This Week in Noe Valley: Campaign Season, New Produce Market Rumor and ‘Life-Changing’ Pasta at La Ciccia

The latest news from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• One of the oldest African-American cookbooks was authored in Noe Valley [chefkenna]
• Noe Valley seniors face developer eviction after 30 year tenancy [Beyond Chron]
• Mike Bloomberg supporters visit the Farmer’s Market [@mfatooh94]
• We live in paradise 1 [davecunninghamsf]
• We live in paradise 2 [viewmastersf]
• Details behind the “Jungle House” [jenniferindc]
• Feb 2020 Noe Valley Voice: Rumors of a new produce market to replace Church St. Produce [NVV]
• Life-changing pasta at La Ciccia [whatisthisfood]

[Photo: Full moon over Noe Valley via NVSF] 

NVV October 2019: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

October 2019

Front Page: The J Church line is notoriously unreliable; Reliving the 1989 Loma Prieta quake in Noe Valley; The Town Square before it was a Town Square (spoiler: it was a gas station and auto shop in the 70s and then a church parking lot in the 90s).

Letters: A neighbor suggests the sidewalks of 24th St are beautiful and well kept - but shouldn't be power-washed so often.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: The average price of a single-family home in Noe Valley is $2.8 million.

Store Trek: Toci Wellness, 816 Diamond at 24th St.

Short Takes: New lights are being added to the Town Square to make it more festive and safer; a lighting ceremony will happen on October 26 at 6:30pm. Spooktacular, a Halloween celebration is back for the third year on Sunday October 27 and on Halloween, October 31.

Rumors and Tidbits: The makers of The Last Black Man in San Francisco will be showing their semi-autobiographical film as a benefit for Video Wave, which they fear is “the Last Video Store in San Francisco” on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Noe Valley Ministry. The Noe Valley Girls Film Festival was a huge success. Doggy Style is closing by the end of the year and DS owner and NVMPA president Rachel Swann wants to open a wine bar. Toast on 24th is closed thanks to a lease expiration and pending seismic retrofit. Chez Marius is closed. The former Le Cupboard space on Church St will become a new restaurant called Inle Burmese and should open Oct 8. Pomelo on Church St is closed (see full note here). Also on Church, the former storefront for Curator will become Delights by Lisa offering fresh baked sweets by a Noe Valley native. Readings at Charlie's Corner will no longer be free; they cost $10 (!) per child and $5 for siblings. Shoe Biz is closed. A psychic is back on 24th St. And animal rights activists protested at Whole Foods.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV Sept 2019: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

September 2019

Front Page: A article about how good the Noe Valley Association is at taking care of 24th St. and a bid to renew the CBD; Bill Yenne has written a new book about the history of Noe Valley due out on Sept. 30; Upper Noe Rec Center hosts tons of fun events all year.

Letters: Grandma Bell turned 90 and poses with a copy of NVV on a horse; more hate for NVV's anti-vaxxer coverage in June; love for Mahila restaurant in the old Contigo space.

Features: The Noe Valley 30th St senior center celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: The average price of a single-family home in January was $2.7 million and 34 houses changed hands in June and July.

Store Trek: Bon Appetikka Indian Restaurant, 4166 24th St. and Yoga Flow SF, 4049 24th St.

Rumors and Tidbits: The Noe Valley Farmer's Market has expanded to Tuesdays from 3-7PM; a new Burmese restaurant (Inle Burmese Cuisine) hopes to occupy the former Le Cupboard space at 1298 Church St. (open date TBD); the For Lease sign is gone from the old Pasta Gina space and the rumor is that it will be occupied by a "food takeout" or "food tech startup" service (open date also TBD). Patxi's sold itself to  Los Angeles-based Elite Restaurant Group at the end of last year and the business is now 50% takeout/delivery. Fahrenheit Salon was named one of the top hair salons in SF. The Noe Valley branch of Bank of America is remodeling for the first time in more than 75 years. The old Rare Device space has been rented by Third Eye Psychic - Chakra. Shoe Biz is sticking around after all - and shoes are still 50% off. Just for Fun is truly a local treasure.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV April 2019: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

April 2019

Front Page: The buyer of $10 million mansion at 801 Sanchez at 21st St wants to raze the 4,600 sq. ft. building and erect a 7800 sq. ft. mansion in its place; an interview with a good samaritan and the chief trash officer of 22nd St; Noe dog park will now be open 6 days per week.

Features: The story of the bull on top of Haystack: It was a gift from the 83-year-old owner's girlfriend to celebrate his vitality. A neighbor complained that the bull's genitals were visible from the sidewalk, so he has since moved it to the roof. The bull's name is Trump, "because the president is 'just like a bull. He puts his head down and keeps on going, and he doesn't listen to nobody." Plus: More details on the permit troubles of the proposed Doggy Style, Inc.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: The average price of a single-family home in January was $3 million; only 7 houses changed hands in February.

Short Takes: The Noe Valley Garden Tour is scheduled for May 4, 2019. The Noe Valley Easter Egg Hunt in Douglass Park is scheduled for April 20. Lots of events are also planned for the Noe Valley Town Square this spring and summer.

Store Trek: Noe's Cantina, 1199 Church St. at 24th

Rumors and Tidbits: First Republic on Castro was smashed by a truck and the perps made off with a 374-pound ATM machine. Charlie's Corner has relocated to the former Cardio-Tone space on 24th near Church as its former home undergoes soft story reconstruction. Peasant Pies is also closed for the reconstruction and renovating its space; in the meantime you can get their pies at Whole Foods. Yoga Flow Noe Valley in the old Radio Shack space hopes to open in July. Holy Kitchen Indian restaurant is closing and a group called Bon Appetikka is taking over the permit. Globe In is moving out of the former Cliche Noe space and relocating up Castro Hill with offices only. Compass real estate has swallowed Alain Pinel and now has at least four offices on 24th St. alone.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV March 2019: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

March 2019

Front Page: A piece about Bay Nature magazine, a tenuous connection to Mary Ellen Pleasant, the mother of civil rights in California, to a house on Laidley St; and an ode to the 48 Quintara/24th bus route.

Letters: A letter from a neighbor who has an owl in her yard on Alvarado. A thank you to the designer of the planters in the Noe Valley Town Square. Another neighbor writes that Urban Remedy uses too much plastic.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: The average price of a single-family home in January was $2.99 million.

Store Trek: Vive La Tarte, 4026 24th St. between Noe and Castro

Rumors and Tidbits: London Breed visited Noe Valley last month and toured merchants on 24th Street. The first tenant in the newly subdivided Real Foods space is SkinSpirit skincare clinic which offers "cutting-edge products and services in its clinics, including Botox, dermal fillers, facials, laser treatments, and other non-invasive aesthetic services" - it expects to open this spring. Pete's Cleaners next to the Town Square is set to become a fish market "that would also prepare and serve seafood dishes to eat there or take out." The former Fattoush space at 1361 Church, has been rented to the owners of Bernal Heights Pizzeria which is moving from its current location at 59 30th St., on the Noe Valley/Bernal border. Royal Cleaners is closed and the space is for rent. Ditto Rare Device. And the large commercial space at 3818 24th St. that was going to become an urgent medical care facility is now DOA.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV February 2019: We Read It So You Don't Have

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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

February 2019

Front Page: A roundup of how to eat vegan in Noe Valley; a profile of local resident Steven Pressman who shines a light on untold Holocaust stories in film.

Letters: Memories from a neighbor reminiscing about 24th St in the 1970s.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: The market appears to be cooling slightly - the 10 homes that sold in December averaged just $2.2 million. And yet: The most expensive house sold last year was a $6.6 million home on Duncan between Castro and Diamond.

Store Trek: Sultan's Kebab, 3915 24th St. at Sanchez

Features: Sadness: Local resident John Knox on Cesar Chavez found a barn owl that died when it ingested rat poison - he urges neighbors to please not use the toxic stuff. City okays permit for The Agency on 24th St. to operate a real estate business in a former retail space. Friends of Noe Valley Garden Tour will be on May 4 this year.

Rumors and Tidbits: The members-only boutique Doggy Style plans to open February 2019 and has garnered lots of press. The Real Food spot downtown is turning into 3 retail spaces rumored to be renting for $10,000 a month each. Lots of vacancies along 24th St for retail stores and not many takers (although lots of cannabis dispensaries have expressed interest according to realtors and building owners up and down the commercial corridor). Vive La Tarte is open in the old Bliss Bar space and serving jewel-like dishes and artisan coffee. The old La Panotiq space is slated to get a locally-owned Mediterranean restaurant soon. Noe's Cantina is open and serving Mexican food from 5-10 pm. Azalina is moving into the former Contigo space. The Noe Valley library is looking for space to house back issues of the print edition of the Noe Valley Voice.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV October 2018: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

October 2018

Front Page: Halloween is coming; dog trainers share their methods and tips; local dems want to flip the house in November.

Features: Fairmount Elementary is now Dolores Huerta Elementary School; recycling box now lives outside James Lick Middle School entrance. Republicans focus on local races. Two haunted houses will be at this year's Spooktacular Halloween celebration on Sunday Oct. 28 in the Town Square.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: Home values averaged $2.578 million this August, up 1.8 percent year over year. The most affordable home was a 350 square foot crackerbox condo on Guerrero that sold for $578,000.

Store Trek: Douglas, 1598 Sanchez at 29th

Rumors and Tidbits: The old Mill space is rumored to be a possible cannabis dispensary (?!); the old Radio Shack is becoming a Yoga Flow on 24th St.; Artisana on 24th St has closed; Eyes on 24th St. Optometry is moving a block down to 4080 24th St.; Castro Computer is vacating its space on 1500 Castro at 25th; Rafael Mandelman's campaign office has left the space next to Just for Fun and a new tenant is coming soon. Realtor Hill & Co. has been bought by Alain Pinel which means there are currently two Alain Pinel offices on 24th St - no word on whether one will close; Sotheby's Realty is rumored to be moving into the hood as well; Chloe's Cafe is now 31 years old and has been named a "valuable cultural asset" for San Francisco; The Noe Valley Girls Film Festival was a huge success.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV September 2018: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

September 2018

Front Page: The new California Pacific Medical Center (formerly St. Luke's) on Cesar Chavez is now open and focusing on maternity and elder care; St. Philip School turns 80; Richard Lee Merritt died in 2017 and left a massive library of books in his 23rd St home to his alma mater, the University of Montana; Local author Mary Jo McConahay celebrates the publication of a new book.

Letters: Celia Sack, owner of Omnivore Books and Noe Pet Company writes about the unprofessional response of the president of the NVMPA complaining about the Healthy Spot permit rejection for a formula retail pet store that would compete with identical lively businesses in Noe Valley; The 2018 Noe Valley Garden Tour was a big success; Jim Burr suggests we welcome an Apple Mini store in the old Real Foods space on 24th St; A neighbor writes about traveling outside the Noe Valley bubble and having conversations about Trump; Another neighbor is disappointed that the article on the Noe Valley Coffee Company neglected to mention the health risks of roasting coffee in a residential area; Another neighbor calls for a boycott of McDonald's because of the way they mistreat chickens.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: 33 Noe Valley homes changed hands in June and July, twice the number from that period last year.  The average cost of a home in July was $2.1 million.

Store Trek: Hi-Way Burger & Fry,  3853 24th St at Vicksburg

Rumors and Tidbits: The Real Foods building at 3939 24th St is under construction and looking for tenants for 3 retail spaces. Cole Hardware inquired about renting the whole space but balked at the $30,000 rent. The building sold recently to a private investment group for $3 million. Also on 24th: the Radio Shack space is asking $10,000/month, the Noe Valley Cyclery spot is asking $4850/month, Pete's Cleaners is asking $7590/month, and the Sean spot is asking $4500/month. Rabat is staying in Noe Valley after all (yay!) and Small Frys moved into the Podolls space for the next 2 years while they remodel the original building and store at 4066 24th St. Compass real estate is colonizing Noe Valley and now has 4 offices here. The Basso family is rejoining the restaurant scene and will open Noe's Cantina - a Mexican themed bar and eatery expected to open in October in the old Hamlet née Basso's. The old Bliss Bar will soon open as Vive La Tarte, which also has a location in the Ferry Building.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV July/August 2018: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

July/August 2018

Front Page: Haystack Pizza is the longest running restaurant in Noe Valley (46 years) and going strong; Healthy Spot pet store was denied a request to open due to neighborhood protest; Picturesque and vintage F cars return to the Church St Muni corridor.

Letters: The owner of Folio Books urges neighbors to spend time (and money) in Noe Valley if they want a vibrant 24th St; A local complaint about a 6 month no parking permit for construction from 7AM to 6PM, 7 days per week.

Features: The clothes recycling box headed for the parking lot on 24th near Castro has been shelved due to concerns from a neighborhood group; London Breed is mayor and Rafael Mandelman took the District 8 supervisor seat; Upper Douglass dog park may be shut twice a week to address neighborhood concerns with the site's grass turf; Police still seeking clues to attack on mother with baby on Sanchez on June 3; The Noe Valley Coffee Company is seeking approval to operate its own coffee roaster inside Spin City at 1299 Sanchez at 26th; Summerfest 2018 is coming to Noe Valley from 11am-4pm on July 29.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: Just 7 single family homes sold in May for an average price of $2.69 million; a mere 4 condos sold for an average of $1.3 million. A $4.9 million home sold on the 200 block of 28th St. and the most expensive homes and condos sold both went to private sales before they hit the market.

Store Trek: Moe's Barbershop and Beauty Parlor,  4008 24th St near Noe St.

Rumors and Tidbits: Of the 16,415 voters registered in Noe Valley, 64 percent cast their ballots in June; The crocheted animals in the trees on Diamond St between Alvarado and 23rd are the loving handiwork of local artist Huib Petersen, and a small protest against the "creepiness" of "the man in the White Hous;." Podolls is closing on July 9 and Small Frys is moving into the space; Sean, a menswear store on 24th has closed; The old See Jane Run space is going through a seismic retrofit and is for rent; Building permits have been issued and work has begun to create 3 new commercial spaces in the old Real Foods space; Douglas is now open at 1598 Sanchez; The Noe Valley Merchants and Professional Association is looking to add more murals by local muralists to downtown Noe Valley with the first ones planned for Rachel Swann's office on Vicksburg, Honeycomb Spa, Philz Coffee and possibly Novy.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV June 2018: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

June 2018

Front Page: Retailers continue to hurt on 24th St as locals opt for online shopping instead; The Noe Valley Farmer's Market ditches use of plastic bags this month; Healthy Spot pet store faces resistance from local merchants - vote slated for June 21.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: 11 single family homes sold in April for an average price of $2.5 million; 10 condos sold for an average of $1.9 million. A $5.2 million home sold on the 1300 block of Noe.

Store Trek: Seokyo new Korean restaurant at 1740 Church Street near Day

Rumors and Tidbits: Real Foods has been sold to local investors who hope to bring the space up to code and rent it out as 3 retails stores by this fall. The former Hamlet space at 1199 Church is for sale, liquor license and all for $3.5 million. Hi-Way Burger should be opening in the old Caskhouse space by the end of June. The space next to St. Clair's Liquors is nearing completion and will be leased, not sold. Modern Family Law has moved into the ground floor of 4126 Castro near 24th. TMI Colonics has moved to 1340 Haight St. Shoe Biz is now owned by shoe retailer Anthem. Unconfirmed (but rumored) is that Rabat may remain in Noe Valley by downsizing to just the corner space where it started. Whole Foods is now starting to enforce the "one hour while shopping at Whole Foods" rule. 

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV April 2018: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

April 2018

Front Page: There's new sand in the giant sandbox and new gravel at the dog run at Upper Noe Rec Center, among other improvements; The owner of a local pre-school lost her Sonoma home in the wildfires and the community has rallied to help; Interview with Jennifer Katz, a local child speech therapist; Group drumming and dancing is on deck for the Town Square every second and fourth Sunday from 3-5pm.

Letters: An ActionSF member loved last month's ActionSF profile; Word Week was a success; An odd note from neighbor Sharon who wants another overly solicitous neighbor to leave her alone.

Feature: Two remodels, one at 79 28th Street [Ed.--permit application withdrawn 3/9/18] and another at 505 Grand View face hurdles from the city and planning commission.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: Four super luxury homes sold in February, all between $4.9 and $5.5 million which pushed the average value of a Noe Valley home close to $3.6 million. Condo sales averaged $1.6 million.

Short takes: The Noe Valley Garden Tour is looking for volunteers [Ed.--website not updated]; Curry Without Worry is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a free party on April 14 in the Town Square from 3-5pm; Candidates for the mayor's race and the District 8 supervisor seat will speak on April 28 from 2-4pm at St. Aidan's Church.

Store Trek: Azil Boutique, 4010 24th St. at Noe

Rumors and Tidbits: Roughly 200 people showed up for the first Noe Valley Town Square movie night (The Princess Bride) - the next movie night will be July 7 at 7:30pm for a showing of Tortoro. Subscription artisan box company Globe In is moving into the former Cliche Noe space and hopes to open their showroom in May. Upscale Vive La Tarte bakery and cafe is moving into the former Bliss Bar space and will serve lunch including a tacro (a taco crossed with a croissant) in a few months. Sultan's Kebab moved into the former Lazeez space and the owner reports 70 percent of their business is pick-up and take away. Douglas Fir is a new market opening soon in the former Bom Dia space soon (possibly by the end of the month). Pete's Laundry and Cleaners is closed after 30 years on 24th St. after being priced out. Rabat on 24th at Noe is closing by this summer after 47 years and retrenching to their Berkeley store. The Podolls at 3985 24th St. is closing soon, perhaps as early as this summer. The Harry Aleo parking lot on 24th near Castro will soon be getting a collection box for recycling shoes, clothes, bedding and textiles.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV Feb 2018: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

February 2018

Front Page: LA-based chain pet store Healthy Spot wants to open in the old Radio Shack space - and local merchants aren't having it; local a profile of local resident and longtime Rolling Stone writer Ben Fong-Torres (a documentary about him is coming out this spring); Noe Valley's solid voter turnout could be a force in this June's special mayoral election.

Letters: A neighbor writes to remind his fellow Noe Valley residents that there is Thursday morning meditation on the Noe Valley Town Square from 8-9am.

Features: Large turnout this year for Neighborhood Emergency Response Training (NERT) after the Jan. 4 earthquake (more at sf-fire.org); the house at 79 28th St. is at the center of a housing battle that encapsulates the housing crisis and gentrification struggles of Noe Valley. A profile of Noe Valley Cyclery owner David Kline who's had a good long run since 1976 and who plans to retire in April - and Dani Sheehan Myer's struggle to make a go of it with Cliche Noe Gifts + Home before it closed in January. RIP Barbara Ann May, Fair Oaks resident, artist and community activist.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: Real estate sales were brisker than they've been in 10 years in the last few months of 2017 including for multi-unit buildings. The average cost to buy a house here: $2.7 million.

Store Trek: Ardiana, 1781 Church St. at 30th

Rumors and Tidbits: The Noe Valley Merchants & Professionals Association (NVMPA) is presiding over a commercial corridor on 24th St. that is losing retailers (14 vacant store fronts) and mostly gaining professional services (think realtors, title companies, health offices and banks). Commercial rents range from $4,000 to $12,000. Navarette's Black Belt Academy has moved out of the old See Jane Run space and back to Church St - and the See Jane Run space needs a seismic retrofit. The Mill is moving to 18th and Hartford in the Castro on February 13. Rachel Swann, the NVMPA president and a realtor, tried to pull a fast one on her fellow merchants by converting a former retail space into a realtor office that also sold swag - more than a few retailers on 24th St. are not amused. The S.F. History Association, which held monthly meetings at St. Philips is moving to Newman Hall in Sherith Israel at California and Webster. Noe Valley Democratic Club president Todd David says he is supporting Noe Valley resident Mark Leno, not London Breed, in the upcoming mayoral election. Le Cupboard is still closed. A new Japanese restaurant called Seokyo is opening in at 1740 Church at Day St. (formerly Taku Sushi, Noe Sushi, Tataki South, Deep and Deep Sushi). Hamlet is closing and will become a Japanese eatery. Nothing is happening at Real Foods. Noe Valley is rumored to be the most popular destination in SF for Airbnb rentals. James Lick Middle School is the beneficiary of a $265,000 garden grant which will have 60 species of plants and an organic vegetable garden - it opens February 10. The Diamond Heights Shopping Center has been bought by new investors. A new group called Swing Left is signing up residents at the Farmer's Market to "take back the house in 2018."

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV Dec 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

December 2017

Front Page: 24 days of holiday fun are underway on 24th St (see the schedule at 24on24th.com);  Local tenants on Grand View win concessions from an apartment building owner and a delay until March 1; Dr. Barry Kinney, at 3969 24th St, has been practicing dentistry in Noe Valley for 50 years; Noe Valley Voice to publish a special January 2018 issue that will cover a kids photo contest and a year in review.

Letters: A neighbor writes in support of not demolishing any smaller buildings on 24th St - they're part of the "Noe Valley character;" Tears and love for the Harvey Milk story last issue; A supporter of the Nov 8th anti-Trump candlelight vigil in the Noe Valley Town Square.

Features: The City looks to provide lawyers to tenants evicted from buildings; Photos from the Noe Valley Gala, which raised $9,500 for the Town Square; RIP Debra King, a Noe Valley preschool teacher for 20 years, who died of breast cancer at her Mt. Shasta home.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: Sales of home and condos have leveled off from the peak two years ago. Still, a Dolores St home with an elevator went for $6.5 million. The most expensive condo was a 1592 square foot apartment that sold for $1.85 million on the 1200 block of Sanchez between Clipper and 25th.

Store Trek: Stephen Moore Home Mercantile, 3845 24th St. at Vicksburg

Rumors and Tidbits: Pasta Gina is closed after both cooks quit unexpectedly - the hope is to reopen soon although the owners do want to sell the business; Caskhouse is becoming Hi-Way Burger & Fry [Ed.--Stay tuned for more info here on NVSF]; Le Cupboard has closed and the staff has quit - it's fate is uncertain; There's a giant yellow Amazon locker now blocking windows in Whole Foods; Arte Bella is a new art, clothing and jewelry boutique replacing Monroe SF on 24th St (formerly Common Scents); The Upper Hand nail and lash salon has taken over for Beauty Matters on 24th St; Navarrete's Black Belt Academy is temporarily in the old See Jane Run space while they renovate 1201 Church St; There was a meth bust in Noe last month - and a mountain lion capture; The 49ers bus that leaves from Valley Tavern to Levi Stadium for games has been running with fewer than 20 fans this season; The next Noe Valley Wine Walk is on Dec 7; There was a candlelight vigil on the anniversary of Trump's election in the Noe Valley Town Square; A film called A Spark of Nerve details a Noe Valley teen's successful nerve transfer surgery.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV Nov 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

November 2017

Front Page: Harvey Milk used to write a column for the Voice; Grand View resident of 41 years could be displaced when landlord does seismic upgrades; a profile of local fashion illustrator Lynn Rosenzweig.

Letters: A neighbor writes of those who want to change 24th St. by adding new high-density housing: "...for the people who don't live here now, and don't have any interest in the old-world charm, can't they just move someplace else?"

Features: The steps at 20th and Sanchez are among several "Green Gardens" tended by neighbors; profile of a 13 year old Noe Valley Day Trader and budding capitalist.

Cost of Living in Noe Valley: Just six single family homes changed hands in September for an average cost of $1.8 million; average rent for a 2 bedroom is $4393 per month.

Store Trek: Le Cupboard Cafe, 1298 Church St. at 25th

Rumors and Tidbits: First Republic is moving into 1354 Castro at Jersey in the former American Title Company space. Two restaurants are rumored to be for sale in Noe Valley (ed. Lazeez? Noe sushi? Fattoush?); meanwhile, three more that are zoned for restaurant use are for rent: the former Bliss Bar, La PanotiQ and Caskhouse. The new owners of Savor have remodeled the patio. Le Cupboard is open and also has vegan vending machines. There will be a gathering at the Town Square on Nov. 8 to bemoan the "sad one-year anniversary" of the election of Donald Trump. On Nov. 17 there will be a Fight Fire with Love benefit concert at the Town Square. The post box at 22nd and Church has been restored. Artist and interior designer Ian Stallings at 3848 24th St has left after less than a year. The Real Foods building is officially for sale and being shown to prospective buyers - no details on a buyer yet.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV Sept 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

September 2017

Front Page: NVMPA president April Swann is looking for ways to fill more empty retail stores on 24th St.; vacant for 14 years, the old Real Foods building at 3935-39 24th St. is for sale (asking price not stated, last sold in 2005 for $1.6 million) - although it will likely take another 2 years before we see any construction start to happen in the space; five bike share stations have found a home in Noe Valley in former street parking spots; the SF poet laureate Kim Shuck grew up on Eureka St. between 22nd and 23rd.

Letters: Special thanks from Ivonne Guerrero of Martha & Bros on Church St. to her wonderful neighbors who helped out during a water outage; some love for a post-card writing event at the Farmer's Market in August 5; and thanks from a neighbor to our awesome local fire department who quickly and adeptly put out a recent fire on 23rd St. 

Features: SFMTA is moving two "Google bus" stops to the east side of Church at  24th St; Alvarado Elementary has a new outdoor green space/garden; Upper Noe Rec Center has a new colorful mural that was painted by kids and the community.

Cost of Living in Noe: Only 17 homes sold in June and July and the average cost of a Noe Valley home this summer was "only" $2 million; the average price for a condo was $1.5 million.

Short Takes: Noe Valley Girls Film Festival is back this fall and you can RSVP now; St. Philip Parish Annual Festival is on Sept 23 and 24 this year.

Store Trek: IS Fine Art and Design, 3848 24th Street at Vicksburg

Rumors and Tidbits: Ardiana is open in the former La Nebbia space; Baron's Meats is open for business and serving delicious custom cuts of meat; the entire Bom Dia business is for sale including the fixtures and wine for $279,000 - and the seller is currently in negotiations with a prospective buyer. Sasa's Pizza that was headed for the old Fattoush space has been booted for non-payment of rent. Caskhouse has retrenched to Hamlet. Cardio-Tone on 24th St has vacated their space after nearly 10 years; the old See Jane Run space is still for rent; Verizon is taking over the old Radio Shack space at 4049 24th St. Saru made Eater's list of the 18 best sushi spots in SF.  Rubber ducks were again spotted in Noe Valley in August and NVV speculates it's a symbol of protest in Russia and anti-corruption on Ukraine, Serbia and Brazil. The SFMTA is installing a stop sign on Liberty at Noe St. Whole Foods/Amazon has a bike fixit station at the northeast corner of the parking lot that's getting a lot of use from commuters. Cliche Noe Gifts has an SF Made corner in it's shop, and behind the shop is one of the few operating printing presses in San Francisco (cool!).

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV June 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

June 2017

Front Page: Noe Valley lawmaker Mark Leno wants to be mayor; Noe Courts is open; BofA security guard James Grant moonlights as a singer and appeared at the Town Square; local filmmaker Jeffrey Braverman will have a short film called David in Brief at Frameline, the SF LGBTQ Film Festival.

Letters: Letter from a neighbor lamenting the loss of Good News newsstand on 24th St; a response to last month's Trump supporter; and a clarification on Karen Oliveto, pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church.

Features: RIP local filmmaker Dan Halas; Julia Ready closing her local daycare business after 27 years.

Cost of Living in Noe: The average cost of a Noe Valley home in April was $2.4 million as more homes came to market; the most expensive sale was a $4.1 million home on the 4300 block of 25th St. which went for 4.7 percent below asking.

Short Takes: SummerFEST is on June 11 this year; the free evening movies in Dolores Park this year are posted; garbage rates are going to rise this year.

Store Trek: The Rabbit Hole Theater Company, 800 Diamond St

Rumors and Tidbits: Urban Remedy, a local chain and purveyor of plant-based foods is taking over the old DavidsTea space and the grand opening is June 24; Cotton Basics is opening up a new annex in the old Green 11 space next to just for fun which will specialize in posters and cotton logo wear. Honeycomb Salon now offers 7AM hair cuts for regulars. The former Good News space is renting for $3,000 a month - owners of a barber, a store selling art stuff and a yogurt shop have so far expressed interest. Savor is undergoing a change of ownership. La PanotiQ abruptly closed last month. Wise Sons Deli in the Mission is selling bread at Whole Foods. Neighbor's Corner at 21st and Douglass has applied to be a restaurant so it can keep its seats. Neutraceutical is being bought by a private equity firm and the Real Foods store is reportedly slated to be sold in the transaction (here's hoping).

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV May 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

May 2017

Front Page: Local family commemorates their family in a mural on Comerford Alley; local stylist organizes free services for hospitalized kids; rat poison kills coyote in Douglass Park.

Letters: Letter from a Trump supporter from New York about the "arrogant residents of San Franny."

Features: Noe Valley's lone indie newsstand, Good News, is closing after 22 years; the reasons are the Internet and a key magazine distributor shut down.

Cost of Living in Noe: The average cost of a Noe Valley home in March was $3.1 million; the most expensive home sold that month was a $6.2 million home on a double lot on Fair Oaks.

Store Trek: Baron's Quality Meats, 1706 Church St at 29th; Mabuhay, 1195 Church St at 24th 

Rumors and Tidbits: The Town Square finally has power - look for more events like the Square Dance soon. The Noe Valley Association got a grant for parklet furniture and new benches on 24th St. and sun umbrellas for the Town Square. The Farmer's Market's Happy Boy Farms vendor has a GoFundMe campaign for flood damage from this year's rains. The plant-based food service and restaurant Le Cupboard is opening soon. A pizza oven was moved into the soon-to-be Sasa's Pizzeria (nee Fattoush). Radio Shack will be gone by the end of May. The shops next to St. Clair's have been demolished to make way for new retail and housing; construction should take 14 months. Noe Valley activists created a project that spurred 1 million calls to Congress on issues people are concerned about - while they were also facing an owner move-in eviction (!).

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV March 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

March 2017

Front Page: Deplorable person leaves racist note on Noe Valley resident’s car; Cleve Jones and other local authors are part of Word Week; jet noise from plane rerouting irritating some Noe Valley residents.

Cost of Living in Noe: Average price for the scant 3 single family homes that sold in January was $3M.

Store Trek: Artisana, 3927 24th Street

Features:  Noe Valley resident Ken Shaw will be a Peace Corp volunteer in Zambia.

Rumors and Tidbits: Baron's Quality Meats is opening soon in the former Drewe's Meats space; DavidsTea will be closing at the end of August or sooner; La Nebbia is closed and Sharon Ardiana (of Ragazza on Divisadero) will be opening a new restaurant in a few months in the space with an Italian/Mediterranean menu; Green11 is relocating to the East Bay; two more retail spaces that have been co-opted by boutique offices: the former laundromat at Castro and Clipper  is becoming a design studio called Studio 9 and an architecture firm is taking over the space at Noe and Alvarado. Similarly, the former The Ark Space on 24th at Vicksburg will house a mercantile, home design and real estate business for realtor Stephen Moore. Some changes are in the works for the checkout lanes at Whole Foods and by the end of March there should be a demolition crew tackling the space next to St. Clair's Liquors (the plan is 3 residential spaces and retail below).

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV Feb 2017: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

February 2017

Front Page: Jeff Sheehy is the new District 8 Supervisor; Noe resident Michael Castleman blogs about sex for Psychology Today; SF families can get a free baby box worth $70.

Letters: A neighbor as a novel complaint about the large corporate "Google" buses that roam Noe Valley streets; a cleanup crew tackled Grand View.

Cost of Living in Noe: Homes prices are cooling off slightly but still very high. Three of the 19 homes sold at the end of last year were over $3 million.

Store Trek: The Lotus Method, 3989 24th St. and The Temporarium, 3414 22nd St.

Features: Valley Tavern hosts Liz Stone and Comedy Gold; new management plan coming for SF parks; Uma Casa is open for business;

Rumors and Tidbits: There was a vigil in the Town Square on Innauguration eve; the next morning many Noe Valleyeons joined the Women's March on Market St. Voice contributor Karen Topakian was among the protesters who hoisted the Resist banner near the White House on January 25. Jeff Sheehy was announced at the new supervisor for District 8 at the Noe Valley Town Square. Bob Roddick is no longer the president of the NVMPA; he's succeeded by Noe resident Rachel Swann. The NVMPA has also received a $15,000 grant from the city to overhaul it's website, newsletter and a printed Noe Valley guide. Baron's Quality Meats is taking over the old Drewe's space. Olive This Olive That is not moving after all and will stay put; The Rachel Swann Group will share the former Cradle of the Sun space with Ian Stallings and will feature a gallery for fine art, accessories, textiles and furniture. Griddle Fresh is adding dinner service. Jiro Lin is upgrading Hamano. Chez Marius is open in the old Le Zinc space.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

NVV December/January 2016: 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 other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

December / January 2016

Front Page: A roundup of meal delivery services like Caviar, Sprig and Franny's Kitchen; a profile of retired local Kaiser doc Dr. Don Barole, co-medical director of Homeless Connect; the controversial Noe Courts makeover should be done in Jan/Feb.

Letters: Fan mail from a church St. resident who has been reading the Noe Valley Voice since it's first issue (May 1977); a call for tutors for James Lick Middle School; a Noe St resident who urges neighbors to consider giving disaster preparedness gifts (flashlights, emergency kits, NERT training) for the holidays.

Cost of Living in Noe: Three luxury home sales in Oct bumped the average price for a Noe home back up to $2.7 million - the most expensive of which sold for $4.3 million.

Features: A local teen disappointed by this year's election results is selling art to benefit Planned Parenthood.

Rumors and Tidbits: In Noe Valley this year, 89.1 percent of registered voters turned out and 90 percent voted for Clinton, 4.2 percent for Trump and 2.2 percent for Jill Stein. There's a rumor of a candlelight vigil planned for inauguration day, Jan 20, 2017. Laurent Legendre will open Chez Marius, a french bistro, in the former Le Zinc space this December. On Church St. chef Telmo Faria says he will open his new Portuguese restaurant, Uma Casa, in the old Incanto space on December 20.

[The Noe Valley Voice]