Congratulations
s
2017 NBA
Champions
CIVIC CENTER
Dear Tenants: Welcome to the latest edition of the Civic Center Campus Chronicle. We hope you enjoy our new format! Summer is in full swing, and the Civic Center Area is bustling with activity. This issue includes information on many fun ways to participate in City activities, keep fit, and continue to make healthy and “green� choices every day! Please enjoy this latest issue and let us know if you have suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles. Thanks! John Updike
Hellen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds
T
he San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department is partnering with The Trust for Public Land on a renovation project that is funded by the Helen Diller Family Foundation to the two playgrounds outside of City Hall near Grove and Larkin. The first improvements are being made after 20 years of its creation. This project will be great for Civic Center because it will serve as an area where open space is limited in neighborhoods like the Tenderloin, Western Addition, Hayes Valley, and SOMA. The vibrant playgrounds will be used by many daycares, school children, employees, and visitors to the surrounding institutions including the Main Library, the Asian Art Museum, and the San Francisco Symphony. The goals for this renovation are to create unique, artful, safe and inviting play environment for families and children of all ages. Most importantly, it will ensure that everyone has access to quality parks and open space.
Civic Center Campus Chronicle
Seen & Heard
Jack Chin Department of Technology / SFGovTV SFGovTV General Manager City Hall
Amanda Kahn Fried Policy and Legislative Manager Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector City Hall Room 110
What is your favorite app? I use Google Trips whenever I travel to plan out my trip in advance. It organizes all my reservations in one place (flights, hotels, car rental, activities and restaurants). It has essential information on public transit, currency and local emergency #s. The best part is you can map out your whole plan and download it to your phone in case you don’t have internet connection when you get there.
What is your favorite lunch spot near City Hall?
What is your favorite lunch spot near City Hall? Golden Kim Tar is my favorite go-to lunch spot. They have a large variety menu and the food is excellent with very generous portions and friendly service.
What is your favorite “tourist” activity to do in the City?
Dragon Eats- the cabbage salad is amazing! What’s your favorite outdoor activity to do in SF? Walking up Bernal Hill with my kids and dog and swinging on the tire swing at the top.
Del Seymour’s walking tour of the Tenderloin.
What is your favorite “tourist” activity to do in the City? Taking the Ferry from Pier 39 to Angel Island and having a panic on the island. My dad took us there when I was a kid and now I take my kids there with him to hang out for the day. We enjoy a good hike to the top of the island where the views of the City are amazing. The place is just so historic. Civic Center Campus Chronicle
Civic Center Commons
City Hall employees may have noticed some interesting changes afoot outside City Hall. Not only is there
a new pop-up playground near City Hall and an outdoor dragon-themed gallery next to the Asian Art Museum, but you may also have seen the new “knitting” on the trees and the yellow and blue tables and chairs outside. These amenities, along with new stewardship partners like Hunters Point Family, are part of a new initiative: the Civic Center Commons Initiative. “Civic Center Commons” is a new collective name for United Nations (UN) Plaza, Civic Center Plaza and Fulton Street between the Asian Art Museum and the San Francisco Main Public Library. As you know, these spaces play a critical role in our civic life and provide a “commons” where San Franciscans come together to connect and unite - around our shared values. Neighbors, community and cultural organizations, and City agencies are now working together alongside people who frequent these spaces to bring more positive and inclusive daily activity to the area through interactive art installations and play structures, public space stewardship, new workforce development partnerships, and more frequent activities and events. To learn more about this effort, please visit civiccentercommons.org In the meantime, here’s some news about what’s outside:
Yarn Tree Wrapping – “Knitting the Commons” From June 12-June 30 (Phase 1) and throughout August (Phase 2), the artist-sister-duo Knits for Life will be installing yarn tree wrapping throughout the Commons in an effort to unite the three public spaces. This project is a partnership between the Civic Center Commons, Trust for Public Land, Knits for Life and Groundplay program (SF Planning Department). While Phase 1 design has been finalized, the public can still shape Phase 2! Vote on the Phase 2 theme on line or in person in the Civic Center Commons 8am-7pm 7 days/week from June 12 – June 30. Learn more about the project, voting and the dates Knits for Life will be holding public knitting demonstrations here: Knitting the Commons
Food and Drink You’ll soon be seeing more blue and yellow tables and chairs throughout the three spaces, as well as more food and drink options. Beginning in July, Off the Grid will be implementing a 90 day pilot expansion in the area, bringing coffee to Civic Center Plaza every weekday morning and a couple of lunch trucks every day, in addition to their Friday market. They will also be adding Monday and Friday lunch at UN Plaza, in addition to their current Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Downtown Streets Team: Now 6 Days a Week
Civic Center Commons Stewards
Downtown Streets Team is now out in the Civic Center Commons MondaySaturday 8am-12pm. Be sure to say hello to the friendly staff in yellow DST shirts!
Save the Date:
The Commons
on
Third Thursday
If you haven’t stopped by to meet the Hunters Point Family Civic Center Commons Stewards at one of the three installations in the Commons, we hope you do! Our wonderful staff is out there 7 days/week 8am-7pm wearing Civic Center Commons uniforms. They’re there to care for and docent the installation and help coordinate safety services in the area. Want to learn more about the Art/Lit LIZ? Pop-up playgrounds? Sound Commons installation? They’re the people to ask! Civic Center Campus Chronicle
MAKE YOUR SUMMER BBQ A GREEN ONE! Top 10 Ways to Green Your BBQ Party 1
Use reusable or biodegradable plates and utensils. If you can’t find those, at least go for products made from 100 percent recycled materials.
2
Fill up pitchers of water, homemade lemonade, and iced tea instead of buying large quantities of personalsized beverage containers.
3
Use plastic or paper cups, and provide markers at the drink counter so people can write their names on their cups — and therefore not use more than one.
4
Encourage recycling for all other bottles, cans, and plastic by putting out easily identifiable bins.
5
Use gas, propane, or electric grills, which burn more efficiently and cleaner than charcoal or wood. If you have a charcoal grill, make sure you burn natural lumps, not briquettes, and don’t use more than you need.
6
Grill locally grown veggies, small farms are often more likely to be more sustainable and pesticide-free.
7
Invest in in organic, sustainably raised wieners and hamburgers.
8
Encourage walking, biking or carpooling to your party.
9
Make sure mosquitoes don’t drive your guests away. Before the party, take a look at prime mosquito breeding grounds — clean out rain gutters, check other spots with standing water and mow your grass.
10
Don’t forget the little things. Choosing organic condiments, reusable napkins instead of paper ones, e-vites versus mail invitations, homemade decorations over store-bought and other details will help round off the finishing touches of your green BBQ.
Civic Center Campus Chronicle
PRIDE 2017
CIVIC CENTER
The annual San Francisco Pride celebration is just around the corner. San Francisco’s Civic Center is preparing its
grounds for the 47th Pride event, one of the biggest and most extravagant pride celebrations. Preparation is underway and streets and sidewalk closures begin June 22nd and will impact your ability to move around the Civic Center area. The maps indicate each closure. For this years Pride festivities there will be a wide assortment of stands including food and alcohol, as well as other vendors. The Official San Francisco Pride party will be held at City hall following the parade on the 25th at 2:00 pm. Please note that the VIP party in City Hall is a ticketed event that will feature music, food and drinks. If you are joining the festivities at City Hall, allot extra time to move around the celebration in Civic Center. Also, note the weather reports indicate very warm weather, so stay hydrated!
Civic Center Campus Chronicle