Hot Off The Tipline: Weekend Protest In Dolores Park, Alvord Lake Returns, New Boba Cafe, MorePhoto: John E./Hoodline
Jessica Park
Published on March 16, 2017

From new businesses coming into a neighborhood corridor to breaking news, we receive all types of tips from our readers throughout the city about the things that are going on in their neighborhoods.

If you want to be included in our weekly roundups, send us a tip at [email protected], our Twitter handle, @hoodline, or our SMS tipline, at (415) 200-3233. 


We begin this week's post in North Beach, with a few local business updates from busy tipster Albertino M.

Albertino told Hoodline that he noticed Taqueria San Jose #3 (2257 Mason St.) has been closed for a while. There's a notice in the window that says it's for sale. 

Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline
Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline

Albertino also noticed that a new boba cafe, E Tea, has moved in at 839 Kearny St., next to vegetarian Chinese restaurant Enjoy Vegetarian. The store had its grand opening on Monday, March 13th.

According to its website, E Tea specializes in "bubble tea with real fruit, and organic green tea combined with Taiwanese formula milk." It also offers its tea in milk bottles, decorated with a cow:

Photo: Albertino M./Hoodline

Albertino also sent us some info from SoMa, where a new location of sandwich chain Subway will soon be opening in the new apartment building at 1400 Mission St. (at 9th 10th Street). He said that chairs, tables, and supplies were already stacked up inside, so expect an opening soon.

Twitter tipster @R27D alerted us of an arrest that happened in the parking lot of the Safeway at 16th and Bryant streets at 10:50am on March 9th. 

We inquired with the SFPD about the incident, but they didn't respond by press time. We'll update if and when we hear back. 

Rounding out our Mission news, tipster John E. sent in several photos of an event that took place at Dolores Park on Saturday, March 11th. 

"Saw this demonstration coming around the corner from 18th Street, then heading up Dolores to 19th, where they entered the park en masse.

I'd guess upward of 500 people; could be a thousand, not sure. Very spirited group. High energy, great banners. Low police presence. Very mature overall. Good-looking group of folks. They held a rally in Dolores Park on the southeast quadrant. Park was packed with hipsters."

The march and rally was against deportation. Here are a few photos John sent from the scene:

Photo: John E./Hoodline
Photo: John E./Hoodline

Over in the Castro, two different tipsters notified us of an incident that happened outside of Hecho Cantina (2200 Market St.) on March 12th. The first anonymous tipster sent in the description below:

According to the people I spoke to, there was a violent altercation inside the bar. When I walked by, about 8 SPFD officers were inside taking statements.

The ambulance crew was doing chest compressions on a person that looked homeless. Someone said he started the fight inside, but I don't know if that's the fact.

The second tipster also saw a police presence, and asked us if we knew what had occurred. We inquired with SFPD, but have yet to hear back; we'll update this post if we do. 

Spring is almost here, and over in the Upper Haight, tipster I.X. Penn let us know that water levels are rising at Alvord Lake.

"The flow of water out of the frog's mouth has finally begun the process of filling Alvord Lake. The lake has been drained of all its water since a large tree fell on February 8th, damaging the pipe that transports water to the frog's mouth.

The fallen tree's decapitation of the pipe flooded the area and adjacent tunnel. After the tree was removed and water turned off, workers were able to repair the pipe, and this morning, water flowed into the lake."

Photo: I.X. Penn/Hoodline

I.X. Penn also spotted this late Christmas celebration at Stanyan and Frederick:

Photo: I.X.Penn/Hoodline

Finally, over in the Outer Sunset, neighbor George B. alerted us to an incident that happened last week.

"The Union 76 gas station on the corner of Lincoln Way and La Playa, just south of Golden Gate Park, was burglarized at 5:55am on Friday, March 10th. The cash register was taken. The station opens at 6am and was deserted, so no one was hurt."

Again, we've reached out to SFPD for more info, but have yet to receive a response. We will update this story if and when we hear back.

Got a tip to share? Email us at [email protected], tweet us @hoodline, or text us at (415) 200-3233.