Axios San Francisco

June 17, 2026
💫 It's Wednesday, but we like to think of it as Whims-day. Let's cultivate some whimsy, shall we?
🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny with highs in the mid-60s, lows near 50.
🎧 Sounds like: "Blue Vein" by Lael Neale.
Today's newsletter is 809 words — a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: 🎁 Celebrating Father's Day
If you're still looking for a last-minute gift or activity to celebrate the father figures in your life this Sunday, we've got you covered.
- Here are a few ideas:
🎵 For music connoisseurs: Skip the generic gift card and take him crate digging at Amoeba Music in the Haight or Tunnel Records in the Sunset or Richmond.
- Pair it with an outing to listening bar Harlan Records in downtown or tickets to a summer concert at Stern Grove, The Independent or SFJazz.
🍺 For beer lovers: Hop your way through the city's brewery scene. Harmonic, Barebottle and Standard Deviant all have plenty of outdoor seating for a pint or two.
- Bonus points if you send him home with a few local cans.
⚾ For sports fans: The Giants are away this weekend, but there are still plenty of teams to cheer for. Take him to a San Francisco Unicorns cricket match or a Valkyries game, or settle into your favorite sports bar for a full day of FIFA World Cup matches.
🏛️ For history buffs: Wander through the Presidio's former military sites, tour the USS Pampanito submarine at Fisherman's Wharf, or spend a few hours exploring the exhibits at the Exploratorium.
🥾 For explorers: Buy him a gift from our summer outdoor gear guide, plan a day hike in Marin, or take him out to lunch in the Presidio before hitting up Sports Basement.
👨🍳 For chefs: Treat him to a fine piece of cookware from Bernal Cutlery, specialty ingredients from The Epicurean Trader, or a cooking class together at 18 Reasons.
🔨 For handymen: Use the day as an excuse to finally tackle that project you've been putting off. Stop by Cole Hardware, Center Hardware or Building Resources to pick up supplies, then spend the afternoon together crossing one item off the home-improvement list.
🎲 For board game enthusiasts: Visit Gamescape and pick out a hit. Some of our favorites include Wingspan, Cascadia, The Crew, Ticket to Ride, Heat: Pedal to the Metal, and Codenames.
- Learn the rules before Sunday so Pops isn't the one who's stuck deciphering the instruction manual.
2. 🎥 New Mission theater renamed
Alamo Drafthouse is ceremonially renaming its New Mission theater the Christopher Nolan Cinema in honor of the Oscar-winning director's passion for moviegoing and film projection, Variety reports.
Why it matters: The announcement comes as the theater celebrates its 110th anniversary and ahead of Nolan's newest film, "The Odyssey," debuting July 16 and based on the epic Greek poem by Homer.
State of play: The century-old Mission landmark willy carry the name of one of Hollywood's biggest directors without losing the identity San Franciscans know.
- The New Mission's marquee, signage and name on showtime listings will remain the same.
- The Nolan tribute will be reflected in permanent displays inside the lobby, an Alamo spokesperson told the Chronicle.
3. The Wiggle: 🔥 Giants draw criticism
⚾ Several Giants pitchers triggered backlash after writing Bible verses over the rainbow of their Pride Night caps during last weekend's annual Pride event. (ABC 7)
- MLB issued warnings to the three players for violating the league's rules. (ESPN)
👋 Shuggie's — the maximalist Mission restaurant famous for turning food waste into acclaimed "trash pies" — is closing after four years. (SFGATE)
🛒 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood unveiled the "Affordable Groceries Act" this week.
- It would create a fund to convert convenience stores into grocery markets and tax national chains that leave storefronts vacant. (SF Chronicle)
🍺 Woods Beer & Wine Co. plans to open a new location with a full liquor license at Fisherman's Wharf next year. (SF Business Times)
❌ Che Fico has temporarily closed after a building fire caused damage to the restaurant. (SFist)
4. 📸 What's in your camera roll: Wild parrots
We recently asked our readers to share photos from their camera rolls that felt quintessentially San Francisco. For our first in this series, we're sharing one that Molly H. sent us featuring one of the city's famous wild parrots.
🦜 A wild parrot paid her a visit on the very first day she planted flowers on her porch this spring.
- "I get a lot of hummingbirds and chickadees and leave out water for the crows and pigeons, but this was my first parrot visit in seven years of living in this home," she wrote. "So fun!"
📸 Have a photo to share? Reply or email us your photo and a sentence or two about it.
5. 👨 Like father, like pun
🎤 In honor of Father's Day, we want to hear your best — or worst — dad joke.
- Send us the puns, one-liners and painfully predictable punchlines that never fail to draw an eye roll.
- We'll feature our favorites in an upcoming newsletter!
🚶♀️Nadia is going to the Clement Street Artwalk tomorrow.
🗓️ Shawna is out.
This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz.
Sign up for Axios San Francisco







