Current Newsletter

DUBOCE PARK UPDATE – AUGUST 9, 2018

MOVIE NIGHT AUGUST 23 – BEST IN SHOW
TAG SALE DATE CHANGED TO MAY 11
NEW BASKETBALL COURT SURFACE
VOLUNTEER DAY AUGUST 11
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT SUCCESSFUL
STAFF AND MEMBER PHOTO SHOW CONTINUES
PHOTO CLASS – SITES OF SF
FALL CLASSES STARTING
PARKS IN THE NEWS
JOIN FRIENDS OF DUBOCE PARK
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT IN DUBOCE PARK AUGUST 23 – BEST IN SHOW

Outdoor movie night returns to Duboce Park on Thursday, August 23 with Best in Show, a 2000 mockumentary film that offers a look into the highly competitive and cut-throat world of dog shows through the eyes of a group of ruthless dog owners. The movie won 11 awards, including AFI Movie of the Year and received 14 other nominations in a variety of categories.

The movie is part of Sundown Cinema, a series of free movies that being shown in San Francisco parks on Thursdays. The movie night has been organized by San Francisco Parks Alliance and is being hosted by Friends of Duboce Park.

Food and drinks can be enjoyed in the Dog Play Area beginning at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs, as there will be an on-leash viewing area, as well as an off-leash area. The film will start promptly after sunset and finish at approximately 10 p.m.
Food trucks open at 6pm; the film screening will start after sunset.

Other movies shown in other parks so far are Little Shop of Horrors at Conservatory of Flowers on June 28 and Mrs. Doubtfire in Alamo Square on June 26. The final movie is Grease and will be shown at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park on September 28.

Guests are encouraged to walk, bicycle or take public transportation to the park screenings. It can get chilly out there, so bring blankets and cozy clothes to keep warm. Please pack out what you pack in.

TAG SALE POSTPONED UNTIL MAY 11

Friends of Duboce Park’s 21st Annual Tag Sale has been rescheduled for May 11, 2019. Many of the key members of the tag sale committee are unavailable this September, so the Tag Sale has been rescheduled from September 8 to May 11.

Although we tried to make a date in September work, that month is problematic for many volunteers and so we decided to postpone the tag sale rather than trying to put on the event with so many important committee members unavailable. Friends is considering making the May date permanent.

We apologize for any convenience this postponement may cause those of who have been saving items to donate. Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions, please e-mail Rosie at rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or at Doug at doug@friendsofdubocepark.org.

BASKETBALL COURT TO GET NEW SURFACE IN FALL

Duboce Park’s heavily-used basketball court will be resurfaced sometime this fall, according to Dennis Kern, Director of Operations for Rec and Park. The court is now at the top of the queue of court repairs and will be the next city park basketball court to be resurfaced. Besides being used by the After School Enrichment Program (ASEP), Summer Camp, and skateboarding classes, the court receives plenty of regular use from local hoopsters. Two of the six baskets are only eight feet high, which is two feet lower than a standard hoop, and is very popular with our younger, smaller users.

VOLUNTEER DAY AUGUST 11

Our next volunteer day is this Saturday, August 11, 10 a.m.-noon. We will be working on the triangular pollinator bed (picture below, far left) between the basketball court and the playground and plan on doing some weeding, pruning, planting, and mulching. If there is time left, we will do some weeding in the Pierce Street circle (picture below, middle).

Past volunteer efforts in the park in the past year have resulted in numerous colorful planted areas, including the planting circle near the Pierce Street steps and the triangle between the basketball court and the playground. We have also weeded and planted on Scott Street in front of the Recreation Center (picture below, far right).

Contact rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370 for more information or with any questions or comments. Our volunteer day is always the second Saturday of every month. 30 minutes or an hour of your time makes a big difference in the appearance of our park. Volunteers gave more than 203,000 hours of their time and energy to improving our 225 parks and recreation facilities in 2017. Those hours are equal to $6 million in park services.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ANOTHER BIG SUCCESS

The Park Station Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) and Park Station hosted the 35th National Night Out in Duboce Park on Tuesday, August 7, the third year in a row that the event was held in Duboce Park and the Harvey Milk Photo Center Exhibition Room and attracted over 600 attendees.

Officers from Park Station prepared hot dogs and hamburgers, SAFE hosted a taco truck, and the CPAB provided desserts, all free of charge. There were performances and demonstrations by Acro Sports including Parkour. Zanshin Dogo demonstrate Goju Ryu, a traditional martial art, Xian Yun Academy of the Arts California (Fei Tien) demonstrated Chinese dancing. Officer Riley Bandy, one of our Duboce Triangle foot beat officers, brought his jazz trio and performed near the basketball court.

“Who Let the Dogs Out” was a light-hearted and fun dog show that was be held for the first and had a variety of contests, including Cutest Dog, Best Trick, Waggiest Tail, Best Smile, and Best in Show. The judges were from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue.

There were also a fire engine, motorcycles, police cars, and police horses. SAFE and many other law enforcement and civic organizations hosted resource tables, offering tips on health and safety and organizing neighborhood watch groups.

National Night Out is the country’s united effort to promote neighborhood involvement to help stem crime and create safer neighborhoods; this is accomplished through strengthening police-community relations and encouraging camaraderie by hosting neighborhood events. It was a great chance to meet and interact with Captain Una Bailey and other officers from Park Station.

STAFF, MEMBERS, VOLUNTEER PHOTO SHOW CONTINUES

The Annual Staff, Members & Volunteers Exhibit opened last Saturday, August 4. The show offers a current look at what is being created in the darkrooms and digital labs at the Harvey Milk Photo Center by their staff members and volunteers. This exciting exhibit has been curated by staff members and volunteers and encompasses a wide and exciting subject matter, including Wet Plate Photography, Film, Alternative Process, and Digital Imagery.

There is no theme. Rather, participants were asked to frame their work and deliver it to the center two weeks prior to the opening. There is no theme, just their best/favorite works produced in the past year, ideally at the Photo Center. The show continues through September 16.

PHOTO CLASSES – SF SITES

Join the Photo Center in photographing some of the natural wonders of San Francisco. On August 11 from 1 to 7 p.m., students will explore Chinatown with their cameras. The day starts in the classroom discussing how to use your camera to develop your personal narrative. Then it’s off to Chinatown. After 2-3 hours of taking photos, the class will reconvene at a local watering hole to discuss the day’s activities.

On August 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., students will meet to photograph the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers. The Tea Garden is the oldest public Japanese garden in the US. and the Conservatory of Flowers is a tropical paradise. There are also numerous little-known gardens surrounding the Conservatory. Wear comfortable walking shoes/clothes.

The 2018 Fall Activities catalogue has the complete class schedule and description of all courses offered at the Photo Center. Check out the Summer class offerings online at sfreconline.org or pick up the catalogue of courses at the Center. Don’t hesitate to call the Photo Center at (415) 554-9522 with any questions.

FALL REGISTRATION FOR CLASSES OPEN

Registration for Rec & Park fall classes and programs began August 4 for classes beginning in August and September. There are almost 1,500 activities to choose from this fall, including 42 classes at the Harvey Milk Recreation Center for the Arts and 52 photography courses in the Photo Center. The complete catalogue of classes is available online or pick up the 120-page catalogue in the lobbies of the Rec Center and Photo Center.

This month we are featuring the five dance classes that start at the Center in September. Chinese Folk Dance (starting September 10) teaches the fundamentals of Chines folk dance. Dance Conditioning (September 11 and September 13) is a full body dance workout for beginners and experts. Dance/Exercise – Take the L.I.D. Off (September 12) is a low impact dance oriented fitness class that combines aerobics and simple dance movements.

Recreation and Parks offers Recreation Scholarships to eligible individuals and families. More than $1 million in scholarships in Rec and Parks programs has been provided. Ongoing eligibility is dependent on attendance record. Please call Lillian Bautista, Scholarship Coordinator, at (415) 831-2717 for information on how to qualify.

PARKS IN THE NEWS

Free concerts continue every Sunday at 2 p.m. inSigmund Stern Grove at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard. The series concludes on August 12 with Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes and The Revolution on August 19. The Revolution was Prince’s band until he tragically passed away in 2016. Big Blue Soul Revue is the opening act for Revolution.

2018 Outside Lands Music and Arts festival takes place in Golden Gate Park this weekend, August 10-12, with three days of music and food. Headliners include the Janet Jackson, Weekend, Florence + the Machine, Beck and more! There are also art installations and lots of delicious food options. Tickets start at $149.50 for a single day, $325 for a 3-day pass. For the full lineup and to purchase tickets, click here .

The Golden Gate Park Band continues its 136th season every Sunday through October 7 at 1 p.m. at the Music Concourse. Singers, guest performers and speakers will offer perspective as the band plays music from different cultures. Hungarian music is featured on August 19 and Ukranian cultural celebration takes place on August 26. The concerts are free.

The Golden Gate Park Golf Course clubhouse, built in 1951 and located near the 47th Avenue entrance on Clement Street was destroyed in a fire on July 2. No one was injured in the blaze. A temporary unit is in place and golfers can once again reserve tee times. So far this year, 35,000 rounds of golf have been played at the 10-acre course.

Camp Mather remains closed since air quality was at a hazardous level as a result of the Ferguson Fire. If conditions improve, Rec and Park will re-open the camp on August 12. The 350 campers who arrived and were asked to leave received full refunds. Others who made reservations and didn’t attend were also given refunds and a guarantee of a reservation next year.

JOIN FRIENDS OF DUBOCE PARK

Annual Membership dues for a Supporting Member are $25 per person and entitle you to voting privileges and participation in the governance of the organization. Your dues help cover the few costs we have, such as our website, newsletter, movie nights, and insurance.

Your tax-deductible membership is gratefully accepted and should be sent to Friends of Duboce Park, 79 Scott Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Friends of Duboce Park are a 501(c)(3) organization. General Membership is still available at no cost but does not carry any voting privileges. Another way to show your support is by getting involved. If you are interested, please contact President Doug Woo at doug@friendsofdubocepark.org.

Our Mission Statement includes the following: “to organize and represent the collective interests regarding Duboce Park; to beautify and promote safety within Duboce Park; and, to initiate and/or support beneficial neighborhood projects on behalf of Duboce Park.”

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

Saturday, August 11, 10 a.m.-noon. Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Day. Contact Rose at rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370.

Monday, August 13, 7-9 p.m. Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association General Meeting. Gazebo, CPMC Davies Campus. Visit dtna.org.

Thursday, August 23. Outdoor Movie Night – Best in Show. Upper Lawn. 6 -10 p.m.

Saturday, September 8, 10 a.m.-noon. Friends of Duboce Park Volunteer Day. Contact Rose at rose@friendsofdubocepark.org or 415-255-8370.

Friends of Duboce Park