Sunday Streets came back with a bang last weekend despite dramatic cuts to the beloved program, run by the nonprofit Livable Cities.
The Department of Public Health pulled its more-than-$215,000 annual grant to the group amid massive citywide cuts, shrinking Livable Cities’ staff and resources.
Still, the party raged on.
Children, families, and block-party-inclined adults crowded onto Bayview’s Lane street on Sunday for games, a wine-making grape stomp from Gratta Wines, and food from the growing number of local vendors on the Third Street Corridor, including newly-returned Gumbo Social, Let’s Eat BBQ, and Azteca Taqueria.
“It was a glorious occasion,” said Monique Hayes, owner of Let’s Eat BBQ. “I was happy to see folks come out and enjoy all the festivities. It brought something different to the corridor to have a live band here, a lot of people from the community came out, but also people who were new to Bayview.”
Nearly 30 small businesses, nonprofits, and city departments set up booths along the street, some selling jewelry, others informing residents of city projects and local resources as tunes selected by Domino Effect DJs played in the background.
Patricia Brazza, the director of community activations and partnerships for Livable Cities, said the organization hopes to keep the block party alive by partnering with local businesses, and hopefully, securing funding from a different source than the Department of Public Health, which had funded “the grandfather of block parties” for 17 years.
Brazza’s fingers are crossed for a partnership with the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
“The idea is simple: we bring thousands of people out into the neighborhood on a beautiful Sunday, and we want to help businesses turn that foot traffic into new customers, repeat customers, and long-term relationships with people who may not otherwise visit their businesses,” said Brazza.
Livable Cities describes the event as a day of “car-free fun.” For the duration of the day, Lane Street was completely blocked to traffic, and replaced by laughing children, jazz bands, and adults laying out their yoga mats for a class at the playground.
Stoop Sessions, a neighborhood concert experience, has become a community treasure in the Fillmore. This Sunday, Bayview residents will have a stoop session of their own, with live music from the group coming to the steps of the Ruth Williams Opera House.
This Sunday, from 2 to 6 p.m., a local artist will join the band, The Top Chefs, for a live arrangement of one of their songs.
The group has hosted a number of concerts on the steps of the historic opera house this summer, with local artists K.O.B, Yung Lott, and others, which made for a dramatically cinematic video on the group’s Instagram.
It’s unknown which artist will be featured next, though that’s up to any listener to see for themselves on Sunday.
The event is free and open to anyone who wishes to stand — or bring a folding chair — and listen.
If you’d like to try just a taste of what the numerous new restaurants set to open on the Third Street corridor have to offer the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is hosting its 2nd annual Taste the Bayview event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Southeast Community Center.
The event will serve food from Gumbo Social, Gratta Wines, Frank Grizzlys, and more.
“We expect 75+ guests this year, with a mix of returning and new local businesses,” said Chris Bailey, of the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. “The concept is the same: We are hosting a free evening for the community and local Bay Area foodies to sample food from and learn about the amazing restaurants in the area.”
You can check out the group’s interactive “Bayview foodie trail,” listing local restaurants, new and old, on the Bayview corridor here.
On Aug. 29 and 30, Cafe Alma at 888 Innes Ave. is hosting an event for art lovers and furniture-buyers alike.
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Congolese artist Emmanuel Kazadi will host a solo exhibition at the cafe displaying his bold and playful oil paintings, beside a mid-century modern furniture sale.
Entry to look at the paintings, or browse for a cool new chair, is free.
