Pat Christensen: Merchants Kick Off Holidays

The Inner Sunset District rocked Thursday evening, Nov. 30, when more than 300 residents of the neighborhood streamed through the doors of the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park for the merchant's 15th annual Holiday Social.

Sponsored by the members of the Inner Sunset Merchants Association (ISMA), the party was free to the public as a special thank you for its patronage throughout the year. Candles glowed and cast their light on clusters of Christmas ornaments that decorated the red and green covered tables, which were designed by Robert LeGrisley of Holy Gelato.

Guests worked their way around the world by enjoying a vast array of ethnic and American comfort food, provided by 27 diverse restaurants that bless the Inner Sunset. Treats included Italian pizza and ravioli, Japanese sushi, Polish sausages, Indian spicy fried onion balls and naan, Greek gyros, Chinese noodles, sweets from local bakeries, cups of gelato, and lots more to satisfy the appetites of the equally diverse crowd. The food was washed down by a variety of wine, beer and soft drinks.

The party really got rolling when Mike Fleming's band cranked up its rock-folk music. High steppers pushed aside a few tables to make room for dancing when Ashley and Jon of the Definite Articles played band member Shawn's original compositions.

After the Articles performed, The Levee from New Orleans, the Barbary Coast Allstars and Frances Ancheta on guitar entertained the crowd.

M. C. Meghan Greenwood of State Farm Insurance and Realtor Pat Sun, who was disguised as Santa Claus, awarded more than 100 door prizes to eager winners - all donated by Inner Sunset businesses.

As well, weary holiday shoppers were soothed at the Health Team booth with bodywork massages and neighborhood associations recruited new members to help with clean-up campaigns and Project SAFE meetings.

"The party surpassed our expectations," said ISMA president Craig Dawson. "The merchants and residents really came through for us. There's been a resurgence of interest in the Inner Sunset during the last quarter. I believe it's due to our marketing efforts and the ISMA directories that have been popular, especially at the de Young Museum, where visitors from out-of-town and other neighborhoods in San Francisco have picked them up and visited our commercial strip."

Dawson is planning a second printing in February and encourages any businesses in the Inner Sunset who have not joined the association to do so now in order to be included.

The affair was produced by a group of volunteer business owners led by Kate McIntyre, State Farm Insurance, former ISMA president Rolf Mueller, Techeaze, Inc. and current president Craig Dawson, the proprietor at Media Solutions. Event committee members included Chris Duderstadt, Chris Engel, Steve Fuji, Jim Iwerson, Robert LeGrisley, Pat Sun, Rabboni Tacusalme and Melissa Seludo.

Shop Local Week Begins
What better way to celebrate the holiday season and the strength and resilience of small businesses than by participating in the fourth annual "Shop Local First" campaign, from Dec.4 through Dec. 9.

San Francisco residents are urged to buy products and services from locally owned, independent businesses this holiday season and year round.Ê Small business and our thriving neighborhoods are the reason Conde Nast readers ranked San Francisco the #1 travel destination for 18 of the past 19 years.

Please join us in supporting our local San Francisco small businesses by shopping local first this holiday season and everyday!ÊThis program is sponsored by the San Francisco Small Business Commission in cooperation with local merchants associations.

Pat Christensen is a Sunset District resident who has been writing about San Francisco business issues for the past two decades.