Timely Reminders

The annual Bay Area Reporter’s Besties are coming up, to choose the “LGBTQ Best of the Bay” for 2023.  Vote for your favorite in each category!  And if you choose to vote for us for “best LGBTQ Cultural District”, we thank you!


The meeting of the Arts and Culture Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 6 to 7 pm.  Facebook info is here.  Agenda is here.  Please contact the committee chair, David Hyman, to get on the mailing list for this Committee, or for more info!


The Erotic Storytelling Hour scheduled for 9/28 will be postponed to allow our creatives to recover from Leather Week.  So the next online Erotic Storytelling Hour is Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 8 to 9 pm. Come hear some provocative, graphic, sexy, titillating, and funny stories (and more) from selected writers of our community, hosted by award-winning author Sumiko Saulson. It’s fun, it’s naughty, it’s online.  Click here or here for more details and Zoom link, and click here to see videos of some of our past evenings!  (Be 18+!)


The next meeting of our Diversity and Membership Committee is set for Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 6 to 7 p.m. Join via Zoom here, or call 1 408 638 0968 and use Meeting ID: 878 6588 4248. RSVP is not required.  More info is here, or contact our new Committee Chair, Sumiko Saulson, or manager@sflcd.org. We hope you can join us!


The next online meeting of the Land Use Committee Meeting is set for Monday, October 9, 2023, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Zoom into the meeting here. More info is here, or contact <the committee chair.


The next SOMA Origins Walking Tour will be on Sunday, October 15, at 2 pm.  Learn more and register here.


The next meeting of the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Board of Directors will be Wednesday, October 18, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m. 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, join the Zoom meeting here, or call 1-408-638-0968 and use Meeting ID: 847 8906 0820 and Passcode: 972086.  The draft agenda will be posted soon.   More info is on Facebook here.  Please contact manager@sflcd.org if you have questions. Minutes of past Board meetings can be reviewed here.


The next online meeting of the Communications Committee has been rescheduled to Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 6 to 7 pm.  Join via Zoom here.  More info is here, or contact the committee chair,  Bob Brown.


The Bearrison Street Fair will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from noon to 6 pm, on Harrison Street at 11th Street.  Full info is here or here.


The Fundraising Committee meets irregularly, as needed.  Please contact the 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 committee chair, Bob Brown, 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 here, then sign up to get it monthly here.


Speaking of newsletters, the SOMA West Community Benefit District does a great one, highlighting events — both social and political — affecting our part of the City.  Check it out and subscribe here.


San Francisco has nine Cultural Districts, each supporting a unique aspect of the City’s cultural mosaic.  Links to each of them are here. For more in-depth coverage, you can subscribe to a newsletter, published quarterly by the Mayor’s Office of Housing & Community Development.


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.  Sign up here to join our SOMA Action network.


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.


The next meeting of the Board of the Friends of Eagle Plaza is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  To be added to the “Friends of Eagle Plaza” mailing list, click here.  To make a donation to the Friends of Eagle Plaza, click here. To stay up to date, like and follow them on Facebook.  To learn more about the Plaza’s design, construction and stewardship, click here, or write to info@eagleplaza.org.

SOMA Second Saturdays!

The next SOMA Second Saturday is partnering with the Bearrison Street Fair!

October 14. 2023, noon to 6 pm
On 12th Street between Folsom and Eagle Plaza!

Watch this page for updates!

Vendors!  Entertainment!  Gear Swap!

SOMA Second Saturday is presented by:
the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District,
Folsom Street,
& the SOMA West Community Benefit District,
with support from SF Planning,
SF OEWD, and SF New Deal

Our September SOMA Second Saturday featured:

  • The ELSE munch, with a table for games!
  • Kinky Speed-Friending/Speed-Dating w/PsychoKitty.
  • Shibari activities and entertainment with Boba Munch!
  • Free chair yoga with Mukunda Studio!
  • Providing free spinal screenings and education with Hernandez Chiropractic
  • Rouse Relational Wellness Workshop with Presenter: David Khalili, LMFT

And Featured Vendors:

  • Body Glow by Rosa (Hand poured sculpture candles. Find them on IG @bodyglowbyrosa or on their website www.bodyglowbyrosa.com)
  • boy zander – Bootblack
  • ByrdBeaks (Fabric based pants free pockets and accessories. Visit them at: www.byrdbeaks.com)
  • Charcoal Portraits by Pup Jake.
  • Crunchy Dom Fam: (Freelance illustrator. Find out more on their website: www.crunchydomfam.com)
  • It’s Simple SF (Check out the yummy flavors for cocktails and drink mixes at www.itssimplesf.com)
  • Leather Legends (Formerly known as Spike’s Consignment)
  • Mauskaveli (Creator of art, art on paddles, books and more! Www.SumikoSaulson.com www.Mauskaveli.com)
  • Rocket Ready Apparel (Custom Themed vinyl and leather collars and harnesses, Resin earrings and hair clips. Visit their website at https://www.etsy.com/shop/RocketReadyApparel or follow them on IG @rocketreadyapparel)
  • RR Modern (Vintage magazines & VHS tapes from 1970s, leather bondage gear)
  • Tarot by Alexandria (Find her on IG @clickyourheelsmovement)
  • Wicked Grounds (Kink Boutique. Kink gear and educational materials! Website: wickedgrounds.com)

Plus GEAR SWAP!!
For more information about the Gear Swap, please visit https://sfleatherdistrict.org/saturday/#gear.

Available Food:
Lunch and beverages from the SF Eagle!

Additional Info:
This is a smoke-free event.

Performers, do you want to appear at a LEATHER District event? Apply here!

Would you like to be a vendor, exhibitor or entertainer at an upcoming event?  Detailed info is here.

Vendor applications form will be available here soon.

Volunteers Needed!
Contact manager@sflcd.org to sign up!

Chat about it, meet your friends, compare notes on Bloom!

Media Coverage for Cultural District

Here is a list of some of the references to the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural Districts – and San Francisco’s other Cultural Districts – in newspapers and other media.


9/4/2023:  Famed S.F. LGBTQ bar the Stud to reopen at new location SF Chronicle

8/21/2023:  “Leather Season Launches in San Francisco” in San Francisco Bay Times (page 34)  (image)

7/20/2023: “SF leather district board member resigns over tweets” in Bay Aera Reporter

7/5/2023: “SF leather district deals with vandalism” in Bay Area Reporter

April – June, 2023:  “San Francisco Cultural Districts” in SF Heritage News

11/30/2022: “Cultural districts offer entrepreneurial opportunities” in Bay Area Reporter

11/17/2022: “Erotic Storytelling Hour holds Trans Awareness Week edition” on KTVU Fox 2

10/3/2022:  “Additional sites eyed for SF leather history walk plaques” article in Bay Area Reporter

7/27/2022:  Bob Goldfarb’s Guest Editorial on “Up Your Alley” in the Bay Area Reporter.

4/14/2022:  Inclusion in SF Travel’s San Francisco Promotion

4/12/2022: Ravi Round the World features ED Bob Goldfarb and Honey Mahogany for SF Travel

3/31/2022:  SF Chronicle reports on community opposition to proposed Redistricting Map.

10/27/2021:  7×7 Magazine presents an overview of the hot spots of the entire South of Market area, with a nod to the Leather District.

10/21/2021:  San Francisco Bay Times features stories about the Cultural District on pages 3 (new Executive Director), page 27 (SOMA Second Saturdays), and page 34 (photos from SOMA Second Saturdays),.

10/11/2021: Bay Area Reporter covers the appointment of Bob Goldberg as LCD Executive Director

9/24/2021:  KQED Radio news covered LeatherWalk.  Listen here.

9/22/2021:  BAR reports on LeatherWalk and plans for MegaHood.

9/15/2021:  BAR looks back at LeatherWalk history.

7/19/2021:  BAR reports on the return of LeatherWalk, and other SOMA Leather news.  (Front Page image)

5/26/2021:  BAR reports on the election of Honey Mahogany as San Francisco Democratic Party Chair.

5/26/2021:  Bay Area Reporter reports on  the new Sylvester mural at Oasis.

5/17/2021:  SF Chronicle reports on the SF Eagle’s  imminent Historic Landmark Status.

4/19/2021: BAR reports about how Leather projects in San Francisco South of Market are advancing (also available  here).

4/8/2021:  The  BAR reports that the Board of Supervisors have approved the Leather District plaques resolution.

3/18/2021:  An article in Hear/Say about “How San Francisco’s Cultural Districts Work”

2/2/2021:  The Bay Area Reporter reports on the passage of the resolution by the Board of Supervisors.

2/1/2021:  CBS reports on the Board of Supervisor’s vote on the SF Eagle landmark designation.

1/27/21:  SF Weekly reports on the hearing on Landmark Status for the SF Eagle bar.

1/27/21:  The Bay Area Reporter reports on  actions to preserve and protect the SF Eagle bar.


12/16/2020:  The Bay Area Reporter covers controversy regarding the Big Belly Trash cans.


9/ 23/20:  The Bay Area Reporter has a new article about the planned Sidewalk Plaques, which you can read here.


8/3/2020:  The Bay Area Reporter reports on our hiring of Cal Callahan as our District Manager.


2/12/20:  A very nice write up appeared in the Bay Area Reporter about the Bar Crawl we held on February 6, 2020, during which LCD Board and supporters visited five landmark venues within the LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District with District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney and other city officials.


9/22/19: The  Bay Area Reporter covers the raising of the Leather Flag in Eagle Plaza.


8/14/19:  The Bay Area Reporter did a full roundup of the three queer Cultural Districts.


3/3/2019:  The Los Angeles Times has printed a lengthy and excellent article about the district:  2019-03-03 – LA Times about District.

A companion video is viewable here.


6/3/18:  The Bay Area Reporter covered our historic ribbon-cutting event.


4/25/18:  The hearings at City Hall were covered by the Bay Area Reporter.



Please send additional items to Web@sflcd.org.  If you are a media representative and would like to contact us for any reason, please write to info@sflcd.org.  Thanks!

 

Erotic Storytelling Hour!

Enjoy an hour of online kinky literary fun! 
Zoom in to hear erotic, sexy, and funny stories and more
from selected writers of our community!

And now we are also hosting Erotic Storytelling live and in person as part of SOMA Second Saturdays in Eagle Plaza!  Enjoy arts, crafts AND kinky stories!

The next Online Erotic Storytelling will be held on 
Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 8 to 9 p.m.  

Hosted by:
Sumiko Saulson
David Hyman
Cal Callahan

Featuring:
to be announced

 Join via Zoom
Or call 1 408 638 0968 and enter meeting ID: 868 6820 8302 and password: J19FQ3
Info on Facebook
Be 18+

Have a viewing party with Bloom.  (Link coming soon.)



Saturday, October 14, 2023  
at the SOMA Second Saturday portion of the Bearrison Street Fair
Watch this page for details!  
Be 18+

Hosted by:
Sumiko Saulson

 

Click here to view the
Erotic Storytelling Hour Archive
18+ Only

Click here for info about all our wonderful Erotic Storytellers!

If you’re interested in being a reader for a future event, contact: manager@sflcd.org.

If you enjoy listening, please become a member of the Cultural District: https://join.sflcd.org 

Board Elections Now In Progress

The Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District is now holding elections, to select individuals to serve as members of its Board of Directors, and as its President.

Four seats are open:  three of them are for three-year terms, and one is for a two-year term. The position of President is for a one-year term.  Voting ends at 5pm on Monday, August 14.  All terms start at the end of the Annual Membership Meeting of August 16, 2023.

If you were unable to attend our Candidates Night, at which all the candidates spoke and responded to questions, you can view it at the following link:  

Learn more, and meet the candidates here.