Latino Historic Context Statement Meeting
Saturday, January 31st, 12:30-2p
LGBT Center,
1800 Market Street

On Saturday, January 31, Heritage and the San Francisco Latino Historical Society will host the fourth community meeting related to the citywide Latino Historic Context Statement project. This meeting will focus specifically on the city’s queer Latino history, recognizing the contributions that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Latinos have made to the development of San Francisco.

Photo by Henrik Kam

Semi-Annual Meeting
Wednesday, January 28th, 6-8p
Presidio Officers’ Club,
50 Moraga Avenue

Please join us at the recently renovated Presidio Officers’ Club for the 2015 Semi-Annual Membership Meeting.

Executive Director Mike Buhler will provide an overview of Heritage’s latest activities and introduce our new president, Chandler McCoy, who will give a presentation on the recent rehabilitation of the historic Officers’ Club.

The Presidio Officers’ Club is one of San Francisco’s oldest buildings, dating back to the 1780s. The building’s restoration uncovered various architectural eras including features from the 1790s and 1880s. The Officers’ Club has been reimagined to host programs, events, and exhibitions, as well as chef Traci Des Jardins’ new restaurant Arguello.

Admission is free for Heritage members. $10 suggested donation for the general public.

RSVP by clicking the link below or contacting John Adams: jadams@sfheritage.org or 415-441-3000 ext.25

Restoration of the Nightingale House (built 1882) – an example of an eligible project.

San Francisco Heritage is proud to announce the launch of the Alice Ross Carey Preservation Fund, a new grant program to help document, preserve, and celebrate the diverse historic places and cultural assets that define San Francisco.

Heritage will provide small grants for planning, outreach, capital improvement, and interpretive programs or projects.

Grant applications for the first round are due on February 1, 2015.

Holiday Teas
Friday, December 19th
Saturday, December 20th

Celebrate the holidays with a traditional tea amidst Victorian splendor!

The report contains over 16 domestic and international case studies of potential models for San Francisco. This photo depicts The Abby Bookshop in Paris’ Latin Quarter and a participant in the City’s Vital’ Quartier program. Through the program, Paris’ planning agency purchases properties in 11 predefined areas and then leases them to local businesses to ensure their survival amidst exceedingly high real estate expenses. Photo credit: Craigfinlay on Flickr

In a new policy paper, San Francisco Heritage presents solutions to address the increasing displacement of the longtime institutions that contribute to the city’s cultural landscape. Defined by their contribution to society, knowledge, or culture, the city’s cultural heritage assets are often intangible and may include non-profit organizations, local businesses, events, and even people. The 52-page report, “Sustaining San Francisco’s Living History: Strategies for Conserving Cultural Heritage Assets,” presents incentive-based solutions to help protect cultural heritage assets, drawing from case studies of successful initiatives around the country and the world. It also highlights a number of existing conservation initiatives already going on in San Francisco. Despite the effectiveness of traditional historic preservation tools in conserving architectural resources, they are often ill-suited to address the challenges facing heritage businesses and other traditional uses. It is our hope that this report spurs new policy and programs, while creating a common language that can be used to further encourage productive discussion. For more information or to download a copy of the report, click “Learn More.”

Courtesy of Cha Cha Cha/Original McCarthy’s.

On Monday, June 2 at the Mission District’s Cha Cha Cha/Original McCarthy’s, Heritage proudly unveiled the final “official” round of inductees into our “Legacy Bars & Restaurants” initiative!

A first-of-its-kind interactive online guide, “Legacy Bars & Restaurants” debuted in January 2013 to honor and promote those establishments that reflect the history and culture of San Francisco. The announcement brought the total number of certified Legacy establishments to 100.

The newest honorees are: Bimbo’s 365 Club (1931); Bus Stop Bar (1900); Café Du Nord (1908); Casa Sanchez/Ayutla Restaurant (1924); Cha Cha Cha/Original McCarthy’s (1933); The Doctor’s Lounge (1951); Elbo Room (1935); The Fly Trap (1883); Gold Mirror Restaurant (1969); Ha-Ra Club (1947); Horseshoe Tavern (1934); Henry’s Hunan Restaurant (1974); Hi Dive (1916); La Rocca’s Corner (1930s); Le Central (1974); Mauna Loa (1939); Mr. Bing’s (1967); Northstar Café (1882); The Ramp (1950); Red’s Place (1960); Roosevelt Tamale Parlor (1919); Sabella & La Torre (1927); Silver Crest Donut Shop (1970); Tony Nik’s (1933); and Top of the Mark (1939).

In addition to recognizing the most recent inductees, Heritage proudly introduced a new printed pocket guide to all 100 “Legacy Bars & Restaurants”! Featuring vibrant photography, the foldout map will be available to the public for free at participating Legacy establishments.

The June 2 happy hour was co-presented by our friends at Heritage YP. Thank you to our hosts, Cha Cha Cha/Original McCarthy’s, for their warm hospitality and to Cyrus Noble for its generous support of “Legacy Bars & Restaurants”! For more information about the Legacy project, please click here or contact Laura Dominguez.

Read about Legacy and the worldwide movement to recognize places with social significance in the Guardian.