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Axios San Francisco
2 San Francisco bars land spots on North America's 50 best bars
Two establishments of our own have snagged spots on the list of North America's 50 Best Bars.Why it matters: True Laurel and Pacific Cocktail Haven are the only San Francisco bars named in the annual ranking of bar experiences, which are selected based on votes by anonymous bar industry experts from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.Driving the news: True Laurel, based in the Mission District, came in at No. 30 with a range of drinks that incorporate local flora and more.Pacific Cocktail Haven, located near Union Square was listed at No. 38 and is known for its use...
Walk SF's stairway challenge returns on Saturday
San Francisco has a plethora of breathtaking stairways, and nonprofit organization Walk San Francisco wants to be your guide to finding them.Driving the news: Walk SF is hosting a stairway challenge Saturday that loops through the neighborhoods of Diamond Heights and Noe Valley.Proceeds from ticket sales go toward Walk SF, which advocates for safer, more walkable streets in the city.What they're saying: The walk seeks to offer the "best of walking in San Francisco: the off-the-charts views, the off-the-beaten-path surprises, and the unique neighborhoods," Walk SF spokesperson Marta Lindsey told Axios via email."Oh yeah, and some stairs! Giving your butt...
San Francisco Chinatown gets slower internet for same price, study alleges
Residents of Chinatown — where almost 33% of people live below the poverty line — still struggle to access affordable and reliable internet, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: Almost half of Chinatown's households don't have an internet broadband subscription — and those that do report "slow and unreliable" service, according to an analysis of 105 San Francisco addresses by the advocacy group Chinese for Affirmative Action.Context: Anisha Hingorani, policy manager at CAA, tells Axios that the issue of digital equity landed on the group's radar during the pandemic amid an influx of clients trying to apply for unemployment benefits."It...
Throwback Thursday: The beginning of roller-skating in Golden Gate Park
There are few things as "totally San Francisco" as Skatin' Place on the JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park.Driving the news: The city recently began renting roller skates at Skatin' Place so that folks without their own pair of skates can still take part in this very San Francisco activity.Flashback: Skatin' Place was established in the mid-1980s, according to the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.Leading up to its creation, David Miles Jr. had become the de facto leader in 1979 of the Golden Gate Park Skate Patrol, a group of skaters that fought against a parkwide ban on roller-skating,...
8 weekend ideas in SF
The weekend is almost here. This is what's on tap:Thursday🥳 Check out the new monthly block party, Downtown First Thursdays, in SoMa.Features DJs, live music, drag, martial arts, food trucks and more.Second and Howard streets. 5-10pm.🪩 Once the block party wraps, head over to Storek for an after-party with music from artist Aluna.9pm-2am. $25.Friday🎻 Get dressed up and head to the SF Symphony for a special screening of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" with a live orchestra. 7:30pm. Tickets start at $98.⌚️ Wind Up Watch Fair at Fort Mason features more than 60 watch brands, discussion panels, food trucks...
Your guide to free museum days in San Francisco this month
It's time to take advantage of San Francisco's free museum days.The big picture: SF is home to a vibrant collection of museums, from abstract and contemporary art to hands-on science exhibits geared for children. Whether you're a Bay Area native or just moved here, you'll learn something new.Make sure to arrive early — free admission days are typically crowded.Free admission daysAsian Art Museum: Sunday, May 5Legion of Honor: Every Saturday for Bay Area residents and Tuesday, May 7, for everyonede Young Museum: Every Saturday for Bay Area residents and Tuesday, May 7, for everyoneMuseum of Craft and Design: Every WednesdayMuseum of the African Diaspora: Thursday, May 2 Oakland Museum of California: Sunday, May 5 Contemporary Jewish Museum: Friday, May 3SFMOMA: Thursday, May 2, for Bay Area residentsGLBT Historical Society Museum: Wednesday, May 1The Exploratorium: Sunday, May 12Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: Sunday, May 12, and Sunday, May 26
What's happening with West Portal
Following backlash from community members and local businesses, city officials are holding off on implementing a plan that sought to make major traffic design changes to the West Portal area.Why it matters: Following a crash that killed a family of four waiting at a West Portal bus stop in March, city officials in April unveiled a plan that would prevent cars from driving through the intersection of Ulloa Street and West Portal Avenue.But some residents and business owners quickly opposed the plan, arguing the city was "undermining" the thriving business district.Driving the news: Supervisor Myrna Melgar, whose district includes West...
The "Fillmore Eclipse" immersive theater exhibit on display through May 12
There's a new immersive theater exhibit in the Fillmore that explores the 1950s jazz scene and subsequent Urban Renewal in the neighborhood, once known as the Harlem of the West.Driving the news: The show, "Fillmore Eclipse," opened last week and runs through May 12 at Honey Art Studio.The show explores redevelopment through the experience of regulars at the Eclipse, modeled after historical after-hours jazz spot Bop City, the night before it's about to be destroyed."Fillmore Eclipse" is styled after immersive experiences like "Sleep No More" and "The Nest," according to its creators.Tickets start at $30.What they're saying: The show, San Francisco Chronicle critic Lily Janiak writes, offers "a too-rare occasion to ponder one of history's eternal dilemmas: Back then, which side would you have been on, and which side are you on now?"
“Heart of Asian America:” SF Japantown kicks off Peace Plaza renovations
San Francisco's project to renovate Japantown Peace Plaza is officially underway as the city shores up preservation efforts for what officials say is one of three remaining Japantowns in the U.S.Why it matters: Japantown, like San Francisco's Chinatown, struggled to survive the pandemic.The project aims to bolster structural protections and culturally significant features in the plaza, which has served as a central hub for the local Japanese community since it was built in the 1960s.What they're saying: "San Francisco is the heart of Asian America," Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), who helped secure funding for the project, said at a...
The latest on SF's sports teams
The San Francisco 49ers prioritized speed and strength in the 2024 NFL draft last week, The Athletic reports.Driving the news: But there were a couple of controversial picks. The first was the first-round selection of wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who "seemed to be picked more with 2025 in mind," per The Athletic.Another was the "confusing" second-round selection of cornerback Renardo Green, who was drafted "about two rounds too high," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. wrote.The 49ers' overall draft grade, per ESPN: B-minus.Here are some other notable happenings in San Francisco sports:Golden State Warriors' Steph Curry wins awardThe Dubs didn't make...
The rise of extreme weather-related power outages in California
Data: Climate Central via U.S. Department of Energy; Note: Major power outages affect at least 50k customers or interrupt service of 300 megawatts or more; Outage events can cross state lines; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosCalifornia's electric grid could face increasing strain as climate change raises the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, a new study indicates.Why it matters: Outages, and lengthy restore times, can cost the economy billions of dollars and lead to loss of life. Just two months ago, a severe storm left more than 700,000 Bay Area customers without power and was blamed for at least three deaths.By...
The most dangerous intersections in San Francisco, per police
Amid citywide efforts to improve pedestrian and road safety, the San Francisco Police Department plans to increase enforcement at what it's deemed the most dangerous intersections.State of play: The SFPD last week outlined a traffic enforcement plan designed to reduce speeding and crashes at nine intersections in the city, the San Francisco Standard reports.The plan will entail deploying additional police officers to those intersections to monitor speeds, which is "most often the factor that makes a crash fatal," SFPD Traffic Company Cmdr. Nicole Jones said at a Board of Supervisors hearing last week.This year, there have been 12 fatal accidents,...
The best brunch in San Francisco, according to Yelp
If you want some tasty brunch, consider checking out Mr. East Kitchen, Lapisara Eatery or Lokma in San Francisco.State of play: Today, Yelp on Monday released its list of the 100 best brunch spots in the country, featuring those three restaurants in San Francisco.Lokma (No. 80), located in the Richmond, is a Turkish and Mediterranean restaurant that one reviewer said has "amazing" papas bravas and a "delightful" Turkish breakfast special.Thai American fusion restaurant Lapisara Eatery (No. 68), located in Lower Nob Hill, is "nothing short of excellent," according to one reviewer.Claiming the top spot in San Francisco was Mr. East Kitchen (No. 10), a Thai and Vietnamese fusion restaurant in SoMa. "Not only is their food aesthetically pleasing, it's also very tasty," a reviewer wrote.
Renovated 911 dispatch center aims to improve response times
San Francisco's emergency management department recently unveiled its revamped 911 dispatch center as it works to improve emergency response times.Why it matters: Dispatcher response times trended downward over the past few years, as the department hasn't reached its monthly goal of responding to 95% of calls within 15 seconds since June 2020, according to the city's Department of Emergency Management (DEM).By the numbers: The city's 911 dispatch center receives an average of 3,200 calls every day, according to the release.In February, the most recent month in which data is available, 911 dispatchers responded to just 73% of calls within 15...
San Francisco's downtown visitor activity dropped 21% over the past year
Data: University of Toronto; Note: Downtown defined as the central location with the highest concentration of employment in each metro area; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosMost American downtowns saw a bump in visitor activity over the past year — but not San Francisco, new data shows.Why it matters: Amid narratives about crime, store closures and an emptied downtown post-pandemic, local officials have launched a suite of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the city. The updated figures reveal that we haven't quite bounced back.By the numbers: San Francisco's downtown visitor activity dropped over 21% between March 2023 and this past February, according to researchers...
San Francisco weekend events: DogFest, The Fillmore Eclipse and more
We're forecast to get sun the whole weekend, and you know what that means — time to get out of the house.Luckily, there's a bunch going on around town.Friday🎷 Experience an immersive theater project set in the 1950s Fillmore jazz club scene, in which African Americans and Japanese Americans banded together to fight displacement. "The Fillmore Eclipse" will have a limited run starting Friday through May 12.7:30pm Friday and Saturday, and 2:30pm on Sunday at Honey Art Studio.General admission tickets are $50, with discounts for students and artists as well as a VIP package.🍿 Take the whole family to a...
Bay Area leads in femtech growth potential
The Bay Area "femtech" sector — focused on technological products and services tailored toward women's health — has grown substantially in the last few years amid broader challenges in the tech industry, a recent report finds.Why it matters: Femtech is an emerging but underserved field, according to CNBC. It can range from health care solutions for fertility and menopause to retail skin care products and prescription drugs.Broader awareness of these issues, as well as a surge in demand for telehealth options, has helped increase the field's growth potential, the report's authors say.State of play: The Bay Area's femtech sector has...
Throwback Thursday: The beginning of car-free JFK Drive
Sunday will mark four years of car-free JFK in Golden Gate Park.Flashback: Mayor London Breed, on April 27, 2020, announced that a 1.5-mile segment of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park, along with John F. Shelley Drive in John McLaren Park, would be car-free throughout shelter-in-place orders.Car-free JFK became permanent in November 2022, when about 63% of voters approved a ballot measure to keep it car-free and about 65% of voters rejected a measure to reopen it to cars.What's next: Walk San Francisco is hosting a car-free JFK anniversary party Sunday from noon-3pm at Peacock Meadow.Expect lawn games, surprise guests, food trucks and more.
Stonestown redevelopment plans inch closer to fruition
A deal to redevelop the Stonestown shopping mall — which would include thousands of housing units — has been reached between city officials and the developer but still needs approval by the Board of Supervisors.Why it matters: If fully approved, the development would bring more housing and jobs to the area, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.State of play: The proposed plan includes 3,500 housing units — about 700 of which would be affordable — a senior village and center and a child care center.The redevelopment plan also includes six acres of parks, a town square, additional retailers and more.The project...
Inside Saluhall, Market Street’s newest food hall
I visited Saluhall, the new food hall next to IKEA on Market Street, expecting Swedish meatballs, but instead I found elevated fast food and tasty vegan fare.Catch up quick: Saluhall, owned by IKEA's sister company Ingka Centres, features smaller versions of Bay Area restaurants serving quick-service food:Casa BorinqueñaCurry Up NowKayma Algerian EateryMomo NoodleTaqueria La VenganzaWhy it matters: The goal of Saluhall's creators is to "breathe life into Market Street." My thought bubble: When I visited there was plenty of foot traffic, so hopefully this is the start of a broader Market Street revitalization.What to try: Casa Borinqueña's vegan chicken skewer pinchos, Taqueria La Venganza's vegan "al pastor" taco and the spicy noodles from Momo – they have a kick!Check out Claire's full video review of Saluhall on Axios SF's Instagram.
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