Sam Spade's San Francisco

Every month Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi publishes one of the best and most informative San Francisco political affairs newsletters available from anybody. It is titled, simply, the District Five Report.

In the photo: Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. Photo courtesy of Luke Thomas, Fog City Journal

I don't live in the 5th supervisorial district, but I asked Ross if I could be subscribed to his District Five Report and I have been faithfully receiving it ever since. I very highly recommend this excellent monthly publication. If you would like to start receiving the District Five Report, send Ross an email:

Here is the list of up-coming San Francisco events published in Ross' July District Five Report. If you don't see activities for your part of the City, send an email to your supervisor and ask him or her to send you their monthly newsletter. If none is published ... well ... next time around elect a better candidate.

Upcoming Events

June 1 until September 30: Lens On Life, From Bamako To San Francisco Time: Wed-Sat 11.00am-6pm, Sunday 12.00pm-5.00pm Location: Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission Street This exhibition is a collection of photographs taken all over the African continent. The exhibition is organized by international curator Simon Njami and features the work of 22 photographers from the 2005 Bamako Biennale. For further information and for future programming check out the MOAD website at www.moadsf.org.

June 14 to July 28: San Francisco Improv Time: All Shows at 8:00 pm Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, Buriel Clay Theater Performances: Revolving Madness, IMP, Big Yellow Bus, Sting Theory, 4 in 1, Razowsky and Clifford, The Transactors, and Un-Scripted Theater. For ticket and show information contact: , visit www.sfimprovfestival.com

Wednesdays, July 18 to August 22, NERT Training sponsored by The West Bay Conference Center Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, July 18th, July 25th, August 1st, August 8th, August 15th, and August 22nd. Location: The West Bay Conference Center, 1290 Fillmore St. at Eddy St. The West Bay Conference Center and the San Francisco Fire Department are hosting Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) training. The six classes are held on Wednesday evenings. All in the community are invited to attend. RSVP to or call . Are you interested in getting involved in disaster planning at your neighborhood level? If so, contact Regina Dick-Endrizzi at or

Tuesday, July 17: Park District Police Community Forum Time: 6:00 PM Location: Park Branch Library This Community Forum will cover on the recent Haight Street Fair. If you can't attend and want to provide the Captain with feedback. contact Park Police Station: ,

Every Wednesday, Starting July 18: Young Mothers United, support group for Formerly Incarcerated Young Mothers Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Location: Call Cria at the Center for Young Women's Development for location. Learn about your rights a young mother and community resources. Free food and childcare, and earn $25 dollars for every workshop. Contact: Cria,

Thursday, July 19: District Five Children's Art Show – Mo Magic Time: 5:00 to 7:30 pm Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, 762 Fulton Street. Contact: Sheryl Davis, ,

July 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29: Color Struck – One Man Show, Written and Preformed by Donald Lacey Time: 8:00 pm (Sundays 7:00 pm) Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, Buriel Clay Theater For ticket and show information call or

Saturday, July 21: Koshland Park Community Workday Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm Location: Koshland Park, located at the corner of Page and Buchanan streets. Hayes Valley Neighborhood Parks Group is sponsoring a community workshop that includes planting, watering, composting, and more. The event will be cancelled if it rains. For more information contact Nora Brereton at 424-5770.

July 21st, August 4th and 18th, and September 1st and 15th: Hayes Valley Historic Miniature Golf Extravaganza Time: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Location: Patricia's Green, Hayes Valley (Hayes Street and Octavia Street). Artist group Wowhaus has created a mini-golf installation for the Hayes Valley neighborhood and the city to enjoy. Using handmade clubs, the public is invited to play a nine-hole course in which each hole represents a different stage in the development of Hayes Valley. Admission is free, and the course is open every other Saturday from July 21st to September 15th from 1:00 pm to 5:00pm. For more information about this group of artists and the project, go to www.thewowhouse.com.

Tuesday, July 24, The Bubble Lady at Western Addition Reading Center Time: 1:00 pm Location: 762 Fulton St, 2nd Floor (at Webster) The Bubble Lady entertains and delights children of all ages with bubble sculptures, bubble stories, and her bubble family! All ages welcome. Contact info: 440-0206

Tuesday, July 24: Job Get Hooked Up! Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Location: King-Garvey Communtiy Room, 1680 Eddy Street Looking for a Job? Need to get your driver's License? Thinking about going back to School? Asian Neighborhood Design, Goodwill, Bayview Hope Trucking, MYEEP, Communities Of Opportunity/CityBuild, New Directions, JVS, City College, SFSU and more. There will also be on the spot medical and dental services. Information on how to get your Social Security Card, California DL/ID, Birth Certificate, and Health Insurance provided. For more information call .

Friday, August 3: Youth Showcase at City Hall – Mo Magic Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Location: City Hall Rotunda, 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place Contact: Sheryl Davis, ,

Friday, August 3rd: Job and Health Resource Fair, Sponsored by Assemblymember Mark Leno Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Location: Hiram Johnson State Building at 455 Golden Gate Avenue Assemblymember Mark Leno invites you to a Job and Health Resource Fair. The event will include access to many companies from around the Bay Area and free health screenings. Call 557-3013 for more information or to RSVP.

August 4th through 26th, 14th Annual AfroSolo Arts Festival August 4th: Free Jazz Concert in Yerba Buena Gardens August 11th: Visual Artist Salon at African American Art and Culture Complex August 18th: United in Health Community Health Fair August 23rd: 25th: Black Voices Performances Series August 26th: Concert Featuring Hope Briggs and Paula West For more information contact Thomas Robert Simpson, , or www.afrosolo.org.

Tuesday, August 7th: Sixth Annual Western Addition National Night Out, Catch Me Doing Something Positive Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: Hayes Valley Playground at 699 Hayes Street. Join Supervisor Mirkarimi, for the Sixth Annual Western Addition National Night Out. The goals of this event include increasing crime awareness, generating support for anti-crime programs, strengtheninig police-community partnerships, and sending a message that there are many positive acitivies in the community. The Night Out is sponsered by Community Partners United, Supervisor Mirkarimi, the Mayor's Office, Hayes Valley Playground, Northern Station, Mo' Magic, and Safety Network. For more information contact Community Partners United at 252-9644.

Saturday, August 18: United in Health 2: Artist, Healthcare Workers and Community. Presentd by AfroSolo Festival, Supervisor Mirkraimi and Mo' Magic. Time: 10:30 am to 4:00 pm Location: African American Arts and Cultural Center, 762 Fulton. AfroSolo's mission is to nurture, promote and present African American Art and Culture through solo performances and the visual and literary arts. The health fair is a day-long event to include a communtiy forum focusing on the cessation of violence in our neighborhood and panel discussions related to women, men and youth health issuses. Participants: African American Wellness Projects, Bact to Sports, California Pacific Medical Center, CHALK, Koshland Park Community Learning Garden, Huckleberry's Cole Street Clinic, San Francisco Aids Foundation - Black Broghers Esteem Program, San Francisco Health Plan, St. Mary Medical Center, The Women's Community Clinic, UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. To participate or for more information contact Thomas Robert Simpson, , , or www.afrosolo.org.

Sunday, September 2nd: 40th Anniversary Summer of Love Free Concert! Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Location: Speedway Meadows in Golden Gate Park There will be a free concert to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. The event will include world-class musical acts and entertainers that will represent the spirit and energy of the 1967 Summer of Love. The concert is sponsored by the 2bl Multimedia. For more information call , email: , Website: www.2blrecords.com/summeroflove40th