The Dahlia Dell is one of my favorite spots in Golden Gate Park. I try to catch the blooms at least once every summer to see them in their full glory. This garden of over 700 named cultivars drew a large crowd last Sunday.

The Dahlia Society of California SF focuses on more than cultivating these stunning flowers. They present free weekly public tours during peak blooming season. They also meet monthly to teach and learn about growing dahlias. They host an annual tuber and plant sale at the County Fair Building, and they present the Annual Dahlia Show on the third weekend in August. The dahlia show is attended by growers from all over California.

Peak bloom at the Dahlia Dell continues through early September so you still have plenty of time to enjoy these beauties!

The race for California’s 11th Congressional District is heating up, with Scott Wiener and Connie Chan advancing from the primary to the November election. On Friday morning, I noticed a tweet about Scott Wiener setting up a presence in the Richmond District, not too far away from our place. I decided to stop by and check it out. Sure enough, I saw a space painted with a rainbow and a giraffe on California St. and 5th Ave., across the street from The Richfield coffee shop.

On Tuesday, Ashley and I did our usual morning walk where we grab coffee somewhere and chat about our plans for the day. Today we decided to stop by Little Sweet on 3rd Ave and Geary. This time we noticed something a bit different. By the counter, we spotted a white sphere that looked like a big eyeball. There was a sign above it that said “In an internet full of bots, prove you’re human. Scan QR to get started.”

Color me skeptical, but before scanning a random QR code to prove my own humanity to a machine, I want to first learn what the hell this thing is.

We took a walk down Taraval Street last weekend to check out some new cafes in Parkside. Welcome Coffee is a new addition, offering coffee drinks and a retail space with vintage clothing.

Jandii is the new work cafe opened by the owner of Sweet Maple and Kitchen Story. The cafe has a focused menu of high quality coffee drinks, matcha, and scones with fresh jam. The cafe is airy, serene, and very spacious. The shop was busy when we visited yet we managed to grab a spot at one of the large tables. An emphasis on quality is evident in the drinks. We had the triple matcha latte and the iced vanilla bean latte. The scone with raspberry jam was perfect.

The cafe appears to embrace the laptop crowd as we spotted many people getting work done. The space maintained its relaxed vibe thanks to the minimalist interior, tall ceilings, and large skylights.

Marco Flavio, a painter who runs Out There Watercolors, emailed in to tell us about Painters Unite, a free monthly outdoor painting community. He has been teaching watercolor around the city for years, at places like Sharon Art Studio, SF Botanical Garden, and SFMOMA.

Over the years he noticed that while people came to paint, what they really valued was spending unhurried time together. This led him to start Painters Unite. The group meets in parks, gardens, and museums around San Francisco. There are no critiques, no pressure, and no experience required. He simply offers a few observation prompts, and for a couple of hours the group slows down, makes something by hand, and enjoys the city together.

If this sounds like the kind of community you’ve been looking for, be sure to check out Painters Unite. They meet on the second Saturday of the month. This weekend’s meetup will be on August 8th from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Presidio Tunnel Tops, in front of the Presidio Visitors Center. More info is available on his website.

The Richmond District’s beloved Cinderella Bakery is opening a second location in the Mission. I stopped by the 24th Street location to grab a photo. Soon Mission residents can enjoy delicious Russian pastries, pelmeni, and great coffee.

North Beach’s Georgian Cheese Boat is opening a new location on Clement Street near 19th Avenue. It takes over the previous location of Chino Yang’s. Menu highlights include variations of the boat-shaped bread, savory plates with chicken, beef kebab, and dumplings.