Category: Events

Hillwide Garage Sale officially cancelled

Unfortunately (but not unexpectedly) the Bernal Hillwide Garage Sale has been cancelled this year. In an email sent out earlier this morning, the director Gina Dacus said the following:

Greetings Bernal Heights neighbors and shoppers from near and afar.  We regret not having our infamous Hillwide Community Garage Sale this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This year would have been a great relief in seeing our neighbors while getting a bit of fresh air.

However, we also want to do our part in keeping everyone safe as we know Hillwide is one of San Francisco’s largest community garage sales.

The elves of BHNC have remained diligent in providing services to the community and appreciate everyone who has continued to support this much needed work and have donated to our COVID-19 efforts.

We remain optimistic that we will get through this and will resume Hillwide in 2021. Until then, stop by our Facebook page or give us a call if you need assistance.

In community,

Gina Dacus

Executive Director

P.S. You can connect to the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center using the links below. Please consider making a donation to help with the valuable work that the staff and volunteers continue to do for the most vulnerable in our community. Thank you.

Gina Dacus, Hillwide Garage Sale Executive Director

Boogie down on Banks St for Gay Pride’s 50th

Yesterday’s Bernal Heights art walk was a great way for neighbors to show off their creativity and artistic ability, but today it’s time to show off your best dance moves!

Today from 3pm to 6pm, DJ Rico and DJ Smitty will be providing a soundtrack to a hillside social-distanced dance party in celebration of Gay Pride.

I caught up with DJ Rico to learn more about the event:

First thing’s first; what are the specifics about today’s event?

June 28th, from 3-6pm

Upper banks and Powhattan st

Pride special Event

It’s an hour longer because it’s a Pride event and we wanted people to enjoy more of the dancing and celebrate Gay Pride’s 50th anniversary.

Please wear your most colorful outfit (Drag is encouraged 🙂 and Let’s dance the afternoon away!

How did you decide to start this event?

It was started by my neighbor one day (Cynthia, a singer and a ukulele player).  She took out her small boom box and called us (neighbors) out to dance with her.  We enjoyed it and decided to make it a weekly thing.  Then I told her that i used to be a promoter in San Francisco and a DJ which i started since my high school days, and still have my DJ equipment (also we throw a killer Karaoke parties within our close friends in our house.

Then by the next week,  I slowly took all my equipment out. By the 3rd Event, we had a full gear and many more attendees. We get a lot of people telling us that they look forward for the next event and thank us for hosting it and that they wish that it’s every week!  

Since then Cynthia, me (Rico Ocampo) and my husband (Patrick McCarthy) had been collaborating this event every other week, along with our close neighbors (Dan, Deborah and the Abra Family)

I’ve been to two of these dance parties, but can you describe how the event has changed over time?

The event had changed that we decided to invite more people beside our neighbors. We felt that more people can benefit from this event and we get to meet everyone within our neighborhood. A more reason to get out and dance, who doesn’t like dancing? Lol  

What’s the music selection like? Do you publish a playlist after the fact? 

Our selection are more 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and I throw some current popular songs, because who doesn’t love those music in that era? Also most everyone since to enjoy and relate to that type of music.  

We don’t publish the music, I play them when I see who are dancing and feel the crowd’s energy.

DJs. Drag. Dancing. Distancing. DIY Drinks. Don’t miss a chance to let loose this afternoon with DJ Rico and many other fancy-footed Bernalites.

Compete with your neighbors at Barebottle this winter

Want to participate in a battle of wits or a battle of bags this winter? Barebottle is your place to do either one or both!

Cornhole league:

First off is the next season of cornhole with registration and open board nights tonight, Jan 29th and next Wednesday, Feb 5th. What’s cornhole you ask? It’s everyone’s favorite tailgating game where the goal is to throw some beanbags onto a board (1 point) or through a hole (3 points). It’s perfect for a brewery because you only need one arm to toss, so the other one can easily hold a pint of beer. More details below:

Every Wednesday evening 6-9:30pm, from February 12 – April 22
2-4 players per team
$25 entry fee per player
Each player will receive a league t-shirt
And to top it off we’re going to have a pizza night near the end of the season!
Be sure to stop by and register on Wednesday January 29 or February 5, from 6-9pm!

Barebottle Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Barebottle/photos/a.849531328468061/2720936901327485/?type=3&theater

So maybe physical sports aren’t your thing? Lucky for you Barebottle is starting up trivia as well!

Trivia Night:

Fourth Tuesday of every month starting January 28th.

6-8pm in the lounge

Hosted by Lei Guigayoma

Teams of 3-5 people

Multiple rounds of 8 questions

Prizes for winning teams

Barebottle Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Barebottle/photos/a.849531328468061/2745426308878544/?type=3&theater

OK, so let’s say friendly competition is still too intense for you. There’s still a wealth of great events coming this February to Barebottle as seen in the flyer below:

Ladies Paint Night Pop Up at Heartfelt on Monday (1/13)

Looking for something to do Monday night? Want to get your creative juices flowing? Interested in meeting some other women who feel the same way?

If any of the above interests to you, then swing by Heartfelt from 7:30pm to 9:00pm on Monday night for a Ladies Paint Night Pop Up provided by Jen Bloomer of Radici Studios. The cost is $15 for pre-registration (sign-up here) or $20 at the door. All materials are provided, and all skill levels are welcome.

For more information, check out the flyer below:

Have an event that you think your fellow Bernal neighbors might be interested in? Shot me an email at bernalhype@gmail.com to let me know!

Ring in 2020 without leaving the comfort of Bernal

Have you procrastinated accomplishing your 2019 resolutions? Setting your 2020 resolutions? Unfortunately I’m ill-equipped to help you with either of those. However, if you put off planning your New Year’s Eve celebrations then let Bernal Hype be your guide to bridge the Gregorian gap.

I’ve digitally crawled the Bernal Bar scene to compile the following list of places who have events the night of 12/31:

While these were the only events I was able to find, here are other places open past midnight tomorrow where you can create your own special New Year’s Eve memories:

  • Holy Water
  • St. Mary’s Pub
  • Wild Side West
  • Old Devil Moon
  • Rock Bar
  • Lucita’s Niteclub

Hope everyone’s 2020 starts strong and remains that way. Stay safe and have a happy new year!

Weekly Chess Night at Progressive Grounds

Want to proclaim yourself as King or Queen of the Bernal Chess scene? Looking for something fun to do one knight [sic] a week? Consider yourself a chess expert or a rook-ie? (OK I promise I’m done here)

This Wednesday night from 6-8pm at Progressive Grounds, the Bernal Chess group will be hosting their weekly event:

San Francisco chess players, let’s play and learn together! All levels and ages are welcome. Bring a chess set if you have one. There’s no charge to participate, but a purchase of food or drinks helps support our generous venue. Find out about all upcoming game nights: bernalchess.com.

http://bernalchess.com/ & https://nextdoor.com/events/3349916/

This night generally happens weekly, so make sure you sign up for the mailing list if you are interested in getting notified about when the event takes place.

Crafts + Brew: More than just Craft Brews

Looking for something to do mid-day Saturday that doesn’t involve waiting in line for brunch but still involves some adult beverages? A company called Crafts + Brew is hosting an event called Build + Sip at Barebottle Brew Co from 11am-2pm where you can purchase tickets to build one of three crafts:

  • Beer Caddy – $44 (pictured above)
  • Nail & String Art – $39 (pictured below, though there are more designs than the one below)
  • Industrial Lamp – $49 (pictured below)

From the Crafts + Brew FAQ, the company will provide all tools necessary for construction, and kids are welcome to craft (though of course not welcome to consume Barebottle’s tasty crafts).

Bernal Heights Rec Center November Calendar

Every month the Bernal Rec Center publishes a calendar of events happening at the gym, but as far as I can tell it’s only available as a print-out in the rec center itself. I’m going to reach out to the Rec Center to see if we can digitize and add to the BH calendar, but for now I’ve scanned the document below:

It honestly took me way too long to realize there was a full indoor basketball court by the library and even longer to realize there were structured events that took place inside. Grab a basketball, don your skates, or prep your best Zumba moves and check it out!

Yeah, there’s an election this Tuesday!

While it feels like the entire country (and perhaps the world) is looking ahead to the 2020 election, there’s one happening here in San Francisco this Tuesday, November 5. Want more info on how and where to vote? The League of Pissed Off Voters have some handy info on their website that I’ve copied below:

Where’s your polling place? See YourFuckingPollingPlace.com, call 311, or just go vote at City Hall.

Non-citizens Can Vote on Board of Education! Parents/caregivers of school-age children can vote.

Don’t have an address? You can vote! If you don’t have a fixed address, you can register using cross streets.

Former Felons Can Vote! Even if you’ve been convicted of a felony, you can vote as long as you’re off parole. Don’t let the Man disenfranchise you

Slackers Can Vote: Election Day Voter Registration! Missed the 10/21 deadline to register to vote? Head directly to City Hall—DO NOT PASS GO—to register and vote right up through Election Day! From November 2-5, you can also register and vote at SFSU Towers Conference Center. Now get out there and make us proud.

Youth Can Vote! If you’re 16 or 17, pre-register and your registration will be activated automatically when you turn 18.

San Francisco is expanding the number of options on our ranked-choice ballots this year. We can rank up to TEN candidates! The Department of Elections has a nifty online practice ballot to help folks figure it out.

http://www.theleaguesf.org/nov_2019#top

While my main goal is just to get everyone to vote, I’ve also included two of my go-to voter guides below. First is the Bernal Democratic Club’s guide:

Next is the League of Pissed Off Voters, whose handy dandy guide comes in a fancy little printable, foldable PDF (or you can sneak a peek below):

Luckily for me and my leftist tendencies, both crews have roughly the same endorsements so filling out the ballot was a breeze. Hope to see you all at the polling stations on Tuesday as I drop off my ballot and snag one of those nifty “Yo Voté” stickers.

Día de los Muertos Festival of Altars and Procession

Starting today at 4pm in Potrero Del Sol park is the Día de los Muertos Festival of Altars. From the Day of the Dead SF website:

Please come and participate in building an altar or come to view the community altars.

The making and viewing of traditional, contemporary, or experimental altars is a unique transformative experience connecting us closer to our Ancestors. Bring flowers, 8 inch glass prayer candles, and mementos of loved ones to contribute to the Community Altars.

https://www.dayofthedeadsf.org/festival-of-altars

Later, at 7pm, the traditional procession will begin at 22nd and Bryant, winding through the Mission finishing up back at Potrero Del Sol

For more information, check out www.dayofthedeadsf.org or contact The Rescue Cultural Collective at:

juanpablogutierrez1950@gmail.com or call 415.933.5465.