Meaghan M. Mitchell
San Francisco
SF Native 📍| Commissioner 🏛️ | Public Affairs 📢 | Arts & Culture Columnist ✍🏾 | 🎨 Ex: @sfstandard @uber @hoodline | Opinions r my own ✊🏾
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Articles by Meaghan M. Mitchell
Win a pair of tickets to SF Sketchfest
Join two couples on a fully improvised date where anything - from romance to murder - can happen. Starring Rachel Bloom ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"), John Ross Bowie ("The Big Bang Theory"), Jamie Denbo, and Dan Gregor, with an opening set from Max & Nicky.
Sponsored: Livable City Goes Very Big for Sunday Streets Mission - The San Francisco Standard
It was Sunday Streets as far as the eye could see this weekend as Sunday Streets Mission closed the huge swath of Valencia Street from 26th Street to Duboce Avenue off from cars and opened it up to pedestrians, party-goers, vendors, jugglers and live musicians.
This SF Hero is Finally Getting the Unflinching Biopic He Deserves
“It takes the hood to save the hood.” Whether you’ve seen these words printed in big white letters on the back of a black T-shirt or in a hashtag on Twitter or Instagram, the phrase has become a rallying cry for those who understand the challenges and struggles of inner-city communities. Its origins lie in the story of Rudy Corpuz Jr., a former gang member and drug dealer who turned his life around to become a beacon of hope for young people in San Francisco.
My Dad Was a Bus Driver. I Can’t Wait For This Transit-Inspired Art Show
English My dad can tell you how to get anywhere in San Francisco on the bus. After working as a Muni operator for over three decades, it comes naturally to him. He still regularly takes out-of-town guests on an adventure called “The San Francisco Nook and Cranny Tour.” On this voyage, he shows them the city’s hidden gems, some places he frequented in his youth and others he discovered over the course of his 34-year career.
What Drives You? We Asked Bay Area Black Business Owners to Share Their Origin Stories
English As Black History Month continues, Black entrepreneurs in the Bay Area emphasize the importance of self-care as a meaningful way to celebrate. We spoke to a handful of new and legacy Bay Area Black business owners focused on self-care about what inspired them to open. Each business owner had wisdom to share, and though they are located in different parts of the Bay Area, a common thread of struggle, perseverance and compassion for others unites them.
Cure Your New Year’s Day Hangover at These Comfort Food Spots
English Happy almost 2023! You’ve probably already set plenty of lofty goals for yourself in the form of healthy resolutions and low-calorie meal plans. But let’s face it, if you are rolling into the new year after a long evening of cocktails and champagne toasts, it’s likely you will wake up with one thing on your mind: Food. Whether you’ve partied a little too hard or are just plain hungry, these local restaurants will be open and ready to revive you with hearty dishes.
A New Women-Focused Wine Bar is Coming to NOPA
English It began with monthly salons in their living room—an intimate space where women with political ambitions could gather to discuss local issues and ways to support one another over wine, cheese and charcuterie. A decade later, it has evolved into a local business for women run by women. The brainchild of Kate Maedar and Kaela Miller, the Scarlett Fox wine bar, market and salon is set to open in the former location of Hayes Street Laundry at 1690 Hayes St. in the summer of 2023.
What Advice Does Draymond Green Have for Bay Area Youth? Professional Athletes Share Tips for the Next Generation
English A lively gala honoring Stephen Curry—the two-time MVP and four-time NBA champion who was named Sports Illustrated “Sportsperson of the Year”—took place in San Francisco on Thursday. Joined by teammates Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, along with Warriors coach Steve Kerr, Curry accepted the award—but not before giving a shout-out to Brittney Griner who was newly released from detainment in Russia.
What Does Margot Robbie Think About SF? Here’s What She Had To Say at the SFFilm Awards
English Celebrities flocked to the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Monday for the San Francisco International Film Festival’s annual SFFilm Awards. Going strong since 1957, SFFilm, which holds the ceremony, also hosts the longest-running film festival in the Americas. Honorees at this year’s event included “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” director Ryan Coogler, an Oakland native, and “Babylon” star Margot Robbie.
Portola Couple Turn Liquor Store Into Community Art Hub
Some residents of the Portola District call it “The Garden District,” while others refer to it as “The Little Neighborhood That Could.” Muralist Arthur Koch thinks of it as a tight-knit community full of artistic opportunity. Koch, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 40 years has made his imprint here by painting murals. He has one on the side of Grocery Outlet and another at 2444 San Bruno Ave. Now he is preparing for the grand opening of FrameArt Studio alongside his fiancée Lisa Magruder.
The Standard’s Guide to Bay Area Holiday Pop-Up Shops
English The holidays are upon us, marking a season of spending sprees—for our loved ones, of course. Sure, you could buy online and risk losing your bounty to porch pirates. Or, you could trade a little convenience for the adventure of exploring what local businesses have to offer with our guide to holiday pop-up shops around the Bay Area.
New Black-Owned, Music-Inspired Ice Cream Shop Opens in Bayview
English Bayview has a reputation for being the warmest and sunniest district in San Francisco, but the enclave just got a lot cooler with the grand opening of What’s the Scoop. The Black-owned business, located at 5668 Third St. at Armstrong Avenue, is the only independent ice cream parlor in Bayview. It is also a confirmed retailer of Goon With the Spoon ice cream, created by legendary Bay Area rapper E-40.
Where Were You When? Barbara Rodgers Remembers Reporting on Loma Prieta Earthquake, 33 Years Later
Community Written by Meaghan Mitchell, Sarah Holtz, Liz LindqwisterPublished Oct. 17, 2022 • 5:00pm Retired broadcast journalist Barbara Rodgers speaks with The Standard about her experience during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake at Candlestick Point in the Bayview in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Rodgers was covering the Giants/A’s Bay Bridge World Series at Candlestick Park when the earthquake hit. | Juliana Yamada for The Standard English On Oct.
Lisa Brewer
If you’ve ever been to a mural unveiling ceremony in San Francisco, it’s likely that you’ve brushed up against Lisa Brewer. As the owner of MissionArt415, a gallery at 2884 Mission St., Brewer seeks to empower local artists who are often overlooked in the art industry by giving them a platform to show their work at her gallery or commissioning them to paint murals throughout the city.
Dr. Willie Ratcliff
What prompted Dr. Willie Ratcliff, an owner of a construction firm that had over 500 Black employees at its peak, to pivot away from his business and risk his financial security in order to fight for civil rights in San Francisco? His belief in the power of journalism. The longtime publisher of the San Francisco Bay View was also driven by his passion for the Black community that once ruled San Francisco’s southeast.
In the Black Will Revive the Fillmore's ‘Harlem of the West’
English Neighborhood revitalization is a touchy subject when it comes to historic communities of color like San Francisco’s Fillmore District. Despite bearing the brunt of racist policies like urban renewal, that neighborhood has experienced various iterations of a Black Renaissance throughout its long history.
Eat Like a Local at Outside Lands: 14 SF Restaurants Serving Food at the Festival - The San Francisco Standard
Let's face it: Overspending is inevitable at Outside Lands—especially when it comes to food and drink. But knowing your hard-earned dollars are going to a San Francisco restaurateur may just make those festival prices easier to swallow. It also helps that our local food scene is fantastic and incredibly diverse. Borsche and momo dumplings at a music festival? Where else are you going to find that? Read on for a list of local restaurants serving up tasty treats at Outside Lands 2022.
Eat Like a Local at Outside Lands: 14 SF Restaurants Serving Food at the Festival Original
Let’s face it: Overspending is inevitable at Outside Lands—especially when it comes to food and drink. But knowing your hard-earned dollars are going to a San Francisco restaurateur may just make those festival prices easier to swallow. It also helps that our local food scene is fantastic and incredibly diverse. Borsche and momo dumplings at a music festival? Where else are you going to find that? Read on for a list of local restaurants serving up tasty treats at Outside Lands 2022.
Bayview’s Long-Derelict ‘Bishop Building’ Is Demolished To Make Way for New Restaurant and Plaza Revitalization
For residents of the Bayview District, there was something satisfying about watching a building that had blighted the community for over 40 years be demolished at last. On Wednesday, at approximately 9 a.m., the 700-square-foot structure known by locals as the “Bishop Building” at 4801 3rd Street was torn down to make room for a new construction project that will serve the neighborhood as a modular restaurant. Residents gathered around the site to watch, some with snacks and folding chairs.
Closed in 2019, Sam Jordan's Bar & Grill in the Bayview May Be Revived
The aroma of barbecue, the sound 1970s funk music and the laughter of children filled the air Sunday afternoon in the Bayview District as Ruth and Allen Jordan, the former owners of Sam Jordan’s Bar & Grill, came together to throw a block party in honor of their late father, Sam Jordan, who would have turned 97 on July 5. Just like its namesake—a former boxing champion known as “Singing Sam”—Sam Jordan’s Bar & Grill didn’t go down without a fight.
Shakirah Simley Battles Burnout and Apathy in Pursuit of Equitable, Healthy Communities
Western Addition resident Shakirah Simley could teach a master class on how to make the perfect peach preserves. She could also facilitate a lecture on social justice issues like food insecurity, create a racial equity plan for a local nonprofit or author legislation alongside politicians. Professionally, Simley has done all these things. Activism and community development have always been at the center of her work—often intermingling with the food industry.
Hella News: Willie Brown’s Half-Year in Review
It’s not even July and it’s already been a year! In the season finale of Hella News, we sit down with former San Francisco Mayor and California Speaker Willie Brown to break down the biggest stories of 2022 and take a look at what comes next. Brown also discussed what he loves most about the city and his iconic appearance in “The Princess Diaries.” Hella News will return for Season Two after a break for the summer. Like what you see?
Dad’s Just Wanna Have Fun: 8 Exciting Ways to Spend Father’s Day
Dear old dad. Maybe he taught you how to ride a bike, throw a ball or… you know… open beers in the laundry room—beyond earshot of those who would keep a tally. For all these things and more, dad deserves to be treated to a good time this Father’s Day. But as much as he might appreciate that book on the Civil War intellectually, dads also just like to cut loose and have fun. So, we took a look at what San Francisco has to offer this weekend and collected a handful of events we think scream dad.
Hella News: Lots of Love for Bill to Keep SF Bars Open Until 4 a.m.
Last call might come a couple hours later in the night if a new bill from two San Francisco state legislators is signed into law. SB 930, co-authored by Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Matt Haney, would create a pilot program in San Francisco and a handful of other cities in California to allow bars to remain open until 4 a.m. The goal is to encourage a more vibrant nightlife scene and help an industry that has been hit hard during the pandemic. So, what do San Franciscans think of the idea?
SF Celebrates Juneteenth With Food, Drag Parties, Music and More
Whether you call it Freedom Day, Jubilee, Black Independence Day—or by it’s original namesake, Juneteenth—June 19 commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It’s also a time to pay tribute to African American culture, and there are many ways to do that, from patronizing Black-owned businesses, reading books by Black authors or by watching a Black-directed film. You don’t even have to wait until June 19.
The Old Clam House Quietly Reopens After 2-Year Covid Closure
One of San Francisco’s oldest restaurants quietly reopened today after being closed for two years. The pandemic played a role in the closure, but co-owners Jerry Dal Bozzo and Dante Serafini, who were also former owners of The Stinking Rose in North Beach, announced their retirement, as first reported by the SF Chronicle.
Hella News: In Wake of Recology Scandals, How Much Do San Francisco Residents Love Their Garbage Men?
Proposition F, a ballot measure in this June’s election, will ask San Francisco voters to enact reforms to rein in the city’s scandal-plagued trash company Recology, which in the wake of a corruption scandal at City Hall was found to be over-billing ratepayers by almost $100 million.
A Brief Guide to Rooting for the Golden State Warriors
After a couple of down years, the Golden States Warriors are nearing yet another trip to the NBA Finals! For those who somehow didn’t remain or become fans when the Dubs went to five straight Finals and won three championships since 2015 (seriously, bruh?), we thought it would be nice to provide a starter pack for anyone looking to hop on the bandwagon.
Sneak Peek of Re-Designed Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop
Yuri Krasov (L), Emma Krasov (C) and Amy Sherman eat desserts at the first look of Ghirardelli’s Chocolate Experience redesigned store in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. | Benjamin Fanjoy Melissa Jimenez, a research and development chocolate technologist, prepares chocolate at the first look of Ghirardelli’s Chocolate Experience redesigned store in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
Toast to the Tip-Off: Where to Watch the Warriors
The countdown to the NBA’s Western Conference Finals is over. Tonight, the Golden State Warriors face off against the Dallas Mavericks. The competition is sure to be fierce in the quest to advance to the finals. With tickets to Game 1 at San Francisco’s Chase Center going for close to $200 for a seat in the nosebleeds, suddenly being a bench-warmer doesn’t sound so bad.
Hella News: The Standard’s Voter Poll Finds San Franciscans Are Fed Up
The world is so much more extra than it used to be before the pandemic, and that feeling of anxiety and frustration came through loud and clear in the first-ever San Francisco Standard Voter Poll. We asked more than 1,000 city residents about everything from upcoming elections to the things they like and dislike most in this city. And, let us just say, San Franciscans did not hold back! Watch co-hosts Meaghan Mitchell and Josh Koehn break down the voter poll in this week’s episode of Hella News.
Brunch is Basic: 6 Waffle-Free Mother’s Day Alternatives
She’s your mother. And even though she brought you into this world and may threaten to take you out of it at times, you love her. That’s what Mother’s Day weekend is all about. Brunch may seem like a no-brainer, but your mom doesn’t need to leave the house to load up on Belgian waffles and get day drunk. Why not show some initiative, get adventurous and give her something a little something different, eh? If you’re at a loss for ideas, no worries. We’ve got you covered.
Why San Francisco Can't Build More Housing
San Francisco faces a major deadline next year to show the state of California how it intends to build 82,000 units of housing by 2031. But progress in meeting this deadline has hit roadblocks, and the city could lose huge sums of money if supervisors can’t figure out a realistic plan. This week’s episode of Hella News dives into the great housing debate, including a proposal to create fourplexes on single-family lots.
Hella News: The War Over JFK Drive Is Finally Over
The war over John F. Kennedy Drive finally came to a conclusion this week, as supervisors signed off on Mayor London Breed’s plan to keep the 1.5-mile stretch of road in Golden Gate Park closed to cars. The big-money battle pitted the powerful de Young Museum against parents and safe streets advocates, who have called the road’s closure one of the few bright spots to come out of the pandemic.
See Some of the Quirky Cars Set to Race McLaren This Sunday
This Sunday, for the first time in 44 years, kooky homemade cars will race down McLaren Park. It’s a revival by SFMOMA of a beloved 1970s event—and Sunday’s 2022 Soapbox Derby has Tomoko Kanamitsu, the museum’s public engagement director, to thank for its return. Archival photo of the 1978 Soap Box Derby Advertisement | Photo courtesy of Rebecca Herman During the height of the pandemic, Kanamitsu pondered a single question on repeat: Is there still a museum if the museum is closed?
City’s Only Vineyard Aims to Get Locals Back to the Land
Blink, and you could miss it. The Alemany Farm, just a stone’s throw from Interstate 280, is a splotch of green surrounded by gray concrete and black asphalt—an urban oasis occupying 3.5 acres of public land. There, to the left of the grassy slope where the Portola District meets Bernal Heights, you’ll find a variety of herbs, vegetables and fruits grown by a volunteer group called the Friends of Alemany Farm. You’ll also find the only vineyard in San Francisco.
If You Live in SF, Golden Gate Park’s Coolest Gardens Will Soon Be Free
If there was ever a moment to brag about being a San Francisco resident, now is it! Residents of the city and all veterans will soon be able to visit the Conservatory of Flowers and Japanese Tea Garden for free, in addition to already complimentary Botanical Gardens. Mayor London Breed’s ordinance to make all three of Golden Gate Park’s specialty gardens free to San Francisco residents passed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, March 8.
15-Foot Mural Commemorates San Francisco’s First Black Firefighter
A 15-foot mural honoring San Francisco’s first Black fireman, Earl Gage Jr., was unveiled at Rosa Parks Elementary School in the Fillmore District on Friday. Wes Wong, a local graffiti artist, created the mural of Gage in full color on a black and white backdrop. “It symbolizes Earl Gage Jr.’s breaking down of color barriers,” Wong said.
A Festival of Lights: ‘Let’s Glow SF’ and Other Lustrous Displays Illuminate the City
The pandemic dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. But here in San Francisco—home to an outsized number of tech companies with generous work-from-home policies—boarded-up storefronts, a hollowed-out hospitality industry, and decreased foot traffic in retail corridors are especially concerning for local businesses owners and city leaders. And the recent string of brazen and high-profile smash-and-grab burglaries haven’t exactly helped put anyone at ease.
Balls, Bats, and Top Hats: These S.F. Baseball Teams Play by 1886 Rules
English Journey back to the 1880s, when baseball was becoming America’s pastime but the etiquette, aesthetics and language of the game were completely different. Picture top-hatted umpires called “sirs” and “batsmen” facing off against “hurlers.” Now imagine that happening today, in Golden Gate Park. For the past twelve years, Bay Area Vintage Base Ball, a nonprofit organization, has been serving up a healthy dose of nostalgia at baseball fields across the larger San Francisco area.
Seven Bayview businesses that powered through the pandemic
Frisco Fried has been a Bayview Hunters Point staple since 2010, serving up Southern food the way it should be. – Photo: Camille Cohen by Meaghan Mitchell While it’s known for being home to historical landmarks like the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Bayview Opera Houseand Sam Jordan’s Bar, the Bayview District is also a historically under-resourced neighborhood.
Here’s How San Francisco’s Cultural Districts Work
English In “Here’s How,” we’re breaking down how the city works, piece by piece. Up first: San Francisco’s eight designated cultural districts. San Francisco is a world-class city known for its patchwork of ethnically and culturally distinct neighborhoods. They’re also the backbone of the city’s economy. According to SF Travel, in 2019, an estimated 26.2 million tourists traveled to San Francisco and spent approximately $10.29 billion on the city’s businesses and attractions.
Artists Turn Dolores Park Muni Shelter Into Anti-Trump '#TrumpStop'
The southbound northbound Muni shelter at 18th & Church streets, just outside Dolores Park, got a revamp from a group of local artists yesterday afternoon in the form of #TrumpStop, an installation opposing the Republican presidential candidate.
38-year-old SoMa mainstay Don Ramon's faces foreclosure, after illegal tenants damage building
Growing up in San Francisco, Bivett Brackett's favorite restaurant was Don Ramon's. While other kids opted for birthday parties at Farrell's or Chuck E. Cheese, Brackett always celebrated at the SoMa Mexican eatery, where her five sisters would toast her with virgin piña coladas over plates of chicken enchiladas with mole sauce.
SoMa to get weekly Sunday Streets closure through October
Sunday Streets, which closes a different city street to cars one Sunday per month, has become a San Francisco fixture. But after COVID-19 hit, the organization canceled all of its planned 2020 events. Now, it's coming back in a more limited way — closing off two blocks of SoMa to cars, every Sunday through October 18.
Out of the garage: Gratta Wines to move production, open new market in Bayview
Barbara Gratta's signature wine is called "Garage Blend" — and she means it. All of Gratta's wines are made in the garage of the Bayview home she purchased with her partner in 1999. Over the past two decades, Gratta has become a neighborhood fixture. In 2006, she got an official permit to sell her homemade wine, and in 2015, she opened a tasting room at 2022 Lane St. Now, she's expanding into the adjacent space at 5299 Third St., which she's calling Gratta's Market and Winery.
Artist Rico Salinas paints the Bayview District, one building at a time
66-year-old Rico Salinas has painted for more than 40 years. In that time, he's shown his work in New York and Europe, and traveled the globe installing art loaned by SFMOMA to other museums. But since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Salinas has been working closer to home. On his Instagram account, he's posted stunning paintings of businesses and homes around the Bayview District, earning him an instant following among neighbors. Frisco Fried.
100+ volunteers paint 'Black Lives Matter' in center of San Francisco street
Last Friday, Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser asked the city's Public Works department to paint "Black Lives Matter" on a street near the White House. Spelled out in 35-foot-high yellow letters, the rallying cry quickly inspired similar displays in other cities, with activists painting calls to action in Sacramento, Oakland, and Raleigh, N.C. Now, San Francisco has its own "Black Lives Matter" street mural.
San Francisco's first black woman-owned dispensary nears grand opening in Bayview
Reese Benton, born and raised in San Francisco’s Ingleside neighborhood, will make history this month as the first black woman to own a cannabis dispensary in the city. Benton was originally set to open Bayview-based Posh Green Retail Store (828 Innes Ave.) today. But she's now delaying plans to host the official grand opening celebration until later this month, in conjunction with neighboring business Cafe Alma. The journey to this point has been a long and turbulent one for Benton.
With COVID-19 heavily impacting African-Americans, Bayview officials seek more help
In cities across the country, people of color — particularly African-Americans — have made up a disproportionate percentage of deaths from COVID-19. A recent CDC study found that black people were being hospitalized for COVID-19 at a rate that was nearly double their representation in the studied population. Similarly, 12% of California's COVID-19 fatalities so far have been African-American people, who comprise only 6.5% of the state's population. That inequity holds true in San Francisco as well.
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