Upcoming SF Neon Events

April 3 vote will decide the future of the iconic Palace Hotel roof signs.

SF Neon contacted Aaron Peskin (President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors) questioning the “over the counter” permit issued to convert the Palace Hotel neon to LED lighting. We spoke up: a permit for an historic building would normally get a hearing and/or a certificate of appropriateness. Aaron responded the same day and cc’d us on his email to the City’s Director of Planning. As a result, a hearing with the Historic Preservation Commission has been scheduled for March 20 and April 3, 2024. For more info, see the notice for the March 20 heariing and the plans for LED conversion.

SF Neon Chinatown Tour

Saturday, April 6 | Register

Walk with us to find forgotten vintage neon signs in the streets of Chinatown, back alleys and backstories are included. It is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs hidden in plain sight. We save the best for last: the glowing signs are at the end of the tour at twilight. Tour led by SF Neon founders Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan with neighborhood history and architectural/graphic design insights to the historical legacy of vintage neon signs, each one made by hand. Be prepared to walk for approximately 1.5 hours, with rest stops.

SF Neon North Beach Tour

Sold Out

Join us for a vibrant and illuminating tour of this historic neighborhood in San Francisco. North Beach has an impressive array of classic watering holes, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants in a neighborhood that is famous for vintage neon and bohemian history. This tour is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs hidden in plain sight. We save the best for last: the glowing signs are at the end of the tour at twilight. Be prepared to walk for approximately 1.5 hours, with rest stops. This is one of our newest walking tours, we hope to see our friends from other neon tours on this one!

SF Neon Downtown Tour

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This tour has hidden neon gems that still light up the night, reminding us when San Francisco’s nightlife was ablaze with neon. The Downtown neon tour includes several neighborhoods from Front Street, the Palace Hotel, and Union Square back streets. Spend an evening under the neon glow with San Francisco Neon authors and photographers Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan. Tours feature local history with architectural and graphic design insights to San Francisco’s unique legacy of surviving neon signs. Photography and a lively Q&A are encouraged. In proud partnership with the Contemporary Jewish Museum to coincide with a current neon art exhibition by She Bends.

SF Neon Roxie-Mission Tour

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The Mission District of San Francisco has an a rich collection of neon and legacy businesses: from bars and barbershops to grocery stores and cinema treasures. It is a treasure hunt to discover these beautiful signs in the heart of this vibrant neighborhood. We start at the New Mission Theater and end at the Roxie Theater. Hosted by SF Neon historians Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan. This tour features eclectic local history with architectural and graphic design insights to San Francisco’s unique legacy of surviving neon signs. Be prepared to walk for 1 mile for 1.5 hours with rest stops. Photography and a lively Q&A are encouraged. This event is part of the San Francisco: City of Neon Series to kick off 2024, in proud partnership with the Tenderloin Museum and the Roxie Theater.

Neon Documentary Screening: Glowing in the Dark

Saturday, March 9, 2024 |
1pm at the Roxie Theater

Get ready to immerse yourself into this vibrant neon scene of the 1990s. Set against a backdrop of spectacular neon footage of Vancouver, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, this 1997 film is an illuminating exploration into the vibrant history and contemporary use of neon.

Introduced by Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan of SF Neon, followed by a live Q&A with filmmaker Alan Goldman, plus neon historian John Atkins. This event is part of the San Francisco: City of Neon Series to kick off 2024 in proud partnership with the Tenderloin Museum and the Roxie Theater.

NEON PODCASTS

99 PERCENT INVISIBLE

Listen to “Tube Benders”, a deep dive into the topic of neon signs, featuring John Law, Shawna Peterson, and SF Neon. Produced by Avery Trufleman of 99% Invisible, a KALW NPR radio show on architecture and design.

MUNI DIARIES

Listen to an illuminating story told by SF Neon authors Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan “SF Neon tells the story of the giant neon dancing leg of Mason Street.” Produced by the MuniDiaries.com, This is a San Francisco neon mystery that remains unsolved!

Small lapel pins in the shapes of famous neon signs.

SF Neon T-shirts: Limited Editions

Each year for Neon Speaks we design a new limited edition t-shirt. High quality printing, 100% cotton. We still have a few different designs, while they last.

ONLINE NEON BOOK STORE

Visit our online neon bookstore to donate and receive a book published by Giant Orange Press, the publishing arm of SF Neon and Neon Speaks Festival and Symposium.