Update: Never-Ending Project at 1298 Church St

Contractors working ... progress.

In possibly one of the longest build-ups ever for a restaurant, the "high end Vietnamese fusion" restaurant long in the works at 1298 Church Street is now described by those we spoke to as "Thai food." But neither the mechanical contractors on site nor the woman who answered the phone at Regent Thai have any clue if/when it will actually open. Stay tuned...

[NVSF: Update: "High End Vietnamese Fusion"]

New Legislation To Curb Dog Walkers

Here's the press release. Emphasis ours:

Supervisor Wiener Introduces Legislation Regulating Commercial
Dogwalkers Who Use City Property

Among other things, legislation would limit number of dogs walked at one time to 7

San Francisco (October 18, 2011): At today's Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Scott Wiener will introduce legislation to set standards for commercial dogwalkers who conduct their business in City parks or on property owned by the Port of San Francisco or the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The legislation will require commercial dogwalkers to obtain a permit, pay an annual permit fee, receive training, certify that their vehicle is fit for transporting dogs, carry required equipment, and ensure that the dogs they are walking have licenses. In addition, the legislation will allow commercial dogwalkers using city property to walk no more than seven dogs at one time.

To formulate this legislation, Supervisor Wiener worked with a broad coalition, including the SPCA, the Neighborhood Parks Council, professional dogwalker groups, dog owner groups, and the affected city departments. The idea of regulating commercial dogwalkers has been around for a number of years, but this is the first time that a Supervisor has converted the idea into legislation.

"Commercial dogwalkers provide a critical service to the many San Franciscans with dogs," said Supervisor Wiener. "This service must be carried out in a professional manner that respects city property and the other users of that property. There are many responsible and professional dogwalkers in San Francisco, and we need to ensure that the few irresponsible dogwalkers don't give the many good ones a bad name."

Dr. Jennifer Scarlett, co-president of the San Francisco SPCA, adds: “This is important legislation that recognizes our City's unique relationship with dogs. Dogwalkers provide an important service for many guardians in San Francisco and these standards help ensure the safety and protection of our City’s animals and the wellbeing of its residents.”

Professional dogwalker organizations also support the legislation. "For the many professional dogwalkers who are well-trained, who know how to care for dogs, and who respect the city property they use, this legislation will legitimate them and will require dogwalkers who lack training or skills to get training," said Angela Gardener of San Francisco Professional Dogwalkers Association. "It will also provide firm standards to ensure that all of us in the industry operate under the same rules."

Scott Wiener
Member, San Francisco Board of Supervisors
District 8
(415) 554-6968

[NVSF: How Well Do You Know Your Dog Walker, Noe Valley?]
[SFGate: Should Dog Walkers Be Licensed? (2009)]
[Photo: ipetblog.net]

Reminder: Noe Valley Harvest Festival

A booster for the Noe Valley Harvest Festival (who asks to remain anonymous) would like to remind you of tomorrow's event:

This Saturday! 10AM -5PM. Some cool things: Farmer’s Market all day, live local music on TWO stages all DAY!, tons of children’s events. Pets and childrens costume contest 1:30 GREAT Prizes! Intensely great raffle – FIRST PRIZE TRIP TO HAWAII second prize IPAD! Come one, come all! See and be seen!

For Sale: Fattoush Restaurant

Yet another Noe restaurant is for sale. From the listing:

Fattoush Restaurant - FOR SALE
Noe Valley Neighborhood Location
Turnkey & Fully Equipped

Location: 1361 Church Street

Website: www.fattoush.com

Space: Approximately 1,500 Sq. Ft. including Patio

Seats: 96 Total Seats
(40 in dining area + 40 in patio + 16 at front sidewalk seating)

Liquor License: Type 41

Lease: Initial Term: Through May 31, 2016
Plus two 5-Year options through May 31, 2026

Rent: Current monthly rent is $5,216.73 per month

Sales Price: Contact Broker

Comments: Beautiful Outdoor Patio renovated in 2008 features a wine bar. Restaurant is currently operating and prospects are urged to not talk to employees.

Contact broker Bruce Breitman at BBGLTD@gmail.com or (415) 435-4506 for more info.

NVV Oct 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.

October 2011

Front Page: Benefit for Sept 10 victims of 24th St fire - all 7 displaced tenants have since found places to stay in the Castro while repairs get underway; local author Clint Werner has a new book on the benefits of medical marijuana called Marijuana Gateway to Health: How Cannabis Protects Us from Cancer and Alzheimer's Disease; drama between good and bad dog owners - and families - at Douglass Dog Park; local '90-Pound Weakling' becomes a triathlon star.

Letters: A heartfelt open letter to Noe Valley from fire victim Christina Vo; a letter about the St. Paul's priest accused of child abuse; and Bruno Matos of Twin Peaks Pizza will donate 5,000 slices of pizza to the homeless if the community can pitch in by giving the pizzeria 5,000 likes on Facebook.

Features: Traffic safety campaign started by pedestrian safety advocates - learn more at NoeValleyTrafficSafety.com; Harvest Fest happens this year on Oct. 15.

Cost of Living in Noe:  Average single-family home sales price: $1.35 million.

Store Trek: Walkershaw Man

Rumors: NVMPA reports the Noe Valley Wine Walk was a success with over 800 tickets sold (half presold) - and mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty also attended; someone posted a paranoid YouTube video about RF in the Hood filmed at Church and Day; reports of flooding as a result of water meters changed to wireless smart meters; Noe is full of yummy mummies; a vacant lot next to 3822 24th Street is for sale for  ... $2.2 million; Philz coffee is coming to Noe in December; the old Cosmic Wizard space at 4028 24th St. is becoming a "frozen yogurt and treat" shop; the old Bespoke space is rumored to soon be a maternity shop; something's up at J&J, but what remains unclear ("rumors were that Pete's was trying to relocate but those rumors were strictly from hearsay and gossip departments"); Joseph Andrade Floral is gone [Ed - and soon Vivon next door will be too]; and the nail salon on Vicksburg at 24th closed without a trace. K9 Scrub Club is opening on Church; and the original owner of the Real Food Company who sold the business to the Neutraceutical Corporation in 2002 (including the Noe Valley outlet), died last month at 91.  

[The Noe Valley Voice]

Tonight: Benefit for the Noe Valley 24th Street Fire Victims

After last month's fire, Catherine Bergstrom quickly mobilized to organize tonight's benefit. Catherine sent the following reminder:

Thank you for your interest in the Noe Valley Friends & Neighbors Helping Neighbors benefit to aid the victims of the Radio Shack Apartments fire.

This fire on Saturday, September 10th was devastating to all those involved. 100% of any contributions made will go directly to the residents, most who lost everything they own.

Here is the latest information:
http://catherineberg.posterous.com/benefit-update-for-noevalley-fire-survivors#

We appreciate the overwhelming response from Noe Valley and beyond.

Thank you,
Catherine Bergstrom

Raffle prizes include an iPad and gift certificates to neighborhood merchants. The live auction features a day of brewing with Elizabeth Street Brewery and 2 tickets to the sold out conversation with Ferran Adrià sponsored by Omnivore Books.

What: Benefit for Noe Valley Fire Survivors
When: Thursday October 6, 6-9pm
Where: The Valley Tavern, 4054 24th Street

[NVSF: 2-Alarm Fire On 24th Street]
[NVSF: An Open Letter To Noe Valley]
[Photo: Randy Drevland]

Crime Beat: Noe Valley Cyclery Robbed

More crime and mischief in the neighborhood: Two readers wrote in to alert us to a break-in at the bike shop at 24th and Diamond, Noe Valley Cyclery.

According to the man replacing the smashed door, "I think 8 bikes" were stolen.

[Photo: Noe Valley Cyclery]

Closing: Vivon Clothing Co. on 24th St

A sign in the window announced today that Vivon at 3961 24th Street (next to the recently closed Joseph Andrade Floral) is having a moving sale.

Wait - moving or closing? A quick call to the store confirmed both: Vivon is "moving to Pinole" and “closing in a month… at the end of November."

[Image: Google Streetview]

Another Noe Valley House Fire

There have been a few big fires around the City in the last few weeks, including the two-alarm fire on 24th St (don't forget the benefit this Thursday) and the porch fire at 1209 Church that attracted all the early morning helicopters on Friday. There was another on Sunday at 22nd and Sanchez. We weren't around, but a Upper Noe neighbor sent us the above picture, adding that it was taken just after the SFFD arrived about 5:30pm.

Here's a little more info on today's fire from Twitter:

whitney Whitney Hills 

Something is seriously on fire in Noe Valley. I can smell smoke over on Valencia.

discomaz Marisol Segal 

Anyone is noe valley know what's going on? i hear threes a fire on sanchez and 22nd.

Emergency_In_SF Emergency_In_SF 

FIRE: heavy smoke as firefighters arrive (on yet another) fire at Sanchez & 22nd in Noe/Castro/Mission area. yfrog.com/j25d7p

ingerhogstrom ingerhogstrom 

@Emergency_In_SF looks like fire dept has it under control, this was several mins ago when they'd just arrived yfrog.com/nu9tyncj

Can anyone provide more details? Opportunities for providing assistance?

[NVSF: Benefit for the Noe Valley 24th Street Fire Victims]

Crime Beat: Attempted Carjacking

Laney writes:

At 9:30 this evening [10/1], my husband and I were driving down Noe and at the corner of Noe and 21s, a guy who was crouched down, jumped out and attempted to get into our car. All our doors were locked and we were fine. We called the police. We saw a young woman taking night photography at the top of the hill and told her what happened and gave her a ride back to her house. But still, it was very scary. Please warn people to keep their doors locked while they're driving. Even in this seemingly very safe neighborhood. It gave us a huge scare.