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]

Closed: La Sirena Botanica

"They're going to renovate the building" stated owner Maria when we spoke to her by telephone. We called after hearing from neighbor merchants that the whole building needs an upgrade - the foundation is crumbling.

Currently working in Redwood City, Maria plans to reopen when construction is complete. But while the space is empty now, there are no permits for 1509 Church St on file with the DBI. Given the projected timeline, it's unclear if La Sirena Botanica will reopen on Church St.


[NVSF: Not Closing: La Sirena Botanica]

NVV Sept 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.

September 2011

Front Page: Noe Valley Wine Walk is coming Sept 14 (a $30 wristband gets you unlimited pours from 19 shops and restaurants) and organizers expect 400 to 600 tasters; Noe Valley gets its own lipstick line; former St. Paul's Priest slammed for child abuse; 98-year old Keiko Fukuda earns Judo's highest honor of 10th degree black belt; results from the Census 2010 (highlights: Noe has lost a few residents since 2000, gained toddlers- up 50% from a decade ago, and "Snowy Valley" has a higher percentage of white people than the rest of SF - 78%  vs. 49% citywide).

Letters: A reader writes to complain about Whole Foods applying for a liquor license because "it may attract more shoppers;"  farewell Mystery Bookstore - you will be missed; another reader complains about parking on 24th Street so they drive to the Castro instead; a letter in defense of the blocked sidewalk violation citations ("sidewalks are for people!"); a complaint about a police car roaring down 24th St. at top speed ("a terrible accident could have occurred"); a warning about truth in advertising at Whole Foods on blueberries ("they weren't half-pint containers"); and a question about whether guest rentals are in fact legal (short answer: not usually and you need to pay taxes).

Cost of Living in Noe: The rental market is red-hot with 1%  vacancy in "well-managed" buildings thanks to the Google shuttle buses, easy freeway access, and Noe's "hip nightlife." (?) Average price of a house in Noe: $1.17 million.

Short Takes: Music in the Park is this Saturday at Noe Courts; Open Studios comes to Noe on Oct 1-2 - visit Artspan.org for more details or pick up a schedule at Phoenix Books on 24th St.

Store Trek: Press: Works on Paper

Rumors: In the weeks before Sept 11, 2001 in Noe on Church Street, Cafe XO was opening, Cafe J was about to become a Greek restaurant on Church (now Henry's Hunan), Star Bakery was closing to become a Curves (now Getzwell), Speckmann's was becoming Contigo, and a retro ice cream shop called Fountain of Youth was struggling to stay alive (it's now a nails waxing salon). 10 years on in Noe ... First American Title Company is opening on Castro; Tamasei Sushi is becoming Akai Saru sushi in a few months; Urban Cellars is becoming Noe Valley Wine Merchants; and J & J is empty. Other changes afoot: The Accent on Flowers remodel should be done by the last week of September and the space will be up for rent; Star Magic/Cosmic Wizard is no more; and Bespoke is leaving Noe for Pacific Heights. The old Tuttimelon space could become a First Republic bank soon - though the Noe Valley Merchants  and Professionals Association still has to consider the idea (and there are already 5 banks on 24th St). The psychic space has been transformed into Walkershaw men's clothing (Connie Walkershaw also runs Sew Salon on Castro at Jersey). Giants pitcher Matt Cain is reportedly leaving Noe for the East Bay; the huge neon sign above Cotton Basics has been removed from outside the building, and you can visit it inside the store now; more Real Foods buyout rumors; a belated nod to the 2011 Best of the Bay winners in Noe; and there's a memorial on Sept 9 for long-time local Bank of America bank teller Jorge Casilla Ramirez. RIP.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

Closed: Cosmic Wizard

Cosmic Wizard vanished, and good ol' Twitter was there:

So does anyone else find the sudden disappearance of 'Cosmic Wizard' on 24th St in Noe Valley ironic and odd?! What happened?

Star Magic Cosmic Wizard made quite a splash in the NVV when they revived a hippy hangout in 2009, had some legal issues in 2010, and rehired the Grand Poobah who had flashbacks of greatness in March of this year.

No word yet if a psychic will move into the space.

Not Closing: La Sirena Botanica

A papered-over storefront always attracts our attention, as do empty shelves. And this morning we could also hear a lonely cat over the street noise. We spoke to Mary Ehm, owner, who informed us that she is painting the shop to "make a fresh look" and will be back in business in about a week. La Sirena Botanica has been "a supply store for matters of the spirit" at 1509 Church St since 1999, and this year was named Best Place to Put a Spell on You.


[SFWeekly: Best Place to Put a Spell on You]
[SFGate: In the stars, the cards and the grounds -- psychics eye the future]

Genie Is Back in the Bottle

Poof! Gone.

NVV: 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 stories we've covered at NVSF.

October 2009

Front page: Volunteer gardeners restore Sally Brunn Library planters; Man who died mysteriously along Muni tracks identified as NV resident Bill Nelson (death still a mystery); Harvest Fest coming Oct. 24; NV neighbors take care of their own after 27th St fire; Halloween is coming; Local filmmaker Peter Esmonde debuts his first feature-length film, Trimpin: The Sound of Invention; St. Paul's steeple repair.

Letters: A 5 paragraph gripe about Whole Foods nixing the curbside CRV recycling ("I now have to pay carfare to cart my bottles and cans down to Market Street... It's inconvenient"); a rebuke to people who feed carnivorous birds like crows and ravens - either by hand or with open garbage cans; a heartfelt thank you to generous neighbors from the Moresco family (a fire broke out in their 27th St home while they were on vacation in Spain).

Op-Ed: 24th St Whole Foods opens. No ruckus ensues.

Features: Interviews with neighbors of Guerrero Park at San Jose; Blue Church on Church eviction done but due to "weak economic conditions" the developer won't start construction for 9-10 months.

Cost of Living in Noe: 7 single-family homes sold in August with an average price of 1.26 Million. Rent: Yup, still expensive.

Short Takes: Look for "drive by" Trolley Dancing (!) on the J Church on Oct. 16 and 17 and dance performances in Dolores Park - details at epiphanydance.org; Dogtoberfest returns at Upper Douglass Park on Oct. 24 - get the full scoop at fuddp.org; Noe Valley Chamber Music series starts Oct. 25 - details and calendar at nvcm.org; Cupcake tasting for couples at Cooks Boulevard on Nov. 1; Open Studios hits Noe Valley this weekend. (Ed--No word on last month's Noe Valley Association survey results.)

Store Trek: Bubbles and Shampoo, Loft 1513 (wearable art/clothing store, 1513 Church @ 27th).

Traveling Voice: Sightings in Moab, French Polynesia and at Buckingham Palace.

Rumors: The mystery store is revealed: Star Magic, a pop-up reincarnation of a 1979 NV store called Gift of the Magi, is moving into the Simply Chic space for 3 months. The store will sell "contemporary items relating to ecology," natural clothing, and gift items; Harry Aleo lionized by the WSJ; Noeteca opens; Riki and GNC spaces still empty - the only interested parties so far are a yoga studio, a gym and a nail salon...; Streetlight building still for sale; Old Republic Title Company opens; Stephen "worst man of the year" Fowler is leaving Noe; Twitter CEO Evan Williams moves to Noe; La Boulange opening in Nov.; Mi Lindo Yucatan closed; Real Foods is still blight; dance studio opens in old Andiamo space (Ed--The sign in the window says "Pixie Hall Studios: Art Classes for Children"); Just Awesome Games disappears; Psychic feud on 24th St.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

Gypsy Turf War In Noe Valley?

The crew at Plumpjack has been telling the following story to anyone who will listen (paraphrased, of course):

Last Friday afternoon a big truck pulled up in front of the 24th Street psychic, someone hopped out [Ed-- referred to as "Gypsies"] and proceeded to “slap around” the Noe psychic. Cops were called, Noe psychic left in an ambulance and filed a police report. The motive? Turf wars. Apparently a psychic at 24th and Mission wasn’t happy that someone new had moved in. For the rest of the weekend, beefy guards were patrolling 24th Street to be sure it didn’t happen again. Next up? Pawn shops!

Anyone see any beefy guards over the last week? How 'bout the ambulance? Is Noe Valley really in the middle of a gypsy turf war?

Regardless, the stories are getting better since the psychic moved into 24th St.

[NVSF: At Least It's Not A Nails/Waxing Salon]

NVV: 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 stories we've covered at NVSF.

September 2009

Front page: Whole Foods opening; Blue Church on outer Church inches closer to demolition (and condos); Senior lunch program extended at NV Ministry; local artist maps her NV memories; librarian Carol Small retires.

Letters: A plea to allow parking in driveways as long as a potted plant is in the car; an open letter to the annoying woman who leans on her horn whenever drivers stop for pedestrians; an appeal to neighbors to shop at local stores once Whole Foods opens to avoid transforming Noe Valley "into a cookie-cutter, third-rate Union Street"; and a reminder that Valencia St stores are open for business during the Streetscape Improvement Project.

Op-Ed: Farewell to Noe Valley Pizza founder Tony Vozaites. Following the La Boulange buyout, Tony and his wife are going on an extended vacation back to their native Greece.

Obits: Remembering longtime Noe Valley resident Mary K. "Micki" Ryan and musician Bruce Sherman.

Cost of Living in Noe: 37 single-family homes sold in June and July – the 2nd highest tally in 10 years according to Zephyr Real Estate. Rent: Still expensive.

Short Takes: The Noe Valley Association is holding a survey to see what businesses residents want to see on 24th St. Take the survey online Sept 7-21 or email suggestions to Debra Niemann at debra@noevalleyassociation.org. (Ed--The survey was not online yet as of this posting but here's your chance to veto any future title companies, banks, nail salons, psychics or pawn shops.)

Store Trek: Bistro 24, Successories in the Button Box.

Traveling Voice: Spotted in Turkey, North Carolina and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Rumors: Camel's milk chocolate at Chocolate Covered; Circle Bank fills the Aveda spot; Green 11 comes to former Ritz space; Deep restaurant opens in place of Deep Sushi; Noeteca soft opening Sept. 9; Noe Tuttimelon finally gets froyo; Accent on Flowers at 24th and Castro is bought by Flowers of the Valley across the street and will soon carry gardening supplies like soil and tools; a plant nursery and garden store called Independent Nature will open behind When Modern Was on Church St on Sept. 21; Glow Day Spa and a psychic are now open on 24th Street; the old Streetlight building and the vacated Phoenix Books building are both for sale ($2.2 million for Streetlight, the other undisclosed).

[The Noe Valley Voice]

At Least It's Not A Nails/Waxing Salon

Reader BG sent us this photo as we were about to post on the same topic? (How did she know....?)

The tape below the sign reads: NOE VALLEY PSYCHIC COMMING [sic] SOON. What's next...pawn and porn shops?

Opening soon in the old Glare location at 4010 24th St.