By Ellen Eason

Luke’s Local Grocery held its grand opening on May 31, following a soft opening a few weeks earlier.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and State Assemblymember Catherine Stefani joined Luke Oppenheim for a ribbon-cutting ceremony as neighbors and team members cheered.

Oppenheim said that he wants to recreate the “spirit of a general store,” a place to pause and connect. The mayor remarked that it is a “joy to come to events like this, especially for a homegrown business.”

Guests enjoyed coffee and smoothie tastings, hot-off-the-grill sausages, a photobooth, jazz ensemble and flower bouquet station.

A Mexican/Salvadoran restaurant, Al Chile opened at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Judah Street. Owner Javier Silva started with a popular food truck and parlayed his success into his first brick-and-mortar location. Come sample pupusas, tortas, burritos, quesadillas and more.

Selling children’s second-hand clothing and other goods, Outer Village opened at 1314 Eighth Ave. Described as a “hub for connected parenting,” Outer Village also offers a drop-in community play space, coaching, workshops and events.

Welcome also to Premier Health Chiropractic, which opened its practice at 550 Irving St. in early June. Its experienced chiropractors use a “whole person” approach to chiropractic care and wellness, treating neck pain, carpal tunnel, back pain, headaches, whiplash and sciatic pain.

Historic SFWA Gallery Marks a Century of Celebrating Local Artists

The intriguing and ever-changing exhibitions at San Francisco Women Artists (SFWA) Gallery beckon art enthusiasts and passersby, enhancing the Irving Street scene and showcasing local artists’ work.

“Every month, we host a festive reception featuring a new juried exhibition with a dynamic theme,” said SFWA Board President Pam Borrelli, a member and photographer. The theme for the July show is “The Art of Play.” Each exhibition displays 50 works of art across different media.

“With the theme of ‘Artist’s Choice,’ October is one of our most popular exhibits, attracting more than 500 entries,” Borrelli added.

In addition to the themed exhibitions, hand-crafted jewelry, sculpture and ceramics created by local artisans change every two months, while the Artist Salon provides rental space for members and art organizations to display their art. SFWA provides opportunities for exhibitions and events in a welcoming gallery setting that cultivates a cultural relationship between artists and the public. Artwork is also available for sale on its website (sfwomenartists.org).

“We believe in the transformative power of art,” Gallery Director Janice Rumbaugh said. “Today, more than ever, we need the unique power of art to recreate unifying bonds among all people by imagining, reflecting and expanding the shared human experience.”

A membership organization, SFWA offers members opportunities to exhibit their work and also gain experience and knowledge of gallery operations. SFWA welcomes all Bay Area artists and remains committed to promoting equity in the arts for all people. While the mission remains focused on supporting women, SFWA invites membership to all artists regardless of gender.

Founded as the Sketch Club in 1887, SFWA began as an independent group of women artists who met to share and critique one another’s work and it has evolved into today’s organization. Once located in Hayes Valley and Presidio Heights, SFWA relocated in 2015 to the vibrant Inner Sunset, becoming an anchor in its evolving arts community. Sales, membership, fundraisers and arts grants fund the SFWA, which was recently recognized as a designated SF Legacy Business.

The historic nonprofit arts organization will celebrate its centennial this year, with a special event on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 6 p.m. Stop by the Gallery at 647 Irving St. to meet the artists, view the art, enjoy refreshments, see artist demonstrations and enter art raffles. You will likely find a unique piece of art for your home and enjoy interacting with artists and neighbors.

Discover the Inner Sunset’s Lively Art Scene

Art is thriving in the Inner Sunset, with galleries and interactive spaces all along Irving and its side streets. Here are a few highlights:

Just inside Golden Gate Park, botanical illustrations by Kristin Jakob are on display through September at the San Francisco Botanical Garden in the Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture. Jakob’s watercolors and drawings focus on California native plants as well as many of her favorite garden plants.

Marrow Gallery, a contemporary art space at 548 Irving St., features local, national and international artists. Exhibitions seek to present artists whose works offer commentary on contemporary culture and reference art movements of the past.

The Summer Solstice Inner Sunset Art Walk on June 20 was a celebration of local art and community magic.

Organized by the art gallery and gift shop Hunt & Gather, the event featured more than two dozen galleries and businesses offering seasonal promotions, refreshments, wine and champagne, music and more. Hunt & Gather offered artist pop-ups and a sneak peek at the Sunset Pride art show, Morning Vibes café hosted three artists and tastings of its fare, Problem Library presented an installation of scented gardens, Red Tail Beer & Wine Bar displayed art from One Shot Tattoo, San Franpsycho debuted a new art wall, Seismic Watercolors offered face-painting and live music, Sip Tea Room hosted Sea Lion Jazz serving bubbly and tea, and Willow on the Green held a cheese tasting while live music played in the Ninth Avenue parklet. The Art Walk is a quarterly celebration, and the next one will be on Friday, Sept. 19.

About the Inner Sunset Merchants’ Association

The association is the voice of our neighborhood’s business community. It is an all-volunteer, nonprofit association committed to supporting, promoting and advocating for the needs of our local business community. It welcomes new merchants into the neighborhood and works hard to drive new business to the growing community. Learn more at innersunsetmerchants.org.

Ellen Eason is a writer and Inner Sunset resident.