This Week In Noe Valley: Real Foods Redo, Fire At 23rd At Douglass And A Memorial For Greg Gutknecht

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

• View of the blackout in Noe Valley Friday night [@brianhollinger]
• One alarm fire at 23rd and Douglass corner market – everyone’s ok [@esbale]
• Supervisor Scott Wiener’s January 2015 Newsletter [Scott Wiener]
• ICYMI: Notes from this week’s community meeting about the future of Real Foods [NVSF]
• The Wizard of Oz comes to James Lick Middle School [NVSF]
• Six reasons to shop local in Noe Valley [SF Gate]
• A well-maintained sidewalk garden on Sanchez [insidesfrealestate]
• Bummer: It will take 600 years to underground all the wires in San Francisco [ABC7]
• Sobering: A map of all the Airbnb and VRBO units in SF [Bold Italic]
• Suspected Castro arsonist (and your basic nut job) in custody [SF Appeal]
• Streetlight Records is leaving Castro too, after leaving Noe Valley in 2008 [Hoodline]
• Memorial and potluck for Greg Gutknecht at Valley Tavern 3pm Sunday 1/25 [NVSF]

[Photo: Artful Noe Valley steps via boldcursive]

This Week In Noe Valley: More Package Thieves Caught on Camera, Real Reindeer, And Other Holiday Mischief

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

• More grinchy package thieves caught on video – have you seen this couple? [KTVU]
• And here's a video of some a**hole destroying a tree on Noe St [SFist]
• A water main broke this week – and flooded the intersection in front of Rin's Thai [@krowney and @netzardfan]
• Noe Valley's Wishing Tree continues to warm hearts around the holiday [NBC Bay Area]
• Another rave for Bom Dia market at the corner of 29th and Sanchez [SF Weekly]
• An arsonist torched 4 cars in 40 minutes in the Mission Dolores on the edge of Noe Valley – just a month after a similar incident [SF Gate]
• Insurance didn't cover this guy's Jeep – here's his sweet and sad story [Fundly]
• Despite news reports, none of the burned vehicles were in Noe Valley [@BungerKCBS and @NoeValleySF]
• Hell's Angels, Noe Valley chapter [esbale]
• In Bayview vs. Noe Valley, Bayview wins (#whatever) [Curbed]
• A clever solution to poop on the sidewalk (seen on Church St) [@cappstreetcrap] 
• 6 picks for where to shop on 24th Street [SF Gate]
• Spin City hits its Kickstarter goal to expand and improve the space [Kickstarter]

[Photo: Reindeer in front of Just for Fun via han_cholo23]

New Mural On 24th St By Shawn Bullen

The side of the Radio Shack building on 24th Street is getting a new look this week with the addition of a giant greenish blue, black and gold mural. The project is part of a citywide celebration of small business and a promotion involving the American Express national #ShopSmall promotion plus major San Francisco partners including SF Travel, the Office of Small Business, Invest in Neighborhoods, and the SF Chamber of Commerce. We asked around, and Carol Yenne of Small Frys connected us with Dani Sheehan-Meyer of Cliché Noe who in turn connected us to a representative of Small Business Saturday Coalition based in Washington, DC.

The artist, Shawn Bullen, is an accomplished muralist who has painted hundreds of pieces around the country. The artist claims he’s created murals in most cities in North America and plans to create works on every continent in the next five years. He’s also been teaching mural painting for 8 years. You can see some his work on his personal site -  ShawnBullen.com - or follow him on Instagram: @shawnbullen1.

We asked the organizers a few questions about the mural and here’s what we learned:

How did you choose the artist for this project? The mural was created through a partnership between American Express and the SF Arts Commission. The artist, Shawn Bullen, was selected by the SF Arts Commission.

How was the design was chosen - was it the artist's discretion or did you give him some guidelines? The artist was free and open to create his own design, representative of his work to include the “Shop Small” icon.  The concept and initial sketches were approved by the Commission, building owner etc.

How is the building owner involved in the project if at all? And is it meant to be a permanent mural? The building owner was involved, and the mural is permanent.

We were also able to connect with Shawn today while he was painting. Shouting up to the lift he was working from, we asked if his mural has a name. He thought for a few seconds and replied: “Dream Big.” Love it.

The mural is a work in progress but looks like it will be done in plenty of time for Small Business Saturday – which is this Saturday - November 29.

[Photos: Murals via NVSF; Shawn selfie via shawnbullen1]

Closed: Mike's Shoe Repair

Today the signs in the window read "Out of Business" and there's a moving truck out front of Mike's Shoe Repair. We spoke to the two man crew inside who said Mike couldn't afford the large rent increase (we're looking at you, Joel Panzer), and that he won't open anywhere else. You're advised to pick up your shoes within 30 days, repaired or not.

No one on site knows what will become of the "Renewing" sign.

[NVSF: Closing? Mike's Of Noe Valley Shoe Repair]

This Week In Noe Valley: A Grinch, A Local Candle Company, And A Real Estate Rivalry

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

• Some jerk grinch stole Christmas from the 400 Block of Hoffman [SFE]
• Add candles to the list of locally produced goods [Hello Keltie]
• Noe Valley vs. Rockridge (as if) [SFE]
• November single family home sales [Downing & Co]

[Photo: "Carol singers making their way through Noe Valley. Brilliant." via Esbale]

This Week In Noe Valley: Shop Local, The Fleeing Middle Class, And The 2014 District 8 Supervisor Race Has Begun

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

• Oh to be young again - exploring the tunnels under San Francisco [The Bold Italic]
• Cardio-Tone is moving to outer Church - will take over Kohler Jones, née Mikeytom Market [@F6x]
• Employees of the The Little Chihuahua in Noe Valley outkicked the Divisadero team [thelittlechihuahua]
• The New York Times tries to explain why the middle class may be leaving San Francisco; commenters retort that it's because SF sucks [New York Times]
• ...And SFGate piles on the middle-class-is-leaving meme [SFGate]
• Post-Thanksgiving shopping doesn't have to be dangerous - shopping in Noe Valley is quite civilized [SFGate]
• Man arrested for trying to take photos of Scott Wiener in the bathroom files to run for D8 Supervisor [Castro Biscuit]
• Ex-Googler starts a food delivery biz that caters to NV and nearby areas [SF Biz Times]
• Noe's Nest bed and breakfast and owner Sheila Ash are... "eclectic" [Mission Local]

[Photo: "The holidays in Noe Valley" by @mchou]

This Week In Noe Valley: Working Class SF From The Air, NIMBYs Shut Down, Chabad Compromise

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

• Omnivore Books is hosting Rene Redzepi at the Castro Theater in November [Omnivore Books]
• Listed for $2M, now on VRBO [VRBO]
• Lots of Noe homes are selling ... for a lot [Downing & Co]
• SF from the air when working class people still lived here (and there was no Sutro or Transamerica Building) [The Big Event]
• La Ciccia and Contigo are underrated? Really? [Eater SF]
• A blogger's shopping tour of Noe [LHI]
• Chabad and Noe residents reach a compromise on Chabad preschool [JWeekly]
• Winning comment: "No better way to preserve the character of a neighborhood than for the jerks among them to move away." [Socketsite]
• Todd David profiled for his fundraising work for SF Schools [SF Examiner]

[Photo: "I hate mornings" - alealex]

This Week In Noe Valley: Cesar Chavez Explained, Another Wine Walk, And More Summer Fun

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

• Must read: A brief history of how Cesar Chavez got to be so awful [Bernalwood] 
• Also check out the premiere of People Live Here, a documentary about Cesar Chavez [BH Outdoor Cinema] 
• How to love SF: fog, d-bag startup founders, Muni and all [Anisse Gross]
• SF Girl By the Bay's favorite Noe Valley shops [Anthology]
• July home sales: 10 properties, over-asking, quick close, and average $1.8M [Downing & Co.]
• 3rd Annual Noe Valley wine walk is this Thurs, Aug. 22 [Restivo Events]
• Artist Mona Caron has figured out how to make telecomm utility boxes disappear- beautifully [Castro Biscuit]  
• Check out this new neighborhood before it's a neighborhood, plus a Sunday market [Urban Air Market]  
• An interview with Celia Sack of Omnivore Books [JWeekly]
• What "rustic modern" (?) looks like in Noe [1KinDesign]

[Photo: Gray_Line_SF]

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

Moving: Loft 1513 Boutique

Loft 1513 on Church Street

A prime empty retail space on 24th St has filled quickly: A sign in the former Urban Nest storefront announces Loft 1513's move from 1513 Church St. to to 3927 24th Street. The sign reads:

LOFT 1513 is a new kind of Boutique and art gallery. It houses one-of-a-kind local and international designers… bringing you unique, innovative and eco-friendly designs.

LOFT hosts monthly parties and events, both open to the public and private. We feature artist and designers with fashion shows, DJs, art installations, and live demos. We also offer one-on-one fashion consultations, workshops and custom designs.

We are thrilled to be able to showcase our designs in a more accessible neighborhood for our customers and for the opportunity to gain new fans. We are currently located a few blocks away at 1513 Church.

We will re-open our doors on this new location March 1st. Stay tuned for our upcoming events.

All my best,
Larissa Verdussen and LOFT Crew
www.loft1513.com

Heliotrope, the natural skin care products store which is currently next door to LOFT 1513 on Church St, will also have a presence in the new space with a shop-within-a-shop.

[Top image: LOFT 1513 Blog]

KGO on Tuggey's: Still Going Strong

An NVV reader's worry notwithstanding, a story on KGO/ABC claims Tuggey's is still going strong after 100+ years:

"These are tough times for neighborhood hardware stores, so many are being driven out of business by the big box giants. But a tiny San Francisco store is bucking that trend: Tuggy's [sic] Hardware, which opened in 1898, is still going strong."

Some quotes from current owner, Denny Giovanelli, who has worked there since he was 12:

"The floorboards creek [sic]. That's a good thing."

"When I was younger, I just asked myself what it takes to keep a house going, and that's what you stock."

"We get people from Home Depot sending people to us."

And if you go to Tuggey's on this Small Business Saturday and can't find what you want, there's also this tidbit from the story: "Residents know that Giovanolli [sic] keeps a secret room filled with hard-to-find antique parts."

[ABC: Small hardware store goes strong for 100 years]

Shop Local: Noe Valley Sunscreen

We have a lipstick line named after Noe streets, local eco modern lunch bags & wine totes, so why not our own neighborhood sunscreen line? Oh wait, we have that too.

Local Noe Valley mom and entrepreneur Sara Hillman writes:

I'm a local mom here in SF. My product just launched at a couple places in Noe Valley (Whole Foods and Getzwell Pediatrics) and I was wondering if you might be interested in doing blog post on it as I think the Noe Valley community will really embrace it?

GO!screen is a brush-on mineral powder sunscreen that’s fun to use and completely natural. Developed by a chemist mom as a toxin-free solution to the daily sunscreen battle with her kids, GO!screen means no more cold sprays, greasy hands or stinging eyes. Purchase online or at Whole Foods or Getzwell Pediatrics in Noe Valley.

[ilovegoscreen.com]

Nöel Stroll 2009

Noe Valley's unique mix of boutiques, gift shops and restaurants will be hosting a blissful evening of holiday events to help you get all your holiday shopping done. Enjoy carolers, special in-store promotions and festive libations during Nöel Valley's second annual holiday block party!

Curiously, last year's Nöel Stroll was the "3rd annual" event. No worries, though - it's a good time. A wagon ride, libations for all ages, carolers and of course...Santa (video).

What:
 Nöel Stroll
When:

 Saturday,
December
5th, 4-8PM
Where: 24th St Between Church & Castro

Introducing: Noe Valley Exchange

From Felicia:

I am a Noe Valley resident with a great vege garden in the back yard. I'd like to find other local gardeners out there who'd be willing to exchange produce/fruits grown in their backyard. For example, I've got a lot of zucchini about to come in, and I'd really like peppers or lemons in exchange. I figure there has to be others in the neighborhood who would have what I'm looking for and would be willing to do a neighborhood garden exchange.

It's a great idea, and we've been contemplating how to do this since reading a New York Times article last month on the same topic. Today we set up a Google Group called Noe Valley Exchange for trading home-grown fruit, vegetables, and other backyard farmer products. No money to change hands, and you know where your food comes from.

Please check it out, sign up and let us know what you think. Also let us know if we should add categories for goods and services.

[NYT: Neighbor, Can You Spare a Plum?]
[Photo: Vegetable Exchange]

New Voices: A Noe Food Blog

Perhaps because Sam has been in the kitchen since she was a little girl, she's "happiest when eating, cooking, talking or thinking about food." She emphasizes seasonal and local, but she's admitted to betraying the Noe Valley Farmer's Market and hoofing it to Alemany for the bargains. Her blog has great recipes (see: Mandarin-Thyme Cocktail and Star Anise Pots de Crème). And it shows you can eat/cook well in a 3rd floor apartment without garden access or a fancy kitchen.

The Happy Chickens of Tomatero Farm

"Our eggs are so fresh they could have been produced less than 24 hours from when you purchase them!" Indeed, today's eggs from Tomatero Farm were collected between 4/6 and 4/10. Are they worth the $7/dozen? Probably not if you're making French Toast for your 3 year old. But if you fry them up for yourself, serve with bacon/ham from Prather Ranch and some toast from Bennett Valley Bakery then they're worth it. All in all a nice breakfast from the Noe Valley Farmer's Market.

[Tomatero Farm]

Bell Market is Closed - Now What?

Bell Market, February 14, 2009

With Bell Market closing its doors on February 15, 2009, at 4:00PM, Noe Valley will be without a major grocer until Whole Foods opens next fall. Here's a list of local places to go until then (and perhaps after).

Noe Valley Farmer's Market
Every Saturday, 8:00AM - 1:00PM
3861 24th Street, between Sanchez and Vicksburg
http://www.noevalleyfarmersmarket.com/

Seasonal, local, organic and natural fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, bread, nuts, honey. Also prepared food of the Mexican, Indian and smoothie varieties. Live music. Lots of strollers. Bonus: you get to meet your neighbors.

26th & Guerrero Market
1400 Guerrero Street
415-282-6274
http://www.26thandguerreromarket.com/

"Your Neighborhood Health Food Store"
Natural and organic fruits and vegetables, Acme Bread, vitamins/supplements, fresh flowers, beer, wine and liquor.

Valencia Farmer's Market
1299 Valencia Street @ 24th St
415-282-6863

Not truly a farmer's market but plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, fresh juices, bulk-bin cereal, and Kombucha. One block from the BART station.

Church Produce
1798 Church St @ 30th
415-282-1153

Strong mix of organic and non-organic fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, olive bar. Church Produce was recommended by many commenters in a recent thread.

Casa Guadalupe
2909 Mission Street @ 25th St
415-642-8355

Full service market with fresh fruits/veggies, butcher, Latin-American specialties. Super affordable.

Drewes Bros. Meats
1706 Church St @ 29th St
415-821-0515
http://www.drewesbros.com/

"We are a full service butcher shop that specializes in only the highest quality products."
Meat, fish and poultry from Niman Ranch, Angus Meyer, Natural Hill. All-natural, free-range, no hormones antibiotics or preservatives. Special orders - no problem.

Fresh Meat Market
2704 Mission St @ 23rd St
415-550-8044

Fresh (read: wrigglng) fish, seafood, meat and poultry. Not organic or free-range, but you can get just about anything here super cheap.

24th Street Cheese Company
3893 24th Street @ Sanchez St
415-821-6658

Cheese! Also sausages, pâté, prosciutto, wine, olives, other specialty items.

Pasta Gina
741 Diamond St @ 24th St
415-282-0738

Fresh and frozen pasta, house-made sauces, prepared foods, wine, bread, cheeses, olives, and anything else for a quick dinner or picnic. And don't forget the cannoli!

And ... of course there are these options:

• Safeway (Diamond Heights or Mission St)
• Tower Market / Mollie Stone
• DeLano's IGA on South Van Ness

Please add suggestions, recommendations or testimony in the comments. Let Noe know what you love and why you love it.

[NVSF: Bell Market: Winding Down]
[NVSF: All posts tagged Whole Foods]
[NVSF: All posts tagged Farmer's Market]
[Photo: Pasta Gina -- Yelp]

Shop Local: Hero Bags

We saw Hero Bags at Harvest Festival but didn't realize they are based here in Noe Valley. Hero Bags are reusable canvas totes designed and sold by local artist and 26th Street resident Susanne Maddux. Look for them around the 'hood or purchase online.

[Hero Bags]
[NVSF: Photos: Noe Valley Harvest Festival]

Shop Local: Noe Valley Honey

Here's a cool item we stumbled across this weekend: honey made from local bees. "Limited quantity specialty wildflower honey from the heart of San Francisco. Our honey is gathered in Noe Valley and surrounding regions by bees that are kept free of antibiotics." More information at Pollen Princesses' online shop and on their blog.

[Official Site: PollenPrincesses]

Shop Local: Post-Christmas Sales

Simply Chic, 40% Off Everything

A quick walk down 24th St this evening showed Noe Valley merchants are having sales just like the big guys in the news. We saw signs advertising up to 50% off, and a couple merchants we spoke to said they're planning on announcing more savings tomorrow. Let's hope our local shops survive at a higher rate than the (mainstream) media is predicting for national chains...