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In 18th and 19th Century India, male rulers wore sparkling jewelry to show off their wealth and power. Now, a collection of those jewels is in San Francisco, the first time they’ve been displayed on the West Coast.

During more than a century before India proclaimed its independence in 1947, large jewels including diamonds, rubies and emeralds were worn almost exclusively by men — specifically, the kings and princes known as Maharajas who ruled over some 350 states ranging from small villages to territories the size of France.

It’s pretty-much impossible to cram all of John Law’s feats of the last 40 years into a single paragraph. Much like trying to stuff mementoes of all that stuff into a single gallery exhibition. Which is what makes a visit to his current exhibition in Oakland’s Pro Arts Gallery a feat in itself.

Artist John Law, one of the three co-founders of the Burning Man arts festival, is having a showing of his unique works of art at Oakland’s Pro Arts Gallery. The many feats he has accomplished over the years are indicative of his personal philosophy. “If you’re not having fun, all the jerks win,” Law said “I found out a long...

Houseplants are a quick and easy way to dress your home in autumnal color. Anthuriums can add hues of pink, red or white. The philodendron’s cascading, heart-shaped green leaves bring a touch of the outdoors inside. And of course, the poinsettia’s red and green foliage is a popular choice for holiday décor. It’s no secret — houseplants are back in...

A 75-year-old Louisiana woman who founded an African American history museum was discovered dead in the trunk of a car, and police said Saturday that investigators were working diligently to find those responsible. Baton Rouge police Sgt. L’Jean McKneely said investigators were still waiting for a coroner to determine a cause of death for Sadie Roberts-Joseph after her body was...

You don’t need a closet-sized apartment in New York City to enjoy saving a little space.

The Cincinnati Zoo on Friday welcomed back a 37-year-old male silverback gorilla after a legal battle and some 28 years after he went to California.

The discovery of a breeding technique for California condors never before tried by any other zoo should help increase the numbers of the critically endangered species, the Los Angeles Zoo announced Monday.

Curators believe this is the earliest known photograph of the Underground Railroad leader.

A piece of San Jose history that was stolen a few months ago has been recovered. The iconic Orchard Supply Hardware neon sign that hung above the downtown store is back under lock and key with History San Jose.

A piece of San Jose history that was stolen a few months ago has been recovered. The iconic Orchard Supply Hardware neon sign that hung above the downtown store is back under lock and key with History San Jose. Sergio Quintana reports.

During more than a century before India proclaimed its independence in 1947, large jewels including diamonds, rubies and emeralds were worn almost exclusively by men — specifically, the kings and princes known as Maharajas who ruled over some 350 states ranging from small villages to territories the size of France.

The National Toy Hall of Fame’s class of 2018 includes Magic 8 Ball, Uno and pinball.

Items owned by Tupac Shakur have been donated to Temple University, including a bullet-dented golden medallion the rapper was wearing in 1994 when he was shot five times.

Items owned by Tupac Shakur have been donated to Temple University, including a bullet-dented golden medallion the rapper was wearing in 1994 when he was shot five times.

Sheep eyeball juice. Bull testicles. Maggot-infested cheese. American root beer. These are among the items considered palatable or even regarded as delicacies in some cultures that the Disgusting Food Museum in Malmo, Sweden is serving up. The temporary museum, which opened Wednesday, clearly braced for revolted visitors to gag at the foods on display, most of which can be smelled...

The Cincinnati Zoo is suing for the return of a gorilla loaned to a California conservatory as a companion for Koko, the late gorilla famed for mastering sign language. In a complaint filed Thursday against The Gorilla Foundation, attorneys for the Cincinnati Zoo said Ndume, a 37-year-old silverback gorilla, has lived in isolation to his detriment since Koko’s death in...

The head covering is among the most identifiable elements of Muslim women’s dress and most likely to be portrayed as drab and restrictive to the Western eye. But a new exhibition in San Francisco shows that the covering used by some Muslim women can be a bright yellow head wrap or a loose drape of rose; a black silk and...

The World Video Game Hall of Fame has inducted “John Madden Football,” a giant of the multibillion-dollar video game industry that another new inductee — the 1962 “Spacewar!” — helped to launch. “Tomb Raider” and “Final Fantasy VII” round out the class of 2018 honored Thursday at The Strong museum, where the hall of fame is housed.