Elite Social Club Soho House Reportedly Eyes SF Armory

Is Soho House storming the Armory?

The SF Armory, a Moorish-style castle in the Mission built for the National Guard, was until this January used as a headquarters and set for BDSM porn studio Kink.com. Kink has moved production while retaining ownership of the building. Now, a new owner might swoop in: The private social club Soho House. The building would be “a perfect fit for Soho House's typical potpourri of restaurants, workspaces, spas and bedrooms,” the SF Business Times writes. But Armory Events, which has converted the historic building’s massive drill court to a concert and events space, claims the article is incorrect, and denies that Soho House has designs on the space according to Curbed SF.

Couple harassed outside Elmwood Cafe defended by Street Spirit vendor

A lesbian couple and their child waiting in line at Elmwood Cafe in Berkeley were reportedly harassed with homophobic taunts and menacing language by a man described by police as a “nomad,” until an 80-year-old man selling copies of a local homeless newspaper stepped in to defend the family. The aggressor struck the newspaper vendor in the face and fled, and the couple bought the vendor lunch at Elmwood.

Black Sands now sells beer to go

Lower Haight microbrewery and bar/restaurant Black Sands is finally letting customers take beer home with them. Head brewer Cole Emde says a number of pre-filled crowlers, or large growler cans, are available to-go at the bar during the week, with more on weekends in the “annex,” Black Sands’ renovated homebrew shop space next door.

Bridging the front- and-back-of-house racial divide

The Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC), a progressive labor organization, has been piloting its program at Bay Area restaurants like Alta and Homeroom to increase the representation of people of color in front-of-house restaurant positions. Eater spoke with the ROC’s research director Teo Reyes, who’s now offering the group’s consulting services and “Racial Equity Toolkit” to Bay Area restaurants free of charge thanks to a grant.