Residents, Companies Take pleasure in Friday Night time Out in San Francisco Beneath New Guidelines – NBC Bay Space

Friday marks the first night of a modified orange tier for businesses in San Francisco that allows operators to relax seating restrictions and remove indoor restaurant closings at 11 p.m.

There were a lot of people out on Valencia Street in the Mission enjoying the night. Curio restaurant operator Patricia Gums said she’s seen some new faces, people are daring a little more.

“There are the people who have been vaccinated who haven’t been outside and they’re new to the game because they haven’t been outside but they feel safer now,” Gums said.

But she said she wasn’t going to relax her rules much just yet. Your customers are now finally feeling comfortable with the situation.

As part of San Francisco’s expanded Orange tier, venues are allowed to relax the restrictions a little further. But some people say they still approach this carefully.

“Even when these things open up, it is always good to act wisely,” said resident Precious Moreno.

In the DogPatch neighborhood of San Francisco, a Friday afternoon event on the Midway can look like an open air music venue.

Even under the newly changed rules – only 50 guests would be allowed. But because they operate as a restaurant with reserved outdoor seating, they are allowed a much larger audience, and they don’t plan on expanding the alfresco dining to more than four people per table.

“We find that it is easier to control the crowd or the groups of people or the wearing of the mask when we have smaller groups like four people,” said Ian Molloy, Operations Manager at Midway SF.

There is a sense of optimism among people enjoying their Friday, but it is cautious optimism.

“As long as people keep getting vaccinated and the numbers keep dropping, I mean, that’s what we’re looking for, right?” said resident Michael Malano.