War on Fun

City Shuts Down Casanova's Turntable

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Bad news, folks.  We're being told that city officials paid a visit to renowned happy hour hotspot Casanova a few weeks back, telling the bewildered staff they had to unplug their turntable perched at the end of the bar immediately, or they'd close the place up for good.

This is what Casanova DJ Jacob Guillermo Peña had to say about the situation:

Y'know, it's a bummer to think about all the little niches that are gonna go unfilled without Casanova Lounge having DJs. I mean, I understand the decision. But really, there were some great folks playing some nice records there. I know you can hear some of em over at Hemlock (Caroline plays some great records for happy hour, you should really hear em) but some of these other nights would NEVER go over well at a “club”. I've been turned on to a ton of great records while hanging out there. Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there. I know Doyle's gonna have a killer jukebox (no, for real) but it's just not the same. Anyhow, I need to go there for a drink now. Cheers y'all.

Apparently, the city objected to the bar's lack of a cabaret license, and told them they had apply for a license ($1,600) and soundproof the joint ($8,000) if they ever wanted to do so much as plug an iPod in again.  This, of course, seems particularly heavy-handed, given that Casanova is typically known for spinning slow jams at a reasonable volume—hardly a club, or even a rowdy dive bar. Alas, that's the situation.

DJ Sonny Phono has some thoughts on what's going on:

This summer has been one of the busiest on that area, and right after a kid got murdered on 16th the guillotine dropped hard. I know a lot of the Vice/ABC officers from my time at [111 Minna] and they tell me they work almost exclusively in the Mission this year. There's a much bigger picture [than NIMBYs] and a lot of it has to do with a basic liquor license being worth half a mil in that neighborhood, not just dudes with wicked record collections nerding out on each other.

I guess it's not just $15 burgers we have to worry about now…

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

UPDATE: SFPD Now Doing Hourly Dirt Bike Patrols in Dolores Park, Leaving Two Officers Stationed Throughout the Day

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

The scene from 2 weeks ago.

As you may remember, nearly two weeks ago we reported that SFPD was renewing their campaign against fun with dirt bike cops rolling through Dolores Park on a chill Friday afternoon.  Well, it turns out that two weeks ago was only the beginning and the cops are now taking more drastic measures.  Starting at lunch today, reader Paul S. noted “cops are riding dirt bikes through the park. I want a moped to ride through their living rooms.”  He followed up saying that the cops were riding through the park “at least once an hour” and “going from group-to-group to see what they were up to.”

“What was remarkable about it was that in was a mellow Wednesday afternoon.  No one was even drinking heavily. […] The cops were riding in groups of two, one group on each side of the park.  After they were done bothering everybody, two of the cops would ride off and the other two would go to the top of the hill at the pedestrian bridge and just sit there watching everyone.  An hour later, the other two cops would come back and they would sweep the park again.”

While we're not an activist organization, rumors have it that NIMBYs are using the recent stabbing to pressure the parks department and SFPD into cracking down on weed, beer and cigarettes.  So far, they seem to be winning.  So feel free to contract these individuals if you want to let them know you do not support SFPD disturbing the peace and a couple of geezers trying to push their agenda on tens of thousands on San Franciscans:

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

SFPD Renews Campaign Against Fun in Dolores Park

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

If you remember the summer of 2009, the police began enforcing drinking laws in Dolores Park through rumor and spectacle.  Then a leaked memo dropped, brought headlines to SFgate, the Examiner, and forced Bevan Dufty to actually come out of his hole to sit down with bloggers, journalists and park activists.  The result of the controversy was an absence of continued police presence well into 2010.

Suddenly last weekend, news spread of SFPD kicking out the commerce.  Then this week signs went up around the park telling people not to smokes and drink.  Was this a sign of a 2009 relapse?

Yesterday afternoon, a pack of 5 police officers armed with guns and dirt bikes went through the entire park, forcing people to throw out their beers, leash their dogs and stop selling ice cream sandwiches.

An aspiring hot dog vendor was cited by this officer, likely costing her all the money earned that afternoon.

Ice cream vendors were also asked to leave.

I watched police escort this harmless, quiet man out of the park.  He wasn't visibly doing anything aside from drinking a tallboy.

Is this waste of resources going to become a daily routine for SFPD?  Sure hope not.

UPDATE: SFPD confirms to Mission Loc@l that they are, in fact, stepping up patrols in the park and they have no estimation as to when they'll back off.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: