Congratulation on raking out those storm drains and cleaning your gutters, Inner Sunset! Now that #hellastorm is behind us, let’s look forward to a relaxing weekend (and plenty of weird fungi popping up all over the neighborhood). Now for some Saturday events to plan for tomorrow.
Sunset Mercantile is a one-day festival that’s bringing businesses, artists and neighborhood organizations together with residents at Francis Scott Key Elementary school on Saturday from 10am to 5pm.
Billing itself as “a festive pop-up open air metropolis,” the Mercantile is an all-ages affair, so bring companions who can appreciate face-painting and a wine/beer garden.
Angie Petit-Taylor, co-proprietor of Cole Valley Antiques, is co-producing Sunset Mercantile to create “a family-friendly event that replicates the idea of a shopping district. It’s like your own little neighborhood.” She’s organizing the event with Laura Peschke. “We’re both moms who wanted to create something multifaceted that had a lot of crossover interest.”
“It’s scary to open up a store, and it’s hard to start a business in this city,” said Petitt-Taylor. “There’s a lot of creative, brilliant and talented people, so we created a place where they can share and showcase their ideas and passions.”
Several restaurants and local merchants will also appear at Sunset Mercantile, along with food trucks and live performances by Olive the Storyteller (11am) and comedian Michael Meehan (3pm).
Sunset Mercantile will be held tomorrow from 10am-5pm outside Francis Scott Key Elementary School yard at 1530 42nd Ave. Admission is free.
Next on the agenda, The Hidden Garden Steps is a public art project maintained by residents, the San Francisco Parks Alliance and the Department of Public Works. The steps connect Kirkham and Lawton streets via a passage ornately decorated with mosaics that also includes a public garden and a wall mural.
On the second Saturday of each month (that's tomorrow!), volunteers gather to clean the steps, and everyone’s invited. Organizers will provide you with tools and gloves, and attendees are encouraged to bring donations of succulents and native plants. Join the Hidden Garden Steps monthly cleanup at 16th Ave. & Kirkham from 1pm-3pm tomorrow. (UPDATE, 12/13: This month's cleanup has been canceled, as it's too wet on hillside to work due to this week's heavy rain.)
Finally, The Circus Center has been training aspiring acrobats for more than 30 years, and on Saturday and Sunday, it's opening its doors to guests for the 2014 Winter Gala.
Spectators will be treated to student demonstrations of clowning, acrobatics, trapeze work and other activities usually associated with scary clowns and sawdust.The show is free to attend, but a $20 donation is recommended for each reservation; all proceeds benefit the Center, a non-profit organization.
Saturday's show starts at 7:30pm; RSVP via Eventbrite to reserve your seats. The Circus Center is located at 755 Frederick St. between Willard and Arguello.
Did we miss any other events going on in and around the neighborhood this weekend? Let us know in the comments.
