It didn't feel like winter in Civic Center with sunny skies and bustling plazas. As February arrived, so did the football (and music) fans, with sold-out Bay Area Host Committee concerts at Bill Graham, and NFL events at both City Hall and the Asian Art Museum, which brought players, celebrities and fans from across the country to Civic Center to celebrate Super Bowl 60. Those in line for concerts (many lining up early in the day), quickly became patrons of Limoncello, which in addition to their full menu provided the opportunity to beat the concert wait with a football toss and cornhole on their lawn. 

Prior to Super Bowl festivities, the year started off with the return of free fitness classes and chess and mahjong lessons in UN Plaza - a fun way to stay fit, sharpen skills, and meet neighbors. Classes and lessons currently run through June. Over at Fulton Plaza, Hip Hop on the Plaza returned for the season with free upbeat dance classes led by the hip hop pros at All the Way Live Foundation. Thanks to Mayor Daniel Lurie and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development for their support of these programs. Civic Center Plaza also hosted the public memorial for the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir sponsored by Another Planet Entertainment. The event brought together Deadheads of all generations.

March arrived with warm weather and the annual St. Patrick' s Day Parade & Celebration, where the crowds gathered in Civic Center after the parade and enjoyed Irish music and games. Customers flocked to Limoncello for food and drink, like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; their patio was full of patrons.

There’s a lot more coming up in Civic Center this spring, so be sure to check out our calendar, and we’ll see you in the neighborhood!

The Orpheum Theatre now hosts San Francisco's largest mural in the City. The project, by artist eL Seed, had support from the Office of the Governor and the Office of the Mayor, with CCCBD ambassadors helping with installation logistics and ongoing pedestrian education.

Now available in Union Square and Yerba Buena the Downtown Business Fund, a new program designed to help businesses open and expand in downtown San Francisco. Support includes move-in grants, affordable capital, and expert support.

Civic Center Soundtrack, a free concert series from Illuminate, taking place at Fulton Plaza returned for the season on April 14th. The diverse musical performances are held every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 3pm. Bring your lunch or stop by the adjacent food truck and enjoy the music. The full lineup can be found here.

The Orpheum Theatre is now under the guidance of ATG (formerly BroadwaySF), and continues to bringing world-class performances to the stage. This spring be sure to check out the Hadestown (Apr 21-26) and Hell's Kitchen (May 6-24).

The all-ages Hip Hop Festival from the All the Way Live Foundation takes place on Saturday, May 30th at Fulton Plaza with dance battles, musical performances, food vendors and family-friendly activities.

Youth chess players can join the high fun, low stakes, tournament at UN Plaza featuring rated and non-rated game play on Sunday, May 31st. Attendees can also sign-up to challenge Grandmaster Sam Shankland to a game as he plays multiple boards at one time. More info and sign up link on our site.

PRIDE returns to Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday June 27th and 28th, 11am-6pm; featuring live performances, food and drink booths and blocks of vendor stalls. And don't miss the PRIDE Parade on Market Street on Sunday starting at 10:30am.

Civic Center Plaza will host, what hopes to be, the largest live boxing event in the world on July 11th. This free event aims to bring together the most boxing fans ever to watch various matches play out in front of City Hall. If you're interested in attending this world-record event you can find more info here.

As a 501c3 non-profit organization, CCCBD strives to offer free events and programs throughout the year in Civic Center, but we can only do so with grants and donations.

These programs are essential in keeping the plazas activated, safe, and vibrant for all to enjoy.

To sponsor an event at any level - please see our sponsorship information and/or reach out to us to learn about the many opportunities and benefits of your support: info@sfciviccenter.org.

Two New Portals

In February Mayor Lurie unveiled a new online permit portal to streamline the process for permits related to events, outdoor seating, building alterations and more at PermitSF. The following month Assessor-Recorder Joaquín Torres unveiled System for Managing Records, Assessments, and Transactions Project (SMART) for property owners. SMART allows property owners to submit forms, request reviews, ask questions and access information related to property characteristics, assessed value history, previous filings, active property tax exemptions and more.

Adaptive Reuse Program

The Adaptive Reuse Program's new Downtown Revitalization Financing District will offset development costs for eligible projects for portions of Civic Center through incentive payments, waivers on transfer taxes, inclusionary housing requirements and impact fees.

Journey Home Program

In January the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), in partnership with GLIDE, expanded and reformed the Journey Home: Reunification and Relocation Program. Now operating under one, City-wide system that is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week; GLIDE will check in for the first 90 days after relocation to make sure the person remains connected to housing, services and their support network. Read the official press release here.

Gumbo at City Hall

Cafè Mélange at City Hall is under new ownership with an expanded menu as Bayview chef Dontaye Ball of Gumbo Social took over in March. While he's been there for two years as part of collaborative project, this new iteration is fully his; the SF Chronicle notes: "Beyond gumbo, Café Mélange serves salads, soups and sandwiches, like the best-seller that stacks turkey, bacon and havarti with a swipe of garlic aioli."

When colors align - outside District favorite Hayes Street Grill, which opened in 1979

while nearby Davies Symphony Hall was under construction.