Category: Neighborhood Spotlight (7)

December is here and San Francisco streets are lighting up with beautiful and festive Holiday scenery. There’s no doubt that Christmas season is almost upon us, and although it’s only the first week of December, it’s hard to contain the excitement of the season! This year, our holiday spotlight is on the famous buzzing plaza at the heart of San Francisco… Union Square!

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Every year, Union Square hosts a month-long event called Winter Walk where the famous plaza is festively decorated with scenery including 17,000 square feet of green space, food trucks, beer and wine gardens, and many different performances and events. Visitors come out from all over the Bay area to enjoy treats and take Instagramable pictures at the mobile photo stations with their friends and family to spread the Christmas joy.

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Apart from the many food trucks offering delicious treats and meals, Winter Walk also has scheduled performances throughout the month of December that will definitely immerse you in the Holiday spirit! Here is a list of upcoming events found on the event website, including themed performances, carols, and even disco-parties.

  • December 6: Dickens Fair Choir from 11:30 am-12:30 pm
  • December 6: “Mean Girls” themed drag performance by local drag queen Tye and friends at 6:30 pm, 7:00 pm & 7:30 pm
  • December 7: Performance by the Salvation Army Children’s Choir
  • December 9: Urban Flowers – Wreath & Centerpiece Demos from 11:00 am-2:00 pm
  • December 13 and 21: Pop-up appearances by the Bay Area’s beloved Dickens Fair
  • December 13: Silent Disco presented by HUSHconcerts from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm
  • December 15: Core Power Yoga from 11:00-11:30 am
  • December 16: Urban Flowers – Wreath & Centerpiece Demos from 11:00 am-2:00 pm
  • December 21: Special Winter Solstice performance by Luminescent Grand (the world’s first synesthesia piano)
  • December 23: Museum of Craft & Holiday Craft Station from 11:00 am-2:00 pm

 

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Another Holiday-highlight from Union Square is their famous outdoor Ice Rink located at the center of the plaza. Every Christmas season, the rink opens and is surrounded by holiday decorations such as the massive Macys Christmas tree, lights, and more. There are also special themed events and parties happening during the month of December, including free ice-skating lessons if you are a beginner. You can check out their full list of events on their calendar!

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It may not snow in San Francisco, but that shouldn’t stop you from all the Holiday fun happening in the city.

If you want to stay on top of all the Holiday events this year, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter by clicking the link below and know about all that’s happening in the city of San Francisco!

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Moving to a new home can be intimidating, especially in the big city of San Francisco! Sometimes, when moving to a new city, it can be difficult to get involved in a foreign community and make new friends. However, here at Urbanests we always strive to provide a welcoming community for our residents, where you can meet new friends and have fun with a great group of people. You will always be welcomed at all of our properties, and we make moving into a brand new residence fun and easy!

This week, our spotlight is on our 1080 Folsom building, and its superstar resident managers Ben and Collin. This property features many social nights and events where every tenant is invited to join!

 

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Recently Ben, along with the help of one of their wonderful current tenants Emily Mendez-castillo, has organized a number of exciting social events! One of the notable events of late at 1080 Folsom is Game Night, where the tenants are invited to join in on board games, video games, and other fun resident bonding activities. The building tenants frequently enjoy playing Card Against Humanity and Uno, but residents occasionally bring their own games! Best of all, fun prizes are given to the winners of the games.

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These nights are tons of fun and we encourage everyone to come and make new friends at your residence!

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Last week, Ben organized a double whammy Noodle Night and Game Night! It took place last Friday at 8pm and like always, all the tenants will be invited to join for some delicious noodles along with fun games!

More than a dozen tenants joined and enjoyed the free food generously offered at the party. There was also clean, non-alcoholic cider pong as a tournament, bringing back the college student vibe with mysterious fun prizes given to the winners!

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*Martinelli’s non-alcoholic apple cider was used in the game

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If you are not a current tenant at this property, we still have vacancies available and it is not too late to join the community! Click here to check out rooms available at 1080 Folsom on our website!

Don’t forget that our promotion has been extended to October and you are still able to receive $100 in a one-time rent credit if you sign a lease with us at any of our properties for 4 months or longer, and $200 if you sign a lease for 9 months or longer. If you are a current tenant, you can also get $100 for you and a friend by referring them to our properties.

Living in a new environment doesn’t always have to be scary, we make it fun and welcoming to move to your new home!

Starting a new semester of college is scary. Living in a San Francisco dorm room? Even scarier. The transition from having your own space in your family home to a small cramped student housing space shared with 1-3 other roommates in San Francisco is a huge jump, and can be difficult to navigate. Lucky for you, we’ve got San Francisco dorm room design inspo by the dozen, and we want to help you make your San Francisco dorm room feel like home. So whether you are already living in San Francisco student housing  or a student about to move into one of our SF student rooms, we are here to help you make your shared housing in San Francisco feel like home, from the moment you move in through the rest of the year.

Tip 1: Take the Time.

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Before we even get started, lets talk about your intention going into this project. Take the time to really decorate and settle in. This is the place you will be living for the next year, your first year away from home! Take your time, spend some money, really make an effort to make the place feel like a home. The more you invest in your space, the most it will become YOUR space. We all get a little homesick down the line, and being able to come home to a clean, personal, warm, inviting, and organized space will make you feel settled.

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Tip 2: Pick a Color Scheme or Theme

 

 

Before you start shopping, figure out what you want your room to look like. Browse a few interior decorating magazines, check out dorm room inspo on Pinterest, make a mood board with colors and styles you like. Is yellow your happy color? Or are you more of a black and white kinda gal? Girly and frilly or modern and sleek? Pick your poison. Here are a few color matching inspiration ideas.

 

 

 

Tip 3: Make it Personal.

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If you feel lonely or homesick, rolling over to see your favorite pic of your dog, your family, or your BFF is an instant pick-me-up. Nothing cheers you up like cuddling with your childhood stuffed animal. And lets be real, having a stash of your favorite candy on hand will make even the worst day a little better.

Even if you are trying to start fresh and reinvent yourself in college, it isn’t ‘cool’ to leave everything that makes you you behind when you leave for school. Take a little piece of your past with you. That way, on a day when your new environment feels extra foreign, you have something familiar and comforting to rely on to get you through.

 

Tip 4: Lighting. Is. Everything.

Two words: Twinkle. Lights. The kind that make your heart feel extra cozy and remind you of winter time by the fireplace at home. Nothing can damper a mood like dingy or fluorescent lighting, and nothing brightens or warms a room quite like twinkle lights. If your dorm doesn’t allow the plug in kind, there are a number of battery-powered fairy lights that will make your ceiling twinkle. Other options? Glow-in-the-dark star stickers, fake candles, and color-changing ‘mood’ lamps are all dorm rule friendly and will do wonders towards your room’s lighting vibe.

 

Tip 5: And Plants. Plants are Also Everything.

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So are pillows, poofs, and (weirdly enough) a ton of regular household objects. There are a number of reasonably priced things you can use to spice up your room and make it look like home, including indoor plants, dried flowers, decorative pillows, printed photographs, and more. But we have already covered all of that! You can check out our other interior decorating blog posts for more info on these topics.

Decorating with plants.

Decorating with pillows and poufs.

Decorating with regular household objects.

 

Tip 6: Get Organized. Like, super organized.

Because trust me, you won’t have time once your semester picks up. The last thing you will want to do in between two essays, a pop quiz, three labs, and a midterm is color-coordinate your paper clips. So do it now, while you have time! Here is a little checklist for you:

  • Wall calendar with important dates (taken from club calendars, syllabi, and your class schedule) and goals (fitness, mental health, etc!) already penciled in.
  • Desk essentials, divided and organized: Pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters, calculator, printer paper, notebooks, planner, binders, etc!
  • Under bed storage: Trust us, there is no way your whole wardrobe will fit in that tiny little shared closet. You will need this more than you think.
  • Containers for nail polishes, first aid kit (advil, cold medicine, bandaids, etc), skin care stuff, socks, sports bras, snacks, etc!
  • A shower caddy with important toiletries.
  • Clothing organization things: velvet hangers (thinner and hold clothes better), small dividers (for socks, underwear, bras, sports bras, etc), command hooks (to hang belts, purses, hats, etc), a shoe rack.
  • If you want a few more important student organizational tips, check out our blog on back to school tips for students.

 

Tip 7: Consider Making a Statement.

We are not talking about your basic Urban Outfitter tie dye tapestry. Nothing makes a space look rad like a statement wall. Wallpaper can be purchased from any home decorating store or online, and can be temporarily stuck on to the wall (without damaging your dorm paint!) with removable mounting products like tack or sticky strips.  Or, if you are going for a tapestry, look for landscape scenes or patters, the kind of thing that will open up the room and make the wall look professionally done.

 

Tip 8: Make Seasonal Adjustments

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A few little touches can go a long way to making your dorm room feel like home year round. Think about it – your mom most likely puts out pumpkins for Halloween or twinkle lights for the holidays, so why shouldn’t you? Those little seasonal touches will do the most to keep your dorm feeling like a home away from home, no matter what time of year it is.

Also, consider a DIY! We have a great one up on autumnal wreath making– the perfect home decor piece to make your dorm feel like fall.

 

Using these tips, your dorm space is sure to feel like home!

Don’t have a San Francisco student dorm room for Fall semester? Check out our open San Francisco room rentals here.

To check out more small space decorating tips and articles like this one, click here.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to keep up with what is happening in San Francisco!

 

The last few moments of Summer are slipping away, and you can feel it. School has started, Summer Fridays are a thing of the past, and you are already seeing your tan fade. But Summer isn’t over yet! The sky is still blue and clear, the weather is still warm, and you are still rocking your white pants, since Labor Day is still ahead. Whether you are a student living in SF or work a full time job, you are looking forward to the long weekend ahead.  You are anxious to get out of your short stay apartment in San Francisco, get outside, and drink in the last few days of Summer sunshine before accepting your San Francisco Fall fate. So we have got you covered, with a big list of fun Labor Day activity options for all! Here’s to a long weekend so full of fun and sunshine that you forget all about changing leaves and pumpkin spice lattes.

Enjoy Art, Music and Wine in one place

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The 48th Annual Millbrae Art & Wine Festival is taking over downtown Millbrae from September 1-2 from 10 am to 5 pm, in celebration of the last blast of summer. This event is Mardi-Gras themed, and massive crowds are expected to show up for the incredible lineup of music, art, food, and entertainment. The event features live music on stage and throughout the streets, and the performers include Petty Theft, Illegals, Rock Steady SF, East Bay Mudd, Patron Music, Viva La Reve, Loudin’ Cleer, John Clarke, Bob Culbertson, Stephen Dreyfuss and HeartStrings Music. As you jam along, you can walk through the 250+ professional artists, craftmakers, and vendors showing their latest handcrafted wares, food and drink, an organic and green products showcase, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays and the “Classically Cool Car Show.”  There is also a dance showcase, a 200’ zip-line across Broadway, carnival rides and games, and all sorts of fun entertainment that will entertain youngsters and childish adults alike!

 

Explore Your City!

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This Labor Day weekend, San Francisco City Guides is offering free, guided walking tours all over San Francisco. Here is the full list of tours this weekend:

9:30 am – Japanese Tea Garden

10:00 am – 1906: Earthquake And Fire

10:00 am – Chinatown

11:00 am – Japanese Tea Garden – 11AM

11:00 am – Fisherman’s Wharf: A Hidden History

1:00 pm – American History in Golden Gate Park

1:00 pm – Japanese Tea Garden

1:30 pm – Chinatown

2:00 pm – Making Waves on the Waterfront

7:00 pm – North Beach By Night

 

Salsa Under the Stars

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If you want to dance your labor day weekend away, the 9th Annual Salsa Festival at the Fillmore Center Plaza is the place for you. From Friday to Saturday August 31 to September 1st, from 6-10pm, you can salsa your heart out at the Fillmore Center Plaza! This salsa fiesta features free salsa lessons from J Luis, live music, a DJ, and the biggest outdoor salsa dance party under the stars.

 

Jam to the Blues

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If blues is more your scene, check out the 2nd annual Morgan Hill Blues Festival! This family-friendly event takes place at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Amphitheater. Guests are invited to sit back, relax, and enjoy this years incredible blues lineup. Bring lawn chains and blankets so you can post up, and there will be a number of delicious food vendors available at the event for your snacking pleasure. The lineup includes Maxx Cabella Jr., Ladee Chico, Hendrik Martin, Alvin Draper, Kaye Bohler, Burnin Vernon Davis, Tony John & The Lucy Street Project, and AJ Crawdaddy.

 

Catch a Baseball Game

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Whats a more American way to celebrate a long weekend than baseball? From August 31 to September 2nd, the San Francisco Giants are taking on the New York Mets at AT&T Park! You can cheer on your three-time World Series Champion Giants as they (undoubtedly) crush the New York Mets in a three-game series. Fun Labor Day weekend events include Fireworks night on August 31st, where you can enjoy a fireworks show alongside the ball game, Fellowship Day with a Fellowship-themed Giants blanket giveaway on September 1st, and Buster Posey socks on September 2nd.

 

That’s all we got folks! Have a great Labor Day weekend, and let us know what you end up doing to celebrate!

 

If you are looking for a fall sublet, check out all of our available San Francisco apartments and room rentals!

Interested in more fun things to do in San Francisco? Check out our other blog posts!

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to keep up with what is happening in San Francisco!

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Are you tired of sitting in your San Francisco apartment on a Friday night with nowhere to go that won’t break the bank? Or cooking every meal in your San Francisco furnished housing, knowing you can’t afford to eat out with SF’s crazy food prices? Or maybe you want a way to get out of your San Francisco dorm room and be active, but can’t afford a gym membership.

Lucky for you, San Francisco has a ton of fun events everyday waiting for you to explore, and the best part is… Most of them are completely FREE! Who doesn’t love free movies, food, parties, or even concerts? If you 

Here are some of the fun things you can do to get out of your San Francisco room rental while your on your San Francisco summer vacation that won’t require a single penny from your pocket!

 

Free Bagel Mondays

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You heard that right, every Monday, there will be hundreds of free Bagels available at the La Victoria Bakery located at Mission District of San Francisco. These bagels are delicious and freshly baked, ready for anyone that comes in the doors starting at 8 AM. Start your week off on a positive note and come by the bakery for your free Bagel!

 

Movie Nights

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Are you a movie lover? Lucky for you, because San Francisco offers many free movie nights that are held outdoors this summer! Movies and dates range from The Adventures of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert at the Dolores Park on August 4th, Lady Bird at Washington Square Park on August 25th, to Black Panther at the Dolores Park on September 22nd. Spend some time in the beautiful outdoors and tune in for a great show!

For a full list of movies, dates, and locations in the Bay Area, click here!

Free Waffles Wednesday

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Did someone say free waffles? That’s right! You can claim your free waffle at the Capital One 360 Café in the Financial District every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., or while they last. These delicious Belgian-style waffles come in many different flavors such as TCHO chocolate, maple-bacon, salted caramel and more. Drooling yet?

Dance Party

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“Y2K Friday” is a dance party that is hosted every single Friday at the Milk Bar in San Francisco. If you are looking for a fun throwback party, then this is the place to go! The DJ plays pop and r&b songs from the early 2000s from artists like The Beatles, Usher, Destiny’s Child, and more!

Bring your friends out of their San Francisco short stay apartments and join the fun! Admission is completely free before 11 PM!

 

Comedy Shows

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Did you know that San Francisco has one of the best underground comedy shows in America? At SF SoMa, there are some of the best comedy groups in the city that will perform for free every Friday! There will be a different group every week that will be sure to make you laugh out loud.

Join the showcase on Fridays at 7:30 pm every week at 1123 Folsom St and get ready for some hilarious entertainment. Don’t forget to RSVP in advance to get in for free!

Outdoor Yoga Day

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Had a long week at school or work, sitting in front of a computer all day? Take yourself outside into the beautiful city and Practice yoga outdoors under the beautiful trees. This class, given generously by instructors free of charge, will invigorate you once again after a tiring or stressful week and help you relax while spending some time outdoors. Classes are held every Saturday starting at 11:30 AM at the Golden Gate Park, and bring along a blanket or mat for practicing!

 

Thanks for reading, and let us know of any other fun free things happening in SF we forgot!

 

If you are looking for San Francisco housing, look no further! Click here.

To read more fun things to do in San Francisco, click here!

 

Post made by contributor Angela Cao.