In the Neighborhood

Every year most neighborhoods in San Francisco celebrate their uniqueness with a block party, a festival or a street fair. It is a safe and happy time for residents and local businesses to come together in the “center of town” and hear music, meet neighbors, sign up for nursery schools, discuss political campaigns and just feel involved and connected with others in the “hood”. (You know what I mean if you have ever attended one.)

poster by local artist Peter Linenthal

The Festival on Potrero Hill was like that for many of us. Daniel Webster School organized the play areas, face painting and the petting zoo, Goat Hill Pizza (and its active owner Phillip DeAndrade) sold great pizzas, Andy and Olia from Skool Restaurant had food for everyone who came by, Muttville Senior Dog Rescue was breaking hearts with their sweet dogs for adoption, and Lester and Kayren, owners of The Good Life Grocery set up a “farmers’ market” in front of their store with a large tent that created welcome shade.

As a board member of the Potrero Dogpatch Merchants Association, I had fun “working” the PDMA table — handing out the Association’s new directory of over 160 active business members, and talking with local small business owners and residents about PDMA’s role in the neighborhood. It was great, as always, to see Supervisor Malia Cohen, (a past student of mine at Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center) in attendance and actively involved in the issues relevant to the neighborhood and her District 10 constituents.

Congratulations to Keith Goldstein and his volunteers for creating and managing such a great event – every year – all to benefit the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House.