DAVIDsTEA: New Opening Date

The wraps are off the new DAVIDsTEA shop on 24th Street but the opening date has been postponed again. From the publicist:

As you may have noticed, the DAVIDsTEA in Noe Valley still isn't open. Construction was moving along right on schedule, but they hit a snag with the City in terms of receiving approval on a fire rating for the building. It has all been cleared up now, but the delays caused the opening to be pushed back. All systems now seem to be "go" for a new opening date of October 27.

[NVSF: Interview: David Segal of DAVIDsTEA]

This Week In Noe Valley: Top Chef In Noe Valley, Whole Foods Turns Three, And An Awesome Passive Aggressive Note

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Incanto's Chris Cosentino wins Top Chef Masters final; Mark Pastore pens a great Letter [Inside Scoop, Incanto]
• This neighbor doesn't understand some basic rules but writes a great note [@LarsenPro]
• Whole Foods Noe Valley turns three on Saturday and there will be a party of sorts [@immortalsrun]
• San Francisco is the best city to live in regardless of haters in the comments [Businessweek]
• A Lovejoys offshoot is opening in Pacifica [Patch]

[Photo: Penseroso]

Public Meeting: SF Public Libraries

This Saturday the San Francisco Public library would like to fulfill it's voter-mandated obligation to update it's services based on community input:

The Library Preservation Fund, renewed by Proposition D in November 2007, requires that the San Francisco Library Commission assess and modify as appropriate the hours of operation of the Main and branch libraries at least once every five years. The public hearings are a key component of this process.

These public hearings will also allow residents to give SFPL their ideas about library services and priorities and allow the Library to present ideas about its future goals and initiatives.

In case you can't make it, the next meeting will be on Oct 2nd at the Bernal Heights Branch Library. More details at the SFPL website.

What: Library Operating Hours Public Meeting
When: Sat, 9/29/2012, 1:00-3:00pm
Where: 451 Jersey Street

Moving: Heliotrope

After a 2+ year run at 1515 Church St, a sign in the window of Heliotrope announces that the store is taking it's eco-friendly and natural skincare products to a new location at 806 Valencia St in November. The reason for the move? Not the ADA lawsuits that have troubled so many local small businesses. The owners are hoping instead for a location with "more foot traffic."

The shop is still open for now - and even once it moves, you can still get Heliotrope lotions and soaps at Loft on 24th St.

Heliotrope 
806 Valencia at 19th (starting Nov 2012)
415-643-4847

A Most Excellent Map Of Employee Shuttle Bus Stops

No routes have been published of employee shuttle bus stops, but Realtors seem to know where they are - they're a huge bonus for selling or renting property in Noe Valley and other neighborhoods to those commuting to Silicon Valley. Neighbors have loved/hated them since around 2008. The City conducted a study concluding there's money to be made in regulation. But no one has quantified what everyone wants to know - how many people ride them and do they do more harm than good?

Data visualization experts at Stamen Design were commissioned by Zero1 to study how many people make the commute from San Francisco to the Silicon Valley, urban to suburban. It was a long process, and the above map was created. The nut? Besides the really cool graphic? "At a rough estimate, these shuttles transport about 40% of the amount of passengers Caltrain moves each day. Google alone runs about 125 trips daily, all over the city."

[Stamen: The City from the Valley (2012)]
[Zero1 Biennial]

This Week In Noe Valley: A New Restaurant In Noe, Space Shuttle Endeavor Buzzes The 'Hood, A New $4.25M Comp

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Samsung Galaxy owners can have their own Noe Valley case - sorry iPhone 5 users [Zazzle]
• Pushing the envelope once again? $4.25M new construction single family home [Curbed]
• Another fire in Noe Valley - no one injured [CBS Local]
• That Tao space? Eater previews Company [Eater]
• Noe Valley condos (still) average $1M plus [Downing & Co]
• Todd David fights for the kids [KALW]

[Photo: Space Shuttle Endeavor from Noe Valley via @Rafe]

This Week In Noe Valley: Uni The New Foie Gras, Rent Control Isn't, Probate Sale Shows Market Is Out Of Control

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Hard won lesson: the shifting cost of living in Noe [@sfgirlbybay]
• Copper Thief's dump fixer sells for $1.3M [Curbed]
• Uni at La Ciccia makes a dubious trend list [Zagat]
• Juicey Lucy's is a local alternative to "cleanse" diets [SF Weekly]
• Noe Valley gets an F on cost of living and other fun stats [areavibes]

[Photo: ‏@nutritionella]

Video: Thief Empties Box Left By OnTrac

This video via the Noe Valley Parent email list, while lacking drama, captures an OnTrac delivery and subsequent pilfering of said delivery. The loot? Kids vitamins.

So much for the convenience of Amazon Prime.

Letter: SFPD Abusing Parking Privileges?

A reader writes:

I am a Noe Valley Resident and lately have noticed how city police officers are to a certain extent abusing their privilege of no hassle parking to run errands while on the job. Last Friday, I was at the Korean restaurant and witnessed two police officers pull up and park their car in the bus stop section and came in for dinner. I understand the need to have the car close by in case they have an emergency but that seems like a bit too much leeway.

I am trying to understand if you folks would be willing to write something in this regard on the blog, I have pictures of the cops and their parking.

Abuse of power or necessary for effective police work? Is the Google Bus displaced? Does Robert Roddick know about this? Your (polite) thoughts in the comments, please.

This Week In Noe Valley: Another House Fire, Noe Valley Ministry's Pastor, And What Selling Your NV Home Would Get You In Mill Valley

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Early morning fire displaces eleven 22nd St residents [Mission Local]
• Aspiring Noe Valley filmmaker is looking for Kickstarter funding [The Joy of Filmmaking]
• What you can buy in Mill Valley vs. Noe Valley for 1.7 million [SFGate]
• Sunrise in Noe [I Dig Los Angeles]
• Noe Valley Ministry Pastor doubles rent to boot handicapped tenant [SFGate]

[Photo: @holllyyyyk]

Photos: Double Rainbow At Sunset From Noe Valley

Crimson fog, the potential of thunderstorms and who-knows-what made for an epic sky tonight. Cue Twitter and Instagram: "Oh San Francisco; pedestrian traffic in Noe Valley blocked by 15 ppl taking pictures of a rainbow with their smartphones." (@Illdrinn) Here are some highlights:

danes7387

@fjsingleton

@mysticflavor

@threekelpies

zawoski

Finally, this one from Bernal Heights:

@MarriedWDinner

NVV Sept 2012: 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 notable highlights from the latest issue. Links are to stories we've covered here on NVSF or outside sources as the Voice doesn't post stories until the middle of the month.

September 2012

Front Page: Occupy Noe finds a toehold outside BofA; First Republic bank bails on 24th St - the space at 24th and Sanchez is for lease for $4,000 per month; local resident and pastry check Elizabeth Dekle struggles with Parkinson's and starts a support group and blog Eating for Life; preschool shopping begins now for next fall; Tuggey's is closed, former owner Denny Giovannoli says "I don't think I've ever been this happy... I was very fortunate to be able to walk away with a great retirement;" One Medical Group, a chain of SF-based private physician offices is moving in..
 
Letters: A reader and real estate broker writes that not all homes in Noe are selling like hotcakes: "Unless a home is both well priced (probably underpriced) and shows well, those overbids won't be happening."

Cost of Living in Noe: Average price for a single family home in Noe is now $1,548,000 - 32% higher than a year ago. Rents? $3,400 on the high side for a 1 bedroom.

Store Trek: Easy Breezy (4028 24th St.)

Rumors: Bob Roddick petition to increase parking attracts 816 signatures, SFMTA abandons plan to extend bus stop; A recap of Whole Foods' August parking lot madness; Noe Valley Town Square closes in on half a million in pledges; Mill is now open; DavidsTea will have a grand opening Sept 22; Bethany returns to its renovated Church on Sanchez - there will be open house on Sept 15; 24th Street makes Via Magazine's list of best window-shopping destinations; Joe's Cafe closing, new owners moving in; Noe Valley took 5 spots in 7x7's list of 100 things to do before you die; Jerry Brown visits James Lick; 24th Street beat cop Lorainne Lombardo is recovering from an injury on the job and Officer Lou Barberini is filling in; police Capt. Moser advises there have been alot of car thefts in Noe Valley with "the thieves looking for 1990 Hondas and Toyotas."

[The Noe Valley Voice]

Noe Valley Music In The Park 2012

September heralds the arrival of summer in San Francisco, and summer means music festivals. Noe Valley's 9th Annual Music in the Park is this Saturday. From the presser: 

Bands and barbecue will be on hand at the 9th Annual Music in the Park community picnic on Sat., Sep. 8, just in time for San Francisco's actual summer. You can groove and chow down at Noe Courts Park at 24th St. and Douglass from 11 am to 3 pm. Admission is free.

The focus is on kids at this event. There'll be a jumpy tent sponsored by the Friends of Noe Valley, dodgeball organized by the Upper Noe Rec Center,stickers from Noe Valley Town Square, balloons and more. The Noe Valley Democratic Club will be registering big kids to vote.

Bands for everyone will play throughout the picnic. Headliners will include the District 8 Rock Band made up of local rock and roll parents, including Dan Luscher from Noe Valley. D8 plays progressive rock (SF? Natch!), roots and indie elements.

Not to be outdone by the parents, students are also playing. The Cadigan Dynamic jazz band is made up of recent SF high school graduates. Catch them before they're off to college! Come find out what Cadigan means! The CD play all kinds of jazz: Latin, Blues, Funk and Swing. Dancing on the lawn is definitely permitted.

Noe Valley's own Michael Capozzola will keep the show on the road as the master of ceremonies.

As last year Chef Pierre and Chef Doug will be flipping burgers and making sure your hot dogs are hot. Need your salt and sugar? Plan to pig out on chips and cookies and other goodies. Hey, it's only one day. You can run it off on Sunday. If you're thirsty, water, juices and soft drinks will be available. Proceeds from food and drink sales go to pay for Music in the Park.

This year, two local businesses have ponied up money as event sponsors: David's Teas and The Valley Tavern. The Canadians and the Irish love us! Any net proceeds go to fund the work of Friends of Noe Valley, your neighborhood association.

More bands and more kids activities are planned. Other neighborhood groups will be on hand. Check out friendsofnoevalley.com for the latest update.

What: Bands & BBQ at Noe Courts
Where: Douglass at 24th St
When: Saturday September 8th, 11am-3pm
Cost: Free entry