Spring is in the air, and should be in your step. There’s tons of news and fun events worth checking out this month, so let’s hop to it!
Neighborhood Notes
Ronen aides Beinart and Li move on
District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen bids farewell to legislative aides Amy Beinart and Jennifer Li. Beinart, a library of land-use and affordable housing facts, worked for Ronen for more than four years and rightfully enjoys retirement.
Li, a passionate and bright-haired worker who, equipped with a bullhorn could intimidate anyone, leaves after two-and-a-half years. She returns to Oakland to be Executive Director for Oakland Chinatown’s Community Benefits District. Congratulations to both!
Ephemeral Tattoo
Sometimes, we do things in life we wish we could undo: the 6th tequila shot, texting the ex. But an Ephemeral tattoo isn’t one of them, because it undoes itself, the owners of a new shop on Valencia say.
Ephemeral Tattoo, a studio where the “temporary” tattoos last surprisingly long — nine to 15 months — opened in the Mission last Monday. Ephemeral, which also operates studios in New York City and Los Angeles, opened its San Francisco location at 962 Valencia St. between 20th and 21st streets.
But Ephemeral doesn’t offer the self-applied “cockamamie” temporary tattoos of your youth. Expect an individual artist, needles and biodegradable ink, which the company says the body absorbs over time until the tattoo fades completely.
Stop in the new shop at 962 Valencia St., which is overseen by Ronnie Harrison and Carlita Peña. Or check out its website here.
Covid-19 test changes
The Latino Task Force announced schedule changes for some of its covid testing and vaccination sites this week. Here are the updated locations and hours:
The site at 24th and Capp streets now runs Fridays to Mondays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It offers vaccines from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Alabama hub site at 701 Alabama St. offers covid tests from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and vaccines from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can take home free covid testing kits as well, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Excelsior site at 20 Norton St. offers free covid testing on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Get vaccinated for free on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Fridays 12 to 5:30 p.m.
Covid hotlines:
Call: 415-808-9775 for those living in 94110 zip code.
Call: 415-347-6404 if you live in the 94112 or 94132 zip codes.
There are also vaccines and boosters at the Mission Neighborhood Health Center on Shotwell.
The hours at all of these sites have been updated on our vaccine page.
What to do this weekend
Mujeres, Música, Misión
As Pitbull would sing, “mujereeeeeees!” Calle 24 Latino Cultural District and Paseo Artístico shine a spotlight on some magnificent mujeres in the neighborhood during its event “Mujeres De La Misión” on Saturday, March 12. Visit the variety of programs led by women, including a performance by Liliana Herrera at Brava Theater at noon, another by singer Maya Canales at Evolved SF at 2 p.m., and a dance performance by Andreína Maldonado at Dance Mission Theater at 2 p.m. The event showcases speeches, music, and dance from noon to 6 p.m. at a variety of venues along 24th Street, each which is completely free.
Check out Calle 24’s Instagram to see the whole line-up and map of events.
Sour Cherry Comics art sale
Sour Cherry Comics, a new queer-owned comic book store, invites you to an art sale! On March 12, the store will host an artist reception from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring the very same creators whose paintings grace Sour Cherry’s walls. Non-alcoholic seltzer beverages will be served up, too. Haven’t been by yet? You can always head to Sour Cherry sooner; the shop promises new stock of queer comics and books ready to purchase.
Swing on by at 3187 16th St. For more information, visit Sour Cherry’s Instagram or call 415-780-3513.
Poetrypalooza at Medicine for Nightmares
There’s a sick lineup of poetry events at Medicine for Nightmares this month, including a reading by poet Angel Dominguez on March 12. He’ll read from his latest poetry book, “Desgraciado: The Collected Letters” and be joined by other poet (and MFN owner) Josiah Luis Alderete and poet Tatiana Luboviski-Acosta. Stop in the shop to hear some lilting lyric from 7 to 9 p.m. at 3036 24th St. If you’d prefer to tap in through the interwebs, go here for the Zoom link information. Visit Medicine for Nightmares’ website or call 415-824-1761 for more information.
Women Rising art show
Much like women, this show can’t be stopped. “Women Rising,” an exhibit featuring 200 Bay Area women artists, debuts at the Drawing Room gallery’s new spot following a two-year delay. The original iteration, in 2020, got shut down thanks to shelter-in-place orders.
So, this “Women’s Rising” is doing a check-in on local women artists: How has the pandemic impacted them, and what have they been up to since? It’ll be a free-for-all of conversation, artwork and storytelling. After all, what better time to listen to women than during Women’s History Month? (Except, you know, all the time.)
Come through the new Drawing Room space at 780 Valencia St. The exhibit runs from March 12 to April 30. Catch the artists’ opening reception from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 12.
Looking ahead
David Ireland House debuts “House of Commons”
You’re not going to believe this, but San Francisco is in a housing crisis!!!
But The David Ireland House on 500 Capp St. reminds us we have options, historically and now. The David Ireland House and architecture firm THE OPEN WORKSHOP unveils its latest exhibition, “House of Commons,” which displays 35 housing case studies from around the Bay. All the examples have something to do with communal or collective living, which THE OPEN WORKSHOP believes could be an overlooked solution to the city’s housing woes.
The exhibition presents five models and drawings of potential living situations, and includes advice about mediation — perhaps accurately understanding the difficulties of living with others. Research by architect Neeraj Bhatia and Antje Steinmuller, an associate professor in architecture, complements the show.
Reserve your free ticket here. Show opens March 16 and ends May 31.
For more information, visit David Ireland House or call 415-872-9240.
Dessert-a-thon returns
Dessert-a-thon is back… nature is healing. That’s right, for $20 you will be admitted to Medicine for Nightmares at 3036 24th St. and be allowed to munch on all the desserts you’d like. The money raised will go toward planting trees near and along 24th Street as a part of Calle 24 Latino Cultural District’s Mission Verde initiative. In addition to the desserts, Calle 24 trivia will be played. So grab your thinking cap, forks and your most forgiving pants, and head to the feast. It’s on April 3 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Let Marie Sorenson know you’re coming by emailing mariesorenson@yahoo.com.
Stop and smell the free flowers
Earlier this week, the mayor and Board of Supervisors announced the best news of all for a flower-lover like me. Starting in late April, the Conservatory of Flowers and the Japanese Tea Garden will be free to San Franciscans! Can’t wait that long? The San Francisco Botanical Gardens is free to residents and non-resident veterans already. Now the holy trinity of Golden Gate Gardens is complete. Hop on your bike, and put the pedal to the petals!