The GrowSF Report: The Sunset Night Market was a smashing success
The GrowSF Report: The Sunset Night Market was a smashing success
PLUS: Daniel Lurie is officially running for Mayor
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of September 18, 2023:
- The Sunset Night Market was a smashing success
- Daniel Lurie is officially running for Mayor
- Can mid-Market be a world-class art hub?
- Progressive Supervisors oppose housing again
- Governor Newsom says CA may intervene on SF homelessness
- Supervisor Dean Preston blames victims of theft
PLUS:
- Yokai brings a Japanese hi-fi bar to SOMA
- Eats is back on Clement Street
Tell us your San Francisco story!
Are you a San Francisco resident who has been let down by our city’s government in the past year? We want your story!
How has San Francisco government failed you in the past year? Did it drag its feet on approving permits to modify your home? Were you the victim of a crime, and the police not showing up in a timely fashion? Has your business suffered due to poor street conditions? We want to hear about it!
The Sunset Night Market was a smashing success
Over 10,000 people crammed into a three-block stretch of Irving in The Sunset last Friday to celebrate the very first Sunset Night Market! This amazing community event was organized by Supervisor Joel Engardio, a GrowSF favorite.
Joel’s husband Lionel is from Taiwan, and they worked together to bring a little slice of Taiwanese culture to San Francisco.
Engardio pitched the idea of a night market after visiting Taiwan with his husband, Lionel Hsu. About 80 vendors served a variety of foods while family-friendly areas let kids play with LED hoola hoops and toss bean bags. Now the event may become a permanent fixture thanks to its success.
We are so happy with Supervisor Engardio’s leadership and dedication to bringing joy to San Francisco. We’ll see you at the next one!
Daniel Lurie is officially running for Mayor
Josh Koehn at The Standard reports that Daniel Lurie has officially filed his paperwork to run for Mayor. He joins Supervisor Ahsha Safaí and Mayor London Breed in the race.
Lurie has announced a “special announcement” for September 26th, where he is sure to have his first public statement about his candidacy and vision for San Francisco.
Can mid-Market be a world-class art hub?
The Mid-Market Business Association and Foundation wants to bring an art hub to the neighborhood, writes Kevin Truong at The Standard. Modeled after Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles, the project seeks to revitalize the perennially struggling stretch of Market Street from 11th to 6th streets by bringing concerts and live arts events.
Another Planet Entertainment, the Strand Theater, Counterpulse, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, the Asian Art Museum are among the arts organizations enlisted by the association as partners.
Some public events are starting this week, so be on the look-out!
Progressive Supervisors oppose housing again
San Francisco stands on the precipice of losing control of its land-use laws because the Board of Supervisors continues to ignore the reality of state law. The Board must create a viable plan to accommodate the addition of about 80,000 new homes by 2031. If they don’t, then the State will step in and take over. There’s zero ambiguity about this, but the Progressives on the Board of Supervisors continue to bury their heads in the sand.
According to Annie Gaus at The Standard, the only Supervisors taking this seriously are the Moderates — Matt Dorsey, Joel Engardio, and Mayor Breed:
The Constraints Reduction Ordinance, introduced by Mayor London Breed and Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Joel Engardio, would make a swath of changes to the city’s planning code [… in] an attempt at implementing the city’s Housing Element
Time is running out for the Progressive Supervisors to face reality and take action, or let the State take over. We must update our city planning laws to allow new homes to be built all across the city.
Governor Newsom says CA may intervene on SF homelessness
Governor Gavin Newsom gave San Franciscans some good news last week:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday the state will intervene in an ongoing federal court case that's barred San Francisco from cleaning up homeless encampments until more shelter beds are available, saying the judge has gone too far and is preventing the state from solving a critical problem.
“I hope this goes to the Supreme Court,” Newsom said. “And that’s a hell of a statement coming from a progressive Democrat.”
If you’re a regular reader, you’re already familiar with the court injunction preventing San Francisco from moving homeless people into shelters and cleaning up homeless encampments. There was some progress recently, but the City is still being careful about moving forward. Hopefully this signal from the State helps.
Supervisor Dean Preston blames victims of theft
We didn’t think we’d post more than 30 reasons to Dump Dean, but his latest tweet was too much to ignore.
Rather than call for fully staffing the SFPD or arresting & prosecuting thieves, Dean Preston thinks we should just tell the world: “Do not leave anything in your car.”
His glib dismissal of the loss and fear that people experience highlights how unfit he is to hold office. We need someone who will stop blaming victims of theft and start holding criminals accountable.
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Yokai brings a Japanese hi-fi bar to SOMA
Ever heard of a “listening bar”? It’s what it sounds like — a bar where you chill out and listen to some fine tunes on a finer hi-fi system. Yokai is the newest entrant into this hip genre, located at 545 Mission Street in SOMA, right next to Salesforce Park. Grab a cocktail and relax with some Miles Davis, Tues-Sat from 5pm ‘til close.
Eats is back on Clement Street
Longtime favorite Eats on Clement Street is back after a 9 month hiatus. Under new ownership, Eats is bringing caramelized custard French toast & other delicious treats back to the Richmond, according to Paolo Bicchieri at Eater.
The Spirit of San Francisco
There’s a lot to love about our city and the Bay Area. Here’s what makes it great. Brought to you by The Bold Italic.
What we’re doing this week
Hardly Strictly returns
One of the largest free-est music festivals in the country. Be one of over 750,000 attendees over the three-day musical extravaganza in Golden Gate Park. Save the date as Hardly Strictly Bluegrass makes its return for 2023, running Sept. 29 through Oct. 1:
Friday: 1 - 7 pm (gates open at 11 am)
Saturday: 11 am - 7 pm, (gates open at 9a)
Sunday: 11 am - 7 pm (gates open at 9a)
Free glow-in-the-dark silent disco in Menlo Park
A glow-in-the-dark themed dance party with light-up headphones, party favors, outdoor games, and beer and wine at Barebottle Brewing Company.
Springline is a new mixed-use development in Menlo Park with hospitality-focused residences, office space, social programming, and a line-up of dining spots including San Francisco restaurants like Che Fico, Robin Sushi and Burma Love.
What we’re writing about
Why I’m not giving up on San Francisco
“I get asked by a lot of friends when I tweet about drugs and crime and our deteriorating quality of life in the San Francisco Bay Area why I don’t just move. Two friends this past week told me that I’m a frog being slowly boiled in a pot of water living here. Many of my friends and people I know actually have moved away. For me there are many reasons that I don’t and won’t leave.” Thomas Hawk on why he’s staying in San Francisco.
This is why I’ve loved Absinthe for two decades
French food hasn’t exactly been trending nationally, but thank goodness for stalwarts like San Francisco’s Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, a craft cocktail pioneer way back in the late 1990s also faithfully serving upscale French bistro fare and beloved brunches. It still draws Hayes Valley crowds as it hits 25 years old this summer; an impressive feat for any restaurant.
We’re now on TikTok
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