“Sunset Buzz” is a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Sunset. Got news? Send us tips at junyao@missionlocal.com.
Steer clear of 19th Avenue if you can
It’s Memorial Weekend, and 19th Avenue will be closed again for repaving. I know, bad timing.
The stretch from Sloat Avenue and Holloway Avenue near San Francisco State University will be closed starting Friday 7 a.m. to Monday 10 a.m.
Drivers should be prepared for heavy traffic delays, detours and parking restrictions, warned CalTrans.
The silver lining, CalTrans continues, is that this is the last of three weekend closures for the repaving of 19th Avenue. When I recently caught a ride down a section where the repaving was already done, I had to admit the road was oh-so-smooth.
A new boat for Parkside Square
When Mission Local asked District 4 candidates about the most neglected part of the Sunset, at least two of them mentioned the worn-out playgrounds in the neighborhood.
Well, fixes are on the way, Supervisor Alan Wong wrote in his newsletter.
Last September, the city’s Recreation and Park Commission approved $1.68 million to resurface six neighborhood playgrounds. That included $271,000 for McCoppin Square playground and $275,000 for Sunset Recreation Center.
These improvements are expected to be completed by Fall 2026, Wong wrote.
For the Parkside Square playground, where a boat-shaped play structure was burned down by an arsonist last year, Wong said the Rec and Park department is planning to resurface the playground and install a new boat structure, climbing equipment and swings.
Where should the Sunset put its trash can?
On that note, Supervisor Wong’s office has also been collecting suggestions on where to put trash cans in the Sunset.
San Francisco has about 4,100 trash cans, with 2,800 of them managed by Public Works. District 4 has a relatively low density of trash cans, especially in residential areas that are not directly on transit and commercial corridors like Judah and Taraval streets.
On Noriega Street, there are no trash cans west of 39th Avenue, according to city data, even though it has a cluster of businesses near Ocean Beach that are especially busy on the weekends.
Wong is asking residents to fill out this form to suggest where trash cans are needed. The office will use the feedback to work with the Department of Public Works to “advocate for placements where they are most needed.”
How to use the Stern Grove lottery — or claim a ticket in person
It’s the season again — Stern Grove Festival is back. This year’s lineup, from June 14 to August 16, features musicians like Al Green, Patti LaBelle, Japanese Breakfast, Suki Waterhouse and SF Symphony.
Each week’s concert has its own lottery and will open 6 weeks before each show. Each lottery will be open for a week. Then you cross your fingers and wait for the random results to drop.
If you don’t make the lottery, all is not lost. Residents can also visit community box offices across the city to claim free tickets in person. For each concert, 1,500 tickets are available.
Previously on Sunset Buzz:
Pàng, the Chinese restaurant that replaced Dumpling Park at 1309 9th Ave., isn’t open yet, but quietly had a friends-and-family night last week. Glimpses on social media show that the space has been completely transformed with sleek rattan chairs and green and wooden accents.
The menu included Chinese restaurant classics like pan fried dumplings, braised beef noodle soup and stir-fry pea shoots. The dessert is what caught my eye, though — A black sesame creme brûlée that I predict might be the next Instagram sensation in the Inner Sunset.
Work at Maggie & Mac’s, a restaurant at 1326 9th Ave., is also underway and seemingly very close to finish. The comfy brown booth seats are in. Light is pouring in from the skylight on the wooden roof. According to its Instagram page, it has started hiring staff — a sign that the opening day may be just around the corner.
