We bid summer farewell this week, on the heels of some pretty toasty temperatures. Here are some of the other hot stories around the neighborhood:
Two major projects in the UCSF Millberry Union renovation wrapped up this week. The Event & Meeting Center at 500 Parnassus Ave. got an audiovisual upgrade, new windows, and new soundproofing, while fast-casual soup and salad restaurant Ladle & Leaf finally opened in the School of Nursing after several construction delays. Next week, a new university store will debut inside the Union, where you can get your university-branded gear, school supplies, and more.
More clues about La Boulange's fate came to light, suggesting the Cole Valley location could be among a few cafes slated for a second life under founder Pascal Rigo. A business filing registered a "La Boulangerie de San Francisco" at the bakery's original Pine St. location, and several neighbors and employees indicated they know of plans to keep a few locations alive, including Cole Valley. As of now, however, Rigo remains mum about his plans.
Residents passing by the Conservatory of Flowers may have noticed a shiny new golden sculpture out front. "La Rose Des Vents" ("Wind Rose") is the creation of French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, whose work has been displayed everywhere from Versailles to Brooklyn. You can catch it until next June, when the city plans to move it to a yet-to-be determined permanent home.
Finally, we took a stroll down memory lane on Lincoln Way, with a look at some early-20th-century photos of the street (then called "H Street"), overlaid with contemporary shots. Several trees and buildings from the 1900s remain standing, but the railroad tracks that once carried passengers to Ocean Beach have been replaced, and Andronico's Market now stands on the site of a former streetcar storage yard.
With the past and present covered, we roll on toward the future. Here's what's cooking for the weekend:
Friday, September 25th
Friday Nights at the de Young: A Night of Pure Dazzle
de Young Museum, 5pm-8:30pm
The de Young is once again open late for their weekly "after-hours art happening," with live music, dance and theater performances, film screenings, panel discussions, lectures, artist demonstrations, hands-on art activities, and exhibition tours. This week, plan to arrive by 6:30pm for the Some Thing Tiara Sensation Pageant. "SOME THING is a weekly party that allows us to explore, open, and redefine drag performance through traditional lip sync, dance, live singing, vaudevillian antics, and the creation of new personas (regardless of race, gender, or color)." General admission is free, special exhibits are discounted to $15, and bites and drinks are available for purchase.
Circus Center, 755 Frederick St., 7pm-9pm
Host Description: "Every Friday night from 7-9pm, Circus Center holds a FREE open play session where you can experiment with juggling, tightwire, rolla bolla, feather balancing, clowning, and more in a casual setting, under the supervision of our instructors." Everyone age 8 and older is welcome, regardless of experience, but students under 18 must have a parent sign a release form, and those under 15 must have a parent in tow.
Saturday, September 26th
SF Bicycle Coalition: Ride SF to Muir Woods
Meet in front of the Cal Academy of Sciences, 9am
Host Description: "Ride out of the city! This San Francisco to Muir Woods ride is led by SF Bicycle Coalition member-volunteers and is targeted is for advanced beginners who want to try longer distance riding. This is not a fast-paced ride, riders. Please double check and make sure your bicycle is in good working order prior to the ride." The ride is for ages 18 and up, and is free for Coalition members. A $10 donation is suggested for non-members.
Photo: Stephen Kennedy/Flickr
Beatles Choir Volunteer Sing-Along
375 Laguna Honda Blvd., 9:30am-noon
Host Description: "Take a sad song and make it better! The Beatles Choir, affiliated with City Church San Francisco, loves the residents and staff of Laguna Honda Hospital through music, joy, and laughter. Laguna Honda Hospital is a long-term, skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, committed to serving seniors and adults with disabilities living in San Francisco." Bring a black shirt along with your singing voice, and meet for a rehearsal in the lobby before touring the hospital.
Golden Gate Park Music Concourse and de Young Museum, 11am-5:30pm
Host Description: "NeekOn is a movement to inspire Giving. We are kicking off with an event to cultivate emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and a spirit of giving within ourselves and others in the community using live music, dance, visual arts, workshops, leadership building activities and food from around the world." This year's inaugural festival features artists from the Silk Road region. All events are free with the exception of two performances by Sina Sarlak & Nava Ensemble and Mojdeh Shamsaie. For the full lineup, visit their website.
The Circus Center Cabaret Presents: Curtain Up!
755 Frederick St., Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 7pm
Host Description: "The Circus Center Cabaret features the music of the Roger Glenn Trio and the voice of Kelli Crump, Cabaret Chanteuse. With bar and refreshments, the cozy cabaret theater at Circus Center calls to mind a vintage speakeasy with a modern twist. Each month, a rotating cast of guest performers ensure that each show will dazzle audiences with a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience of circus at its best." Admission (including a drink ticket) is $50.
Sunday, September 27th
9th Ave. parking lot between Irving and Judah, 9am-1pm
Host Description: "The continuing drought has made for an interesting seasonal juxtaposition of summer and fall fruits and vegetables at the farmers' market. Some fall fruits like figs, grapes, and apples arrived several weeks earlier than normal, while summer produce, such as stone fruit and summer squash is still in the markets." Head over to 9th Ave. Sunday morning for your pick of artichokes, pears, and kabocha squash.
Jazz at the Park with the Golden Gate Park Band
Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park, 1pm-3pm
Host Description: "GGPB is one of the last big-city bands to present a full season of free concerts to locals and tourists from all over the world." Sunday's Jazz at the Park is the penultimate concert of the season, so if you've been meaning to check out the band, this weekend will be one of your last opportunities until they resume in the spring.
Super Blood Moon Eclipse
6:07pm-9:27pm
Recline your neck skyward Sunday evening to see some notable moon happenings. Around moonrise, a total eclipse will occur. In addition to that, you'll see the closest supermoon of 2015, this year's harvest moon (closest full moon to the autumn equinox), and a blood moon (the fourth and final eclipse in a lunar tetrad). Earthsky breaks down the timing of the eclipse:
- Partial umbral eclipse begins: 6:07 p.m. PDT
- Total eclipse begins: 7:11 p.m. PDT
- Greatest eclipse: 7:47 p.m. PDT
- Total eclipse ends: 8:23 p.m. PDT
- Partial eclipse ends: 9:27 p.m. PDT
Photo: Nancy Dushkin/Flickr
Monday, September 28th
1736 9th Ave., 7pm
Looking ahead to next week, SHARP is hosting an election forum co-sponsored by Golden Gate Heights Neighborhood Association, SF Progress Democratic Club, Sunset Parkside Education and Action Committee, and West of Twin Peaks Council.
The speakers will be George Gascon (unopposed candidate for re-election as District Attorney), candidates for one seat on the Community College Board (here is an article by Tim Redmond about the race), and proponents and opponents of Proposition C (proposed requirements for “expenditure lobbyists”), Proposition D (proposed Mission Rock development), Proposition F (further limitations on short- term rentals of residential property), and Proposition I (an 18-month moratorium on certain development in the Mission District)."
Enjoy the weekend, Sunsetters!
