Street view of a busy intersection with cars, a cyclist, pedestrians, power lines, and multi-story buildings under a clear sky.
Outer Clement Street, 4 Star Theater in the distance, Feb 3 2026. Photo by Nicholas David.

“Richmond Buzz” is a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Richmond. Check out our Richmond web page for more.

Got news? Send tips to nicholas.david@missionlocal.com.


Outside Lands weekend is nigh. Those of you with cars (and with neighborhood permits where applicable) be warned: Don’t move your car until Monday.

Although the weekend music festival can spell trouble for residents looking to get around the city, its 75,000 daily attendees can often be a boon for our local businesses, and a boost to the neighborhood economy. Here’s what’s buzzing north of the park.


A retro theater with a marquee displaying "Saturday Sunday Frozen" against a clear blue sky.
4-Star Movie Theater on Clement Street and 23rd Avenue. At Tunnel Records next to the theater, Ely Klen, a musician and employee, believes pockets of the Richmond should be more lively. Photo by Junyao Yang on Dec. 6, 2024.

Cinema SF, the local nonprofit behind the 4 Star and Balboa Theaters, began its artist-in- residence program this week with actor and director Robert Townsend

This weekend, a curated series of movies at the 4 Star features Townsend in conversation with various guests. For the August 7 screening of “Network” (1976), he’ll sit down with local journalist G. Allen Johnson, and for the August 9 showing of “The Meteor Man” (1993) he’ll talk with famed Bay Area director Boots Riley. 

Find Townsend’s full residency schedule here.

Also at the 4 Star this month: A day-long celebration of food on film August 15, and live music from local and touring acts throughout the month. See the full calendar here.


Neighborhood community group Friends & Neighbors will host a book-making workshop on Sunday, August 9. 

The workshop will teach participants how to bind books with a sewing machine and format them for different purposes — from organizing thoughts to keeping an analogue address book.

Sign up for the workshop here. In keeping with the analogue slant, Friends & Neighbors says it is “a phone-free space.”


Two different gyms are coming to the north side of the 5800 block of Geary Boulevard, between 22nd and 23rd avenues.

Storefronts on a city sidewalk include Punch King Fitness, Ad Astra Gym, and Safe Harbor CPA-Income Tax, with signs and a tree visible along the street.

Ad Astra, a boxing and strength-training gym, is coming soon to 5820 Geary Blvd., according to a sign (apparently hand-painted) out front. Find more information on its website.

A white storefront with metal gates displays a ROAR sign recruiting fall 2026 instructors. The sidewalk, a tree, and other commercial buildings are visible.

A few doors down, women’s strength training gym Roar — which currently has outposts in Noe Valley and Ingleside Terraces — is coming to 5844 Geary Blvd.

No matter which form of exercise you choose, you’ll have your fix of natural wine and Ethiopian coffee with the imminent arrival of HI NRG on the southwest corner of Geary Boulevard and 22nd Avenue.


A flyer on a clipboard advertises a dance event called “High Energy” with event details, above a sign that reads “NOW PLAYING.”.

The Clement Street HI NRG pop-up’s last day celebration is Sunday, August 9, before it moves to the permanent Geary location. Stop by 443 Clement St. near 6th Avenue (the site of  wine bar High Treason) for “one last dance” with DJs and free drip coffee.


The final Heart of the Richmond Night Market of the summer is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, on Clement Street between 22nd and 25th avenues. Expect food and clothing vendors, live performances and, according to Instagram, a pet show.

Nicholas was born and raised in San Francisco, and has been tracking the city's changes and idiosyncrasies ever since. He holds a bachelor's degree in English literature, and has written for local outlets since 2024.

Nicholas writes the "Richmond Buzz" neighborhood column, and covers culture and news across town.

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