Saturday, October 12, Noon to 5pm
At Eagle Plaza (12th Street, Folsom to Harrison) Wear your Gear! Join us for Play on the Plaza, and ignite some spark in your life! Every second Saturday of the month we feature a different local bay area BDSM, Kink, Leather or LGBTQ group right on Eagle Plaza!
ArtSpan celebrates 50 years of open studios this year, and on October 5 and 6 they will host Open Studios in SOMA.
Dozens of artists’ work will be on display at various galleries and locations. Explore bustling group sites, private workspaces, alternative studios, and pop-ups at partnered commercial venues. Whether you are shopping for art or seeking to connect with the creative soul of the city, you are welcome to attend.
All galleries are free to visit. Visit between 11AM and 5PM.
The ArtSpan event runs four weekends: this weekend, October 5 or 6, it will focus on SOMA, East Cut, South Beach, Dogpatch, Bayview/Hunter’s Point, Potrero Hill, and Mission Bay.
Locations within the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District include Arc Studios and Gallery at 1246 Folsom, Liz Mamorsky’s studio at 739 Clementina, Gordon Sizelove at 721 Tehama Street, and Nick Aitken at 60 Rausch.
Kinksters massed at SF City Hall this past Sunday, and proudly paraded through SOMA for LeatherWalk 2024. The walk is over though donations are still accepted until Sunday, October 13, donate today at www.leatherwalk.org!
LeatherWalk 2024 gathered on the steps of City Hall. Photo credit: Dave Fong
The Walk started with greetings by Cultural District President Reika Faust, and a warm welcome by District Six Supervisor Matt Dorsey.
LeatherWalk 2024 in progress. Photo credit: Jovon Bright.
Each walker received a free LeatherWalk 2024 pin as they lined up behind the color guard flags. Several local organizations organized fundraising teams for the Walk (including The 15, The Gauntlet, BLUF SF, the Yellow and Black Group, and the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District) and carried their banners in front of their members and supporters.
The Walk stepped out promptly at 11:30 am. SFPD officers stopped traffic, and volunteers helped keep everyone safe, as Walkers proceeded to the Walk’s first Stop, Oasis.
LeatherWalk 2024 gathered in front of the Oasis. Photo credit: Jovon Bright.
After a pause for libations and a massive group photo, the Walk continued down Folsom to Stop #2, where some Walkers visited the Hole in the Wall or Powerhouse, while others stepped across to Azúcar Lounge for edible refreshments. Stop #3 was Leather Etc., where Walkers received discounts on gear of all kinds. At Stop #4, Mr. S Leather, several authors and contributors signed copies of their new book, “Kink Is”.
LeatherWalk 2024 turns from Folsom onto 8th Street. Photo credit: Dave Fong.
After that, volunteers stopped traffic to allow walkers to proceed safely to Ringold Alley, where John Brett, Minister for the SF Night Ministry, offered words of inspiration and a “Blessing of the Leathers”. Then it was on to Stop #5, the Lone Star Saloon, for more camaraderie and cocktails,
The raising of the Leather Pride Flag, announcing the start of San Francisco’s Leather Week 2024. Photo credit: Jovon Bright.
The Walkers then regrouped and strode the final leg of the Walk, to the SF Eagle’s Leather Pride Fest which closed Harrison street from 11th to 13th Street.
At 3 pm, the huge Leather Pride Flag was ceremoniously raised above Eagle Plaza, officially heralding the start of Leather Week. Partying in the street continued until 7 pm. Many leather/kink festivities will continue throughout South of Market and all of San Francisco, right through the Folsom Street Fair next Sunday.
We estimate that roughly 200 Walkers enjoyed LeatherWalk 2024. Kink pride was visible in the District, and our LeatherWalk tradition was joyously preserved.
Fundraising for LeatherWalk continues until Sunday, October 13, to give fundraisers the opportunity to reach their goals. Proceeds from LeatherWalk directly support our Leather Legacy Landmarks sidewalk plaques initiative to install plaques at 77 iconic and sometimes raucous SOMA locations, honoring places that began serving our community in the 1960s.
Donors have contributed more than $10,000 towards our $22,000 goal of funding the installation of the first 17 plaques, all on Folsom Street. There is still time for your support get us over the top! Please making a meaningful donation today at www.leatherwalk.org. Support your favorite walker!
Please return to this page for updates, including galleries of photos, and a listing of the many individuals and groups, including our generous donors, all the participating bars and businesses, the many volunteers, and the specialists at Do Good Stuff, who deserve thanks for making LeatherWalk 2024 such a grand success.
One of the three proposals for the fence of Rachele Sullivan Park
The San Francisco Arts Commission is conducting a review process to choose a proposal for artist-designed fence panels for the perimeter of Rachele Sullivan Park, running along 11th Street between Minna and Natoma Streets.
Three artists/artist teams were chosen as finalists by a Public Art Review Panel to design site-specific proposals for this artwork opportunity. The artists/artist teams are: Juan Manuel Carmona, Ricardo Estella and Ethel Revita of Creativity Explored, and Jenifer Wofford.
Juan Manuel Carmona was one of the team that painted the Oasis mural “Showtime” and was one of the artists who displayed their work at the Pride Popup salon show last year with Heron Arts.
The deadline for comments is 5 pm on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Public comments will be considered as part of the Final Review Panel meeting where the Panel will recommend one proposal for implementation. Please note that public comments do not constitute a vote.
The Final Review Panel meeting will take place remotely and will be open to the public. Watch this page, or www.sfartscommission.org, for meeting date and agenda.
The next Play on the Plaza is Saturday, October 12, from 12 noon to 5 pm, at Eagle Plaza (12th Street, between Folsom and Harrison). Vendors! Entertainment! Kink/Leather Gear Swap! Music! Impact Play hosted by Alta California Leather Corps (ACLC)! Spanking benches and crosses provided by The Communal Toy. Play on the Plaza info. October 12 event info. Play on the Plaza Facebook event.
The next meeting of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors will be Wednesday, October 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. This is our Annual Meeting, and will welcome our newly-elected Board Members and new President. As always, all are welcome to attend, and time is reserved for public comment. ASL interpretation provided if requested ten days in advance. To participate, use the Board of Directors Meeting Zoom link, or call 1-408-638-0968 and use Meeting ID: 847 8906 0820 and Passcode: 972086. Facebook page. Draft agenda (coming soon). Minutes of past Board meetings. Please contact manager@sflcd.org if you have questions.
The Fundraising Committee meets as needed. Please contact the Fundraising Committee chair to get on the mailing list for this Committee, or for more info!
A Governance and Legislation Committee meeting will be scheduled when needed. Please contact the Governance and Legislation Committee chair to sign up, or for more info!
We send out a newsletter each month, right before our Board Meeting. Do you get it?
If not, view a recent newsletter, then sign up to get it monthly.
We keep adding links to our Resource Guide page. Use it!
Threats to our South of Market businesses and institutions can arise quickly, and may require a quick community response. SOMA Action network sign-up link.
If you have not yet seen it, please read our Statement of Solidarity, and consider what you personally can do to fight racism, injustice, and abuse of police power.
There is so much happening in San Francisco’s South of Market area this week, in advance of the Folsom Street Fair, that we don’t have room to list everything on our home page!
