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A very supportive neighborhood

Hundreds of Larkin Street Youth Services supporters showed up for the annual Friends of Larkin Street gala. Photo: friends of larkin street

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

The Mexican Museum at Fort Mason has inked an agreement with Mexico City’s Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico to bring artists and exhibits to San Francisco.

“Our initial vision for this pioneering program involves bringing Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico artists to our museum over the next year,” said Andrew Kluger, chairman of The Mexican Museum’s board of directors. “Each artist would participate in a five-day program that will include participating in guest lectures and classes, doing workshops with children, and mentoring gifted young San Francisco artists. In addition, UNAM is going to share their educational materials about the arts and culture of Mexico with supporters and friends of The Mexican Museum community.”

The partnership includes a series of exhibitions at the Mexican Museum from UNAM’s collections, and the two organizations will collaborate to invite notable artists and sculptors to showcase their work at the museum. For more info, visit mexicanmuseum.org.

BOOKAPALOOZA AT FORT MASON

Even in tech-crazy San Francisco, we love books. That helps draw thousands of people each year to Fort Mason for the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library’s Annual Big Book Sale. This year is the event’s 50th iteration, and it will feature 70 categories of books and multimedia, all priced $1–$3.

Friends members get a preview and first dibs on Sept. 23, 4–8 p.m., with wine and refreshments (don’t leave crumbs on the books, though). The sale itself then runs September 24–28, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion. Entry is free.

Friends hopes to raise about $1 million, and as in previous years gift certificates from local organizations and restaurants are hidden among the items and clues are given out each day on Twitter (@friendssfpl) and Facebook (facebook.com/friendssfpl).

OVERHEARD ON MUNI BUS

Man talking to friend: People don’t dress up any more. It’s a real shame.

Friend. Uh-huh.

First man: I’ve been to other countries. You know who are the biggest troublemakers? The most corrupt people are the ones wearing uniforms.

Third man halfway up the bus: You just said people in uniforms are corrupt, and you said people don’t dress up. Isn’t a uniform dressing up? Isn’t that a logical fallacy?

SUPPORTING LARKIN

The good work of Larkin Street Youth Services got a boost this summer when Friends of Larkin Street held its annual gala and raised more than $70,000. The money will support Larkin’s programs for homeless and at-risk youth.

More than 300 guests gathered at the Hotel Kabuki for food, wine, cocktails, raffle, silent auction, wine toss (sounds dangerous), and social gaming. “What could be better than bringing great food, great wine, and a night full of dancing together for an equally great cause?” said Anna Rembold, Friends of Larkin Street board member. “Since the commencement of Friends of Larkin Street in 2009, we have raised more than $215,000 for Larkin Street Youth Services.”

Friends of the library. Friends of Larkin. It’s good to have friends.

CASTLES IN THE SAND

Did you know that on some north German beaches, building sand castles is either illegal or, in other spots, are required to be under a certain size? That of course explains the worldwide reputation Germans have for uninhibited beach fun.

Here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., we celebrate the ability to build McMansions of sand if we so choose. We also hold sandcastle contests — it’s like we’re waving our beach freedom in our German friends’ faces. Well, whether you’re German, American, or something else, you might want to start preparing for Leap’s annual Sandcastle Contest, which takes place early next month — Oct. 11 — on Ocean Beach.

Leap, which supports arts education in schools, hopes to raise $240,000 to support its programs for more than 7,000 students. More than 3,000 people attend the contest each year, and the sandcastle building teams are made up of prominent architecture, construction, and engineering companies in the city. More at leaparts.org.

DIVING INTO THE UBERPOOL

Uber doesn’t like to be called a taxi service, but what else do you call a company that sells rides? Well, the app-directed service has announced a new service it’s rolling out in San Francisco that might make you want to call them a bus service: UberPool. With this new offering, riders who are heading in the same or similar route share the ride and split the cost. Details at blog.uber.com/uberpool.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Actual Valleywag headline: “People Keep Getting Into Strangers’ Cars Because They Think It’s An Uber.”

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