Steven Bracco
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
During COVID year, Castro business owners report over $120,000 in smashed windows
Since the Castro Merchants launched a broken-window recovery initiative and survey last Thursday, neighborhood business owners have reported 72 incidents of vandalized and broken windows at a cost of $135,472.74. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle West Portal
A history of Castro Station and Harvey Milk Plaza, turning 40 this year
Here's the story of the station's history, from its early-1900s origins to present-day plans for a makeover. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro neighborhood group announces new Harvey Milk Plaza redesign team
Today the Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza (FHMP), announced the selection of SWA Group as the new design firm to redesign Castro's Harvey Milk Plaza (Market and Castro Streets). Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Church & Market taqueria Casa Mexicana damaged in 1-alarm kitchen fire
Friday evening, Castro area taqueria Casa Mexicana (180 Church St., between Duboce and 14th) was damaged by a one-alarm grease fire in its kitchen. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro neighborhood bar Pilsner Inn reopens with patio seating after nearly one-year hiatus
Castro neighborhood bar Pilsner Inn (225 Church St.) reopened last week after a nearly one-year hiatus caused by shelter-in-place restrictions. The Pilsner's first day of outdoor drinks and food was February 5, much to the delight of customers, employees, and the bar's owners. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle Mission
New public safety ambassador program launches in Castro, aiming to deter negative street behavior and more
On Thursday, the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District (Castro CBD) launched its new unarmed Public Safety Ambassadors program, part of its new public safety initiative. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro Business Briefs: Great Tan, Face It Salon, and Salon Six all close for good
Three personal services businesses, Great Tan, Salon Six, and Face It Salon & Spa, have all announced permanent closures in recent weeks, nine months after their businesses were hobbled by shelter-in-place restrictions. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro cannabis retailer Flore Store announces 4/20 opening & mural competition
The Castro's newest cannabis retailer Flore Store (258 Noe St.) has announced its grand opening on 4/20 — across the street from Flore a.k.a. Cafe Flore. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro Mexican restaurant & margarita bar Santeria now open
Over the weekend, the Castro's newest Mexican restaurant and margarita bar Santeria (2251 Market St.) softly opened in the former Finn Town space — and it's the sister restaurant to Tacorgasmico a block away. Read More
San Francisco Castro
Castro Bank of America prohibits memorials from being affixed to the building [Updated]
Castro residents are up in arms after Bank of America (501 Castro St.) installed signs last week alerting residents and community members that posters, signs, and other materials could no longer be placed on the building — after decades during which the corner of the building at 18th and Castro has been a communal space for memorials to the recently deceased. Read More
San Francisco Castro
Milk Club holds MLK Day tribute at Castro's 'Hibernia Beach' honoring community leaders
Yesterday the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club (Milk Club) held a Martin Luther King Jr. Day tribute at Castro's Bank of America (501 Castro St.), commonly referred to as 'Hibernia Beach,' honoring the civil rights icon and the passing of recent community members. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle Mission
Castro CBD extends security camera survey deadline & delays town hall
The Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District (Castro CBD) has extended the deadline on its security camera survey and delayed an upcoming virtual town hall. Read More
San Francisco Castro
Castro's vintage gay memorabilia store Auto Erotica seeks community's assistance to stay afloat
After 25 years in the Castro, vintage gay memorabilia store Auto Erotica (4077A 18th St., between Castro and Hartford streets) has turned to crowdfunding to help make it through the pandemic Read More
San Francisco Castro Mission
Le Marais Bakery gets burglarized for third time this year, this time in the Castro
On Tuesday evening, the Castro's Parisian-themed bakery and cafe Le Marais Bakery (498 Sanchez) had its storefront window smashed and the business burglarized, leaving its owners frustrated and disappointed in what has already been a challenging year for small business owners. Read More
San Francisco Mission
El Capitan Taqueria now open in former Mission Beach Cafe space
After sitting vacant for a year and a half, the space formerly occupied by popular Mission District brunch spot Mission Beach Cafe at 198 Guerrero St. (at 14th St.) is now home to a new location of El Capitan Taqueria. Read More
San Francisco Lake Shore Parkside
San Francisco's only Olive Garden at Stonestown Galleria permanently closes
Fans of Olive Garden's neverending pasta bowl will now have to travel outside San Francisco to enjoy the chain restaurant's casual Italian-American cuisine. The only city location at the Stonestown Galleria has closed for good. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle Mission
Castro barbershop Healing Cuts moves after disagreement with landlord
Castro barbershop Healing Cuts (3903 18th St.) has shuttered after just one year in the Castro. The barbershop's last day in this space will be December 1. Read More
San Francisco Alamo Square Duboce Triangle Western Addition
Short film chronicles the life and costume creations of long-time Western Addition resident
Longtime Western Addition resident and gay-Latino designer Miguel Gutierrez was recently profiled in a new documentary film about his life in San Francisco, and his art, design, and costume creations. The film was released last week in commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1. Read More
San Francisco Castro
Castro CBD announces plan for security camera town hall & online survey [Updated]
Last week the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District (Castro CBD) announced plans to seek immediate community feedback regarding a controversial proposal to install a private network of security cameras. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro gets second Shared Spaces street closure, Noe Street goes car-free this Sunday
SFMTA approved the Castro Merchants' request to close Noe Street between 16th and Market Streets and Beaver Street. Castro residents will be familiar with the footprint as it's the same one used for Castro Farmers' Market on Wednesdays. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro Muni station elevator project delayed, Harvey Milk Plaza redesign slowly moves forward
Hoodline has learned that the construction of a new glass elevator at Castro Muni station and Harvey Milk Plaza (Market and Castro Streets) has been delayed until fall 2021. Read More
San Francisco Castro Mission
Notorious Castro drug den sells for $4.8 million after complete renovation
After undergoing a complete renovation, a notorious Castro neighborhood building at 517-519 Sanchez Street (near 18th Street) has sold for $4.8 million. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Mexican restaurant Santeria, from Tacorgasmico team, headed to former Finn Town space
In some rare good news about an upcoming restaurant opening the Castro, Hoodline has learned that Santería, a new Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar, is headed to the former Finn Town Tavern space at 2251 Market Street. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Castro gallery Art Attack goes into hibernation mode amid pandemic
Over the weekend, three-year-old Castro art gallery Art Attack SF (2358 Market St.) announced it would be closing its doors for the foreseeable future. Read More
San Francisco Castro Duboce Triangle
Artists continue to paint Castro murals with focus on diverse voices
Castro residents walking around the neighborhood may have noticed that murals are continuing to proliferate on storefronts and buildings. Read More