The world's first city-recognized LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District
The folks of TogetherSF have organized a weekly “West SOMA Cleanup”, on Saturday afternoons from 4 to 5 pm.
Volunteers meet at Driftwood (1225 Folsom St) to grab supplies and form a crew.
Stay afterwards for a free drink on the house!
Join the Civic Joy Fund, RefuseRefuseSF, Shine On, SF Public Works, and TogetherSF for this friendly neighborhood cleanup!
Kudos to Marc Morozumi of Mukunda Studios for all he’s done to make this happen.
Sign up now!. Questions: info@refuserefusesf.org
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!
LeatherWalk is now featured in the window of Walgreens at Castro and 18th Street. Thanks to Ken Ferraris and Richard Dupler for the installation.
(LEATHER District tour info below)
Join California Preservation Foundation for the second annual Doors Open California, the largest statewide celebration of historic places! You will have an unprecedented opportunity to see “behind-the-scenes” through in-person historical tours and virtual storytelling events. Explore places off the beaten path and meet field experts, tour guides, and subject matter experts. This year’s Doors Open California will highlight more than 70 unique and fascinating places in all corners of the state. Looking for something specific? Check out our Highlight Categories including ArtSpiration, LearnScursions, IHeartArch, and CACulture. You will have access to the full spectrum of programs on the weekend. Simply pre-register and reserve your spots. Plan your trip and look for the docents with Doors Open California logos. Don’t miss this exciting journey into California’s multifaceted, multicultural, and hidden past.
Throughout California, more information at: Doors Open California – Statewide Behind-the-Scenes Tours | California Preservation Foundation
SoMa LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District Tour (register by email below)
9/10 : 2 PM to 4 PM : Location: San Francisco South of Market neighborhood (various stops), San Francisco, CA. Come visit the world’s first LEATHER & LGBTQ Cultural District, located in San Francisco’s South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood! Since the 1960’s, SoMa has been home to a myriad of bars, restaurants, nightlife venues, publishing organizations, homophile organizations, bath houses, and more, putting SF’s Leather scene in the international spotlight. Leather culture was particularly robust along the stretch of Folsom Street once nicknamed the “Miracle Mile” and “Valley of the Kings”. Tour stops include: Ringold Leather History Walk / The Stud Lone Star / Ambush / DNA Lounge/Chaps Eagle Plaza / Eagle Church of Mankind Services / Hamburger Mary’s / Original Stud location (now Eve) Fe-Be’s / Oasis Hole in the Wall / Powerhouse Dore Alley / Up Your Alley Fair Driftwood / Wicked Grounds / Folsom Street Barracks / Red Star Mr. S Leather
Tour Guides: Eric Jost (City Guide volunteer), Alex Westhoff (San Francisco Planning Department)
2 pm meeting location: Ringold Leather History Walk (Ringold Street and Ninth Street)
To register, contact Alex Westhoff at alex.westhoff@sfgov.org
