An Unusual Weekend on The Strip

An unlikely scenario occurred on the Broadway Strip in North Beach this past weekend: it was exceedingly uneventful for the Central Police Station.

This uncommon weekend only held one reported incident according to police officer Mark Alvarez. On Friday night between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. there was a radio broadcast of a large fight involving many people in front of Cable Car Pizza. However, the fight had dissolved by the time the police arrived; Saturday posed no problems at all on Broadway.

“I would say about 48 out of 52 weekends are problematic year-round on Broadway,” Alvarez said.

The Entertainment Commission usually gives some sort of attention to North Beach each meeting, if not just the Broadway Strip in regards to reviewing, reporting or approving certain after-hours adult businesses that line the street.

Merchants and residents alike also noticed the violence that erupts on the weekends. Kathleen Dooley a former storefront owner in North Beach is involved with a new group of Broadway merchants who are aiming to clean-up the violence.

“It will not be an easy task,” said Dooley. “The Entertainment Commission, with so many members being paid promoters for the industry, tends to look the other way when it comes to out-of-control clubs. The battle on Broadway is between the strip club owners—one company owns all the strip clubs but one—and the clubs that promote hip-hop events which are attracting a very violent crowd.”

According to Alvarez, the Strip itself requires a lot of police resources because of the amount of people from the North, South and East not just San Francisco.

“You get several thousand people together you’re going to have a problem, especially if you mix liquor and testosterone,” Alvarez said. “We have a lot of fist fights involving young males. Young people don’t understand the potency of the alcohol; they end up unconscious and have to be taken away in ambulances.”

According to Alvarez there is a zero tolerance policy. The police are often investigating nightclubs on the Strip for overcrowding, which can lead to fatal disasters involving such things as fire codes.

Most recently, police closed down Heaven Mini Theater, an adult entertainment club, which was operating without a permit.

“It was an unregulated strip club,” Alvarez. “We enforce the permit rules stringently. They just happened to slip through the cracks.”

Ciao! Until we meet again..

After covering North Beach for the past few months, I have fell in love with this historical and tourist-loved neighborhood. The neighborhood may have its share of messy politics, but at least it is colorful.

It was interesting covering the neighborhood because most of the people I encountered were highly opinionated and passionate about their beloved North Beach. This neighborhood has so much character and history that it made it overwhelming and intimidating at times to approach longtime residents about controversial issues like the legislation to stop restaurants and bars from obtaining licenses in commercial spaces or the struggle to relocate the North Beach Library Branch to the Triangle.

Many of the residents look fondly back at the neighborhood and recall a time forgotten when Grant  was the center of their universe as it was to store owner Jimmy Schein of Schein & Schein on Grant Avenue. 

Some of the people I met and interviewed touch on other changes, such as the worldly charm it once held. In my opinion, music, art, literature and of course food are very much still abundant in this neighborhood. It may be filled with more tourists, but this is a tourist-based neighborhood as far as retail shopping goes. San Francisco is known for its amazing views and buildings and North Beach holds access to many of them—Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Coit Tower, the Filbert Steps and St. Francis Assisi Church all visually attainable while lying in Washington Square Park.

North Beach was an amazing neighborhood to cover. It was invigorating and motivating to let me know that maybe I am getting the hang of this. I hope to continue to be a resource for the neighborhood and improve my the information I publish.  

Back to the Beats

The Beat Museum on Broadway Street near Romolo Place is easy to miss. It is nestled between Hungry I Club among other adult entertainment clubs. However, if you do get a chance to wander in it is worth the trip.


The museum holds many events year round such as poetry readings, book signings, photo exhibitions and charity benefits all in the Beat spirit. The latest happening, a book signing for tattoo artist, Ed Hardy, will take place in about a week.


Jerry Cimino opened up the museum four years ago in Monterey, but ended up moving to "the birth place of The Beats". Cimino started out using many things from his own personal collection, but as time went on he would receive first edition books, license plates, pins and other Beat generation memorabilia from around the world to add. Some just wanted to make a little extra cash, but most people were happy to donate according to museum owner.


Cimino follows in the beat tradition just as Burroughs mentored Chase, Kerouac and Ginsberg he tries to educate new and old Beat lovers alike.


"I believe older folks have a responsibility to help younger people and it's part of the reason I do what I do," Cimino said.

Art and Recreation in Washington Square Park

On Dec. 6, the Red Umbrella Independent Artists held an exhibition for a few of their members in Washington Square Park. The Red Umbrella is a non-profit organization of artists that display their work in other public spaces mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gabriele Schwibach was one of the several artists showing their work in the park that day. She enjoys Washington Square Park a lot, but prefers the dependability of other parks like Union Square for business. She has been showing her work with the non-profit for the past three years consecutively.

"Washington Square Park business is very dependent on the weather," said Schwibach the etching and painting focused artist. "The weather was a bit iffy today so there was only an okay turn out."

For a list of show dates or to find out more about the artists, visit the Red Umbrella website.

The Most Glorious Pizza

The time is 12:30 a.m. The day is Saturday. The place is 542 Green Street between Grant Avenue and Stockton Street. The scene inebriated customers filed out the door of this fine establishment waiting for a square of pizza from this establishment with over 30 years of residency in North Beach. Oh, Golden Boy Pizza with its flashy red hand enticing every one who passes by! 

"Even if you are unfortunate enough to end up here on a weekend night, you'll get over by the time the cheese hits your mouth," said Andrea Perez, a San Francisco native. 

This pizzeria was started by Peter Sodini in the late 1970s. The Sodini family has branched out to several different restaurants, but Golden Boy Pizza remains a North Beach staple. It is known for its unusual shape of square pizza slices rather than the traditional triangles. 

It is also a food establishment where you can find out about local happenings simply by looking at the bulletin board posted near the entrance while you wait for your food. Music is constantly blaring even on a early Sunday afternoon and you're likely to hear a bit of classic rock while a poster of Christopher Walker watches you chow down. 

On a weekday afternoon, you're likely to find everyone from the suit and tie crowd of the financial district who walked over on their lunch break to tourists grabbing a quick bite before continuing their exploration. Weekend nights are definitely the most crowded, but the lines move fairly quickly.

You can get a beverage (soda or beer) and a slice for around $5 and their slices are generous from your standard pepperoni to clam garlic. But, just remember, "If you don't see don't ask" as it reads on their menu board because these slices go fast!

Cafes: A Must in North Beach

An interactive map listing some of the most popular cafes in the neighborhood with locals and tourists. It is essential to try a cappuccino while in North Beach to get the full experience.


View North Beach Cafes in a larger map

"Jan Kerouac Remembered"

On Tuesday, Nov. 10 the San Francisco Public Library sponsored the “Jan Kerouac Remembered” lecture at the North Beach branch. Jan Kerouac was daughter and only child of the famous Beat-era poet, Jack Kerouac. Gerald Nicosia, the event’s host, recently had his biography of Kerouac entitled Jan Kerouac: A Life in Memory published.
During the lecture, different speakers read from the book which prominent people in Kerouac’s life including Brenda Knight, John Cassady and Carl Macki. Kerouac was a post-Beat author that wrote and published two books during her lifetime and one posthumously.

The small group of approximately 25 present was mostly of senior citizens or middle-aged folks. The group gathered in the risen section of library near the Chinese literature. Bright blue chairs were lined up in two columns and there was a podium at the front for contributors to read and speak.

During the event, Kerouac’s strained and almost non-existent relationship with her father was discussed. Her mother’s depression was also mentioned. Kerouac’s battle against kidney disease and her struggle to finish the last book she was working on Parrot Fever was described by colleague and friend, Brenda Knight.

Nicosia made the comment about how Jack Kerouac was compared to St. Paul and Allen Ginsberg was compared to St. Peter during their youth. He went on to say that Jan Kerouac was also saint-like in that she was non-materialistic.

“She knew her life would be short,” Nicosia said. “She didn’t complain. She wanted to do something meaningful.”

Kerouac died in 1966 due to kidney disease, but was survived by half-siblings Katharine, Sharon and David Bowers.

Courtesy of geraldnicosia.com