What's shopping like now in downtown San Francisco?
People tell me San Francisco is dead, and it definitely needs a lifeline right now.
People tell me San Francisco is dead — a veritable ghost town in the making. We’ve lost Nordstrom, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Whole Foods, The North Face, and many more. If it’s not barren streets then it’s accusations of feces and needles. Do you really think we’re just a zombie wasteland covered in trash?
I took a stroll recently and found clean streets, tight security, and a police presence. The rampant closures definitely cast a pall, but there were no crowds, and homeless riff-raffery was almost non-existent. I heard the doom loop may claim Zara next, so I headed there first.
Read the latest by Katie Sweeney
SF LGBT Center’s annual gala radiates resilience
April 20th is the day everything happened in San Francisco. We celebrated 4/20. The Stud reopened. BART retired its legacy trains, there was a naked bike ride, and oh yes: The SF LGBT Center hosted its annual gala, raising $360,000 in support of queer causes.
The San Francisco LGBT Center is a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of services and support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in San Francisco. Their annual event makes my bucket list as an out-and-proud gay man, and Soirée had a few distinctive features that set it apart from your typical gala: An amazing drag show, family-style eating, and a hilarious auctioneer.
SF Symphony helped me enjoy ‘Lord of the Rings’
This is a deeper experience that enables us to feel the highs of victory and the depths of despair alongside Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn. And when the final note echoes through the hall, we’ve all taken a collective journey through our emotions and imaginations.
As children sang, drummers banged and percussionists plucked, conductor Ludwick Wicki followed along on a screen that flashed big dots and vertical lines to signify where the score was on film. Soprano Kaitlyn Lusk stood up in a glittery gown to belt out some harmonies whenever Liv Tyler made an appearance.
Read the latest by Saul Sugarman
What we’re doing this week
May the 4th be with you pub crawl
Get ready to channel your inner Jedi or Sith for the most intergalactic pub crawl event of the year: the "May the Fourth Be With You" Pub Crawl, happening on May 4, 2024. This Star Wars-themed adventure is a playful twist on the iconic phrase from the beloved Star Wars saga, inviting fans and fun-seekers alike to explore the galaxy of local bars and pubs in true Star Wars style.
Embark on an epic journey through the nightlife scene, where each participating bar becomes a stop in a galaxy far, far away. Dress as your favorite character, whether it's a hero like Luke Skywalker or Rey, a villain like Darth Vader, or even a quirky droid or alien. The force will be strong with drink specials at each participating bar.
WHEN: May 4, 2024 — beginning at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Crawl begins at Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk Street San Francisco
The Kentucky Derby is upon us
Our editor is actually heading there with a huge hat in tow, and there are always a number of watch parties here in San Francisco. Yet another excuse to don festive attire in the city. There’s a 12th-annual watch party and costume contest hosted by The Guardsmen at San Francisco Brewing Co. Another popular one
WHEN: May 4, 2024 — 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: San Francisco Brewing Co. at 3150 Polk St., and another at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate in Santa Rosa
‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’ with SF Symphony
Experience the magic of this intergalactic epic like never before as the SF Symphony performs John Williams’ Oscar-winning score live to the film on the big screen. We just reviewed Lord of the Rings so you can read that to get a taste for what these experiences are like
WHEN: May 2-4, 2024
WHERE: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
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What’s on our mind
We keep content mostly fun and light at The Bold Italic, but the future of the Bay Area interests us, too. Here’s what we are thinking about in local news. Brought to you by GrowSF.
Curfew for Tenderloin businesses
The Mayor has proposed a curfew for liquor stores, smoke shops, and corner markets in the Tenderloin. Businesses would be forced to close from midnight to 5am or be fined up to $1,000 for every hour not in compliance. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the Department of Public Health would run the pilot program for one year, and SFPD would enforce it.
"Tenderloin residents, businesses, and workers deserve safe streets not just during the day, but also at night. The drug markets happening at night in this neighborhood are unacceptable and must be met with increased law enforcement and new strategies,” Mayor London Breed shared with David Sjostedt at the Standard.
The Bold Italic is brought to you by GrowSF and edited by Saul Sugarman. Send us a pitch, a question, comment, or advertise with us: info@thebolditalic.com