San Francisco's Lombard Street may soon require a reservation fee for visitors under proposed legislation by city and state officials. Supervisor Catherine Stefani aims to alleviate congestion in the Russian Hill neighborhood by implementing a toll system, pending state legislature approval through Assemblyman Phil Ting's AB 1605. The proposed fee is intended to manage the heavy tourist traffic that impacts local residents.

Napa County is the first in the Bay Area to receive approval from the State of California to advance further into Stage 2 of reopening. Effective immediately, businesses such as childcare, office businesses, residential cleaning services, outdoor museums, retail stores, shopping malls, and dine-in restaurants can reopen, provided they adhere to safety guidelines to mitigate COVID-19 spread. Wineries and tasting rooms remain closed until Phase 3, while schools in Napa County are set to reopen on June 1st. Further details and guidelines are available on the county's website.

The article discusses the resurgence of popularity for the music of Far East, a project whose work has been compiled by Rush Hour Records in a release titled 'Sounds from the Far East'. The music is gaining international attention, being played on dance floors and at festivals globally. Neocha contributor Bejan Siavoshy interviewed Soichi Terada, a key member of Far East, in Tokyo. They talked about Terada's early influences, the beginnings of Far East, and his experiences touring and performing music that was created years prior. The article also includes an audio interview with Soichi Terada.

The article discusses the growth of the Noise Metal Festival in Mongolia, highlighting its increasing popularity with international acts from Canada, Russia, Japan, and Singapore joining local bands. It focuses on the story of Andy Teesh, the former front-man of the Mongolian heavy metal band Ayasiin Salkhi. Teesh's early exposure to heavy metal music during his time in Russia, where he was studying on a scholarship at a police training school, led him to form the band in 1984 with other Mongolian students who shared his passion for the genre. The band's name, Ayasiin Salkhi, which translates to 'Fair Wind,' was chosen to avoid censorship and contrasts with the more aggressive names typical of the genre.

The article explores the Uukhai skate crew in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, a group that represents the country's rising creative class and youth culture. The crew, founded by Erdenedalai 'Eddie' Purev, is a collective of skateboarders who share a passion for the sport and a desire to shape Mongolia's future. The article highlights the challenges faced by the crew, such as societal misunderstanding, corruption, and the lack of government support for skateboarding. It also touches on Mongolia's transition from communism to a market-based economy and the impact of this change on the younger generation. The crew's members, including Tengis Badmaarag, Sergelenbayar 'Seke' Batjargal, and Ankhbayar 'Patrik' Chinzorig, share their personal stories and aspirations, from opening a skate shop to legitimizing skateboarding as a sport. The article underscores the crew's determination to overcome obstacles and their belief in the potential for positive change in Mongolia.