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‘Let’s Glow SF,’ ‘Paints’ Holiday-Themed Light Shows on Landmark Buildings in Downtown San Francisco

The ‘canvases’ for Let’s Glow SF, which began on Dec. 6 and continues through Dec. 13, include 101 California St., Annie Alley, the Crossings at East Cut, the Ferry Building, One Bush Plaza, Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, Salesforce Tower, and the PG&E Substation.

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The clock tower of the Ferry Building lights up with digital art projection. Photo by Anka Lee.
The clock tower of the Ferry Building lights up with digital art projection. Photo by Anka Lee.

By Anka Lee, Post Intern

San Francisco has outdone itself again with the return of Let’s Glow SF, an abstract digital art projected brilliantly on various landmark buildings downtown for the holiday season.

Produced by the partnership of Downtown SF Partnership and A3 Visual, SF Glow began in 2021 with the intent to bring life back to downtown after the COVID-19 outbreak left its streets desolate.

Accompanied by different genres of music, the largest holiday projection arts festival in the U.S. is described on its web site as “a stunning journey of light” and “a striking marriage of art and technology …that elevates the city’s art scene.”

The ‘canvases’ for Let’s Glow SF, which began on Dec. 6 and continues through Dec. 13, include 101 California St., Annie Alley, the Crossings at East Cut, the Ferry Building, One Bush Plaza, Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, Salesforce Tower, and the PG&E Substation.

‘Painting’ the light installations onto buildings starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.

At the Ferry Building on Dec. 7, the animated light display was by featuring art by Spectre Lab, Maxin10sity, and Ryan Uzilevsky of Light Harvest Studio. Across from the Embarcadero, plastic chairs were put out for front-row seating to the upcoming projection.

Families dressed in matching sweaters chatted animatedly among themselves, couples cuddled up against the bitter wind, and the ringing of the trolley’s distant approach all served to brighten the street. Holiday-special drinks like hot chocolate and themed cocktails were sold and participating eateries like Avotoasty, Barcha Restaurant came together to bring to San Francisco America’s largest annual Christmas projection event.

The eight-day event will close on Dec. 13, with “Glow on Front: A Neon Block Party” from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 240 Front St.

Ervin, one of the Block by Block Downtown SF Partnership safety workers for the event, said he’s “looking at a record amount this year,” nearing around half a million attendees in total.  But that evening, a lively community evolved from the original trickle of people waiting for the art show to start.

Vendors set up displays and sold jewelry, notebooks, and handmade hairbands. Seats filled up as the day’s light faded, the chill of the air increasing with the flow of people. The excitement among the crowd was palpable and contagious. It was a welcome feeling, electrifying the ever-growing holiday cheer.

Chatter quieted and adventurous music blasted from speakers that were behind the seating area. A projection by Spectre Lab shone directly at the Ferry Building, the abstract graphics of candlelight, lanterns, and disco balls ‘dancing’ to the beat of the music that transformed the clock tower into something alive. The illusory animation spun and stretched the tower with enthusiasm—this writer was in awe.

A newcomer to Let’s Glow SF thought it was really cool how it “utilizes space that we have and…adds something new…for us to enjoy.”

One family only learned about the lights show on their way home after arriving by ferry, and “[they’d] seen it on the billboard with all the artists…. It’s a very positive thing for San Francisco after everything that’s gone on [with COVID].”

Attend the Let’s Glow SF projection event today through Dec.13 for free, at any of their eight locations: 101 California St., Annie Alley, the Crossings at East Cut, the Ferry Building, One Bush Plaza, Pacific Coast Stock Exchange, Salesforce Tower, and PG&E Substation. Food and drink are sold at different participating businesses respective to each projection location. For more information, visit downtownsf.org.

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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OPINION: Your Voice and Vote Impact the Quality of Your Health Care

One of the most dangerous developments we’re seeing now? Deep federal cuts are being proposed to Medicaid, the life-saving health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million lower-income individuals nationwide. That is approximately 15 million Californians and about 1 million of the state’s nearly 3 million Black Californians who are at risk of losing their healthcare. 

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Rhonda M. Smith.
Rhonda M. Smith.

By Rhonda M. Smith, Special to California Black Media Partners

Shortly after last year’s election, I hopped into a Lyft and struck up a conversation with the driver. As we talked, the topic inevitably turned to politics. He confidently told me that he didn’t vote — not because he supported Donald Trump, but because he didn’t like Kamala Harris’ résumé. When I asked what exactly he didn’t like, he couldn’t specifically articulate his dislike or point to anything specific. In his words, he “just didn’t like her résumé.”

That moment really hit hard for me. As a Black woman, I’ve lived through enough election cycles to recognize how often uncertainty, misinformation, or political apathy keep people from voting, especially Black voters whose voices are historically left out of the conversation and whose health, economic security, and opportunities are directly impacted by the individual elected to office, and the legislative branches and political parties that push forth their agenda.

That conversation with the Lyft driver reflects a troubling surge in fear-driven politics across our country. We’ve seen White House executive orders gut federal programs meant to help our most vulnerable populations and policies that systematically exclude or harm Black and underserved communities.

One of the most dangerous developments we’re seeing now? Deep federal cuts are being proposed to Medicaid, the life-saving health insurance program that covers nearly 80 million lower-income individuals nationwide. That is approximately 15 million Californians and about 1 million of the state’s nearly 3 million Black Californians who are at risk of losing their healthcare.

Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, doesn’t just cover care. It protects individuals and families from medical debt, keeps rural hospitals open, creates jobs, and helps our communities thrive. Simply put; Medicaid is a lifeline for 1 in 5 Black Americans. For many, it’s the only thing standing between them and a medical emergency they can’t afford, especially with the skyrocketing costs of health care. The proposed cuts mean up to 7.2 million Black Americans could lose their healthcare coverage, making it harder for them to receive timely, life-saving care. Cuts to Medicaid would also result in fewer prenatal visits, delayed cancer screenings, unfilled prescriptions, and closures of community clinics. When healthcare is inaccessible or unaffordable, it doesn’t just harm individuals, it weakens entire communities and widens inequities.

The reality is Black Americans already face disproportionately higher rates of poorer health outcomes. Our life expectancy is nearly five years shorter in comparison to White Americans. Black pregnant people are 3.6 times more likely to die during pregnancy or postpartum than their white counterparts.

These policies don’t happen in a vacuum. They are determined by who holds power and who shows up to vote. Showing up amplifies our voices. Taking action and exercising our right to vote is how we express our power.

I urge you to start today. Call your representatives, on both sides of the aisle, and demand they protect Medicaid (Medi-Cal), the Affordable Care Act (Covered CA), and access to food assistance programs, maternal health resources, mental health services, and protect our basic freedoms and human rights. Stay informed, talk to your neighbors and register to vote.

About the Author

Rhonda M. Smith is the Executive Director of the California Black Health Network, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to advancing health equity for all Black Californians.

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OPINION: Supreme Court Case Highlights Clash Between Parental Rights and Progressive Indoctrination

At the center of this controversy are some parents from Montgomery County in Maryland, who assert a fundamental principle: the right to shield their children from exposure to sexual content that is inappropriate for their age, while also steering their moral and ethical upbringing in alignment with their faith. The local school board decided to introduce a curriculum that includes LGBTQ+ themes — often embracing controversial discussions of human sexuality and gender identity.

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Craig J. DeLuz. Courtesy of Craig J. DeLuz.
Craig J. DeLuz. Courtesy of Craig J. DeLuz.

By Craig J. DeLuz, Special to California Black Media Partners

In America’s schools, the tension between parental rights and learning curricula has created a contentious battlefield.

In this debate, it is essential to recognize that parents are, first and foremost, their children’s primary educators. When they send their children to school — public or private — they do not surrender their rights or responsibilities. Yet, the education establishment has been increasingly encroaching on this vital paradigm.

A case recently argued before the Supreme Court regarding Maryland parents’ rights to opt out of lessons that infringe upon their religious beliefs epitomizes this growing conflict. This case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, is not simply about retreating from progressive educational mandates. It is fundamentally a defense of First Amendment rights, a defense of parents’ rights to be parents.

At the center of this controversy are some parents from Montgomery County in Maryland, who assert a fundamental principle: the right to shield their children from exposure to sexual content that is inappropriate for their age, while also steering their moral and ethical upbringing in alignment with their faith. The local school board decided to introduce a curriculum that includes LGBTQ+ themes, often embracing controversial discussions of human sexuality and gender identity. The parents argue that the subject matter is age-inappropriate, and the school board does not give parents the option to withdraw their children when those lessons are taught.

This case raises profound questions about the role of public education in a democratic society. In their fervent quest for inclusivity, some educators seem to have overlooked an essential truth: that the promotion of inclusivity should never infringe upon parental rights and the deeply held convictions that guide families of different faith backgrounds.

This matter goes well beyond mere exposure. It veers into indoctrination when children are repeatedly confronted with concepts that clash with their family values. 

“I don’t think anybody can read that and say: well, this is just telling children that there are occasions when men marry other men,” noted Justice Samuel Alito. “It has a clear moral message, and it may be a good message. It’s just a message that a lot of religious people disagree with.”

Justice Amy Coney Barrett raised a crucial point, noting that it is one thing to merely expose students to diverse ideas; it is quite another to present certain viewpoints as indisputable truths. By framing an ideology with the certainty of “this is the right view of the world,” educators risk indoctrination rather than enlightenment. This distinction is not merely academic; it speaks to the very essence of cultivating a truly informed citizenry.

Even Justice Elena Kagan expressed concern regarding the exposure of young children to certain materials in Montgomery County.

“I, too, was struck by these young kids’ picture books and, on matters concerning sexuality, I suspect there are a lot of non-religious parents who weren’t all that thrilled about this,” she said.

Justice John Roberts aptly questioned the practicality of expecting young children to compartmentalize their beliefs in the classroom.

“It is unreasonable to expect five-year-olds, still forming their worldviews, to reconcile lessons that conflict fundamentally with the teachings they receive at home,” he said.

As was noted in my previous commentary, “The Hidden Truth In The Battle Over Books In American Schools”, what lies at the heart of these debates is a moral disconnect between the values held by the majority of Americans and those promoted by the educational establishment. While the majority rightly argue that material containing controversial content of a sexual nature should have no place in our children’s classrooms, the education establishment continues to tout the necessity of exposing children to such content under the guise of inclusivity. This disregards the legitimate values held by the wider community.

Highlighted in this case that is before the Supreme Court is a crucial truth: parents must resolutely maintain their right to direct their children’s education, according to their values. This struggle is not simply a skirmish; it reflects a broader movement aimed at reshaping education by privileging a state-sanctioned narrative while marginalizing dissenting voices.

It is imperative that we assert, without hesitation, that parents are — and must remain — the primary educators of their children.

When parents enroll a child in a school, it should in no way be interpreted as a relinquishment of parental authority or the moral guidance essential to their upbringing. We must stand firm in defending parental rights against the encroaching ideologies of the education establishment.

About the Author

Craig J. DeLuz has almost 30 years of experience in public policy and advocacy. He has served as a member of The Robla School District Board of Trustees for over 20 years. He also currently hosts a daily news and commentary show called “The RUNDOWN.” You can follow him on X at @CraigDeLuz.

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