“Richmond Buzz” is a recurring column on changes, tidbits and other news from the Richmond. Got news? Send us tips at tips@missionlocal.com.
Halloween swiftly approaches. But November is nigh, and for this reporter and his colleagues, there’s another terrifying date just beyond: Election Day.
Nothing to fear, dear undecided voter: Mission Local has put together a guide for the perplexed. I spent a couple days last week in a van with my fellow reporters, following the rules of the road and dropping off print newspapers full of our election coverage. Find those papers at your nearest neighborhood library, dive bar, cafe or restaurant.
As you seek those out, here’s what else is going down in the neighborhood.
First and foremost: Inner Richmond trick-or-treaters looking for a head start can look no further than Clement Street, where on Saturday participating businesses will have candy at the ready. That’s thanks to the Clement Street Merchants’ Association.
Today marked game six of the WNBA finals. The Golden State Valkyries lost to the Atlanta Dream and will advance to game 7 Saturday. At Fifth Avenue off of Clement Street, some dedicated fans have built an undead shrine to the hoopers of Ballhalla — and they’ve dubbed it Boohalla.
Check it out before it’s gone.
Head to Outer Balboa Street between 35th and 36th Avenues Nov. 1 for a Dia de Muertos celebration, featuring altars for the dead, “cultural performances” and “family-friendly activities.” Not to mention some of the finest Mexican food in town from Chino’s taqueria.
The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and was put together by Outer Balboa merchants including Chino’s, Simple Pleasures cafe, Noise Records and the Eye & Hand Society, alongside The Richmond Neighborhood Center and Supervisor Connie Chan’s office.
Here is our list of citywide events.
Meanwhile, there will be no shortage of scary movies on view at the Balboa Theater in the coming days — and on Halloween day, $13 will get you tickets to a “mystery movie marathon” quadruple feature. Check the theater’s full schedule for showtimes of “The Exorcist,” “The Devils,” “Scream” and more.
On Geary Boulevard, a couple of businesses have seen better days.
Fizzee’s bar at 3954 Geary Blvd. near 4th Avenue has closed temporarily, for allegedly violating state law around the sale of alcohol.
It’s unclear which section of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act regulators specifically found Fizzee’s in violation of, but the bar’s liquor license has been suspended for two months. A hand-written sign in the window (beside the state-mandated notice of suspension) said the bar will reopen Dec. 15.
“We apologize for the inconvenience,” that sign read.
The San Francisco police department earlier this month raided “a smoke shop on the 4600 block of Geary Boulevard, which did not have a license to sell tobacco products,” according to a press release.
That shop would be Puff Puff Sunset at 4644 Geary Blvd. near 11th Avenue, and though police “seized over 200 flavored vapes, tobacco products, drug pipes and paraphernalia, over 400 kratom products, psilocybin products, and other evidence” — the store appears open for business, if sparsely stocked.