Giants Agree To 40% Affordable Housing For Mission Rock
June 16, 2015

The San Francisco Giants have agreed to increase the share of ‘affordable housing’ to be included within their proposed 28-acre Mission Rock development to an unprecedented 40 percent in exchange for Supervisor Jane Kim withdrawing her proposed ballot measure which would have limited building heights on the waterfront site to 120 feet and required 50 percent of the units to be affordable.

If the project’s proposed 240-foot height limit is approved by voters in November, and then successfully approved by the City, 12 percent of Mission Rock’s 1,500 units of housing would be designated for households earning up to 55 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI); 21 percent for households earning up to 120 percent of the AMI; and 7 percent would be priced to be affordable to households earning up to 150 percent of the AMI.

The current AMI for an individual is $71,350 and $81,500 for a household of two.

In addition to 1,500 units of housing, the Giants’ plans for the redevelopment of AT&T Park’s Parking Lot A and the adjacent Pier 48 include 1.5 million square feet of office, retail and other commercial uses, eight acres of parks, plazas and open space, and a new Anchor Brewery on Pier 48.

Articles and photos sourced from: www.socketsite.com

M&R: Bumgarner wanted to ride a horse in the World Series parade

When pitching ace Madison Bumgarner arrived at Steuart Street for the start of the World Series parade, the cops assigned to the parade were waiting, and just as pumped as the thousands of other Giant fans who were lining the route.

As high fives and knuckle knocks were exchanged, the cops gave Bumgarner the usual lines: “Great series,” “One in a million” — and, of course, the obligatory, “If there is anything we can do for you, just let us know.”

The first call was fine — after all, Bumgarner is an experienced horse rider. At which point, Bumgarner looked over at the line of police horses and said, “Anything? How ’bout you letting me ride one of them horses in the parade?”

Maybe, but this was in the rain, with a huge crowd and confetti cannons ready to go off.

After careful consideration, and thinking about what would happen if he fell off, “we made a compromise,” said Police Chief Greg Suhr, who was called in to make the call.

“How about a picture on the horse, and we keep that golden shoulder?” Suhr said.

Original Article and Photos Sourced From: http://blog.sfgate.com/matierandross/2014/11/02/mr-bumgarner-wanted-to-ride-a-horse-in-the-world-series-parade/#photo-547359 

Seven Great Beers to Pair With Baseball Season

Seasonal beers give craft brewers a good excuse to stretch their legs and create something different from their flagship brews. And while there are a few established spring beer styles, – like maibock, a type of strong German lager, or bière de mars, a light Belgian-style ale – many brewers just use this time of year as an excuse to play with medium and light bodied styles.

Here are seven great beers to help you celebrate spring and the events that come with it:

Anchor Saison Spring Ale, Anchor Brewing Company (7% abv)

A new beer for Anchor and only available in California, this Belgian-style saison was brewed with traditional wheat malt and Belgian yeast, but Anchor added lemongrass, lemon peel, and ginger to crank up the tangy crispness and herbal spiciness. A definite qualifier as the official beer for this year’s Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race.

Spring Reign, Ninkasi Brewing Company (6% abv)

Ninkasi calls this one their interpretation of a Northwest Pale. It has a light toasted malt flavor similar to a British Pale, but the hops are bright and very Northwest. This year’s recipe has a bit more alcohol and higher IBUs because, Ninkasi!

California Spring Beer, Hangar 24 Craft Brewery (5.2%)

This grassy and citrusy wheat beer uses a blended fermentation of Belgian and American yeast strains. The beer is also dry hopped with Calypso and Zythos hops. This combination makes for a light, bright and floral session beer. The wheat gives the beer both body and tartness, while the hops add a juicy orange and grapefruit bite.

Saison de Lente, The Bruery (6.5% abv)

The Bruery’s seasonal spring release is a blonde saison with a dose of Brettanomyces thrown in to balance the bright floral hop notes with some earthy funkiness.

Fresh Squeezed IPA, Deschutes Brewery (6% abv)

Many beer drinkers who don’t care for IPAs enjoy this one. While there’s no juice in this beer, the Citra and Mosaic hop profile is so citrusy that you might think there is. Now available year-round.

Aprihop, Dogfish Head Brewery (7% abv)

This American IPA is a spring seasonal, brewed with Pilsner and Crystal malts and fresh apricots added during fermentation. Dogfish Head then dry hops with lots of Amarillo. There’s no residual sweetness from the fruit, just a pleasant background aroma.

Agave Maria Ale, The Lost Abbey (13.5 abv)

A new spring seasonal from The Lost Abbey, Agave Maria is a strong ale brewed with agave nectar, and then aged in both Anejo and Reposado tequila barrels for 10 months. Agave Maria has hints of black pepper, sugar, silky oatmeal, and oak with an earthy, bitter smoked chocolate finish. The perfect beer for this Easter’s Hunky Jesus Contest, which by the way has been moved to Golden Gate Park this year since Dolores Park is being renovated.

Read more at http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/seven-great-beers-pair-baseball-season#Oa2wsrLX6JcERC3j.99

Flannery of the SF Giants gives $96K to Stow family

Tim Flannery, the Giants' third-base coach and an accomplished musician, presented the family of Bryan Stow with $96,000 over the weekend to help with his care as he continues to deal with traumatic injuries and brain damage from being severely beaten outside Dodger Stadium on Opening Day 2011.

Flannery received a heartfelt thank-you voice mail from Stow, who still struggles to put thoughts and words together nearly three years after the attack.

“It felt like this is a great opportunity to let the family know that people still are thinking about them. More than anything it allows them to know that people still care, people still think about them.”

                                                 -- Giants coach Tim Flannery, on his donation to Bryan Stow's family

And more money is still coming from recent silent auctions and further CD sales.

Flannery and his band, The Lunatic Fringe, recently concluded a series of four sold-out Northern California concerts benefiting Stow, while all dollars from purchases of Flannery's 11th album, "Outside Lands," released in November, go directly to Stow.

"That was, for me, kind of a gamble," Flannery said by phone Monday. "People always say, 'Well, why don't you just write a check?' I always say, 'Well, I only hit nine home runs in my 10-year career, I can't just write a big check.'

"I did write a check. I wrote a check that produced a new record. ... I'm just playing the music. I'm doing the same thing I always do. For people to come and just continue the love, it's a great, great honor."

As part of the large donation presented Saturday night, Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldtcontributed $25,000 to match Flannery's initial total and former Giants great-turned-instructor Will Clark wrote a $10,000 check.

"I don't think we could even begin to explain how much the efforts of all the people involved mean to us," Stow's sister, Bonnie Stow, wrote in an email Monday. "They're all busy people, with their own lives going on, yet they take the time to put on these shows to help Bryan. It's like 'thank you' just isn't enough.

AP Photo/George NikitinTim Flannery presented Bryan Stow's family with $96,000 to help with his care as he continues to deal with traumatic injuries from a 2011 attack at Dodger Stadium.

"Even when he's not playing these shows, Tim stays in touch with our family and sends his love to Bryan continuously. He's amazing."

Flannery presented Bonnie Stow with the envelope of money before his show Saturday in Santa Cruz, where the Stow family lives and where Bryan is being cared for by his parents, Dave and Ann.

"She kind of went quiet, and both of us kind of broke down and just held each other for a while," Flannery said. "I told her, 'All the people who wrote checks and all the people who brought their gifts, everybody loves you and everybody loves your family.'"

Flannery's band dedicated the song "You Have My Word" to Stow's parents. Flannery received a photo Sunday from the family of the couple holding hands during that song while on a rare evening out.

"It felt like this is a great opportunity to let the family know that people still are thinking about them," Flannery said. "More than anything, it allows them to know that people still care, people still think about them. That has always been the story -- everybody else showing up and giving of themselves. I play the music. It inspires me to just keep doing it. It's not that difficult for me doing what I always do."

In all, Flannery held 24 concerts during the baseball offseason.

As he told his music crew and support staff of the success, "We went 24-0."






Article & Photo Sourced From:
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10360834/tim-flannery-san-francisco-giants-gives-96k-bryan-stow-family

Shoe Shine Man Raises over $10,000 For His Broken Stand

If we learned one thing Wednesday, it is that San Francisco loves underdogs. And even more, the kind of persistent underdog who faces a run of adversity, doesn't give up, and prevails against the odds.

That was the theme of the million-strong parade down Market Street for the determined Giants baseball team that won the World Series. And, at the same time, on the corner of Market and New Montgomery, at a battered and burned shoeshine stand, that was the take-away for Larry Moore, the dapper shoeshine guy.
Moore's traveled a rough road, from heroin use, to homelessness, to debilitating back surgery, to - and he's the first to admit it - misusing money that Chronicle readers contributed when he was laid up. But giving up is not part of the equation.

Larry Moore, whose stand was damaged in Sunday night's melee, keeps an eye on parade goers.
 Photo: Jason Henry, Special To The Chronicle / SF

And the same can be said of the generous San Franciscans. When Moore's stand was torched by idiotic firebugs in the Sunday night "celebration" of the Giants' World Series win, folks lined up to help.

"He's like a regular fixture in the city,"

 said Jack Lupertino, a chef who works at the Westin.

 "I know the guy. I see him every day. It hurt my heart to think somebody did something like this."

He wasn't alone. Moore, who became a local celebrity three years ago when he showed up at work each day wearing a coat and tie, even though he was living under a freeway viaduct at the time, has friends he hasn't even met yet.

Donations pour in
Two days after the column about the fire appeared, there were more than 120 e-mails offering help. Most wanted to send Moore a donation. (If you'd like to donate, send to The Chronicle at 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103. Either leave the check blank or address it to me and I will sign it over to a bank account set up.)

But that was only the beginning.
A chair was donated to temporarily replace the one set on fire. On Tuesday Moore had more business than he knew what to do with. And some passers-by just handed him fives, tens, and twenties.

"I don't think I stopped shining shoes until 6 o'clock," Moore said. "And I had 46 people make donations. I got almost $600."

The affirmations just kept coming during the parade Wednesday. People in Giants gear walked up, shook Moore's hand and handed him cash.

"The man's here, trying to do a job," said Jorge Domingo, handing over some folded bills. "He's been here for years."

Three different companies stopped by to offer to rebuild the stand, two of which put their "design teams" on the job.

And then there was the high-tech connection. Megan Hopkins, an employment recruiter, created a crowdfunding portal at www.indiegogo.com/HelpLarry.

In just over 24 hours "we've got damn near $10,000," Hopkins said. "Here's someone trying to work hard and do what's right."

Now, it would be wonderful if this was all seashells and balloons from here on. Moore gets a new shoeshine stand, he has a nest egg, and people can say they stepped up and did something that was both important and significant.

But lives don't change overnight. This is a process. Moore sheepishly admits that he mishandled some of the money earlier.


Hard times
He's been through hard times. In 2008, he vowed to kick heroin, cold turkey. It took him three weeks, on the street, to do it. He's still grateful to the guy in the delivery truck who sneaked him day-old sandwiches.
He says he's learned and plans to take the windfall, find a place, and pay a year's rent. He's going to take the new shoeshine stand and make it work.

"Don't talk to me about quitting," he said. "I lost my stand three times. I've been put out on the street. I don't even think about quitting."

So if you are passing by, take a look at your shoes. I'll bet you could use a shine.

Link To Origional Article By SFgate: ARTICLE LINK

World Series Winner Barry Zito Lists His Multi Million Dollar Home

Not new news, except that before when Giant’s pitcher Barry Zito listed his Kentfield home, he didn’t have not one, but two World Championships under his belt. Now, we can’t help but wonder if cool factor didn’t just multiply exponentially. Plus, the place is gorgeous, even if it is $11,495,000.

According to Trulia’s Luxe blog, Zito listed the home this June because he was weary of commuting from Marin to the ballpark, and recently married, wanted more time with his new wife. One has to wonder where in the city the Zitos might settle, since they can probably afford anything they want, anywhere they want it. We’ll keep you posted on that.

In the meantime, who’ll step up to buy Zito’s “Villa Della Pace”? Over 7,000 square feet, the 4 bed, 5.5. bath luxury spread offers 2 acres of lush privacy, all of it overlooking Lake Phoenix and Mt. Tam. Note the sun-drenched photos of over-sized master bedroom, open kitchen, spa and sparkling pool that seems set on the edge of the world.

For the full list of luxury features, check out listing agent Marilyn Rich’s official page. Then, we want to know: how long till the Zito pad sells now that he is a Bay Area legend?  Bonus question: Will his fame help it sell at this price? The comments await…

For more photos:  SF GATE ARTICLE

Written By: Anna Marie Erwert - SFGate.com

ORANGE & BLACK

 

 

Happy Halloween to Everyone!

&

Congratulations Winners of the 2012 World Series

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS!
 

 

For a list of activities today click the link below:
http://www.sfstation.com/halloween/

1 Million and Counting @ Giants Parade

There's going to be one whopper of a parade Wednesday in San Francisco to celebrate the Giants winning the World Series, and everyone planning the event has the same message: Build in a lot of extra time for getting around, and if you're looking for trouble, stay home.

And oh, yes - have a great time.

The last time the Giants were baseball's champions, in 2010, more than 1 million people flooded downtown for the 1 1/2-mile parade of players and celebrities up Market Street to City Hall. Authorities expect about the same number this time.

"Our main advice is to be patient," said Alicia Trost, spokeswoman for BART, which will be running trains on rush-hour schedules all day to deliver people to the 11 a.m. parade and take them back home. 

"This is a family event, so be courteous and know that it will be very crowded - but also know that it's going to be fun and we will get you there safely."

Record ridership

BART ridership during the last parade on Nov. 3, 2010, set an all-time record with 522,200 passengers - about 120,000 more than the usual daily ridership now. A few stations had to shut their doors briefly because the platforms were jammed, and Trost reckons there's a chance of a repeat performance Wednesday.

Similar seat-packing is anticipated for ferries, buses, taxis, trains and any other mode of transportation that can bring people downtown.

Caltrain is adding trains coming up from the Peninsula; Muni will add shuttle buses to augment its Metro service; and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District will put extra ferries on standby.

Route changed

Unlike in 2010, when the parade started with a hook into the Financial District, this one will begin at the foot of Market Street near the Ferry Building and take a straight run to City Hall. Streets all along the route will be blocked off.

"Last time there was just one day in between the victory and the parade, so this time at least we've got an extra day to prepare, and that helps," said Mary Currie, Golden Gate Bridge District spokeswoman.

There was fear that rain would dampen the frolics, but forecasters now say an incoming storm has slowed and the wet weather isn't expected to descend until around midnight Wednesday.

"No sweat," said Jan Null, who operates the private Golden Gate Weather Services. "Some clouds will come in and there may be some of that misty stuff toward the beginning of the day, but during the parade the weather should be just fine."

Early arrivals

Hundreds of people came to Market Street the night before the 2010 parade to camp out at good spots along the way, and untold thousands took the day off from work or school. There's no reason not to expect the same again.

"I'm definitely not going to school Wednesday," said Aminah Owens, 36, a criminal justice student at San Francisco State University who waited at AT&T Park on Monday with other fans to greet the returning Giants.

 "I'm super excited."

Mayor Ed Lee shrugged off the idea that Halloween might not be the best choice of days to hold a major parade.

"Oh gosh, I think orange and black on Halloween is very natural," Lee said with a grin. "I think that's a way to actually do two birds with one stone in terms of celebrating, because there were going to be people taking that day off anyway."

Vandalism 'over'

Lee also dismissed the possibility of a repeat of the vandalism that broke out after the Giants' clinching victory Sunday night, when a Muni bus was torched, numerous bonfires were set in the Mission District and 36 people were arrested.

"I think that's over," Lee said. "I think with the arrests, we've set a tone there now."

Although the 2010 parade was noticeably absent of violence or property damage, this year's shift in the parade route is partly the Police Department's doing. Making the route a straight line instead of doglegging it out of the Financial District will make it easier to patrol and to keep an eye on the crowds, Police Chief Greg Suhr said.

"This is a family event," Suhr said. "We want families, children, everybody to come."

But he did add a little fist to the velvet.

"If you're coming to do mischief," the chief said, "don't come."

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Jaxon Van Derbeken, John Coté and Neal Riley contributed to this report.

Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.