Bell Market Employee Farewell

This flyer was handed out at the Farmer's Market this morning:

Join the Board of the Noe Valley Farmer's Market and other long-time shoppers and neighbors in honoring the service provided by the workers at Bell Market, which will permanently close its doors on February 15, 2009.

Some of Bell's most loyal and capable employees--all proud members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union--have worked the Noe Valley store for over 30 years and have witnessed many changes to our neighborhood over this long history. During all that time, they have provided our community with excellent service, always treating us with politeness and respect--and often with warmth and humor--while expertly working along the aisles or at check-out counters or weighing out and packaging meat and fish or other specialty items. Although many of these workers did not live in out neighborhood, they have always been a true part of our community and in many cases have become our friends who have added greatly to the experience of shopping at Bell. These men and women have been the ones to supply Noe Valley with most of the staple foods we all eat every day and have contributed greatly to making Bell Market a venerable Noe Valley institution.

We will hold a ceremony in the presence of the Bell workers honoring their contribution next Saturday, February [7] at 11am in the horseshoe park area immediately adjoining the farmer's market.

Not everyone would agree with the hyperbole above, but the employees are losing their jobs in a tough market. Let's hope Whole Foods rehires the competent ones.

What: Ceremony to honor Bell Market employees
When: Saturday, February 7, 11:00am
Where: Park adjacent to Noe Valley Farmer's Market


[NVSF: Bell Market: Winding Down]

Photo: Streetlight Record's Last Day in Noe Valley

[NVV: Streetlight Set to Close Local Store]

Operation ESB Super Bowl

Looks like Noe Valley's only brew pub is hoping they can keep up with demand tomorrow:

Beginning "Operation ESB Super Bowl"... 180 pints available on tap. I'm getting reserves today just in case we run out
...
We have Super Bowl Stout (Daddy's Chocolate Milk); HohmannBrau Pale Ale; Elizabeth Street Bitter (ESB); and Marin Brewing Co. Mt. Tam Pale
...
Think I'll stock up with some 21st Amendment Brewery beer today as back-up. Although it's not good to have better reserves than your own.

[Twitter: Elizabeth Street Brewery]
[NVSF: Food Bites: What's New In Noe]

Noe Valley Democratic Club Town Forum

As mentioned earlier, there is a meeting on February 18th that (among other things) will give Noe Valley residents another chance to hear what's going on with Whole Foods and express concern or support.

NVDC presents Bevan Dufty in a town forum

Questions, opinions, musings about Noe Valley happenings? Now is the time to share them. Our supervisor, Bevan Dufty, will be here to answer your questions and/or direct you to some of the people who can fill in the details that you’ve been wondering about. Bevan will head up a panel consisting of Captain Stephan Tacchini of SAFE and the San Francisco Police Department, Debra Niemann, representing the Noe Valley Association and the Community Beautification District and Glen Moon of Whole Foods. Please feel free to forward questions in advance to me. Many have already expressed great interest in the fact that Whole Foods will be taking over the Bell Market space after extensive renovations. The speakers will appreciate the extra time to do advance research for your specific questions but of course questions will be entertained from the floor. There will be much to discuss and the panelists want to be prepared.

Our meeting will take place at our usual location and time:
Wednesday February 18 at 7:30 pm
St Philips Church
725 Diamond St. at Elizabeth St.

Again as usual, the meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Molly Fleischman
Vice-President
Noe Valley Democratic Club
415.641,5838 or molly@ffrsf.com

[Noe Valley Democratic Club (under construction)]
[NVSF: Update: Whole Foods]

Update: Whole Foods

A reader passed on notes from the Upper Noe Neighbors meeting last night at the Upper Noe Rec Center. We didn't have the group on our radar, as they've been quiet for months, but here's a description of who they are: "For 18 years, UNN has helped champion and improve their neighborhood. Whether the challenge is oversized development, screeching Muni tracks or calming traffic, the UNN has been dedicated and effective." If you attend a neighborhood meeting, please pass along your notes so that we may share them with the community.

On the agenda: Whole Foods and Congestion Pricing (yet ironically unrelated).

Whole Foods:

In brief:

• Bell Market closes on Valentine's Day
  
• Whole Foods takes over lease March 1
  
• Filed Change of Use on 1/29 (no details online yet)
  
• Community open house at St. Philips on February 18 (details as we get them)
  
• Planning Commission hearing on Feb 19
  
• Projected opening October 2009

Space:

• keep building structure and parking lot
  
• fix up and remodel interior
  

Products:

• Core goods only -- no Whole Body, no cafe, no kitchen stuff
• yes bakery, yes supplements, some prepared foods

[Trivia: the Mill Valley WF is about the same size and a good example of what to expect for product mix. For reference, the Franklin and Soma locations are twice the size of 3901 24th St.]

Rumors:

• Possible shuttle to other markets for eldery while under construction
  
• Possible temporary leases (perhaps Streetlight) for basic groceries while under construction
  
• Bevan Dufty and City have fast-tracked the permit process
• WF has tried, but been unable to secure a deal to take over the Real Foods space
  
• Confirmed they're in talks with the developer at Dolores/Market, but would not say more

Community Wishlist:

• Stroller lane for checkout, dog zone outside store -- "This is Noe Valley"
• Use of parking lot while shopping at other 24th St locations (not likely to happen)
• Shuttle/delivery service for neighborhood residents
  

The community liaison for this project lives in Noe Valley, and works at the 4th/Harrison location. His name is Andrew Calabrese, and his email is andrew.calabrese@wholefoods.com. He's fielding all questions and suggestions from the neighborhood.

Also feel free to discuss in the comments and we'll make sure he's reading.


Congestion Pricing: Principal Transportation Planner Zabe Bent gave a presentation explaining the hypothetical plans for charging automobile drivers to cross in and out of parts (or all) of San Francisco. She emphasized that the study is still in the early phase, and hopes to learn from trials in London, Stockholm and Rome. For information on the project, upcoming meetings or how to get involved visit the San Francisco County Transportation Authority website, or send comments/questions to Zabe Bent or mobility@sfcta.org. Most useful concern expressed: don't let Noe Valley become a park and ride for downtown commuters.

[Side note: Bevan Dufty is the new chairman of the SFCTA.]

Notables in attendance: Gwen Sanderson (NVMPA President), District 8 Supervisor hopefuls Rafael Mandelmann and Scott Wiener, as well as representatives from the Transit Authority and Whole Foods. 15-20 residents and members of UNN also attended.

[NVSF: Bell Market: Winding Down]
[SFCTA: Congestion Pricing]

Photos: St. Paul's Church

The oldest (and largest) church in Noe Valley is St Paul Church at 29th and Church Streets. Commissioned in 1876, construction on the Gothic stone structure began in 1897 and was dedicated in 1911. Construction was aided by parishioners:

Father Michael D. Connolly, then pastor, is said to have had every able person in the parish, including himself, at work on the project. Reports say many were called and chosen, including Saturday morning religious education students who, according to the parish centennial history, "tended to end up at the Thirtieth and Castro Streets quarry hauling rocks down to the church."

After the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the San Francisco archdiocese deemed the building too costly to upgrade and decided to sell the property. Once again, parishioners got the job done - they raised the money themselves. St. Paul's Church closed for seismic retrofitting for much of 2000, but managed to reopen in time for Christmas Eve Mass.

St. Paul's Church was also the set for 1992's Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg.

Thanks, once again, to bats1234 for the great photo (and inspiration for the brief history).

[Flikr: bats1234]
[Source: St. Paul's Church]
[Source: Bill Yenne: San Francisco's Noe Valley]

Tuttimelon: What Gives?

"Coming Soon" signs have been posted over the menu board at Tuttimelon Belgano Tuttimelon(?) since they opened. Nothing has changed since JT's comment on October 26th: "Tried going today, but there's no froyo. Supposedly froyo will be available 'next month.'" The counter staff only says "soon" when asked for details on when "next month" will be. And Tuttimelon's website still lists 3901 24th St as "coming soon" (seems to be a trend).

Last week, Gwen Sanderson (President, Noe Valley Merchants and Professional Association) left a comment asking for public support: "Regarding frozen yogurt, the new owners of Belgano are trying to get through permitting to put in the machines. But the city is holding it up. They could use community support."

We tried to get a hold of the owners to no avail. We also searched for permit records and found nothing. The only information close to useful is this letter to the GM of Tuttimelon [PDF] from Larry Badiner (Zoning Administer for SF). In brief: "An operation of this type is very close to that of an ice cream store, which Planing Code Sections 790.90 and 790.91 consider to be large fast-food or small self-service restaurants, depending on the size of the use."

If the same information applies to Noe Valley's location, Tuttimelon/Belgano will need a conditional use permit to operate a restaurant and that means Noe's Neighborhood Commercial District would have to approve more restaurants. The three CU's approved in 2006 (after a 20-year moratorium) have been claimed: Contigo, Noe Soup, and the (stalled) restaurant from the folks at Regent Thai at Church/Jersey.

Or maybe we're wrong. Does anyone out there have better (or more complete) info? Is the City holding up the project or are existing restrictions imposed by the NV Neighborhood Commercial District? Will Noe Valley get its FroYo?

[NVSF: Tuttimelon: Open!]
[NVSF: Food Bites: What's New In Noe]
[NVSF: Blight: Real Foods]

Trash: Black, Blue or Green Bin?

Trash stress in Noe Valley: What to do with items that aren't listed on the black, blue or green collection bins? We always wonder about things like dryer lint. Or corks. Or bicycle inner tubes.

We contacted Sunset Scavenger and spoke to Robert Reed, Public Relations Manager. We gave him a long list of items we don't know what to do with. He responded: "We have tried putting lists together but found long lists can overwhelm customers and often it may be more effective to focus on items and behaviors that provide the best opportunities to help protect the environment through source reduction, reuse and recycling. Internally we call this approach 'Better Instincts.'"

What follows is an article prepared by Sunset Scavenger in response to our questions, as well as specifics on what goes where.

Recycling more helpful at protecting environment than many know

How to recycle resources in San Francisco

A study by Institute on Self-Reliance reports that if Americans recycled and composted 90 percent of all their discards, we could cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 400 million metric tons, equivalent to closing 21 percent of all U.S. coal-fired power plants. That would be a tremendous reduction in emissions.

Here is how recycling helps protect the climate: Food scraps tossed in a trash bin go to a landfill, decompose and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Those same scraps tossed in a green cart go to a modern compost facility; there much of the nutrients and carbon in the scraps are preserved in the finished compost and returned to the soil when the amendment is applied to local vineyards and farms.

Here is even better news: Compost also helps the Earth to store carbon.

What are some simple guidelines that help make sure everything that can be recycled and composted in San Francisco goes in the blue and green carts? The short answer is: all bottles, cans, paper, and nearly all plastics go in the blue recycling cart; food scraps, yard waste, and food-soiled paper go in the green cart.

Plastics acceptable for blue cart recycling include plastic tubs and lids and yogurt containers, plastic cups, clamshell containers, molded plastic packaging, plastic buckets and flower pots, and broken plastic toys as long as they have no metal parts, batteries, circuit boards or wiring.

Plastic film of any kind, such as plastic bags and plastic wrap, is not accepted in the blue cart. Styrofoam is not accepted.

Recycling managers in San Francisco like to say “if it was ever alive, you can put it in the green cart.” Food scraps and yard trimmings go in the (green) compost collection cart. Some people fear that food scraps will smell. Here is the simple fix. Place kitchen trimmings and plate scrapings in a paper milk carton, a compostable bag (inside a kitchen pail), or a paper bag with a little newspaper at the bottom to absorb moisture. Place kitchen trimmings and plate scrapings inside, roll the top shut and toss it in your green cart.

Vegetables, fruit, cooked meat and poultry, eggs, fish bones and seafood shells can all go in the green cart. They are rich in nutrients and turned into compost literally become food for the soil. Soiled paper such as used paper napkins and paper towels should also go in the green cart.

Labels on cart lids also show what items go in which carts. Additional information is posted at SFRecycling.com and SFEnvironment.org.

What they didn't mention is that recycling and composting also saves you, the consumer, money. The amount charged for trash collection is based on the size of the black bin - the smaller the bin, the lower the charge. The blue and green bins are provided no charge.

Sunset Scavenger also took our original list and annotated it with suggestions:

Blue cart:

• tinfoil (ball it up)
• aerosol cans (empty only)

Green cart:

• tea bags
• chicken bones / feathers
• used facial tissues
  
• dryer lint
• corks
• vacuum cleaner bags (full, no plastic)
• cornstarch packing peanuts (can compost if truly made from cornstarch, but put them in a paper bag and roll the top shut so they won’t blow [out of] the outdoor compost facility) update below

Black cart (goes to landfill):

• candle stubs (wax)
• dead birds (wild)
• used facial tissues
• fabric softener sheets
• cat droppings (contain toxic ammonia, pregnant women strongly advised to avoid them)
• bubble wrap
• rubber bands
• dryer lint
• corks
• vacuum cleaner bags (full, no plastic)

Bulky Item Collection, BIC, program

• small appliances (coffee makers, mixers)

Other (how to avoid landfill altogether):

• clothes/fabric (thrift stores/clothes donation boxes)
• cooking oil (SF GreaseCycle)
• mylar wrappers (return to Terracycle's pilot recycling program)
• Tetrapak containers (don’t buy aseptic packaging, switch to reusable metal bottles)
• rubber bike tubes (check on the internet for a creative reuse)
• dog droppings (flush down the toilet)
• tampon applicators (buy brands that use cardboard applicators and put cardboard in the blue black cart)
• propane canisters (reuse them)
• bicycle and Nalgene-type water bottles (switch to reuseable metal bottles, otherwise blue cart)
• cornstarch packing peanuts (can be reused or dissolved in warm water)
• Styrofoam packing peanuts (avoid them; if you receive some, drop them off at a UPS shipping store or return them to whoever sent them to you.)
• shipping pallets (reuse them)
• (broken) pottery / ceramics (put them in a paper bag and break them by hitting them with a hammer and reuse them in tile projects or toss them in the black cart)
• perfume/cologne (use it up)
• straw baskets/hats/etc (if you cut straw baskets and hats into small pieces, we can compost the straw)

Can we use Lawn and Leaf BioBags curbside (as opposed to paper bags)?

Watch out for “bio-plastic.” The key word there is plastic. We can not compost plastic. The best container for compostable material is the green cart. If you routinely have more compostable material than fits in your green cart, call us and we will bring you a larger or a second green cart. If you have extra prunings, tie them with a string and set them next to your green cart. Local hardware stores sell large paper bags, some people use to hold extra branch cuttings. Manufacturers of large compostable bags need to more clearly mark the bags as compostable and certify that their bags are truly compostable. Some look like [regular] plastic bags to recycling workers. [Editor -- the bags from Tuggey's or Walgreens are clearly marked on the side.]

Do household batteries still go in a bag on top of black bin? (They have been stolen there, so we bring them to collection places.)

We favor rechargables. People can also place used household batteries in a clear plastic bag on top of their black cart, and we will collect them for recycling.

UPDATE (1/28): We received a correction from Heidi Obermeit, Waste Reduction Specialist for Sunset Scavenger:

Most of the information listed in the article is accurate but there are a few items that should be removed from the acceptable green cart items. While the majority of this material may be organic we do not accept dryer lint, corks, full vacuum cleaner bags, or cornstarch packing peanuts in the green cart. These materials should all go in the black cart with the exception of the cornstarch packing peanuts which can be reused, dissolved in warm water for disposal, or placed in the black cart.

Also, we do accept used facial tissues in the green cart and used tampon applicators should go in the black cart.

[Official Site: SF Recycling]
[NVSF: SF GreaseCycle]
[NVSF: Recycling Theft = $469,000]

Shop Local: Noe Valley Honey

Here's a cool item we stumbled across this weekend: honey made from local bees. "Limited quantity specialty wildflower honey from the heart of San Francisco. Our honey is gathered in Noe Valley and surrounding regions by bees that are kept free of antibiotics." More information at Pollen Princesses' online shop and on their blog.

[Official Site: PollenPrincesses]

Crime Beat

Information is from Mission and Ingleside District San Francisco Police Station newsletters.

January 19

Robbery -- 3:10pm. 2900 block of Diamond St. A 32 year old Noe Valley man had his cell phone and earpods snatched from his hands as he exited a MUNI bus. He fought for control of the items only to have the robber's accomplice knock him to the ground. The robbers were described as black males in their late teens wearing dark baggy clothing. The pair split up after the crime, one fleeing north on Diamond Street, the other running south.

January 22

Attempted Robbery -- 8:15 pm. 27th & Church Streets. A Noe Valley man found himself surrounded by three male teenagers who demanded his backpack. He refused to comply and one of the teens produced a handgun and threatened him. One of the robbers punched the man in the face and he ran from them. The suspects fled empty handed and the police were called. As Officer Androvich interviewed the victim on the 1500 block of Church Street, the man pointed out the suspects as they passed by inside a MUNI LRV. Sergeant Kim and posse stopped the train at Church and Cesar Chavez Streets and detained four teens. A replica handgun was found near one of the suspects. The victim identified his assailants and three of the four were charged with attempted robbery. The three perpetrators: a 16 year old Tenderloin District resident, a 15 year old Mission District resident, and a 15 year old SOMA District resident, were turned over to probation officers at the Juvenile Justice Center. Sergeant Branconi, Robbery Detail, took over the investigation. Case 090081515

Contigo: Opening February 17th

Brett Emerson is set to open Contigo on February 17th at 5:30pm. No word yet on how to make a reservation, but they are hiring all positions (probably including a host to take your call).

Congrats, Brett - it's been a long time coming!

Contigo
1320 Castro St
(415)285-0250

[IPoS: The Answer to your Question]
[Contigo: Official Site]
[NVSF: Food Bites: What's New In Noe]
[NVSF: Contigo: Upside Down, Backwards & Hopeful]

Photos: Noe Valley At Night

Once again, Flickr user bats1234 sends a great shot of Noe Valley. This time, it's of Upper Noe and Fairmont Heights. "With all these warm days and mild nights, I can actually go out back for more than a quick glance at the hills." Also: "My first shot (a 47 second exposure) using a decently tall, heavy, and stable tripod. With luck, there will be fewer shaky night shots and subsequent cursing. And more peering into neighbor's windows." Close your blinds, Noe Valley -- no one wants to see that!

And thanks, bats, for the photo.

Food Bites: What's New In Noe

A quick round-up of the latest Noe Valley food news:

Incanto is now offering a Leg of Beast dinner as a simpler version of Cosentino's popular Whole Beast events. Best for 6-8 people, the meal "is centered around a whole leg of beef." Reservations and pre-order required; $200.

La Ciccia is hosting another of its popular Cena di Porco dinners on January 26th featuring a whole roasted suckling pig and wine pairing. $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations by phone only - (415)550-8114.

Firefly celebrated its 15th anniversary in November. (We ate there the first month they were open and can't believe it's been 15 years!)

Contigo hired a General Manager and hopes to announce an opening date soon. Go Brett!

City Grill opened as expected on January 14th. The website isn't up yet (citygrillsf.com), and the menu is evolving. But for now they're offering steak, a pork chop, burger, and fish, chicken and veggie options. Now we know what "classic American fare" means to Stefano Coppola.

Cooks Boulevard has announced their new class schedule, and classes are filling up fast. Also be sure to check out the upcoming events at Omnivore Books.

It may be January, but the warm weather continues to bring crowds to the Farmer's Market. This week there was a new vendor selling organic vinegar, and there's talk of more vendors to come - possibly on a rotating basis. Spring is just around the corner...

Nothing new to report on the "Vietnamese Fusion" at 1298 Church St. except that there's nothing new to report. There's been no work on the space for a couple of months. Anyone have details?

Finally, Elizabeth Street Brewery. Yes... Noe Valley has a brew pub. They Tweeted this weekend that they're set to brew another 200 gallons of beer this year and hope to keep up with ever-increasing demand. Drink up!

[Food Gal: Take Five with Chris Cosentino, A Chef Who Is Offal Good At What He Does]
[NVSF: Opening: City Grill]
[NVSF: Update: "High End Vietnamese Fusion"]
[Image: Elizabeth Street Brewery]

January 20th Inauguration Events

Listening to the We Are One concert today it became clear just how big an event Obama's inauguration will be. Three whole days? Really? Did Bush get three days, or just one day each election? (Honestly...we weren't paying attention.) A full calendar of Washington, DC events can be found here.

So when looking for events here in (warm and sunny) San Francisco, we discovered that giant Jumbotron displays will be set up at Civic Center simulcasting the whole shebang on Tuesday. "The event is free, but the public are asked to bring a donation of new socks and underwear (with tag attached) for the SF homeless in place of admission fee."

Anyone have the scoop on Inaugural parties here in Noe Valley? Party in the streets? Any Noe Valleyans live-Tweeting or blogging from DC? Let us know what you know in the comments, please.

[FunCheap: Presidential Inauguration Simulcast]
[SFGate: Schedule of events for Obama's inauguration]
[NYT: Lincoln Memorial Concert Kicks Off Festivities]
[Photo: Change.gov]

Bye Bye Bush

From today's Chronicle:

At Just For Fun, a gift and novelty shop on 24th Street in Noe Valley, Bush dog toys, Smush Bush stress relievers, Bush countdown calendars and "impeach mints" are long gone.

On Thursday night, the anti-Bush merchandise that had done so well for years was down to three copies of "The Bush Survival Guide," a sole copy of "The George W. Bush Quiz Book" and one remaining "Bush-its," or sticky notes for "when you want to say something really stupid."

"He doesn't sell anymore," said store employee David Benson.

Instead, the front window was full of Barack Obama calendars and tall candles depicting him as St. Martin de Porres, with a halo around his head. Those items were going fast, Benson said.

[SFGate: As Bush exits office, portraits come down]

Stroller Files: Stuff Parents Like

SFGates's The Mommy Files blog checked out Stuff White People Like and "it sparked an unoriginal idea to develop my own list poking fun at myself and the idealistic, inspired parents who I hang with in my urban Noe Valley neighborhood."

Some highlights:

• Pushing around overpriced strollers "If grandma hadn't given us the money for the Bugaboo, we never would have paid for it!"
• Dressing their babies in political onesies "My mama's for Obama!"
• Feeding their kids hummus "Trader Joe's organic is the best. Wyatt loves to dip jicama in it."
• Birthing at home "We're at least considering it."
• Choosing pediatricians who support alternative vaccination schedules "I know the MMR doesn't contain thimerosal but..."
• Teaching their children a second language "I speak Spanish to her and her dad speaks English and she goes to school in Mandarin. We might put her in French camp this summer because she said that she wants to learn French."
• Adopting a dog--and then having a kid "Our dog Spot really needed a friend and so we started trying."
  
• Giving birth later in life "I didn't think that I wanted kids...I'm just so glad the infertility treatments worked...and now we have twins!"

Readers? Got anything to add? In the comments, please.

[SFGate: The Mommy Files]

PSA: San Francisco Community Police Academy

The Community Police Academy is a fifteen week program that meets weekly. It informs and teaches participants aspects of policing; patrol, investigations, vehicle operations. arrest and control techniques, firearm procedures, and emergency communications.

The Academy's goals are to develop community awareness through education and to create a relationship between the San Francisco Police Department and the communities it serves.

Community members are encouraged to join and learn about the San Francisco Police Department.

The next class begins February 17, 2009.

There is also a ten week Youth Community Police Academy for high school students beginning March 24, 2009.

Participants are selected by the program coordinator after an application process. Enrollment is limited to twenty-five students per class.

If interested, please contact:

Ms. Lula Magallon (415) 401-4720
or
Officer Maria Oropeza (415) 401-4701

More information on SFGov.

Bell Market: Winding Down

A reader tipped us that Bell Market's inventory is dwindling ahead of its Valentine's Day closing, so we took a field trip and here are a few shots of what we saw.

It appears that perishables (milk and meat) are being restocked, but other items like TP, sodas and all the crap junk instant foods in the center aisles are consolidating. The bulk bins are down to chaff and one aisle is closed off. But fear not: beer cases are piled in the aisles.





In sum: It's sadder than usual in there.

It's also going to be quiet on 24th Street when Bell Market shuts its doors, especially given all the other closings on 24th Street. Merchants seem to understand this - Ritz Camera cut its hours this week (no Sundays anymore), and other stores are offering deep discounts. It's going to be a long season until Whole Foods' arrival re-energizes Noe Valley's main commercial district.

[NVSF: Closing: More Rumors on 24th Street]
[NVV: Rumors Behind the News: Changes Left and Right]
[NVSF: NVV: We Read It So You Don't Have To]

Closing: More Rumors on 24th Street

Sources tell us that Simply Chic and GNC are closing. Can't say we're suprised. Simply Chic has been clearing out merchandise and fixtures for months but denies they're going out of business. When asked, GNC also denies it (but when have you ever seen anyone one there?). So still just rumors.

With all the spaces turning over on 24th St we wonder: what does Noe Valley need?

More Nails/Waxing? (Nooooo....!)
Restaurants (no more Conditional Use permits -- can this be changed?)
Realtors? (Not a value-add)
Fishmonger/Butcher?
Gas station?
Parking lot?
Baby stroller parts/repair?

What do you leave the neighborhood for? Since Whole Foods is opening later this year, now is the time for new retail to establish itself. What should it be? Input in the comments, please.

[NVSF: Closed: Riki]
[NVSF: Blight: Real Foods]
[NVSF: Forget Whole Foods - Noe Needs a Parking Lot]
[NVSF: Update: Planning Commission October 23, 2008]

Fun with Analytics: Christmas Trees

Noe Valley, SF has received a huge amount of traffic lately for our post about holiday trash pick-up. Most people found us with some keyword variation of "Sunset Scavenger Christmas Tree Pickup." We think it's great that so many people are genuinely interested in the proper way to dispose of their holiday cheer.

Contrast that with the apathy of those who have dragged their trees to the curb on any old day and in any condition. Apparently these people haven't read the newsletter that comes with their trash bill (owners) or tried to find the information online (all others). They can't be bothered.

Friendly reminder: Christmas Holiday tree curbside pick-up is this week only. Don't dump your tree on the curb after that. Option: "Trees can also be dropped off at the Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council at 780 Frederick St. until Jan. 18, and at Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling at 900 Seventh St. until Jan. 16." Or you could bring them to the SF Recycling Center.

[NVSF: PSA: Sunset Scavenger's Holiday Collection Schedule]
[CBS5: SF Curbside Christmas Tree Recycling Begins]
[NVSF: Fun with Analytics: Google Club]
[Photo: Brian Brooks, via Curbed]

Opening: City Grill

City Grill's sign is up, and today the door was open and workers were inside. Open date? “Hopefully in 10 days...on Wednesday the 14th.” We presume the "hopefully" applies to their beer/wine license: still pending. The inside? Much the same as before and seems close to ready. So it seems Noe Valley is poised for another "classic American fare" restaurant.

And? Already four stars on Yelp.

City Grill
4123 24th St

[NVSF: Kookez to Become Lupa?]
[NVSF: NVV: We Read It So You Don't Have To]