San Francisco, CA
San Francisco’s Largest, Most Collaborative Queer Party Returns for a Second Year
Velvet, which showcases nearly a dozen queer-centric organizations that proliferate SF’s nightlife scene, will take over The Midway this upcoming Saturday.
A point we can’t harp on enough is that San Francisco remains the queer mecca of the world. For a litany of reasons, San Francisco stays a bastion for LGBTQIA+ legislation, queer escapism (both before and after the sun goes down), burgeoning creativity, etc.; as the saying goes, “as California goes, so goes the nation”; one could line-edit that to read “as [San Francisco] goes, so goes California… [and then the nation.]”
And among those goings, if you will, is the queer renaissance San Francisco is presently in the midst of — representing a nexus of the larger trend of large metros across the nation seeing a surge of new LBGTQIA+ residents and, by proxy, an increase in hosted queer events.
Electroluxx‘s hosted Velvet party is, ostensibly, the zenith of that nexus, bringing together eleven Bay Area-based queer nightlife organizations this year inorder to throw one hell of a party. Some might sing it’s revolutionary, even; they wouldn’t be wrong in that tune.
“This is revolutionary,” says Comfort and Joy organizer Josh Smith in an email to Underscore, highlighting the intrinsic comradery between the event’s collaborators in crafting Velvet. “Velvet is not just bringing together a couple of promoters, this is 11 organizations coming together in an industry that is often known for being very competitive. Seeing these groups unite and set aside the individual for the collective is quite powerful. It also speaks to the ability of electronic dance music to bring people together.”
The first-of-its-kind partnership, which is now in its second iteration, will feature the following esteemed groups and nightlight entertainers, each helping fill the five-stage venue: Comfort & Joy, Electroluxx, Polyglamorous, Recess, GlamCocks!, BAAAHS, Bad Asstronauts, Mystopia, Something Queer, Gender Blender, Camp Beaverton, Provocateur, and iconic San Francisco Drag Queen Juanita MORE!
Electroluxx co-founder Brett Mendenhall notes that Velvet is a “core expression of the queer community in San Francisco,” adding that it’s an opportunity for folks from a variety of groups to come together and celebrate under one roof — “it’s a place where we can dance together, create together, and connect together.”
Much like last year, attendees can expect to be bathed in breathtaking laser and light shows. Though organizers of the event have been clear about saying that said beams of light won’t be directed at crowds. “I always tell event organizers and lighting crew that they should never point beams down toward a crowd, because that’s how you cause eyesight damage and temporary partial blindness, it’s so dangerous,” co-creator of Velvet Elliott C. Nathan tells us in conversation.
Other onsight niceties include a silent disco, cuddle puddle, face painting, bracelet making, a 360-action photo booth, and some other unique surprises; Madam Zola’s Fortune Cafe will be open throughout the party’s duration, serving up tacos, pizza, and other hand-food-friendly fares.
Velvet organizers say that the artist Chickpea, in tandem with the Comfort & Joy team, is crafting a “visual art spectacle that is guaranteed to amaze.” Multi-discipline artist Scott Levkoff of Mondo events will install “surreal and trippy decorations throughout the main hallway,” all of which will be lit by 3D Mapped Projections by famed projection artist Stefan who became known for his craft doing projections for The Fun Gallery in the 1980s where he projected at events featuring the work of Keith Haring and Basquiat as well as projection installations for famed Studio 54.
In the main room, High Beam Lasers is set to debut their newest light show technologies and types of equipment, helping create a euphoric dance experience (that, again, includes safe crowd scanning lasers).
“I can’t wait to walk through the venue that night and see the huge amalgamation of art, music, and experience,” tells Mark O’brien of Polyglamorous — the esteemed Burning Man camp and among Velvet’s collaborators for 2024 — about the party’s expected grandeur. “It’s a huge stew of hard work and talent that each of the groups contributes, to make this over-the-top, multifaceted kaleidoscope of a party.”
Velvet, too, is much more than merely a creative showcase where warm bodies can mingle underneath the piercing glow of lasers — it’s as much a place to build and foster community. And
“I love it when the creators of VELVET reach out to me about DJing their party,” says iconoclastic and infamous finger-wagging San Francisco drag queen Juanita MORE!, adding tangentially that receiving nudes is a “great way to get my attention and start a good conversation” before waxing about her upcoming Pride party. “This event will allow me to see many friends I probably won’t see again until my annual party on Pride Sunday ––which is celebrating its 20th year, by the way! I hope to see you shaking your groove thing on the dancefloor.”
Similarly, this “amazing night” is vying to become a staple in San Francisco’s queer community, made more symbolic and important by the collective of bipeds responsible for putting it on.
“I love getting to build together with so many energetic, creative, and fun people. This is our second round of this collaboration and I hope it becomes a famous tradition and celebration in the city. ” artist and Electroluxx co-founder Elliott C Nathan tells in an email. “It’s going to be an amazing night and I hope it sparks the beginning of even grander collaborations.”
// For more information on Velvet, including its organizers and performers, visit the Instagram page dedicated to the party; tickets, which are selling fast, can be purchased here; those who find themselves struggling to meet the admission ticket price are encouraged to reach out to collaborators via an Instagram direct message; a portion of the proceeds collected from Velvet will go towards two local LGBTQIA+ focused charities and will be announced on our social media channels following the event.
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San Francisco, CA
San Francisco: Anti-ICE protester gets probation for ‘depredation’ of ICE van’s tire
SAN FRANCISCO — A protester who was initially charged with misdemeanor assault has been sentenced to probation for a less serious offense, ending a federal prosecution that only started four months ago, court records show.
On Dec. 8, Angelica Guerrero, 35, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor “depredation” of an ICE van’s tire — a fancy legal term for slashing it with a knife. The same day, a federal judge sentenced Guerrero to probation, according to a minute order of the hearing.
The charge stemmed from an Aug. 20 protest, when Guerrero slashed the tire of an unmarked Chevrolet van being used in an ongoing “enforcement and removal” operation by the Department of Homeland Security on the 100 block of Montgomery Street, according to prosecutors. The complaint alleges that Guerrero “made repeated threats” against one of the officers, including stating, “I’m going to (expletive) you up” and “I’m going after your family,” as well as threatening to stab the officer.
Guerrero was released within 48 hours but complained of “barbaric” conditions inside Santa Rita Jail, during an interview with ABC7.
San Francisco, CA
Beloved 11-Year-Old Bay Area Italian Restaurant Is Closing Its Doors For Good
BAY AREA, CA — Vespucci, a longtime Italian restaurant in San Mateo, will close permanently at the end of the year after 11 years in business, its owners announced this week.
Dec. 31 will be the restaurant’s final day of service, according to a message shared by owners Manuela Fumasi and Francesco Zaccaro, who reflected on more than a decade of serving the local community.
“From the moment we opened our doors, this community welcomed us with a warmth and kindness we will never forget,” the owners wrote. “As Italian immigrants, far from our first home, you made San Mateo feel like our home.”
The couple described the restaurant’s run as a “beautiful adventure,” acknowledging that it was often challenging but filled with meaningful connections, friendships and lasting memories. They thanked customers for celebrating milestones with them and for supporting the business over the years.
“This decision hasn’t been easy, but we know it is the right one for us at this time,” they said.
Vespucci has been a fixture in San Mateo’s dining scene since opening in 2015, offering Italian cuisine and serving as a neighborhood gathering spot for residents and regulars alike.
Inside, all of the artworks displayed were created by Maestro Vittorio Fumasi, with several pieces having been exhibited in major art shows in Italy and internationally. While some works predate the restaurant, others — including the low-relief piece “Italy” and the high-relief portraits of Vespucci — were commissioned specifically for the space.
Fumasi has also adorned Vespucci’s dining tables with her own artwork, and said some of those pieces will be offered for sale after the restaurant closes, allowing longtime customers to take home “a piece of Vespucci,” she told the San Mateo Daily Journal.
“We are going to miss you all,” the owners wrote. “With all our affection.”
The restaurant is located in downtown San Mateo at 147 E 3rd Ave. The menu can be found here.
San Francisco, CA
What have San Francisco police been doing at 16th and Mission?
It’s been nearly 300 days since Mayor Daniel Lurie announced a plan to clean up the 16th Street BART Plaza.
To mark the occasion, Mission Local is adding a new tool for tracking his promises: A dashboard, updated daily, that notes the arrests and citations issued by San Francisco police officers in a 300-meter radius around 16th and Mission streets.
Our dashboard uses daily incident reports filed by officers to track the enforcement of common violations, including drug-related offenses or disorderly conduct.
The San Francisco Police Department releases incident reports with a 24-hour lag. Our dashboard updates daily at noon to include the most current data: Arrests and citations issued the day before.
While the number of incident reports may form the basis of official crime statistics, it would be wrong to think of them as the “official” count, according to the SFPD. There are groups doing outreach work in the plazas, like Ahsing Solutions, that do not regularly release public data quantifying their activities, for example.
What this police data does show, over time, is where the police department is focusing resources and attention.
For example, reports show that in March 2025, after Lurie stated his intention to crack down around 16th and Mission streets, there was a massive spike in arrests and citations. This does not necessarily mean drug-related crimes increased in the vicinity, but simply that, spurred by the mayor’s statement, police officers began enforcing more proactively.
Use our interactive graphics to explore the number and reasons for arrests and citations issued, and keep tabs on trends in SFPD’s enforcement around the 16th Street BART plaza.
You can read our ongoing coverage of the crackdown on 16th Street plaza here.
Arrests and citations issued in last 6 months around 16th and Mission
You can access our archive, with arrests and citations data from 2018, here.
The calendar below shows a snapshot of the arrests and citations issued around a 300-meter radius of the 16th Street BART Plaza for the last six months.
The darker the date, the more arrests and citations took place that day.
The department continuously updates the status of incident reports as they are investigated, and it is possible that the official statistics reported by SFPD to the California Department of Justice may differ from our numbers.
The data below should be considered the most accurate moment-in-time representation of arrests and citations on the day they were filed. Hover over each date to see the reasons for each arrest or citation.
Drug incidents around 16th and Mission
Arrests and citations issued for drug-related offenses skyrocketed earlier this year, after Mayor Lurie made the plaza one of his targets to show how the city can make a difference.
Explore the number of drug-related arrests and citations issued by SFPD around 16th and Mission each month since 2018.
Data for the most recent month will always be incomplete (and consequently lower) because it includes only arrests and citations through yesterday, while previous months reflect full monthly totals.
Drug incidents at 16th and Mission vs. citywide
In most years, the area around 16th and Mission accounts for a majority of the Mission’s drug-related police enforcement.
In the spring of 2025, this area, which accounts for a mere 0.2 percent of the city’s geographical landmass, was responsible for nearly 27 percent of San Francisco’s drug incident reports that resulted in an arrest or citation.
During the pandemic, drug-related arrests and citations dropped to an all-time-low around 16th and Mission but it has recently surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Most common incidents around 16th and Mission
The table below shows the top 15 offense categories at 16th and Mission, ranked by total number of arrests and citations, over the past 12 months. The sparkline — the small line chart — shows how each category has changed month to month, and the percentage compares the current year to the year before.
We use a rolling 12-month window (365 days from yesterday’s date), rather than a calendar year, so the data stays current. Because the dashboard updates daily, the most recent month will always be incomplete, but using a full year of data minimizes the impact of any one partial month on the overall totals.
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