NVV Dec 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.

December 2012

Front Page: Life at the local Fire Houses (the kind that still have active crews); A profile of Upper Noe Neighbor's Vicki Rosen; A profile of local bars, bistros and wine shops that seeks to dispel the belief that Noe Valley is full of sleepy old people.

Letters: One resident is unhappy with the NVV's recent "good report card" for Scott Wiener; Another appreciates coverage of families dealing with recent fires.

Feature: Local senior centers keep their doors open through tight times.

Cost of Living in Noe: "There's not of lot of [sales] difference to report this month." Still expensive. Solution: "Buy a condo."

Store Trek: DAVIDsTea.

Rumors: A promo for 24 HoliDAYS on 24th St; A promo for the recently released Noe Valley Guide to promote the neighborhood to tourists; Cliché Noe owner wants to create a Noe Valley Museum and bring back the Pioneer - "the first motor car built on the West Coast" to the shop where is was built on 24th St and that could house it permanently [Ed.--cool!]; Someone cleaned Harry Aleo's plaque; Election results ("Maintaining an Election"); The Tech Search Party is February 2nd; Bidding farewell to Claire Pilcher, founder of Friends of Noe Valley, who died recently at the age of 73.


[The Noe Valley Voice]

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]

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

Interview: David Segal of DAVIDsTEA

DAVIDsTEA in NYC

With 70 stores across Canada and in New York City, DAVIDsTEA is now opening one of three planned San Francisco locations in September on 24th St. We caught up with Co-founder David Segal:

What can Noe Valley expect at the new store? And will you be serving tea as well as selling it?
Our Noe Valley store will be a clean bright space filled with colorful canisters of 150 varieties of loose leaf tea and unique blends. Customers will be greeted by enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff, who will offer free samples, and can guide them through the fun experience of exploring our teas. We sell our teas loose by the ounce for home use, accessories to easily make loose leaf tea, and a wide selection of tea gifts and variety packages. We also offer any tea hot or iced by the cup.

Noe Valley will be the 3rd or 4th location you'll open in the US. What made you chose Noe?
We look for a neighborhood that has a community feel - where people are out and about, strolling, visiting, shopping. It felt like a perfect fit for us.

You're next door to Martha & Bros which also sells tea – what should we expect from your shop that's different from what other local coffee shops offer?
We are mostly about selling loose leaf teas to take home and enjoy, in varieties that are completely exclusive to DAVIDsTEA, although our customers can enjoy a freshly made cup of hot or iced tea, in any of our 150 varieties. That makes us quite a bit different than other tea shops. We also don't serve coffee, so for those who want a cappuccino, we will happily send them next door, where we think Martha is doing a great job!

What are your plans for or thoughts about the parklet on that stretch of 24th Street?
It’s a great outdoor space where people in the community can share a pot of tea or coffee with a friend.

You've announced a tentative opening date of September 8th on Twitter. Is that still the date and will it be a soft opening or a big party?
We are planning a public opening on that date, with free tea being served all day. We hope all of Noe Valley will come on down and check us out!

DAVIDsTEA
3870 24th St
http://www.davidstea.com/
Opens September 8, 2012 (Update 9/5: the new open date is Sept 22, 2012)

[Photo: Bleecker St in NYC by JDP Architecture]