Residents old and new seem to agree on one thing: SoMa is swiftly evolving right under their noses. Homes, warehouses and storefronts are receiving upgrades, applications for new developments are cropping up almost every week, and businesses big and small are snapping up valuable office and retail real estate left and right.
Amid all of this change, Rincon Hill neighbors voted to approve the new Greater Rincon Hill Community Benefit District and the Yerba Buena CBD has been renewed for another 15 years. If you haven't, check out our detailed report on what these approvals mean for both neighborhoods.
On the office space front, word has leaked that Apple may be the latest tech giant to call SoMa home. While still unconfirmed, San Francisco Business Times reports that the company has made an agreement to sublease 76,000 square feet of office space at 235 Second St. If BizTimes is correct, this is would be Apple's first outpost in the city.
With Moscone Center's renovations underway, there's no doubt that tourists are at the top of developers' agendas. We scanned the latest headlines and Planning Department files and found that over the next few years at least eight tourist hotels will likely rise around the neighborhood.
And it seems as though SoMa can't get enough beer either. On the heels of two other brewery openings this summer, Black Hammer Brewing is prepping to open next Friday at 544 Bryant.
Putting aside the new for a moment, the community is saying goodbye to a longtime neighborhood activist. According to The Bay Area Reporter, Jim Meko died Monday, Aug. 3rd, following a stroke in July. The 66-year-old chaired the Western SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force, served on the city's entertainment commission for many years and fought hard in recent years to keep Western SoMa's entertainment venues from encroaching on residents' quality of life. A public memorial will be held at 6pm, Aug. 17th at Slim's (333 11th St). Those who would like to speak or share photos can contact dennis {at} slims-sf {dot} com.
Finally, for those avoiding Outside Lands this year, here's a variety of alternatives in this warmer, drier part of town:
Friday, Aug. 7th
Sightglass Public Coffee Cupping
3pm, 270 7th St.
Free
Host Description: Every Friday, join us at our 7th Street training lab for good conversation, tasty coffees, and warm fuzzy feelings. The event is free, but space is limited so please rsvp if you plan on attending.
Young Musicians Choral Orchestra presents “Dance!”
7pm, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard St.
Free
Host Description: "FREE to the public, Young Musicians Choral Orchestra presents “Dance!” — a summer finale to inspire your feet and hearts! Swoon amongst popular arias, art songs, sonatas, and quartets with the “Best of the Best” recitalists from the 2015 YMCO Summer Institute. Hop to your feet with choral spirituals and “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place” from the Brahms Requiem. Dance with orchestral triumphs in Borodin’s Polovetsian Dance, Brahm’s Hungarian Dances, and Ravel’s Bolero. YMCO’s young musicians thrill with familiar melodies, magically seducing you to tap your feet with joy!"
Champagne White & The Temple Of Poon
7pm, The Oasis, 298 11th St.
$25-$200
Host Description: "On the heels of D’Arcy Drollinger’s run-away cult hit “Shit & Champagne”, comes the outrageous and irreverent sequel, “Champagne White and the Temple of Poon”. Starring D’Arcy Drollinger, Matthew Martin, Steven LeMay, James Arthur, Adam Roy & Nancy French."
Point Break Live
7:30pm, DNA Lounge, 375 11th St.
$20; standing room only
Host Description: "Honored with a City Proclamation from Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2008, Point Break Live! is a spoof of the 1991 blockbuster classic starring Patrick Swayze as Bodhi, the Zen-surfing leader of a gang of bank robbing adrenaline junkies called the Ex-Presidents, and Keanu Reeves as Johnny Utah, an ex-college football star turned undercover FBI Agent."
The Spill Canvas: One Fell Swoop 10 Year Anniversary
9pm, Slims, 333 11th St.
$16-$40
Host Description: "In August, the Spill Canvas will be embarking on a 10-year tour for their 2005 album, One Fell Swoop."
Unofficial Outside Lands After Party Featuring Big Freedia
10pm, 1015 Folsom
$20
Host Description: "Big Freedia (pronounced “FREE-da”), known as the Queen of Bounce, is at the forefront of the Bounce rap movement (a subgenre of hip-hop born out of New Orleans and known for its call and response style and lightening speed booty-shaking dance). Performing five out of seven nights in any given week with dancers she calls The Divas, Big Freedia’s show is nothing short of dazzling. She tours every city in America from New York to San Francisco and is always a favorite at festivals such as Electric Forest, Hangout Fest, FunFunFun Fest, SXSW, and Bonnaroo, among many others."
Underground Fridays
9pm, AsiaSF, 201 9th St.
Free before 10:30pm; $5 after
Host Description: "Join 1221 Entertainment and DJ 12 as we present another installment of Underground Fridays...DJ 12 in the mix all night spinning the hottest in EDM, Hip Hop, R&B, Club Hits and Old School."
Saturday, Aug. 8th
Pistahan Parade & Festival
10am-5pm, Civic Center Plaza & Yerba Buena Gardens
Free
Host Description: "Experience the best of Filipino art, dance, music and food at the 22nd Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival. Billed as the largest celebration of Filipino Americans in the U.S., the the two-day event organized by the Filipino American Arts Exposition is expected to draw over 75,000 people each day. Admission is free and fun for the entire family!"
Athletic Yoga Flow to Madonna
10:15am, Wheel House, One Embarcadero
$20
Host Description: "Flow-based, quick-paced, and — most importantly — an absolute blast, this class is set to the beats of the original princess of pop. Roll out your mat for a unique musical flow experience."
Wheat Power and Sours on the Hour: A Glorious, Gluttonous, and Non-Gluten Free Food and Beer Festival
11am-6pm, SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St.
Free
Host Description: "Come celebrate the sunshine in style at SoMa StrEat Food Park with an all-day celebration of 3 of our favorite things: summer, beer, and wheat! Cool off and relax with 10+ refreshing wheat beers from all over the world. Not a wheat beer fan? No worries! We’ll have exclusive sour beers from some of of the top artisanal breweries getting released all day, every hour on the hour, plus refreshing sangria, wine, and bottled beer from the bar."
Yerba Buena Kid's Club
Noon-2pm, Annie Street Plaza
Free
Host Description: "We’ll have face painting, magic, reptiles, and a bouncy castle! Don’t miss the fun!"
Big Sippin' in SOMA: Craft Beer Pub Crawl
1pm, Thirsty Bear Brewing Company, 661 Howard St.
$69
Host Description: "SF on Tap is taking to the streets of SOMA to offer enthusiasts an afternoon of craft beer drinking, education, and celebration. Each tour showcases three to four of SF's best breweries and beer bars."
Champagne White & The Temple Of Poon
7pm, The Oasis, 298 11th St.
$25-$200
Host Description: "On the heels of D’Arcy Drollinger’s run-away cult hit “Shit & Champagne”, comes the outrageous and irreverent sequel, “Champagne White and the Temple of Poon”. Starring D’Arcy Drollinger, Matthew Martin, Steven LeMay, James Arthur, Adam Roy & Nancy French."
Sunday, Aug. 9th
Pistahan Festival
10am-5pm, Yerba Buena Gardens
Host Description: "Experience the best of Filipino art, dance, music and food at the 22nd Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival. Billed as the largest celebration of Filipino Americans in the U.S., the the two-day event organized by the Filipino American Arts Exposition is expected to draw over 75,000 people each day. Admission is free and fun for the entire family!"
Partition: 6-Week Beyoncé Dance Class
10am, LEVYdance, 19 Heron St.
$95
Host Description: "Learn the moves to Queen Bey's widely acclaimed and notoriously sexy "Partition," the second half of her two-part song "Yoncé/Partition." By the end of this series, you'll know just how to drop the bass with the ever-fierce Ms. Carter."
Drop-In Art-Making
1-3pm, Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St.
Free with museum admission; youth 18 and under always free
Host Description: "Bring your family and drop into new adventures in art-making every Sunday and select school holidays. Create and experiment with a variety of techniques and materials while making connections to our current exhibitions and Jewish traditions. Select workshops also feature demonstrations and collaborations with local artists. This summer’s workshops have been inspired by the artwork in the exhibition Night Begins the Day: Rethinking Space, Time, and Beauty."
Deco Date: Crafting, Wine & Cheese
3pm, Tank 18, 1345 Howard St.
$44
Host Description: "You might never own a vineyard, but this might be as close as you get. Hone your creative side as you create the wine label of your dreams. Tank18 provides the craft supplies while you decorate your bottle of wine and take it home with you."
