- Pearl Paint, the big art supply store on Market between 5th and 6th frequented especially by Academy of Art, Art Institute, and SF Art Institute students, is closing up shop and having a big 75% off sale. It's already pretty well picked over, but if you're in the market for colored pencils, Sharpies, pens, poster board, picture frames, or paint, you'll probably score some excellent deals. We're guessing their lease wasn't renewed as that whole stretch of vacant buildings next to it (the former 7-11, the former Social Security Office, and the former St. Francis Theatres) are slated for demolition to make way for a new shopping center in the next few years (we can't find online evidence of this right now, but there was talk of a developer doing this several years back how's that for news reporting!). Also, as you can see from the sign above, Blick art supplies will be moving in next door by summer (at 989 Market), having clearly outmaneuvered Pearl in getting a new lease right on the same block.
- Local fashion designers N.I.C.E. Collective are doing a promotional Leather Jacket Hunt, and the winner takes home a very expensive, free leather jacket. Clues are being issued online, and hunters need to follow their Twitter feed, their Facebook page, and the N.I.C.E. Collective Storeroom page in order to piece the puzzle together. (The three clues already issued are "Bring: a flashlight," "Like this song: 'Higher than the Sun' by Primal Scream,' and "Ask for this: Cocktail, Army Green.") The jacket hunt ends next week.
