This Week In Noe Valley: Blue Angels, Million Dollar Homes On Fire - And 5 Years of Ed Lee

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

• Short video of the Blue Angels buzzing the city from a Noe Valley rooftop [@DeepRipley]
• Another video of the musical Fleet Week celebration on 24th Street [@MelissaRunner]
• 5 years of Ed Lee: How SF has changed [SF Chronicle]
• A heat map of SF’s million dollar homes – SF has more than any other metro area [Curbed]
• The number of homes valued above the $1 million mark has more than doubled since 2010 [SF Examiner]
• What Noe Valley wine shop owner is mentioned in the this profiling story? [SF Examiner]
• Weirder than fiction: Shoebiz is selling gentrification-themed Converse high-tops [SF Magazine]

[Photo: 24th Street in Noe Valley at sunset via merrij]

San Francisco Fleet Week Comes To Noe Valley

For the first time we can remember Noe Valley will have more Fleet Week than just the Blue Angels completing the southern loops of the air show overhead. The US Navy 32nd St Band will perform this Wednesday at the Noe Valley Town Square from noon to 1pm. Come on down if you can, or send the nanny with a picnic. See you there!

What: US Navy 32nd St Band
Where: Noe Valley Town Square, 24th St between Sanchez and Vicksburg
When: Wednesday, October 7, 2015; 12 noon -1pm
Cost: Free

Approved: Tom Rai Restaurant And Bar

On Thursday the Planning Commission voted 6-0 to allow Tom Rai Restaurant and Bar to open on 24th St.

While adding 2 additional units to the building at 4022 24th St is a bonus, neighbors were concerned about plans to expand what used to be Bliss Bar to a full service restaurant with amplified music. The handful of neighbors who spoke at the Planning Commission's third hearing restated their prior objections to noise, loss of green space, lack of parking and an unwillingness of the project sponsor to work with them. They especially decried having a "nightclub" on 24th St.

The Commissioners expressed disappointment that a more collaborative solution wasn't reached, but once determining that the rear yard modifications met guidelines it was obvious that they were most concerned about hours of operation and whether to allow entertainment. The project sponsor reminded everyone that the current operating permit allows for a full bar open until 2am everyday, and that regardless of permits Bliss Bar regularly had loud music, outdoor access and didn't maintain the green space.

Commissioner Moore led the charge to simplify hours granted in the conditional use permit so that Tom Rai and neighbors would know what to expect. After debate, commissioners approved the permit with the following conditions added:

• Permitted hours of operation and entertainment shall be 9am-10pm Sunday - Thursday, and 9am-1am Friday and Saturday.
• Tom Rai is required to install a noise limiter (automatically cuts power to amplifiers if sound levels are too high)
• Tom Rai will return for an informational presentation to the Planning Commission 6 and 12 months after opening to report on adherence to permit restrictions. Public comment will be allowed.
• The Zoning Administer will approve the necessary rear year modification, but Tom Rai will have to work with him to improve the design and sustainability of the green roof.

In the end, neighbors succeeded in assuring green space (in the form of a green roof and trees). But the project sponsor was granted a full restaurant with live entertainment open for longer hours than originally asked for. One of the sponsor's final comments: "Please give us the opportunity to succeed."

[Video: 6/26/15 Planning Commission Hearing, Item 16]
[NVSF: This Week At The Planning Commission: Tom & Rai Will Move Into Rebuilt Bliss Bar (3/25/15)]
[NVSF: Revised Proposal For Tom Rai Restaurant And Bar]
[Planning: 4022-4026 24th St (PDF)]

This Week In Noe Valley: Free Mother’s Day Concert, Saudi Mogul Sighting, And Muni Musings

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

• Mother's Day: Stern Grove concerts come to the Noe Valley Town Square May 10 [Stern Grove]
• Sunday May 10 is also Sunday Streets in the Mission on Valencia, from 26th to McCoppin [Sunday Streets]
• This must be that San Francisco culture everyone keeps talking about #waitingformuni [allynmejia]
• SF Muni art: Noe Valley edition [SF Muniverse]
• The Artist’s TV Access team is coming to the NV Public Library with films on June 13 [SFPL]
• Saudi mogul meeting and greeting in Noe Valley coffee shop [Re/Code]
• Get paid to play with dogs in Noe Valley [NV Pet Co]
• May issue of NVV tackles SavetheShack.net, succulent thieves and local anti-vaxxers [NVV]
• Weird quote of the week about the Giants’ proposal for Mission Rock development: “It's like a whole new Noe Valley sprung like Athena fully-formed from the head of [Giants CEO] Larry Baer.” [SF Magazine]
• Shivany Ganguli, founder of Bom Dia Market on Sanchez, plans to open more markets around the city [SF Business Times]
• App finds safest SF neighborhoods for walking and biking (we're #9 for biking and #6 for walking) [Seattle PI]
• Three new types of coffee come to Spin City [@noevalleycoffee]

[Photo: Epic hills via oldsblank]

Summer Fun: Stern Grove Coming to Noe Valley Town Square

The first big event at the new Noe Valley Town Square is coming next weekend and it promises to be pretty great: Stern Grove Festival is celebrating it's 77^th year and hosting a Grove on the Road event at the Noe Valley Town Square on Sunday, June 1^st from 11 am - 3 pm.

There's a full lineup of performers and activities that are free to the public including performances by:

• We Became Owls - 12:00 pm
• Tumbledown House - 12:45 pm
• Meklit - 2:00 pm

There will also be an instrument petting zoo with Magik*Magik Orchestra, an art workshop, and more.

If you want to enjoy some of  Stern Grove's 2014 lineup without venturing into the fog Sunset, this is your chance. For more details you can check out the full Stern Grove schedule here.

This Weekend Is The Noe Valley Harvest Festival

The 9th Annual Noe Valley Harvest Festival is this Saturday from 10-5 on 24th St between Sanchez and Church. Expect music all day on two stages, over 50 local vendors, lots of fun for kids, costume contests (for dogs, too, natch) and the ubiquitous hay ride. The Farmer's Market will be open all day. Check out the official website and also photos from past years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012.

Harvest Fest is organized and run by volunteers from the Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals Association, the Noe Valley Association and local residents.

What: Noe Valley Harvest Festival
Where: 24th St between Sanchez and Church
When: Saturday, October 26, 10AM-5PM
Cost: Free!

Free Music In The Noe Valley Town Square

The 10th annual Noe Valley Music in the Park Square is this Sunday and will be the first event in the Noe Valley Town Square (besides the weekly Farmer's Market).

Admission is free and in addition to live music there will be  food and drink, a jumpy tent for kids, balloons and more.

What: Music in the Park
When: Sunday Sept 8, 1PM - 5PM
Where: Noe Valley Town Square - 24th St between Sanchez & Vicksburg

For more info or to volunteer, contact the Friends of Noe Valley.

This Weekend: Noe Valley Harvest Festival 2012

This Saturday kicks off the 8th Annual Noe Valley Harvest Festival from 10am - 5pm on 24th Street between Sanchez and Church. Get ready for a full day of hayrides, live music, arts and crafts, a pumpkin patch, and lots and lots of kids and pets in costumes. The Farmer's Market will also be an all-day affair from 8am - 5pm. Judging from the sponsors and the lineup this year's event looks to be bigger than ever -- the energy and costumes should be especially festive given it's an election year and THE GIANTS ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES. (Woot!)

If you want a preview of what to expect, check out photos of previous Harvest Fest events here and here.

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

This Week In Noe Valley: Indie Rocker Digs Noe, Whining Moms, And A Town Square Update

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

• Noe is cool enough for Mike Deni of Geographers – headlining at Outside Lands [HuffPo]
• Two Birds is having a 50-75% off sale this weekend [Refinery 29]
• 1930s San Franciscans sure loved their cars [Richmond SF Blog]
• Noe Valley moms ride the bus? [Twitter]
• 265 donors have pledged $345k to the Noe Valley Town Square [NV Town Square]

[Photo: @CasaMurriguez]

Noe Valley SummerFEST 2012

Hawaiian shave ice, Smitten ice cream tasting, a petting zoo, live music, honey bee demos, a magic show ... it can only mean one thing: SummerFEST on 24th Street.

On Saturday June 16 from 11-5 (the day before Father's Day), 24th Street merchants will be throwing a family event in downtown Noe Valley.

There's nothing posted about this year's festival on the NVMPA site yet except last year's poster, but if you've seen the SummerFEST banners high on poles on 24th Street and wondered what they say, click the image above to see a larger version with full details.

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!