If you’ve spent any time at Mission staples like Zeitgeist or El Rio, you’ve probably come across Virginia Ramos and her cart of homemade tamales. Affectionately known as The Tamale Lady, she has been satisfying late-night cravings and offering her tell-it-like-it-is advice for the better portion of the last two decades, but due to city regulations, was forced to shut down her vagabond operation back in June.

A bonafide San Francisco institution, Virginia saw immediate support from the community, the city’s residents and her customers whom she refers to as “My People.” With an extraordinary amount of help from District 9 Supervisor David Campos and Barbary Coast Consulting, who is doing pro bono work for her cause, The Tamale Lady is on her way to setting up a legit brick and mortar shop in the Mission. Since she has been saving for the last twenty years, she’s able to fund most of the project, though in order to build a legal commercial kitchen, she’s going to need some help.

The Knockout is hosting a benefit concert for The Tamale Lady this Thursday, September 19, and on top of live music from Grandma’s Boyfriend, Scraper, Windham Flat and Quite Polite, there will be here will be more than enough FREE tamales to go around. All proceeds will go towards Virginia’s Indiegogo campaign, which still has a long way to go to reach its $50,000 goal. Come out to the party and show your support for one of San Francisco’s truly original characters, or simply head over to her Indiegogo page to donate what you can.

Grandma’s Boyfriend, Scraper, Windham Flat, Quite Polite
The Knockout
September 19th, 2013
9pm, $5-15