New Businesses and New Art In the Inner Sunset
Also: Let's Help Our Friends and Neighbors in Los Angeles
The other day I was walking down Irving Street when I happened to notice an artist painting one of the many utility boxes that one sees around town.
I talked to the artist, who can be found on Instagram at @_leaf_litter and he’s also a resident of the Inner Sunset! He’s painted a few other utility boxes arond the neighborhood as well. It’s nice to see someone take something that’s kinda bland and boring like a utility box, and make it into something nice. It certainly does more to make the area better than whining on some online complaint/BS factory.
Generally speaking, it’s a nice time to be in the Inner Sunset. While out-of-towners blabber on about whatever it is they think is going on in San Francisco, those who actually live here can see that things are turning around in the neighborhood.
On 9th Avenue we have several new businesses opening soon. These include Luke’s Local, which will be taking over the big retail space once occupied by Lemonade. Luke’s already has a locations in Cole Valley, North Beach, and Union Street. I have been to both the Cole Valley and Union St. stores and they’ve always got a nice selection of fancy ingredients and the like.
Mixt , a sort-of-local chain specializing in salads and similar items, is in the permitting process to open up in the space formerly occupied by the T-Mobile store in the Pacific Catch building on 9th. I have never been to one of these, but it seems nice, and it’s adding to the many options one has for dining in the Inner Sunset, all near the N and the 7 bus!
Down the block, Cache Bistro is hiring staff and should be opening soon - I didn’t get an opening date as of when I wrote this, but regardless, it’s nice to see that space remain a cafe.
There’s plenty of other things to enjoy around the neighborhood. The mural on 8th and Irving on the Cafe Rain Tree building is complete, but I haven’t had a chance to get a photo when no cars are parked in front so this photo will have to do for now.
It’s definitely worth stopping and taking a look at in person and shows what some effort and some organizing can do to make a plain corner shine brighter.
Finally, while walking to an event hosted by the Inner Sunset Merchants Association over at Underdogs, I spotted this unusual Mercedes van, then saw it again after climbing the steps on Kirkham.
I’m a transit guy for sure, but I always like cool, unusual imported vehicles like this. It reminds me of the massive military surplus Mercedes “Unimog” that I’d see around Venice Beach in the olden days.
Finally, a word about the ongoing crisis in Los Angeles: we have seen truly the best and worst in humanity as we have watched events unfold. Mr. Rogers told us to “look for the helpers” when you see bad things happening, and as the fires have destroyed homes and lives, we’ve seen very clearly who is helping and who is not.
It is not lost on me that California cannabis dispensaries (!) alone have done more than those with literal billions at their disposal. Add their efforts those of so many people and organizations from all walks of life who are doing so much to help, it’s better to focus on them than some rich loudmouths who haven’t done squat. (Local dispensary Solful over on Irving Street will be donating 5% of sales from Jan. 17-23 to the California Fire Foundation. )
Here’s a list provided by NBCLA of credible places to donate. If you choose to donate elsewhere, just watch out for scammers and the like who are using a crisis to scam a buck. This is a terrible situation, but our response to it will decide how much of a disaster it will be in the end.
That’s all for now! Have a great week!
Luke’s Local?! That is outstanding, finally something going into that space!