NVV Sept 2011: We Read It So You Don't Have To

The Noe Valley Voice is published ten times a year and has been a neighborhood fixture since 1977. Here are highlights from the latest issue. Links are to items we've covered here on NVSF or outside sources as the Voice doesn't post stories online until mid-month.

September 2011

Front Page: Noe Valley Wine Walk is coming Sept 14 (a $30 wristband gets you unlimited pours from 19 shops and restaurants) and organizers expect 400 to 600 tasters; Noe Valley gets its own lipstick line; former St. Paul's Priest slammed for child abuse; 98-year old Keiko Fukuda earns Judo's highest honor of 10th degree black belt; results from the Census 2010 (highlights: Noe has lost a few residents since 2000, gained toddlers- up 50% from a decade ago, and "Snowy Valley" has a higher percentage of white people than the rest of SF - 78%  vs. 49% citywide).

Letters: A reader writes to complain about Whole Foods applying for a liquor license because "it may attract more shoppers;"  farewell Mystery Bookstore - you will be missed; another reader complains about parking on 24th Street so they drive to the Castro instead; a letter in defense of the blocked sidewalk violation citations ("sidewalks are for people!"); a complaint about a police car roaring down 24th St. at top speed ("a terrible accident could have occurred"); a warning about truth in advertising at Whole Foods on blueberries ("they weren't half-pint containers"); and a question about whether guest rentals are in fact legal (short answer: not usually and you need to pay taxes).

Cost of Living in Noe: The rental market is red-hot with 1%  vacancy in "well-managed" buildings thanks to the Google shuttle buses, easy freeway access, and Noe's "hip nightlife." (?) Average price of a house in Noe: $1.17 million.

Short Takes: Music in the Park is this Saturday at Noe Courts; Open Studios comes to Noe on Oct 1-2 - visit Artspan.org for more details or pick up a schedule at Phoenix Books on 24th St.

Store Trek: Press: Works on Paper

Rumors: In the weeks before Sept 11, 2001 in Noe on Church Street, Cafe XO was opening, Cafe J was about to become a Greek restaurant on Church (now Henry's Hunan), Star Bakery was closing to become a Curves (now Getzwell), Speckmann's was becoming Contigo, and a retro ice cream shop called Fountain of Youth was struggling to stay alive (it's now a nails waxing salon). 10 years on in Noe ... First American Title Company is opening on Castro; Tamasei Sushi is becoming Akai Saru sushi in a few months; Urban Cellars is becoming Noe Valley Wine Merchants; and J & J is empty. Other changes afoot: The Accent on Flowers remodel should be done by the last week of September and the space will be up for rent; Star Magic/Cosmic Wizard is no more; and Bespoke is leaving Noe for Pacific Heights. The old Tuttimelon space could become a First Republic bank soon - though the Noe Valley Merchants  and Professionals Association still has to consider the idea (and there are already 5 banks on 24th St). The psychic space has been transformed into Walkershaw men's clothing (Connie Walkershaw also runs Sew Salon on Castro at Jersey). Giants pitcher Matt Cain is reportedly leaving Noe for the East Bay; the huge neon sign above Cotton Basics has been removed from outside the building, and you can visit it inside the store now; more Real Foods buyout rumors; a belated nod to the 2011 Best of the Bay winners in Noe; and there's a memorial on Sept 9 for long-time local Bank of America bank teller Jorge Casilla Ramirez. RIP.

[The Noe Valley Voice]