embodying everything weird and wonderful about San Francisco. His work has consistently celebrated the city’s artists, workers, activists, and absolute weirdos.

Celebrating 20 Years of Dive Bar Journalism

To commemorate his legacy, Stuart is launching “The Worst of Broke-Ass Stuart: 20 Years of Love, Death, & Dive Bars” with a book release party at The Kilowatt. Featuring circus performers, burlesque, and live music, it’s basically the most San Francisco event imaginable.

As the city proclamation beautifully states: San Francisco has always loved its eccentrics, and Broke-Ass Stuart is living proof that sometimes, being gloriously broke and passionate is the most revolutionary act of all.