Another Hole in the Head
Now in its 10th year, SF IndieFest will once again present Another Hole in the Head, a 3 week celebration of Independent Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy films. The Historic Balboa Theatre will host the first week of screenings from Nov. 29 to Dec. 5.
The full schedule can be found here:
http://anotherholeinthehead.festivalgenius.com/2013/schedule/week/venue/Balboa+Theater
New Openings in the Richmond District
This month, two new businesses opened their doors for the first time. The Fog Baby Cafe is now serving customers along Balboa near 36th Ave., and a Grocery Outlet is up and running on Geary near 28th Ave.
The Grocery Outlet is family-owned and operated by Travis and Rose Dawson. They sell a variety of discounted items and are poised to become a neighborhood favorite for shoppers.
The Fog Baby Cafe offers great breakfast and lunch options like croissants, bagels, and specialty sandwiches.
Senator Mark Leno Honors Green Apple Books and Joe’s Ice Cream
Mark Leno was in the Richmond District on Saturday to honor two longtime favorites of the community. Both Green Apple Books and Joe’s Ice Cream have been successful since the 1960’s.
“I am pleased to recognize these unique small businesses, both of which have been part of our City for generations and take their commitment to our community seriously,” said Leno.
He also took to Twitter:
Sunday Streets
San Francisco Sunday Streets will be coming to the Richmond District on Oct. 27. The event will close stretches of streets to automobile traffic and leave them open to biking, walking, running, dancing and other physical activities.
Here’s a map detailing the activities: http://www.sundaystreetssf.com/event-information/
A gallery illustrating past events: http://www.sundaystreetssf.com/gallery-and-videos/
Horror Film Event Hosted by Metallica’s Kirk Hammett
Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, a San Francisco native, will be hosting a horror film event at The Historic Balboa Theatre on Nov. 7. The double feature includes two classic horror films The Black Cat (1934) and White Zombie (1932), each starring Bela Lugosi. Regular tickets are $35 while the VIP package is $125. The event will benefit the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation.
Cliff House Restaurant Closed
Photo by Kelley Michie Diwan
The Cliff House has shut its doors as a result of the government shutdown. CBS has the full story: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/10/03/san-franciscos-cliff-house-closed-due-to-government-shutdown/
Bazaar Cafe
Kate Kilbane (left) and Dan Moses (right) perform a song during a concert at the Bazaar Cafe in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013. Proceeds from the event benefitted the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The Bazaar Cafe is a very unique spot in the Outer Richmond. Part cafe and part venue for local musicians, it is always brewing positive vibes along with the coffee. While it certainly isn’t the most spacious place to grab lunch or enjoy a night out in the Richmond District, the Bazaar Cafe has all the right elements to make it a favorite among the community.
“You don’t find a place like this anywhere else,” said Gereika Salcedo, who travels from Fresno, Calif., every month to stop by the cafe. “They have really cool books, instruments you can play around with, and even board games.”
Despite the unassuming appearance from the outside, the walls on the inside are lined with colorful abstract art, and the room gives off a much different feel than most small restaurants.
Photo by Flickr user: hanoi_hoang
Where the Bazaar Cafe truly wins over the hearts of fans is in their commitment to showcasing musical talent. Almost every night of the month, the quiet hangout spot transforms into what Marion Weigel calls “a paradise for musicians.”
Weigel, a frequent visitor, admires the cafe’s open-armed approach.
“There is a nurturing atmosphere here and it is really like a home for the artists. This is where a lot of very talented musicians got their start, and from the collaboration they have really grown so much.”
A large number of Bay Area bands got their start at the Bazaar Cafe. It is a place that provides up and coming music acts a chance to perform in a comfortable, low-stress environment, something many venues in San Francisco fail to do. All of the music is played acoustically, so no amplifiers or microphones.
Kate Kilbane, who has been playing shows at The Bazaar Cafe for over 3 years now with her husband Dan Moses, couldn’t be happier with the experience.
“As a singer, to be able to project to an audience without a microphone, and be heard, is a really special and unique thing,” said Kilbane. “It feels so intimate and close, and I think that’s true for both the performers and the audience.”
Community Members chat with each other at the Bazaar Cafe in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013.
For artists like Kate and Dan, the best part of the night is after the music has finished. Everyone gets together to connect as a community, and not a single soul wants to leave. Those are the special moments that only the Bazaar Cafe can create, and why it truly is a home to all who pass through the door.
Clement Street Farmers Market
Shoppers gather fresh fruit from the Clement Street Farmers Market in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013.
Men and women of all ages strolled down the center of Clement Street on a crisp Sunday morning with their cash in hand and not a trace of fog in sight. It only took a few minutes before hundreds had filled the two-block stretch of the Inner Richmond.
As lines formed at the vendor booths, the sun shined down and lit up the fresh produce and baked goods like they had taken center stage. The connection between local grower and loyal customer was almost tangible. This was the Clement Street Farmers Market, a vibrant new addition to what what was already a lively part of the Richmond District.
Plans for the weekly food gathering had been floating around for quite a while before the wishes of many residents came true earlier this summer. Community groups had been trying to bring a farmers market to the Richmond District for the past five years.
The plan finally made headway when Supervisor Eric Mar was able to work with the Clement Street Merchants Association to find someone to manage the market. They got the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM), which runs several markets around the Bay Area, to bring the event to life on June 23. In the months since the approval, the market has brought smiles to faces of attendees and vendors every Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“One of the things I keep hearing is that people are having relationships with their neighbors in a way that they hadn’t been able to before,” said Jessica Wilson, the market manager and member of AIM.
For years, the foggy weather and lack of regularly scheduled events has kept a large portion of the Richmond residents independent from one another. But the introduction of the market has acted as a magnet and pulled the community closer together.
“I work seven days a week so I really enjoy this,” said Tom Turner as he reclined in his chair and watched families pass by. “It’s kind of fun to hang with people. Most of my buddies are from the farmers market, whether they are customers or other vendors.”
Turner operates his company Crane Creek Growers out of a farm in Penngrove and brings fresh-cut lilies and sunflowers to different San Francisco markets every week. He is in the majority of vendors who have welcomed the opportunity to expand their business to the Clement Street Farmers Market.
Erik Ray, who travels to multiple markets with the wholesale bakery Crepe & Brioche, is another.
“This market is turning out to be way busier than the other ones,” he said. “In fact, it is getting busier by the week.”
Ranjit Bains lifts a freshly baked naan bread from a tandoor oven during the Clement Street Farmers Market in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013.
The location of the market happens to be in a highly congested area. There are 45 restaurants within four blocks of each other, and many additional stores that sell everything from party balloons to high-quality clothing. These businesses surrounding the new Sunday food spectacle were, for the most part, happy to see it arrive.
“As a community event it’s really great,” said Brinn Riley, co-owner of Q Restaurant and Wine Bar. “A lot of people come out and you see a lot of faces. We have chosen to do a booth where was have pulled pork tacos and scrambled egg tacos.”
Riley’s restaurant even changed its Sunday hours to open at 9 a.m. in accordance with the market.
Katsue Nakiri, a long-time employee at the fabric and trim store Fabrix, was also pleased when she found out the market would be coming into the area.
“We like having them here, and I definitely want to support the organic growers,” she said.
For some places, there was a mixed bag of emotions during the summer as the market drew larger crowds.
“We were terrified at first because we do pretty good lunch business,” said Chet Spahr, manager at Giorgio’s Pizzeria. “But a lot of our employees were excited about it and we liked the idea of new stuff happening in the neighborhood.”
Jack Latourelle, 3, plays a bean bag toss game at the Clement Street Farmer’s Market in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013.
Spahr and his staff at Giorgio’s, a staple restaurant in the Richmond District for more than 40 years, have since moved forward and embraced the new event.
“It’s a little bit of a hassle when I try and show up to work on Sunday, but on the other hand my wife gets to go walk the market,” he said with a sizable grin.
The Clement Street Farmers Market has undoubtedly been a huge hit so far. Their next goal is to gain a long-term permit to operate the event year-round. With more than 250 individual letters written by community members and business owners, and 7,000 signatures signed in support of keeping the market, there is a strong likelihood of an extension.
Jog in the Fog
Runners Ryan Terlouw (left) and Heather Terlouw (right) cross the finish line at the first annual Richmond District Jog in the Fog race in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013.
Runners of all set off for the first annual Richmond District Jog in the Fog race in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013.
The first ever Richmond District Jog in the Fog race was a great success this past Sunday. Over 500 participants came out for the event, with proceeds benefitting the Richmond District Neighborhood Center. Here are some photos:
Supervisor Eric Mar (right) addresses runners while Sarah Bacon (left) looks on at the start of the the first annual Richmond District Jog in the Fog race in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013.
Reporting on the Richmond 