A traffic light out causes a ripple effect. Costumes are elusive under the rain as businesses get ready for Halloween. Here’s your Afternoon Report:
Treats on the streets
It has been raining on and off throughout the day, which means people who donned their Halloween costumes this morning are avoiding the outdoors, careful not to get their outfits wet and gross.
In my search to get some good shots of people in their crafty costumes, I decided to walk to Shotwell Street, then to 24th and back on Mission Street.
However, people in their costumes proved elusive. I spotted a cat woman dressed in tight jeans and a purple blouse under a black umbrella. The only thing that gave her away was a cat-eared headband.
I also spotted another woman dressed as a bloody mechanic, but then she disappeared into a building.
As I made my way to 24th Street, I came across Denise Gonzalez, the owner of Luz de Luna, who mentioned she will stay open one or two hours later to give trick-or-treat candy to the children that pass by.
“We give out trick-or-treat candy every year, of course. We give lollipops and chocolates,” she said. Gonzalez mentioned that when the business next door had to close, she decided to take over the space and open a second gift shop, but this time with more items connected to Asian spirituality, as opposed to Latin-American curios.
Gonzalez was optimistic that the rain would not be a problem. “The youth spirit will be present. Especially since the Giants won,” she said.
Diagonally across from her, on South Van Ness and 24th Street, Cony Rivera and Ricardo Peña from Mixcoatl Arts and Crafts were already setting up a table outside in preparations for trick-or-treaters. Every year, for the past ten, they’ve set up a table outside with sugar skulls and Rivera hands out candy.
“I spent good money on the candy because I like to give out good candy. I give out Mexican candy, because I want them to take something that relates to my culture,” she said. The couple also plan to have Miguel Quintana, a Mexican artist, give a workshop today at 4 p.m. on how to make sugar skulls. The only requirement is that you buy your own sugar skull. Rivera and Peña will also to stay open one or two more hours than usual.
Lights out
On Valencia and 22nd Streets, an employee from the City and County was troubleshooting a troublesome traffic light.
“The problem varies and I just got here. I don’t know what the problem is,” she said.
While she works on the malfunctioning light, she”ll have to turn off power on nine other traffic lights and eight pedestrian signals. Take note pedestrians and motorists of 22nd Street.
This has been your Afternoon Report—a new series we’re trying out in which we offer a quickie post-meridian rundown of some minor developments in the always-happening streets of the Mission District. Got ideas or suggestions? Let us know what you think by sending an email to tips@missionlocal.com.