Block Party in Burlingame

El Burlingame Neighborhood Association (BNA) will bring its annual block party to the red sidewalk-lined streets of Burlingame on Sept. 6 from 4 – 7 p.m.

The festivities will be held on Pamo Avenue between Laurel and Maple streets, and include children’s activities, food, a raffle drawing and music from High Society Jazz Band. The BNA will grill hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, and request attendees bring a favorite side dish to share.

Those interested in joining or renewing their membership with the BNA may do so at the Block Party. Volunteers are needed for all aspects of producing the event. 

To help with acquiring donations for the drawing, email [email protected]. To volunteer in other ways, email [email protected]. For more information, visit Burlingamesd.com.

Mankind’s new location to be celebrated with grand-opening party

Mankind, a gay-friendly merchandise and clothing store, has finally opened at its new location at 1295 University Ave. in Hillcrest. The store, which moved there from its previous location on Fifth Avenue had a “soft opening” in July following construction delays. 

The new location will hold an official grand opening on Friday, Sept. 12 with a ribbon cutting at 8:30 p.m. Following the ceremony, Harvey Milk’s American Diner (535 University Ave.) will host a “Welcome to the heart of Hillcrest” party for Mankind and its patrons from 9 to 11 p.m. There will be a hosted bar from 9 to 10 p.m. courtesy of Devotion Vodka followed by a Mankind fashion show. 

Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will be selling raffle tickets throughout the night with winners announced at the end of the event. Prizes include gift cards from Mankind, Harvey Milk’s and other local businesses with proceeds benefitting the Hillcrest Youth Center. 

Unique food truck and neighborhood haunt pair dinner and drinks

Mastiff Sausage Company and Whistle Stop Bar have teamed up to bring diners and drinkers out to South Park on Thursday nights. From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each week, Mastiff Sausage Company brings their truck to Whistle Stop Bar (2236 Fern St.) to offer a dual happy hour special. If someone purchases a drink from the bar, they get a $1 off food from the truck, and vice versa. Mastiff specializes in house-made sausages along with other items made from scratch, including vegetarian options. Visit mastiffsausagecompany.com to view their menu and whistlestopbar.com for upcoming events including live music, trivia nights and literary showcases. 

Mural detailing the storied history of the LGBT community in Hillcrest unveiled

Crazee Burger forced to move

Hamburguesa loca, which opened in 2006, will be moving from its original North Park location, according to Eater.com. The current location at 4201 30th St. is being taken over by Foundation for Form, which will turn the space into a mixed-use building. The North Park Crazee Burger owners, who took over in 2011 when the former owners sold the North Park and Old Town locations to separate buyers, told Eater they are committed to staying in North Park and hope to find a new location within two months.

Upas Street Pipeline Replacement Project begins phase on 5th Avenue

Arrieta Construction recently began the portion of a larger pipeline-replacement project affecting Fifth Avenue between Upas Street and Robinson Avenue in Hillcrest. 

This phase will replace 70-year-old pipelines with new PVC water pipes through the corridor. Lane closures and traffic delays may occur, according to information distributed to residents. A day’s notice will be given for water-service interruptions necessary to connect pipes. This phase of construction is anticipated to last through the end of the year and will take place Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

The entire project, which will replace 5.4 miles of water mains and includes various other repairs and upgrades, is set to continue through the next three years with completion estimated for late 2017.

Bankers Hill PR firm to accept Bitcoin as payment

KCD Public Relations Inc. announced that it will begin accepting Bitcoin, a digital currency, as payment for its services. Coinbase.com, a Bitcoin payment processing company, will handle the conversion of Bitcoin to U.S. dollars for KCD. Clients will receive a two-percent discount on Bitcoin-related payments. 

Created in 2008, Bitcoin has been the subject of controversy since its inception because of its association with the online black market and its difficulty to be regulated by any single government. Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed into law a bill that legalizes the use of Bitcoin and other digital currencies in California.

City adopts mandatory water restrictions in response to drought

After more than six months of above-average temperatures and meager rainfall, state and regional water authorities have mandated restrictions on water use to preserve the region’s limited supply of water. 

“We don’t know how much rain and snow we will get this winter,” said Thomas V. Wornham, chair of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “The only thing we can collectively control is how much water each of us uses. Every home, business and public agency should assess its water use and take additional steps to conserve to better prepare for a possible fourth consecutive dry year.

The City of San Diego has already adopted the following permanent restrictions that apply to residential water customers (additional restrictions that apply to construction and businesses can be found online at sandiego.gov/water/conservation/drought): 

• From June through October, landscape watering or irrigation is only allowed before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.; from November through May, landscape watering or irrigation is only allowed before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
• Excessive irrigation, including irrigation that causes water runoff onto adjacent property or gutters, is prohibited.
• The use of a hose to wash down sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or other paved areas is prohibited, unless the purpose is to alleviate immediate safety or sanitation hazards. This prohibition does not apply if the hose is connected to a water efficient device, such as a commercial water broom.
• Restaurants and other food establishments may only serve and refill water at the customer’s request.
• Vehicles may only be washed at a commercial car wash, or by using a hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle or by using a hand-held water container.
• All decorative water fountains must use a recirculating pump or be turned off.
• Repair or stop all water leaks upon discovery or within 72 hours of being notified by the City.
• The overfilling of swimming pools and spas is prohibited.

The city encourages residents report violations to the water hotline at 619-533-5271 or sending an email to [email protected]. The City’s Code Enforcement Officers have the authority to mandate remedies for customers who waste water, including issuing citations and fines of $100 to $2,500, referring the case to the City Attorney for prosecution and terminating water service to the customer. 

The City has also recommended voluntary restrictions, which include the following: 

• Limit watering or irrigation of landscapes to three days a week.
• When watering landscapes by hand, use a hand-held hose with a shutoff valve or a garden hose sprinkler system on a timer.
• Do not irrigate or water landscapes during rain events.
• Do not wash vehicles between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during June through October, or between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during November through May.