The GrowSF Report: What's on the March ballot?
PLUS: California expands who can be placed into conservatorship
What You Need To Know
Here’s what happened around the city for the week of December 11, 2023:
- What’s on the March ballot?
- California expands who can be placed into conservatorship
- Castro Theater finally allowed to renovate
- Caltrain to double weekend service and launch new electric trains next year
- San Francisco ranks among top five most fun cities in the US
Recent & upcoming openings:
- Pixlcat Coffee comes to Clement
What’s on the March ballot?
The March 5, 2024 primary election is just around the corner, and GrowSF is already researching and analyzing the ballot measures. This week we published our analysis of every local measure:
Stay tuned for our endorsements in January!
California expands who can be placed into conservatorship
Starting next year, people who cycle in and out of emergency rooms will finally get the help they need. SB43 recently signed by Governor Newsom expands who can be placed into involuntary medical treatment - or conservatorship - to include “people whose mental illness or drug addiction inhibits their ability to keep themselves safe,” according to Sophia Bollag at the Chronicle.
“This is a huge victory for San Francisco, and it could be a huge victory for the state of California if other jurisdictions would choose to use this as a tool and implement it,” said Mayor London Breed in the Chronicle.
City departments are already coordinating to prepare for an uptick in patients. It’s encouraging to see San Francisco taking this crisis seriously.
Castro Theater finally allowed to renovate
The Castro Theater will finally get the facelift it needs. After much heated debate and several public hearings, the Castro Theater will start a nearly two-year renovation this February.
The improvements will include mobile concession stands, motorized platforms to allow for non-seated live events, acoustic upgrades, a new ventilation system, and wheelchair accessibilities.
Senior vice president for Another Planet Entertainment, Mary Conde, told Aidin Vaziri of the Chronicle, “Another Planet Entertainment is thrilled to begin the work to restore the Castro Theatre to its 1922 architectural glory and ensure its continued place in the hearts of film lovers, music lovers and the LGBTQ+ community.”
We look forward to the newly renovated space and the shows to come. Maybe you can join us for some popcorn!
Caltrain to double weekend service and launch new electric trains next year
Caltrain is finally rolling out electrified service…next Fall. While it’s still a year away, we’re excited about the changes: weekend service every 30 minutes instead of every hour, 25% faster commutes on local trains, free Wi-Fi, and shiny new electric trains instead of dirty diesel.
“With electrified Caltrain service now less than a year away, it is exciting to see a new schedule in place that will allow riders to get to their destinations quicker and more often,” Caltrain Board Chair Jeff Gee told Metro Magazine.
San Francisco ranks among top five most fun cities in the US
We know it, and now everybody else knows it: San Francisco is a fun city! A recent survey by WalletHub looked at 180 cities and evaluated dozens of metrics to determine the top fun cities in the United States. San Francisco, we’re proud to say, ranked as #5.
In a city with enough variety, you won’t have to compromise with your friends, family, or even yourself about the next fun activity to do alone or together.
— WalletHub’s best cities in America
San Francisco boasts natural beauty, great dining and nightlife, and fun on a regular basis!
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Recent & upcoming openings
A great city is constantly changing and growing, let’s celebrate what’s new!
Pixlcat Coffee comes to Clement
WHERE: 519 Clement (Clement & 7th)
Pixlcat Coffee just brought their delicious brews and snacks to the Inner Richmond at Clement & 7th Ave. Their original location at 9th & Market has been serving us tasty treats for about a year and we’re thrilled they’re expanding to the Richmond!
P.S. Try the Butter Mochi 🤤
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
Winter Walk in Union Square
This annual holiday tradition finally returns to Union Square. Activities include:
The great Ornament Trail: Giant, larger than life Ornaments designed by local artists.
Marketplace by Sunset Mercantile, including unique stocking stuffers for sale that support small, local businesses. Sunset Mercantile has also planned family-friendly arts and crafts activities, along with optional indoor activities for an additional fee, ensuring a festive and engaging experience for all.
Off The Grid food trucks. Make it a daily tradition to explore diverse cultures and flavors, ranging from Noodle Night and Breakfast All Day to Football Fever.
WHEN: December 15 - 24
Monday through Wednesday, Noon – 7 pm
Thursday through Sunday, 10 am – 9 pm
WHERE: Stockton Street from Post – Geary Street and Geary – O’Farrell Street and Maiden Lane between Stockton – Grant
Bernal Village marketplace
A local marketplace that brings makers together to share their products and passions with the community. It’s running all December so there’s still time to get some pre- or post holiday gifts.
WHEN: Weekends through December
WHERE: 434 Cortland Ave, San Francisco
What we’re writing about
Why this tapas restaurant has become a Castro institution
In its early days, Canela felt immediately a cozy, inviting neighborhood Spanish restaurant. Chef Mat Schuster opened the tapas and wine bar more than a decade ago on the ever-bustling Market Street in the heart of the Castro, offering an impressive array of small plates and also an extensive list of sherry, vermut (Spanish vermouth), sidra (cider), and Spanish wines and beers.
Did SantaCon get cool again?
This year’s SantaCon gathering at Union Square felt particularly festive. Long gone are the early days of everyone dressed up in the same cheap Santa suit from Oriental Trading Company or the phoned-in days of the 2010s, where many millennials missed the memo to get decked out and simply showed up in a Santa hat they bought at the Walgreens across the street.
What I learned from a year of professional party crashing
“It all started a decade ago, when I was feeling trapped in my daily routine of coffee, work, yoga, dinner, Netflix, waking up and repeating it all the next day. One morning, I received an email that shouldn’t have ended up in my inbox: an invitation from a company hosting its annual holiday party. I didn’t work for the company and never had. I felt honored in a strange way and somewhat nervous but excited, like I was just accidentally invited to a dinner at the White House.” In this throwback article, Jaime Kornick gives her best tips on how to crash parties this holiday season.
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