A storefront with metal security gates closed over the doors and windows. A paper sign is posted on the glass door. The building has a blank silver sign above the entrance.
Sin Miedo takes over the storefront formerly occupied by Climate Control Gallery at 2831 Mission St. Photo by Oscar Palma.

Mission Buzz is a regular update on changes, tidbits and other news from the Missionโ€™s commercial corridors. Got news? Send to tips@missionlocal.com.

 Sin Miedo art gallery will open its doors later this month at 2831 Mission St., near 24th Street.

The new gallery is a project by Sketchboard Co., a local nonprofit that holdsย  weekly drawing sessions and workshops at different venues across the Bay Area. Sketchboard will be collaborating on programming with Golden Gate Co-op, a local printing company that plans to host printing workshops and other events in the space.

Sketchboard Co. president, Natalie Gavidia, said they chose a Mission District because they’re often in the area and because thereโ€™s a need in the city for more art spaces. As Latino artists, Gavidia added, they also wanted to create a space that is accessible, especially to artists of color.

Two women pose on and beside a raised car in a city street, with palm trees and several people in the background. The image is in black and white.
Sin Miedo’s opening will live live screen printing and a photo booth. The space takes over the storefront formerly occupied by Climate Control Gallery. Image courtesy of Natalie Gavidia.

โ€œWe absolutely love what we do and we’ve been doing it for such a long time,โ€ said Gavidia. โ€œWe felt like it was the best time to gather everybody under one roof and celebrate the resistance of artists here in the Bay area.โ€

Sin Miedo will also hold classes, workshops, lectures and will have a library and a shop. The space housed Climate Control gallery until it closed earlier this month, and is next door to Et al., the bookstore and art gallery.

Gavidia said she can already picture a perfect day operating the gallery: A walk through Golden Gate Park, a bus ride to the Mission, a walk to the gallery with a Grand Coffee cup in one hand and a joint in the other. The sounds of cumbia and the smell of sage at the gallery while she welcomes patrons. And to end the day, a couple of drinks at Latin American Club. 

Sin Miedoโ€™s opening is scheduled for Saturday Sep. 19 from 12 to 6 p.m, with ongoing hours Thursdays through Mondays from 12 to 6 p.m.


A new movie theater, The Portal Cinema, will open at 3293 Mission St., near 29th Street, sometime next month, according to the cinemaโ€™s website. 

The Portal Cinema will have a single projection room with 45 seats and run as a nonprofit. Its founder, Nellie Killian, has recently programmed series for Criterion Channel, British Film Institute and the Museum of Moving Image.

The Portal Cinema will have more than 11 showings a week that will include repertory, new releases, global contemporary and artist’s moving-image work. It will also be equipped with DCP, 35mm and 16mm projections.


A black enamel pin with jagged edges and a dripping text design resting on a light wood surface.
A pin from last year’s Guac-off. The annual competition returns for its fifteen edition on Sep. 12th. Photo by Oscar Palma.

Itโ€™s time for Guacamole, again!!

The fifteenth edition of Guac-off returns on Sep. 12 to Bernal Heights. Get your avocados, cilantro, lime, onions and get ready to compete for the guacamole crown.

There will be live jazz, free beer and tons of guacamole to go around. Organizers of the annual competition will provide chips and theyโ€™ve also announced celebrity judges for this yearโ€™s event, without stating which celebrities. 

The 15th edition of Guac-off will take place at the Farmhouse of Guac at 3340 Folsom St., near Ripley Street, on Sep. 12 starting at 1 p.m.

Reporting from the Mission District and other District 9 neighborhoods. Some of his personal interests are bicycles, film, and both Latin American literature and punk. Oscar's work has previously appeared in KQED, The Frisc, El Tecolote, and Golden Gate Xpress.

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