Author: Todd_Lappin

Bernalwood: The Magazine, Now Available on the Web

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BernalwoodMagCover

Glamorous news! Bernalwood: The Magazine is now available on the Web.

But wait. What is Bernalwood Magazine? Here’s what I wrote about the magazine-style version of Bernalwood when I unveiled it a few months ago:

As our longtime readers know, Bernalwood is many things. It’s a glamour-soaked nickname for Bernal Heights, our fabulous neighborhood. Bernalwood is a blog. Bernalwood is a Flickr group. Bernalwood is a Twitter account. And now, Bernalwood is a magazine.

Let me back up and explain. By day I work at Flipboard, a company that produces a rather lovely app for reading news feeds […] For the last few months, I’ve been test-driving the new version of Flipboard by publishing a magazine called (…wait for it…) Bernalwood!

In essence, it’s a curated compilation of all the other manifestations of Bernalwood, all packaged together in one place, in a paginated, visually rich format.

Bernalwood Magazine is colorful and rather gorgeous, and for media wonks, it’s an interesting experiment in community-powered journalism for the social-media age. But there was one glaring problem: Until now, you could only view Bernalwood Magazine while using Flipboard on an iOS or Android mobile device.

Happily, that barrier no longer exists. Yesterday Flipboard introduced a new feature that makes it possible to view Flipboard-created magazines in a regular Web browser, complete with the beautiful covers, intuitive page “flips,” and spiffy interface that are Flipboard’s signature design elements.

Here’s a sample of what Bernalwood Magazine looks like on the web:

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Here’s another taste:

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There’s nothing to download, and nothing to learn. To flip the pages, just tap the arrows on the edges of your browser window, or use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard. Click to read Bernalwood Magazine on the Web, and if you like what you see, add it to your bookmarks, right alongside the cherished one you use for the standard Bernalwood blog.

Finally — and most importantly — no matter what flavor you prefer, thanks as always for reading and contributing to Bernalwood.

New Rental Real Estate Report Functions as Bernal Heights Rorschach Test

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The number-crunchers at Priceonomics released a new report on San Francisco’s rental market late last week, and it generated a lot of teeth-gnashing around town. Looking at the City as a whole, this was the big takeaway:

Rents aren’t just high in San Francisco, they’re rising quickly. In June 2011, the median price for a one bedroom was $2,195. Two years later, the price of a one bedroom has increased 27% to $2,795. During the same time period, the price of a two bedroom apartment rose 33%. That’s almost 10 times the rate of inflation during those two years.

Oof! So how has the Bernal rental market fared amid all this?

On the bright side, Bernal remains relatively affordable — with the emphasis on  relatively. Bernal is the 23rd most expensive neighborhood for 1BR rental units, coming in just ahead of the fogdwellers in the Inner Sunset:

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On the downside, Bernal’s reputation for stylish fabulousness is getting around, and glamour-seekers from far and wide now want to live here. That shows up in local price trends:

Nearly all rental apartments in San Francisco are getting more expensive. But some neighborhoods are getting more expensive faster. The neighborhoods that are increasing in price the fastest are the ones that used to be somewhat affordable like Civic Center, Bernal Heights, and the Mission.

In fact, Bernal Heights has experienced the City’s second-largest rise in one-bedroom rental rates since 2011:

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And if for some morbid reason you’re curious about the going rates for rental units in Bernal Heights right now, here’s your infographic:

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For more in that vein — along with some discussion about causes and effects for the rapid rise in rental costs — read the whole article.

GRAPHICS: via Priceonomics

UPDATED: Vintage Photo Was Very Probably Taken from Bernal Heights

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vintageView

Sarah from the Bernal Heights History Project recently posted this photo, soliciting input to help pinpoint the location where the picture was taken.

Obviously, it’s a view looking east, so that pretty much narrows it down to either Potrero Hill or Bernal Heights. Based on my own armchair historiography, I’d say it is definitely a view from Bernal Heights, likely taken sometime in the late 19th or very early 20th century.

The perspective seems just right for Bernal Hill, but the key detail, I’d posit, is the elevated railroad trestle that stretches across the photo near the shoreline, roughly following the same route used by the present-day Caltrain. The area shown is present-day Bayview, but before it was filled in (in no small part with debris from the 1906 earthquake), the area was a vast, swampy marsh — which is why the railroad was built on an elevated trestle. Let’s zoom and enhance for more detail:

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This panoramic illustration from 1868 shows the marshland of Islais Creek and the railway bridge that spanned it:

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So that’s my guess. Do you see any other details that might help identify where this photo was taken?

UPDATE: Bernalwood contributor Joe Thomas (who lives in a house with an east-facing view) notes that there is a warehouse visible in the vintage photo:

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From where Joe sits, it sure looks like that warehouse is still there, on Hudson at Toland!

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Here’s the Google Streetview. Note the right-justified configuration of the doors:

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PHOTO: Top, via Bernal Heights History Project

Do You Recognize This Bernal Boot Bandit?

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Neighbor Orlando lives on the north side of the hill, in the upper elevations of Folsom Street. Last week, he left a pair of Red Wing work boots on his front stoop overnight. In the morning, they were gone.

When Neighbor Orlando went back to review his security camera logs, he found footage of the gentleman shown above removing the boots from the front stoop a little before 4 am. Quite understandably, this made Neighbor Orlando angry:

The other day at the early hours of dawn my leather boots got stolen from my front door. I’ve had them for ten years, and they were made of the finest cow hide that Red Wing stocks for their specialized work boots.

Here is a picture of the incident. Has anyone seen this guy? Our neighbors should be aware that he is making late night/early morning rounds. And moral of the story is, don’t leave any strollers, shoes, jackets or anything out at night. It will disappear.

Grrrrr. Totally sucks. Anyone recognize the shoe burglar in the photo?

New Song by Neighbor Jeremy Passion Is Rather Gorgeous

/ Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

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It’s a turning out to be a busy week for Bernal Heights rock stars.

Neighbor Jeremy Passion Manongdo is a singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Bernal, and he still calls Nevada Street home. He checked in with us this week to share the video for his new song, “Suddenly,” and we’re glad he did because it is fabulous:

My name is Jeremy Passion and I’m a 26 year old Bernal Heights native that has always loved the city. I am a singer/songwriter/producer, and I’ve released a new song entitled “Suddenly” and it takes place in SF! There are many shots of Bernal Heights and the surrounding neighborhoods and would love for you to take a listen. I am very proud of how this video turned out, and I’m excited to share the beauty of our city with the world. Thank you for taking time to listen.

Your Bernalwood editor has had “Suddenly” on heavy rotation for the last 24 hours, and it just keeps getting better and better and better. It made me smile. It will make you smile. Give a listen, and if you like, get yourself a copy from the iTunes or the Google play:

PHOTO: Jeremy Passion via Jeremy Passion

Got Him! SFPD Nabs Break-In Suspect Near Precita Park

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SFPD

Walking home on Precita Avenue last week, I came upon a group of SFPD officers who were in the process of arresting a gentleman who appeared to be in his mid 20s. The man was handcuffed and sullen, and alongside him I saw a an open bag that contained a motley collection of hand tools — snips, hammers, screwdrivers, etc.

Courtesy of the latest Ingleside Station Newsletter, we now learn that the suspect I saw was caught in the act while trying to steal a neighbor’s scooter, and that he may have also been connected to several other crimes, including car break-ins and home robberies:

Friday, July 12, 2013
8:23pm 200 Blk Precita Stolen Property
Ingleside Officers Kabanuck, Guzman, and several other Ingleside units were dispatched to investigate the attempted theft of a motor scooter. Dispatch further advised responding units, that the suspect was a man in his 20’s with long hair, wearing a green sweatshirt. When the officers arrived at the Precita Street address, they found the suspect standing next to the motor scooter. The officers phoned the witness who confirmed that the man standing next to the vehicle was observed trying to start it and drive it away. The suspect was also standing next to a shopping bag and a black backpack that he acknowledged belonged to him. A computer check revealed the suspect was on felony probation for narcotics from San Mateo County. A probation search of the bag and backpack turned up various tools including a crowbar, hammer, screwdriver and file and other items such as mail, checks, and DMV documents which may have been stolen in recent burglaries. The officers recognized the tools as items often used to commit burglaries of residences and vehicles. The suspect was booked on variety of charges including possession of stolen property and burglary tools as well as possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Report number: 130574133

… which only goes to validate something that the officers at Ingleside often emphasize: At any given time, it only takes a small number of baddies to generate a whole lot of property-related crime on the streets of Bernal Heights.

Kudos to the alert neighbor who noticed this baddie working his trade, and hats off to the SFPD for the prompt response and arrest.

PHOTO: Telstar Logistics

Creative Bernal Neighbor Creates Video Profile About Creative Bernal Neighbors

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Neighbor Steve Sisler is doing an ad hoc series of video profiles about people in Bernal Heights. The first one is a wonderful profile of longtime Bernal artists Joseph Branchcomb and Toby Klayman. Neighbor Steve tells Bernalwood:

I moved to Bernal in 2010. I love my ‘hood, and I wanted to tell stories about the people that make our community what it is. There are a lot of great stories in Bernal, many of them are really interesting, with more than a few being moments that you want share with friends. This is what I tried to capture. The concept is called Bernal Heights Conversations, and it will be an ongoing series that I fit in between my editorial/commercial projects, which include a documentary for an NGO in India.

I met Joe Branchcomb while recording video at 331 Cortland. Joe suggested that his wife, Toby would be someone I would want to meet. While having coffee in their studio, it became a no-brainer to include them in the project

Toby has been creating art since the 1950’s. Toby and Joe are creative, charming, and entertaining. Their perspective on life, our community’s history, and art is worth chronicling. Their studios are a must-see.

Happily, Steve’s video is also creative, charming, and entertaining, and it too is a must-see. So see it now. Enjoy:

Rescuers Search for Downed Helicopter on Bernal Hill

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chopperdown

Neighbor Matthew saw this sign yesterday indicating that a small helicopter was recently lost on the northeast side of Bernal Hill along the north face of Bernal Heights Boulevard. The owners would be thrilled to get it back.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board has decided not to send a team of investigators to Bernal Heights. Nevertheless, KTVU is working to confirm a report that the pilot’s name was Havyuseen Maheli.

PHOTO: Neighbor Matthew

Enterprising Bernal Kid Sells Adorable Plush Meats at Avedano’s

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Junior Neighbor Takouhi is a nine year-old from Winfield Street who has mad skillz with a sewing machine. Her dad tells Bernalwood that Junior Neighbor Takouhi is now selling some of her carnivore-themed pieces at Avedano’s on Cortland:

Our daughter Takouhi has been sewing for close to 3 years, and she has some cool news about her latest creations. Takouhi likes to make her own “stuffies” as well as clothes for herself, and now she’s started a little business called Stuffy-A-Fluffy (“Cuteness You Can Squeeze”) to sell her work. Takouhi’s stuffed T-bone steaks are now available for sale at Avedano’s. She’s making two types: A little keychain T-bone and a larger “just a stuffy T-bone.” Her words.

Here’s the merchandise:

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Bernalwood has been assured that Takouhi’s work is grass-fed, free-range, and hopefully hormone-free for at least a few more years.

PHOTOS: Stuffy-A-Fluffy

Neighbor Matt Nathanson Releases a Big New Album Today

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Today is a big day for Matt Nathanson, Bernal’s celebrity rockstar next door.

Around here, he’s Neighbor Matt, a musician from the southeast side of the hill who often draws creative inspiration from walks around the neighborhood. (Just like us!!)  Last March, he told Bernalwood:

Oh man, Bernal Heights IS my muse: Walking the hill, writing at Progressive Grounds, eating breakfast at Precita Park Cafe or Moonlight. I am a card carrying Bernal Heights superfan, and most of the lyrics for this record were written here. When I’m not on tour, I am hard-pressed to leave the 94110.

That’s the Neighbor Matt we know here in Bernal. But beyond our hill, he is MATT NATHANSON, a singer-songwriter with a successful career, a nationwide following, and legions of fans who say things like:

And…

And…

And…

Now, you’re probably wondering: What exactly is a Matt Nathanson kind of morning? Is it kind of foggy, with chance of sun by noon? Does it taste like a Sandbox Bakery croissant? Does it involve wearing a nylon track suit and taking a dog for a walk while carrying a little plastic bag to pick up the business?

We have no idea. But this is a small sampling of tweets about Neighbor Matt from just the last 72 hours, so you get a sense of his wow-power.

Anyway, this is a very very big day for Neighbor Matt, because he’s officially releasing his new album today. It’s called The Last of the Great Pretenders, it was recorded in Noe Valley, and it contains a lot of San Francisco allusions, as he told Bernalwood back in March:

On past records, I think I’ve been too self-conscious to write lyrics that were super-specific to my own life. I felt safe in the vague. With this record, I really wanted to dig in to the places I know and the places where I live. It definitely became a VERY San Francisco record.

USA Today just gave The Last of the Great Pretenders three out of four stars, so he’s off to a good start. The 52 Weeks of Music blog writes:

I love that [Last of the Great Pretenders] is a tribute to the love [Matt Nathanson] has for his town, San Francisco.  He has found the extraordinary in the ordinary.  It reminds me to take a look at what is good in my life and my town and embrace the beauty of it all.  To see beyond any pain. To let in the new.  To find the good. To embrace change.  This album has a depth and a story.

Later today, Neighbor Matt will be at Amoeba Records on Haight to do a free show starting at 5:30. Then, to support the album, he will embark on a nationwide tour so ambitious and far-flung that just looking at the schedule makes me feel homesick.

For now, though, let’s just say congratulations to Neighbor Matt on the new record, and let’s keep a candle burning for him here in Bernal Heights as he roams across the nation from stage to stage, like a Cortlandia version of Steve Perry in that wistful old Journey video.

Speaking of videos… here’s the big single from Neighbor Matt’s new album, chock full o’ local flavor:

And here’s another song from the album. It’s called “Kinks Shirt.” If this article is to be believed, it’s all about a cute waitress at Toast Eatery on 24th Street in Noe Valley:

PHOTO: Top, Matt Nathanson from Neighbor Matt. Below, album montage via 52 Weeks of Music. 

That Cold Chill Means Karl the Fog Is Visiting Nearby

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Midsummer is upon us, which means the season is nigh for regular visits from San Francisco’s most famous uninvited guest: Karl the Fog.

As Citizens of Bernalwood, we are fortunate that the fog often avoids the skies over Bernal Heights — opting instead to lurk above the less-blessed terrain to our south and west.

And that, in turn, creates many photo opportunities for our local paparazzi. Here’s a great example from last weekend: A dramatic view of Nature’s Own Fog Lamp, taken from Bernal Hill by Nick McKay.

Oh, if you need even more fog imagery in your life, you’ll be glad to know that Karl the Fog also likes to post selfies over on Instagram.

PHOTO: Nick McKay on Instagram