San Francisco, CA
‘Cultures and traditions’: Big crowds return to San Francisco’s Carnaval Grand Parade
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — On this holiday weekend, a celebration of Latin American heritage and culture. San Francisco’s iconic Carnaval Grand Parade is celebrating its 45th year with crowds returning to pre-pandemic levels and a big boost to small businesses in the Mission District.
It’s a celebration like no other, a kaleidoscope of colors, feathers and characters.
“Carnaval means to me a celebration of life, I am Frida Kahlo back from the dead to give you a taste of what life can be,” said Jean Franco from Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.
For many, Carnaval San Francisco Grand Parade is a must-see event, a celebration of 23 Latin American and Caribbean Countries.
The Aguirre Family has saving a spot on 24th Street for years.
“To me, it means a kind of day for a lot of cultures get together, it’s all different, but it’s all beautiful in their own way, you know,” said Stephanie Aguirre.
May grey brought a chill but this street party kept going.
“I mean we missed a bit of sun this year, but it’s ok, Carnaval’s pulse and beat keeps everyone alive and warm,” said Carnaval San Francisco executive director, Rodrigo Duran.
VIDEO: 626 Night Market comes to Bay Area, celebrating diversity with tasty treats
Organizers estimate 400,000 people came to the Mission for Carnaval and that means a real economic boost for the neighborhood.
“Besides my business, it’s helping out a lot of others on 24th Street period,” said Asher Rous.
Asher Rous’ family-owned coffee shop, Temo’s has seen many challenges.
“We’ve seen a decline through the pandemic of foot traffic, to have people like this come out to San Francisco and witness the Carnival, shopping around to all these small businesses on 24th Street means a lot,” Rous added.
But for this Mission community, Carnival is raising more than just profits.
“More importantly, it’s supporting and healing our souls. We’ve got to look within and heal ourselves after the pandemic, no better way to do that than dancing and feeling the movements all those cultures and traditions at Carnaval,” said Duran.
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The statue was installed last month with hopes it will attract more visitors and help boost economic activity in the city.
The statue is called R-Evolution. (Photo Credit: X)
San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza is home to a new, eye-catching figure – a 45-foot tall statue of a naked woman. Named R-Evolution, this steel sculpture weighs 15,000 kg and shines with multicoloured lights. Created by artist Marco Cochrane, it is the final piece in his ‘The Bliss Project’ series, which debuted at the Burning Man festival in 2015.
The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, together with The Sijbrandij Foundation and Building 180, installed the statue last month hoping it will attract more visitors and help boost economic activity in the city.
Social media platforms have been buzzing with opinions.
A user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “San Francisco unveiled their 45-foot statue of a nude woman Thursday at Embarcadero Plaza to attract tourism. The piece is titled ‘R-Evolution.’ SF continues to be plagued by crime, homeless and illegals. The city would have many more tourists if these issues were addressed.”
San Francisco unveiled their 45-foot statue of a nude woman Thursday at Embarcadero Plaza to attract tourism. The piece is titled “R-Evolution.”SF continues to be plagued by crime, homeless, and illegals. The city would have many more tourists if these issues were addressed. pic.twitter.com/zc0EUunniF
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) April 13, 2025
Another wrote, “Public art is a waste of money.”
Public art is a waste of money.— Jakob Mi (@Jakob_Mi_) April 13, 2025
“This is not the way to attract more tourists,” a comment read.
This is not the way to attract more tourists.— reddog (@reddog38104528) April 13, 2025
Someone said, “This is weird.”
“And the point of that statue is what??” a user asked.
And the point of that statue is what??— Vortex9 (@Savage_Vortex9) April 10, 2025
The Recreation and Park Department defends the installation as gender representation in public art. According to their press release, “Despite making up more than half the population, women are vastly underrepresented in public art, comprising only 8% of statues in the US. This sculpture challenges that imbalance, creating a powerful moment of visibility and reflection.”
R-Evolution is an impressive piece of art. Made with more than 55,000 steel welds, the statue moves slightly for one hour each day to look like it is breathing. At night, it lights up softly with colourful lights, turning Embarcadero Plaza into a beautiful spot to visit after dark.
The artist Marco Cochrane explains his vision behind the sculpture: “This sculpture is about being seen. Women’s presence in public art is rare. When they are depicted, it is often through outdated or passive narratives. R-Evolution challenges that. She stands strong, aware and grounded, calling for a world where all people can walk freely and without fear.”
Cochrane’s work focuses on empowering female figures in a way that breaks away from traditional portrayals. ‘The Bliss Project’ series, ending with R-Evolution, shows women not as passive objects but as powerful, self-aware beings.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
San Francisco, CA
Arson suspect arrested in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond following suspicious school fires
An arson suspect was arrested in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond neighborhood following suspicious fires at a nearby elementary school, police said Wednesday.
On May 18, a fire destroyed playground equipment at Lafayette Elementary School and 37th Avenue. On May 1, another fire burned a storage container at the school, damaging or destroying everything inside it. The San Francisco Fire Department was determining whether both fires were set intentionally.
On Monday, the San Francisco Police Department said in a press release that plainclothes officers patrolling the area of Balboa and La Playa Streets, about 10 blocks west of the school, observed a man igniting objects while walking in Balboa Natural Area park, police said. The officers later saw a large active working fire and the Fire Department was called to put it out.
Officers canvassed the area and located 29-year-old Joseph Martinez. He was arrested and booked into San Francisco County Jail on charges of arson, possession of an incendiary device to set fire to a structure or forest land, and drug possession charges.
Police said the officers were working with the Fire Department in their joint Arson Task Force to investigate the cases. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Police Department at 415-575-4444 or send a text to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
San Francisco, CA
Wenceel Pérez, Riley Greene power AL-leading Detroit Tigers over San Francisco Giants | TSN
DETROIT (AP) — Wenceel Pérez homered in his first at-bat in his season debut, Jack Flaherty worked six scoreless innings and Riley Greene had three hits and two RBIs as the American League-leading Detroit Tigers beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Pérez, who had missed the entire season due to a lower back injury, hit a 2-0 pitch 351 feet to right field in the second inning for his first homer since Aug. 7.
Greene has 22 RBIs in May, the first time in a calender month he has knocked in 20 runs, and has 38 RBIs overall. He is hitting .270 with six homers.
Flaherty (3-6) gave up two hits and a walk while striking out eight as the Tigers won their third straight and improved to 36-20. He retired the last 11 batters he faced. Will Vest pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
Giants starter Logan Webb (5-5) allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk in six innings, striking out 10. San Francisco fell to 2-3 on their current nine-game trip.
Greene gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the first. After Pérez homered in the second, Colt Keith led off the third with a triple and scored on Greene’s second hit. He added another double in the fifth before striking out in the eighth.
The Giants scored in the ninth when Heliot Ramos led off with a single and came around on a Wilmer Flores double. Greene made a sliding catch to rob Jung Hoo Lee of a base hit, and Vest retired the next two hitters to end the game.
The Tigers won despite striking out 13 times in eight innings.
Key moment
Giants manager Bob Melvin was ejected by home plate umpire Tony Randazzo after arguing balls and strikes in the fifth inning.
Key stat
Spencer Torkelson, who leads the Tigers in most offensive categories, went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. He is hitting .207 with six homers and 30 strikeouts in his last 33 games.
Up next
The teams finish their three-game series on Wednesday with Detroit RHP Jackson Jobe (4-1, 4.06) facing RHP Landen Roupp (3-3, 3.63).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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