Hey there, San Francisco. 

On Thursday, Eater published a round-up of how the Bay Area hospitality industry is helping to support Ukraine. And with a photo of honey-cake at the top from the now-closed 20th Century Cafe, I had to read on. 

Apparently, Zuni Cafe gave 20th Century’s owner Michelle Polzine space to bake, and earlier this week, she started taking orders. The minimum donation for a 5 layer cake was $200. And for a 10 layer cake, $300. 

In the end, Polzine raised some $12,000 that will be donated to World Central Kitchen, which is helping to feed people inside Ukraine and those who are fleeing to nearby countries. 

Eater says more honey-cake donation drives are on the way, so make sure to follow along for updates on Instagram here. 

And with that… onto the news… 

Quick bits: News to know 

• 🚝 Whether it's high gas prices or people returning to the office (or both), ridership on BART is rising. BART said on Wednesday, exits at Embarcadero and Montgomery stations were up 15-20% compared to February levels. And across all stations on Wednesday, BART saw 125,534 station exits, which was the highest ridership it's had in a single day since the start of the pandemic. (SFist) 

• 🚒 On Thursday, San Francisco’s newest fire station opened on the Embarcadero at Pier 22 ½, and… it floats! Apparently, Fireboat Station 35 is the only floating fire station in Western Hemisphere. And, as the Chronicle’s Chase DiFeliciantonio writes, in a major earthquake it could serve as a “last bastion from which to dispatch rescuers and life-saving equipment.” (Chronicle) 

• 💸 Since January, hundreds of SFUSD teachers and staff members have been “underpaid, mis-paid, or not paid at all,” Mission Local’s Joe Eskenazi reports. The issues stem from the district’s faulty rollout of its new payroll system. (Mission Local) 

What else I’m reading: Links to browse 

City Attorney cracks down on toxic dust in the Bayview (Examiner) 

49ers fan who was hit in head at playoff game wakes from coma (SFGATE) 

How the Filbert Steps Came to Be an Oasis in San Francisco (KQED) 

‘Photos of the Sunset District’: A Tale of Two Taraval Record Stores (Sunset Beacon) 

Weekend Guide: Events, ideas, and more

🌳 Plant a tree! In anticipation of Arbor Day next month, Public Works is hosting a Neighborhood Beautification Day this weekend. The group is looking for volunteers to help plant over 120 trees across the Bayview Hunters Point area. Register here and meet at Heron's Head Park between 8:30 and 9 am on Saturday morning if you’re interested. 

🥖 Hit the market. On Thursday, Eater updated its list of “destination-worthy” markets across San Francisco. Maybe consider stopping by one this weekend to pick up lunch and/or drinks. Some standouts include Tahona Mercado, Queens, and Alimentari Aurora. 

☘️ And finally… Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Datebook put together a long list of ways to get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit, including the annual downtown parade on Saturday morning (more info here) and the corned-beef dinner/parade after-party at the Irish Cultural Center (more info here). There’s also a “family-friendly” outdoor event at the Irish Cultural Center on Sunday with live music and Irish Dancing throughout the day (more info here). 

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading y’all and I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Almost Friday! - Nick B.