“Six Feet of Separation” Is the New Newspaper by Bernal Heights Kids

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SFScover2

Bernalwood blog… ACTIVATE!

We interrupt this pandemic to bring you an essential update from Bernal Heights, where celebrity author and youth wrangler Chris Colin shares this update about “Six Feet of Separation,” the newest newspaper in our neighborhood:

Did you feel that? That was the media landscape shifting!

I’m pleased to announce the publication of the first-ever Bernal Heights young people’s free pandemic newspaper, Six Feet of Separation! Unless there were others I don’t know about!

After a nailbiter of a vote on what to call this thing, “Six Feet of Separation” prevailed as the most popular title, and so it shall be. (RIP “Bernal Butts.”)

Please read Six Feet of Separation and share widely. Any design/layout blunders are the fault of the publisher, all excellence is the fault of the amazing contributors, ages 2-17 (with one 19-year-old thrown in for good luck). Here’s a tasty sample:

Thanks to everyone who wrote, drew, dictated and otherwise submitted something to this first issue of Six Feet of Separation. We are now accepting submissions for issue #2. Editorial policy is: Yes.

By the kids, for the kids. Check out Issue 1 of  Six Feet of Separation!

 

BagelMacher Pops Up on Mission, Making Sundays Bagelicious

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Sunday mornings mean fresh, house-made bagels from PizzaHacker founder Jeff Krupman. Photo courtesy of BagelMacher.

It’s been a few weeks since BagelMacher began serving fresh-made bagels on Sunday mornings on Bernal’s stretch of MIssion Street, but already the pop-up brunch spot has generated a lot of love in the neighborhood.

A project of Jeff Krupman, the mad genius who founded Pizza Hacker at 3299 Mission (at 29th), Bagel Macher transforms the PizzaHacker space into a bagel bakery on Sunday mornings from 10:30 am – 1 pm. The menu is simple — a limited supply of house-made bagels, a few toppings, a few special bagel sandwich options, coffee, and mimosas.

Neighbor Jasmine visited Bagel Macher last weekend, and she liked it so much she wrote to Bernalwood to share the love:

I’m kinda nervous to share this for fear of my family’s new secret bagel obsession going big enough to attract long lines on a lazy Sunday morning. But during a casual scouting mission this past Sunday, founder Jeff Krupman charmed me into visiting Bagel Macher.

I’m glad he did, because his Raisin Ras el Hanout bagel is too special not to cheer for. It’s a raisin bagel with a North African dusted spice mixture and sesame seeds that turned my raisin-avoidant husband, into an instant convert. Our baby loved it too!

BagelMacher is a concept to make use of the ovens at PizzaHacker. For now, the popup is open Sundays, with limited quantities of everything. (Good to get there on the early side, because things do sell out).  Bagels are available in sesame, poppy (the most poppies I’ve ever seen on a bagel¬—they were black!), smoked salt, sesame zataar and that unusual and inspired raisin variety. Expect most of the usual toppings, plus coffee from The Coffee Shop down the street, and juice and mimosas.

We used to live in New York city, so we’re on a constant hunt for really good bagels out here on the West Coast. The ones from BagelMacher are boiled in lye water and naturally leavened, creating a super crunch leading to an ultra-chewy inside. Our small family made our way through four in a day. So good.

Here’s the menu:

Sunday: Earth Day Festivities at the College Hill Learning Garden

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The College Hill Learning Garden Photo: Courtesy of Danny Palmer

The College Hill Learning Garden is a outdoor education facility for kids located on a patch of land within the grounds of the  College Hill Reservoir. The garden at  336 Elsie (near Santa Marina) is operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and it opened in 2016.

This weekend, on Sunday, April 22, Bernalese of all ages are invited to the  College Hill Learning Garden to partake of an Earth Day gala. Program manager Danny Palmer tells Bernalwood:

We’re spreading the word about the second annual Earth Day Garden Party at College Hill Learning Garden. We’ve got a full day of family activities happening in, and around, the garden this Sunday, April 22, from 10:00am-3:00pm and 7:30pm-8:30pm.

We’re located at 336 Elsie Street, between Cortland and Holly Park.

More details in the poster below:

Rainbow Barrage Pummels Bernal Heights With Euphoric Energy, Unicorn Glitter

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If you found yourself experiencing moments of inexplicable euphoria and joy yesterday, it was certainly no coincidence: Bernal Heights was pummeled by a barrage of Category Five Rainbow Events during all those sporadic rainstorms.

While Bernalwood activated the Rainbow Situation Control Facility to monitor the action yesterday, fulltime Bernal-watcher Chris Baker shared this photo of a South Bernal Rainbow Impact Event he documented from his Noe Valley observation post.  Here’s a closeup of the impact zone:


Naturally, there may be some residual unicorn glitter on our streets and sidewalks today, so take it slow, be happy, and take it easy out there. Like this…

Suspect Arrested in Connection With Bernal Hill Hit and Run

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SFPD booking photo of Aliitasi Alapati, who was arrested as the suspected driver of the vehicle that struck a pedestrian on Bernal Hill on March 22.

The San Francisco Police announced the arrest of a woman who is believed to have been the driver of the vehicle involved in a hit and run accident last month that left a victim with life-threatening injuries on the north-east side of Bernal Hill.

San Francisco resident Aliitasi Alapati, 41, was arrested last Thursday in connection with the March 28 hit and run on Bernal Heights Boulevard.

Video footage of the incident obtained by Bernalwood showed that at 8:22 am, a Jeep Liberty swerved across a lane of traffic and struck a woman who was walking along the footpath on the other side of the road. The video also showed that the Jeep did not stop and left the scene immediately after running the victim down.

Last Thursday, the SFPD moved in to make an arrest.

The Examiner reports that police executed search warrants at three San Francisco homes last Thursday, including one on the 200 block of Raymond Avenue, one on the 300 block of Chenery Street and one on the 300 block of Font Blvd. The suspect vehicle was located at the Raymond Avenue address, and Alaptati was arrested on Font.

The Examiner adds that security camera video footage and evidence provided by witnesses yielded information that helped identify Alaptati as the suspect.

The incident left the victim, an unidentified woman, with life-threatening injuries. While there have been no official statements about the victim’s status, Bernalwood has received information from credible sources that she is recovering from her injuries.

Hillside Supper Club Shares Straight Talk on Restaurant Business

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Hillside Supper Club chefs and Bernal neighbors Tony Ferrari (left) and Jonathon Sutton.

Bernal Neighbor Tony Ferrari is chef and co-owner of the Hillside Supper Club restaurant at 300 Precita, in the southwest corner of Precita Park. Yesterday he sent a note to Bernalwood that’s both a candid perspective on the challenge of operating a restaurant in San Francisco right now and a neighborly invitation to stop by for a bite.

Chef Tony writes:

To: Our community, neighbors, and friends,

We want to be open and honest with you all, and always one hundred percent transparent. The last five years has been nothing but a great experience, creating relationships, nourishing our community, giving back if and when possible and the best thing of all: Cooking fair, honest, clean food with a purpose for all of you. Every year learning more, giving opportunity, adapting to change and suggestions, and doing our very best every day.

This year, however, things have felt a bit different. We’ve noticed a huge decrease in business, rising costs and living expenses, and the neighborhood becoming more transient for better or for worse. We feel we have tried everything we can with menu changes, pricing, marketing avenues, delivery apps, and community involvement, and we’re still left with too many seats empty at our tables and so much effort put into welcoming you.

The reality of it is, if things stay this way we are looking at a matter of weeks until we have to close and sell our gathering place, give ourselves a pat on the back for how far we come, and end this chapter in our lives. In hopes our legacy will continue and the next establishment embrace the community and do it better then we. The entire Hillside team would humbly like to ask all of you who are able to come share a meal with us to come in for a visit sooner then later. The staff, food, and space are incomplete without your enjoyment.

Some attractions:

  • We’re doing a Sunday Supper 40 bucks for a 3 course meal (That’s about 13 bucks a plate. Killer deal)
  • Mondays are no corkage (BYOB beer or wine for free).
  • Fridays and Saturdays after 10pm all appetizers and glasses of wine are 10 bucks.

It’s an interesting time for the restaurant industry, as things are changing ever-so rapidly. Not to mention trying to stay afloat on sixteen bucks an hour in our amazing city.

We know we are not alone in this struggle, and hope we can all come together to figure out a common solution that benefits everyone. Money comes and money goes, but it’ll always be there for the people that work hard for it. Nothing ever grows without a seed, and nothing ever changes without a dream.

We hope to see you all soon. Thanks.

Your Neighborhood Restaurant

Tuesday Evening: Family Night Out at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center

/ Todd_Lappin

On Tuesday evening, April 3, the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center (BHNC) is having a Family Night with dinner, music, and entertainment for Bernalese kids (and their parents too).

Tickets are $15 for an adult + 1 child; additional children are $8 each.

Ailed Paningbatan from BHNC says:

Join us for our Family Night Out at BHNC! Were making it easy for families on Tuesday evening. We provide dinner and activities, so that when families get home its just relaxation and bed time. We’re also partnering with a few childrens’ groups. like Curious Jane and STEM and Tree Frog Treks. We’ll also have a kids band!

Woman Injured After Hit and Run on Bernal Heights Blvd.

/ Todd_Lappin / 51 Comments

Video footage shows a Jeep Liberty veering off the road and striking a woman on Bernal Heights Boulevard.

A pedestrian was injured on the northeast side of Bernal Hill at 8:20 this morning, after she was hit by a car traveling east on Bernal Heights Boulevard. The driver of the car left the scene without stopping.

A Bernal neighbor tells Bernalwood:

There was a hit & run on Bernal Heights Blvd this morning.

I hope that another Bernal neighbor may recognize the vehicle? If someone does, they should contact the Ingleside Police station: 415-404-4000. (That’s the front desk so they should ask to speak with an investigator and say it’s about a hit & run in Bernal Heights this morning.)

Here is video footage of the hit and run. The incident occurs at the 27 second mark:

Another neighbor who was also at the scene provides an update on the victim:

She was conscious but mostly non-responsive. What I overheard the medics saying suggests she has back and leg injury, but could still move her legs.

Video footage shows the vehicle that struck the woman was a dark-colored Jeep Liberty Sport  from the 2005 to 2007 model years.

The video footage also shows that the vehicle was traveling east before swerving well off the pavement on the opposite side of the road to hit the woman, who was walking along the path on the north side.

jeepswerve

Neighborhood Businesses Invited to Join Bernal Business Alliance

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A vintage sign for the Cortland Avenue Merchants Association c. 1940s. (Photo: Neighbor Darcy)

Neighbor Darcy Lee from the fabulous Heartfelt store on Cortland reached out to extend an invitation to other merchants and businessfolk around Bernal Heights to get involved with the Bernal Business Alliance. Neighbor Darcy writes:

When I first became a merchant on the Cortland corridor, I belonged to the Cortland Merchants Association.

We held long drawn out meetings at various locations along Cortland. I attended when I could, and I always hovered over thinking this could be better but not really having any solutions.

Over the years I have seen so many different versions of our group with many different folks entering the fray. There has been drama, personal battles, accomplishments and some wonderful strolls. I love our current incarnation.

Now called the Bernal Business Alliance, four of us (Lynn, Arno, Laurie and I) run the organization as a team. We’re friends, and all of us are deeply committed to our community. I encourage you to join if you run a business in Bernal.

If you’re already a member please pay your dues for 2018!  We have an updated vintage style map in the works that will be printed this year and your dues pay for this.

Bernal Artist Amos Goldbaum Paints New San Francisco Mural in Tokyo

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The new mural in Tokyo created by Amos Goldbaum (Photo: Instagram)

If you find yourself feeling a little homesick for San Francisco next time you’re having a Bill Murray/Scarlett Johansson moment in Tokyo, Bernal Heights artist Amos Goldbaum has helped create a place where you can go to feel right at home.

Wise Sons, the Jewish delicatessen anchored on the corner of 24th Street and Shotwell in the Mission, is preparing to open a new outlet right in the heart of Tokyo, not far from Tokyo Station. To give the new place an appropriate sense of San Francisco provenance, the Wise Sons wisely commissioned Neighbor Amos to create one of his signature cityscape murals on a wall in their new Tokyo restaurant, which is scheduled to open next week.

Neighbor Amos has been sharing photos of his adventure in Tokyo on the Instagram, along with in-progress shots of the new mural. This sketch captured his vision for the project; a Goldbaumesque San Francisco scene, only with Mt. Fuji looming in the background:

Here’s how it looked as Neighbor Amos got to work on the wall in Tokyo:

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Progress

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The houses in the foreground are a classic slice of San Francisco, of course, but close observers may notice a special element hiding amid the high-rises of the downtown San Francisco skyline: a “Bagel Kaiju,” or bagel monster, taking a break from marauding the city to enjoy a fresh bagel:

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Bagel kaiju

A post shared by Amos Goldbaum (@amosgoldbaum) on

When the mural was complete, Sutro Tower had been replaced by the Golden Gate Bridge:

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Attempted time-lapse

A post shared by Amos Goldbaum (@amosgoldbaum) on

Congrats to Neighbor Amos, and here’s to hoping that a version of his San Fransokyo graphic will be available soon in t-shirt form at a streetcorner near you.

Bernal Heights Real Estate Report: Median Home Prices Near $1.5M, Up 9% in 2017

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Photo: Aerial view of Bernal Hill, by the Bernalwood Air Force

Bernal neighbors Michael Minson and Danielle Lazier work by day as local realtors. Naturally, as neighbors, they also pay close attention to the housing market here in Bernal Heights.

Recently, Neighbors Michael and Danielle published a Bernal housing market summary that captures the overall sales results from 2017. Their not-surprising conclusion:  Median home prices in Bernal Heights continued to climb, hitting $1.476 million last year, or a 9% gain over 2016.

(For comparison/nostalgia’s sake, consider that the median Bernal home price in 2012 was $775,000.)

The basic story here remains unchanged: Bernal’s very limited housing supply, coupled with strong demand and a vibrant local economy, continues to push up prices. Homes in Bernal Heights spend a median of just 14 days on the market before selling, and when they do, they go for an average of 18% over the asking price.

Now let’s hand it over to Neighbors Michael and Danielle for their full report:

2017 was yet another record year for real estate in Bernal Heights.

The median sale price soared to $1.476M, a 9% gain over last year and almost double the median sale price from only five years ago ($775k in 2012). The Bernal Heights market had been slowing over the past three years, but that trend reversed in 2017.

The median price per square foot for single family houses broke the $1k/ft barrier and settled at $1,022/ft by year-end. 195 homes were sold in 2017, which is 14% more than last year and the most since 2005.

Four homes joined the $3M club, an exclusive group that only 9 families can claim in the history of Bernal, with the crown belonging to 88 Montcalm ($3.85M). There were 30 homes sold between $2M-$3M this year and only 65 ever.

We believe the Bernal Real Estate market will remain strong as San Francisco wage growth and employment are high, but may slow somewhat due to macroeconomic factors related to a reduction in the tax deductions and rising interest rates.

The $750k cap on the mortgage interest deduction and the $10k cap on state and local property and income tax deductions will make home ownership slightly less attractive in general, and will affect most new buyers in Bernal. The National Association of Realtors forecasts mortgage rates will average 4.6% throughout the year and reach 5.0% (for a 30 year fixed) by the end.

Taxes are not a primary driver, but rather an added benefit for most people searching for a primary residence in San Francisco and this change will have a minor impact, if any, on housing prices.

Millennials are a driving force in today’s housing market as the largest cohort turns 30 in 2020. Bernal is a very attractive neighborhood because of its proximity to the city, views, weather, distinct vibe and relative affordability when compared to Noe Valley, Glen Park and Potrero Hill.

With Bernalwood’s permission, Neighbors Michael and Danielle used Bernalwood’s Bernal Heights microhoods map to take a granular look at prices in different areas of Bernal:

Rare Bikes Stolen From Home of New Bernal Neighbor

/ Todd_Lappin / 12 Comments

Neighbor Erik Nohlin moved to Prentiss Street in Bernal Heights one week ago after living on 23rd Street for four years before that. Sadly, his introduction to Bernal Heights included a brazen home intrusion robbery during which six rare bicycles were stolen from his garage.

Neighbor Erik is an industrial designer for Specialized Bicycle Components, the bicycle manufacturer based in Morgan Hill, Calif. Last Monday, Feb. 13, while he was settling into his new Bernal home, someone broke into his garage between 10:30 and 11 pm and took six bikes that represent five years of Neighbor Erik’s work.

Images of all the missing bikes are available here.

“My wife and I were at home and asleep by 11.30 when two SFPD officers knocked on thee back door and said that a neighbor had seen the door open when he got home, so he called the police,” Neighbor Erik told Bernalwood. “I walked down the garage with the officers and we found that my entire bicycle collection was gone, the  wire was cut and u-locks gone.”

The thieves stole the bikes in just a few minutes, without making a sound. Examination of the scene revealed they had used a wire to reach through the garage mail slot and release the garage latch.

This sprint bike was among those stolen from a Prentiss St. garage on Feb. 13.

Neighbor Erik says the stolen bikes are one-of-a-kind creations.

A cash reward of $1000 has been offered to anyone who returns the bikes, no questions asked. “The bikes are so well known and high profile that turning them will be hard – they’re too hot,” he says.  “I would hate to see these disassembled and sold as parts or sprayed black, as they’re so unique with their stories, not only to me but to cycling history.”

Bernal neighborErik Nohlin’s name appears on some of the stolen bike frames.

Anyone with information that might lead to the recovery of the bikes is asked to call 415 696 1434, or contact the SFPD at <brian.fogarty@sfgov.org>.

“We thought we had moved out of the more exposed 23rd Street to a safer place, but we certainly learned a lesson,” Neighbor Erik says. “It’s San Francisco and you need triple locks and eyes peeled 24/7.”

Bernal Author Emily Chang Tackles Silicon Valley’s Boys Club

/ Todd_Lappin / 8 Comments

If you keep up with the literary reviews in publications like the New York Times, the Financial Times, or the San Francisco Chronicle, you’ve probably noticed that Emily Chang’s new book Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys Club of Silicon Valley has been getting a lot of attention lately.

Brotopia examines the male-dominated workplaces of the technology industry and looks at how gender-based discrimination  and sexism have become part of the culture of Silicon Valley. As technology plays an increasingly central role in our lives, the status of women in tech has become an important topic. As the New York Times put it, “This is more than a work force issue, and “Brotopia” is more than a business book.”

Brotopia has generated a lot of buzz, so we were pleased (but not at all surprised) to learn that Emily Chang is also a resident of Bernal Heights.

Neighbor Emily tells Bernalwood:

I started writing Brotopia two years ago, long before Trump and #metoo and had no idea this issue would explode in the public consciousness just as I was about to publish. I have been covering Silicon Valley for eight years on Bloomberg TV and, while tech has changed our lives in so many wondrous ways, I was perplexed by the staggering underrepresentation of women across this supposedly progressive industry. Women account for 25% of computing jobs, 7% of investors, and women-led companies only get 2% of funding.

As I began researching the topic, I discovered a lot that surprised me about how and why this happened. In fact, women were well-represented in tech’s early days and programmed computers for the military and NASA (think Hidden Figures, but industry-wide) and then, for various reasons — which you’ll have to read in the book! — they got pushed and profiled out. The book examines how and why women have been left out of the biggest wealth creation in the history of the world, why it matters and what we can do about it. It includes over 300 interviews with everyone from Sheryl Sandberg to Tim Cook and engineers at companies like Facebook, Google and Uber.

I spent many afternoons typing away at Progressive Grounds (chai tea latte and turkey/sundried tomato sandwich please!) and holing up in our Bernal bedroom listening to my three sons wreak havoc downstairs while my incredibly supportive husband tried to keep the peace. It wasn’t an easy endeavor — talking about sexism is kind of like walking the third rail — but I hope this book starts a meaningful conversation.

This is an industry that is controlling what we see and read, how we shop and communicate, making our children’s video games and social media. It’s not just tech’s problem, but everyone’s problem and I fully believe the people who changed the world can change this too.