Few North Beach institutions are as admired as the Salesian Boys' and Girls' Club (680 Filbert St.), which provides activities and opportunities to youth for a mere $10/year. From sports to theater to after-school tutoring, it's a cornerstone of the community.
The Salesian building is currently in the midst of a $10.8 million makeover, but the organization is still a little shy of the total. That's why the Salesian Mother's Club is hosting its third annual Salesian Beer & Food Fest fundraiser next Friday, August 21st (6-9:30pm). To be held on-site at Salesian, the festival will offer unlimited food, beer and wine, along with a DJ, games and a photo booth. Tickets ($40) are available online or at the door.
Everyone involved has donated their time and/or items, from DJ Armando Martinez to local restaurants and breweries. "I think we did a really good job of utilizing our community resources and Salesian support network to solicit donations, so that we could maximize the proceeds from the event," said the Mother's Club's Lisa Rivera.
Shrimp cocktail from Swan Oyster Depot at last year's event.
Food donations will be provided by Golden Boy Pizza, Sodini's, Sotto Mare, Swan Oyster Depot, Liguria Bakery, The Boardroom, Hooters, Tony's Pizza Napoletana, La Trappe, Victoria's Pastry, KIND and Pepperidge Farms. Beverage donors include 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, Lagunitas Brewing Company, TW Pitchers' Brewing Company, Mendocino Brewing Company, Hoppy Brewing Company, Baeltane Brewing, Corona, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, North Coast Brewing Company, Singha, Fort Point Beer Company, Trumer Pils, Anchor Brewing Company, Peak Organic Brewing Company, La Trappe Cafe, TAJ Cellars, E16 Wine Company and Foley Family Wines.
Hoppy Brewing Company will return to the festival this year.
Last year's event drew about 200 people, but it was on the same weekend as Outside Lands, Rivera said, so the club decided to change the date. This year, they're expecting about 400 attendees, and hope to raise more than $15,000. The new building is almost complete and could open by late September, but with last-minute costs, the club is still about $200,000 short of the total.
"It’s a huge renovation," Rivera said of the revamped Salesian. "The whole building was gutted down to the studs. They did retrofitting for earthquake safety; they added an elevator; they added a third floor for additional rooms and space. There’s going to be a black box theater and dance room; there’s going to be a room for arts and crafts and cooking; there's a conference space; there’s a multimedia computer lab. The gym is all being redone, too. It’s going to be a really fabulous space for the kids."
Only those 21 and older can attend the event; for those in need of childcare, nearby Destination Art (900 Filbert St.) is hosting a kids' movie night from 6-9:30pm. The cost is $20 per child or $30 per family (two or more children), and includes movies, popcorn, and arts and crafts. For more information, contact Julie Mercer at (415) 350-4396 or at destinationart [at] yahoo [dot] com.
