Volume XLII, No. 3
March 2018
THE NOE VALLEY VOICE Gardens Grow at James Lick
How Film Director Made Oh Lucy!
Middle School’s Take on Life Challenges and Mesozoic Era
Noe Valley Branch Library Became Her Sanctuary
By Heidi Anderson
By Matthew S. Bajko
O
n a sunny and unseasonably warm Saturday in February, James Lick Middle School opened its schoolyard gates to show off two new gardens. One was an organic garden, the kind sprouting up in schools all over San Francisco (including Alvarado Elementary). The other was a new twist on that theme: a garden full of vegetation that dinosaurs might have known. Leading the three-year garden project, in partnership with the school, was Markos Major, founding director of Climate Action Now! The Dinosaur Garden was “created to help students make a tangible connection to the earth’s changing climate,” said Major. “The changes our earth is going through aren’t new, but the way greenhouse gases are entering the atmosphere is.” Located in the southwest corner of the upper schoolyard, at Clipper and Castro streets, the garden includes kauri pine,
T
dinosaurs breathed in their last hours was very high in carbon dioxide—and that today’s levels of CO2 are increasing. “This garden is full of resilient plants.
his month, the feature-length film Oh Lucy!, starring Shinobu Terajima and Josh Hartnett, will open in American theaters across the country. The film had its debut at the Cannes Film Festival last May. It also screened at the 2017 Toronto and Chicago international film festivals and is up for Best First Feature and Best Female Lead at the 2018 Independent Spirit Awards March 3. The film’s director and writer is Noe Valley resident Atsuko Hirayanagi, who wrote the script at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Branch Library. It is based on her award-winning short film of the same name. “I actually wrote two scripts there. I love that library,” said Hirayanagi. She and her husband were renting an apartment a few blocks from the library four years ago, but with a baby boy at
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
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That’s Not Barney: Artist Sirron Norris worked with over 200 James Lick students to Photo by Heidi Anderson create the mural for the Dinosaur Garden.
coastal redwood, and gingko biloba trees. Ferns are abundant as well. “Like the other trees there, gingko can tolerate a high level of carbon dioxide,” said Major. As the students helped plant the trees, they learned that the atmosphere
Activists Take to The Road
Focus on Elections and Replacing Republicans By Tim Simmers
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rassroots political group Action SF’s mantra to resist the Trump agenda hasn’t changed. But the Noe Valley-based group knows the political stakes are getting higher, so it’s focusing heavily on winning Democratic seats in the upcoming midterm elections. Some members are heading to Modesto in the Central Valley, some 80 miles southeast of San Francisco. There they hope to turn a red seat in the House of Representatives blue. They aim to unseat U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, Republican, of District 10. Denham is in his fourth House term, representing all of Stanislaus County and part of San Joaquin County. Action SF, which was founded after the Women’s March in January 2017, is still full of enthusiasm, and optimistic about helping beat Denham. “It’s the second year of Trump,” said Action SF member Charlie Spiegel. “The first year was about survival. Now it’s about making electoral changes.” Action SF isn’t going to Modesto alone. It’s following the lead of another local political group, Swing Left San Francisco, to help in the effort to “flip the House in November.” A co-leader of Swing Left SF, Beatrice von Schulthess, spoke last month at an Action SF meeting in the Noe Valley Library. She urged all local resistance groups to work together to counter Trump and Republican policies. “We speak at each other’s meetings, so there is cross-pollination of volunteers
From Noe to the Central Valley. Local groups Action SF and Swing Left SF are taking their organizing work to Modesto to try to unseat a Photo by Art Bodner Trump-supporting officeholder.
and ideas,” said von Schulthess. Representative Denham is a staunch supporter of Trump. But in 2016 he won the 10th District by fewer than 9,000 votes. That was only a 3.4 percent margin of victory. Some 146,000 people eligible to vote in the district are unregistered, and the activists are pushing to register voters. There are another 96,000 people eligible to vote who didn’t. Local activists plan to canvass the
Modesto area, going door to door to listen to the concerns of constituents. Action SF, Swing Left SF, and another political group, Stand Up SF, are all working together, and they’re also working with Modesto area groups. They’re using phone banks and sending postcards to sympathetic households. The response to canvassing homes has been good, von Schulthess said. Many Central Valley residents are anxious to
talk about their concerns, which range from water issues and air quality, to rising asthma rates among children, health care, and jobs. The primary for District 10 is in June. Activists are collecting names for a data bank so the constituents can be re-contacted closer to the election. They register people to vote in malls, grocery store CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
2 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
O PEN SFH ISTORY
Stadium in Noe Valley? This 1926 photo, a view south from Grand View and 23rd streets, shows the landscape surrounding a rock quarry at Douglass and 26th streets (see cuts in hillside, left center). The picture was taken as part of a study for the San Francisco Park Department, which had considered building a stadium on the site. At the urging of residents, however, the old quarry was converted to a two-tiered park, Douglass Park and Playground, which opened in April 1928. As for the slope above the quarry, it was developed as Diamond Heights in the 1950s. Photo courtesy OpenSFHistory.org / Western Neighborhoods Project / David Gallagher
ACTIVE MIND/ HEALTHY BRAIN S E R I E S
We are pleased to invite you to the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, through the Global Brain Health Institute and On Lok, for a free lecture series discussing Aging and what you need to know to maintain your physical and cognitive health. LECTURE 1
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MAY 3
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MAY 10
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MAY 17
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MAY 24
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MAY 31
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5pm – 6pm
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5pm – 6pm
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5pm – 6pm
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5pm – 6pm
Our Aging Brains, What Does it Mean to Age? LECTURE 2
The Workout and the Brain Workshop LECTURE 3
LOCATION:
30th Street Senior Center 225 30th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94131
Isolation and Social Engagement LECTURE 4
Refreshments will be served starting at 4:30pm For more information and to RSVP, please call 415.550.2223 or register online for each session at: onloklectures.eventbrite.com
Nutrition and the Brain LECTURE 5
B R O U G H T T O Y O U B Y:
Cognitive Stimulation
The Noe Valley Voice โ ข March 2018
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4 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
2019-2020 BUDGET
Your Voice Matters to Us
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency invites you to share your needs and priorities for Muni, parking and traffic, bicycling, walking and taxis. Public In-person Meeting
Online Budget Townhall Meeting
Board of Directors Meetings
Co-hosted with Senior Disability Action (SDA)
03/07/2018, 6 - 7 PM
03/06/2018, 1 PM 03/20/2018, 1 PM
03/02/2018, 1 - 4 PM
Stream live on sfmta.com/budget
SF Public Library 100 Larkin Street Latino Room at Lower Level
City Hall, Room 400 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
If you can’t attend the meetings, you can email questions or comments to sfmtabudget@sfmta.com or contact 311.
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sfmta.com/budget
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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPERS THREATENED! San Francisco’s network of neighborhood newspapers is threatened by Trump’s tariff decision on the major suppliers of newsprint, which will have a severe impact, beginning February 1st on small newspapers, adding as much as 50% to the cost of your paper, according to Forbes Magazine. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, both Democratic and Republican Representatives urged denial of the tariff on Canadian newsprint which “could accelerate the decline for an entire industry and may put small-market newspapers out of business.” WHAT WE CAN DO • Thank the advertisers who support your local paper! • Mention your paper to the businesses you trade with.
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8 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
THE NOE VALLEY VOICE
T
P.O. Box 460249 San Francisco, CA 94146 www.noevalleyvoice.com
he Noe Valley Voice is an independent newspaper published monthly except in January and August. It is distributed free in Noe Valley and vicinity during the first week of the month. Subscriptions are available at $40 per year ($35 for seniors) by writing to the above address. The Voice welcomes your letters, photos, and stories, particularly on topics relating to Noe Valley. All items should include your name, address, and phone number, and may be edited for brevity or clarity. (Unsigned letters will not be considered for publication.) Unsolicited contributions will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The Noe Valley Voice is a member of the San Francisco Neighborhood Newspaper Association. Email: editor@noevalleyvoice.com Website: www.noevalleyvoice.com Distribution: Call Jack, 415-385-4569 Display Advertising: Call Pat, 415-608-7634, or email PatRose@noevalleyvoice.com Class Ads: See Page 26 Display Advertising Deadline for the April Issue: March 20, 2018 Editorial/Class Ad Deadline: March 15, 2018 CO-PUBLISHERS/EDITORS
Sally Smith, Jack Tipple
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND EDITORS
Corrie M. Anders, Associate Editor Olivia Boler, Other Voices Editor Heidi Anderson, Steve Anderson, Matthew S. Bajko, Owen Baker-Flynn, Karol Barske, Helen Colgan, Jan Goben, Liz Highleyman, Laura McHale Holland, Andrea Carla Michaels, Suzanne Herel, Florence Holub, Tim Innes, Jeff Kaliss, Doug Konecky, Richard May, Joe O’Connor, Roger Rubin, Olivia Starr, Steve Steinberg, Tim Simmers, Karen Topakian, Heather World
NOE NOTES Noe Valley Gets an A in Canine Manners By Anna Van der Heide
I
’m very impressed by the dog walkers here in Noe Valley. Besides the fact that they pretty much always pick up and deposit their dog’s excretions in little blue baggies, they also display what I call “canine manners.� When Herbie, my little 2-year-old Morkie, and I take a stroll on 24th Street and are approached by another dog, either I or the other human immediately calls out, “Is he or she friendly?� When the answer is positive, we let the dogs meet nose-to-nose for a friendly sniff and rumble. If the answer is negative for some reason—age, infirmity, or whatever—we gracefully bow out of a meeting between our
mutts. No hard feelings. Herbie may be disappointed, but I’ve explained the rules to him from the git-go. And he’s a smart little bugger! Most of the dogs are friendly, but sometimes an owner will swiftly cross the street with his or her hound when they see us coming. Usually it’s meant to be a tacit signal that their dog is not friendly. (At least, I hope it’s just that!) So far, I’ve never been engaged in, or seen, a dogfight in this very dogcopacetic neighborhood. One of the best parts of our walks is that the dog walkers we meet along the way are so friendly and such affable conversationalists. I’ve heard tales about arthritis, Mediterranean cruises, grandchildren visits, money problems, medical challenges, psychoanalysis, and retirement plans—to name just a few. Nothing lengthy. Just little glimpses into the everyday life of folk in the ’hood. It’s particularly nice when Herbie and I are recognized from previous encounters. The conversations as well as the dog greetings continue where we
Anna Van der Heide and her dog Herbie have become local experts in canine etiquette.
left off. It’s a great way to start the day at dawn or to close the day in the dwindling twilight. Anna Van der Heide, 81, is a journalist, actress, poet, and playwright who lives on Jersey Street. She takes three walks a day with her companion Herbie, who she says was a “surprise� gift from her daughter Gia and son Piet.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Pamela Gerard, Rick Gerharter, Beverly Tharp, Najib Joe Hakim, Art Bodner ACCOUNTING
Jennifer O. Viereck PRODUCTION
Jack Tipple, AndrĂŠ ThĂŠlĂŠmaque DISTRIBUTION
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Contents 2018 The Noe Valley Voice
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9
Welcome to Jurassic James Lick Park CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
As children observe this in plants, the hope is they begin to see that life here will continue and they themselves can become resilient.” Across the yard sits the 200-square-foot modern-day organic garden. It features fruit trees, vegetables, and flowering and pollen plants that bees prefer. Just like the Dinosaur Garden, it can be used by the school’s science and biology classes. Starting in 2015, Major worked with five classes a week to turn the existing raised-bed garden into the gardens the school has now. Students were involved in planning, creating, and planting. They also contributed design ideas for a mural behind the garden created by artist Sirron Norris. The gardens broke ground with the help of Just One Tree, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and school community volunteers in the fall of 2017. Alfredo Vergara-Lobo is the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association president. He welcomes the green additions. “Our schools were set up for another era,” he said. He added that he felt students needed more projects like this, where they could directly apply their knowledge. “The challenges students face today can no longer be addressed in just a standard classroom,” said Vergara-Lobo. Parent Julie Jackson, PTSA vice president, agrees. “It’s great! Not only does this make the school more beautiful, but it will be a place where our kids will be learning science outside.” Sixth-grader Levi Brandon was eager to show off what he helped to plant. “It was fun to plant these, and I like being outside,” said Brandon. But more importantly, he said, “It’s like a field trip right on the school campus!” Brachiosaurus-Sized Effort Installing the green spots was not easy, said Major. “We removed 3,210 square feet of pavement from this yard, and it turned out to cost more than expected because we found asbestos, and of course we had it safely removed,” he said. Major added that many agencies helped foot the bill. Among them were the
On Saturday, Feb. 10, neighbors, teachers, and students showed up for the grand opening of two new gardens, and the grand re-opening of the school’s upper yard, to the public on weekends.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the SF Carbon Fund, and a San Francisco Community Challenge grant shepherded by State Senator Scott Wiener and District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy. From digging to grand opening, Major said, the installation cost $265,000. Schoolyard Open on Weekends A crowd of kids, families, community members (approximately 300 signed in at the gate), and elected officials admired the gardens on Saturday, Feb. 10. The day also celebrated the return of the school’s Shared Schoolyard weekend hours. Christian Aldecoa, a 14-year resident of 25th Street, is pleased the yard gates are open again on Saturdays and Sundays all year long. “When we saw the yard closed [when the school went under construction in December 2014], we were, like, ‘Oh wow, we’ll have to go somewhere else.’” Aldecoa and his daughter Madeline, who learned how to ride a bike on the JLMS blacktop, are happy to have the neighborhood play space back.
JLMS Students Recovering After Ingesting Edible Cannabis
O
n Tuesday, Feb. 13, a handful of James Lick Middle School students reported feeling ill during the school day. School staff called 911, and emergency personnel responded. While one student was initially listed in critical condition, all 10 were treated and recovering, according to a Feb. 14 press release from the San Francisco Unified School District. “At this time, it appears that all students are recovering,” it read. The school district also confirmed that the students had ingested an edible cannabis product, labeled “medical cannabis.” In response to not only this incident but also to the recent legalization of marijuana for sale in California, the SFUSD provided a statement for families and the general public, which read: “Though data for this school year is not yet available, marijuana use does not appear to be a widespread problem among San Francisco students. Over the past 10 years, the number of middle school students who say they have ever used marijuana has dropped from 7.7% to 3.9%. Additionally, the number of SFUSD high school students who say they have ever tried marijuana is 25.6%, much lower than the national average, and less than in 2015 (Source: SFUSD’S Youth Risk Behavior Survey).” It continued, “The SFUSD has been educating students about drugs, alcohol, and addiction for decades, and in 1991 introduced a Comprehensive Heath Education policy mandating health education instruction for K-12 students.” The statement pointed out that while marijuana is now legally available in California, it is still illegal for people under 21. “Bringing and consuming any drug, whether legal for those 21 and older— such as alcohol or marijuana—or illegal, is against school and district rules.”
Interim Mayor Mark Farrell joined the celebration. In fact, Shared Schoolyard was his brainchild. He worked for years with the San Francisco Unified School District and other city agencies to fund the program, which includes maintenance, custodial staff, and a twice-yearly deep cleaning of the yards. He is glad the program is going strong—52 public schoolyards are now open on weekends—but thinks Saturday launch events like James Lick’s are important. “Neighbors need to see we’re open,” said Farrell. Skateboarders Still Have Room While the crowd enjoyed free tacos— provided by the Shared Schoolyard Project and Whole Foods Foundation—and other activities on the upper yard, a group of 20-somethings practiced flip tricks on their skateboards nearby. Filmmaker William Strobeck, who hails from Los Angeles, was there to get some footage. “Yeah, this yard was well known for that spot,” Strobeck said, pointing to the area that used to be a set of cement stairs connecting the upper and lower yards. It is now largely altered, with an elevator system newly installed. “We see it’s gone now.” Nonetheless, the group, all profes-
Sixth-grader Levi Brandon (right) shows his father Jonathan the fruits of his labor in the upper yard of James Lick Middle School. Photos by Heidi Anderson
sional skateboarders—from not only San Francisco’s Sunset District but also New York, L.A., and even Paris—took advantage of the open yard to practice a few hair-raising stunts in the large concrete space. Want to give it a try next weekend? The James Lick schoolyard will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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10 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
T H E C R O S S WO R D B Y M I C H A E L B L A K E
12th Annual NOE VALLEY WORD WEEK 2018
V A L L E Y
Restaurant Restoration
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Sunday, March 4 through Saturday, March 10
ACROSS
1. “Beauty and the ___” 6. Intestinal fortitude 10. Social Security tax abbr. 14. Shakespeare’s “___ Like It” 15. Onetime Giants manager Felipe 16. Perched above 17. *One banging one’s head on the Sheetrock? 19. Like an overcooked noodle 20. Waikiki wingding 21. Berlin’s country: Abbr. 22. Pesto ingredient 23. *Bizarre religious ritual involving killing insects? 27. Giants’ baseball predecessors in SF 30. Seep slowly 31. Barely make it across the field? 33. “The Double Helix” topic 34. Stocking stuffers? 38. “I tawt I taw a puddy ___!” 39. 24th Street restaurant (See Editor’s Note) 42. ___ v. Wade 43. Footfall 45. Nothing, to Manchester United 46. “The Picture of ___ Gray” 48. Hitchhiker’s hope 50. Triangular road sign 51. *One more, just-incase soda to prevent dehydration? 57. Whole items on 24th St.?
8 great events over 7 days! Local authors reading & signing books
All events are free! for details, see: friendsofnoevalley.com
Noe Valley Word Week on Facebook
#wordweek2018 on Twitter
Produced by Friends of Noe Valley Sponsored by Martha & Bros. Coffee
YELLAV
KEEW810D2 ROW
58. Cute ___ button 59. Biz bigwig, for short 63. French 101 verb 64. *”Chihuahua, sientate!” “Patas!” “Abajo!” etc.? 67. Collar named for a school 68. Brainstorming product 69. Gossipy woman, from the Yiddish 70. “Judge not, ___ ye be judged” 71. Water swirl 72. Defeated, barely DOWN
1. Cry like a baby 2. Hairy Genesis twin 3. “Clan of the Cave Bear” heroine 4. Like Kool-Aid in water 5. Place for a bath 6. Microsoft cofounder Bill 7. Prefix for violet 8. Low digit?
41. Toy purchase at Just for Fun 44. “Sensible,” to Dana Carvey as Bush 41 47. No longer green, as fruit 49. April 15 agcy. 51. #1 Beatles hit “___ Fine” 52. Night, in Napoli 53. Hungarian-born financier George 54. Like animals in a zoo 55. Blue Book assignment 56. Soft food for infants 60. Ped ___ (traffic caution) 61. 90 degrees from norte 62. “Hanging” item in 2000 headlines 64. Run out, as a battery 65. Unusual 66.Yes vote
9. Big ___, CA 10. Side order at Lazeez 11. Formal reply to “Who’s there?” 12. Many a “Marsh” performer 13. Cupertino-based company 18. Australian boot brand 22. Shoe ___ on 24th Street 24. “Wild Blue Yonder” mil. grp. 25. Moscone Center gathering: Abbr. 26. Willy Wonka creator Dahl 27. Concordes, briefly 28. Coup d’___ 29. Johnson of “LaughIn” 32. Sorta 33. Ctrl-Alt-___ 35. Lake above Ohio 36. Objective 37. Email command 40. Nada, in Nice
Solution on Page 28
NOE VALLEY VAL LLEY HOME SALES D DATA ATA 2011 - 20 2017 17 Sales reported reported to SFARMLS SF FARMLS A ARMLS thr through ough December 2017 017
A Avg. vg. Sq.f S Sq.ft. ft. t.
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PETE BRANN BRANNIGAN NIGAN NIGA IGAN GAN
PARAGON PARAGON REAL ESTATAE ESTATAE GROUP 4156 - 24TH S TREET T STREET
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2017 201 7
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PETE P ETE KNOWS NOE!
The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
Local Filmmaker Atsuko Hirayanagi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
home, Hirayanagi found it difficult to focus on her writing. So each weekday, after dropping her older daughter off at school—and with her son in the care of his grandparents—she headed to the Jersey Street library to work on her script until it was time to pick up her daughter and return home. “It was a sanctuary of silence for me, where I felt I could focus for five hours a day, when my parents or in-laws would be with our youngest,” recalled Hirayanagi. “It felt great walking to the library and switching into gear to write as soon as I got there. The library also forced me to keep going, to think, and to not find a way to distract myself. It was also easy to rush back home as needed.” The resulting 96-minute film, in English and Japanese with English subtitles, centers on Terajima’s character Setsuko, a single female office worker in Tokyo who is a hoarder closed off from the world. Mika (Shioli Kutsuna, who will be seen in this year’s Deadpool 2), Setsuko’s niece, convinces her aunt to take an English class that she had signed up for, and reimburse her for the cost. John, her American instructor played by Hartnett, has Setsuko don a blond wig, take on the name Lucy, and use an orange ball popped in her mouth to learn rudimentary English words. After John quits and runs off with Mika to the United States, Setsuko and her sister, Ayako (played by Kaho Minami, who is married to fellow actor Ken Watanabe), head to America to track down Mika.
Hirayanagi, who was born in Nagano, Japan, and grew up in Chiba, where her parents were schoolteachers, hasn’t known anyone personally who has attempted suicide or died by suicide. But while a graduate student living in Singapore, she did witness a woman jump to her death from an 18th-floor balcony in her building. “It was a horrible scene. It was really traumatic and I felt so violated somehow,” recalled Hirayanagi, who had already begun work on the script for the short-film version of Oh Lucy! “Those things influenced me.” Coming to America The initial idea for the film stemmed from a writing class exercise in college, where she had to find inspiration from her own life. Hirayanagi dwelled on her experience coming to America in the early 1990s as a foreign exchange student and attending high school in Los Angeles. “As a foreign exchange student I didn’t speak English. I was a quiet Asian girl,” recalled Hirayanagi, who earned an MFA in film production from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. “In my English language classes I would put a ping pong ball in my mouth so I would have a bigger vowel sound. Americans have bigger, open vowel sounds.” She parlayed those memories into the character of Setsuko, who learns to find her voice and break out of her shell over the course of the movie. It is a motif Hirayanagi has often explored in her films. “I am interested in giving voice to the voiceless,” she said. “For those people who don’t have a place to exist, in my own way I am giving them a voice.” It is the focus of the new movie script
Hirayanagi is working on, which is even more deeply drawn from her years as a foreign-born teenager living in America. The main character is a Japanese foreign exchange student in high school who befriends a Chinese-American girl in her English as a Second Language class. Her teachers mistake her shy demeanor for English-language ineptitude. “She is just a quiet person,” said Hirayanagi. “Once again, I am giving a voice to the voiceless.” Behind the Camera Hirayanagi herself is shy and prefers to remain out of the spotlight. “It makes me scared. I am like a little mouse,” she said. “I try to challenge myself; I was a theater arts major. But being behind the camera, oh, I finally found myself.” Walking the red carpet at Cannes felt like “an out of body experience,” recalled Hirayanagi. “I was walking with Josh. He was telling us how to smile. It was very exciting but also exhausting.” For the time being, she is enjoying living outside the movie-business bubble as she raises her children. Her husband works for a local e-commerce company based in the Bay Area, and the couple are now homeowners in Noe Valley. “They inspire me to keep doing what I do, to be more honest with myself, I guess,” she said of her family. She doesn’t rule out someday living in Hollywood, perhaps when her children are grown. Her focus now is completing the script for her next movie, at which point Hirayanagi will seek out financing to make the film. The financial backing for her first feature came from Meileen Choo, CEO and
Loneliness at the Heart While at times lighthearted, with a comedic cameo by Megan Mullally (Karen Walker on the NBC hit comedy Will and Grace), the film delves into themes of loneliness and longing for love. Suicide is also at the heart of the movie, which presented a challenge when Hirayanagi sought permission to film several scenes set inside Tokyo train stations. None wanted to be associated with the movie, requiring the film crew to travel to a distant monorail station outside of the Japanese capital and use CGI effects to make it look like an urban train station. “Suicide is a problem in Japan. Every day, people are jumping in front of a train,” said Hirayanagi, 42, who earned a B.A. in theater arts from San Francisco State University. “It is part of our lives in Asian urban areas. There are too many humans living in a small place and a highly competitive environment. For some people, they see suicide as the only way to escape their situation.”
Japanese actress Shinobu Terajima stars along with American actor Josh Hartnett in Atsuko Hirayanagi’s film Oh Lucy!, which will open in Bay Area theaters March 16. Photos courtesy Larsen Associates
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11
This month’s Independent Spirit Awards are the next stop for Noe Valley resident Atsuko Hirayanagi, shown here on the set of Oh Lucy! Her film has been nominated for two awards, including Best First Feature.
executive director of the Singapore-based Cathay Organisation Holdings Limited. Hirayanagi would only say that it cost less than $1 million to make. Produced by Will Ferrell Named one of the “20 Rising Women Directors You Need to Know” by IndieWire, Hirayanagi sounded a confident note in being able to make her second film. She has proven to be a successful director with her first feature, which was executive-produced by actor and Saturday Night Live alum Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, who directed the Oscarwinning film The Big Short. Talking to the website Screendaily.com in 2016, McKay said the two “fell in love with the short Oh Lucy! and were thrilled that it made the jump to being a feature so effortlessly. Atsuko is such a unique talent and Shinobu, Kaho, and Josh are hilarious and heartbreaking together.” The feature film will open in San Francisco March 16 at Landmark’s Embarcadero Center Cinema. Since childhood, storytelling has been a passion for Hirayanagi. “For me, looking back, I was always doing it, drawing manga comics and creating stories,” she said. “I am doing what I love to do. I was lucky to make that a career.”
12 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
N NOE VALLEY V ALLEY Y MINISTR MINISTRY Y Presbyterian Church,, USA 415-282-2317 etween 23rd & 24th 1021 Sanchez St., between
Sunday Worship: Worship: 10:30 a.m. Childcare provided d Rev.. David Brown, Pa Rev Pastor astor
Lenten, Lent en, Holy W Week eek k & Easter Events Eve ents
M Music for the he eS Soul, ull March arch 1 11, 1 10:30 am 1,
The Go T Gospel osspel Accordin osp According Ac Accordi ccor corrdi ding ing g to Hand Han Handel wit with wiith Guest G Gues est stt Mu Musicians Mus usicians sicia icians cians s Perfo P Performing rfo fo ormin orming ng g Passion P Pass Pa assion s on n Excerpts Exce ts fr ffrom m Messi M Me Messiah sia ah
Revi Revive Rev R evive Your Yo Y our Spirit Spi in Spir i Se Serenity Sere e en nity ittyy Wi h C W With Candlelight ndlelight dlelight a and Music an Music
Procession Pro P occessio ce c sio ion n of tthe h P he Palms Palm ms
Palm P alm / Passion a P Pa Sunday, Su und u da ay, March a Ma 25 25, 5,, 10:30 10 30 3 am a
Service S Serv erv ervice rvice vice of Tenebrae Ten eneb ne eb ae ebrae e e with w th Ho Holy oly lyy Co Com Communion mmu union unio ni nio nion
Easter E aster Sunday Sunday, nday, nday day A Apr April rilil 1, 1 10:30 10:3 10 3 a.m.
A Musical Celebration n with S Special Guest Musicia Musicians ans F Festive Refreshments s After W Worship orship
M undy Maundy ndy Thu Thursday, T hu sday hursd h sd d , Ma da March ar h 29, arch 29 7:0 29 7 7:00 00 0 0p pm m
www.noevalleyministry.org www .noevalleyministry.org
Holy Week and Easter Services 2018
Holy Week & Easter All are welcome!
OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE INVITED TO COME AND PRAY WITH US.
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PALM SUNDAY March 25
Masses in English at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 5:00 p.m. and at 12:30 p.m. in Español.
HOLY THURSDAY March 29
Mass of the Lord’s Supper 6:30 p.m.
GOOD FRIDAY March 30
Sacrament of Reconciliation, 11:00 a.m. - Noon Good Friday Services, Noon - 3:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
HOLY SATURDAY March 31
Sacrament of Reconciliation, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m.
EASTER SUNDAY April 1
Masses in English at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and at 12:30 p.m. in Español. No 5:00 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday
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Valley and Church Streets
San Francisco, California 94131 • 415-648-7538
The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
13
The Action’s in SF And in Modesto
people from deportation. When the group decides on a current action issue, it asks volunteers to send postcards or emails, or make phone calls to local representatives, including SenaCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 tors Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, parking lots, soccer games, and at home. or Representatives Jackie Speier or Nancy “We’ve always thought of going to the Pelosi. Members meet with the politivalley,” said Action SF member Tomas cians to express their views or to try to Tucker. “The midterms are an opportuhold them accountable. They also might nity to help flip at least one person in Conpraise a politician for tackling a dicey isgress.” District 10 is the closest House sue or standing up to Trump. race in play to San Francisco. At the library meetings, the mood can Tucker, a Noe Valley resident, has be serious at times. There’s a sense that if never been an activist. But he said he was Democrats don’t win back the House, it’s awakened last year, “seeing our country going to get very difficult to block and institutions being destroyed by this Trump’s policies. government.” “We can’t tolerate what’s happening Tucker said many Action SF members right now, and we have to take action,” have been depressed about the Trump/Resaid Melisa Kaye, a co-founder of Action publican steamroller. But they’re chanSF. neling their depression into something Typical attendance is 15 to 20 people. they hope will have an impact, he noted. But 75 people showed up at a vigil the Tucker believes making phone calls, group hosted at the Noe Valley Town writing postcards, and passing out the Square on Nov. 8, the one-year annivergroup’s “Noe Valley Stands United sary of the presidential election. Against Hate” posters to merchants are “People who come to our meetings are small acts that energize members. “We totally resistant to being worn down by feel like we’re making a difference.” Trump,” said Haney Armstrong, also of Action SF meets the second and fourth Action SF. “They’re hardcore, and dediSunday of the month at the Noe Valley Licated.” brary from 3 to 4:30 p.m. It welcomes Women represent a majority of the new members. Stand Up SF meets the members. third Sunday of the month from 2 to 4 On trips to the Central Valley, the local p.m., also at the library. Swing Left memgroups don’t mention their affiliation bers often attend the meetings. with San Francisco for fear of being labeled “Pelosi Democrats.” Picking Issues Action SF has a table twice a month at Conversations at the meetings frethe Noe Valley Farmers Market, where quently get hot, and words are full of pasmembers reach out to the community. sion and urgency. Action SF always picks Swing Left SF and Stand Up SF set up taan “action issue.” Members toss out bles at the market once a month. ideas, such as gun control, Trump’s new “Rather than each group re-inventing nuclear arms race, or saving DACA (Dethe wheel, we’re working together,” said ferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) von Schulthess.
Tending the Action SF table on 24th Street on a recent Saturday morning were (from left) Donna Di Meo, Pamela Ketzel, Cary Friedman, and Patti Cole. Photo by Art Bodner
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Action SF held a vigil in the Noe Valley Town Square on the one-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s election. The crowd listened to speakers from Swing Left, Indivisible SF, Sister District, and Democracy Action. Photo courtesy Haney Armstrong
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14 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
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Golden Gate District Cub Scout Pack 88 is based out of St. Philip’s but has scouts from at least 10 other schools in San Francisco. Cubmaster Eric Gard at right is assisted by Den Leaders Bill Yenne, at left and Ken Baxter, center. Pack 88 raised the most during the District’s annual food drive.
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The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
Pages Keep on Turning New Appreciation for Books In Print By Corrie M. Anders
A
s Noe Valley prepares for its 12th annual literary festival this month, neighborhood authors, librarians, and bookstore owners are sharing a new plot twist: people are rediscovering their love for books—the kind you actually hold in your hand. “For years, the big trend was everyone wanted to read ebooks” on a Kindle or tablet, said Susan Kroll, a former librarian who works at Folio Books on 24th Street. “Now the pendulum is swinging back, and I’m seeing more print books than ebooks being read.” Author Richard May also has noticed the switch, especially while he’s riding Muni. He sees more and more passengers with their faces buried in the pages of a book. “It’s people of all ages,” he said. “They’re in their teens and in their 20s, and they’re reading a physical book rather than on a pad or something.” Words in the Flesh May hopes enthusiasm for print—or for words in any format—will bring crowds to Noe Valley Word Week 2018, a series of eight free events held March 4-10 at five venues around the neighborhood. He and other Friends of Noe Valley launched the festival in 2006. (See the box at right for a complete list of events.) A celebration of Women’s Day and appearances by San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck and naturalist Obi Kaufmann are among the week’s highlights. Kaufmann, a nationally recognized writer and artist, will give a talk and sign copies of his best-selling California Field Atlas. “It was a real coup to get him to read in the neighborhood,” said May, who is Friends’ committee chair for Word Week (as well as a regular writer for the Voice). The week will culminate in the Saturday Authors Festival. Readers can mingle with live human writers, and gaze at their books for sale. Off the Grid Nostalgia for print media may be only a short-lived retreat from the digital revolution, which started in the 1990s and has led to the demise of large brick-andmortar stores like Borders Books and small ones like Cover to Cover. But last year, for the first time in five years, print books nationally outsold ebooks, according to the Association of American Publishers. Kroll said she began to notice the trend
15
Word Week 2018
T
he power of the written word will be on display in March during Noe Valley Word Week, a literary festival now in its 12th year. Sponsored by Friends of Noe Valley with support from Martha & Bros. Coffee, the free event is “packed with poetry, novels, short stories, memoir, children’s books, and words on nature, animals, and food from dozens of authors and speakers,” says Word Week coordinator Richard May. Feast your eyes on this lineup:
Tuesday, March 6 Queer Words: In Conversation with Bud Gundy Folio Books, 3957 24th St., 7 to 8 p.m. Wayne Goodman interviews KQED’s own pledge-master, Bud Gundy, author of Somewhere Over Lorain Road, a mystery set in suburban Ohio. Hear Gundy read from his book and discuss his life in public broadcasting as an Emmy Award winning television producer.
Sunday, March 4 Creating Children’s Poetry: Kim Shuck, San Francisco Poet Laureate Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library, 451 Jersey St. Noon-1:30 p.m. Shuck will lead children in learning about poetry and writing their own poems. Besides writing poetry and serving as San Francisco’s seventh poet laureate, Shuck volunteers her time in San Francisco public schools, helping students learn about math and poetry.
Wednesday, March 7 Food Literature: International Cuisine:Authors Cara Black, Andrew McIntyre, Anne Raeff Olive This Olive That, 304 Vicksburg St. near 24th Street 7 to 8:30 p.m. Local writers Cara Black, Anne Raeff, and Andrew McIntyre read passages from their works that discuss food, cooking, and eating. Hosted by Olive This Olive That, Noe Valley’s olive oil and balsamic vinegars boutique, the event will include samples of the shop’s wares.
Monday, March 5 Obi Kaufmann, Author, Illustrator The California Field Atlas Folio Books, 3957 24th St. 7 to 8 p.m. Artist, poet, and naturalist Obi Kaufmann will present his award-winning California Field Atlas. Illustrated with hundreds of hand-painted maps and wildlife renderings and based on his decades of walking the backcountry of California, the book is a phenomenal testimony to the natural world of the Golden State. Kaufmann will be presenting his book with a short lecture and then offer signed copies for sale.
Thursday, March 8 Language and Power: Celebrating International Women’s Day with Natasha Dennerstein, Cassandra Dallett, and Kim Shuck Folio Books, 3957 24th St. 7 to 8 p.m. Word Week’s celebration of International Women’s Day will be led by Australian expat, poet, and artist Natasha Dennerstein, poet and memoirist Cassandra Dallett; and San Francisco Poet Laureate Kim Shuck. Each will do readings and talk about how their writing has empowered their lives.
in April—just months after President Donald Trump took office. “It’s a delicate tightrope, and I’m not wanting to blame it all on politics,” she said. But it coincides with readers looking for a bit of escape. “A lot of what our customers tell us is that what they really need is a book that is gripping or that they can immerse themselves in and forget about what is going on in their day-to-day world…which has gotten to be so chaotic and unsettled.” Kroll confirmed that millennials were buying more books these days, and said people of all generations were reading the classics. They’re attracted to historical fiction and nonfiction, she said, espe-
cially works related to the two world wars. “People are interested in fictional characters that survive challenges…who have found a way to succeed despite the environment around them,” she said. Books that revolve around mind, body, and spirituality are popular too, Kroll said, as well as children’s books of any variety. “There’s been a huge resurgence” in children’s literature, she said. Charlotte Nagy, owner of Charlie’s Corner bookstore on 24th near Castro, said the children’s books flying out her door were ones featuring successful girls and women. They range from biographies of female role models, such as Supreme Court Jus-
Friday, March 9 Memoir and Prosecco: Erika Atkinson,Tsun Yuan Chen, Mary Jo McConahay, Linda Joy Myers, Ramon Sender Barayon 4175 24th St. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Five local authors of memoir will read from their work. Then moderator Mary Jo McConahay will lead the authors in a discussion of the why and how of writing memoir. McConahay is a Noe Valley resident, a college instructor of memoir, and an award-winning author. Prosecco will be served. Saturday, March 10 Authors Festival Book exhibits & readings 4175 24th St. 1 to 5 p.m. Local authors, including many of the above, will exhibit and sign books from 1 to 5 p.m. Readings by some of the authors will occur at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Noe Valley author MaryLee McNeal is organizing the event. Saturday, March 10 Therapy Animals Change Lives! Dr. Jennifer Henley, SF SPCA Umpqua Bank, 3938 24th St. 4 to 5 p.m. Dr. Jennifer Henley, manager of the San Francisco SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program, will share her insight on the human-animal bond. She’ll talk about one of the largest animal therapy programs in the world, featuring specially trained dogs and cats (and one pig) that help people ranging from children with reading challenges to homebound seniors to veterans with PTSD.
tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to the characters in the Lumberjanes comic-book series, which showcases the adventures of girls at a summer scout camp. At Omnivore Books on Food on Cesar Chavez Street, owner Celia Sack said national politics had even seeped into sales of cookbooks. Her customers “are particularly interested in ones that have been in the news a lot, like Middle East and African countries,” said Sack. “With Trump banning so many people from coming over, [customers] are interested in what immigrants from those countries eat,” she said. “It’s a great way to understand them better.”
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16 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
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The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
17
Scaling Down
Chamber Music Director Karen Heather to Retire By Wayne Goodman
K
aren Heather has decided to retire as artistic director for Noe Valley Chamber Music, the Sunday afternoon concert series she founded more than 25 years ago at the Noe Valley Ministry. “I see this as an opportunity to bring in new leadership, and the 25th anniversary is the perfect time to do that,” she says. “I am very excited about the possibility that new things can happen under a new artistic leadership.” Back in the 1980s, Heather, a longtime Noe Valley resident, regularly attended Larry Kassin’s Noe Valley Music Series, a showcase for folk, blues, and jazz. With popular music doing so well, she thought, “Why not chamber music?” At the time, she worked as the director of community services for the Ministry, a Presbyterian church with a century-old building on Sanchez Street. Heather wanted to bring chamber music into a space where the audience could be close to the musicians and have a chance to interact with them. The sanctuary, she said, was “a perfect venue: good acoustics.” In 1992, she raised the idea with Carl Smith, pastor of the church. Others from the congregation worked with her on the project, and Rev. Smith gave it the green light. Over the years, the series has hosted an impressive lineup of performers from the Bay Area and around the world. Audiences have grown from as few as 30 to well over 100 at recent performances. Besides the classic repertoire, Heather has embraced new chamber works. NVCM commissioned two works by David Carlson—True Divided Light (2003) and Incendiary Devices (2015)— and premiered works by leading contemporary composers Jake Heggie, Liam Wade, Andy Akiho, and Chad Cannon.
Karen Heather may be retiring as artistic director, but she’ll remain a friend, a concert-goer, and perhaps a performer at Noe Valley Chamber Music, the series she founded 25 years ago. Photo by Beverly Tharp
reached out to ticket-holders, warning them not to attend. Those who did show up received coffee and cookies, and an apology. The trio performed a makeup concert later that year. In Perfect Harmony In 2010, Heather hired Tiffany Loewenberg to help steward the music series as its executive director. Says Loewenberg, “I have been delighted to learn from Karen. She embodies [the series’] wonderful spirit of ap-
proachability and informality. I feel so lucky to have landed here in Noe Valley, and both NVCM and I have prospered underneath her wing. Karen leads with calm and steady guidance.” Loewenberg has also been impressed with Heather’s music selection. “She has so many warm connections to musicians in the Bay Area, and they all love her. Every year, the audience continues to come back to hear what Karen gives them. They trust her artistic direction, and it has been a lovely journey.”
Great Moments Among Heather’s favorites, she says, have been San Francisco Symphony pianist Robin Sutherland; Noe Valley’s premier cellist, Emil Miland (who celebrated his cello’s 300th birthday at a performance in January); and the Artaria String Quartet (now the New Esterházy), the resident string quartet during 1995. But perhaps the most memorable was a concert in 1998 in which the Sanford Dole Ensemble sang Bach chorales using authentic Baroque performance styles. At the end of the performance, an audience member raised a hand and asked the ensemble if it might repeat the music without the Baroque touches. With little hesitation, the group complied, demonstrating their incredible flexibility. “It was interesting to hear the contrast without all the ornamentation and not as articulated, as if it were written yesterday,” says Heather. “But the most important thing was that someone directly addressed the performers, and they responded.” The intimate atmosphere was key, she says. Another proud moment was the fundraising drive in 2000 for NVCM’s beautiful Steinway grand piano. A sizable grant from Phyllis Wattis, the art collector and philanthropist, began the campaign. By the end of the season, with various fundraising activities and donations from the community, along with concert revenue, they reached their $60,000 goal. Heather says most performances have gone off like a metronome. (The series holds six regular and three family concerts a year.) But there was one time when a guitar trio cancelled on the day of the performance, due to illness. She activated a phone bank of board members who
Heather herself is a classically trained pianist, with a master’s degree in piano from the University of Lancaster in London. A performer of both classical and popular music, she most recently played at the Noe Valley Gala, held at the Ministry in October. Her favorite composer is, without a doubt, she says, Johannes Brahms, especially in his earlier years. Despite his brooding expression and long hair, she affectionately refers to him as “Hot Brahms.” His Piano Quintet in F minor is her favorite piece. ““It’s one of the most satisfying things to perform. The structure is amazing. It’s beautiful!” She also prefers arrangements for piano trio (piano, violin, and cello). However, a string quartet performs at least once every season with NVCM. As for her future plans, Heather says she would like to continue performing with chamber music groups, take some time for travel, and support NVCM by attending as many concerts as possible. Gala Holds a Secret
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Who will take over when Heather departs? For now, that is a well-kept secret. An announcement will be made at the 25th Anniversary Gala Concert to be held Sunday, April 22, 6 p.m., at the church. Heather believes the event will be an incredible way of honoring the past and introducing the future. Without dropping any hints, she says the new artistic director “will be wonderful and will take us to a new level.” The gala will feature some of the top chamber music, opera, and symphonic talent of the Bay Area, including composer Heggie, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and the Rhythm Sisters String Quartet. It also will be a celebration of Heather’s work and the world-class music she has brought to Noe Valley. Many of the musicians for the gala have waived their artistic fees as a tribute to Heather and her many accomplishments. Over two and a half decades, Noe Valley Chamber Music has become an extended family of performers, donors, and audience members for Heather, who takes great pride in the legacy. “It has been a wonderful ride for me.” The next NVCM concert—a performance of Bach, Prokofiev, and Brahms by the Chamber Music Society of San Francisco—will take place Sunday, March 18, at 4 p.m. For information on the 25th Anniversary Gala, go to www.nvcm.org/special-events/.
18 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
The Cost of Living in Noe Sprinkling of January Home Sales By Corrie M. Anders
A
1914 house on Castro Street that had been transformed into a sleek contemporary showcase sold in January for nearly $5 million. The dwelling, located in the 2400 block between 30th and Day streets, was the most expensive of four single-family detached homes to change hands that month. That’s about the same number of house sales as in January a year ago, according to data provided to the Voice by Zephyr Real Estate. The paucity of sales in January is not unusual, said Zephyr president Randall Kostick. “The numbers go down this time of year.” He explained that January sales are generally initiated in December, when
most people are preoccupied with Christmas and Chanukah activities. The New Year’s holiday may have been the spark for the owner of the home on Castro. The three-story house, with 4,380 square feet of living space, was listed Jan. 4 and sold 20 days later. It’s final price was $4,715,000, or 7.3 percent more than the asking price ($4,395,000). The buyer was likely impressed by the modern, high-tech design of the home, which featured four bedrooms, 5.5 baths, spacious living and family areas, a gourmet kitchen with Calcutta marble countertops, two media rooms, a private sauna, two-car garage, landscaped gardens and back decks providing panoramic views of San Francisco. Also sold in January were three condominiums—one more than in the same month last year. The most expensive “attached” residence was a three-bedroom, 3.5-bath home in a two-unit, three-story building, located in the 500 block of Diamond Street between 22nd and 23rd streets. Last renovated in 2011, the condo featured 2,447 square feet of living space, decks, views, and one-car parking. It sold for the asking price of $2,360,000.
Noe Valley Home Sales* Total Sales
Low Price ($)
High Price ($)
4
$1,400,000
$4,715,000
$2,526,250
59
114%
10
$1,299,000
$4,937,000
$2,735,100
38
101%
3
$1,695,000
$4,100,000
$3,061,000
47
101%
No.
Average Price ($)
Avg. Days Sale Price as on Market % of List Price
Single-family homes January 2018 December 2017 January 2017 Condominiums January 2018
3
$870,000
$2,360,000
$1,576,667
63
99%
December 2017
5
$710,000
$1,800,000
$1,247,000
34
112%
January 2017
2
$1,225,000
$1,675,000
$1,450,000
111
98%
0
100%
2- to 4-unit buildings January 2018
1
$2,060,000
$2,060,000
2,060,000
December 2017
1
$1,675,000
$1,675,000
$1,675,000
49
105%
January 2017
2
$1,552,000
$1,674,360
$1,613,180
120
92%
5+-unit buildings January 2018
0
—
—
—
—
—
December 2017
2
$1,590,000
$3,900,000
$2,745,000
51
95%
January 2017
1
$2,225,000
$2,225,000
$2,225,000
25
131%
* Survey includes all Noe Valley home sales completed during the month. Noe Valley for purposes of this survey is loosely defined as the area bordered by Grand View, 22nd, Guerrero, and 30th streets. The Voice thanks Zephyr Real Estate (zephyrre.com) for providing sales data. NVV3/2018
Noe Valley Rents** No. in Sample
Unit
Range February 2018
Average February 2018
Average January 2018
Average February 2017
Studio
6
$1,600 - $3,125
$2,228 / mo.
$2,299 / mo.
$2,184 / mo.
1-bdrm
34
$2,200 - $4,900
$3,139 / mo.
$3,108 / mo.
$3,121 / mo.
2-bdrm
30
$3,250 - $7,500
$4,432 / mo.
$4,641 / mo.
$4,277 / mo.
3-bdrm
17
$4,995 - $9,250
$6,040 / mo.
$5,788 / mo.
$6,845 / mo.
4+-bdrm
5
$6,800 - $24,000
$11,788 / mo.
$12,906 / mo.
$8,422 / mo.
** This survey is based on a sample of 92 Noe Valley apartment listings appearing on Craigslist.org from Feb. 3 to 10, 2018. NVV3/2018
Glass walls reflect the modern design of this renovated Castro Street home, which sold in January for $4,715,000. The 4,380square-foot property has four bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and a spacious backyard garden.
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The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018 19
SHORT TAKES
gram, now in its third year. State Senator Scott Wiener will be on hand to present UNN with a California state commendation on its 30 years of neighborhood advocacy. The group was founded in 1988 by residents Sue Bowie and Janice Gendreau and steered for many years by the late Vicki Rosen. The meeting will be at the Upper Noe Recreation Center, 295 Day St. Refreshments will be available at 7 p.m., and the program begins at 7:15 p.m. Milan-Howells says, “Everyone is welcome, whether they are UNN members or not.”
Get Ready to Crumble!
Succulents may compete with sculpture at the May 19 Noe Valley Garden Tour. This year’s theme will be “Art in the Garden.” Photo courtesy Peggy Cling
Garden Tour Arrives Early The 13th annual Noe Valley Garden Tour has been set for Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “The tour is being held a month earlier this year to take advantage of early-blooming trees, plants, and flowers,” says Peggy Cling of Friends of Noe Valley, which is organizing the event. Cling says eight to nine “incredibly beautiful” Noe Valley gardens will be on display and that this year’s theme is “Art in the Garden.” There may even be some plein-air painting, she notes. Tickets will go on sale in April at the Saturday Farmers Market in the Town Square, at friendsofnoevalley.com, and at stores and businesses in the neighborhood. Prices are the same as last year’s: $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. In the meantime, Friends is seeking one or two more gardens for the tour. If you have one to suggest, contact Linda Lockyer at lindalockyer3@gmail.com to schedule a viewing. Each year, proceeds from the garden tour are donated to a neighborhood beautification project. If you know of a deserving green project, send an email to Linda Lockyer.
Mandelman and Sheehy at the Forum The Wednesday, March 21, meeting of Upper Noe Neighbors will be actionpacked. The group is hosting a District 8 supervisor candidates forum featuring challenger Rafael Mandelman and incumbent Jeff Sheehy, a presentation by San Francisco Beautiful, and a visit from State Senator Scott Wiener. According to UNN president Olga Milan-Howells, the forum format will be brief presentations by both candidates, followed by questions previously submitted by UNN members. The forum will end with questions from attendees. There will be no endorsement vote. Of particular interest to UNN members, MilanHowells says, are safety, open spaces, clean streets, and better transportation. Mandelman is a former president of the Noe Valley Democratic Club and an urban development attorney. He lives in Dolores Heights. Sheehy was appointed as District 8 supervisor last year by the late Mayor Ed Lee. Sheehy is also a longtime HIV/AIDS activist. He is a Glen Park resident. Following the candidates forum, San Francisco Beautiful will speak about its work, including the 46th annual Beautification Awards and the Muni Art pro-
Omnivore Books on Food hosts many, many events during the year. Owner Celia Sack is indefatigable—and well connected to food authors around the world. However, this month, she’s ready to host you! Your chance to shine—or at least bake—is the Omnivore Cookie Contest, Saturday, March 17, from 3 to 4 p.m. (Green cookies or cookies in the shape of shamrocks are optional.) All you have to do is bake your cookies—lots of them, cautions Sack—and show up. And remember: it’s cheating to buy two dozen cookies from Noe Valley Bakery. Not into baking? How about eating? For five bucks, you can sample as many entries as you want, as long as you’re ready to voice your opinion on them. (Please, not with your mouth full.) The winning cookie queen (or king) splits the judging/eating fees with Omnivore. There will be runners-up prizes, too. Omnivore Books is located at 3885A Cesar Chavez St., just east of Church Street. Sacks says they’ve been holding food contests since Omnivore opened in 2008 but not always cookies. To see all events at the bookstore, go to www.omnivore.com.
Gabel’s Latest: The Desire for Mutual Recognition
a spiritual element that brings us into connection with each other as we seek to transform the world for the better.” The book relies on Gabel’s many years as an educator and political thinker. He is the former president of New College of California, editor-at-large of the progressive Tikkun magazine, and founder of the Project for Integrating Spirituality, Law, and Politics. You might recognize Gabel as a cofounder of the Noe Valley Farmers Market or as the bass player in the 1960s rock band Central Park Zoo. He is a longtime Noe Valley resident, living with his partner Lisa Jaicks and son Sam on Elizabeth Street. The public is invited to join Gabel and his family in a celebration of the new book at Folio Books, 3957 24th St., on Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. You can find out more about the book at www.routledge.com and about Gabel at www.petergabelauthor.com.
Hence the crayons. The pianist helped NVCM set up its pilot program for Classical Kids two years ago. NVCM executive director Tiffany Loewenberg says, “It was Hillary’s idea to have crayons, clipboards, and things for kids to occupy their hands…and to have pillows at the concerts.” Hence the comfy. Tickets are $15 per person or $40 for a family pass for up to four people. You can buy them at www.nvcm.org.
The Square Premieres Princess Bride Remember when Noe Valley had movie theaters? (Me neither.) But soon, that will change—sort of—thanks to the Noe Valley Town Square committee. Leslie Crawford, committee events manager, says that the most requested event for the Town Square has been
Cozy, Comfy, and Classical Grab a cushion and a box of crayons and settle down to listen to some Brahms at Comfy Concerts Saturday, March 10, at Noe Valley Chamber Music’s Classical Kids concert at the Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St. Doors open at 10 a.m. The 45-minute concert begins at 10:30 a.m. Pianist Hillary Nordwell and NVCM favorite, cellist Emil Miland, will play Brahms’ Cello Sonata in F major and discuss the composer’s life and times. The event is geared for children but suitable for music lovers and learners of all ages, according to NVCM. Nordwell began Cozy Concerts in her home and garden, with the intention of bringing quality music to busy families along with, she explains, “age-appropriate stories, discussions, and quiet activities in the midst of the music-making.”
The fairy-tale-within-a-fairy-tale film The Princess Bride will be shown at the Noe Valley Town Square May 10 at 6:30 p.m.
SHORT TAKES
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Peter Gabel is one of the world’s great social theorists. He also is other things— a teacher, an activist, and an author. His first book was The Bank Teller and Other Essays on the Politics of Meaning. Now he has published a fourth, The Desire for Mutual Recognition: Social Movements and the Dissolution of the False Self (Routledge, February 2018). Its topic is timely, given the renewed social activism and continued division in America today. Gabel says, “I hope people will gain confidence from the book that the longing for a loving world that they feel in themselves exists in all of us and that we really can create such a world.” However, he says, “Social activism today must have
Buckner Painting Company Gavin Buckner, Owner & Operator Neighborhood philosopher Peter Gabel, shown here on Valentine’s Day, will celebrate publication of his fourth book at Folio Books on March 14, 7 p.m. Photo courtesy Carol Yenne
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20 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
SHORT TAKES CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
movies. Thanks to $6,000 donated by the Noe Valley Gala, the group is going to give it a try. The first Town Square Movie Night is Saturday, March 10. They’ll be screening The Princess Bride, starring Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, and Andre the Giant, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The flick is free. A screen will be set up at the back of the square, and residents are welcome to bring blankets or low-back chairs to sit on to watch. No regular folding chairs, please. You might block the view for your fellow moviegoers. Things should go well because the committee is being helped, pro bono, by Alfonso Felder of the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation board, the folks who produce Film Night in the Park, including nearby Dolores Park. No further movies are scheduled at this point because, according to Crawford, “we want to see how this one goes.” But she does have ideas, like the winners of the Noe Valley Girls Film Festival, Charlie Chaplin films, or My Neighbor Totoro, a Japanese animated fantasy film. Crawford will be at the screening of The Princess Bride, taking future film suggestions. “PG only,” she advises. If you have some ideas—for movies or other events at the square—send your suggestions to noevalleytownsquareevents@gmail.com. To keep up on what’s scheduled, go to www.noevalleytownsquare.com.
and classical songs. Gaude, meaning Rejoice, is an a cappella chamber ensemble of five men and three women, led by director Jace Wittig, formerly of Chanticleer. Tickets and more information at www.holyinsf.com. March 17-18, the scene shifts westward to the Noe Valley Ministry. On Saturday, March 17, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir perform “Lift Every Voice,” a program of well-known American folk songs, and the audience is encouraged to sing along. The program takes a classical turn with the addition of guest artist tenor Kevin Gino. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. The music begins at 2 p.m. There is no admission charge. The next day, Sunday, March 18, the venerable Noe Valley Chamber Music welcomes a young quartet with a big name, the Chamber Music Society of San Francisco. Violinists Natasha Makhijani and Jory Fankuchen, violaist Clio Tilton, and cellist Samsun van Loon will be joined by guest violinist Kay Stern in playing selections from the Goldberg Variations by Bach, the Sonata for Two Violins by Prokofiev, and the Viola Quintet No. 2 by Brahms. The concert begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are available at www.nvcm.org. Lastly, baritone Eugene Villanueva and pianist Peter Grunberg play and sing songs by Brahms, Tosti, and Wolf at the next concert in the seventh annual Lieberabend series, produced by San Francisco’s Lieder Alive! The duo performs Sunday, March 25, at 5 p.m. Go to eventbrite.com for tickets. The Noe Valley Ministry is located at 1021 Sanchez St.
‘La Gran Noche’ and ‘Emerald City’ Fundraisers Two neighborhood schools are holding their biggest annual fundraisers in March. “La Gran Noche/Big Night 2018,” a benefit for James Lick Middle School, is on Saturday, March 10. Alvarado Elementary’s 25th annual auction is set for Saturday, March 17, with the theme “Wizard of Oz/Emerald City.” La Gran Noche/Big Night will be held at the Sandbox Studio, 555 Minnesota St. in Dogpatch from 7 to 11 p.m. Your $60 gets you access to the Tacolicious taco bar, Mission Minis cupcakes, specialty margaritas, sangria, unlimited wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, and dance music by the Soul Society band. Pony up some additional dollars and you might win a prize or two. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com. The Alvarado Auction starts and ends a little earlier—it is an elementary school—6 to 9 p.m. at the SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan St. The money goes to school programs in technology, art, science, math, music, physical education, and literacy. Tickets are $75. That also gets you dinner, drinks, and dancing. Online registration is at www.alvaradoschool.net/auction2018/tickets/. You can also bid online.
Spring and Summer Park Signups The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department has announced that signups for spring activities begin Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m., and for summer camps Saturday, March 17, also at 10 a.m. You can register locally at Upper Noe Rec Center at Day and Sanchez streets or online at www.sfrecpark.org. Click on Register Now on the navigation bar.
Baritone Eugene Villanueva will join pianist Peter Grunberg in a concert of Brahms, Tosti, and Wolf on Sunday, March 25, at the Noe Valley Ministry on Sanchez Street.
If you’d like to find out more about what’s available for kids to do in San Francisco this summer, over 150 programs, camps, and classes will be on display at the Summer Resource Fair, Saturday, March 10, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the County Fair Building, 1199 Ninth Ave. in Golden Gate Park. There will also be a kid-friendly area with games, a climbing wall, Lego-building, arts and crafts activities, and a book giveaway by the San Francisco Public Library.
Four Concerts in March Four concerts are on tap for Noe Valley in August. Three are classical, one is mostly folk music, and three of the four involve singing. The vocal octet Gaude performs first, on Saturday, March 10, at Holy Innocents Church, 455 Fair Oaks St. The 7:30 p.m. performance will feature Renaissance
Classical Kids
EXPERIENCE ACS Acceeleraated C Accelerated Core ore A Academics cademics
Short Takes are compiled and written by Richard May.
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Saturdays at 10:30am Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St.
8
Performing Visual Arts P errfo forming & V isual A rts Choral Music C hora r l & IInstrumental nstrumental M usic Dance Gymnastic D ance & G ymnastic w www.addaclevenger.org ww.addaclevenger.org
March 10
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Fair Oaks Street 180
San Francisco, CA 941100
(415)824.2240
nvcm.org/classical-kids $40 - Family of 4 $15 - Individual
Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation
nvcm.org
The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
21
NOW APPEARING local wildflowers • the noe valley voice
Wildflowers Need Water By Joe O’Connor The lilac-colored coast rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla) is a natural beauty.
W
ildflower abundance usually peaks in March after winter rains. The rain hasn’t happened this “rainy” season. December rainfall was 3 percent of normal. Most of January’s rain—about 60 percent—fell on the 8th, which resulted in much muddy runoff but little soil penetration. At this writing, February looks to be just as dry—all blue skies and 55-degree temperatures! You might guess that the dry weather is bad for our native wildflowers. You might be right, except that they’ve been through it before. Super often, in ecological time. Our native wildflowers are adapted to extremes in annual rainfall. They’re not necessarily happy with the ups and downs, but they’re adapted to them. Although it has been abnormally dry, March 2018 will give us many beautiful wildflowers. March features two tough native plants: coast rock cress and mission bells. Coast rock cress (Arabis blepharophylla) has a limited distribution in California but thrives in San Francisco, including nearby on Twin Peaks. Mission bells, with the musical scientific name Fritillaria affinis, flourish on Twin Peaks as well, and on Mt. Davidson.
Coast rock cress is a mustard. Each small flower (about ¼ inch wide) has four pink or purplish petals that form a Maltese cross. Rock cress flowers appear in clusters of two to ten at the ends of 2- to 5-inch stems. Clusters can be 2 to 3 inches across. The plant has distinctive hairy, lobe-shaped leaves from 1 to 3 inches long. The hairs function to condense moisture for absorption by the leaves. Coast rock cress grows in impossible places: cracks in rocks, in coarse soil, and in serpentine soil. For all of its beauty and delicacy, it’s an incredibly tough little plant. Coast rock cress is abundant on the slopes of Twin Peaks. The south slope on Burnett Avenue past Twin Peaks Boule-
Mission bells are distinguished by their mottled colors and bowing heads.
vard can be covered in rock cress in March, as can the rock outcrop about twothirds the way up the north side of the Noe (South) Peak Trail. If you follow the trail west from that rock outcrop, you’ll find even more rock cress, as well as quite a few mission bells. Mission bells are beautiful, varicolored, native lilies common in the Bay Area. Locally you can find them in several places on Twin Peaks, on Mt. Davidson, and in Glen Canyon Park. Further afield you can find them behind Baker Beach, in the Presidio, and in Bayview Park. Mission bells stand from 4 to 18 inches tall with one or more whorls of leaves on the stem. Each stem supports from one to four tulip-shaped, nodding flowers, each up to 1 inch across. Colors vary from site to site but generally show yellow mottling
As its name implies, coast rock cress thrives in steep rocky soil.
Mission bells (Fritillaria affinis) can be found throughout the Bay Area. Photos by Joe O’Connor
on a greenish-brown or brownish background. The mottled colors give rise to the flower’s other common name: checker lily. You’ll find some mission bells on the aforementioned Noe Peak, near the rock cress. You’ll find even more to the north on Twin Peaks Boulevard, below grade, where the road makes its second hairpin turn below Christmas Tree Point. Enjoy the March flowers. Let me know how you think the dry winter has affected them (drdifiori@gmail.com).
J
oe O’Connor is a retired professor of ecology with an avid interest in local plants, mushrooms, and natural history. He’s also a docent at the California Academy of Sciences. A longtime resident of 26th Street, O’Connor will web-publish his guide to San Francisco wildflowers in early 2018. For information on native plants, he recommends Calflora.org.
22 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
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The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
STORE T R E K Store Trek is a regular feature of the Noe Valley Voice profiling new stores and businesses in the neighborhood. This month, we introduce a salon that could make your eyelashes flutter.
GREEN LEAVES NATURAL SPA & LASH 3836 24th St. near Vicksburg Street 415-715-4180 http://greenleavesnaturalspa.com/
W
hen Chikako Orcutt first opened her business three years ago in West Portal, she expected that most of her clients would be coming in for spa services. The licensed esthetician offers a selection of facials and waxing on various parts of the face to remove unwanted hair. Yet she soon discovered that the boutique’s most popular service among the clientele was the application of eyelashes. Over time her lash spa offerings grew to account for 95 percent of her business. “The eyes are very important for women. Definitely with or without lashes, there is a big change. I like to make everyone beautiful,” wrote Orcutt, who goes by Chika, in an emailed reply to the Voice. “After lash services, everyone smiles when they look into the mirror. Many of my clients say, ‘My life is changed!’ I am really happy to hear that. I want to continue to help people and make them feel good about themselves!” A native of Japan, Orcutt speaks English as a second language; she said she preferred to receive questions in writing. In a brief phone interview, she said she was “so happy I am doing this,” when asked about owning her own business. In her youth, Orcutt “literally grew up” in the salon her mother, a cosmetologist, operated out of their house. As she matured, Orcutt started treating her own skin issues. As she explains on her website, “Starting in my teenage years, I have been fighting a constant battle with acne, scarring, redness, and sensitive skin. It was always a struggle to find proper skin care products.” In 2002, she moved to San Francisco but failed to find skin care products to her liking. So Orcutt started making her own, derived largely from green tea. She now uses them on her clients and offers them for purchase. Prior to going into business on her own, Orcutt worked for various spas, both here in the city and in Florida, where she and her husband briefly lived. When they moved back to San Francisco four
Green Leaves owner Chika Orcutt has expanded her esthetician services and now focuses on eyelash extensions. Photo by Pamela Gerard
years ago, Orcutt decided she wanted to open her own spa. “I like to make my clients happy!” she wrote. “Every beautician has ideas and beliefs. If you work with a salon, you cannot show all of your personality and technique. Also, many times I [couldn’t] help all of the clients’ needs.” As her own boss, Orcutt is able to customize her services to fulfill her clients’ wishes. “If they have any problems, I will try to find the right products for them, and I try to make them happy,” she wrote. She became an “eyelash extensions artist” in 2011 and is certified with both basic and advanced training by Lavish Lashes. She boasts that she now has one of the largest eyelash selections in the Bay Area. “I really enjoy creating custom eyelash designs for each of my clients’ desires or needs. I can design lashes that really pop out in a dramatic fashion, or simply enhance them in a natural way,” Orcutt explains on her site. “I also help those that have lost their lashes from disease, stress, or unbalanced hormones.” After the ownership changed at the salon in West Portal where she had been renting a room, Orcutt relocated in Au-
gust of 2016 to a space on Church Street in Noe Valley. Five months later, the roof started leaking and flooded her out. “It was very bad. I couldn’t open my business,” recalled Orcutt. “No choice! That’s why I moved to my place on 24th
23
Street. I am very happy with this location.” She worked out a deal to share the space that the Upper Hand nail spa occupies, on 24th Street between Church and Vicksburg streets. In January of last year, she reopened, welcoming back her loyal customers and attracting new ones. “I have a great group of regular clients, but I am still willing to accept new clients,” wrote Orcutt, 46, who lives in the Outer Mission. “Women keep coming because they say they like the variety of lashes that I offer.” There are five “classic lashes” clients can choose from, as well as two premium lashes and one trendy style called an ellipse lash. The majority of her clients select the Volume Full Set package ($274 and up), which requires two hours at least to complete. Once applied, the lashes remain on 24 hours a day and should last anywhere from three to five weeks before they need to be replaced. The time depends on how often the client touches the lashes or rubs their eyes. A 40-minute touch-up session costs $60 and up. “No, they can’t take off lash extensions themselves. They need remover for that,” explained Orcutt. “If they use oil products and rub their eyes, lash extensions come off.” Each month, Orcutt offers different specials that she advertises via her website. Regulars can also pay a monthly fee, between $25 and $39, to receive discounts and special perks each month. (Click on the Membership tab on her site for specific details.) Green Leaves Natural Spa & Lash is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. However, clients should book appointments through the website, as Orcutt does not take walk-ins. —Matthew S. Bajko
24 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
March 1: Ken Albala introduces NOODLE SOUP: Recipes, Techniques, Obsession. 6:30-7:30 pm. Omnivore Books, 3885A Cesar Chavez. 282-4712; omnivorebooks.com. March 1-10: Janet Kessler, “the Coyote Lady,” documents the local COYOTES with photos and videos in “Beyond the Howl.” Mon.-Thurs., 10 am-9 pm; Fri. & Sat., 10 am-5 pm; Sun., noon-5 pm. Sausalito Public Library, City Hall, 420 Litho. 2894121; coyoteyipps.com. March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: Miss Catherine tells TODDLER TALES with books, rhymes, music, and movement. 10:15 & 11 am. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 1-29: Shrawan Nepali leads Thursday Morning MEDITATION in the Noe Valley Town Square; bring a pillow. 3861 24th. 8-9 am. March 1-29: Dylan Phillipy leads BOOTCAMP on the Square, Tuesdays at 6 pm and Thursdays at 11 am. Noe Valley Town Square, 24th & Vicksburg. March 1-29: Newcomers welcome at the AL-ANON Literature Discussion, meeting Thursdays at Bethany UMC, from 7:15 to 8:30 pm. 1270 Sanchez. March 1-29: Bring your storehouse of knowledge to TRIVIA NIGHT on Thursdays at the Dubliner, 3838 24th. 8 pm. 285-0674; brainstormer.com. March 1-30: BootCampSF conducts FITNESS training Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 8:30 am. SF Rec Center Basketball Court, 30th and Whitney. 567-9009; sfbootcamp.com. March 1-31: Noe Valley OVEREATERS Anonymous meets Monday through Saturday, 7 am, at St. Aidan’s Church, 101 Gold Mine. oasf.org. March 1-31: Charlie’s Corner offers children’s STORY TIMES every day. Mon.-Fri., 10 am, noon, 3 & 5 pm; Sat. & Sun., 10:30 am, 12:30 & 3:30 pm. 4102 24th; 641-1104. March 1-31: The On Lok 30th Street SENIOR CENTER serves lunches for people over 60, weekdays and Saturdays. Noon & 1 pm. 225 30th. 550-2211.
March 7 & 21: Children 4 and up can read to a dog named Oliver at PUPPY DOG TALES. 6:30-7:30 pm. Eureka Valley Library, 1 Jose Sarria Court (16th & Market). 355-5616; sfpl.org.
MARCH 2018 • March 1 & April 5: Regulars Liz Stone, Ruby Gill, and Drew Harmon, and guests perform COMEDY GOLD on the first Thursday of the month. 9:30 pm.Valley Tavern, 4054 24th. 285-0674; lizziestone@gmail.com. March 2: Dancers’ Group’s free Rotunda DANCE performance at SF City Hall features Dance Generators. Noon. 920-9181. March 2-30: The Friday-night JAZZ series continues at Bird & Beckett bookstore. 5:30-8 pm. 653 Chenery. 586-3733; birdbeckett.com. March 2-30: Chris Sequeira leads a free Friday KARAOKE for adults gathering at Upper Noe Rec Center. 6:30-8:30 pm. 295 Day. 970-8061. March 3: Learn to knit or crochet at the Noe Valley Library’s KNITTING CIRCLE. 10:30 am-12:30 pm. 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 3 & 4: SF HISTORY DAYS 2018 at the Old Mint feature speakers, vignettes, and exhibitors from many neighborhoods. Sat., 11 am-5 pm; Sun., 11 am-4 pm. 88 5th. For a schedule of events: sfhistorydays.org. March 3-31: Each Saturday, the Noe Valley FARMERS’ MARKET brings you fresh produce and live music from 8 am to 1 pm. 3861 24th. 2481332; noevalleyfarmersmarket.com. March 3-31: Upper Noe Rec Center offers free YOGA CLASSES Saturdays 9:15-10:15 am. Day & Sanchez. 970-8061; noevalleyreccenter.com. March 3-31: Meet under the rainbow flag at Harvey Milk Plaza (Castro and Market) for a City Guides walking tour of the CASTRO. Sat., Sun. & Tues., 11 am. 557-4266; sfcityguides.org. March 3-31: The Randall Museum offers a close-up of California wildlife in “Meet the ANIMALS,” on Saturdays at 2 pm. 199 Museum Way. 554-9605.
March 3-31: Saturday night JAZZ at Bird & Beckett features local performers from 7:30 to 10 pm; refreshments available. 653 Chenery. birdbeckett.com.
March 6: The Noe Valley Library offers a “drop-in” eReader and ONLINE RESOURCE workshop from 10:30 to 11:30 am. 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org.
March 4: To kick off Noe Valley Word Week (March 4-10), SF Poet Laureate KIM SHUCK helps kids write and perform poetry. Noon to 1:30 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. For info, see friendsofnoevalleycom.
March 6: Folio Books’ “Queer Words” series features KQED host BUD GUNDY in celebration of Word Week. 7 pm. Folio Books, 3957 24th. 821-3477; foliosf.com.
March 4 & 18: The Noe Valley Town Square hosts DRUMMING and dancing on first and third Sundays; check noevalleytownsquare.com for times. 3861 24th. March 4 & 18: SF City Guides leads a free WALKING TOUR of Noe Valley on first and third Sundays at 1:30 pm. Meet at the Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 557-4266; sfcityguides.org. March 4-25: Meet at the gold fire hydrant at 20th and Church at 11 am Sundays for a City Guides walking tour of the area around MISSION DOLORES. 557-4266; sfcityguides.org. March 4-25: MARIPOSA STUDIO is open on Sundays from12:30 to 4 pm. 2808 Mariposa, at Project Artaud. 861-4330; mariposastudio.org. March 4 & April 1: The Asian Art Museum offers FREE ADMISSION on the first Sunday of the month, courtesy of Target. 200 Larkin. 5813500; asianart.org. March 5: Author/artist OBI KAUFMANN discusses his national bestseller, California Field Atlas, as a highlight of Word Week. 7 pm. Folio Books, 3957 24th. 821-3477; foliosf.com. March 5, 12, 19 & 26: The ACC Conversation Club meets from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at the Noe Valley Library. 451 Jersey. For details, email krismoser@aol.com.
March 6 & 20: Bethany United Methodist Church offers free KNITTING lessons on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. 6:308:30 pm. 1270 Sanchez. 647-8393; bethanysf.org. March 6-27: The Eureka Valley Library tells TODDLER TALES on Tuesdays, 10:30 am. 1 Jose Sarria Court (16th & Market). 355-5616; sfpl.org. March 6-27: John McClean Wolf leads SACRED YOGA Tuesdays at Holy Innocents. 7-8:15 pm. 455 Fair Oaks. 824-5142; holyinsf.org. March 6-31: SF WOMEN ARTISTS exhibit “Homage: Honoring Women’s History,” a juried all-media show. Reception Feb. 8, 5:30-8 pm; Tues.Sat., 10 am-6 pm, Sun., noon-4 pm. 647 Irving. 566-8550. March 6 & April 3: The de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor have FREE ADMISSION on the first Tuesday of the month. 750-3600; deyoungmuseum.org. March 7: Create a pom-pom bunnytail garland at adult CRAFT NIGHT at the Noe Valley Library. 7-8:30 pm. 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 7: AUTHORS Cara Black, Andrew McIntyre, and Anne Raeff discuss food literature at Word Week. 7 pm. Olive This and That, 304 Vicksburg. waynesf@gmail.com; 2517520.
March 7-28: The Noe Valley Town Square hosts TAI CHI classes at 7:15 am. 3861 24th. March 7-28: Folio Books offers STORYTIME for toddlers Wednesdays at 10 am. 3957 24th. 821-3477; foliosf.com. March 7-28: Chris Sequeira leads free senior QIGONG classes Wednesdays 1 to 3 pm, at Upper Noe Rec Center, Day & Sanchez. 7738185; livingtaichi@yahoo.com March 7-28: The Eureka Valley Library hosts BABY RHYME and play time on Wednesdays, 1:30 to 2:15. 1 Jose Sarria Court (16th & Market). 355-5616; sfpl.org. March 7-28: The Castro FARMERS MARKET is open every Wednesdays, 4 to 7 pm, through November. Noe at Market. pcfma.com. March 7-28: Holy Innocents Episcopal Church holds Candlesong, a TAIZE-style service followed by a potluck on Wednesdays at 5:30 pm. 455 Fair Oaks. 824-5142. March 7-28: History group Shaping San Francisco offers free PUBLIC TALKS on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Eric Quezada Center, 518 Valencia. shapingsf.org. March 7-28: AL-ANON meets Wednesdays 8 to 9:30 pm at St. Philip’s Church. 725 Diamond. 8349940; al-anonsf.org. March 7 & April 4: The GLBT HISTORY Museum has a free day on first Wednesdays. 11 am-7 pm. 4127 18th. 621-1107; GLBThistory.org. March 8: Tweens and teens can make pin-back BUTTONS from any 2-D image. 4-5 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 8: The Noe Valley DEMOCRATIC CLUB discusses SB 827 (upzoning near major transit) with State Senator Scott Wiener. 6 pm. Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez. noevalleydems.com.
march
events at omnivore books thu mar 1
Ken Albala • Noodle Soup: Recipes, Techniques, Obsession • 6:30-7:30 p.m. FREE • This primer offers the recipes and techniques for mastering quick-slurper staples and luxurious from-scratch feasts. including all you need to know about making stock bases, using dried or fresh noodles, and choosing from a huge variety of garnishes, flavorings, and accompaniments.
tue mar 6
Hendrik Haase • Crafted Meat: The New Meat Culture: Craft and Recipes • 6:30-7:30 p.m. FREE • Crafted Meat is a compelling visual reference on today’s new meat culture. It explores how to find the best butcher, the tools of the trade, and the differences between cattle breeds and cuts of meat. The book also includes classic recipes to cook, roast, and grill as well as more experimental ones with unusual ingredients or surprising taste combinations.
thu mar 8
Kristy Leissle • Cocoa • 6:30-7:30 p.m. • Chocolate has long been a favorite indulgence. But behind every chocolate bar we unwrap, there is a world of power struggles and political maneuvering over its most important ingredient: cocoa.
sat mar 10
Susan Sokol Blosser • The Vineyard Years: A Memoir with Recipes • 3:00-4:00 p.m. FREE • This book chronicles the personal journey of pioneering female winery owner Susan Sokol Blosser, from deciding on a whim to grow wine grapes in the early 1970s, to the trials and tribulations of starting her family-owned winery.
thu mar 15
Natasha MacAller, in conversation with Emily Luchetti • Spice Health Heroes • 6:30-7:30 p.m. FREE • This beautiful cook book includes a detailed study of the history, myths and traditional uses of spices.
sat mar 17
COOKIE CONTEST!!!! 3:00-4:00 p.m. FREE to entrants, $5 for tasters/judges • Here's the deal: Make your favorite cookies - a lot of them - and bring them to Omnivore to compete in the contest for best cookie of 2018! If you want to just eat cookies and not bake them, pay us $5 and judge for yourself (and for us). The winner splits the door money with us, and there will be runnerup prizes as well. Get ready to crumble! (Sorry, I couldn't help myself).
sat mar 24
Cameron Stauch • Vegetarian Viet Nam • 3:00-4:00 p.m. FREE • Based on recipes devised over centuries by Mahayana Buddhist monks, the dishes in Vegetarian Việt Nam make use of the full arsenal of Vietnamese herbs and sauces to make tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables burst with flavor like never before.
omnivore books on food 3885a
cesar chavez street (at church st.) · san francisco, ca phone: 415.282.4712 · omnivorebooks.com
The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
March 8: Folio Books and Word Week celebrate International WOMEN’S DAY with readings from Natasha Dennerstein, Cassandra Dallett, and Kim Shuck. 7 pm. 3957 24th. 821-3477; foliosf.com. March 8: The DIAMOND HEIGHTS Community Association meets on the second Thursday of the month, at 7 pm. Call 867-5774 for location. March 9: Charlie’s Corner Bookstore celebrates DR. SEUSS’ birthday with readings, costumes, and surprises. 10 am and noon. 4102 24th. 641-1104; charliescorner.com. March 9: The Noe Valley Library screens the 2016 FILM The Legend of Tarzan, starring Alexander Skårsgard and Margot Robbie. 2-4 pm. 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 9: Word Week guest authors Erika Atkinson, Tsun Yuan Chen, Linda Joy Myers, and Ramon Sender Barayon discuss “MEMOIR and Prosecco.” 7 pm. 4175 24th. friendsofnoevalley.com. March 10: LADYBUG GARDENERS work on the Upper Noe Rec Center park grounds on second Saturdays. 9 am-noon. Day & Sanchez. info@noevalleyreccenter.com. March 10: Noe Valley Chamber Music’s CLASSICAL KIDS hosts “Comfy Concerts” with pianist Hillary Nordwell and cellist Emil Miland. 10:30 am. Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez. nvcm.org. March 10: Noe Valley Word Week’s AUTHORS FESTIVAL features book exhibits and readings. 1-5 pm. (Readings at 2, 3, and 4 pm.) 4175 24th. mleemcneal@gmail.com; friendsofnoevalley.com. March 10: Natural Resources offers an ongoing opportunity to meet doulas (2-4 pm) and home-birth MIDWIVES (4-6 pm). 1367 Valencia. 550-2611; naturalresources-sf.com. March 10: Dr. Jennifer Henley of the SF SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program speaks as part of Noe Valley Word Week. 4-5 pm. Umpqua Bank, 3938 24th. Contact Susan Kroll, kroll.susan@gmail.com. March 10: The Noe Valley Town Square hosts its first MOVIE NIGHT, featuring The Princess Bride; bring
March 27: Noe Valley DEMOCRATIC Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Social hour 6 pm; program 6:30 pm. 1021 Sanchez. ToddsDavid@gmail.com.
• CALENDAR • your own lawn chairs and blankets. 69:30 pm. 3861 24th. March 10: James Lick Middle School holds a FUNDRAISER, “La Gran Noche,” with music, games, and a taco bar. 7-11 pm. Sandbox Studio, 555 Minnesota. 695-5675; jlms-sfusdca.schoolloop.com. March 10: The Gaude A CAPPELLA OCTET performs a concert at 7:30 pm. Holy Innocents, 455 Fair Oaks. 824-5142. March 10: Music on the Hill features a CONCERT by Trio Montage, playing music from France, Armenia, and the U.S. 7 pm. St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 101 Gold Mine. 820-1429; musiconthehill.org. March 11 & 25: Noe Valley political group ACTION SF meets on 2nd and 4th Sundays. 3-4:30 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. actionsfsolidarity@gmail.com. March 13: The Noe Valley Library hosts a discussion about CONSUMER REPORTS and the Bay Area Consumers’ Checkbook. 1-2 pm. 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 13: Artists’ Television Access screens the DOCUMENTARY Mingus: Charles Mingus 1968. 6:30-8 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 13: PFLAG meets at the Women’s Building, 3543 18th, on the second Tuesday of the month, 7 to 9 pm. 921-8850; pflagsf.org. March 13: John Martini discusses “Lincoln Park’s Lost Cemetery” at the SF HISTORY Museum meeting. 7:30-9 pm. Roosevelt Middle School, 460 Arguello. Reserve a seat at 5371105; sfhistory.org. March 14: The GREAT BOOKS discussion group meets from 6:15 to 8:15 pm at the Noe Valley Library. 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 14: Jessica and Richard Anderson host the third chamber music evening with MUSICOLOGIST Kai Christianson. 7 pm. 564 Elizabeth.
nvcm.org. March 14: Folio Books hosts a book launch party for PETER GABEL’s The Desire for Mutual Recognition. 7 pm. 3957 24th. 821-3477; foliosf.com. March 16: N.H. Senzal discusses Escape From Aleppo at the BOOKWORMS club at Folio Books. 6-7 pm. 3957 24th. RSVP required: 821-3477, tiny.cc/followorms. March 17: The SF CHAMBER ORCHESTRA performs “Lift Every Voice” with the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir. 2 pm. Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez. www.thesfco.org/events/family. March 17: Judith Dold, owner of Twilight Organizing, offers a DECLUTTERING workshop. 3-4 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 3555707; sfpl.org. March 17: Alvarado Elementary School hosts an AUCTION and raffle from 6 to 11 pm. SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan. 695-5695; alvaradoschool.net. March 18: STAND UP San Francisco discusses local citizen resistance to the Trump agenda at its monthly meeting. 2-4 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. standupsf.net. March 18: The Chamber Music Society of San Francisco plays at Noe Valley CHAMBER MUSIC. 4 pm. Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez. nvcm.org. March 19: ODD MONDAYS hosts readings and discussions; for this month’s guests, visit oddmondays.com. 7 pm. Folio Books, 3957 24th. No-host supper, 5 pm, Haystack Pizza, 3881 24th (rsvp jlsender@webtv.net). 821-2090. March 19: Horizons Foundation hosts a MAYORAL CANDIDATES forum from 7:30 to 9 pm. Castro Theater, 429 Castro. Free, but RSVP required: eventbrite.com/e/candidateforumsan-francisco-mayor-tickets42798356035.
March 20: The SF BICYCLE Coalition presents a class in safe night and all-weather biking. 6-8 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 3555707; sfbike.org. March 20: Ingleside POLICE STATION holds a community meeting on third Tuesdays. 7 pm. Community room, 1 Sgt. John V.Young Lane. Confirm meeting location at 404-4000; inglesidepolicestation.com. March 21: Charlie’s Corner Bookstore celebrates POETRY DAY with readings from around the world. 10 am, noon, and 5 pm. 4102 24th. 641-1104; charliescorner.com. March 21: Upper Noe Neighbors hosts a CANDIDATES FORUM for Supervisor District 8, starting at 7 pm. Upper Noe Rec Center, 295 Day. uppernoeneighbors.com. March 21: The Noe Valley BOOK DISCUSSION Group takes on Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. 7-8:30 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. March 23: HERCHURCH offers a Women’s Drumming Circle the fourth Friday of the month. 6-7:30 pm. 678 Portola. 731-2953; herchurch.org. March 24: A NEON WALKING TOUR, “Market-Mission-Castro,” runs from 7:15 to 9:15 pm; start location is given with reservation at neonbook.xyz. March 25: LIEDER Alive! hosts a concert of music by Brahms, featuring baritone Eugene Villanueva and pianist Peter Grünberg. 5 pm. Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez. liederalive.org. March 27: A talk on the warning signs of ALZHEIMER’S disease is presented at the Noe Valley Library from 1:30 to 2 pm. 451 Jersey. 3555707; sfpl.org. March 27: MISSION POLICE STATION holds its community meeting the last Tuesday of every other month. 6 pm. 630 Valencia. 5585400.
March 27: Elizabeth Creely discusses “The Irish in SF’s Mission District” at the SF HISTORY Association. 7 pm. Congregation Sherith Israel, 2800 California. 8817342; sanfranciscohistory.org. March 28: The RESILIENT Diamond Heights work group meets the fourth Wednesday of the month from 3:30 to 5 pm. St. Aidan’s Church, 101 Gold Mine. 867-5774. March 31: Volunteer at JURI COMMONS 9 am to noon-ish, with coffee and pastries. The park cuts through the block bounded by Guerrero, San Jose Avenue, 25th, and 26th. RSVP to meetup.com/juricommoners. March 31: Celebrate PASSOVER at Charlie’s Corner Bookstore with readings, games, songs, and refreshments. All day. 10 am and noon. 4102 24th. 641-1104; charliescorner.com. March 31: SF TENANTS UNION attorney J. Scott Weaver leads an eviction workshop. 1-2:30 pm. Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey. 355-5707; sfpl.org. April 1: Nancy B from Buena Vista, Colorado, speaks at the AL-ANON First Things First quarterly meeting and potluck. 7-8:30 pm. Bethany UMC, 1270 Sanchez. ‘
April Showers The next Noe Valley Voice Calendar will appear in the April 2018 issue, distributed the first week of April. The deadline for items is Mar. 15. Please email calendar@noevalleyvoice.com. Events in Noe Valley receive priority. Thank you.
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF SAN FRANCISCO 3957 24th St.| 415-821-3477
San Francisco itself is art, above all literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. — William Saroyan
Sunday, March 18
Happy reading from your friends at Folio Books.
Noe Valley Ministry | 4pm Natasha Makhijani, violin | Jory Fankuchen, violin Clio Tilton, viola | Samsun van Loon, cello
We are delighted to welcome this young ensemble to NVCM for the first time, as they perform Rhyme and Reason, a program of Prokofiev, Bach and Brahms with special guest artist, SF Opera Concertmaster, Kay Stern on violin!
foliosf.com
TICKETS and INFO: nvcm.org | 415-648-5236
@foliosf
For a full description of all our upcoming events visit: foliosf.com/events
25
THE NOE VALLEY VOICE
The Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation
26 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
Moldovan Academy Excellence in Early Childhood Education
Our Award Winning Noe Valley
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM Is now enrolling children from 2-5
C L A S S A D S Cleaning Professional: 28 years of experience. Apartments, homes, or offices, and buildings. Roger Miller, 415-794-4411.
my gardener wife. Looking for a miracle, a two bedroom home, flat or apartment rental. Thank you! Tim 415-801-5220.
Expert French Tutoring for high school students who need assisance. Sessions focus on student’s current classwork and on rebuilding the basics. Grades and confidence go up – students start participating in class! Teachers are amazed! I have extensive experience working with LD students too. 25+ years experience, all levels. 415-731-0122. www.frenchtutorsf.com
Creative Cleaning: House or apartment. Call Marlene Sherman 415-375-2980.
Furnished Noe Valley House available for rent mid-April, end May. Three + BR, 2.5 BA, yard, decks. On 24 Muni line. 15 minutes to BART. geoffmary5@gmail.com
Now accepting applications for 2018-19 school year • Potty trained not required • Full or partial week • HighScope Curriculum
To apply please visit: www.MoldovanAcademy.com
You can learn a lot from a chicken.
At Children’s Day School,
Sangetsu Flower Arranging Class: Named for the beautiful Sangetsu-an Teahouse in Hakone, Japan, Sangetsu is one of the newest schools of Ikebana, Japanese flower arranging; its name means “Mountain Moon.” Our goal is to arrange flowers joyfully, in a spirit of harmony with nature. Students meet downstairs at the SF Johrei Center, 1322 Portola Drive (just up the hill from West Portal Muni Station). The class is ongoing, and meets the first Saturday of each month, 1–3 p.m. There is a sliding scale donation for flowers; no one is turned away for lack of funds. For info and to reserve a place, please call the teacher, Jill Owen at 415-472-0825 or leave a message. Noe Valley Voice writer needs new home: High rents are squeezing me out, but I want to stay in the Noe Valley area with
Expert Gardening & Landscape Services: Design and installation; Regularly scheduled garden maintenance; Garden cleanups. Tree service; Fine pruning specialist; Irrigation systems; Outdoor lighting systems; Natural stone and hardscaping. Specializing in complete landscape project implementation. Well known for detailed and quality work. Free estimates; Excellent references; Fully insured. Twenty-five years experience serving Noe Valley and greater SF area. Call David Shamanik at 415-846-7581. http://www.shapeoftheearth.com Housecleaning: First-class detailing. Serving Noe Valley since 1988. Excellent references. Sullivan, 415-285-7279. Over 15 Years Pet-Sit Experience: Cats and small animals. 13 years shelter background assisting with medical and behavior support. Dependable, responsible and caring. Noe Valley resident. Kathleen Marie 415-374-0813. Submissions: The Noe Valley Voice welcomes submissions of short fiction, essays, or poetry, particularly those relating to Noe Valley. Email editor@noevalleyvoice.com or write Noe Valley Voice, P.O. Box 460249, San Francisco, CA 94146. Please include a phone number.
chickens—and eggs—are some of our best teachers. With our main campus a home to a working farm and organic garden, we’ve made the environment a core component of a rigorous curriculum that is project-based, integrated across academic disciplines and designed to prepare and inspire. We expect great things of our students, because we know that passionate citizens change the world.
How to Place A Class AD Type or print the text of your ad, multiply the number of words by 40¢ per word, and send us a check for the total. (A phone number, including area code, counts as one word.) Then mail your ad text and payment, made out to the Noe Valley Voice, so that we receive it by the 15th of the month before the month in which you’d like to advertise. The address is Noe Valley Voice Class Ads, P.O. Box 460249, San Francisco, CA 94146. (Sorry, we don’t accept Class Ads by phone or email.) 10 for 10 discount: The Noe Valley Voice publishes 10 months a year. (We’re on vacation in January and August.) If you place the same class ad in 10 issues, you get a 10 percent discount. To figure your cost, deduct 10 percent from the total due for 10 issues. The next Voice Class Ads will appear in the April 2018 issue, distributed in Noe Valley the first week of March. The deadline for Class Ads is March 15. The Class Ads are also displayed at www.noevalleyvoice.com. Only the first few words of the ad will be set in bold. Also, receipts and tear sheets are provided only if your order is accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Refunds are not granted unless we have made an error. .
To learn more about our approach to education, visit www.cds-sf.org. Or call our Admission Office at (415) 861-5432 x337 to schedule a tour.
Children’s Day School 333 Dolores Street San Francisco www.cds-sf.org
The National Movement In Our Neighborhood
RESISTRY.NET
The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
UPPER NOE REC CENTER
CLAUDIA SIEGEL CRS SRES, LHMP, GBP, E-PRO
A full house attends the recent Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) training at Upper Noe Rec Center. The San Francisco Fire Department presented the free six-part disasterpreparedness course on Wednesday evenings. Photo courtesy Chris Faust
Candidates and Courses
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pper Noe Recreation Center is a true community center, providing activities for all ages and interests. This month, the park invites everyone to help celebrate the Upper Noe Neighbors group’s 30-year anniversary and to hear District 8 Supervisor candidates Jeff Sheehy and Rafael Mandelman on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 p.m., at the rec center at 295 Day St. They are running in the June 5 election. Meanwhile, registration for Spring Activities opens on Saturday, March 3, at 10 a.m. Visit sfrecpark.org to add courses to your wish list; then register with one click, starting March 3. Summer Camp registration begins Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. Early birds, take note, the camp registration at Upper Noe Rec Center now requires you to be physically present in line. “Saving spots” with chairs or other items is not permitted. To get updates on classes or check out the park’s newsletter, visit the Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center at www.noevalleyreccenter.com. To talk to park staff, call 415-970-8061 or just drop by the rec center office, open Monday through Saturday. —Chris Faust, Chair, Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center UPPER NOE REC CENTER SPRING SESSION MARCH 6 – MAY 31, 2018 Check www.noevalleyreccenter.com for updates.
MONDAY (Center closed; outside activities only.) TUESDAY (Center open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Open Gym Auditorium Free Play Petite Bakers (ages 3-6) Drop in or register Rec-N-Tot Soccer Simply Fun for All Feldenkrais Pickleball (all ages) Soccer (ages 5-6) QuickStart Tennis (ages 9-11) Soccer (ages 9-12) Tennis Intermediate/Advanced (18+) Yoga - Vinyasa (18+ all levels) Adult Boot Camp
6:30-8:30 p.m. * 2:30-5 p.m.* 10-11 a.m. 10-11 a.m. 10-11:30 a.m. 1-2 p.m. 1-3 p.m. FREE 4-5 p.m. 5-6 p.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m. 6-7 p.m. 6:30-7:30 p.m. 7:45-8:45 p.m.
WEDNESDAY (Center open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Open Gym Auditorium Free Play Pilates intermediate (18+) Pilates beginner (18+) Qi Gong for Seniors (55+) Coed Flag Football Pee-Wee Division (ages 8-10) Volleyball Girls Beginner (ages 7-9) Coed Flag Football Senior Division (ages 11-13) Little Kickers (ages 4-7) Karate Kids (ages 6-12) Tennis beginner/intermediate (18+) Drop-in Volleyball (18+)
12-3:30 p.m.* 3-4 p.m.* 9:30-10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 1-3 p.m. 3:30-4:30 p.m. 4-5:30 p.m. 4:30-5:30 p.m. 4:30-5:30 p.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m. 6-7 p.m. 6:30-8:30 p.m. FREE
THURSDAY (Center open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Open Gym Auditorium Free Play Petite Bakers (ages 3-6) Drop in or register Pickleball (all ages) Argentine Tango, advanced (55+) Theater Mini Players (ages 5-6) Zumba (family) Yoga - Gentle Hatha (18+)
6-8:30 p.m.* 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.* 10:15-11:15 a.m. 1-3 p.m. FREE 1-4 p.m. Drop-ins welcome. FREE 4:30-5:30 p.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Drop-in only. FREE 6:45-7:45 p.m.
FRIDAY (Center open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
Open Gym Auditorium Free Play Pilates intermediate (18+) Pilates all levels (18+) Volleyball League Girls Intermediate (ages 10-14) Shred N Butter (ages 6-13) Karaoke for Adults (18+) Drop-in Volleyball (18+)
12-3:30 p.m.* 1-4 p.m.* 9:30-10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 4-5:30 p.m. 4:30-6 p.m. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 6:30-8:30 p.m. FREE
SATURDAY (Center open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Open Gym Auditorium Free Play Yoga Vinyasa (18+ all levels) Rec-N-Tot Soccer (ages 2-3) Zumba (family) Drop-in only
None 12-4:30 p.m.* 9:15-10:15 a.m. 10-11 a.m. 10:30-11:30 a.m. FREE
SUNDAY (Center closed; outside activities only.)
*Hours are subject to change.
"Anyone seeking to buy or sell a home would be lucky to work with Claudia. She is a true professional who more than earns her commission with her energy, generosity, wisdom, and can-do practicality. We will always feel deeply grateful to her for helping us through one of the most important transitions in the life of our family." Check out my testimomials on YELP or at www.ClaudiaSiegel.com.
Claudia Siegel, Top Producer REALTOR® LIC# 01440745 415.816.2811 | ClaudiaSiegel@zephyrsf.com ClaudiaSiegel.com
CREATING EXCELLENCE WITH INTEGRITY
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28 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
A D U LT S / T E E N S
Noe Valley Knitting Circle: Learn how to knit or crochet, or come work on your own project. The library has supplies to practice on, or bring your own yarn and needles. Saturday, March 3; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. AAC Conversation Club: Users of Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices, including Dynavox, QuickTalker, and Talk Bar, or smartphone and tablet applications, meet to explore new topics. For information contact Kris Moser at krismoser@aol.com. Mondays, March 5, 12, 19 & 26; 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. eReader and Online Resource Drop-In: Bring your mobile device or laptop (and passwords) and your library card and PIN to an informal workshop on using the SFPL’s digital resources, including the library catalog, Kanopy for streaming films, Flipster and RBDigital for magazines, OverDrive and Axis360 for eBooks, and Hoopla for movies, music, and audiobooks. Tuesday, March 6; 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Adult Craft Night: Make a cute pompom bunny-tail garland for spring. Call 415-355-5707 to sign up, or ask at the information desk. Wednesday, March 7; 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday Matinee: The library screens the 2016 film The Legend of Tarzan, starring Alexander Skarsgard and Margot Robbie. Friday, March 9; 2 to 4 p.m. Be a Smarter Consumer: Learn about Consumer Reports and Bay Area Consumers’ Checkbook, two resources for saving money and making smarter decisions about purchases. Both are available online 24/7 and free to access with a library card. Tuesday, March 13; 1 to 2 p.m. ATA @ SFPL: Artists’ Television Access mines the treasures in the Library’s 16mm film archive; this month they show the documentary Mingus: Charles Mingus 1968 from Grove Press Films. Tuesday, March 13; 6:30 to 8 p.m.
MORE BOOKS TO READ Wellspring of Literature
Y
ou can meet a 2,000-year-old woman, relive the 2017 Women’s March, and learn about the lives of Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba if you tackle the reading list offered this month by Branch Manager Denise Sanderson and Children’s Librarian Catherine Starr of the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library To check on the books’ availability, or that of films and other library materials, drop by the Noe Valley branch at 451 Jersey St., call 415-355-5707, or search the San Francisco Public Library online at www.sfpl.org. Remember to ask about Kanopy, the library’s new streaming service. Children’s Fiction ❧ Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates, written by April Jones Prince and illustrated by Steven Salerno, is a swashbuckling take on the Goldilocks story. Ages 4 to 7. ❧ Two brothers get a visit from their grandpa in Charlie and Mouse and Grumpy, written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Emily Hughes. Ages 4 to 8.
❧ In The Sound of Silence, written by Katrina Goldsaito and illustrated by Julia Kuo, a boy searches Tokyo for silence. Ages 5 to 9.
❧ The granddaughter of Marco Polo travels to Venice on the Silk Road, in Silk and Song by Dana Stabenow.
❧ An orphan gets involved in a hotel’s mystery in Winterhouse, the first book of three in a series written by Ben Guterson, illustrated by Chloe Bristol. Ages 8 to 12. ❧ The worlds of wizards and warriors collide in The Wizards of Once, by the author of How to Train Your Dragon, Cressida Cowell. Ages 9 to 13. ❧ In 1854, a young girl brings her younger brother home to Connecticut via the Underground Railroad in Martha and the Slave Catchers, written by Harriet Hyman Alonso, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Ages 12 to 14.
Declutter and Reorganize Your Life: Judith Dold, owner of Twilight Organizing, provides residential and home office organizational tips, including how to clear clutter and possessions you no longer need. Saturday, March 17; 3 to 4 p.m.
Children’s Nonfiction
Night and All-Weather Biking: The SF Bicycle Coalition presents a class for intermediate riders, on safety practices and equipment in hazardous conditions. Register at sfbike.org/event/night-andall-weather-biking-workshop-2. For information, contact the Coalition at education@sfbike.org; 415-431-2453, ext. 322. Tuesday, March 20; 6 to 8 p.m.
❧ Mama Africa! How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope With Her Song is a biography of the Grammy-winning South African singer, written by Kathryn Erskine and illustrated by Charly Palmer. Ages 6 to 10.
Alzheimer’s Workshop: Learn the 10 early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease, current methods of diagnosis, and the benefits of early detection. Tuesday, March 27; 1:30 to 3 p.m. Eviction Workshop: SF Tenants Union attorney J. Scott Weaver answers questions about evictions and tenant rights. Saturday, March 31; 1 to 2:30 p.m. All events take place at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library, 451 Jersey St. between Castro and Diamond streets. For information, call 415-355-5707 or visit www.sfpl.org.
❧ An Icelandic woman remembers her remarkable life spanning most of the 20th century, in Woman at 1,000 Degrees by Hallgrímur Helgason. ❧ In Eternal Life by Dara Horn, a 2,000-year-old woman who had made a bargain to live forever tries to find a way out.
❧ In the graphic novel Where’s Halmoni? byJulieKim,twoKorean children search for their grandmother. Ages 7 to 10.
❧ Alice Briere-Haquet’s biography, Nina: Jazz Legend and Civil-Rights Activist Nina Simone is illustrated by Bruno Liance, and translated by Julie Cormier. Ages 4 to 8.
❧ The many and varied aquatic creatures are revealed in Secrets of the Sea, written by Kate Baker, illustrated by Eleanor Taylor. Ages 8 to 12.
Button Making for T(w)eens: Learn how to turn two-dimensional images into tiny wearable canvas buttons at this workshop for ages 10 to 17. All materials are provided. Thursday, March 8, 4 to 5 p.m. Toddler Tales: Miss Catherine leads a program of books, rhymes, music, and movement for children 16 months through 2 years, with parent or caregiver. Thursdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, at 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., and 11 to 11:30 a.m. All events take place at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library, 451 Jersey St. between Castro and Diamond streets. For information, call 415-355-5707 or visit www.sfpl.org.
Adult Fiction
❧ A statue of a bear in a museum comes to life in Pompon, by Geraldine Elschner, with illustrations by Joanna Bolliot. Ages 5 to 7.
Great Books Discussion Group, sponsored by the non-profit Great Books Council of San Francisco, meets to discuss and learn from outstanding works of writing. For information contact Elena at eschmid@sonic.net. Wednesday, March 14; 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.
The Noe Valley Book Discussion Group discusses Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. Get a copy of the book at the circulation desk. Wednesday, March 21; 7 to 8:30 p.m.
❧ Every page of Look! What Do You See? An Art Puzzle Book of American and Chinese Songs, by Xu Bing and Becca Stadtlander, is filled with secret code. Ages 9 to adult.
CHILDREN’S EVENTS
❧ In Akwaeke Emezi’s debut novel, Freshwater, a Nigerian woman is born with “one foot on the other side,” and develops separate selves. Adult Nonfiction
❧ Crafty Little Things to Sew: 20 Clever Sewing Projects Using Scraps & Fat Quarters, by Caroline FairbanksCritchfield, includes pouches, totes, and baskets. ❧ Leslie Anthony examines both animals and micro-organisms in The Aliens Among Us: How Invasive Species Are Transforming the Planet—and Ourselves. ❧ Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World includes essays by organizers and participants in the Jan. 21, 2017, Women’s March. ❧ Adams Media’s Five-Minute Yoga: A More Energetic, Focused, and Balanced You in Just Five Minutes a Day offers 100 different yoga sequences.
❧ Authors including Faulkner, Hemingway, Steinbeck, and Welty are considered in From Native Son to King’s Men: The Literary Landscape of 1940s America by Robert McParland. ❧ Brett Archibald describes his 28-hour ordeal at sea in Alone: Lost Overboard in the Indian Ocean. Audiobooks and eAudio ❧ A man goes on the air to advocate for a state to secede from the union in Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance by Bill McKibben. ❧ A software engineer becomes involved with a secret market that wants to fuse food and technology in Sourdough by Robin Sloan. ❧ In A.J. Finn’s mystery The Woman in the Window, a recluse questions whether she has seen a crime in the house next door. ❧ In Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State, Barton Gellman describes the hidden superstructure connecting Silicon Valley, a large corporation, and government espionage. Annotations were penned by Voice bookworm Karol Barske. BRANCH HOURS Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Branch Library 451 Jersey St., 355-5707 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1-5 12-6 10-9 1-9 10-6 1-6 10-6
❧ A man remembers incidents from his childhood in Argentina during the 1970s military dictatorship in A Beautiful Young Woman by Julián López.
Sun 1-5
Mission Branch Library 300 Bartlett St., 355-2800 Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri 1-6 10-9 10-9 10-9 1-6
❧ David M. Buerge recounts the history of the northwestern United States in Chief Seattle and the Town That Took His Name: Change of Worlds for the Native People and Settlers on Puget Sound.
Sun 1-5
Glen Park Branch Library 2825 Diamond St., 355-2858 Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri 10-6 10-6 12-8 12-7 1-6
eBooks
Sat 10-6
Sat 1-6
Eureka Valley–Harvey Milk Branch Library 1 José Sarria Ct. (3555 16th St.), 355-5616 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 12-6 10-9 12-9 10-6 1-6 12-6
C RO S S WO R D S O L U T I O N FEATURED ARTIST
Willa Owings Acrylic paintings
OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, March 2nd 5-7pm Exhibit runs through March 31st
LOLA S ART GALLERY 1250 Sanchez Street in Noe Valley 415.642.4875 Hours: Tues-Sun 12-6pm LolaSanFrancisco.com
Restaurant Restoration By Michael Blake
The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
and now for the
RUMORS behind the news Hungry, Hungry Noe Valleons By Mazook
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HETTING YOUR APPETITE: Uptown Noe Valley, that is, Church Street south of 24th, is becoming a culinary destination for both local food enthusiasts and people from all over the world. Ardiana opened last August and soon became a prime spot for those who love Mediterranean Italian fare. The Voice featured it in last month’s Store Trek column. Weekends require a reservation. At Uma Casa, down Church Street at Duncan, Chef Telmo Faria brought Portuguese cuisine to the neighborhood when he opened his restaurant a little over a year ago. It has rapidly has become a destination for many, and it’s frequently packed with diners. Faria is now involved in opening a new Portuguese eatery in the TransMission at 590 Valencia St. (near 17th), called Piri Pica. It will feature Piri Piri (peppers peppers), which is flame-grilled chicken with a spicy pepper sauce (this is also an entrée at Uma Casa). New to our restaurant row, at 1140 Church near Day, is Seokyo. Seokyo began serving Korean-Japanese fusion cuisine last month. Chef Andy Go is excited to be back in the neighborhood, since he worked several years ago at this same location when it was Tataki South. Neighborhood oldsters will remember when Deep Sushi first opened there, back last century, in March of 1999. Tataki took over the space
in 2010, then Noe Sushi in 2016. Later, briefly, it was Taku Sushi. Go will be serving a variety of Japanese fare including veggie, seafood, meat, and rice dishes, as well as makimono (sushi, that is). Seokyo will be open from 5 to 10 p.m., seven days a week. He says the most popular dishes are grilled squid with garlic, kalbi (short ribs), and sashimi. Stars in Upper Noe Valley (for the past 12 years) are husband-and-wife restaurateurs Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan. Their Sardinian restaurant La Ciccia (30th and Church) got rave reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle’s restaurant guru, Michael Bauer, in his Feb. 20 column. “I go to hundreds of restaurants a year,” writes Bauer, “but I can honestly say that none are as warm and embracing as La Ciccia.” His favorite dishes were the “the smoky herbaceous tomato sauce with octopus stew,” the “breaded pork topped with saffron onions and smoked pancetta,” and the “must-order” Pani Guttiau. Conti says that after the review was published, the San Francisco Italian Consulate tweeted the praise around the world. “About 15 percent of our customers are from outside the Bay Area,” explains Conti, “and many of those are visitors from the European countries. It is quite humbling.” La Ciccia is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended for this 44-seat gem, and there is about a two-week wait, according to Conti, for table reservations on weekends. He says they try to keep one or two tables open for locals who walk in, and there are usually seats available at the counter. SECOND HELPINGS: Down Church Street, you might pass the lines outside Omnivore bookstore, at 3885A Cesar Chavez (behind Noe Valley Pet Store).
There the culinary curious are waiting to attend one of the store’s regular authors talks, where often samples are served. On March 6, Hendrik Haase will discuss Crafted Meat: The New Meat Culture, and on March 8 Kristy Leissle will lecture on cocoa. Omnivore is hosting a cookie contest on March 17 (see this month’s Short Takes), and on March 24, Cameron Stauch will talk about Vegetarian Viet Nam. As we march up Church toward 24th Street we pass the venerable Chloe’s Café, where the weekend brunch lines have formed outside on the corner of 26th Street for the past 30 years. Best wishes to Chloe’s Steve and Melania Baker, who are rebuilding their home in Santa Rosa after it was lost in the fires there this fall. Up the street at the long-vacant Fattoush storefront, a planning department permit has been posted on the window for repairs to the trashed premises. This is the first sign of life there in more than two years. Welcome back to Le Cupboard and their “plant-based and organic kitchen” and café, on the corner of Church and 25th. The business reorganized and reopened very softly on Feb. 17, after abruptly closing last November. Le Cupboard made a big splash with the vegan crowd last summer. It prepares food for vending machines located around the Bay Area. “We decided to refocus on our core mission, to scale our activities and make sure we have the right capabilities to roll out more mobile Cupboards in different areas. We are a small team so we had to make sure the cafe is open once we can fully take care of our customers,” said manager Cannelle Hennuyer. As for the vending machines, she says, “We have several around the city. Our latest one is being installed at Genentech. The mobile Cupboard curates menus for people who have specific health and fitness goals. The menu is pretty much the same as the one at Le Cupboard Cafe.” The café is open Monday through Fri-
day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are 10 items on the menu, plus coffee and tea beverages. For breakfast you might like Le Santorini which is a “vanilla-infused chia pudding layered with strawberries, roasted pistachios, and tipped with a light maple drizzle,” or maybe a “plant-based chocolate mousse topped with raspberries, pistachios, and sea salt.” Or maybe Toast: Le Sausalito, which is Arizmendi Bakery sourdough bread, avocado, and romesco sauce, topped with cilantro, radish, and sesame seeds. For lunch you could try Le Bondi Beach, which is cumin-infused beluga lentils with cherry tomatoes, pickled onions, cashew cheese, Persian cucumber, baby spinach, and pumpkin seeds. Or perhaps Le Madrid, which is zucchini noodles with walnut pesto, grilled mushrooms infused with garlic, and harissa flax seeds. Yum. STOREFRONT AND CENTER: As you know from the December column, it appears that PastaGina, on Diamond near 24th, is indeed history. According to the owner’s real estate representative, Ken Brownell (TRI Real Estate), the lease had expired last November. and the owner has regained possession of the long-running and very popular takeout spot. We’ve been enjoying their homemade pastas and sauces for the past 36 years. Brownell says he has had a lot of interest in the location, and that we can expect some kind of food service business to open there “in the next few months.” The monthly rent for the space, including some storage downstairs, is listed at $6,000. The “For Lease” sign on the front of La CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
From our Happy Sellers and Buyers to your Ears “Don and Stefano are simply the best. We have bought and sold houses with them several times and each time we were impressed with their professionalism and knowledge of the real estate market. We recently sold our house it couldn’t have been easier! After we moved out, we handed them the keys and they took care of the rest! They are meticulous, timely, and most importantly kind-hearted… people you can really trust. I cannot recommend them enough.” – Ross S
“Don and Stefano are remarkable Real Estate Agents. Besides being completely honest, dedicated, thorough, and knowledgeable, these two guys had a creative approach in showing the property in its strength. – Galen H
“We just purchased our 19th home, and we have never had agents of Don and Stefano’s caliber. They did everything right for us in the torturous SF market. We would not have gotten our new home but for their tenacity and expert knowledge of market machinations.” — Glenn and Nancy S
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Don Woolhouse
Stefano DeZerega
Broker Associate LIC# 00866643 415.971.7766 dwoolhouse@zephyrsf.com
REALTOR® LIC# 01730431 415.987.7833 sdezerega@zephyrsf.com
29
30 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
Action SF—The National Movement in Your Neighborhood Website: www.facebook.com/actionsfsolidarity Email: actionsfsolidarity@gmail.com Meetings: Second and fourth Sunday, 3 p.m., at the Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey St. Al-Anon Noe Valley Contact: 834-9940 Website: www.al-anonsf.org Meetings: Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. St. Philip Church, 725 Diamond St. (park on Elizabeth Street side; enter on 24th Street through parking lot) Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association Website: www.evna.org Address: P.O. Box 14137, SF, CA 94114 Meetings: See website calendar. Castro Meeting Room, 501 Castro St., 7 p.m. Diamond Heights Community Association Contact: Betsy Eddy, 867-5774 Address: P.O. Box 31529, SF, CA 94131 Website: www.dhcasf.org Meetings: Second Thursday, 7 p.m. Call for location. Dolores Heights Improvement Club Email: info@doloresheights.org Website: www.doloresheights.org Meetings: Third Thursday of every second month. Bank of America, 18th and Castro. Duncan Newburg Association (DNA) Contacts: Deanna Mooney, 821-4045; Diane McCarney, 824-0303; or Sally Chew, 821-6235 Address: 560 Duncan St., SF, CA 94131 Meetings: Call for details. Fair Oaks Neighbors Email: hello@fairoaksneighbors.org Address: 200 Fair Oaks St., SF, CA 94110 Street fair is the day before Mother’s Day. Fairmount Heights Association Contact: Kathy Keller, 912-9365 Email: Kathy.Keller44@gmail.com http://fairmount-heights.org Meetings: Monthly social mixer and discussion, 350 Amber Drive Friends of Billy Goat Hill Contact: Lisa and Mo Ghotbi, 821-0122 Website: www.billygoathill.net
M ORE G ROUPS TO JO IN Friends of Dolores Park Playground Contact: Nancy Gonzalez Madynski, 828-5772 Email: friendsofdolorespark@gmail.com Website: www.friendsofdolorespark.org Meetings: See website. Friends of Glen Canyon Park Contact: Richard Craib, 648-0862, or Jean Connor, 584-8576 Address: 140 Turquoise Way, SF, CA 94131 Meetings: Call for details. Friends of Noe Courts Playground Contact: Laura Norman Email: lauranor@yahoo.com Address: P.O. Box 460953, SF, CA 94146 Meetings: Email for dates and times. Friends of Noe Valley (FNV) Contact: Todd David, 401-0625 Email: info@friendsofnoevalley.com Website: www.friendsofnoevalley.com Meetings: Two or three annually; held at St. Philip’s Church or James Lick School Friends of the Noe Valley Recreation Center (Upper Noe Rec Center) Contact: Chris Faust Email: info@noevalleyreccenter.com Website: www.noevalleyreccenter.com Meetings: Email or check website. Friends of 30th Street Senior Center Contact: Marianne Hampton, 601-7845 Address: 225 30th St., SF, CA 94131 Meetings: Occasional. Call for details. Friends of Upper Noe Dog Owners Group (FUNDOG) Contacts: Chris Faust, David Emanuel Email: info@fundogsf.org Website: www.fundogsf.org Glen Park Association Contact: info@glenparkassociation.org Website: glenparkassociation.org Address: P.O. Box 31292, SF, CA 94131 Juri Commoners Contact: Dave Schweisguth, MI7-6290 Email: dave@schweisguth.org Website: www.meetup.com/JuriCommoners Meetings: Most last Saturdays, 9-noon.
Liberty Hill Neighborhood Association Contact: Dr. Lisa Fromer, president Email: efromer3@gmail.com Meetings: Quarterly. Email for details. Merchants of Upper Market and Castro Contact: 835-8720 Email: info@castromerchants.com Address: 584 Castro St. #333, SF, CA 94114 Meetings: Call for details. Noe Neighborhood Council Contact: Ozzie Rohm or Matt McCabe, Co-founders Email: info@noeneighborhoodcouncil.com Website:www.noeneighborhoodcouncil.com Meetings: Quarterly at Sally Brunn Library, 451 Jersey St., with date publicized on website and Nextdoor.com. Noe Valley Association–24th Street Community Benefit District Contact: Debra Niemann, 519-0093 Dispatch: To report spills, debris, or garbage on 24th Street, call Ron Vanini, 596-7089. Email: info@noevalleyassociation.org. Website: www.noevalleyassociation.org Board meetings: Quarterly. See website. Noe Valley Democratic Club Contact: Hunter Stern, 282-9042; hls5@ibew1245.com Website: noevalleydems.com Meetings: Fourth Tuesdays, Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez St., 6:30 p.m. Noe Valley Farmers Market Open Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3861 24th St. between Vicksburg and Sanchez. Contact: Leslie Crawford, 248-1332 Email: info@noevalleyfarmersmarket.com Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association (NVMPA) Contact: Rachel Swann, 225-7743 Meetings: Last Thursdays, Old Republic, 4045A 24th St., 9 a.m. Call to confirm. Website: www.NoeValleyMerchants.com Noe Valley Parent Network An e-mail resource network for parents Contact: Mina Kenvin Email: minaken@gmail.com
Noe Valley Parents, San Francisco Listserv contact: noevalleyparentowner@yahoogroups.com. Subscribe: noevalleyparentsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Outer Noe Valley Merchants Contact: Jim Appenrodt, 641-1500 Address: 294 29th St., SF, CA 94131 Meetings: Call for details. Progress Noe Valley Facebook: facebook.com/ProgressNoeValley Email: progressnoe@gmail.com Website: progressnoe.com Meetings: Check Facebook page for current meeting and event schedule. Residents for Noe Valley Town Square Contact: Todd David, 401-0625 Email: noevalleytownsquare@gmail.com Website: www.noevalleytownsquare.com Meetings: Call for details. San Francisco NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) Contact: Noe Valley NERT Neighborhood Team co-coordinators Maxine Fasulis, mfasulis@yahoo.com; Carole Roberts, carole_roberts@faludi.com www.sf-fire.org/index.aspx?page=879 Meetings: See website for training schedules. San Jose/Guerrero Coalition to Save Our Streets Contact: Don Oshiro, 285-8188 Email: contact@sanjoseguerrero.com Website: www.sanjoseguerrero.com Meetings: See website. Stand Up San Francisco Contacts: Laura Shapiro, Phyllis Ball, Paul Silverman Email: info@standupsf.net Website: www.standupsf.net Meetings: At offices of members of Congress, weekly. All-group meetings at Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey St., once a month Upper Noe Neighbors Contact: Olga Milan-Howells, 756-4455 Email: President@UpperNoeNeighbors.com Meetings: Bi-monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. Upper Noe Recreation Center, 295 Day St. Next meeting July 19, 7 p.m. *All phone numbers are in the 415 area code.
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The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
RUMORS
because Healthy Spot is a formula retail store (a chain) and because they support the 10 small businesses in Noe Valley that offer similar services.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29
PanotiQ café (4018 24th), which has been up since May of last year, was removed in the middle of February. This could signal that a new place to eat is in the works. Calls to the real estate agent have gone unanswered, and it appears that La PanotiQ has closed all of its locations and gone out of business. Last month’s column about Downtown Noe Valley merchants’ concern over the declining presence of retail and dry goods stores on our main drag and the number of store vacancies was echoed in the Feb. 5 Chronicle by J.K. Dineen under the headline, “SF supervisors want something done about long-vacant storefronts.” Evidently, City Hall cares more about the vacancy than about the use of a storefront. The SF Office of Economic and Workforce Development reportedly issued a report that the overall city vacancy rate is only 3.2 percent. The city agency’s deputy director, Joaquin Torres, is in favor of “relaxing” some use restrictions: “Because there is less retail, maybe we have to look at broadening what is allowed on the ground floor,” he told the Chron. The battle continues over Los Angelesbased pet store Healthy Spot’s application for a conditional use permit. The business filed at the Planning Department at the beginning of December, hoping to open its first Northern California location in the space that was vacated by Radio Shack when it went bankrupt (twice, but who’s counting). Healthy Spot describes itself as “an all-in-one dog care retail company that offers…a full range of premium products, personalized grooming, daycare, and training service.” A petition opposing Healthy Spot now has been signed by more than 1,100 Noe Valleons. They want to deny the permit
SHORT SHRIFTS: Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 10, when at sundown Movie Night premieres in the Noe Valley Town Square. The feature will be the family-oriented Princess Bride, a 1987 romantic comedy/fantasy adventure directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, and Christopher Guest.... For those of you who recently noticed towels wrapped around the fire alarm boxes on the streets of Noe Valley, it appears that is how the staff at San Francisco’s Department of Technology dealt with the task of covering broken call boxes after they ran out of their custommade bags, as reported by Lyanne Melendez of ABC Channel 7 news. For the city that knows how, however, the department’s email response to her inquiry was, “In the abundance of caution to keep residents from trying to use out-of-service boxes, the only equipment the technicians had available were towels and tape which they used to wrap the boxes.” Reuse, recycle.... No, tuLIPS Speech Therapy and staff are not leaving their second-floor offices at 1414 Castro (near Jersey), despite the “For Rent, Second Floor” sign posted at the entrance by the landlord’s real estate representative. Turns out there is another space on that floor which is available.... Songbird Studios (3823 24th near Vicksburg and 1463 Pine), which specializes in singing lessons, voice vocal coaching, and songwriting, has now opened a third studio in the Inner Sunset. It’s at 1610 Irving St..... Meanwhile, Music Together of San Francisco, an early childhood music program founded 17 years ago by Paul Godl-
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She’s a New York Times and USA Today best-selling writer. The series of books is set in and around Paris, beginning in 1999 with Murder in the Marais, and features a half-French/half-American female detective.
Energy Saver: Neighbors were bewildered last month by the sight of something strange in the fire call box at 21st and Sanchez streets. It seems the city’s technology department staff had come up with an ecological solution for a box with broken glass: towels.
win of the children’s rock band the Sippy Cups, has opened a new location at Sunporch Yoga, 666 Chenery St., in Glen Park. Classes will be offered on Wednesday and Thursday mornings beginning March 21.... You might want to check out Willa Owings’ “California Landscapes” show of acrylic paintings. The month-long show will open March 2 at Lola’s Art Gallery, 1250 Sanchez at Clipper. Artsy Lola herself paints and custom-designs clothes for her many Noe Valley patrons.... And in hamburger news, from all indications, including the building owner’s estimation, the so-called Hi-Way Burger restaurant being built now in the old Caskhouse space on the corner of 24th and Vicksburg should be finished by the end of April. OOH LA LA: Noe Valley mystery writer Cara Black has a new book, Murder in Saint-Germain, which is the 17th in the Aimée Leduc private investigator series.
Black, an Alvarado Street resident for the past 29 years, has written an episode almost every year since her first was published, and her books are now translated into eight languages. Each episode takes place in a different Paris arrondissement. Her 18th murder mystery will be released in hard cover this April and features a murder on the Left Bank. “There are two more arrondissements left to do in the series,” says Black, who spends quality time in Paris twice a year doing research for each of Leduc’s murder mysteries, all of which are set in the 1990s. Black is scheduled to appear during Noe Valley’s Word Week (March 4-10) on Wednesday, March 7, with two other local writers, Andrew McIntyre and Anne Raeff. They will read passages about food from their books and discuss food and writing, at Olive This Olive That, 304 Vicksburg, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Black is also scheduled to appear at Folio Books in July to talk about number 18 in the Leduc series. Local luminary Leslie Crawford’s first book, Sprig the Rescue Pig!, has just been published. It’s a charmer about a pig who jumps off a farm delivery truck to strike out on his own. Crawford says, “It will be the first in a series of children’s books about farm animals (that we eat), including a chicken and a cow.” It is now listed on Amazon for pre-sale, and comes out mid-March. THAT’S ALL, Y’ALL: We will be marching forward and see you on April Fool’s Day (also known as our current president’s day). Ciao for now.
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Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01527235) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the ser vices of an architect or engineerr. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
32 The Noe Valley Voice • March 2018
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