On Saturday, the Mission welcomed an agreeable amount of sunshine, pleasant breezes and, at 18th Street between Dolores and Guerrero streets, a block party, featuring food and drink from much-loved local talent.
It was the second block party on 18th Street. Many Mission residents will recall the block’s first party two years ago, with its manageable-sized crowd, that day’s generous supply of sunshine and the whole pig turning on a spit outside of Bi-Rite Market.
This year the crowd was a bit larger and the list of vendors grew by a handful. In addition to the block’s residents — Delfina, Tartine, Dolores Park Café, Bi-Rite Market and Bi-Rite Creamery — partygoers could sample street-friendly fare from nearby favorites Regalito, Kasa and Out the Door. The “grown-up” section of the block was dominated by pours from the San Francisco Brewers Guild.
The Dolores Park end of the block featured live music surrounded by chairs, tables and even a small AstroTurfed area, so visitors could enjoy their food in comfort. At the opposite end, the groove was provided by neighborhood DJs taking turns at a table in front of Faye’s Video.
Besides a surprising number of people attempting to walk their bikes through the crowd, the event went off without any major disturbances. Out the Door was responsible for some of the day’s longest lines, with people happy to wait for their sumptuous, fire-kissed pork ribs done with a sweet and savory Vietnamese-inspired glaze.
Proceeds from the event will be shared by the Women’s Building, Buen Dia Family School and Pie Ranch.