San Francisco, CA
Anza expedition celebrates 250th anniversary in San Francisco
June 27, 1776, was a momentous day for the Bay Area, California, and the world as 240 men, women, and children arrived mostly by foot from Mexico to what is now called San Francisco to set up camp and lay the groundwork for the future.
The “traveling village” is known as the Anza Expedition.
On Saturday, the 250th anniversary of the event was commemorated on Pershing Square at the Presidio of San Francisco in a two-hour ceremony.
The celebration opened with piercing fifes and thundering drums from the Young Patriots Fife & Drum Corps from Pleasanton, as a nod to America’s quincentennial.
But it was then followed up by a Spanish hymn, sung by musicians, dressed in 18th-century Spanish Colonial attire, including the garb of soldado, vaquero, pioneers, military, and indigenous peoples. The song is known as “Alabado” and it was sung by the ancestors as they made their long journey to the Bay.
A proclamation on a scroll was then read with gusto by local actor Dane Andrew, who was portraying the Spanish trailblazer Lt. Colonel Juan Bautista de Anza.
The message was loud and clear: When it comes to history in the Bay Area, Spain swings a big sword.
“People don’t realize in California our early Spanish history. While on the East Coast was becoming a brand-new U.S.A. was a small part. Actually, Spain owned a large part of the West Coast,” remarked Andrew.
The Anza Expedition established the first reliable overland route from Mexico to what was then known as Alta California, claiming San Francisco Bay for the Spanish Crown.
In 1776, the expedition’s leaders established both the Presidio as well as Mission San Francisco de Asis, which is known today as Mission Dolores.
In the crowd, the direct descendants of those who traveled the long, arduous route, including 98-year-old Eddie Grijalva of Vallejo. He was accompanied by his wife Lydia and her son Jeff.
“What an honor to be here and to remember my ancestor,” exclaimed Grijalva.
The event was coordinated by the nonprofit Los Californianos. The nonprofit represents the direct descendants of those who were part of the Anza Expedition. Its documented purpose includes efforts “to preserve the heritage of early Hispanic Californians in Alta California, to conduct research on genealogy, and to provide an accurate and authentic interpretation of Alta California’s history”
Carol Eber represents the group and is the co-chair of the event. She told us the group is thrilled to celebrate its heritage along with the quincentennial of the United States.
“We have a celebration on the East Coast. We wanted to have the 250th celebration on the West Coast as well as recognizing history was made on both coasts,” noted Eber.
During the ceremony, the crowd recited the Pledge of Allegiance and heard from Superintendent David A. Smith, who is with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
There were also presentations from the Daughters of the American Revolution and a group called “Our American Patriots”. The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Damian Bacich. He focused on San Francisco’s Spanish-American Legacy.
Also on hand for the festivities, the Consul General of Mexico Marco Mena. Mena told CBS News Bay Area that this was his first visit to Presidio and found it beautiful. He was pleased to be invited.
“The Anza expedition is very related to Mexico, especially to the states of Sonora and Sinaloa,” Mena explained.
As the Presidio ceremony was underway, a mass was said at Mission Dolores. The event concluded with a Roll Call, which was the reading of the names who those who walked on the route in 1776.
Descendants, including Grijalva, placed a flower in a memorial wreath as children were asked to blow bubbles for expedition members named without descendants.
Afterwards, participants went on docent-led tours of the Presidio’s Heritage Gallery and also were invited to tour the site of the Spanish Presidio Chapel.
Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek’s Neko Health is sizing up San Francisco’s Union Square for its U.S. expansion as the biohacking craze gains more steam.
Neko filed permits on Tuesday with the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection for a health and medical space on the first and third floors of 100 Stockton Street, the San Francisco Standard reported.
Neko, which uses full-body scanning to collect skin, blood and heart data before pairing patients with clinicians, has not announced when the San Francisco location will open or how much space it is taking. The company is “expanding across the U.S.,” a spokesperson told the outlet but declined to provide details.
The move adds another health tech concept to a Union Square leasing market that has shown signs of life over the past year. Kazuko Morgan of Cushman & Wakefield, the lead broker on the deal, said the neighborhood has “strong retail leasing demand, particularly this year.”
The space is near another experimental health-and-wellness concept in Union Square. Artificial intelligence company Midjourney plans a spa at 300 Grant Street featuring body scanners, hot tubs and saunas. The company has not yet filed building permits, though renderings show four floors of scanners, plunge pools and gathering areas.
At 100 Stockton, repositioned by developer Blatteis & Schnur in a partnership with Morgan Stanley five years ago, the first-floor retail space is also being lined up for tenant Kith, which recently filed permits for a cafe and store. The building has been mostly unoccupied since reopening in 2023 after renovations.
Neko Health, which raised $700 million in funding last month, has six locations in the U.K. and two in Sweden. The company is also planning a Washington, D.C., location as it looks to turn its high-tech health screening model into a broader U.S. footprint. Its U.K. body scans cost about $400, though the company has not disclosed U.S. pricing. The scans aren’t covered by insurance but are HSA-eligible.
— Chris Malone Méndez
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SANTA CLARA — Welcome to the live blog for the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. This will be updated frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
6:02 The following players are not in uniform: QB Brock Purdy, QB Mac Jones, RB Christian McCaffrey, RB Jordan James, RB Kaelon Black, WR Mike Evans, WR Deebo Samuel, WR Christian Kirk, WR Demarcus Robinson, TE Jake Tonges, TE Luke Farrell, LT Trent Williams, G Dom Puni, C Jake Brendel, RT Colton McKivitz.
6:04 The 49ers will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
6:05 The 49ers will start at their 35.
6:12 On 3rd and 11 from the Titans 39, Kurtis Rourke rips a strike over the middle to Jordan Watkins for the first down, but left guard Robert Jones is flagged for holding, and the 49ers punt two plays later. Rourke had two nice scrambles and a couple nice throws on that drive. De’Zhaun Stribling caught one pass for six yards, but dropped another pass that was behind him and lost yards on a glorified jet sweep. He took most of his reps from the slot as the 49ers primarily used three-wide-receiver formations.
6:14 The Titans take over at their 5-yard line.
6:23 On 3rd and 3 from the 49ers 5, Tony Pollard cruises between the tackles into the end zone for the touchdown. The Titans went right at 49ers starting defensive tackle Alfred Collins and simply pushed him out of his gap. The Titans rushed 7 times for 56 yards on that one drive. Which means the 49ers backup still can’t tackle. Collins, Nick Martin and Marques Sigle all missed at least one, and they’re projected to be starters. The good news is that rookie cornerback Ephysians Prysock broke up a potential touchdown pass to Carnell Tate on 2nd and 3 from the 5.
Titans 7, 49ers 0.
6:30 On 3rd and 6 from the Titans 46, Rourke throws a pass at Stribling’s knees, which he catches for a gain of 5. On 4th and 1, right tackle Brandon Parker commits a false start penalty, and the 49ers punt. Stribling caught two passes for 15 yards on that drive. The first one was heavily contested. Clearly, he doesn’t create a ton of separation. And most of his targets have been near the line of scrimmage so far. It would be nice to see the 49ers try to get him the ball down the field.
6:31 After the punt, the Titans take over at their 8. Let’s see if the 49ers can stop a run.
6:37 On 3rd and 13 from the Tennessee 16, Cam Ward throws a useless check down pass to a running back and the Titans punt. He has been extremely unimpressive against the 49ers’ backup defense so far. Earlier in the drive, defensive end Titus Leo forced Ward into committing an intentional grounding penalty at his 3 yard line — that’s why the Titans didn’t run the ball more.
SECOND QUARTER
6:39 After a fair catch by Jordan Watkins, the 49ers take over at their 32. Let’s see if they can actually score some points.
6:55 On 3rd and 5 from the 49ers’ 37, Rourke throws a perfect deep backshoulder pass to De’Zhaun Stribling, who snags the ball over the head of the cornerback for a gain of 32. Beautiful play. Those two are the 49ers’ offense tonight. A few plays later, Patrick Taylor Jr. falls into the end zone from 1 yard out. Rourke currently is 12 of 14 for 100 yards, while Stribling has 7 catches for 62 yards.
49ers 7, Titans 7.
7:03 On 3rd and 10 from the Titans 40, Ashtyn Davis nearly intercepts Cam Ward, who has been horrible in this game. Earlier in the drive, rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton had a sack called back due to a holding penalty on cornerback Jakob Robinson.
7:04 Kurtis Rourke has a rib injury and is questionable to return. He took a huge hit when the 49ers called a quarterback draw between the tackles from the 4 yard line. In hindsight, there was no reason to call such a violent play for their quarterback in a preseason game. The 49ers just paid for that decision.
7:05 After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 35. Adrian Martinez is the new quarterback.
7:11 On 4th and 3 from the Titans 44, Martinez throws an errant pass intended for Malik Turner, who was open running a slant.
7:14 Top performers of the first half for the 49ers: De’Zhaun Stribling, Kurtis Rourke, Gracen Halton, Ephesians Prysock, Jaden Dugger.
7:16 Biggest concern from the first half could be the run defense. With the exception of Halton, the 49ers defensive linemen are getting pushed around and failing to penetrate the backfield.
7:18 Titans kicker Joey Slye makes a 39-yard field goal to give the Titans a crucial 3-point lead in this highly-important game.
Titans 10, 49ers 7.
7:26 On 3rd and 10 from the Titans 29, Martinez scrambles out of bounds and then throws the ball underhand and gets intercepted. Fornuately for him, he already had run out of bounds and lost 14 yards. I miss Rourke.
7:29 Titans kicker Joey Slye makes a 55-yard field goal as time expires in the first half. They’ll get the ball to start the second half as well.
Titans 13, 49ers 7.
THIRD QUARTER
7:48 On 3rd and 7 from the Titans 39, Will Levis throws an incomplete deep pass to Elic Ayomanor who was covered well by Darrell Luter Jr. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 15.
7:53 On 3rd and 7 from the 49ers 21, Robert Saleh calls an all-out blitz, and Martinez throws a weak incomplete pass as he gets smacked. How rude. After the punt, the Titans take over at their 24.
7:58 On 3rd and 10 from the Titans 24, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo sacks Will Levis, and the Titans go 3-and-out. So far, Rourke has outplayed all three of the Titans quarterbacks. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 45.
8:07 Eddie Pineiro makes a 52-yard field goal. He is one of the 10-best players on this roster.
Titans 13, 49ers 10.
8:16 Tatum Bethune is in the game at middle linebacker, and suddenly the 49ers’ run defense isn’t so awful. He also blitzed and sacked Will Levis. The 49ers should consider starting Bethune at outside linebacker. He’s so tough.
8:17 Joey Slye makes a 53-yard field goal.
Titans 16, 49ers 10.
FOURTH QUARTER
8:27 On 4th and 2 from the Titans 13, Martinez misses Watkins in the back of the end zone and the 49ers turn it over on downs. Watkins has 6 catches for 58 yards.
8:33 On 3rd and 19 from the Titans 27, Levis completes a 12-yard pass, and then the Titans punt. He’s so bad.
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A 25-story office tower across the street from San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid is hitting the market.
Beacon Capital Partners has listed 655 Montgomery Street, a 273,272-square-foot building at the intersection of the Financial District, Jackson Square and North Beach, the San Francisco Business Times reported. The Boston-based investor did not disclose a reason for the sale or an asking price. .
The offering comes as San Francisco’s office investment market shows signs of thawing, with more stabilized properties coming to market and institutional investors returning to bet on the city’s recovery and artificial intelligence-driven leasing boom. Last week, 221 Main Street, an office building anchored by DocuSign and nearly fully leased, hit the market with guidance of about $650 per square foot.
Beacon’s tower has a few things going for it that much of the city’s office stock does not. It is 87 percent leased and has sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower and the Bay. Height restrictions over North Beach and Chinatown preserve those views from the sixth floor up, helping premium space command some of the market’s highest rents. Office space with these views have a 5.1 percent vacancy rate, compared with market-wide vacancy of just under 30 percent, according to JLL data cited by the Business Times.
Still, Beacon may have to take a haircut. The firm bought 655 Montgomery for $191.5 million, or about $728 per square foot, in 2019 and spent another $15 million on a fitness center, conference center, yoga studio and tenant lounge. A market source told the Business Times that office investment sales have been hovering around $400 per square foot, though values are beginning to climb alongside rent growth.
Recent deals show how wide the range can be. Yoda PLC paid $691.6 million for the Transamerica Pyramid complex, or roughly $922 per square foot, The Real Deal reported this spring. Madison Capital bought 45 Fremont Street shortly thereafter for $238 million, or about $437 per square foot. Strada Investment Group’s June purchase of fully leased 1 De Haro Street for $103 million, or $771 per square foot, could establish a benchmark for stabilized assets.
The 655 Montgomery property also includes seven floors of separately owned luxury condos and parking. JLL is marketing its location as part of the so-called “Pyramid District” surrounding the Transamerica complex, representing a neighborhood increasingly positioned as a destination for high-end office users and capital.
— Chris Malone Méndez
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