Cole Valley Events
UCSF Hybrid Quarterly Construction Meeting November 6
After the recent pedestrian tragedy at Parnassus and Stanyan, this meeting will provide a forum to come together as a community and ask UCSF to work with MTA to make the neighborhood safer. UCSF construction has many years ahead so we need to voice our demands for how they should be mitigating the presence and danger of heavy trucks and what reasonable safety investments should look like so that we don't have to fear or witness another death over the next 6 years of construction. We hope you can attend.
Please join UCSF on Wednesday, November 6th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for a hybrid community meeting about upcoming construction and other planned projects at UCSF’s Parnassus Heights campus.
UCSF will share the progress of campus projects and potential impacts on the neighborhood, including but not limited to:
· UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital
· Bakar Research and Academic Building
Location: UCSF Parnassus Heights Campus
Faculty Alumni House
745 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA
Light refreshments will be served.
Please register to attend either in-person here or virtually by Zoom here.
SF PUBLIC LIBRARY PARK BRANCH OPEN HOUSE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M.
Hello SFPL Community Members,
Please join SFPL this Saturday, October 19th for the Park Branch Open House, celebrating 115 years of service in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood!
Here is the schedule of events for the day:
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Big Playdate in our program room. Join us for two hours of playtime for children up to five years of age. Snacks provided.
10:15 a.m. - 1 p.m. Museum of Craft and Design will host drop-in crafts in our courtyard.
2 p.m. Local jazz duo Six Roses will perform in our courtyard
Come for refreshments in the main reading room following the performance.
Hope to see you there!
Family Night Under the Stars at
Randall Museum
October 4, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for a FREE evening of exploration and wonder. Learn about stars and constellations through ancient stories in the Randall’s giant, inflatable planetarium. Look at the cosmos through professional telescopes. Check out amazing deep space photographs and hear about new discoveries. Weather permitting.
October 4, 2024 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Randall Museum
199 Museum Way
San Francisco CA 94114
To learn more and register, click here.
COLE VALLEY FAIR!
Sunday, September 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Back for its 20th anniversary this year, the Cole Valley Fair features food booths, live music, a historic Cole Valley photo display, fine arts and crafts, a full block of vintage cars owned by neighborhood residents, and lots of family-friendly fun. With live music, children’s activities, and local resources, come celebrate Cole Valley with this beloved annual neighborhood event!
Join us at Cole Street between Frederick & Grattan and Parnassus Ave between Shrader & Belvedere!
Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project Community Meeting
Saturday, August 24, 10:30-noon
Your are invited to attend a community outreach event on Saturday, August 24, 10:30-noon to get feedback on the design of the Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project and input on future programming.
There will be an open house style workshop outdoors in Golden Gate Park along Stanyan Street at Page Street near the bocce courts (601 Stanyan St).
Please reach out with questions. Hope to see you there!
Alexis Ward, Project Manager, (628) 652-6641, alexis.ward@sfgov.org.
ASSESSOR RECORDER
FAMILY WEALTH FORUM
Saturday, August 3
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ASSESSOR-RECORDER
JOAQUÍN TORRES
PRESENTS
FAMILY WEATH FORUM
BUIDLING INTERGENERATIONAL WEALTH
Strengthening financial wellness through presentations, by connecting with local organizations at the community resource fair and consulting with Assessor staff to get answers to your specific property tax questions. Interpretation services available with advanced notice.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2024
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
CITY COLLEGE MULTI-USE BUILDING
55 FRIDA KAHLO WAY, SF 94112
Presentation Topics
Assessment Appeals 101
Home Improvement Resources and Tax Savings
Prop 19 Intergenerational Transfers
Estate Planning 101
I'm pleased to invite you to the
2024 Family Wealth Forum!
To RSVP, click here!
This annual event reflects one of my key priorities as Assessor-Recorder, ensuring that all San Franciscans, regardless of income level, have access to the tools and opportunities to build a resilient home, grow wealth and plan for the future.
In addition to educational presentations, the 2024 Family Wealth Forum will include a resource fair and 1-on-1 consultations with Assessor-Recorder staff who can address questions on property taxes, annual notices of assessed value, intergenerational transfers, property tax exemptions, reassessment exclusions, business personal property and more.
The presentations will focus on the following topics:
Assessment Appeals 101: Assessor Torres will discuss the options that are available to you under State law if you disagree with your assessed value or feel that your taxable value is lower than your market value, as well as the type of information you will need to gather as you file an assessment appeal. Assessor staff will also be available to answer questions about assessment appeals during 1-on-1 consultations, as well.
Home Improvement Resources and Tax Savings: From solar energy systems to earthquake retrofits, there are certain types of construction that will not lead to an increase in your property tax burden. Assessor Torres will discuss these opportunities for saving money and increasing the quality of your home in addition to the scenarios that can lead to a reassessment.
Proposition 19 and Intergenerational Transfers: Passed in 2020 by California voters, this State law changed the property tax rules for transferring your property. Assessor Torres will discuss key elements of the law that homeowners should be aware of when considering passing your family home to the next generation.
Estate Planning 101: Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA), a non-profit legal service organization will discuss the importance of estate planning across all stages of your life to ensure that your intentions are honored and help your family build wealth from one generation to the next. In addition to receiving an introduction to core elements of an estate plan, such as a living trust, will, advanced healthcare directive and power of attorney, there will also be opportunities to receive referrals to affordable estate planning services.
The resource fair will include the following organizations:
California State Controller
California Department of Insurance, Community Relations and Outreach Branch
San Francisco Department of the Environment Equity Hub
San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment's Smart Money Coaching Program
San Francisco Planning Department
San Francisco District Attorney Financial Crimes Team
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
San Francisco Rent Board
Bay Area Financial Planning Days
Homeownership SF
Housing and Economic Rights Advocates
La Raza Community Resource Center
Legal Assistance to the Elderly
Rebuilding Together SF
Redwood Credit Union
San Francisco Bar Association Tax Legal Clinic, Justice and Diversity Center
The Utility Reform Network (TURN)
I hope to see you there!
Kind regards,
Joaquín Torres
Assessor-Recorder
City and County of San Francisco
Please join UCSF on Wednesday, August 7th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for a hybrid community meeting about upcoming construction and other planned projects at UCSF’s Parnassus Heights campus.
UCSF will share the progress of campus projects and potential impacts on the neighborhood, including but not limited to:
UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital
Parnassus Research and Academic Building
School of Nursing Building Demolition
Location: UCSF Parnassus Heights Campus
Faculty Alumni House
745 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA
Light refreshments will be served.
Please register to attend either in-person here or virtually by Zoom here.
Biking and Rolling Plan - Open House
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Working together with communities across the city, the SFMTA is developing San Francisco’s fi rst Biking and Rolling Plan since 2009. Please RSVP and join us at a community open house and share your feedback on proposed policies and programs.
You are invited to the District 8 open house taking place on Wednesday, July 10 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Upper Noe Rec Center (295 Day St). The format of the open house will consist of a presentation at the beginning, followed by stations where folks can engage with SFMTA planners and offer their thoughts and feedback. SFMTA will have Spanish interpretation available at this open house.
Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP here if you can make it out.
Join Rafael Mandelman
for the 2024 PRIDE Parade!
Join the Rafael Mandelman 2024 PRIDE Parade contingent!
We usually ask a rep to hold a sign that corresponds with their neighborhood - we have one for Cole Valley that is currently unclaimed. Click the link below to sign up, and let me know if you'd like to march with us and/or hold the sign!
Here’s some helpful info as we prepare for the big day.
When: Sunday June 30 at 11:30 AM
Where: Meet on Main St. between Market and Mission. We’re parade entry 72.
Attire: Disco gear encouraged but not required. We’ll have special edition Rafael Pride t-shirts for the first 75 attendees. If you have your Rafael t-shirt from last year — please wear it!
Getting There: Public transit is highly encouraged — the closest BART/MUNI stop is Embarcadero Station.
What To Bring: Your best dance moves, sunscreen, and water!
Questions? Email Adam.Thongsavat@sfgov.org
See you on the disco float! Our DJs Justin Martyr and iamrandy are excited to mix some beats for you!
Monday, May 20 at 6pm,
TogetherSF x GrowSF Mayoral Debate
All eyes are on San Francisco this year. Come to the first-ever, can’t-miss, make-or-break, make-them-sweat mayoral debate on May 20.
MEET THE CANDIDATES
Mayor London Breed
London Breed has served as the Mayor of San Francisco since her election to the office in July 2018. Previously, she served on the Board of Supervisors from 2013 until Mayor Ed Lee's death in December 2017, when she became acting mayor for a short period. She was also the Executive Director of the African American Art & Culture Complex from 2002 to 2012. In her time as mayor, Mayor Breed’s administration led San Francisco through the COVID-19 pandemic with notably low death rates, and opened close to 400 behavioral health treatment beds in the city.
Mark Farrell
Mark Farrell served as Interim Mayor of San Francisco from January to July 2018 after the Board of Supervisors temporarily appointed him to succeed London Breed. Previously, he served on the Board of Supervisors starting in 2011, and has been the managing director of Thayer Ventures since 2009, excepting his time in office. In his time as acting mayor, Farrell’s administration cleared San Francisco’s largest homeless encampments in six months.
Daniel Lurie
Daniel Lurie is the founder of Tipping Point Community, a nonprofit designed to fight chronic homelessness and poverty in the Bay Area. He served as the CEO of Tipping Point Community from 2005 to 2019, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2020 to 2023. In 2017, Lurie started the Chronic Homelessness Initiative, committing to raise $100 million over two years to reduce chronic homelessness in the city by 50 percent.
Supervisor Aaron Peskin*
Aaron Peskin is the current president of the Board of Supervisors, serving District 3 since his election in 2015, and two previous terms from 2001 to 2009. Throughout his career, Peskin has leveraged city government power to preserve and expand historical districts in San Francisco through the California Environmental Quality Act and the Historical Preservation Commission.
*Declined to participate in debate
Supervisor Ahsha Safaí
Ahsha Safaí has served on the Board of Supervisors since his election in 2017. Previously, he was the Political Director for the San Francisco Janitors Union – Local 87 from 2008 to 2016. Safaí added Prop B to the ballot for the March 2024 primary election, and introduced an ordinance this year to make Homeward Bound a permanent city program.
SF Middle School Science Fair at the Randall Museum, Festival March 2
The 2024 San Francisco Middle School Science Fair is underway at the Randall Museum (199 Museum Way). Stop by this week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to check out the exhibits. Winners will be announced during the museum’s Science Festival this Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kids and their families can enjoy free live animal encounters, discover more information with community partners from the science world, and, for a small fee, drop in to explore the fun of hands-on science from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, click the link below.
Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project Community Meeting on March 12
Rec and Park, in partnership with the Department of Emergency Management, will be hosting a community meeting for the Kezar Pavilion Renovation Project on Tuesday, March 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Police Department's Park Station (1899 Waller Street) community room. There will also be an optional facility tour of Kezar Pavilion from 5:30 to 6 p.m. Meet outside of the facility's main entrance at 755 Stanyan Street for the tour.
The building will be renovated to accommodate enhanced recreational activities and to function as a disaster response facility in the event of a major emergency. Join us as we discuss the vision and goals for this legendary facility.
For questions or comments, contact the project manager by email at alexis.ward@sfgov.org or by phone at (628) 652-6641.
For translation or language services, as well as accessibility requests, please contact Pete Moore by phone at (415) 496-6204 or email at pete.j.moore@sfgov.org. Providing at least 72 hours advance notice will help to ensure availability.
For more information, visit the project page at the link below.
Performances in Golden Gate Park Announced for 2024 Season
Illuminate is beginning its robust performance season with 125+ diverse free concerts at the historic Golden Gate Bandshell in Golden Gate Park, the arts nonprofit and Rec and Park announced this week!
The series, Illuminate Live, kicks off its 2024 season on Friday, March 1 and continues through mid-November with shows every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The free concerts attract more than 250,000 music lovers throughout each season. To honor International Women’s Day - the entire month of March will feature women or women-fronted musical groups. In total, 14 women-focused shows are planned during the month.
The full lineup of performers is as diverse and local as it was in its first three seasons. The 2024 concerts will feature R&B, soul, jazz, funk, big band musicians, string ensembles, indie and psychedelic rock bands, and many singer-songwriters. In addition, the series will include reggae, salsa, and some EDM and electronic music.
A full schedule can be found at this link and will be updated regularly, including special events. For additional information, click the link below.
The fourth Saturday of every month offers an opportunity to help beautify the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.
Please Volunteer
Saturday, November 25, 2023
10am - Noon
Join the RPD gardeners and the Alvord Lake Task Force to beautify the eastern entrance of Golden Gate Park. A wide range of gardening tasks is available. Please wear closed-toed shoes, long pants and layers. The event will occur rain or shine. All supplies, tools, and gloves are provided by RPD. Meet at the Haight and Stanyan entrance to Golden Gate Park.
Celebrate with your neighbors!
Park Branch Open House
Saturday, October 28, 1 – 5 p.m.
1833 Page Street (between Cole and Shrader)
1 – 3 p.m.
Visit our program room to make a Halloween treat bag and custom button, view our Haight Ashbury Collection, and relax in our play space for young children.
3 – 4 p.m.
Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies perform in our courtyard as part of the Tricycle Music Fest.
4 – 5 p.m.
Enjoy coffee and refreshments in our reading room.
Refreshments and entertainment courtesy of Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.
The fourth Saturday of every month offers an opportunity to help beautify the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.
Please Volunteer
Saturday, October 28, 2023
10am - Noon
Join the RPD gardeners and the Alvord Lake Task Force to beautify the eastern entrance of Golden Gate Park. A wide range of gardening tasks is available. Please wear closed-toed shoes, long pants and layers. The event will occur rain or shine. All supplies, tools, and gloves are provided by RPD. Meet at the Haight and Stanyan entrance to Golden Gate Park.
The fourth Saturday of every month offers an opportunity to help beautify the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.
Please Volunteer this Saturday,
September 23, 2023,
10am - Noon
Meet at the plaza above the lakelet
at Stanyan and Haight Streets.
Look for the SFR&P vehicle to
determine our location.
Volunteer slots are limited-
so please sign the waiver in the link quickly.
The fourth Saturday of every month
offers an opportunity to help beautify
the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.
Please Volunteer this Saturday,
August 26, 2023,
10am - Noon
Meet at the plaza above the lakelet at Stanyan and Haight Streets. Look for the SFR&P vehicle to determine our location.
Volunteer slots are limited-so please sign the waiver in the link quickly.
Wed Sep 13 / Brava Theater Center
MISSION VERDE
DOCUMENTARY
SCREENING AND
PANEL DISCUSSION
You are invited to attend the premier of a short documentary on the origin story of Mission Verde, a community action group. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Carla Short, Interim Director of Public Works, and the Mission Verde team.
SFPD PARK STATION NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Tuesday, August 6
Volunteer on Saturday, Earth Day,
April 22, 2023,10am - Noon
The fourth Saturday of every month
offers an opportunity to help beautify
the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.
Meet at the plaza above the lakelet
at Stanyan and Haight Streets.
Look for the SFR&P vehicle to determine our location.
Volunteer slots are limited-
so please sign the waiver in the link quickly.
The link below will take you to the SFR&P Calendar.
Scroll until you find the "Alvord Lake Task Force" listing.
(We are in District 1-Horticulture Maintenance.)
https://sfrpd.secure.force.com/SFRPDCalendar
For a peek into Alvord Lake's past, check out this link:
https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Alvord_Lake
We are excited to get out there, but we also want to ensure the safety and comfort of all parties involved. If you are feeling unwell or have a family member who is experiencing COVID symptoms, please do not come.
Volunteer Guidelines
The supervising gardener is your host. Please respect his/her knowledge and experience. Park gardening is not the same as home gardening. Ask questions and seek assistance.
Safety:
Please wear closed-toed shoes. Wear comfortable clothing that covers your entire body (long sleeves, long pants, etc.) And don't forget the sunscreen and perhaps a hat!
Wear gloves and use tools provided in ways demonstrated by the work crew supervisor.
“Eyes before hands.” When picking up trash from under bushes, behind trees, and under benches, use the tool provided to pull things out where you can see them. Then pick them up.
Be aware of the locations of other workers and members of the public to ensure your safety and theirs.
Lift with your legs, not your back.
Wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed–toed shoes (ideally boots); you may be work in or around poison oak or blackberries.
Avoid picking up broken glass and hypodermic needles. Notify the gardener if you find anything undesirable.
Drink water to avoid dehydration. Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before touching and eatingfood
Volunteers are not allowed to use power tools, or apply herbicides/pesticides.
Work Site:
Stack debris out of the way of the public but still accessible to staff trucks. Stack cut branches with butt end to road. Keep bagged trash separate from organic debris, weeds separate from brush. Pile weeds to be picked up in small piles (handled by one swoop of pitchfork) so that staff can easily load trucks.
Coffee With A Cop is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, 2023 from 3-5 p.m.
at the Golden Bear Trading Company, 1401 6th Avenue.
New Exhibit: Gallery 1506 @ Haight-Ashbury
San Francisco Heritage’s Gallery 1506 is delighted to welcome our latest Artists-in-Residence Ali Blum and Calixto Robles for a special joint exhibition entitled “March Vernal Equinox” through March 31st at 1506 Haight Street in the Doolan-Larson House. Come visit Ali and Calixto in studio as they share their creative process, prints, paintings, and mixed media work. Themes include the natural world, the mythological, social justice, and street art posters. The exhibit will be open March 21-24 and March 27-29 from 3-6 pm with extended hours of 12-6 pm on the weekend of March 25-26.
District 8 Public Safety Town Hall
Friday, March 10, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Upper Noe Recreation Center Auditorium
295 Day Street, San Francisco
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman will host a District 8 Public Safety Town Hall with District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, SFPD Chief Bill Scott, SF SAFE, and other representatives from your City government.
Help spread the word! For any questions or to submit a question to the panel, email mandelmanstaff@sfgov.org.
Woodland Canyon Creek Restoration
Saturday, March 18, 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Join Sutro Stewards, UCSF and SF Recreation and Parks Department for a morning of habitat restoration activities, such as invasive species removal, and help restore Woodland Canyon Creek on Mount Sutro!
This creek begins at the Summit of Mount Sutro in two tributaries that converge in Woodland Canyon, flanked on one side by the Edgewood trail, and on the other side by the lower Historic trail. Some are lucky to hear this seasonal creek after a heavy rain, but it is never seen because it is hidden under so much overgrowth. Help us uncover it!
Invite + RSVP for Virtual Meeting & Q&A w/ Cruise
The San Francisco-based all-electric autonomous vehicle company Cruise to invites you to a virtual meeting on Thursday, March 23rd, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm.
At this meeting, Cruise will share updates about its ridehail service, answer questions and hear about transportation needs in your neighborhood. Last year, Cruise became the first AV company to offer a driverless ridehail service in a major U.S. city, and it’s currently offering rides in the evenings to the western half of San Francisco.
Cruise is committed to using its fleet to positively benefit our communities. Since 2020, Cruise has delivered more than 2.3 million meals to residents and families in need, thanks to its partnerships with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and SF New Deal. Many of these deliveries also support local restaurants.
We’d love to connect to update you about Cruise’s service, hear about your priorities and how we may be able to work together.
Can we count you in as attending? To RSVP, email omar@riffcitystrategies.com.
You’re Invited: UCSF Parnassus Heights Community Design Meeting
Live music will return for its third season at the Golden Gate Bandshell’s iconic stage with another series of free outdoor concerts in Golden Gate Park. The series, Illuminate Live, which kicks off on Wednesday, March 1, will bring more than 100 free concerts to the GGP Music Concourse in 2023. The lineup of performers returning to the stage is diverse and local as it was in its first two seasons. Shows will feature R&B, soul, jazz, funk, reggae, salsa, electronic music/EDM, big band musicians, string ensembles, indie and psychedelic rock bands and many diverse singer-songwriters.
In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, all concerts throughout March will feature women or women-fronted bands. The season kickoff on March 1 will be a Market to Bandshell show produced in association with Sunset Mercantile and featuring three female singer-songwriters: Common De Nomi, Frances Ancheta Becker and Nikki Nash. For more information and to see the schedule, click the link below.
https://goldengatebandshell.org/events/
COFFEE WITH
A COP
FEBRUARY 22
LA BOULANGERIE
From his studio in Oregon, Emek conjures collisions of the organic versus the mechanical. He hand draws then silk screens images on paper, and also works with other media such as metal, glass, and plastic. His creative works are filled with humor, social commentary, and fantasy. Even in the smallest details of his work there are messages to discover.
Emek also is renowned for painting album covers for rock stars from Neil Young to Pearl Jam to Erykah Badu. In his book Emek The Thinking Man’s Poster Artist: Collected Works of Aaarght! he explores a retrospective of his rock-and-roll art, editorial illustrations, and protest posters.
When to Visit: You can visit Emek’s exhibition and purchase his works Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 pm, Jan. 19 through Feb 11 at 1506 Haight Street.
Legendary rock-poster artist Emek is the SF Heritage Artist in Residence at Gallery 1506 on the corner of Haight & Ashbury from January 19 through February 11.
Santa On Cole
CVIA’s annual fundraiser, Santa On Cole, gives Cole Valley families the opportunity to take photos with Santa while supporting the efforts of Clean Cole, which is our award winning street cleaning program that provides daily cleaning of Cole Street’s commercial corridor.
In 2019, Santa on Cole raised over $2,500 for Clean Cole Street.
Cole Valley Fair
The annual Cole Valley Fair takes place on Cole Street between Carl and Grattan Streets in San Francisco. Each year it features local artists with fine handmade crafts, delicious food, live music, a full block of vintage automobiles owned by neighborhood residents, children’s events including a bouncy house, balloon animals, face painting, a display of historical Cole Valley photographs and more!
The Cole Valley Fair is managed by local business and fitness woman extraordinaire Erica Kajdasz of Lavation Studio and MidLine Studio. More information can be found on the Cole Valley Fair website.
Halloween Block Party
Every Halloween, the neighbors on Belvedere Street (between 17th Street and Parnassus Avenue) transform their street into one of the city’s most well-known Halloween celebrations. More than just a simple neighborhood trick-or-treat, the houses are wildly decorated with ghouls and goblins, dropping spiders, flashing strobe lights and glowing jack-o-lanterns. The street is closed to traffic and is an incredibly popular spot to trick-or-treat.
Neighborhood Adjacent Events
Inner Sunset Farmers’ Market
Where: Parking lot south of Irving St., between 8th & 9th
Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm
When: Every Sunday
Divisadero Farmers’ Market
Where: DMV Parking Lot, 1377 Fell Street
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
When: Every Sunday
Inner Sunset Flea Market
Where: Irving Street, between 9th & 10th
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
When: Second Sundays of the Month (Seasonal)
https://isflea.com/
Haight Street
Fair
Where: Haight Street, between Masonic & Stanyan
Time: TBD
When: Summer