Toni Hines was born and raised in Louisiana. Last year, the 62-year-old Bayview resident went back home to New Orleans, where Mardi Gras is back-to-back parades, second lines and revelry.
Then it rained, said Hines. The mayor of New Orleans postponed the entire festival for a full week.
“It was a storm, worse than this,” Hines recalled, signaling to the torrential rain outside while she sat between two friends at Gumbo Social, a soul-food restaurant on Third Street. “Tornadoes, all kinds of stuff.” But true to form, she added, “it was still a party.”
The same was true today in Bayview.
Despite the pouring rain and gusty wind, Bayview’s Gumbo Band carried on the neighborhood Mardi Gras tradition, performing “When the Saints Go Marching In” under a white canopy on Third Street, weather be damned.
Cheryl White, a 69-year-old Bayview resident, was one of the lone, brave souls dancing outside while it rained.
“I can dance to anything,” she shouted over the live band. “But we gotta get out of here before us old folks catch pneumonia.”
Fortunately, by noon, much of the festivities had squeezed into Gumbo Social, which is owned and operated by Bayview resident and Homelessness Oversight Board commissioner Dontaye Ball.
“We ain’t no punks,” Ball said of the day’s show-must-go-on mentality. “Rain or shine, the Social shows up. We don’t quit.”
Like many people who were born and raised in Bayview, Ball has strong ties to New Orleans. He has honored those community ties with a Mardi Gras celebration ever since he opened Gumbo Social in 2023.
Ball invited other restaurants to join in. Among them: Asia Harris of Savor Her Flavors, who made shrimp and crawfish étouffée with hard rice, and Ro-Tel dip. She said preparations took around three days, as she makes everything from scratch.
Ball, meanwhile, had four gumbos on offer: Chicken and sausage, smoked turkey, pork gumbo, and vegan gumbo. “I’m in love with gumbo,” Ball said. “If gumbo were a woman, her and I would be married.”
Also in the picture: Po’boys, red beans and rice, smoked duck, and a king cake made from griddled cornbread.
Mardi Gras, Ball emphasized, needs to be a national holiday.
But this event was more than a celebration. It was a chance for people to visit the Third Street corridor, said April Spears-Mays, executive director of the African American Arts and Cultural District.
Standing in front of a crowd of around 50 people inside the restaurant, she implored them to keep the party going in the Bayview: “Continue to support Third Street, continue to support Gumbo Social, continue to support your neighborhood associations that are here to support our small Black businesses and other businesses too.”
District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton and Assessor Recorder Joaquin Torres were also in attendance.
“I know that the weather is not cooperating with us today, but it is great to see all of your faces here,” Walton said in brief remarks. “Rain or shine, Bayview is the place to be.”
After Walton spoke, Torres awarded Ball with a certificate of honor.
“From City Hall to the Sunset to the Bayview, Dontaye made it happen,” Torres said as he handed Ball the certificate. “I just want to say thank you for continuing this tradition again today.”
Darnella, a Bayview resident, sat with her cousin Lily, roommate Carla and friend Ms. Billie Cooper at a table. They were partaking in étouffée and gumbo.
“The food is wonderful. The people are wonderful,” Cooper told Mission Local. “It’s Fat Tuesday and we’re getting involved in the culture of Mardi Gras.”
While preparing his dishes at 11 a.m., Ball drifted into a reverie about all the other abundance available along Third Street year-round. “Las Isletas — we’re talking about the best pupusa in San Francisco. The caldo, the soup, amazing, right? I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. Like, today’s a perfect day for it.”
Bayview residents Toni Hines and Walter Johnson were also tucking into the Creole dishes.
“It’s a holiday, you let your hair down. French style,” said Johnson. “Creole style!” Hines corrected him, aghast.
By 1 p.m., the Gumbo Band, headed by trumpet player David Hardiman, had finally moved indoors and soared into “I Feel Good” by James Brown.
Ball’s daughter, clad in a rainbow tutu, and his niece danced along.
“We wanna take this opportunity to show — not only the community, not only our elected officials, not only visitors, not only people who live on the block — that everyone’s invited.”
Never been to Mari Gras but your article gave me the present of being their. The joy of celebration and the yummy food. Have to add to my bucket list. ❤️