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This Week's Top Stories

SFSU

SFSU Launches Campus-Wide Initiative to Connect Every Graduate With a Career

President Mahoney announced the Future-Ready Workforce Initiative on Wednesday, the same day the university hosted its annual Fall Career & Internship Fair.

San Francisco State University unveiled a new campus-wide workforce program on Wednesday, October 15, timed to coincide with its annual Fall Career & Internship Fair. The Future-Ready Workforce Initiative is designed to ensure every SFSU graduate leaves campus ready to compete in a rapidly shifting job market, according to a university press release. The initiative pulls together faculty, students, alumni, administration, and a newly created senior position — assistant vice president for workforce partnerships — to build stronger ties between the university and Bay Area employers. Inés C. Barbosa joined SFSU this fall to fill that role, charged with expanding internship pipelines and employer relationships across the region.

Read the full story: SFSU News →
Stonestown

Overnight Campers, 200-Plus at the Door: Raising Cane's Opens at Stonestown

The chicken chain's second San Francisco location opened Monday at the former McDonald's space at 255 Winston Drive, drawing a crowd that began lining up the evening before.

Last week this paper reported that Raising Cane's was set to open its second San Francisco location at Stonestown Galleria on Monday, October 13. It did — and the opening drew more than 200 people, with a handful of fans camping outside the mall overnight to be first in line, some arriving as early as…

Read the full story: SFist →
SFSU

SFSU's Enrollment Rebound Is Real — But the Hole Left by a Decade of Decline Is Deep

An SF Chronicle analysis published October 11 puts this fall's growth in context: SFSU shed nearly a quarter of its students between 2019 and 2024, taking faculty and revenue with them.

Last week this paper reported that SFSU recorded its first enrollment increase in more than a decade. An SF Chronicle analysis published Sunday, October 11, fills in the difficult backstory and asks what the turnaround will actually require.

Read the full story: San Francisco Chronicle →

The week ahead

West Portal & Lakeside · forecast issued October 16, 2026 · National Weather Service

  1. Fri 82°58° Sunny
  2. Sat 77°56° Sunny
  3. Sun 63°53° Mostly Sunny
  4. Mon 59°53° Partly Sunny
  5. Tue 60°52° Chance Light Rain
  6. Wed 64°53° Slight Chance Light Rain
  7. Thu 62°52° Mostly Sunny

Upcoming & Ongoing in the Community

Saturday, October 17

Discover SFSU Open House

SFSU's free annual fall open house welcomes prospective students, newly admitted students, and families. The day includes guided campus and residence hall tours, academic presentations for freshmen and transfers, and sessions on financial aid and student life. Eligible fall 2027 applicants who registered in advance may receive on-the-spot admission offers.

  • Location:San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave.
  • Time:9:00 AM–1:30 PM
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Saturday, October 17

Author Event: Nathaniel Philbrick, 'The Rush'

Nathaniel Philbrick, author of 'In the Heart of the Sea,' discusses his new book 'The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World' at Bookshop West Portal. Free to attend.

  • Location:Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave.
  • Time:7:00 PM
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Tuesday, October 20

Cookbook Night with Nik Sharma at Bookshop West Portal

Cookbook author Nik Sharma joins a cookbook editor at Bookshop West Portal for an evening of food conversation and book signing. Free to attend.

  • Location:Bookshop West Portal, 80 West Portal Ave.
  • Time:7:00 PM
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Thursday, October 29

Día de los Muertos Frame Painting & Candle Making — SFSU

The SFSU Center for Global Engagement hosts a free Día de los Muertos–themed craft workshop including frame painting and candle making, open to the campus community.

  • Location:Mashouf Wellness Center, Classroom 105, 755 Font Blvd., SFSU
  • Time:4:00–6:00 PM
Verify details →

Saturday, October 31

West Portal Halloween Stroll

The West Portal Merchants Association's annual trick-or-treat stroll returns along West Portal Avenue, with local shops welcoming costumed visitors of all ages. A costume contest for kids, adults, and pets takes place at 5 PM at Bookshop West Portal. Free and open to all.

  • Location:West Portal Avenue
  • Time:4:00–7:00 PM
Verify details →

More from the Community

West Portal

Empire Theater Site Could Become West Portal's Tallest Building Under Plans Filed in August

Developer DM Development filed revised plans in late August 2026 to nearly triple the scope of a proposed housing project at 85 West Portal Avenue — the site of the long-vacant Empire Theater — expanding it from a nine-story, 64-unit building to a 12-story, 172-unit mixed-use complex.

Read the full story: SFist →

Community Directory

Asian

West Portal

Khao Tiew

Modern Thai restaurant

Buzzy West Portal Thai spot drawing nightly crowds with tom yum hotpot, duck curry, and Kaya toast rooted in family tradition.

272 Claremont Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 996-1919

Visit website →
West Portal New

Tur

Thai brunch restaurant

From the owners of Khao Tiew, this daytime-only Thai brunch spot took over the former Squat & Gobble corner, serving seven kinds of jook, honeycomb French toast, and confit duck.

1 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 569-1919

Visit website →
West Portal

Lion West Portal

Modern Japanese and vegan sushi restaurant

Sleek dinner-only spot on West Portal Avenue offering seasonal and vegan-friendly Japanese sushi and small plates in a contemporary setting.

301 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

Visit website →
West Portal

Snow Bliss Cafe

Korean-Chinese café

Family-owned West Portal gem known for generously portioned bingsu shaved ice, beef chow fun, and late-night kitchen hours.

360 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

Stonestown

Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya

Japanese ramen restaurant

Popular Stonestown Galleria ramen spot with a bamboo-inspired interior and a menu of rich tonkotsu and other Japanese ramen styles.

3251 20th Ave (Stonestown Galleria), San Francisco, CA 94132

Visit website →
Stonestown

Supreme Dumplings

Dumpling restaurant

Stonestown Galleria food court standout with a devoted following for its handmade soup dumplings and other Northern Chinese dim sum.

3251 20th Ave (Stonestown Galleria), San Francisco, CA 94132

Stonestown

Le Soleil

Vietnamese restaurant

Locally and family-owned Vietnamese restaurant in Stonestown Galleria with an elegant modern setting and dishes such as crispy lattice rolls and house pho.

3251 20th Ave (Stonestown Galleria), San Francisco, CA 94132

Stonestown

Marugame Udon

Japanese udon restaurant

Fast-casual Stonestown Galleria udon shop where diners choose fresh-cooked noodles and top them with tempura and other sides.

3251 20th Ave (Stonestown Galleria), San Francisco, CA 94132

Visit website →
Parkmerced

Mumu Hot Pot

Chinese hot pot restaurant

Casual Parkmerced neighborhood hot pot spot with individual personal pots, quality meats, and a clean, welcoming dining room.

470 Serrano Dr, San Francisco, CA 94132

Mexican & Latin American

West Portal

Elena's Mexican Restaurant

Upscale Mexican restaurant

From the family behind Original Joe's, Elena's serves California-inspired Mexican-American dishes — spicy margaritas, sizzling fajitas — under candlelight and live trees.

255 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 622-4440

Visit website →
West Portal

Franco's Latin Table

Peruvian restaurant

Neighborhood Peruvian spot in West Portal serving solid ceviche, lomo saltado, and other Latin staples in large portions.

310 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

Bars & Wine Bars

West Portal

Binu Bonu

Italian wine bar and bottle shop

From the original owners of La Ciccia, this intimate West Portal wine bar pours around 100 sustainable Italian wines by the glass or bottle alongside Sardinian cicchetti.

230 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 742-4322

Visit website →
West Portal Landmark

Philosopher's Club

Neighborhood dive bar

West Portal dive bar operating under the same name since 1960, run by twin brothers Josh and Justin Fritsch, with a jukebox, sports TVs, and deep community ties.

824 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA 94127

Coffee & Cafés

West Portal New

Hardware Coffee

All-day café with beer, wine, and florist

Opened May 2026 in the historic Papenhausen Hardware space, this all-day café serves premium coffee, food, beer, and wine with a full-service florist and event space.

32 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 742-4255

Visit website →
West Portal

Ballast Coffee

Neighborhood coffee shop

Easygoing West Portal café with great coffee, tasty treats, and a garden patio for relaxed sipping.

329 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

Visit website →

Bakeries & Desserts

West Portal

George's Donuts & Merriment

Artisan donut café

European-inspired café in a soaring Art Deco space on West Portal Avenue, turning out Valrhona-glazed crullers and avocado toast from a pastry chef with Michelin-starred kitchen experience.

163 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 571-8021

Visit website →
West Portal

Noe Valley Bakery — West Portal

Neighborhood bakery

West Portal outpost of the beloved Noe Valley Bakery, offering excellent pastries, croissants, and coffee daily.

225 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127

Visit website →
Stonestown

85°C Bakery Café

Taiwanese bakery café

Stonestown outpost of the Taiwanese chain known for its sea salt coffee, fresh-baked breads, and pastries around the clock.

3251 20th Ave (Stonestown Galleria), San Francisco, CA 94132

Visit website →

Mediterranean & Middle Eastern

West Portal Landmark

Bursa

Turkish Mediterranean restaurant

West Portal's go-to for falafel, kebabs, and a tight Mediterranean menu with an affordable wine list; a neighborhood staple since 2003.

60 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 564-4006

Visit website →

Pizza & Sandwiches

West Portal Landmark

Little Original Joe's

Italian-American market and pizzeria

A hybrid Italian market and casual restaurant from the Original Joe's family, beloved for its thin-crust pizza, rotisserie chicken, and neighborhood warmth.

393 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 759-1155

Visit website →
West Portal Landmark

Submarine Center

Sandwich shop

West Portal's beloved deli counter serving generously loaded hot-pressed subs — pastrami, Italiano, and the Atomic — for over four decades.

820 Ulloa St, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 661-2577

Italian & Deli

West Portal

Trattoria da Vittorio

Italian trattoria

Warm neighborhood Italian with solid pasta, a welcoming dining room, and reliable lunch and dinner service on West Portal Avenue.

257 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 665-6300

Visit website →
West Portal Landmark

Spiazzo Ristorante

Italian restaurant

Long-running Italian restaurant on West Portal Avenue serving pasta, pizza, and classic Italian dishes for lunch and dinner.

200 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127  ·  (415) 564-2888

Know of a listing that's wrong or a business that's closed? Report a correction →

Sources & Editorial Notes

Stories in My Town News are compiled from public sources, and with assistance from AI. Please verify important details at the cited source. All named individuals appear only in their publicly documented roles. Directory listings reflect publicly available contact information and are updated periodically.
1

SFSU Announces Future-Ready Workforce Initiative to Promote Student Success

 ·  https://news.sfsu.edu/news/sfsu-announces-future-ready-workforce-initiative-promote-student-success

2

Students gain career experience through new credit union partnership

 ·  https://campusmemo.sfsu.edu/2026/October-12-2026

3

Day Around the Bay: Raising Cane's Opens Second SF Location at Stonestown Galleria

 ·  https://sfist.com/2026/10/13/day-around-the-bay-raising-canes-opens-second-sf-location-at-stonestown-galleria/

4

S.F. Stonestown Galleria Raising Cane's location draws overnight lines

 ·  https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/raising-canes-stonestown-22472819.php

5

Stonestown Galleria adds hours as downtown San Francisco Centre sits empty

 ·  https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/stonestown-galleria-adds-hours-downtown-014655665.html

6

S.F. State just saw its first enrollment growth in a decade. Now comes the hard part

 ·  https://www.sfchronicle.com/college-admissions/article/san-francisco-state-university-enrollment-22463817.php

7

SFSU President Lynn Mahoney announces retirement

 ·  https://news.sfsu.edu/news/sfsu-president-lynn-mahoney-announces-retirement

8

Call for nominations: presidential search

 ·  https://campusmemo.sfsu.edu/2026/October-5-2026

9

Visit SFSU's free open house on Oct. 17 and discover your future

 ·  https://news.sfsu.edu/news/visit-sfsus-free-open-house-oct-17-and-discover-your-future

10

West Portal Halloween Stroll and October Events

 ·  https://westportalsf.com/events/

11

Upcoming Author Events at Bookshop West Portal

 ·  https://bookshopwestportal.com/upcoming-events

12

Center for Global Engagement Newsletter – Oct. 2026

 ·  https://www.cel.sfsu.edu/global/newsletter/october2026

13

The Latest Fight Over a Large, Upzoned Housing Development Comes to West Portal

 ·  https://sfist.com/2026/08/31/the-latest-fight-over-a-large-upzoned-housing-development-comes-to-west-portal/

14

DM Development Nearly Triples Empire Theater Redevelopment in West Portal to 172 Units, 12 Stories

 ·  https://news.theregistrysf.com/dm-development-nearly-triples-empire-theater-redevelopment-in-san-franciscos-west-portal-to-172-units-12-stories/