Day on the Green returns to Potrero Hill Recreation Center Park

BY JESSICA ZIMMER

The 2023 Day on the Green neighborhood celebration will be held on August 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Potrero Hill Recreation Center Park, 801 Arkansas Street. The free familyfriendly event will feature complimentary barbeque, raffles, dances, entertainment, music, bounce houses, a youth zone, and field games. Participants are encouraged to bring an additional dish or non-alcoholic beverage to share.

The event is organized by Potrero Annex-Terrace residents in partnership with Stand in Peace, a San Francisco nonprofit that sponsors peace walks and other community-building occasions.

Shervon Hunter, Stand in Peace founder, is a fourth generation Hill resident who still lives in the neighborhood. She grew up going to Day on the Green celebrations, which were originally started in 1966 by Jon Greenberg when he became Potrero Hill Rec Center director. It ran until the 1990s.

In 2020, Hunter and other longtime Hill residents decided to re-establish the tradition. After a pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the event returned in 2021.

Day on the Green is for “current and legacy” Hill residents, said Hunter.

“This is a Potrero Hill event that’s a coming together of all races, colors, ages, ethnicities where everything is free for everyone. From food to raffles, it’s about being together in an open, green space.

We’re here to get to know each other and have fun,” said Hunter.

“We will do outreach to invite Starr King families to join. We’ll also share what the Starr King PTA is accomplishing with the community,” said Najuawanda Daniels, Starr King Elementary School Parent Teacher Association copresident.

Daniels, who now lives in Hunters Point, grew up on the Hill. She remembers the 1980s and 1990s Day on the Green celebrations as lively neighborhood events that bridged the gap between Annex-Terrace residents and the rest of the community.

“That’s still what Day on the Green accomplishes. It’s a mixture of cultures and ages that helps us find common ground,” said Daniels.

Former Hill resident, Charles Bryant, known as “Coach Charlie O,” codirected the Rec Center with Greenberg in the 1990s. He’s happy the event is bringing back former residents who used to play at the Rec Center as children and teenagers.

“Day on the Green is so enjoyable. I came last year and plan to come again. Last year, I refereed a flag football game, something I did often during my 31 years with the Rec and Parks Department,” said Bryant, who was grateful to Hunter for “picking up Day on the Green and running with it.”

Erika Woodson, a former Hill

DAY ON THE GREEN continues on page 11

Dance: Bollywood Dance at Salesforce Park

Hailing from the dream dance city of Mumbai and Amritsar, also home to Bollywood and Holy Vibes, these energetic, charismatic, and fun dance instructors-performers-entertainers, Manpreet and Amit, have spread Indian dance music and moves across India, the United States, and Europe. They recently performed at Herbst Theater in San Francisco. In this alllevels Bollywood dance lesson, learn a 60-minute Bollywood or Bhangra dance that’ll leave you feeling loved, lighter, and delighted. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free. Salesforce Park, 425 Mission Street. For more information: https:// bit.ly/dance-bollywood

Ceramics: Heath Tile Factory Tour

Tour Heath’s tile factory, showroom, newsstand, and artist collective; limited to 12 guests. 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. $15. San Francisco Factory and Showroom, 2900 18th Street. For more information and tickets: https://bit.ly/heath-tour

8/5 Saturday

Music: Afrosolo Arts Festival

San Francisco native, Martin Luther McCoy, is an actor, guitarist, singer/ songwriter, producer and imploring soul-man who refuses to confine himself to any one creative pursuit. Since emerging as a charismatic frontman on the Bay Area’s fertile 1990s neo-soul scene he’s continued to find new avenues for expression while serving as a conduit for socially conscious music. In some circles McCoy is best known for his work with the seminal hip hop collective The Roots. Others discovered him through his incendiary performance starring in Julie Taymor’s 2007 film Across the Universe. He’s performed with Dave Matthews, Jill Scott, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the SFJAZZ Collective and other marquee acts. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Free. Esplanade, Yerba Buena Gardens, Mission Street between Third and Fourth streets. For more information: https://bit.ly/martin-luther-mccoy

Pets: Andrea’s Dream Rescue Kitten Fair

Andrea’s Dream Rescue is a San Francisco-based nonprofit whose mission is to rescue cats from high kill shelters before they’re euthanized.

Andrea’s holds weekly kitten adoption fairs, with all cats and kittens spayed/ neutered, FelV/FIV tested, FVRCP vaccinated, deflead/dewormed and microchipped. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Pet Food Express, 1975 Market Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/catadoption-fair

Environment: Clothing Swap

Help fight fast-fashion and the destructive ecological wake it leaves behind. Bring gently used and laundered clothing, shoes, and jewelry to swap. Unclaimed items will be donated to Out of the Closet to benefit HIV healthcare. 1 to 2:30 p.m. Free. 152 Church Street. For more information and to reserve your spot: https://bit.ly/ august-swap

Community: The Park Market at Crane Cove SF Parks Alliance, along with Sunset Mercantile, bring San Francisco’s newest recurring market, August through November, featuring local makers, food and drinks, activities, and musicians, nestled in Dogpatch’s waterfront park, Crane Cove. The kickoff Summer Mercantile will feature local merchants, artists, and summertime fun.11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information: https://bit.ly/parkmarketaugust

Literature: Poetic Tuesdays with Litquake at Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Sharing works that delight, provoke, inspire and rouse, the Poetic Tuesdays series turns lunchtime into an oasis of creative expression. Lighting up the Gardens with a curated line-up of poets and musicians, Poetic Tuesdays offer a midday breather for all. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Free. Jessie Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, 760 Mission Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/poetic-tues

Career: San Francisco Virtual Job Fair

If you’re looking for a job in San Francisco, you’ll want to attend this. Dress up and sharpen your resume. Once you log into the event, you can visit employers’ virtual booths and see what they’re offering. If you’re a match for the job, you could get hired on the spot. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. For more information: https://bit.ly/sf-job-fair

Film: Blankets & Blockbusters

Take in a family favorite outdoors and explore the interactive kids zone featuring games, crafts and face painting stations, cinema-inspired snacks, beverages, and more. All ages welcome. In Lightyear legendary space ranger Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure alongside ambitious recruits Izzy, Mo, Darby, and his robot companion, Sox. As this motley crew tackles their toughest mission yet, they must learn to work together as a team to escape the evil Zurg and his dutiful robot army that’re never far behind. 4 to 7 p.m. Free, registration required but doesn’t guarantee admission. Space is limited and subject to availability. Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way. For more information: https://bit.ly/lightyear-at-thrive

8/11 Friday through 8/27 Sunday

Theater: PlayGround’s Free-Play Festival

The second annual Free-Play Festival features three new dramas: Melina Cohen-Bramwell’s Please Don’t Slow Me Down; Akaina Ghosh’s Character Assassination; Ipsheeta Furtado’s Distanced Dates. Available in-person

CALENDAR continues on next page at Potrero Stage and online. Free; donations gratefully accepted. For more information and reservations (required): https://bit.ly/freeplay2023

Community: Bernal Heights Hillwide Garage Sale

The Bernal Hillwide is arguably San Francisco’s largest single day garage sale. More than 100 households exchange trash for treasure, a bargain bonanza that only happens once a year. Records, vehicles, water toys, collectibles and baked goods can be found for pennies on the dollar. New and used, worn and pristine; Bernal Heights in bulk. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Start at Cortland Avenue! For more information: https://hillwide.com/

Festival: Summer Ferry Fest

Celebrate the Ferry Building’s 125th anniversary at the Summer Ferry Fest. Enjoy the Ferry Building marketplace at night, with wine, beer, bites, and live music from La Gente SF. 5 to 7:30 p.m. Entry is free; attendees must purchase “tasting tickets” to exchange for bites and sips. For more information: https:// bit.ly/ferry-fest

8/19 Saturday – 8/20 Sunday

Flowers: Dahlia Show and Competition

Growers from throughout the state bring their best blooms to the Dahlia Society of California’s annual show. Blooms in all categories are judged and awarded ribbons, including the elusive “Best in Show.” Other categories: Best Photo; People’s Choice Award; Best Arrangement; Best Junior Bloom; and “Nature’s Oddities.” You must be a member to compete, but the public is welcome to see this eye-popping event. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. Hall of

Flowers, Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Way. For more information: https://bit. ly/dahlia-show2023

Fitness: Rooftop Bootcamp at the Park

A relentless, time-efficient, actionpacked workout, with heart-thumping drills and total body challenges. Provided by FITNESS SF and open to the public. 8 to 9 a.m. Free. Main Plaza, Salesforce Park, 425 Mission Street. For more information: https://bit.ly/ rooftop-bootcamp

Comedy: Summer Beer & Comedy Festival

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers has been defiantly brewing small batches of beer in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood since 1997. Celebrate this legacy with a popup comedy festivalevery Friday night featuringfood trucks, andan exclusive lineup of Speakeasy beers, fresh right from the brewery’s taps. Enjoy a 70-to-90-minute show with four to five comics with credits like Cobbs, Punchline, SF Sketchfest, Clusterfest, and Outside Lands. 21+ only. Entry is free. Speakeasy Brewery, 1195 Evans Avenue. For more information: https:// bit.ly/speakeasy-comedy