Say what you will about San Francisco — and we say plenty — but every now and then this city pulls off something that reminds you why people put up with the rent, the potholes, and the board of supervisors.

The latest laser art installation from Illuminate, the nonprofit behind the Bay Lights and other large-scale public art projects, is now emanating from the iconic Transamerica Pyramid, and it looks absolutely spectacular. Visible from spots across the city — Ina Coolbrith Park, Pier 7, the Financial District — the display transforms the skyline into something that feels genuinely futuristic. One SF resident who drove around town catching different vantage points put it simply: "It's easy to love SF on nights like this."

Hard to argue.

Here's what makes this worth highlighting beyond the cool factor: this is the kind of cultural investment that actually works. Illuminate has a track record of creating public art that draws people out of their apartments and into the streets — no tax-funded committee meetings, no multi-year environmental review, no $4 million consulting contract to determine if lasers are equitable. It's a private nonprofit partnering with a private building to create something the entire public can enjoy for free.

That's the model we should be celebrating. Not every good thing in a city has to flow through a government budget line item. When private organizations and property owners step up to make San Francisco more vibrant, they deserve recognition — especially in a city where so much public spending produces so little visible return.

So if you haven't seen it yet, grab a friend, pick a hilltop or a waterfront pier, and go enjoy the show. It's one of those rare moments where the city delivers exactly what it promises on the brochure.

No supervisors required.