The Noe Valley Voice March 2026 by The Noe Valley Voice

THE NOE VALLEY VOICE

The Castro Theatre Returns

In All Its Glory

Besides Films and Live Shows, There’s Hegarty on the Organ

By John Ferrannini

Weeks after the reopening of the Castro Theatre following a twoyear $41 million renovation, San Franciscans are viewing the historic movie palace with stars in their eyes

One thing they should know, however, before waltzing over to 429 Castro St : Online is “the way to go” when purchasing a ticket, said David Perry, a spokesperson for theater manager Another Planet Entertainment (APE)

“The Castro box office is open every show night 30 minutes before doors,” said Perry Since there are no box office hours other than that, tickets to the theater ’s eclectic mix of films and concerts are best purchased at the website, thecastro com

While right now the residency of

British singer-songwriter Sam Smith is garnering headlines, there are other exciting events coming soon, said Perry “I think everyone who lives in the area is anxious to see David

Hegarty rise from the pit to play on the organ for the first time ” Hegarty has been playing the organ

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Survey Sparks Boatload of Ideas for Slow Sanchez

Neighbors Dream of Festivals, Food Trucks, and Flea Markets

By Matthew S Bajko

Asurvey conducted by the Friends of Slow Sanchez group is providing ideas for how to activate the street this year The suggestions run the gamut from game-playing events to

get-togethers for dogs and their owners San Francisco transit officials selected Sanchez Street between 23rd and 30th streets for a Slow Street designation at the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020 Doing so closed those blocks to vehicular through-traffic and allowed bikers, joggers, walkers, and children fresh air to turn the roadway into an urban park setting

Even before the pandemic, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency had identified Sanchez Street as a slow neighborhood street suitable for its Livable Streets program, which deploys various traffic-calming measures to make roadways safer for people walking and biking on them Six years

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

A Q&A With Health Expert Robert Wachter

The Doctor Is In: Now Offering Tips on Covid, AI, and GLP-1s

By Emily Hayes

Readers may well be familiar with Bob Wachter, MD, professor and chair of medicine at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Wachter, who lives on Douglass Street with wife Katie Hafner and miniature poodle Newman, was a voice of reason about Covid-19 during the pandemic, sharing his personal approach to disease prevention while avoiding being preachy

Recently, he’s been on tour promoting his new book, A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future Wachter interviewed over 100 experts and spent more than a year and a half researching and writing the book

We caught up with him virtually on Feb 20, while he was promoting A Giant Leap in New York He was happy to talk about life after Covid, the usefulness of a chatbot’s medical advice, and the future of routine primary care in a world dominated by AI

Note: The interview transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length Voice: What did San Francisco get right during the Covid-19 pandemic and what are some lessons learned for future healthcare crises?

Wachter: I was very proud of San Francisco’s response Unlike many parts of the country, people tended to follow the science not fall for misinformation or conspiracy theories and and generally do the right thing I was also proud of UCSF for responding quickly, growing our partnerships with the community and the Department of Public Health, and generally being a force for good

We didn’t get everything right The schools remained closed for far too long, because we overestimated the risks to kids and the degree to which schools would be a site of transmission, and underestimated the toll in educational achievement and mental health that closure would take But overall, San Francisco did quite well, which was reflected in a mortality rate that was significantly lower than most other parts of the country

Voice: During the pandemic, you often described the steps you personally took to lower your risks related to Covid. What’s your advice today for masking and getting vaccine boosters?

Wachter: During the pandemic, the statement that Covid is no worse than the flu was misinformation, a canard It was massively worse than the flu But now, it isn’t any worse than the flu I do

On the Red Carpet: It took two years to renovate and restore the Castro Theatre and the makeover was not without controversy but city dignitaries and local celebrities happily joined hands in cutting the ribbon at the landmark’s Feb 6 reopening

Photo by John Ferrannini

Friends of Slow Sanchez members (l to r) Andrew Casteel, Brooke Ray Demko, Emme Klama, Dana Rosenberg, and Yuko Shah are among the many volunteers working to bring joy, safety, and community to the strip of Sanchez from 23rd to 30th Street Photo cour tesy Jac k Love

Jessica Branson’s 2026 sales are on 昀re. If you’ve been considering selling, this is not a market to sit on the sidelines. Jessica’s latest Noe Valley three bedroom Victorian listing was expertly priced, impeccably prepared, and strategically negotiated — resulting in more than $1M over asking and approximately $1,949 per square foot. San Francisco’s market has shifted decisively. The AI startup surge has supercharged the city, accelerating sharply this past fall. After several years of social and economic headwinds, San Francisco has moved from the softest market in the Bay Area to the strongest. Signi昀cant new wealth is being created rapidly. Demand is materially outpacing supply. If current conditions hold, median house prices are poised to reach new highs in 2026 — potentially exceeding levels last seen during the 2019 IPO boom. Jessica has been selling San Francisco real estate for 20 years — 2026 marks her twentieth anniversary! She is a Noe Valley property owner, a former tech VP with a proven business background, and one of the neighborhood’s (and City's) top agents. She continues to set sales benchmarks. Experience matters in a fast market. Strategy matters even more. Call Jessica for a con昀dential, no obligation valuation —and a chance to see what it’s like to work with the best!

Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church

A Joyful Community of the Spirit

Holy Week and Easter

In-Person & Interactive Online Worship

Palm Sunday, March 29

8 am ** & 10 am

Monday to Wednesday in Holy Week

March 30, 31 & April 1

Evening Prayer at 7 pm *

Maundy Thursday, April 2

Liturgy at 7 pm

Good Friday, April 3

Prayer & Meditation, Noon to 3 pm *

Stay as long or as little as you like

Good Friday Liturgy at 7 pm

Saturday, April 4

Great Vigil of Easter at 7 pm

Easter Sunday, April 5

Feast of the Resurrection at 8 am ** & 10 am

* Online only. ** 8 am in person only. All other services both online & in person.

For connection information: email: office@staidansf.org

Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church

101 Gold Mine Drive, San Francisco, 94131

Phone: 415.285.9540

www.staidansf.org

NOE VALLEY CHURCH

Presbyterian Church 1021 Sanchez Street at 23rd 415-282-2317

Sunday Worship: 10:30 am

Rev. Dr. Peter Choi, Pastor; Dara Phung, Music Director

Lent, Holy Week & Easter Events

Lenten Theme: How to Save a Life

Sermon Series exploring the question: What is saving your life right now?

By learning to SLEEP, EAT, CRY, PLAY, FIGHT & SHOUT, we make space for God’s healing and hope in the lives we are living

Palm Sunday, March 29

Procession of the Palms

A Worship of Joyful Noise!

Maundy Thursday, April 2

Soup Supper & Communion Service, 6 pm

Easter Morning, April 5

A Worship Celebration with Special Music by the Noe Valley Church Choir! Festive Refreshments After Worship.

Eastertide Evensong & Labyrinth Walk

Monday, April 20, 7 pm

Quiet Time of Prayer, Scripture and Walking the Labyrinth, with Music led by our Choral Scholars

CRIME SNAPSHOT

Lowest Monthly

Total in Six Years

Noe

Valley started 2026 in dramatic fashion The neighborhood reported the fewest crimes in a single month since the Noe Valley Voice began tabling the city’s crime data in 2020

According to the San Francisco Police Department’s digital map of incident reports, 53 incidents were recorded in January 2026 That was the lowest number in six years, in the sum of 10 categories that the Voice tracks each month (Google “Crime Snapshot” at NoeValleyVoice com )

In a comparison of January 2026 to December 2025, crime fell or stayed the same in eight of the 10 categories

Still, the “larceny/theft” category remained stubborn, with police logging 22 shoplifting incidents among the 38 thefts in January, all near the Jersey and Castro Street intersection

There were also five smash-and-grab thefts from vehicles and one stolen license plate However, car thefts dwindled from four to one after the holidays And January saw no robberies and only one reported assault

The only real anomaly was that Noe Valley reported eight domestic violence infractions in January seven violations of stay-away orders and one breach of a temporary restraining order

The Voice gathered the January data on Feb 9, 2026, from the digital “Map of Police Department Incident Reports: 2018 to Present,” found at

https://data sfgov org/PublicSafety/Map-of-Police-DepartmentIncident-Reports-2018-to-/jq29-s5wp

“Noe Valley” in the dataset is bordered by 21st Street, San Jose Avenue/Guerrero, 30th Street, and Grand View Avenue/Diamond Heights Boulevard Like the SFPD, the Voice does not guarantee the completeness of our information, as the data is subject to change as updates become available

Reporting a Crime

If you witness a crime in progress, call 9-1-1 For recurring or nonemergency problems, call 1-415-533-0123

For non-violent crimes (e g , auto burglary, vandalism), file a report online at www SanFranciscoPolice org (see “Get Service”) Or call 3-1-1

Anonymous tips can be texted to 8 4 7 4 11 with the key word “SFPD”

You also may call Mission Station at 415-558-5400 or Ingleside Station at 415-404-4000

In general, Mission Station (1240 Valencia St ) covers the northern and central parts of Noe Valley, while Ingleside Station (1 Sgt John V Young Lane) covers Upper Noe and areas near Bernal Heights and Glen Park

Sean Perdomo is current captain at Mission Station (email Sean Perdomo@sfgov org) Gerald Newbeck is at the helm of Ingleside (Gerald Newbeck@sfgov org) Corrie M Anders, Sally Smith

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE VOICE welcomes your letters to the editor. Send an email to editor@noevalleyvoice.com. Please include your name and contact information. (Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication.) Be aware that letters may be edited for brevity or clarity.

Every

We Handle the Hard Parts

The Results

1.In contract in just over one week

2.Sold for nearly $100K over asking price

“I could not be more pleased with Danielle. She was empathetic, proactive, and I felt like I was in safe hands throughout the entire process. I would not hesitate to work with Danielle and team again.”

– Seller Testimonial

My recent listings sold for 22% more than the MLS

and closed more than three weeks

When the time comes to buy or sell, I’d love to help you!

Castro Theatre

at the theater since 1976, and the newly installed organ has been built to Hegarty’s precise specifications

According to APE Senior Vice President Mary Conde, the new instrument is the world’s largest digital symphonic organ

Hegarty will be playing it publicly for the first time Tuesday, March 17, at Frameline’s Trash Talk with John Waters, featuring the 1994 film Serial Mom (The event is sold out )

Two days later, on Thursday, March 19, the 30th-anniversary Berlin and Beyond Film Festival will be opening its doors at 9:30 a m

On Sunday, March 29, a sing-along of The Sound of Music will play as a matinee, preceded by Hegarty on the organ Doors open at noon, and tickets start at $27 50

“The experience will be good for the whole family,” said Perry

On Thursday, April 9, Return to Oz will be playing in 35 millimeter on the occasion of its 40th anniversary Tickets are still available from $27 50, and doors open at 6:30 p m

Later in the spring, the San Francisco International Film Festival and the Frameline 50 San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival will be returning to the space as well

Opening Night with Priscilla

The first film showing at the theater ’s grand reopening Feb 6 was The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The event was also a charity night on behalf of the Castro Community Benefit District

After the screening, Perry addressed discussion that the sound system in the theater had been subpar

“The sound for Priscilla had nothing to do with the equipment,” Perry said, “and everything to do with the fact it’s an old film The sound system is state-of-the-art ”

Apparently, a worn film copy of the 1994 film had been played that night

Later, a screening of the 2025 BDSM romance Pillion had no complaints about the sound, Perry said

APE spent over $40 million on the renovation and restoration of the theater after the Outside Lands producers took over management in 2022 The project caused controversy because it remade the space into a multi-use venue Castro and film activists had lobbied the city to landmark and keep the fixed orchestra-level seats from the early 2000s, to no avail

Instead, the orchestra level has removable seating on motorized, tiered platforms The seats are in place when films are being shown but are removed

for concerts

There are about 150 fewer seats in the new incarnation, Conde noted, in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act The theater also features movable concession stands, new restrooms, an elevator, and refurbished lighting fixtures and artwork, including a 1937 art deco chandelier restored by the original manufacturer

During the renovation, while removing a movie screen that had been added when widescreen-aspect ratios were the rage in the 1950s, workers discovered an ornate structure that had framed the theater ’s original 1922 screen The elaborate, gold-painted proscenium arch has been completely restored, as have most other elements of the landmark building, designed by San Francisco architect Timothy Pflueger

Conde said inches of soot and nicotine residue have been painstakingly removed from the art and plasterwork in the theater, and the ceiling now looks like “an Arabic tent with a beautiful silk scarf ”

Celebrating a Milestone

There was one other item complicating the renovation this past year The Nasser family, which stills owns the building containing the theater and two tenants a coffee shop and nail salon

on either side of the entrance had asked the two smaller businesses to leave But they and their neighborhood supporters fought for them to stay

In a deal reached just days before the theater ’s reopening, Castro Nail Salon and Castro Coffee Company agreed to move to two new locations, one on the same block and the other within a block away Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman, who as District 8 supervisor represents the Castro and Noe Valley, and Mayor Daniel Lurie were involved with the landlord and the businesses in negotiating the agreement

At the Castro’s official ribbon-cutting before the Priscilla screening, Lurie touted the reopening of the theater as a major milestone in the city’s comeback from the Covid pandemic

“For generations, the Castro Theatre has been a symbol of pride for San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community and our entire city,” Lurie stated

“Reopening its doors will honor the theatre's legacy and allow it to continue bringing people together for generations to come I applaud APE for their renovation of this historic landmark that will help fuel the Castro’s nightlife and drive foot traffic to surrounding small businesses I am thrilled to celebrate its reopening ”

The Spanish baroque façade and other features of the building designed in 1922 by Timothy Pflueger have been restored in today s $41 million renovation of the Castro Theatre

With its freshly cleaned and repaired ceiling and newly hung chandelier the Castro Theatre appeared ready to welcome fans to the first concer t in a 20-night residency by British pop star Sam Smith Feb 10 to March 14

Photos by John Ferrannini

OMNIVORE BOOKS

UPCOMING EVENTS

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San Francisco Information Line SFgov.org or SF.gov.

San Francisco Police Dispatch in a emergency: 9-1-1. From a cell phone:. . 415-553-8090

San Francisco Police in a non-emergency .

Burned-out Streetlights, streetlights@sfwater.org (PUC).

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, mandelmanstaff@sfgov.org

District 8 Community Safety Liaison (SFPD)

Dave.Burke@sfgov.org

Graffiti, fallen trees, street cleaning (DPW) 3-1-1 or zerograffiti@sfdpw.org. . 415-695-2017

Homeless Services: Street Outreach Services (SOS) medical care.

. . 415-355-2250

Lost or Injured Animals: Animal Care & Control emergency dispatch . . . . . . . 415-554-9400

Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services sfmayor.org .

. . 415-554-7111

NERT Neighborhood Emergency Response Team sffdnert@sfgov.org. 415-970-2022 or 2024

Parking Enforcement (blocked driveway) DPT Dispatch . .

PG&E Gas or electrical issues .

Pothole Repairs potholes@sfdpw.org.

3-1-1 or 415-553-1200

. . 9-1-1 or 1-800-743-5000 or 1-877-660-6789

Recycling Recology San Francisco (free pickup bulky items).

Rent Board San Francisco phone counseling

SFMTA or Muni: Call 3-1-1 or email MTABoard@sfmta.com. .

Tree Planting (Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry).

3-1-1 or 415-554-5810

. . . 415-330-1300

415-252-4600

. 415-701-2311

628-652-8733

24th Street Community Benefit District (Noe Valley Association) 415-802-4461 or 519-0093

Water main or sewer emergencies. .

White House comments line and/or switchboard .

3-1-1 or www.sf311.org

. . . . 202-456-1111 or 202-456-1414

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” —Alice Walker, novelist, poet, activist (1944)

Thursday Night -Locals Night!

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wear a mask at work when I see patients, because many of them are immuno-compromised and particularly vulnerable But I generally don’t wear a mask I’ll get an airplane tomorrow and won’t wear a mask

I do get boosters when my time is up for them, because I believe that they’re safe and generally effective, in the same way I get a flu shot every year

If someone doesn’t want to get another Covid booster, nor ever wear a mask again, I think that’s okay You’re putting yourself at a little bit higher risk than I am, for not getting the shot, but assuming you’ve had the vaccines before, and assuming (like almost everybody) you’ve had Covid before, the risk is relatively low

Voice: With national figures like HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr questioning the value of vaccines, some people are worried they will lose access to both the Covid and flu shots in the future How do you respond to their concerns?

Wachter: What’s going on with the federal policy on vaccines is insane It makes no sense scientifically and has the potential to set us back decades

Until we have different leadership, or the leadership changes the way it thinks about vaccines, vaccines are at risk and not only the ones we have today If they take away liability coverage for the vaccine manufacturers, we could see major backsliding in terms of our ability to come up with new vaccines So, I share the same concerns Where this goes is anybody’s guess My guess is it ends up in the courts

Voice: There was a recent outbreak of tuberculosis at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco Should we be taking any precautions against this very old disease?

Wachter: We see cases of TB sporadically, often in immigrants from places where TB is more prevalent I worry when we see an uptick in TB that it will become weaponized and become part of the narrative against immigration in the United States

These days, most people who get diagnosed with TB can be treated Most people who are exposed to someone with TB can be tested for it, and there are treatments to prevent it becoming an infection, but it’s still worrisome

The fact that we’ve heard about a handful of cases probably should make you a little more concerned If you are on the bus or at a bar and someone is sitting there coughing, they can have 100 different things and TB is one of them, though the chances that they’re going to have TB are massively lower than a bacterial or a viral infection

If I had a new cough, would I worry about or be tested for TB? Absolutely not If I knew I was exposed to someone who had active TB, would I get tested for it and potentially take preventive treatment? Yes, I would do that Voice: We have so much health advice available now, through both traditional media and social media channels. What sources do you trust for health information?

Wachter: It’s gotten harder to figure out what’s legitimate news and what is either slanted or misinformation

What do I trust? I read a whole lot of medical journals and syntheses of medical journal news on sites like Stat,

Axios, and others I trust the medical literature I trust the guidelines of respected medical societies I trust UCSF I feel comfortable putting questions into the latest versions of GPT [chatbots like ChatGPT] They’re smarter than anything we’ve had before in terms of online access to information

But if you have what we consider to be red flags severe chest pain, acute onset of shortness of breath, or if one side of your body is weak, or if you are confused and that’s not a normal condition for you you should shut the computer and go see a doctor

Voice: We are hearing a lot about doctors using AI medical “scribes” to document visits with patients.

Wachter: At UCSF, we all have access to AI scribes They are quite good and wildly popular among physicians A lot of patients have noticed that their doctors are actually making eye contact and listening to them rather than being grumpy data-entry clerks

The OpenEvidence [a clinical decision support platform] by a San Francisco company has essentially become the default knowledge base, a “curbside consult” in my pocket, meaning if I have a question for a specialist but it’s not big enough to call them in, this tool, which is essentially just like GPT but built for doctors, gives me answers that are mostly correct and useful It also gives me access to links to the literature of where the answer came from That has been pretty transformative and may be the most important use of AI in day-to-day health care

Voice: With AI, what will happen to the annual office visit with your doctor? Will this disappear?

Wachter: When you look at the life of a primary care doctor today, it is impossible One study showed that if a primary care doctor spent all of his or her time doing guideline-appropriate preventive activity for all of their patients, it would take nearly 27 hours a day

Over time, primary care doctors are going to be taking care of patients with multiple chronic illnesses who are pretty sick If you have multiple diseases, are on lots of different medicines, or have a new diagnosis of something that’s really scary and anxiety-provoking, I don’t think you want to have a discussion with a bot But the basic management of your blood pressure, your cholesterol, your weight maybe even your diabetes will be done increasingly through AI

Voice: Highlight one or two core messages from your book A Giant Leap

Wachter: I work at one of the great healthcare organizations in the world

The people are fabulous, work really hard, and are highly ethical Yet it’s

hard to get in to see a primary care doctor If you come to our ER today, you’ll see lots of people on gurneys in the hallways This is UCSF specifically, but the healthcare system generally does not have the capacity to deliver what patients need

One of the things that excites me about AI in health care is it can shave hours off my day so I can actually concentrate on taking care of patients rather than doing paperwork

Voice: Is the primary care doctor shortage mostly due to unhappiness with pay?

Wachter: It’s a combination of the pay, the lack of prestige, and the job itself, which has just become harder and harder The paperwork is taking them away from what drew them to primary care: relationships with patients and their families

At UCSF, our plan is to hire about 100 new primary care doctors over the

next few years to try to ease that, but it’s hard to find them We’re going to have to not only pay them better but also make their working conditions better AI will help

Voice: If you could advise one health habit that Noe Valley residents could adopt right now that would have a big impact on their longevity, what would it be?

Wachter: More walking We’re in a beautiful part of the city with lots of beautiful places to walk and people should take advantage of it

A second thing is that new weightloss medicines [GLP-1s] can help if you are overweight and have had a hard d time taking the weight off or maybe you are struggling with pre-diabetes or diabetes These medicines are amazingly effective and relatively safe The evidence is crystal clear that you can lose 10, 15, or 20 percent of your weight though if you go off the medication you u are back to your baseline weight within months I wish it wasn’t so

The good news is, if the idea of taking a shot once a week is off-putting, there’s now an alternative of taking a pill every day And the pills are going to get better and easier to take as well It’s going to be a little less onerous to take this medicine for your whole life

Rober t Wachter, M D , is the author of A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming

Penguin Random House

Photo:

Photo: Amanda Brauning

Downtown Noe Valley

Participate on a Board or Commission!

The Assessment Appeals Board (AAB)

The AAB resolves legal and value assessment issues between the Assessor’s oce and property owners.

Hearings are quasi-judicial, conducted in a manner similar to a court setting, with evidence and testimony presented by the parties. The Board then evaluates the evidence and testimony and renders its decision.

To be eligible for seat appointment, you must have a minimum of 昀ve years professional experience in California as either a: (1) public accountant; (2) real estate broker; (3) attorney; or (4) property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized organization, or certi昀ed by either the Oce of Real Estate Appraiser or the State Board of Equalization.

For a full list of current or upcoming Boards, Commissions and Task Forces, please visit https://sfbos.org/vacancyboards-commissions-task-forces.

Want to work for the City?

Visit the website https://careers.sf.gov/ and 昀nd a job that’s right for you!

Department Announcements

Emergency Management

sf.gov/ReadySF - The place to 昀nd everything you need to know before, during, and after an emergency. Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready. Brought to you by the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM).

Housing Authority

The Housing Authority of the City and County of San Francisco (Authority) is actively seeking new property owners to participate in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The program provides housing assistance to eligible individuals and families by paying a portion of their rent to private property owners.

Key bene昀ts:

1.Guaranteed Monthly Rent: Property owners can rely on timely direct deposit

rental payments from the Authority.

2.Expanded Tenant Pool: Property owners gain access to a broader pool of prospective tenants.

3.Community Impact: Partnering with the Authority supports a昀ordable housing and the community.

We are interested in expanding housing opportunities in San Francisco zip codes 94129, 94123, 94105, 94127, 94114, 94131, 94116, 94118, 94158, 94122, 94107, 94117, 94112, 94121, and immediate suburban areas. For more information, please contact us at customercare@sfha.org or learn more at www.sfha.org.

Public Library Tax Season Success at San Francisco

Public Library Take the stress out of tax season with San Francisco Public Library’s expert-led workshops! Learn everything you need to 昀le your return safely and accurately. Topics include income tax basics, choosing a tax preparer, key 2026 updates and tips to avoid trouble. Don’t miss this chance to make tax time easier! Learn more: sfpl.org/ tax-season-success Rent Board IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR LANDLORDS San Francisco landlords need a license before imposing annual and banked rent increases on tenants according to the City’s rent control laws. To obtain or renew a license, property owners are required to report certain information about their residential units into the San Francisco Housing Inventory each year. Property owners can submit their Housing Inventory information to the Rent Board in a few ways but are strongly encouraged to complete the process online at portal. sfrb.org. Once the system accepts the submission, a rent increase license will be automatically generated and readily available. Owners can also deliver a paper Housing Inventory form to 25 Van Ness Ave., Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94102 or to rentboard.inventory@sfgov.org. Assistance is available by calling 311 or emailing rentboard.inventory@sfgov.org. Visit sf.gov/rentboard for more information.

Furry Fun at the Town Square.

Photo by Sally Smith

Slow Sanchez Sees Garden Grow in ’26

out from the global health crisis, and the slow street designation has become a permanent feature

In December of last year, the friends group invited local residents or anyone, for that matter to take a 5-minute digital survey on how they were using Slow Sanchez and what types of projects they would like to see along it

Nearly 240 people responded, and the results were posted online in January at www slowsanchez com (See 2025 Community Survey Results )

“We put out the survey just to understand how the neighbors we are serving feel about Slow Sanchez and how they are utilizing Slow Sanchez,” said Dana Rosenberg, who became the group’s vice chair in November “We also asked them what opportunities they wanted to see more of ”

According to the group’s 2025 survey results, 43 percent of the respondents lived within a block of Slow Sanchez and another 32 percent lived within three blocks Twelve percent lived on Sanchez Street

Almost three quarters (70%) of the respondents were between the ages of 18 and 44 years old A fifth (19%) were in the 45 to 64 age bracket Five percent were 65 or older

Nearly 60 percent said they were part of a family with children at home

Couples accounted for another 23 percent and singles 10 percent

Rosenberg, a resident of Noe Street the last four years, said the survey takers were clear about one thing

Nearly everyone (97%) said they wanted to keep Slow Sanchez, and 91 per-

cent said they felt it made the neighborhood more vibrant and added value to their daily lives

Most people, at 68 percent of respondents, said they walked or ran on Sanchez three or more times a week

Forty-two percent said they used it to commute daily via bike or by walking

What’s Not to Like?

Asked what Slow Sanchez programs interested them most, the survey takers gave enthusiastic support (76%) to events like festivals, block parties, and volunteer workdays; and to having street amenities like trash bins and seating (75%) They also expressed approval for landscaping and tree maintenance (71%), as well as new murals or rotating art exhibits (65%)

Slightly fewer people but still more than half (59%) gave a thumbs-up to safety measures, such as signage, traffic monitoring, or a neighborhood watch group Over half (55%) endorsed events for children and families, like story times, bike days, and meet-ups for various age groups

Chess Play and Fix-It Days

The survey respondents also offered more than 100 suggestions when asked to give their own event or communitybuilding ideas

“I was surprised by the breadth of creativity with some of the responses there,” said Rosenberg, who got involved with the friends group last summer when helping to repaint the “Love Our City!” mural by Amos Goldbaum on Sanchez near 24th Street

In response to the survey, Rosenberg said, many people called for setting up tables on the street so they could play board games or chess together Several others suggested having a clothing swap or flea market, or a fix-it day

where people could get help repairing broken household items

“Because dogs and pets are big in our neighborhood, many folks suggested events around pets,” said Rosenberg, such as parades where people could dress up their pets in costumes

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Department Announcements

Child Support Services

Child support matters can be complicated, stressful, and confusing. The Department of Child Support Services helps parents understand the process so they know their rights and options for making and receiving support payments. We are available to assist you in person or by phone. Virtual services are also available. Call us today at (866) 901-3212 for more information. Enroll online or schedule an appointment at sf.gov/dcss to learn how we can help you. Count on WIC for Healthy Families!

WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for women, infants, and children.

You may qualify if you:

•Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or just had a baby;

•Have children under age 5; and

•Have low to medium income; and/or

•Receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh (Food Stamps), or CalWORKS (TANF) bene昀ts; and

•Live in California

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•Referrals to medical providers and community services

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Enroll early! Call today to see if you qualify and to make an appointment. Newly pregnant, migrant workers, and working families are encouraged to apply.

(SFFD) is actively recruiting EMTs, Paramedics, and Fire昀ghters to serve the City and County of San Francisco. With a proud legacy dating back to 1866, SFFD is one of the nation’s most respected and progressive all-hazard 昀re departments. We protect the city, its shoreline, San Francisco Bay, and San Francisco International Airport. SFFD operates California’s largest Community Paramedicine program, delivering compassionate care to all communities, especially our most vulnerable residents regardless of socioeconomic status. Our highly skilled and diverse workforce re昀ects the communities we serve through 昀re昀ghting, EMS, and multilingual public education and disaster training in English, Cantonese, and Spanish. We are currently recruiting for H2 Fire昀ghter, H3 Level 1 EMT, and H3 Level 2 Paramedic. Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. Join a department rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and committed to equity and public safety. Apply today at sf-昀re.org/join.

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Apply to join the Civil Grand Jury Volunteer to make a di昀erence for all San Franciscans.

We are accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Civil Grand Jury now through May 1, 2026. The Civil Grand Jury is comprised of 19 members randomly drawn from a pool of applicants who volunteer to serve for a one-year term, from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. Quali昀ed applicants will be invited to participate in selection. During selection, a panel of Superior Court Judges will interview each applicant and recommend the most quali昀ed to be part of the pool from which the Civil Grand Jury’s 19 members will be randomly selected. For more information, and to apply please visit our webpage: https://www.sf.gov/apply-join-civil-grandjury

As the rains fell last month and the grass turned a bright kelly green on Billy Goat Hill we thought of a story the Noe Valley Voice published in March 2008 sharing a great-grandmother s memories of growing up part of an Irish immigrant family a decade or so after San Francisco’s Great Earthquake We hope you enjoy revisiting Agnes Farrell and her childhood in Noe Valley We did

Agnes Farrell Shares Memories of An Irish Noe Valley

By Joshua Brandt

The Noe Valley that Agnes Farrell grew up in during the 1920s bears little resemblance to the Noe Valley of 2008 Children skated down streets without fear of automobiles Horsedrawn buggies still made their rounds And a full-day trolley ride cost a nickel Also, the recycling was more thorough

“About once a week, the rags, bottles, and sack man came door to door, shouting for people to throw down their empties,” says Farrell, who has lived in Noe Valley for all but two of her 91 years

Farrell, accompanied by daughter Monica Curran, will be among the panelists at a March 10 [2008] forum at St Paul’s Parish Center The event, called “The Noe Valley Irish,” is part of the 2008 Crossroads Irish-American Festival and will be an evening of reminiscing and storytelling by longtime neighborhood residents

Farrell, who was born on Perry Street in the South of Market Area, moved to Noe Valley in 1918, to the family’s house at 1316 Sanchez St Her parents scraped together enough money to buy

Athe house outright after renting it for several years The price? $2,600

“Well, I guess times have changed,” says Farrell with a laugh, noting that her family sold the house in 1964 for $9,000, and that it has recently sold again for upwards of a million dollars

Both of Farrell’s parents were Irish immigrants, and her dad was in San Francisco for the 1906 earthquake He often regaled the family with stories of watching the city burn from a perch atop the Noe Street hill

According to Farrell, the Noe Valley of the 1920s and ’30s was predominantly a working-class neighborhood of Irish- and Italian-Americans, with a lot of overlap There were small grocery stores on every corner, where the shopkeepers knew your name and your parents’ names, should any child get involved in mischief

Wonzod’s was the place for candy “and other necessities,” according to Farrell, and Marguerite’s was the local ice cream shop, The local butcher gave all the local kids slices of baloney, and the hairstylist worked out of her home a few doors down from the Farrell residence

Children played “hickey” on the sidewalks, where they skated with one leg in the gutter and the other leg extended The more adventurous of the children hitched a ride on the produce truck, and would continue on their merry way until the driver started pelting them with potatoes

The Irish neighborhood was tightly knit in those days, and the mere fact of living in Noe Valley gave one a sense of community

“I remember all the Irish dances at the Knights of the Red Branch at Seventh and Mission and at the IrishAmerican Hall at 15th and Valencia,” recalls Farrell “We’d do dances like

What’s in Your Quake Kit?

Sally Smith / Illustrations by Karol Barske

re you ready for the next earthquake, wildfire, or health emergency?

Consider the things you might need in order to live for a week without water or electricity

Below is a list of items for your home preparedness kit or “Go Bag,” suggested by the San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT).

NERT holds community-based training programs in basic preparedness and disaster response skills To find out more, go to the SF-fire org/NERT website or call 415-970-2024 (the NERT class hotline)

Water: One gallon per person to last 3 to 5 days

(Use bleach to purify it, 2 to 4 drops per quar t )

Food for 3 to 5 days, such as canned or dried soups beans juice

Cooking Supplies: A grill or camp stove , utensils, matches, can opener, foil plastic wrap garbage bags

Clothing: Light and heavy layers for all, stored to stay dr y Include a pair of shoes and gloves

Safety: Flashlight, radio, batteries, rope , knife , scissors, fire extinguisher, wrench to shut off utilities

Supplies such as cash, house or car keys, pencil and paper, i d cards, insurance info maps

Hygiene: Waterless soap, toilet paper, shampoo toothbrush sanitar y supplies

Special items for children, the elderly or people with disabilities

Farrell took time to reminisce with the Voice about her nine decades in Noe Valley She and other Irish descendents also spoke at a forum held at

the Stack of Barley, the Hornblower, and the Highlander all night long ” According to Farrell, it cost a mere five cents to take the streetcars to the Beach Chalet to see the Irish hurlers and Gaelic football contests

The nonagenarian fondly recalls many after-match parties at her Sanchez Street home, where the cops often came by at two in the morning to request a little peace and quiet

“It was always a great party,” reminisces Farrell “Our next-door neighbor, Bill O’Dwyer, would play the fiddle, everyone would be dancing, and there were always versions of ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,’ which got more offkey as the night wore on ”

Families were large in those days seven children were the norm, Farrell says “One of our neighbors had three children, and that was thought to be odd ”

Farrell and her late husband, Alvin, a longtime milk deliveryman who was profiled in an (unpublished) Life magazine piece, raised nine children in a house they bought on Army Street [3965 Cesar Chavez St ] in 1956

The family matriarch now has 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren Her daughters, just like Farrell, attended schools in St Paul’s Parish, where they received the honorarium “filiae-filia” (literally, “daughter of the daughter”)

“Sure, the neighborhood has changed,” concedes Farrell “But some of my neighbors have been here for longer than I have, so we still have a great sense of community ”

And when pressed, Farrell says she still can’t resist tapping her toes to traditional Irish music Asked if she plans to demonstrate any of her moves at the March event, Farrell demurs

“I don’t think so But you never know the mood might hit me ”

St Paul School Principal Jackie Curran was kind enough to give us this update: “My mom is Monica Curran, and we lived with my grandparents for my childhood Unfortunately, my grandmother [Agnes Keane Farrell] passed in 2009, and the family home [at 3965 Cesar Chavez] was sold My parents moved to Petaluma I am the only relative still living in Noe Valley and I work at the school that Agnes and Monica attended, St Paul’s Although the family has moved out of the city, there are 5 (of 9) children 22 grandchildren and 36 greatgrandchildren” living today

Thank you, and best wishes to all

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Eighteen years ago, Agnes

St Paul’s Parish Center Photo by Beverly Tharp

Seems like it’s been forever! We’ve been helping to nourish and support community in the best neighborhood in San Francisco.

Good Vibes and Good Spirits

After being washed out twice by winter storms, the popular Noe Valley Night Market at the Town Square is set to return this month hopefully with clear skies

The free event, on Tuesday, March 31, from 5 to 8 p m , will bring music, local food, retail vendors, and a mobile bar to the neighborhood gathering spot

“We are excited to be back in full force in March,” said Kathryn Gianaras, vice president of the Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association, which sponsors the event

Jazz singer Lambert Moss will emcee and perform along with guest vocalists beneath the Town Square canopy of strung lights, Gianaras said Food tents will include Casa Mexicana, Novy, and Kingpin Katsu, a pop-up known for Japanese-style crispy fried chicken that has become a Night Market favorite The Valley Tavern bar and partner Vibe Events will serve cocktails, beer, and wine from Vibe’s mobile van

Three weeks later, on Thursday, April 23, the merchants will host another spirited event: the Noe Valley Spring Wine Walk, from 4:30 to 7:30 p m

Grab a glass for the tastings and visit two dozen participating shops and restaurants along 24th Street from Dolores to Douglass streets

And what do you get for the $40 entry fee? “It gets you really drunk if you go to all of the people serving wine for three hours,” Gianaras joked “But it gets you a ton of tastes ”

Each business will decide which wines to pour everything from cabernets and merlots to chardonnays and pinot grigios At least two wineries will pour at the Town Square, 3861 24th St

Wine lovers can buy tickets, get a map, and pick up glasses at two checkin points: the Town Square and the parking lot across from the Valley Tavern, at 4054 24th St

To learn more about the Night Market or to reserve a Wine Walk glass, visit www noemerchants com

Corrie M Anders

Bohemian Women of Russian Hill

Inhonor of Women’s History

Month, the volunteer docents of San Francisco City Guides are leading a walking tour that explores the lives of unconventional women who helped shape San Francisco’s cultural history

The free tour, “Bohemians and Other Unconventional Women,” winds through the steep streets and stairways of Russian Hill, long known as a refuge for artists, writers, and free spirits

Along the way, guides share stories of women who made their mark in art, literature, sports, and photography

Among them are tennis champion and wartime spy Alice Marble, literary figure Fanny Stevenson, and pioneering photographers Dorothea Lange and Imogen Cunningham, both associated with the San Francisco Art Institute

Among the guides are two Noe Valley residents, Cathie Staley and Laurel Turner, who helped develop the tour with fellow docents Donna McCartney and Julie Newbold

Together they aim to bring overlooked stories to life and make local history engaging and accessible

“Rather than focusing on dates and dry facts, the tour centers on storytelling revealing the challenges, creativity, and courage of women who lived boldly,” says Staley

The walk covers about six city blocks and takes roughly 75 to 90 minutes, beginning at the base of the steps

SHORT TAKES

Tennis star and war time spy Alice Marble is a featured “Bohemian Woman” on a SF City Guides walking tour Photo courtesy Cathie Staley, sfcityguides.org

leading to the Alice Marble Tennis Courts at Greenwich and Hyde streets and ending at Francisco Park

Tours are scheduled at noon or 1 p m on March 7, 8, 13, 20, and 22 (and April 3), with various guides leading the walks The route includes some of Russian Hill’s steepest grades, so sturdy shoes are recommended

The tours fill up fast, so reservations are suggested To sign up, visit the City Guides website, sfcityguides org

UNN Meets on March 18

All are invited to attend the next meeting of Upper Noe Neighbors on Wednesday, March 18, from 7 to 8:30 p m at Upper Noe Recreation Center, 295 Day St

UNN President Chris Faust alerts us that several speakers and a board election are on the agenda

State Assemblymember Matt Haney will discuss new legislation and provide a “big-picture perspective” on developments in SF and across California

Police Captain Gerry Newbeck of Ingleside Station which covers Upper Noe will give an update on public safety and answer questions from residents and merchants

Tatiana Mercier, community engagement coordinator for Community Boards, will speak about ways neighbors and businesses can resolve disputes through mediation The nonprofit has provided conflict-resolution services in San Francisco since 1976

With its fiscal year ending in March 2026, Upper Noe Neighbors will elect new officers whose term starts in April Members who are current on their dues

will get their ballots by email

The meeting will also include a discussion of UNN’s goals for 2026, including such things as street improvements and “placemaking” a term used for projects that enhance public spaces and a sense of community To add a festive note, a local merchant will contribute a door prize for a lucky attendee

To find out more, email Faust at hello@uppernoeneighbors com

Of Victorians and Tomatoes

Twoupcoming talks promise to draw bushels of locals to the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library

First, on Saturday, March 28, from 2 to 3:30 p m , historian Rob Thomson will give a “Presentation on Noe Valley Victorians ” Thomson, a past president of the Victorian Alliance of San Francisco, will explore the architectural history that gives many Noe Valley blocks their distinctive charm

The illustrated talk will also revisit highlights from the Victorian Alliance’s popular 2024 Noe Valley house tour, sharing photos and stories about several historic homes, including the 1877 William Axford House at 1190 Noe St Thomson, who was trained as an archaeologist and preservation planner, manages historic preservation and cultural resources for the Presidio Trust

Then, on Saturday, April 11, from 2 to 3 p m , you can turn your focus from old houses to thriving plants by attending a demonstration of “Growing Vibrant Tomatoes in Containers ”

UC Master Gardeners Pat Kramer and Troy Weakley will share practical tips on container gardening the kind that’s perfect for Noe Valley’s small yards, decks, and patios The presenters will cover choosing containers, selecting soil, and picking tomato varieties (and vegetables) that grow well in pots Kramer, a retired oncology nurse who has gardened in Noe Valley for three decades, and Weakley, a lifelong gardener with a focus on pollinators, promise advice for both beginners and green thumbs (Preview their tips in the April 2025 Noe Valley Voice )

This program may take you out on the deck or into the garden at 451 Jersey St For more information, call the Noe Valley branch at 415-355-5707

March Beats at the Square

March brings a mix of music, movement, and fun to the Noe Valley Town Square, with four free events designed to get people grooving, singing, and dancing

Things kick off Sunday, March 8,

from 1 to 3 p m , with a Community Music Hangout, an informal jam session open to players and singers of all levels Bring an instrument or just your ears and join the circle for a laid-back afternoon of shared tunes

On Saturday, March 14, from 7 to 9:30 p m , the plaza turns into a glowing dance floor for the Noe Valley Silent Disco Stoked by the Disco Zaddies, the all-ages, come-as-you-are dance party offers wireless headsets streaming disco classics to modern electronic dance music Pick your groove and show off your moves prizes will be awarded for disco style and trivia champs

Next up, Saturday, March 21, from 4 to 5 p m , the popular Rhythm & Motion Dance Workout returns with a high-energy session focused on health and well-being No dance experience required just bring your enthusiasm

The month wraps up on a jazzy note

Sunday, March 22, from 1 to 3 p m , when the Jazz Beaus take the stage Led by Tom Donald, the group blends classics with Latin favorites and island rhythms on piano, trumpet, and steel pans for a lively Sunday soundtrack

All events are free So be there and be Square, at 3861 24th St Or look for more at noevalleytownsquare com

J-Church Track Work Ahead

Neighbors

near Duncan and Church streets may notice some daytime noise and traffic redirection over the next two weeks as crews repair the rail bed for the Muni Metro J-Church line

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency plans maintenance work at the intersection March 9 through March 20, between 8 a m and 5 p m daily Crews will remove and repave the concrete foundation beneath the rails and repair the street base next to the track area

The work is intended to stabilize the tracks, reduce noise, and extend the life of the rail line, according to the agency

Transit riders can relax: no service disruptions are expected for the JChurch line during the project

Drivers and nearby residents should expect some temporary changes, however During work hours, drivers on Duncan Street may make right turns only onto Church Street, with flaggers directing vehicles Through traffic on Church will continue with assistance from flaggers, while Duncan Street between Dolores and Sanchez streets will be limited to local traffic only

Some parking spaces on Duncan and Church will also be restricted, though overnight parking will be restored between 5:30 p m and 7:30 a m

For more details, contact public information officer John Gravener at 415-646-4784

Unless otherwise noted this month’s Short Takes were written by Sally Smith, with just a little help from AI

The San Francisco Ar t Institute attracted two famous Bohermian women in the 1940s, Imogen Cunningham and Dorothea Lange Ansel Adams photo courtesy sfcityguides.org

The Jazz Beaus play Latin jazz and pop standards on piano, trumpet, and steel pans at Music in the Square March 22, 1 p m

The Book, the Monsters, the Sally Brunn and the Librarian who saved Us

by Jane R. Willson

It began in Crete, in Knossos, in the Minoan ruins, when a cocky stranger poked his nose in my fieldnotes. I pulled away, but not before he’d seen the primordial monsters I’d drawn. He called out the name of an Aegean Professor, a certain Spyro Spyropoulos, whose rare Bestiary of Monsters was a must.

Back home, in our Valley, back to my budding Medusa play, I found the Archaeopress edition of his book out-of-print. Even so, I longed for it. Alas, the San Francisco Main arranged an inter- library (LINK) loan for delivery to our local Sally Brunn branch. When the Professor’s book arrived, I claimed it, then scurried home. In my Noe abode, I lifted its cover, where, to my horror, all manner of monsters, all Greek, flew from its pages to circle round, then pitch camp in my psyche.

Some slithered; some bit and that was it; others half-human played pipes to charm the unfortunate into the forest. And there was Cerberus, Hade’s three-headed-hound, known for his savage welcome of unwelcome visitors.

Oh, what a wild bacchanalia of monstrous myth we all celebrated--until the book came due.

Now the monsters gnashed their terrible teeth when I tried to return them to their library of origin. They claimed to love life in our Valley. They planned on staying to colonize us to serve them forever. Even our cats and dogs.

Yikes! What had I wrought? Was I hooked? Maybe. Had they beguiled me? Maybe. Yet, to their credit, the monsters had brightened my mood. Their loathsome exploits had become my daily medicine. The best anti-depressants ever!

Who among us would throw stones at a rabble of monsters, intent on softening our nation’s terrible terrible nightly news? Who knew shrieking Furies could soothe? Or that Sirens and Gorgons could delight?

Back then, the Gods and Furies had cosmic checks on evildoers. Imagine the grand flurry of claw, beak and searing yellow eyes serving the immorally unjust their just des-

serts--while everyone shrieks!

Dear Neighbors, what I’m about to say is mostly true. It was a foggy Noe Sunday. A day best spent darning or reading. But no. That day the library sent word:

“The Following LINK+ books are overdue. A fee of $115 has been added to your account.” Holy Smoke! No overdue notes, no warnings--and the library’s going for my throat?

The next line outranked the first: “Your borrowing privileges are currently suspended.” Suspended? No way! Books are my

food. Already I’m starving... You may have seen me scurrying up 26th toward the Sally Brunn wearing jeans, a waistcoat, a messenger-boy hat and Blundstones? As I rounded Jersey--a street rife with life-altering sidewalk cracks--I read a quote from Strabo, the Greek philosopher:

“...Since mythical narrations with monsters do not cause only pleasure, but they also cause fear...we offer the myths to children...to urge them towards good, the scary ones...to avert them from evildoing.”

Website:

Phone:

Email: officesj@stjohnseagles.com

Evildoing? Yikes! How had I come to this? What if...our Noe Librarians--ever kind, and patient and helpful--have some “in” with...the Furies?

Talk about seeing a mirror reflecting a monster returning a monster book. Was this my fate?

At the library, I tip-toed up Sally’s marble steps, battling errant claws and shrieks trying to flee-- until the Librarian caught my eye. Was she waiting for me? I whispered humbly, “I am a monster returning a monster book. It is twelve-days overdue.”.

The librarian had this feral streak of pink hair, which she twisted, not amused nor alarmed. The book’s LINK papers? she requested. When I had none, her long finger pointed to Sally’s exit sign. I was to go get them. Closing time was imminent.

By now it was cooler, windier. Restless branches, bare, scraped the sky--one, a lowhanger, gouged my cheek. Ha ha, I laughed, but...what were those shadowy things above the library’s stacks? And did they not flock to the librarian upon seeing me?

At home I found the LINK papers, no sweat--yet upon my return, a forlorn whimper ensued. I looked for a dog in a window but saw none.

Alas, the Librarian took my return, reversed the $115, and gave me a wink. As she masterfully wrestled the monster’s mournful claws, beaks and shrieks into their LINK papers, I felt blue. Already I missed them. I’ve not heard a shriek since. But yesterday, as I reached in my pocket, I found a tiny nest, then felt a sharp nip. My fingers bled. Take care, dear neighbors...

Jane R. Willson is an artist and writer, inspired by myth, folk and fairy tales and her own ordinary magic. She has lived in Noe Valley for eons.

The Cost of Living in Noe

Slowest January on Record

By Corrie M Anders

Alackof homes for sale, coupled with a scarcity of shoppers, created an oddity early this year that Noe Valley has not seen in decades

Only two residential properties sold in the neighborhood during January, according to data that Corcoran Icon Real Estate provides monthly to the Noe Valley Voice

One sale was an elegant midcentury single-family home on Newburg Street

The other was a ground-floor condominium in a new 13-unit building on San Jose Avenue

January typically is a slow month

But there has never been a January with so few home sales, as far as the Voice logs go, dating back to 1999

“It was a quiet month,” acknowledged Christine Lopatowski, manager of Corcoran Icon’s 24th Street office

“I was a little surprised ”

That surprise led Lopatowski to double-check her numbers and search for answers

She found there were only three

detached homes on the market in Noe Valley in December the month when buyers would have been lining up a deal to close in January

According to industry standards, said Lopatowski, buyers would run through those three homes in 0 3 months, or about nine days, assuming the supply was not replenished Compare that with December 2024, when seven homes were available That supply would last 0 8 months, or about 24 days, without new listings

“Keep in mind it was the holidays,” Lopatowski said “So people were not putting properties on the market and

Noe Valley Home Sales*

there were fewer people looking ” There was also what she called “seller hesitation ” Some homeowners in Noe Valley might have been reluctant to give up a 3 percent mortgage on their current residence to buy a home at today’s roughly 6 percent rate

Despite the slim pickings, two buyers did take the plunge

By paying $4,750,000 13 percent more than the seller ’s asking price the would-be homeowner on Newburg Street snagged the property in a private off-market sale

“They made an aggressive offer to lock it down,” Lopatowski said

The four-bedroom, three-bath home, in the first block of Newburg near the intersection of Castro and 27th streets, abuts a large wooded area called the Duncan-Castro Open Space

Built in 1949, the house was modern-

ized with a third-story addition in 2016, which enlarged the property to 2,612 square feet of living space The top level offers an observation deck with sweeping views of the valley, the bay, and downtown San Francisco

The home’s gourmet kitchen features marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, abundant light, and a gas fireplace The property also offers an “au-pair” suite with kitchenette, a rear deck with a hot tub, and a two-car garage

The other purchase in January was a 1,150-square-foot condominium in a three-story building in the 300 block of San Jose Avenue, between 25th and 26th streets The development which added nine new condos to a four-unit building originally built in 1900 was completed in 2025

The two-bedroom, two-bath unit sold for its asking price of $989,000 Amenities included open living/dining and kitchen, hardwood floors, radiant heat, and a deeded terrace But there was no parking space

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March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: Free Sunday morning YOGA FLOW offers all-level classes; bring water and a mat 11 am-noon 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 1-28: CREATIVITY Explored hosts a solo exhibition, “Color Field,” by artist Hung Kei Shiu Thurs & Fri , 3-6 pm; Sat , noon-5 pm 3245 16th 863-2108; creativityexplored org

March 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30: Toddler STORYTIMES are Mondays, 11:15-11:45 am Tickets available 11 am Noe Valley Library 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

March 2-30: Mamahuhu hosts MAHJONG Mondays from 6 to 9 pm 3991 24th 3747012; eatmamahuhu com

March 3-31: The BAR on Dolores offers free BINGO on Tuesdays, comedy on Thursdays, and mahjong on Saturdays, 8 pm 1600 Dolores 695-1745

March 4: A BOOK PARTY at Bird & Beckett introduces Jan Sollish, author of Simply Magical and Jackie Davis Martin discussing her Life Fictively 7 pm 653 Chenery 586-3733

March 5 & 19: New Thursday morning QIGONG classes run from 8 to 9 am 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 5, 12, 19 & 26: Family STORYTIMES are Thursdays, 10:15 am and 11 am Tickets for each are available at 10 and 10:30 am Noe Valley Library 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

March 6: Ring a HANDBELL at Bethany s Ring Out Danger: People of Faith Opposed to Gun Violence ” First Fri , 9:35-9:45 am 1270 Sanchez 647-8393; bethanysf org

March 6: The Jinx Jones JAZZ TRIO performs at Bird & Beckett, at 6 pm 653 Chenery 586-3733; birdbeckett com

March 6-27: Noe Valley RUN CLUB meets Fridays at Noe Cafe 1299 Sanchez 6:45 am for 4 miles, and 7:30 am for 2 5 miles noevalleyrunclub square site

March 7: Make HERSTORY-themed buttons and play a women’s history trivia game (ages 8 and up) at the Noe Valley Library 2:30 pm 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

March 7: The Chinese NEW YEAR PARADE features Grand Marshall Olympic

300 Vicksburg Street #1, San Francisco • 415-821-3200 (on the corner of 24th near Church Street) Member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents

Clear the Clutter Reclaim your Space! pat@patrosehomeorganizing.com patrose@gmail.com

Medalist Eileen Gu 5:15-7:30 pm Starts at 2nd Street and Market, goes around Union Square, and ends at Kearny and Columbus

March 7-28: The FARMERS MARKET has fresh produce, food, and music Saturdays, 8 am to 1 pm 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 7-28: The NOE WALKS group springs into action on Saturdays Meet at 24th and Sanchez 10 am

March 7, 8, 13, 20 & 22: A free walking tour of Russian Hill called “Bohemians and Other Unconventional WOMEN,” starts at Greenwich and Hyde at noon or 1 pm Reserve at sfcityguides org

March 7 & 28: City Guides also offers a free WALKING TOUR of Noe Valley led by Cathie and Paul Staley, and starting at the Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey, at 2 pm Registration required: 375-0468; sfcityguides org

March 8: Community MUSIC HANGOUT at the Town Square welcomes players and singers of all levels 1-3 pm 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 10: It’s LEGO and Board Game Night at the Noe Valley Library 6-7:30 pm 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

March 11: The League of Women Voters, SF Women s Political Committee, and Real Reform SF host a community FORUM, “The Future of Independent Commissions in SF ” 6-7:30 pm Women’s Building, 3543 18th St lwvsf org/calendar

March 12: Sana Javeri Kadri and Asha Loupy discuss The Diaspora SPICE Co Cookbook 6:30 pm Omnivore Books on Food 3885 Cesar Chavez 282-4712; omnivorebooks com

March 13: The Noe Valley Library screens the FILM Nomadland 2-4 pm 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

March 14: A SILENT DISCO dance party at the Noe Valley Town Square provides wireless headsets 7-9:30 pm 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 15: Volunteers for the monthly Noe Valley CLEANUP DAY meet at the Town Square to pick up supplies 10 am-noon 3861 24th Refuse Refuse and SF Public Works; mobilize us

March 15: SF Choral Artists perform “L’CHAIM! A Celebration of Life with music from around the world 4 pm Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez 494-8149

March 15: Music on the Hill hosts the Chamber Music Society of SF in a CONCERT of works by Brahms and Mozart 7:30 pm St Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 101 Gold Mine Drive musiconthehill org

March 17: Join the ACTION-SF group on third Tuesdays, 6 to 7:30 pm Noe Valley Library, 451 Jersey; action-sf com

March 17: Amon and Jenna Muller introduce Full Belly: Recipes and Stories from a Family Farm at OMNIVORE BOOKS 6:30 pm 3885 Cesar Chavez 2824712; omnivorebooks com

March 19-23: The Castro Theatre screens the 30th anniversary Berlin & Beyond FILM Festival 8 pm 429 Castro 621-6120; thecastro com; berlinbeyond com/2026

March 21: The Randall Museum hosts “BIRDING on the Hill,” gathering at 8 am 199 Museum 554-9600; randallmuseum org

March 21: KIDS STORYTIME at Noe Valley Books features Jilanne Hoffmann, author of The Ocean s Heart 9-10 am 3957 24th 590-2961; noevalleybooks com

March 21: Composers and inventors Danny Clay, Mark Applebaum, and the Living Earth Show will amaze you at Noe MUSIC KIDS 10:30 am-12:45 pm Noe Valley Ministry 1021 Sanchez noemusic org/nmk

March 21: Dance WORKOUT Rhythm & Motion offers a high-energy program for all ages 4-5 pm Noe Valley Town Square, 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 21 & 22: Noe Music features pianist DAN TEPFER performing two programs: “Inventions/Reinventions” and Bach’s “Goldberg Variations/Variations,” March 21,

8 pm and March 22 4 pm Noe Valley Ministry, 1021 Sanchez noemusic org

March 22: The Jazz Beaus play at Sunday s MUSIC IN THE SQUARE from 1 to 3 pm Noe Valley Town Square, 3861 24th noevalleytownsquare com

March 23-April 27: NERT offers a full training class in emergency preparedness, Mondays, 5:30 to 9:30 pm, at Full Life Christian Center, 3535 Balboa Sign up promptly 558-3200; sf-fire org

March 27: The Slow Sanchez HAPPY HOUR runs from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at Noe Cafe 1299 Sanchez 915-8876; slowsanchez com

March 28: Rob Thomson of SF’s Victorian Alliance shows images of Noe Valley’s VICTORIAN gems at the library, 2 to 3:30 pm 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

March 29: The Corner Sessions monthly JAZZ concert at Dolores Deluxe plays 1-3 pm 2500 22nd doloresdeluxe com

March 30: Ham El-Waylly discusses Hello HOME Cooking: Do-Able Dishes for Every Day 6:30 pm Omnivore Books, 3885 Cesar Chavez 282-4712; omnivorebooks com

March 31: The Noe Valley NIGHT MARKET offers local vendors, food, and entertainment, 5 to 8 pm Noe Valley Town Square, 3861 24th noemerchants com

March 31: The SF HISTORY Association hosts a discussion by Therese Poletti, “The Doctor ’s Wife ” 7 pm Sherith Israel, 2266 California sanfranciscohistory org

April 3: A free Interfaith LABYRINTH Walk is accompanied by meditative music 7 pm Bethany United Methodist Church, 1270 Sanchez 647-8393

April 11: UC Master Gardeners Pat Kramer and Troy Weakley demonstrate TOMATO container gardening at the Noe Valley Library 2 to 3 pm 451 Jersey; 355-5707

STORE TREK

Store Trek is a regular Voice feature on new stores and restaurants in Noe Valley. This month, we introduce Kawanoya, a Church Street restaurant that is lucky to have “Noe” in its name. KAWANOYA

1689 Church St. at 29th Street

415-918-9587

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kawanoyasan-francisco

The new restaurant Kawanoya is modeled after a Japanese izakaya, an eatery where skewered and grilled foods like yakitori (bite-sized chicken) take center stage.

The menu also highlights katsu— pork, chicken, beef, fish, or tofu cutlets, breaded with panko and deep-fried.

The mix of spices in the breadcrumb coating is a family secret, says Kawanoya co-owner Kally Chan. Her family uses it to serve up their signature tonkatsu, a crispy pork cutlet ($28), which can also be made stuffed with cheese. There are also chicken-thigh ($28), tofu ($19), and salmon filet ($30) katsu options.

“This is authentic Japanese style. Our breading is not the same as you find if you go to a random Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area,” says Chan. “We have a recipe, but I can’t tell you the secret! It is why it is a little different from just your normal panko breading.”

The yakimono, food grilled or panfried and served skewered on bamboo sticks, run the gamut from vegetables, like miso-glazed eggplant, okra, shiitake mushrooms, and zucchini ($4), to seafoods such as unagi (eel), which comes glazed in a sweet and smoky sauce ($6), and large Hokkaido scallops, known as hotate in Japanese ($7). There are also pork belly, chicken thigh, duck, and beef short rib skewers for $6 to $8.

Among the fish entrees are the Gindara Saikyo-Yaki, a buttery black cod marinated in a sweet, Kyoto-style white miso glaze ($26), and the Grilled Hamachi Kama, a grilled yellowtail collar served with yuzu-soy dipping sauce and grated daikon radish ($16).

The Saba Shioyaki ($22) is a saltgrilled mackerel with crispy skin and a gentle smokiness, while the Unagi Donburi ($28) is grilled eel glazed with a sweet and smoky sauce served over Japanese rice in a bowl.

All of the grilled fish can be served

Teishoku style, with miso soup and steamed rice, for $5 extra. One popular entrée has been the Grilled Duck Ochazuke, served over steamed rice in a fragrant tea-based dashi broth ($30).

The soft-shell crab tempura appetizer ($8) has also received rave reviews.

Usually, in Japan, an izakaya will specialize in either skewers or katsu, notes Chan. But she and her brother, Henry, felt it would be better to have a varied menu at their restaurant, since American diners might not be familiar with the concept.

“We thought, why not have both? I [still] would call this an izakaya style of a restaurant,” says Chan.

As head chef, Henry Chan oversees the kitchen and the wait staff, as he is on site every day. The restaurant’s name roughly translates to Henry’s house.

He tells the Voice, “Opening a Japanese izakaya in Noe Valley and serving as head chef has been incredibly meaningful to me. From perfecting our tonkatsu and yakitori to crafting desserts like hojicha tiramisu, every dish reflects my commitment to authentic Japanese flavors—and the warmth of the Noe Valley community has made this journey truly special.”

A first-time mom who gave birth to her daughter two months ago, Kally Chan has mostly been working on the

administrative side of the business from Sunnyvale, where she lives with her husband. Kawanoya is the first eatery she and Henry Chan have opened in the U.S.

Descended from a family that emigrated from Hong Kong, China, to South America, the siblings both were born in Maracay, Venezuela, and later relocated to San Francisco. Kally Chan, now 36, came when she was 11. Henry Chan, in his 40s, has been in the city off and on for a decade.

Their family runs a Chinese restaurant in Maracay. It is one of several businesses they operate in Venezuela.

The siblings took over the space where Clay Oven Indian Cuisine had been for eight years, at 1689 Church St. After soft opening Dec. 16, they began serving their classics as well as tinkering with the menu.

They are adding a selection of sushi choices and will feature saki flights as soon as they can secure a liquor license. Once they do, they intend to have a grand opening event.

“Having been longtime residents in San Francisco, we both know Noe Valley is a really great neighborhood. We like going to 24th Street to get food,” said Kally Chan. “We have always liked the neighborhood, so when we saw there was a spot, we

immediately fell in love with it.”

They remodeled the décor, adding Japanese touches such as a wooden latticed structure at the front entrance. A bar and counter seating area is to the left.

Those who sit in the front windows have views of St. Paul’s Church and its English Gothic façade across the street. With wait times running up to 40 minutes on Saturday nights, the restaurant started taking reservations in late January via Yelp.

“We are actually very surprised,” Kally Chan said of the reception.

“Throughout the remodeling phase, a lot of neighbors stopped by. We feel very welcomed. That is another thing I love about Noe Valley—the people are so friendly.”

Now that they’re open, “a lot of people are saying we are such a great addition to the neighborhood,” Chan says, pointing to positive online reviews. “We are excited to be [in Noe] and serving food we personally love.”

Kawanoya is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. It opens for dinner at 4:30 p.m. and closes at 9:30 p.m. most nights but stays open until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is closed Monday.

—Matthew S. Bajko

Before it is filled with hungry patrons, Henry Chan surveys the dining room of Kawanoya, the Church Street restaurant he opened with sister Kally Chan in December.

Those who sit in the window at Kawanoya can view the spires of St. Paul’s while enjoying the crispy Japanese cuisine called katsu.

by Art Bodner

M O R E F O O D T O E A T

Falafel Salad at Vive la Tar te

I’m a big fan of the falafel salad at Vive La Tarte (4026 24th St ) It’s the kind of dish that leaves you feeling good on multiple levels: It satisfies your hunger It’s vegetarian And the ingredients have a low-carbon footprint

And while plenty of dishes can deliver sheer volume, this one stands out for offering quantity, quality, and variety What I love most is the range of flavors, textures, colors, and temperatures (when eaten fresh)

My favorite way to enjoy the salad is to build each bite so I can get as many of the elements in my mouth at once

The falafel is the clear centerpiece: the fritters are crispy on the outside but soft and warm in the chickpeaand-herb interior Falafels can skew dry, but here they’re balanced by sides of tzatziki yogurt and housemade hummus the former bringing creaminess, the latter depth and earthiness

What really wakes up my tastebuds, though, is the bright pop of pickled cabbage Its acidity cuts cleanly through the richness of the dips and the more subtle notes of the falafel, tying the dish together The lettuce adds crunch and freshness and contributes yet another color and texture to the plate

All told, the salad is an ideal lunch if you’re aiming for an active or focused afternoon At $19, it’s also an excellent value, delivering five falafel balls along with plentiful dips, greens, and cabbage

Matt Fisher on the beat for More Food to Eat

Have a suggestion for a dish to try in Noe Valley? Send an email to Matt Fisher at MoreFoodtoEatNoeValley@gmail com

GREEK FOOD AND CALIFORNIA CLASSICS IN A RELAXED ATMOSPHERE. WOMAN OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 2015.

SERVING UP DAILY SPECIALS, LUNCH, HAPPY HOUR, DINNER & WEEKEND BRUNCH!

MON: SAUTEED SNAPPER

TUE: CHICKEN MARSALA

WED & THUR: LAMB SHANK

FRI: CIOPPINO

SAT: SEAFOOD PASTA

SUN: PORK GYRO

BOOK A TABLE

Gardening Group Is Growing

Upper Noe Gardening Group held its first Community Gardening Day on Feb 21, adding over 60 flowering plants along the Sanchez Street sidewalk The next Gardening Day, on March 21 from 10 a m to noon, will target the Native Plant Garden inside the park along Sanchez Street near Day Neighbors of all ages and skills are invited to come learn about, care for, and plant California natives

Upper Noe also looks forward to taking part in the Noe Valley Garden Tour in May Visit https://uppernoerecreationcenter com/gardens/

Spring Session runs March 17 through May 30 General registration for classes opens March 7 at 10 a m Karate, wrestling, and coed and women’s boxing will return to Upper Noe, along with your standard favorites like yoga and pilates

Summer Day Camp registration opens March 21, 10 a m Upper Noe will host nine one-week sessions, weekdays 9 a m to 3 p m , between June 8 and Aug 14

Girls Play Sports Camp for 5- to 12-year-olds is all about confidence, teamwork and nonstop action as girls explore basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, softball, floor hockey, dance, yoga, and tumbling in a positive, non-competitive environment Each week also features a fieldtrip day and a nutrition and cooking class

Upper Noe Sports Camp for 9- to 14-year-olds provides a dynamic and supportive environment where campers participate in two sports a day, including volleyball, tennis, basketball, flag football, kickball, dodgeball, soccer, capture the flag, and hunters and gatherers You can register and view the spring and day camp catalogs at https://sfrecpark org/406/Recreation-Programs For information, call the rec center office at 415-970-8061 or visit uppernoerecreationcenter com Equipment for pickleball, ping-pong, and other activities is available at the office, at 295 Day St Any park issues, call 3-1-1 Chris Faust, Friends of Upper Noe Recreation Center Upper Noe Spring Session (March 17 to May 30, 2026) Rec Center Hours, 295 Day St : Tues –Fri ,

Sun & Mon closed (outside activities only); Park Grounds: Daily,

Tuesday 9 to 10 a m Zumba (outside) Free

9 to 11:30 a m A Place to Play Free

9 a m to 1:30

Park area super visor Frankie Macuer prepares volunteers to beautify Upper Noe Rec Center’s Sanchez Street border with flowering plants

Photo by Chr is Faust

CHILDREN’S FICTION

In the fable A Pond, a Poet, and Three Pests , written by Caroline Adderson and illustrated by Lauren Tamaki a mosquito a ﬁsh, a lily, and a frog tr y to distract a poet taking a walk Ages 2-6

A child and a tree grow side by side in I’m Like a Tree and a Tree’s Like Me , by Sylvaine Jaoui with illustrations by Anne Crahay Ages 4-7

A boy and his grandmother make a rug in A Knot Is Not a Tangle , by Daniel Nayeri, illustrated by Vesper Stamper Ages 4-8

Gabby Torres Is the Best Winner Ever is the second book in Angela Dominguez’s graphic novel series about four th-grader Gabby Ages 6-9

CHILDREN’S NONFICTION

Hi, Worr y Bye , Worr y! by Elizabeth Verdick with illustrations by Steve Mark, shows ways to deal with stress Ages 6-9

Random House’s How to Draw Avatar : The Last Airbender, offers step-by-step instructions with illustrations by Patrick Spaziante Ages 7-10

Lindsey Leigh explains the complicated ecosystem living under the ground in The Dir t! Wild Life Under the Soil’s Surface . Ages 8-12

You can ﬁnd 20 tales of deities and heroes in Per sian Mythology: Epic Stories of Gods , Heroes , and Monster s , by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb; illustrated by Reza Dalvand Ages 8-12

CHILDREN’S EBOOKS

Three animals receive a gift from the sky in Hugged by the Night, by poet Harold Green with illustrations by Karabo Poppy Ages 3-5

Welcoming the Lunar New Year by Lara Lee , with pictures by Natelle Quek, is par t of a “Festivals of the World” series Ages 4-6

Cynthia Rylant’s picture book A Book of Loves celebrates the little things that make people and animals happy Ages 4-8

In the graphic novel Serendipity,by Gabbie Benda, an overachieving girl thinks she is cursed when her luck runs out Ages 8-12

TEEN FICTION

Sisters named after the characters in Little Women search for a culprit in Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet Ages 12 and up

In Kylie Lee Baker s I’ll Find You Where the Timeline Ends , Mina, who is descended from a Japanese dragon god, searches for her sister Ages 13-18

Teen travelers navigate a world of inhuman creatures in the queer YA fantasy We Can Never Leave , by H E Edgmon Ages 14-18

In Red as Royal Blood by Elizabeth Har t, a ser vant girl is named heir to the throne Ages 14 and up

TEEN NONFICTION

Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Dragons , by Michael Witwer, is a guide to the dragons in the game Ages 11 and up

In The Forgotten Teacher s: How Nature Wrote the Stor y of Life , Brian Isett interweaves science , spirituality, and stor ytelling Ages 11-14

M O R E B O O K S T O R E A D

Spring Forward

As you bound along this month, dancing in the rain, sun, or the Cloud, grab one or more of the titles listed below by Children’s Librarian Madeleine Felder, Youth Librarian Cristal Fiel, or Adult Services Librarian Amy Lewis, guardians of the shelves at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Library Once again, we thank them for sharing the latest arrivals at the branch

To put items on hold, go to sfpl org or get the mobile app at https://sfpl org/services/mobile-resources/librarycatalog-mobile-apps/ Or visit the impressive brick-and-mortar at 451 Jersey St If you have a question for Lewis, Felder, or Fiel, call 415-3555707 Meanwhile, view the new books (and ﬁlms), blurbed on this page by Voice bookworm Karol Barske Sally Smith, ed

“Tweeny-bopper Elise shares her diar y in True Color s: Growing Up Weird in the ’90s , by ar tist Elise Gravel Ages 11-14

Educator Helen Barsham offers useful advice in Manage Test Anxiety While You Study: Overcome Exam Stress and Learn Revision Skills . Ages 13 and up

TEEN EBOOKS

Rober t Mgrdich Apelian’s graphic novel Fustuk was inspired by Armenian and Persian mytholog y Ages 12-17

In the rom-com We’ve Hit Turbulence , by Jessica L Cozzi, Olive gets stuck on a cross-countr y ﬂight with her exboyfriend Ages 12-17

Humans and dragons battle in A War of Wyverns , Book 2 in a fantasy series by S F Williamson, set in an alternative 1924 London Ages 13 and up

Ever y year on his 17th bir thday, Car ter loops back a year and his memor y gets wiped clean, in 16 Forever by Lance Rubin Ages 14 and up

ADULT FICTION

In Davey Davis’ Casanova 20: Or, Hot World, a handsome , much-desired Adrian searches for meaning in life

Disinheritance: The Rediscovered Stories , by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, includes the author’s works from 1956 to 2013

A married ar tist and physicist choose different paths to explore their pasts, one involving a time-travel experiment in Lightbreaker s by Aja Gabel

Winter Stories , by Scandinavian author Ingvild H Rishøi is a collection centering on overcoming adversity

ADULT NONFICTION

Atlas of Border s: Walls , Migrations , and Conﬂict in 70 Maps , by Delphine Papin, shows an amazing variety of boundaries

W David Marx argues that creativity has become stagnant in Blank Space: A Cultural Histor y of the 21st Centur y

Capitalism: A Global Histor y, by Sven Becker t, examines the origins of our economic system

New Yorker columnist Elizabeth Kolber t offers Life on a Little-Known Planet: Dispatches From a Changing World

ADULT EBOOKS

In Tor y Hoen Henwood’s Before I Forget, 26-year-old Cricket deals with her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Simon Winchester analyzes changes in the atmosphere in Breath of the Gods: The Histor y and Future of the Wind

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids is a gothic psychological thriller set in the 1920s

Tareq Baconi’s memoir, Fire in Ever y Direction, reveals the Palestinian activist’s queer awakening across continents

ADULT DVD/BLU-RAY

Come Closer (2024) is a psychological drama directed and written by Tom Nesher, starring Lia Elalouf and Dar ya Rosenn

Nuremberg: The Real Stor y (2025) is a documentar y made by Bruce Vigar that recaps the trials and the histor y of World War II

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2024) is a French comedy by Laura Piani about a desperately single bookseller

Tapawingo (2023), directed by Dylan K Narang and featuring Jon Heder of Napoleon Dynamite fame , is about a nerd who becomes a bodyguard for a teenager

Rebuilding (2025) is a neo-Western about a rancher who loses his home to ﬁre , directed by Max Walker-Silverman

Annotations by Voice bookworm Karol Bar ske

LIBRARY EVENTS

All events take place at the Noe Valley/Sally Brunn Librar y 451 Jer sey St and are drop-in unless otherwise noted Be aware events are ﬁr st come ﬁr st ser ved For information visit sfpl org or call the branc h at 415-355-5707 Toddler Stor ytimes are Thursdays, March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 11:15-11:45 a m Tickets are available at the door star ting at 11 a m Noe Valley Librar y, 451 Jersey St 355-5707; sfpl org

Ages 10 through 18 can work on school projects with help from a librarian at Homework Hangout with snacks available by request, on Tuesdays, March 3 and April 7, from 3:30 to 5 p m

Family Stor ytimes are Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 10:15 a m and 11 a m Tickets are available at 10 a m for the ﬁrst stor ytime , and at 10:30 a m for the second Noe Valley Librar y, 451 Jersey 355-5707; sfpl org

The Noe Valley Knitting Circle meets on Saturdays March 7 and April 4, from 10 a m to 12:30 p m , to knit, crochet, embroider, or macramé Beginners welcome

Walk the steep slopes of Rancho San Miguel with the Shaping San Francisco Walking Tour on Saturday, March 7, noon to 3 p m Reser ve at 355-5707 or email shaping@foundsf org

Make herstor y-themed buttons and play a women ’ s histor y Trivia Game, for ages 8 and up, Saturday, March 7, 2:30 to 3:30 p m

The City Guides Walking Tour, “Noe Valley: Village Within a City,” explores historic sites in Noe Valley on Saturdays, March 7 and March 29, from 2 to 3:30 p m Registration required at 355-5707 or at SFCityGuides org

Get Drop-inTech Help on Monday, March 9, from 2 to 3 p m

Family LEGO and Board Game Night plays Tuesday, March 10, from 6 to 7:30 p m

Nomadland, a 2021 ﬁlm starring Frances McDormand, screens Friday, March 13, from 2 to 4 p m

Learn how to research the histor y of any San Francisco building via the SF Librar y s databases, on Saturday, March 14, from 2 to 3 p m

Teens and tweens are invited to bring a book or a journal to the new Alone Together Book Club, Monday, March 16, 3 to 4 p m

The Noe Valley Shor t Stack Book Club discusses The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes, on Friday, March 20, 3 to 4 p m Copies are held at the circulation desk for checkout

The Living Poets Society Reading Series curated by SF Poet Laureate Genny Lim, features poets from the Youth Poet Laureates Cohor t of SF, on Tuesday, March 24, from 3 to 4 p m

Children and their caregivers are invited to a fun Family Dance Jam on Friday, March 27, from 4 to 5 p m

Past president Rob Thomson of the Victorian Alliance of San Francisco gives a presentation on Noe Valley’s Victorian legacy, with images of tours in the neighborhood, on Saturday, March 28, from 2 to 3:30 p m

Pajama Stor ytime for families gets snuggly on Tuesday, March 31, from 6:30 to 7 p m

UC Master Gardeners Pat Kramer and Troy Weakley give a talk on Growing Vibrant Tomatoes in Containers on Saturday April 11 2 to 3 p m

Not HIM by Michael Blake

Action SF, the National Movement in Your Neighborhood

https://m facebook com/ActionSFactivism/

Website: http://www action-sf com/

Email: ActionSFTeam@gmail com

Meetings: Usually third Tuesday (March 17), Noe Valley Librar y 451 Jersey 6-7:30 p m

Al-Anon Noe Valley

Contact: 834-9940; office@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)

Thursdays, 7:15-8:30 p m Bethany UMC , 1270 Sanchez St (enter through Clipper Street side door and go up the stairs)

Castro Merchants

Contacts: Terr y Asten Bennett, President; Address: 584 Castro St #333, SF, C A 94114

Email: info@CastroMerchants com

Comerford Greenway

Contact: Howard Fallon

Email: ComerfordGreenway@gmail com

Website: www sanfranciscoparksalliance org/par tners/comerford-greenway/ Monthly workdays in Comerford Alley

Diamond Heights Community

Association

Contact: Betsy Eddy, 867-5774

Address: P O Box 31529, SF, C A 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 ever y second month Bank of America 18th and Castro Duncan Newburg Association (DNA)

Contacts: Deanna Mooney, 821-4045; Diane McCarney, 824-0303; or Lili Wu, 647-0235 Address: 560 Duncan St , SF, C A 94131 Meetings: Call for details

Eureka Valley Neighborhood Assn

Contact: Board@evna org

Address: P O Box 14137, SF, C A 94114

Meetings: See website Events Castro Meeting Room, 501 Castro St , 7 p m

MORE GROUPS TO JOIN

Fair Oaks Neighbors

Email: hello@fairoaksneighbors org

Address: 200 Fair Oaks St , SF, C A 94110

The Fair Oaks Street Fair is traditionally held the day before Mother’s Day

Friends of Billy Goat Hill

Contact: Lisa and Mo Ghotbi, 821-0122

Website: www billygoathill net

Friends of Dolores Park Playground

Contact: Nancy Gonzalez Madynski, 828-5772

Email: friendsofdolorespark@gmail com

Website: friendsofdolorespark org

Friends of Christopher Park

Contact: Br ynna McNulty 818-744-4230

Email: friendsofchristopherpark@gmail com

Website: FriendsofChristopherPark org

Friends of Glen Canyon Park

Contact: Jean Conner, 584-8576

Address: 140 Turquoise Way, SF, C A 94131

Plant restoration work par ties, Wednesday

mornings and third Saturday of the month

Friends of Noe Cour ts Playground

Contact: Laura Norman

Email: noecour ts@gmail com

Address: P O Box 460953 SF C A 94146

Meetings: Email for dates and times

Friends of Noe Valley (FNV)

Contact: Todd David, 401-0625

Email: info@friendsofnoevalley com

Website: friendsofnoevalley com

Meetings: Two or three annually

Friends of Slow Sanchez

Contacts: Christopher Keene , Andrew

Casteel

Email: info@SlowSanchez com

Website: SlowSanchez com

Friends of Upper Noe Recreation

Center

Contact: Chris Faust

Email: info@uppernoerecreationcenter com

Website: uppernoerecreationcenter com

Meetings: Email or check website

Friends of Upper Noe Dog Owners Group (FUNDOG)

Contact: 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, C A 94131

Juri Commoners

Contact: Dave Schweisguth, MI7-6290

Email: dave@schweisguth org

Website: meetup com/Juri-Commoners

The group is on hiatus and seeking a new

leader Call Dave “Tidy up when you can ”

Liber ty Hill Neighborhood

Association

Contact: Dr Lisa Fromer, president

Email: efromer3@gmail com

Meetings: Quar terly Email for details

Noe Neighborhood Council

Contact: Ozzie Rohm or Matt McCabe

Email: info@noeneighborhoodcouncil com

Website: noeneighborhoodcouncil com

Meetings: Quar terly at Sally Brunn Librar y, 451 Jersey St

Noe Valley Association–24th Street

Community Benefit District

Contact: Debra Niemann, 519-0093

Dispatch: To repor t spills or debris on 24th

Street, call Billy Dinnell, 802-4461

Email: info@noevalleyassociation org

Website: noevalleyassociation org

Board meetings: Quar terly See website

Noe Valley Democratic Club

Contact: Sam Maslin, President

E-mail: noevalleydemocrats@gmail com

Website: www noevalleydemocrats org

Meetings: Monthly at Valley Tavern or Tacolicious, dates publicized on website

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: Kristen McCaffer y President

Kristen@novysf@gmail com, 829-8383; or Kathr yn Gianaras Vice President

Kathr yn@novysf@gmail com

Meetings: 9 a m Call to confirm location

Website: https noemerchants com

www NoeValleyMerchants com

Noe Valley Parent Network

An e-mail resource network for parents

Contact: Mina Kenvin

Email: minaken@gmail com

noevalleyparentsubscribe@yahoogroups com

Noe Walks

Contact: Chris Nanda

Email: christopher n nanda@gmail com

Website: NoeWalks com

Meetings: Saturdays, 10 a m Star ts 24th and Sanchez Ends Noe and Duncan for photo

Progress Noe Valley

Facebook: ProgressNoeValley

Email: progressnoe@gmail com

Website: progressnoe com

Meetings: Check Facebook page for current meeting and event schedule

San Francisco NERT (Neighborhood

Emergency Response Team)

Contact: Noe Valley NERT Neighborhood Team co-coordinators Maxine Fasulis, mfasulis@yahoo com; Carole Rober ts, carole rober ts@faludi com

Website: https://SF-ﬁre org/ner t

Visit the website to sign up for trainings

Upper Noe Merchants

Contact: Info@UpperNoeNeighbors com; https://uppernoeneighbors com/merchants/ Upper Noe Neighbors

Contact: Chris Faust

Email: Hello@UpperNoeNeighbors com

Website: www uppernoeneighbors com

Meetings: Bi-monthly on third Wednesdays Confirm by email or check website

THE NOE VALLEY VOICE editor@noevalleyvoice.com

All phone numbers are in the 415 area code, unless otherwise noted. Stefano DeZerega

the RUMORS behind the news

Hidden Treasures of Noe

By Mazook

MARCHING AHEAD: Februar y may be

the shor test month, but it is the longest in my list of changes happening on 24th Street There are some good things but navigating the commercial strip is not one of them

Driving or parking in Downtown Noe Valley (DNV) is a challenge , whether it be morning, noon, or night Drivers are making U-turns mid-block to grab a vacant parking space or cruising 24th, hoping someone will pull out The meter readers star t their day on 24th Street promptly at 9 a m and roll up and down the street until 6 p m , ticketing the violators with hefty fines

GRIPES OF WRATH: You might have noticed that the Municipal Transpor tation Agency (MTA) posted signs last month about a March 6 public hearing on proposed parking changes on 24th Street from Church to Castro Street

If you tried to read the notices, you might have had trouble understanding the changes They were a blizzard of details that left me with more questions than answers It seems there will be big changes to the yellow loading zones on the nor th side of 24th from Noe to Castro, and minor changes from Church to Vicksburg

The yellow zone changes from Noe to Castro, for example , will “rescind” or remove one 22-foot loading zone (stall 4018) while adding three yellow zones totaling 67 feet (stalls 4020, 4024, and 4026) and extend their loading time from the current 8 a m to 2 p m , to 8 a m to 3 p m The changes would create one new non-commercial parking spot for shoppers But take away two more (although it appears one does not presently exist)

The MTA should eliminate the yellow zone on the southwest side of Noe at 24th, which is rarely used and should be returned to the public meter it once was

On 24th from Church to Vicksburg the most significant change is turning the white taxi zone on the nor thwest corner of 24th and Church into a 48-foot yellow zone for morning deliveries The two green zones (shor t-term parking) on the south side of 24th will be changed to regular parking from 9 a m to 6 p m Also, the white zone in front of the Crayon Box children’s school will have its hours abbreviated

There was no fix for the glaring omission of removing Muni’s red zone at the nor thwest corner of 24th and Castro Muni now boards passengers on the southeast corner of Castro and 24th, leaving three or four spots across the street which should be open for public parking

There s no reason not to rid us of the red paint

Lastly, the four yellow zones in front of Whole Foods should either be eliminated or shor tened to two-hour parking from 9 to 11 a m , since the store’s deliveries come earlier in the morning or to the rear doors on Elizabeth Street

Parking in the Whole Foods lot has been extra challenging these days A sixth of the lot has been consumed by an outdoor freezer Their indoor freezer broke down in Januar y, and sadly is still in a state of disrepair The wait to park in the lot has caused cars to line up on 24th Street The staff was unable to tell me how much longer the fix would take Hopefully the freezer will be gone by the end of March

You know I would love to vent more

COME ’N’ GET IT: It appears that the Tacolicious space at 4063 24th St , which closed in October, its windows covered in brown paper, now has a new tenant, a person who owns two other restaurants in San Francisco According to the myster y owner who told me he wished to stay

mum about the details, the eater y plans to open the first week of March and will have a flair for Mexican food

We hope also to welcome Fresca back soon The restaurant, which has been closed since early on in the pandemic , plans to reopen the last week of March, after its remodel at 3945 24th St is complete

Owner Julio Calvo Perez chef Jose Calvo Perez, and manager Ivan Calvo Perez tell me they will have the same menu ceviche , steak, arroz con mariscos (paella) but with a “few modifications ” They plan to stay open ever y day but Tuesdays from 11 a m to 10 p m

Great news for all of you foodies: Falasteen, which calls itself a Palestinian Kitchen + Bar (at 4018 24th) had a ver y slow opening in mid-Januar y and is ser ving Palestinian cuisine Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p m (Falasteen is the Arabic word for Palestine )

The interior is beautiful, and the menu is ver y fairly priced, star ting with mezze dips and spreads ser ved with warm pita

The muhammara, a mix of roasted red peppers, walnuts, and spices, is $11 A falafel order is $10

In the Warm Bites a musakhan with sauteed mushrooms, caramelized sumac onions, and slivered almonds wrapped in a thin lavash is $12 The salads like baby arugula and grilled haloumi cheese with tomato, red onion, citrus, and olive oil, are $15 to $16 Main dishes such as Kefta Kabobs, spiced minced beef with parsley and onion, go for $27 to $32 I would probably star t off with a desser t which may seem crazy but then I wouldn’t have to wait: orange blossom rice pudding with pistachio and rose petals for $8

Falasteen’s owner Samir Salameh is sharing recipes that have been in the family for generations Chef/co-owner Lamees

Dahbour, known as Mama Lamees, star ted her own catering company

General manager Greekor Nemet says “We have had a ver y favorable reception from the neighborhood I suggest making a reser vation, especially on a weekend

Another spot that now needs reser vations is Damansara, at 1781 Church St

Despite being one of only two Malaysian restaurants in the city, Damansara has been experimenting with a new formula In December, chef-owner Tracy Goh closed her doors to eat-in dining and switched to takeout only

But last month, she decided to change the model again Now Goh is accepting diners by appointment only

The 48-seat restaurant and her menu of laksa, curr y puffs, and Dungeness crab will be available only for private events, supper clubs, and catering

Damansara opened on Church in 2022, replacing Ardiana (and before that La Nebbia) Goh arrived in San Francisco in 2012 and began hosting popup dinners out of her apar tment before expanding the business with the help of La Cocina

STILL HUNGRY? Opening at the end of March will be GLK Noe Valley, owned by folks who have two ver y successful restaurants in Oakland, called Grand Lake Kitchen, one on the shores of Lake Merritt and the other in the Diamond neighborhood

GLK Noe will be at 1199 Church (corner of 24th most recently Mr Digby’s which closed last year) The owners, May Seto Wasem and her husband, David Wasem tell me they are ver y excited to be in Noe Valley, with a menu they call “American comfor t food ” Says May, “I used to live in Noe Valley about 20 years ago on Sanchez Street near Elizabeth, so for me it’s like coming home

They will be open seven days a week 9 a m to 9 p m , and feature weekend brunch We are now working on creating our menu and stocking our full bar ” says May Wasem “We plan to ser ve a brunch of French toast; poached or scrambled eggs with mushrooms parmesan arugula and herb oil; a pastrami Benedict with hollandaise on r ye toast with arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette; and matzo ball soup ” She says, “Dinner choices will include brisket French dip, bone-in pork chops, and steamed clams ”

“I don’t think he knew the hill ver y well,” Burk told the Voice An understatement and now for

Also, a shout-out to the Diamond Street Café, which is celebrating its 12th year at 751 Diamond St It’s open 7 a m to 3 p m ,

seven days a week ser ving bagels sandwiches, and huevos rancheros

SAM SMITH SERVED: The crew at Firefly Restaurant (4288 24th St ) must have been shouting for joy when they finally caught their breath on Wednesday, Feb 18, the night British superstar Sam Smith and entourage dropped in for dinner

The pop and R&B singer is on a 20show engagement at the newly renovated Castro Theatre During the lengthy run, which ends March 14, Smith has been hitting restaurants around town and blogging about them at #samser ved Smith and five companions and security people arrived at Firefly for a pre-show meal around 6 p m

“We were in disbelief, and we were panicking, said co-owner and chef de cuisine Haley Sausner “This couldn’t be happening ”

But over the next hour and a half, the kitchen kept the dishes coming

“They ate a ton of food,” Sausner said They were big fried chicken aficionados and also loved the griddled daikon radish cakes She said Smith even opened his shir t to display a chest tattoo of a radish cake

After the feast, Smith posed outside with Sausner and ser ver Samie Niven Then he took off over the hill for the Castro Theatre performance

Did they leave a big tip?

Co-owner Brad Levy wasn’t telling “They were ver y appreciative of the evening,” Levy said

HIDDEN TREASURES: “Trinket trade” boxes like little libraries are popping up in San Francisco as they did last summer in Por tland I discovered one local box only after former Voice writer and editor Suzanne Herel, now living in Delaware , spotted an Instagram reel showing someone opening it “at Alvarado and Sanchez” (a block from my house)

In the video, the box looked like a little refrigerator attached to a large wooden bin When I found it in the 800 block of Sanchez, it was still stocked with an array of doodads and thingamabobs toys charms, stuffed animals, and keychains The idea is simple: take a trinket that catches your eye and leave a little treasure for the next person to enjoy

Another neighborhood treasure is the Rabbit Hole Children’s Theater on the corner of Diamond and 24th, which is celebrating its 10th year in Noe Valley They feature after-school clubs, theater classes, and bir thday par ties, for kids

We have programs filled with dressups, puppet shows, and work on a performance for their family to watch at the end of each week, says owner and founder Brooke Patton “We also have summer camps from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but parents should make reservations now since we are almost sold out ” Camps usually have 30 kids a week

Parents and children may be enjoying similar fun activities when Manny Yekutiel, who’s running for District 8 super visor in November, opens his campaign headquarters in the former Umpqua Bank space at 3938 24th St

“Noe Valley is an essential par t of the district and it’s full of families,” said Yekutiel when asked why Noe “It’s the hear t of District 8 in my opinion ” He reminded me he moved to the city in 2012 “I lived at

the corner of 24th and Castro from 2013 to 2020, and I held a lot of shabbat dinners with neighbors in my apar tment It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with San Francisco ”

Yekutiel wants the new office , which he says is “huge” (2 400 sq ft ) “to ser ve as a free community space , where ever yone can come and sit and relax and drink their Bernie’s coffee We’ll also have special programs for kids and families ”

The office will have its grand opening on April 12

HERE TODAY, GONE TAMALE: The Noe Valley Farmers Market has a new farm par ticipating on Saturdays in the Town Square The new vendor is King Ranch Farms, run by Jorge Silva and his family from Watsonville , who bought the land in 2022

As you market regulars know, El Buen Comer, the ver y popular vendor of Mexican food since 2008, has been closed since the beginning of the year I have truly missed eating my weekly favorite , their vegetarian tamale The reason it closed was that their chef, Juan Carlos Caudillo, had an accident in his restaurant kitchen (3435 Mission) at the beginning of the year and broke an elbow and shoulder Now he’s recuperating, and his wife , Isabel Caudillo, continues there as head chef

I am told that Juan Carlos Caudillo exuberantly wants to reopen after he gets his cast off in a couple weeks, but common sense tells me his return might take several more months

Many of you might have seen a poster in store windows in DNV informing shoppers that a GoFundMe had been set up for Caudillo and family The page asked for $10,000, which I am informed reached that limit ver y quickly and went over $12 000 Donations have now been paused

THAT’S ALL, Y’ALL: Oh, almost forgot

As promised, I have an update on the police chase and car crash in the 3600 block of 22nd Street that occurred at 12:50 a m on Jan 26 I told you I had come across some of the accident debris during a walk later that morning

According to the police repor t, the driver of the car that crashed on 22nd was identified as Kavari Vallare , 24, of Antioch His 2019 white jeep allegedly damaged sidewalk curbs a power pole a car and three houses along 22nd, until it finally came to a stop just nor th of Vicksburg Street

Vicksburg Street resident Monica Burk, whose 2009 Honda CRV was totaled in the incident, wrote the Voice to tell us what she learned by attending two cour t hearings in Februar y:

“Apparently, [Vallare’s] vehicle was known to be involved in mail theft, and that s why the police chase began He was originally found at 18th and Eureka and chased through the neighborhood (running more than eight stop signs at more than 50 mph, according to the policeman who testified),” Burk wrote

The jeep traveled south on Sanchez, then turned left heading east on 22nd Street a block so steep that traffic laws only allow one-way travel downhill toward Church Street

Starry Night on 24th: After devouring Firefly’s famous fried chicken, British pop star Sam Smith posed with chef Haley Sausner (left) and ser ver Samie Niven Smith stopped in for dinner before his Feb 18 show at the Castro Theatre Photos courtesy Firefly and #samserved

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