Things to do on San Francisco’s west side in February 2025.
Announcements: February 2025
San Francisco Richmond ReView
NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION
The Richmond District is located in the northwest corner of San Francisco, nestled in between Presidio National Park and the city’s Golden Gate Park. The neighborhood, which includes Sea Cliff and Laurel and Presidio Heights, is home to about 80,000 people. About half of Richmond residents are of Asian ancestry, primarily of Chinese and Korean descent. There is also a large Irish population and many recently arrived Russian immigrants.
Several vibrant commercial areas, including California Street, Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, serve the neighborhood. The 1,400 merchants and small offices in the Richmond District offer a wide range of goods and services.
Local landmarks include the Cliff House and the Beach Chalet at Ocean Beach, the V.A. Hospital at Fort Miley, University of San Francisco and numerous holy houses, including Temple Emanuel, St. John’s Orthodox Church and St. John’s Presbyterian Church. There are numerous attractions in Golden Gate Park, including an American Bison pen, M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Strybing Arboretum, the oldest children’s playground west of the Mississippi River and a 9-hole golf course.
NEWSPAPER INFORMATION
Distribution by Neighborhood: Presidio and Masonic Avenues to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park to the Presidio, Sea Cliff
Distribution by Zip Code: 94118 and 94121
Circulation: 25,000
Good Luck Parade Photos, Jan. 18, 2025, Outer Balboa Street
Outer Balboa Street was alive with the sights and sounds of the holiday season at the Richmond District Lunar New Year Good Luck Parade on Saturday, Jan. 18. Thousands of participants and spectators filled Balboa Street between 35th and 39th avenues from 3:30 to 8 p.m. The parade and night market was organized by the Richmond Neighborhood Center. Courtesy photo.
Commentary: Quentin L. Kopp
It’s been said that many politicians should beg for pardons instead of granting them.
Rampant Brings Natural Wine, Boutique Coffee and Events to Balboa
Outer Richmond residents Charlie O’Leary and Jack Pain opened the wine bar last September on Balboa Street near 36th Avenue, and in the months since they have curated an extensive and eclectic schedule of offerings for westside residents.
Local Students Participate in Academy of Sciences Intern Program
“Picture this,” said Leah Kalish, California Academy of Sciences’ manager of youth engagement. “You’re at Ocean Beach, digging for crabs. It’s cold, it’s 10 a.m. and your pants are wet.”
Commentary: Paul Kozakiewicz
The SF Department of Elections approved a petition on Jan. 21 to recall Engardio, submitted by a group called Our Neighborhood, Our Future. That started a 120-day period to get just less than 10,000 signatures to qualify for a special election later this year.
‘Then and Now’: Great Highway at Point Lobos Avenue
Comparison photos of the Great Highway at Point Lobos Avenue 105 years apart.
Kilduff’s Korner By Paul Kilduff
Cartoon by Paul Kilduff.
Filmmaker David Lynch Honored Posthumously at Balboa
A thick fog blanketed the outer avenues along Balboa Street. The Balboa Theater’s marquee glowed red in the moonlight. Across the street, a pair of raccoons fiddled with candy wrappers and potato chip bags, finding no luck inside of them. It was a rather Lynchian scene.
Beatlemania Flashback: Photos by McCartney at de Young
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul McCartney was spending time in his archives, preparing a photo exhibition of the late Linda McCartney (Eastman), his first wife. The task happened to remind him that he had taken photos during a momentous three-month period (December 1963 through February 1964), when the Beatles were on the cusp of superstardom, often referred to as Beatlemania.
Security Cameras Installed on JFK Prom. In GG Park
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has installed surveillance cameras at certain points along JFK Promenade in Golden Gate Park.
Richmond Review Crossword Puzzle, February 2025
Richmond Review Crossword Puzzle, February 2025.
Real Estate: John M. Lee – Richmond District
The single-family home prices in the Richmond District stabilized and rose after two years of decline with median prices increasing by 5.9% and the number of sales by 17.8% in 2024. Prices were pretty stable throughout the year as the Feds kept the interest rates steady, except for two quarter-point decreases later in the year. The Richmond Home Sales Comparison table shows the results in 2024 as compared with prior years, broken up by quarters.
‘Pet Pix’: Walt and Jesse
Send up to three photos of your pet to Editor@RichmondSunsetNews.com for consideration for “Pet Pix.” Please include your pet’s name.
From the Editor: In the Year 2025
In 1969, there was a hit song by Zager and Evans (who?) called “In the Year 2525.” As they counted up the years starting at 2525, the lyrics painted a rather bleak picture of a dystopian destiny for mankind.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 