Fillmore’s long-shuttered Heritage Center will soon temporarily reopen for community programming and events through December. The city is also exploring ways to keep the center open long-term while also evaluating needed upgrades.

The city announced Thursday that San Francisco's long-shuttered Fillmore Heritage Center will temporarily reopen through December for community events, performances, pop-ups, and other public programming led by local artists, small businesses, and neighborhood groups.

Mayor Daniel Lurie said the new plan is intended to support neighborhood businesses and community organizations while reconnecting the center to the Fillmore’s cultural legacy.

“This investment honors the legacy of the Fillmore while creating new opportunities for the people and small businesses that make this neighborhood special,” said Lurie in a statement. “By activating the Fillmore Heritage Center, supporting local artists, entrepreneurs, and bringing more people to the corridor, we are helping strengthen this community and drive San Francisco’s economic comeback.”

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development plans to begin activating the space next month, and it expects to open applications for outside organizers interested in hosting events there starting at the end of June. Officials said the center will not be available for private events.

As SFist reported previously, the Heritage Center, which has sat vacant for several years, was first home to Oakland club Yoshi’s second location when the center opened in 2007. Yoshi’s closed in 2014, and other businesses also failed to stay afloat there in subsequent years.

Last year, the city sued the center’s developer over repayment on a $5.5 million loan for the project, which the developer claimed the city had mismanaged, and the city ultimately accepted a $100,000 settlement.

As the Chronicle reports, the city could also potentially reactivate the 50,000-square-foot complex permanently in the future, including potential infrastructure upgrades and an evaluation of the building’s long-term viability. Officials said the review will examine both the condition of the facility and possible future uses for the site, including whether its original entertainment and dining model is still financially feasible. Selling the property also reportedly remains on the table.

The findings are expected to help shape the Heritage Center’s long-term future as broader debates continue in the Fillmore over redevelopment, public investment, and who controls neighborhood institutions.

Last week, city officials announced that SF Rec and Park would temporarily take over operations at the Ella Hill Hutch Community Center in response to outcry from the community over a proposed no-bid lease agreement that would have transferred management of the vacant facility to Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, a nonprofit currently tied to the ongoing Dream Keeper scandal, as previously reported.

Majeid Crawford, executive director of the New Community Leadership Foundation, the Heritage Center’s previous operator prior to the pandemic, described the reopening effort as an opportunity to bring arts, music, entrepreneurship, and community programming back into the space.

“The Fillmore Heritage Center represents more than a building,” said Crawford, “it represents opportunity, culture, creativity and community restoration.”

Supervisor Bilal Mahmood called the temporary activation a first step toward reversing decades of disinvestment in the Fillmore and said the process will help shape the center’s long-term future.

Previously: Developer of Failed Fillmore Heritage Center Skates With Just a $100K Settlement Over Unpaid $5.5M Loan

The city is pushing to temporarily lease a Fillmore community center to a local organization previously connected to former Dream Keeper head Sheryl Davis, who is currently facing felony charges, and residents say they’ve had little input in the process.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is set to vote on a proposal that would transfer programming at the Fillmore District's historic Ella Hill Hutch Community Center to the local nonprofit, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, for the next 13 months, as the Chronicle reports. As SFist previously reported, Ella Hill Hutch has been facing possible closure following the dissolution of its former operator, Collective Impact, which was also tied to the Dream Keeper scandal.

The deal, backed by Mayor Daniel Lurie, Supervisors Bilal Mahmood and Myrna Melgar, and several city agencies, would lease the Fillmore community center's facilities to Booker T for $1 while the city pays the nonprofit to run summer programming for neighborhood children.

“The services provided at Ella Hill Hutch are critical to Fillmore families and children,” said Kate Poltrack, a spokesperson for Lurie. “Through this agreement with Booker T Washington, the city and community partners are working together to ensure there’s no gap in services this summer and our kids are safe as they continue to access critical programming.”

Booker T executive director Shakirah Simley is reportedly closely connected with former Human Rights Commission director and Dream Keeper leader Sheryl Davis, who, along with Collective Impact director James Spingola, was charged in March in connection with the scandal, as SFist reported in March.

Prosecutors allege Davis steered public money through nonprofits she controlled or heavily influenced, including Collective Impact, while using tactics like splitting invoices to avoid oversight. A city audit last year identified roughly $4.6 million in questionable spending tied to Davis and the organizations connected to her.

Davis has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including misappropriation of public funds and perjury. Spingola has not yet entered a plea.

Per the Chronicle, Simley previously worked under Davis at the Human Rights Commission before leaving to lead Booker T. Prosecutors also identified Booker T as one of the organizations Davis allegedly exercised influence over, though they stopped short of accusing the nonprofit itself of wrongdoing.

According to SF Bay View, many Fillmore residents say they’ve been shut out of the decision-making process and oppose turning the center over to another organization connected to the same network of people tied to Dream Keeper.

Residents say they repeatedly asked city officials to involve the community in decisions about the future of Ella Hill Hutch but felt ignored as the lease agreement moved forward. They also raised concerns about a lack of community oversight under the proposed arrangement. At a recent meeting, Simley reportedly said Booker T would make decisions about the direction of the center internally, without expanding its board or creating additional community input structures, per SF Bay View.

Some parents reportedly described the transition process as feeling like a “hostile takeover,” while others said they felt pressured to accept the proposal out of fear the center could lose summer programming and youth services altogether.

The Reverend Doctor Amos C. Brown, pastor emeritus of Third Baptist Church, also criticized Simley’s connection to the neighborhood, saying she has not built meaningful relationships within the Fillmore community.

“She aspires to this position in the community, but she is not connected with it,” said Brown. “She has not communicated with people nor demonstrated a sense of the history of this community or any knowledge of the collective values that truly make for strong minority communities.”

Meanwhile, some residents have instead voiced support for Youth 1st founder Renard Monroe, who they say has spent months attending neighborhood meetings and meeting directly with families about the future of the center. Monroe, who has been operating Youth 1st for over 25 years, said decisions about Ella Hill Hutch should come through the community.

“Ella Hill Hutch is a community space that needs to be held in community,” Monroe said. “That means having a genuine community process to determine its direction.”

City officials and supporters of the lease have argued the timeline is urgent, warning delays could jeopardize summer jobs for local teens, free childcare for families, and violence prevention programming ahead of the summer months.

Previously: Ella Hill Hutch Community Center Facing Closure, as City Cuts Off Funding After Nonprofit Spending Scandal

Image: Google Maps

Renowned Bay Area writer Dave Eggers is opening a huge new art and education center, Art + Water, this fall at Pier 29, aimed at keeping artists in SF. The space will also include galleries and a sprawling cafe with an Old World, art salon aesthetic, meant to spark revolutionary ideas.

Art + Water, a new 100,000-square-foot arts space planned for Pier 29 by beloved local writer Dave Eggers and esteemed Bay Area artist and educator JD Beltran, is built around a tuition-free apprenticeship model aimed at keeping artists in San Francisco. As the New York Times reports, Eggers wants to make art accessible again.

“Economically accessible, demystifying, and welcoming — like, ‘Here, this is how we do this. You can do it, too,’” he said.

In a recent McSweeney’s post, Eggers said Art + Water is designed as a working studio-school hybrid, with free studio access, daily instruction from practicing artists, and shared workspaces that encourage mentorship.

The program will host 30 local artists at a time, including 10 established artists and 20 emerging artists selected through an application process. All participants will receive free studio space for a year, with the established artists mentoring the newer cohort in a hands-on, atelier-style setup that emphasizes technique and day-to-day collaboration.

The Times reports that plans for the building also include a large exhibition hall curated by René de Guzman, with the first show centered on filmmaker and musician Boots Riley, along with regular talks, classes, family programming, and retail pop-ups.

Organizers say the exhibition hall is intended to double as a gallery hub for artists and groups priced out of traditional venues, with participating artists including Paul Madonna and Taraneh Hemani.

As Eater reported in October, Art + Water will include a sprawling cafe, overseen by local Yemeni coffee pioneer Mokhtar Alkhanshali. The cafe, which will reportedly take up a large portion of Art + Water’s space, will also host events and exhibitions. Alkhanshali said he’s envisioning an 18th or 19th century aesthetic, reminiscent of salon-style cafes in cities like Sana’a, Cairo, or old Boston, where cafes were hubs for revolution.

“[Eggers] noticed there was no coffee in that entire area,” Alkhanshali said. “He could have had 1,000 people open a cafe there. But what he wants to build, it’s going to be its own world.”

The cafe will also be home to Alkhanshali's new luxury coffee brand, which he said will be the first of its kind. Food will be included on the cafe’s menu, along with drink pairings inspired by high tea or omakase-style service, per Eater.

“This was like Willy Wonka showing you the plans to the factory before you built it,” Alhanshali said.

Eggers said he first noticed the vacant Pier 29 warehouse while biking along the Embarcadero in 2022. Originally built around 1915, the structure was damaged in a 2012 fire and rebuilt the following year for the America’s Cup, but has largely sat underused since, serving mostly as a parking garage, according to the Times.

The project comes as San Francisco’s traditional art school pipeline continues to shrink with San Francisco Art Institute closing in 2022, and California College of the Arts set to shut down next year, its campus slated to be taken over by Vanderbilt University.

In his McSweeney's post, Eggers points to skyrocketing tuition — often exceeding $100,000 a year, along with programs focused more on theory than hands-on skills. He says this has priced out many aspiring artists and left graduates with heavy debt, while offering limited practical training.

Drawing on his own experience as a painter, Eggers designed Art + Water to prioritize direct, hands-on learning with basic tools and shared studio space, aiming to make art education “accessible on every level.”

Art + Water is leasing Pier 29 through Community Arts Stabilization Trust, which develops and manages affordable space for artists and has backed similar projects, including the Warfield Commons on SF’s Mid-Market. While final terms are still being worked out, the nonprofit expects to pay roughly 10 cents per square foot — far below the typical industrial rate of about $2 — with the building split between Art + Water’s programming and CAST’s own cultural uses, per the Times.

The project will also rely on donations and has reportedly not yet secured the full seven-figure funding needed to build out and run the space, though organizers say commitments are in place. Some revenue is expected through on-site programming and retail-style components, similar to Eggers's 826 Valencia project.

According to the Times, the two-year lease was arranged with the Port of San Francisco, which connected the groups as part of its broader push to activate underused waterfront space. Officials say the project aligns with the city’s current focus on revitalization efforts backed by Mayor Daniel Lurie with the aim of “bringing new activity and energy to our historic piers.”

Related: Mid-Market Arts and Media Hub Warfield Commons Officially Opens Its Doors

Image: Art + Water/Instagram

Thousands of flower lovers will be lining up Saturday to receive eight free tulips at Union Square’s annual “Tulip Day,” which is held annually in honor of International Women’s Day, and it’s advised to get there early, since, naturally, long lines and snarled traffic are to be expected.

Union Square’s annual Tulip Day returns Saturday, featuring a free public giveaway of 80,000 tulips — eight per person — sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. The event marks the start of Union Square in Bloom, as Bay City News reports, featuring floral displays, food, and themed cocktails from nearby businesses.

The tulips are grown in the United States using bulbs sourced from the Netherlands, continuing a floral tradition that dates back to the first Tulip Festival in 1929 in Holland, Michigan, according to a Union Square Alliance press release.

“Each year, Tulip Day draws thousands of residents and visitors to Union Square, bringing great energy to the heart of our city,” said Mayor Lurie in the release. “I’m thrilled for the return of Tulip Day this March as we continue working hand-in-hand with the Union Square Alliance to drive foot traffic, support local businesses, and accelerate our downtown recovery.”

As to be expected, the influx of visitors means long lines and gridlocked traffic downtown, so attendees are advised to get there early. As NBC Bay Area reports, the line starts at 9 am ahead of the gates opening at 1 pm.

Last year, KTVU spoke to Sarah and Phillipa Colborne of San Francisco who got to the event at sunrise after missing the previous year’s event due to the long lines. "We were people-watching while the sun came up, and it’s just fun. It’s worth making the effort," they said.

In 2024, NBC Bay Area spoke to Woodland resident Ruth Delemos, who had also missed the previous year’s festivities and made sure to got there early the second time around.

“Last year we came and we missed out, because there were so many people,” Delemos said. “We gave up, and went to the store and got tulips. This year, we planned it a lot better. It’s absolutely stunning. What a great community thing to do.”

Image: Union Square Alliance

Related: Go Get Some Free Tulips In Union Square On Saturday

Local advocates are taking action to prevent the cancellation of SF’s popular long-running neighborhood street festival series, Sunday Streets, due to budget cuts, urging residents to sign their petition, contact local officials, and attend a rally at City Hall Monday.

As Streetsblog SF reports, the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced earlier in January the agency’s plan to cut funding for the city’s popular Sunday Streets program after a 17-year partnership in order to reallocate the funds toward covering department deficits. Per Streestsblog, the funds were originally appropriated for Sunday Streets by the SF Board of Supervisors through the health department's Equity & Promotion program.

Per the SF Bicycle Coalition, San Francisco is a healthier and more connected city because of Sunday Streets, which launched in 2008 and often serves neighborhoods with limited access to open space community events.

Livable City, the nonprofit that runs Sunday Streets, has created an advocacy toolkit for residents interested in pushing the city to keep the program going and find ways to stabilize it. The toolkit includes an email template for contacting officials, a petition urging SF Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Board of Supervisors to restore funding, and a guide to giving public comment at the Health Commission hearing, which is taking place  at 4 pm Monday in Room 408 at City Hall, preceded by a rally on the City Hall steps at 3 pm.

Per Streetsblog, the Department of Public Health is moving to cut $17 million in funding from community-based organizations, and Livable City receives a mere 1.3% of those funds for Sunday Streets — $215,758 per year.

Per Streetsblog, Sunday Streets is a hugely popular program that continually exceeds its metrics in providing the community with outlets for physical fitness and wellness each year, while offering a platform for more than 120 city and nonprofit groups to connect with the community through direct services, educational resources, and outreach.

Image: Sunday Streets, Excelsior; throgers/Flickr

Previous Sunday Streets coverage

The owners of independent live music venue, Bottom of the Hill, announced Friday they’ll be closing the doors to the 35-year-old institution after New Year’s Eve 2026. The owners hope the space can be taken on by another community-minded business.

Bottom of the Hill co-owners Ramona Downey, Kathleen Owen, and Lynn Schwarz announced on social media Friday that the legendary Potrero Hill music venue will be closing its doors at the end of the year after 35 years in business.

Coyote Media spoke with Downey, Owen, and Schwarz, who said it was “the hardest decision we’ve ever made,” but they all agreed it’s time to move on — whether it be relaxing or pursuing other projects. They also cited rising operation costs, shifting demographics, and the corporatizing of music as contributing factors in the closure.

As Broke-Ass Stuart laments, Bottom of the Hill has been an essential part of the local music scene since the ‘90s, giving fans a chance to see quality, up-and-coming bands in an intimate, up-close-and-personal venue before they gained popularity and moved on to much larger venues. Per Coyote, co-owner Ramona Downey was the club’s booker for 27 years and is credited with hosting bands such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pavement, the Beastie Boys, the Flaming Lips, the White Stripes, and Lizzo.

“We all agreed that we’ve had so many good years, and we want to go out on a good note — not because we went out of business, but because we all decided, collectively, it’s time,” Downey told Coyote.

“[Closing] is so hard to even fathom,” Schwarz, who began as a cook at the club in 1997, told Coyote. “I feel like we could stay open forever. But as soon as it got brought up, it felt like the right decision.”

Per Coyote, it’s unclear what will happen with the space after it closes. The owners also own the building, which they said they might consider selling to another community-based business. They also haven’t ruled out the possibility of selling the “Bottom of the Hill” name along with the property, as long as the new owners’ values align with their own, per Coyote.

“In its current incarnation, we have a year,” says Schwarz. “If we sell the business name, it would have to be to someone that we absolutely trusted with our legacy, you know? That means a lot to us.”

As Coyote notes, the club’s management is known for its altruism, including giving a leg-up to its staff, who routinely move up through the venue’s ranks and on to other clubs, and they’ve organized an untold number of fundraisers over the years.

“We have hosted tens of thousands of musical artists and have been a community partner as well, holding numerous benefits, school recitals, weddings, birthdays, and memorials,” the owners wrote in their announcement. “Let’s have one more solid year of memories together and bid a fond farewell to a legendary venue.”

The calendar for Bottom of the Hill’s final year is sure to be an epic one, as the owners told Coyote they have their sights set on iconic headliners such as Murder City Devils, The Jesus Lizard, and Queens of the Stone Age.

Image: Bottom of the Hill

This week’s Field Notes: Local staycation ideas, mahjong nights in a historic church, Black Oakland’s future at OMCA, indie musicians reviving Contra Costa, and SF’s new Disability Cultural Center. Plus, the Tenderloin Museum turns 10, a youth poetry call, and an East Bay trail to explore.

Tourist for the weekend

Why fight traffic out of town when you could ride a cable car to dinner instead? This local staycation guide suggests leaning into San Francisco’s charm with an overnight at the Beacon Grand, dumplings at House of Nanking, oysters and negronis at Hog Island, vinyl hunting at Tunnel Records, and a sunset cocktail at Charmaine’s. — Eater SF

Reclaiming the future: Black spaces at OMCA

A new exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California explores Black life in the East Bay through past, present, and future. Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain features archival photos, personal artifacts, and visionary installations from architect June Grant, artist Adrian Burrell, and community groups like Moms 4 Housing.

Through stories of displacement and resilience — from Russell City to West Oakland, the exhibition contemplates what Black Oakland could look like in the year 3000. On view through March 1, 2026. — Oaklandside

Calling all young poets

Applications are now open for San Francisco’s newly relaunched Youth Poet Laureate program. Local teens ages 13–19 can apply to join a cohort of rising literary voices, with regular workshops led by 826 Valencia and Youth Speaks, performance opportunities, and a $700 scholarship.

Two students will be named Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Laureate, serving as cultural ambassadors alongside the City’s Poet Laureate and Drag Laureate. The deadline to apply is August 9. — SF Public Library

Skywatchers bring art, power, and protest to the Tenderloin

Skywatchers, a collective of Tenderloin-based artists uses movement, music, and sculpture to share stories of survival, ancestry, and resistance.

Their performances, often staged in parks and alleyways, challenge systemic neglect while cultivating joy, solidarity, and visibility in a neighborhood too often ignored. — Mission Local

Showering SF streets with spontaneous kindness

On July 31, a crew of “kindness ambassadors” will roam the streets of San Francisco handing out flowers, singing songs, sharing art, and offering spontaneous moments of support — from compliments and notes to real-time help.

The grassroots event invites anyone to join. Learn more or sign up to participate. — Kindness Crawl

Tiles, talks & tradition: Mahjong Night at Saint Joseph’s

Mahjong Night happens monthly at Saint Joseph’s Arts Society, a creative hub inside a beautifully restored historic church in San Francisco’s South of Market district. July’s event will feature founder of The Mahjong Project and author Nicole Wong.

Beginners can sign up for guided instruction (limited spots). Beer and wine available. Signed copies of Nicole’s book Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora will be on sale. — The Third Place

Exploring the East Bay Skyline Trail

The East Bay Skyline Trail stretches nearly 33 miles from Richmond to Castro Valley, offering sweeping Bay views, volcanic landscapes, redwood groves, and rolling hills. While some tackle the full route in a day, most break it into seven scenic segments to savor the sights without wearing themselves out.

Highlights include wildflower-covered ridges at Wildcat Canyon, panoramic vistas from Inspiration Point, volcanic remnants at Sibley Preserve, and cool redwood forests near MacDonald Gate. Wildlife sightings might include coyotes, hawks, and wild turkeys. — Bay Area News Group

San Francisco’s new Disability Cultural Center opens

San Francisco’s first Disability Cultural Center officially opened on Thursday, offering a unique public space dedicated to rest, community, and celebration of disability culture. Located across from City Hall, the center hosts accessible movement classes, poetry workshops, support groups, and hybrid events that combine in-person and livestream participation.

Designed with thoughtful amenities like weighted blankets, accessible seating, and open-air patios, the center aims to be a restorative haven for disabled people facing daily ableism and barriers.

Co-founder Emily Beitiks emphasizes the center’s goal to reshape how disability is understood through arts and connection, providing a restorative space where disabled people can thrive and organize. — KQED

Indie musicians find a home in Crockett and Port Costa

Out along the Carquinez Strait, Contra Costa’s rusty industrial towns are quietly becoming a haven for Bay Area indie musicians. With venues like Toot’s Tavern, studios like Bubudzuki, and throwback vibes from co-mayor-cowboy Mitch Polzak, the scene here mixes old-school charm with a refreshingly DIY spirit.

More than just nostalgia — they're building something new where artists can afford to create, perform, and actually be heard. — 7x7

Tenderloin Museum marks 10 years of telling its own story

Ten years ago, people scoffed when Randy Shaw proposed a museum about San Francisco’s Tenderloin — “What are you making a museum about, drug use and prostitution?” But today, the Tenderloin Museum is a vital cultural hub and neighborhood beacon.

Under Executive Director Katie Conry, it has become known for immersive events like a reenactment of the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riot, a growing neon sign district, and programming that spotlights local artists, musicians, and activists.

The museum just celebrated its anniversary with a jazz concert at the Great American Music Hall and will soon break ground on an expansion that triples its size and adds exhibits on Indian American migration and neon art.

In a neighborhood that’s too often reduced to headlines, the museum continues to amplify stories of community, resilience, and joy. — NBC Bay Area

Top Image: Kenny Playing Sax at the De Luxe Inn in Oakland, 1983; Michelle Vignes, Collection of the Oakland Museum of California, Dorothea Lange Award

Previously: Field Notes: Valkyries Podcast, Audium’s 50th Anniversary, Hidden Alcatraz, and Bandaloop

This week's notable humans include San Rafael resident, retired SFFD lieutenant, and dedicated volunteer John Chung; San Francisco author and historian Beth Winegarner whose work aims to remember the forgotten; and Walnut Creek's Anya Gupta, 16-year-old founder of Key Future News.

At just 16, Walnut Creek’s Anya Gupta is a dual-enrolled high school and Diablo Valley College student and founder of Key Future News (KFN), a youth-focused news nonprofit with nearly 200 videos on YouTube. According to The East Bay Times, Gupta launched KFN to simplify news for Gen Z, covering topics like tech, politics, and future careers.

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Gupta writes, films, edits, and promotes her content independently while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She also serves on the Contra Costa Behavioral Health Board and plans to grow her team and audience on social media. Gupta hopes to attend Berkeley’s Haas School of Business after she graduates from Diablo Valley College next year with the ultimate goal of building an informed and empowered community of young people.

I decided to name the channel Key Future News in the aspect that KFN news is the ‘key to your future,’ That’s what we’re going for now — predictions of future industries, what your future will be like, interviewing professionals on their predictions, things to do and know right now to change the future.

San Francisco author and historian Beth Winegarner's work aims to remember the people of San Francisco who’s history has been long forgotten. Her most recent project documents the lives of the forgotten girls who were incarcerated in the city’s Magdalen Asylum, once located where SF General Hospital now stands.

KQED writes that the institution first opened in 1856 by the Sisters of Mercy as a refuge for sex workers and later evolved into a place where “wayward” girls — often petty offenders, unsupervised teens, or anyone deemed “morally suspect” — were confined. Winegarner’s research was sparked by sensationalized newspaper clippings that she found while researching her 2023 book San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries and grew into a larger effort to transcribe registers, collect census records, and name those the system sought to shame or erase.

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The girls’ stories are often heartbreaking or surprising: one ten-year-old stole a purse to buy dolls and candy; another traveled alone, stayed in fine hotels, and rode horses in Napa. Some were institutionalized for racist or arbitrary reasons, like being present in a home where a Black man was present or being labeled “incorrigible” — a term Winegarner believes often masked neurodivergence.

Babies born there were routinely sent to a nearby Catholic orphanage with high infant mortality. Most girls did embroidery rather than laundry, and few left without adult help or marriage. Winegarner aims to restore their identities and ensure they’re not forgotten.

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San Rafael resident John Chung has been honored with the 2025 Richard O’Brien and Mary Ferrario O’Brien Public Service Award for his extensive volunteer work in youth sports, music, and public service.

According to Marin Independent Journal, Chung, who is a retired San Francisco Fire Department lieutenant, has supported San Rafael’s school music programs for over a decade, helping with concerts, providing technical expertise, and organizing transportation and equipment for student performances. He also managed the sound system for the school district’s annual HeadsUp Carnival for 10 years and launched fundraisers to help sustain arts and athletics programs.

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Chung’s background in music includes his longtime role as manager of the professional jazz fusion band Hiroshima, which helped him develop skills in production, sound, and logistics — knowledge he generously shares with local schools.

Chung also stepped in to coach the San Rafael High School boys’ golf team in 2023 to prevent it from disbanding, despite his children never having played on the team. Under his leadership, the program has grown, and he continues to lead innovative fundraising events such as home concerts and speaker series.

In addition to his youth-focused efforts, Chung serves on the San Rafael Fire Commission and volunteers during major incidents. City officials praised his unwavering dedication and the positive impact he’s made throughout San Rafael.

Image via YouTube

Previously: Notable Humans: Susan Kare, Designer Of Mac’s Earliest Icons — And Its Friendly Aesthetic

In this new series, SFist highlights the uplifting stories of Bay Area residents and the communities they support, featuring Arthur Dong, San Francisco native and gay Chinese American filmmaker; Hafeth “Omar” Mansouri and his canine colleague Major of "Corner Stories;" and trans barber Santana Vasquez.

Arthur Dong, a San Francisco native and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, has built his career on telling powerful, often untold stories from the heart of his own lived experience. As a gay Chinese American, Dong brings a deeply personal lens to his work, exploring the intersections of identity, community, and justice.

Bay Area Reporter writes that the newly re-released Arthur Dong Collection features every film Dong has made—from his 1970 teen debut to his most recent documentaries. Forbidden City, USA (1989) explores the all-Chinese San Francisco nightclub, which operated from the late 1930s until 1970 and provided many Chinese performers the opportunity to work at a time when Asian American entertainers were barred from working.

Coming Out Under Fire (1994), highlights male and female veterans from World War II who had to keep their sexuality a secret, and "Outrage '69" (1995), the first installment in the PBS series, The Question of Equality, explores the divide between white male-dominated activism and women and people of color during the Stonewall Riots.

Hafeth “Omar” Mansouri and his canine colleague Major have gained celebrity status with an Instagram account boasting over 86,000 followers and a 2024 “Best of the Bay” award from SFGate. For the past 20 years, Mansouri’s Lower Haight corner store has served as a community hub for the neighborhood. The interesting people who come through Mansouri’s store every day inspired him to launch his "Corner Stories" Instagram account last June, providing glimpses into his customers’ colorful lives.

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Additionally, Mansouri’s altruism runs even deeper in the form of a community shelf consisting of free food, water, and toiletries for anyone who needs them. A recent post by Mansouri says that he’s never once reported a shoplifter.

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Santana Vasquez, a trans barber in San Francisco, is creating a welcoming space for queer and transgender men and offering free haircuts to trans men in need. Inspired by his own struggles with finding a safe, affirming place to get his haircut, Vasquez uses his barber chair to foster community and support.

KQED reports that Vasquez’s initiative, sparked by a flyer offering free haircuts in March, has been shared widely, and he continues to connect people in the trans community. Vasquez believes his work goes beyond grooming—it's about building relationships and supporting others in the face of societal challenges.

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Nominate an interesting human in the comments. Be sure to provide details on what makes them interesting!

Image: Poster from Arthur Dong's Forbidden City, USA (1989)

Mission Local published a profile today featuring “roller-skating engineer” Chris Duderstadt who has built 210 community benches over the past decade for fellow Inner Sunset residents to enjoy as part of the Public Bench Project.

Duderstadt, a retired machinist who ran a longtime business making custom tech and biotech machines, made his first bench in 1977 for a friend’s veterinary clinic. Since then, he’s worked on several other prototypes before landing on what he calls the “off the wall” design due to its slightly angled seat and backrest, which he found to be “comfortable for everyone.”

The first off the wall-style bench still sits on a steep hill near Ortega Street and 11th Avenue near where Duderstadt lived at the time. “I really like to put them on hills. If you’re going to hike up that hill, you need a place to rest,” Duderstadt told Mission Local.

See Mission Local’s post for a map detailing the various bench locations.

Image via Public Bench Project website

Chihuahuas will outnumber hipsters at Dolores Park on Saturday with SF SPCA's second annual The Whole Enchihuahua, a Chihuahua rescue awareness event, featuring a costume contest, live Mariachi, Off the Grid food trucks, tons of adoptable cats, dogs, birds, bunnies and more from the SF SPCA , Animal Care & Control and SF rescues, and more.

Sunday Streets heads to the Mission again on Sunday as part of the summer-long Mission Sunday Streets Pilot project. The event is jam-packed with activities, such as free bike rentals, music by Rin Tin Tiger, free Capoeira lessons, the Wheel Kids bike course and more: "And that is only between 14th and 15th on Valencia! Come explore the entire route for fun surprises!!" — via Sunday Streets on Facebook.

A huge line-up of local youth performers and DJs are set to play the 6th Annual Omino Day World Music Festival, which was inspired by the life and vision of youth advocate, community activist and DJ, Andrew “DJ Domino” Ele. The festivities include a live concert featuring music, dance, poetry and DJ’s, delicious food, local vendors, youth resource tables and an interactive children’s art and games booth.

Union Street plays host to the 36th Annual Union Street Eco-Urban Festival all weekend, featuring live entertainment, arts and crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials, food by local artisans, cooking demos, booths showcasing green exhibitors, businesses and educators, and more.

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival presents Marcus Cohen’s The Congress on Saturday, who bring a sound steeped in funk, hip-hop, gospel, and jazz, featuring a star-studded 12-piece band and vocalists Valerie Troutt, Crystal Monee Hall, and Tiffany Austin, and hip-hop lyricist MicBlake rounding out The Congress’ amazing membership.

MUSIC: Sonic Youth founding member Lee Ranaldo celebrates the release of his first song-oriented studio album, Between The Times And The Tides, with an early set at Amoeba, followed by a show at Brick & Mortar. The album features Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley on drums, Wilco’s Nels Cline and Alan Licht on guitar, and John Medeski on keyboards, along with cameos from former Sonic Youth cohorts, drummer Bob Bert and producer/instrumentalist Jim O’Rourke. (6 p.m., Amoeba S.F., 1855 Haight Street)

ART: Stroll the super cool Panhandle/Western Addition neighborhood at the Divisadero Art Walk, featuring art shows, designers, food, drinks, culture, and music. The Independent also plays host to the Indie Mart Bazaar full of "very local" makers, artists, creatives, foodies, and more, along with DIY activities by The Wigg Party & Workshop. (6 to 10 p.m., Haight to Geary on Divisadero)

FOOD: Head over to opening day of the Mission Community Market and acquire some fixins' for that yuppie artisan burger. The event features street food, local produce, flowers, and art, along with music by LoCura and dancing by ABADÁ-Capoeira. (4 to 8 p.m., Mission Community Market, Bartlett and 22nd Street)

Bring Your Own Queer (BYOQ): Local performers and icons will be shaking things up today at the annual Bring Your Own Queer music, arts and performance festival, including Juanita Moore, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Honey Soundsystem, Chica Boom, Titland, and more. The festival benefits Lyric.

Rock Make Street Festival: The Bay Bridged, Tartfui, Cookie & the Dude bring us this fourth annual music and art festival today, which includes two stages featuring all local and kids’ rock bands, along with over 100 arts and crafts vendors and food and beverages from local vendors.

Cardboard Tube Fighting League: "Cardboard-tube wielding ninjas" will take over Hayes Valley Farm on Saturday, participating in "a tourney the likes of which have nay been seen by farmer and god alike." Take part in the battle, enter the costume contest, tour the farm, and win cardboard artifacts.

14th Annual Duboce Park Tag Sale: Head to the quaint Duboce Park today for their annual sale, which benefits the park, featuring bargains on books, videos, clothes, furniture, kitchen items, sporting goods, toys, collectibles, and more. As far as SFist is concerned, Duboce is the best park in town.

Chinatown/North Beach Sunday Streets: Grant Avenue through Chinatown and North Beach will play host to the neighborhoods' first Sunday Streets this weekend. The event includes a commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Ping Pong Diplomacy with the first citywide Ping Pong Tournament in Chinatown's Portsmouth Square, along with “A Fair to Remember,” an art and music festival taking place in North Beach's Kerouac Alley.

The Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival/Capsule Design Festival: Two great festivals take over Hayes Valley Park on Sunday. The Capsule Design Festival features 130 independent men's, women's, and kids clothing and accessories designers, paper makers, glass designers, and other "assorted fantasmigorica," and the ongoing Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival presents a stellar live music showcase all day long.

Not doing the Outside Lands thing this weekend? As it would happen, there's plenty of other stuff going on!

Sunday Streets and Tricycle Music Fest: Sunday Streets hits Civic Center and the Tenderloin on Sunday, featuring lots of live music, including the big kindie rock show, Tricycle Music Fest West on the library steps, Jazz band Melvin and the Mellotones at Boedekker Park, and Hyde Street Band at 631 O’Farrell. Also featuring a roller disco, kids' activities, cumbia dancing, and more.

Pistahan Parade and Festival: Yerba Buena Gardens plays host to the international Pistahan celebration of Filipino culture and cuisine all weekend, featuring lots of live entertainment, arts and crafts, dancing, an Adobo Cook-Off and Balut-Eating Contest, and much more. The Parade begins on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. and goes from the Embarcadero to Yerba Buena Gardens.

Nihonmachi Street Fair: The 38th Annual Nihonmachi Street Fair has everything you can ask for this weekend, featuring a pet corner, tasty food by local restaurants and food trucks, the proceeds of which benefit several local community organizations, family activities, and a whole slew of live entertainment.

Wil Campa y Su Orchestra at Stern Grove: Head over to Stern Grove for the second to last show of the season, featuring the big band sound of Cuban sensation Wil Campa y Su Orchestra, along with Brazilian singer Luisa Maita performs sultry modern samba sounds.

Big Gay 10K: Good luck to those taking part in the Big Gay 10K, which benefits San Francisco AIDS Foundation and those who aren't signed up but want to participate should head over to Fort Mason between 8 and 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning to sign up.

We're sorry we've neglected our weekend events duties recently, but for what it's worth, here's an eleventh hour round-up of a few things going down this weekend.

Lower Haight Art Walk: The Lower Haight merchants and neighbors are having their Summer Art Walk during the day on Saturday. Peruse art at Edo, Lower Haters, Black Pancake Records and "Love Haight Computers", along with music at Black Pancake and Groove Merchant and a dance performance at Edo. Additionally, take a gamble with a "Get What You Get" Tattoo at Idle Hand and a potluck at Peacock Lounge.

2nd Annual Noriega Street Food Fair: Local chefs, including a former Food Network star, are joining forces with local merchants and community leaders on Saturday to teach families how to use "locally-sourced, healthy ingredients to prepare wholesome and satisfying everyday meals." The festival features cooking, acupuncture, massage, and herb demos, along with live entertainment and activities for kids.

AfroSolo’s Jazz in the Gardens: The AfroSolo Arts Festival takes place at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival on Sunday, featuring artists from Sudan, Ethiopia and other African countries that have been ravaged by war, incuding Jerome Clay and the Jerome Clay Ensemble with special guest, vocalist Gaylyn Arnold, and Bay Area musical prodigy Ranzel Merritt Jr. leading The Ranzel Merritt Quartet with piano accompaniment by Omree Gal-Oz.

SF Mime Troupe's The Musical: If you haven't caught SF Mime Troupe's latest production, The Musical, they'll be performing in Golden Gate Park on Saturday and in Glen Park on Sunday. (We have to admit we're still Mime Troupe virgins.)

Aaron Neville at Stern Grove: R&B great Aaron Neville headlines Sunday's Stern Grove Festival, along with special guests local bluesman Quinn Deveaux and the Blue Beat Revue.