By Ellen Eason

The 55-acre San Francisco Botanical Garden will transform into a festive wonderland from Nov. 21 through Jan. 4, 2026, with more than one million twinkling lights in various attractions.

“Lightscape will bring to life an otherworldly journey after-dark, highlighting the beauty of plants and nature with color, lighting, art and music,” according to a press release. “The enchanting illuminated light trail will span one mile and feature show-stopping displays from international artists plus water features and dazzling sculptures that come alive at night with color, imagination and sound.” Tickets are available at gggp.org/lightscape.

News From Around the Neighborhood

French Florist, now open at 1127 Irving St. in the former Flower Girl location, specializes in vibrant flower arrangements, orchids and succulents. Owners Sam Suri and Yazeed AbouSaleh offer floral selections for any occasion, available for delivery from their website, frenchflorist.com. The skilled design team also creates custom arrangements for weddings and other special events.

Arizmendi Bakery celebrated its 25th anniversary on Oct. 13 with complimentary birthday cake and games at the Inner Sunset Flea Market. Read more about Arizmendi on page 20 of this issue.

The Ninth Avenue and Irving Street area hums with construction activity, as Timur Indian and Nepalese Cuisine prepares to open at 1386 Ninth Ave. and Saint Frank Coffee readies its café on Irving.

A fond farewell to Hunt & Gather, an innovative collective art space that served the Inner Sunset for seven years. Owner DeeDee Hunt plans to continue her neighborhood involvement through various art walks and events. Look for her pop-up at the Outer Sunset Farmers Market.

Pepperjack: Modern General Store

Pepperjack owner Jacquelyn London envisioned a modern twist on a general store when she created the small shop at 1232 Ninth Ave. Inspired by her small-town New England roots, she sought to bring small-batch home goods, provisions and curated local brands that help elevate any space. The store’s polished wooden shelves and rustic tables artfully display glassware, pottery, vases, linens, candles and provisions – from cheeses to artisanal chocolate, gourmet sauces and herbal cocktail mixers.

Pepperjack’s selections of products change with the seasons.

“We’ll be tricking out the store with a thoughtful assortment of gifts for the holidays, including ornaments, tea towels, charcuterie boards, seasonal wreaths and décor items,” London said. “There will also be a section for kids’ and pets’ gifts.”

The store has become a go-to destination for unique culinary gifts since its 2024 opening. Instead of buying a bottle of wine for your dinner host, consider something more imaginative. Gift baskets with gourmet consumables are thoughtful and appreciated choices.

“Many of our food items are locally sourced or made in California, often by women-owned brands,” London said. Popular themed baskets include lemon lover, snack lover and truffle lover. Or choose your own selections from the shop’s extensive range of products. Pepperjack ships throughout the U.S.

Locals and tourists alike enjoy stocking up on provisions for a picnic in nearby Golden Gate Park or the beach. Pepperjack plans to partner with the San Francisco Botanical Garden to provide special snack selections for visitors to the upcoming Lightscape event.

After studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, London embarked on a two-decade career with national retailers in San Francisco, primarily working in product development and sourcing. She channeled this experience into her long-held dream to create a modern general store. Customers appreciate handcrafted shelves (which were built by carpenters in her own family) and custom-designed wallpaper with illustrations of food items and vintage furniture.

Pepperjack has been embraced by the community. An Inner Sunset resident as well as a business owner, London says the neighborhood feels like a small town. She appreciates the genuine connections formed with her customers and their strong support for shopping local. Serving on the board of the Inner Sunset Merchants Association has strengthened connections with other small business owners.

Inner Sunset Offers a Delightful Holiday Shopping Experience

Discover the joys of shopping locally this holiday season. You can avoid crowds at the mall and parking hassles while leisurely perusing the Inner Sunset’s vibrant mix of businesses. Take a stroll through the neighborhood and visit delightful shops where you can discover something truly memorable. From artisanal foods and handcrafted home goods to unique art and apparel, there is something for everyone on your list. Explore the options below, taking the time to stop for coffee, tea, libations or something sweet at the many cafés, bars and bakeries in the neighborhood.

• For lovers of art and handcrafted items: Danker Mae, Marrow Gallery, San Francisco Women Artists, Seismic Watercolors, Sunset Commons.

• For foodies: Luke’s Local, Morning Vibes Café, Willow on the Green.

• For apparel and accessories: Ambiance, On the Run Shoes, Petite Regalia Fine Jewelers, San Franpsycho, Outer Village and Try Studio.

• For home décor, plants and gifts: Pepperjack, The Kira Shop, San Francisco Botanical Garden shop, Sunset Mercantile Emporium, Wishbone.

• For books, games and entertainment: Green Apple Books, Amazing Fantasy.

• For your pets: Summer Puppy, and outposts of Animal Connection and Jeffrey’s Natural Pet Foods at Sunset Mercantile Emporium.

The Inner Sunset Merchants’ 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 our neighborhood and works hard to drive new business to our growing community. Learn more at innersunsetmerchants.org.

Ellen Eason is a writer and Inner Sunset resident.