The new sign went up last Friday, so now it’s official: The former Skip’s Tavern on Cortland, which was reborn a few months ago as the Lucky Horseshoe, is now, officially, the Lucky Horseshoe.
Please update your address books, and raise a glass for the new ownership. They’re off to a great start.
PHOTO: Thank you, Jonathon Bartlett
Walking out of the Safeway on Sunday afternoon, I felt the sun on my face for the first time in days, and I noticed that our Safeway’s familiar yin-yang mosaic was interacting nicely with the wet pavement — and Sutro Tower beyond.
It was so Zen. And in that moment, I realized that the universe is truly composed of opposites, such that there can be no One without the Other. No Sun without Rain. No Good Life Grocery without a Safeway nearby. No Sutrito Tower without a Sutro to aspire to become. You get the idea. Ommmmmmmmmmm.
Then, upon my return home, I looked to the north, and found Rainbow Enlightenment:
UPDATE:
My friend @lbm was taking at walk on Bernal Hill when the rainbow appeared. Check out this full-spectrum amazingness:
PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics, @lbm
When he’s not snapping pictures of Speedo-clad fitness buffs, architect Mason Kirby lives in Bernal Heights and works from a cozy little office on the corner of Bocana and Cortland.
Not long ago, Mason hit upon the rather brilliant idea of repurposing some of his elevation renderings to create a “Bernal Heights Architectural Coloring Book,” which he handed out to eager kiddies during the recent Fiesta on the Hill.
I loved the coloring book when I saw it, so I asked Mason if he would create a downloadable version of it for Bernalwood. He cheerfully agreed. The result is a cool collection of color-ready renderings of real Bernal homes, in styles that range from classic Victorians and Edwardians to midcentury mod-boxes.
But as Mason explains here, he also wants neighborhood artists to show off their stuff…
Bernal Architectural Kids Coloring Contest!
I just overheard a young couple outside my office window: “… a four day break from school next week?? What the hell are we going to do??” My sentiments exactly. So just in time for a rainy Thanksgiving break, we are launching a kids coloring contest.
We’ve been living and working in Bernal for the better part of eight years years, and our firm has worked with many neighbors to enlarge, modify, or otherwise update their home-sweet-homes. Recently, we repurposed various drawings from neighborhood projects to create a snappy little kids coloring book. Here for your children’s coloring pleasure is a version that you are free to download, print-out, and color-up.
To raise the game over the Thanksgiving break, I’m are holding a Bernal Kids Coloring Contest. If you’d like to participate, here are the rules:
Official Bernal Heights Architectural Coloring Contest Rules:
- Download the coloring book. (pdf file)
- Print out the coloring book on a computer printer
- Pick your favorite house(s), and color, inside or outside the lines.
- On the back, write down the name and age of the person who did the coloring. Provide a way for us to reach you. (No carrier pigeons, please.)
- Turn your kids’ masterpieces in at our office mail box (301 Bocana @ Cortland) no later than Monday, November 28th. We’ll hang them in our window.
Judging:
Drawings will be judged by a highly decorated and independent panel of judges based on age groups (0-3, 4-6, 7-10, 11-105) based on GENERAL LEVEL OF ARTISTIC MERIT.Prizes:
Every entrant will receive a prize which will range from a piece of local chert all the way to a pony. Just kidding about the pony– its really all about participating right?
Questions? Need crayons?– call or visit us and we’ll hook you up.
Got that? Just download the Bernal Heights Architectural Coloring Book, print it out, and color like a fiend.
Last night, Bernalwood’s Cub Reporter prepared her first entry:
She’s going for gold.
Here’s an opportunity to help keep Bernal Hill beautiful. According to the SF Park and Rec events calendar, there’s a cleanup event happening tomorrow morning on the Hill:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011, 10AM – 12PM
Description: Come and help restore the grasslands of this Natural Area. Monthly projects may include pulling invasive weeds, planting native species, or helping to maintain the trail system through the park. Come and experience the spectacular views of the city on all sides. Please wear close-toed shoes and dress in layers. Water and snacks will be provided.
Age Range: Adult, Senior, Teen
Destination: Bernal Heights Park
Address: Bernal Heights Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94110
Features: Accessible, On Site Parking
Manager: Lisa Wayne
PHOTO: Brian Wong
Neighbor Sara was unable to attend, so the valiant Neighbor Rita stepped in to bring us the summary from this week’s SFPD Captain’s Meeting for the Ingleside Precinct. There’s lots of great detail in here, so read on to stay street-smart:
Hi Everyone, I filled in for Sarah on the reporting, so it might be a little different format than what you have been used to!
Thank you,
Rita
Ingleside Community Meetings are held on third Tuesday of every month from 7 to 8 pm in the Community Room of the Ingleside station.
Captain’s report by: Captain Mahoney
There is now a Police Department General Order 1.08 for spelling out Community Policing Policy. Captain Mahoney believes it is great that it has been incorporated but says that this is exactly how he has been policing anyhow, so doesn’t see that it will change his policies. He believes in working with the community, holding meetings, staffing community events and creating community forums.
1. In general, this is the second month in a row that violent crime is down. However there is an uptick in the Alemany Housing area. There was a shooting, (possible drive by.) There was a pistol-whipping (suspect in custody) as well as robbery on the sidewalk/attempted carjacking (suspect in custody).
2. There have been a fair number of stolen autos. Generally they are taken from Noe/Mission area and are recovered in the Outer Mission. The police believe a team is involved. If you have a Honda or Acura, use multiple locking systems, as these are the targeted cars.
3. Robberies have included 3 chain grabs in 48 hours.
4. Hit and runs are up, but not only do you have to get the license but you have to see the driver to be able to id them, or the DA can’t do much with the case.
5. Smoke shops have been selling bath salts that some people use to get high (who knew?) The State has just passed a law regarding this issue and the officers are visiting smoke shops to have them pull the salts. However there is still some uncertainty regarding which salts are now illegal for the shops to sell.
6. There was a successful drug bust on Tiffany Avenue. As one of the 3 neighbors from Tiffany Avenue at the meeting, we were very interested in hearing about this bust. There was 3 suspects taken into custody and one suspect was charged.
6. Realignment is the upcoming issue that could affect our neighborhoods. The State is required to reduce the over-population in their prison facilities. As non-violent felony offenders are released by the State, they may be held in our county facility (San Francisco has 2000 beds, 1400 of which are currently in use) or may be released on parole or under some form of house arrest. The community may be absorbing many former inmates, in a tough economy where there are few jobs to be found. The Captain expects to see an uptick in crime as a result, especially in property related crimes. The Captain intends to see if the use of stay orders will work to help remedy these issues that may be created by realignment
. Learn more about it: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/realignment/7. There was a human trafficking case in the district. The Captain was out on patrol and noticed one of the fruit vendors on the sidewalk. He has heard a lot of complaints from the business owners regarding the vendors, so stopped to talk. They sent him on his way, but something didn’t feel right about the situation to the Captain. Later, they saw the same vendor and earned his trust. It turned out he was 14 years old had been brought to San Jose from Mexico as a 12 year old and had been working ever since. He wanted to go home but was unable. So, they got the guy who had brought over 20 kids, 5 of whom made it over the border, and was working these kids to pay off their debt of transportation. The former vendor was turned over to Social Services and the Mexican Consulate was able to return him to his home.
8.Gang graffiti is on the rise in the Alemany area. Lots of houses are getting tags and they think it might be the same guys who are breaking into cars. For a graffiti arrest, they need to be caught in the act or have the materials on them.
9. Bike thefts continue to be are up in the district. Most bikes are being taken from inside buildings, so be careful to lock bikes, even inside your buildings. The Police are using a decoy bike and have managed to get someone to try and take it. They will continue with the decoy program.10. Ingleside will be running traffic speed enforcement. It will move around the district. First the radar trailer will be placed in an area. After that, there will be officers with radar guns and they will be writing tickets. They have been instructed to position themselves near a speed limit sign, so the drivers can’t say they didn’t know the speed limit. So, be warned!
11. Ingleside will also run a Pedestrian safety enforcement program in Noe Valley.
12. Brain drain: Many high level, experienced officers will be retiring in the next few years. There will be 267 personnel lost by the time American’s Cup happens. We are not running training classes as we used to. There will not be another training until next April and out of the class of 50, they expect to end up with only 41 new officers.
13. Other challenges to staffing are occurring. There is Occupy SF and all districts have been sending officers to the site regularly during the week, which then means fewer officers are available in the districts. Of course, we are also down as the district needs to send officers to a CAL game or a 49ers game as well.
– Two questions from the Bernalsafe group were addressed:
One question from the North Slope asking what they can do regarding someone who disturbs the peace by honking at 5:30am (7-8 times) and then returns about 7 am for a repeat of the honking. The Captain unfortunately had no suggestions to this issue.There was another question regarding the athletic shoes over utility wires (typically a sign of a drug house nearby) located at Mission & Crescent as well as at Ellsworth near the Alemany Housing and what the police will do about the drug houses before the problem intensifies and it brings other violence. As the drug houses themselves were not indicated, the Captain said that he would contact PG&E and provide security so the shoes could be removed.
CRIME STATS:
28-day period, October 16 – Nov 12
Crime/Number of Incidents/% change (month)/% change (YTD)/# arrests
Aggravated Assault/21/-19%/-31%/9
Robbery/28/-12%/1%/9
Sexual Assault/1/0/25%/0
Burglary/34/13%/-15%/3
Auto Theft/49/-16%/-13%/1
Theft from Auto/48/-8%/-6%/0
Thank you, Rita!!
PHOTO: Telstar Logistics
While the national fitness media was fascinated by Bernal’s fascination with our bikini-clad jogger (or worse), the underground-enthusiast media was busy filming a skateboard shoot elsewhere here in our mediagenic neighborhood.
Photojourno at-large Adrian Mendoza stumbled upon the scene:
Out for a walk today on Bernal Heights, came across a film crew documenting 3 skaters as they were coming down the sidewalk on Ripley Street at Alabama Avenue, dodging the occasional pedestrian and Muni bus.
Compared to jogging, this ride looks vastly more friction-free:
PHOTOS: Adrian Mendoza
Attention fashionistas! 31 RAX is a new vintage store at 3309 Mission Street, in the Bernalwood/La Lengua Liminal Zone. The place is very cute, and it’s off to a charming start:
My name’s Stephanie and I recently opened a Vintage/Thrift store on Mission at 29th called 31 RAX. I handpick, clean, tag each piece myself. The clothes are funky and one of a kind. My space is beautiful and I plan to host events — live art, music, dance, and more. If you have free time, come by the store and take a look around.
Or better yet, let’s let Stephanie introduce herself in person:
Welcome to the neighborhood!
PHOTO: Telstar Logistics
We just received this photo in the Bernalwood Newsroom. As you can see, Bernal’s Bikini Jogger has spawned an unfortunate Speedo-clad imitator. Our tipster says:
I don’t know who it was but he caused the white balance meter in my camera to break.
Noooooooooooooooooo! Let’s hope this doesn’t become a trend.
PHOTO: Mason Kirby
Reader Winston just sent this along to the Bernalwood hotline:
Yesterday my partner and I decided to take an impromptu, post-nap, sunset stroll up Bernal Hill, and we were rewarded with an amazing sunset; I thought Bernalwood citizens might enjoy if they missed (even though I’d been to groggy to grab my dslr, and just had my iPhone cam). We sat on the west slope of the “peak” to watch the actual sunset, and then the first two pics of Bernal Hill and the amazing “Titian”-hued skies were taken from the lower, eastern slope.
The great thing about last night’s sunset: we were serenaded by two separate “troubadours,” one young man facing southwest, and one young woman singing to a young man on the northeast, both quite good; you can actually barely pick out their tiny silhouettes in these pics, the man to the left of the trees, and the woman right under the tree at right. I’ve also included some pics I’ve played with to give an “oil painting” feel to highlight the amazing color yesterday evening. Enjoy!
So great, and you can click any of the images above to embiggen. Fool that I am, I was in my garage around sunset, so I missed the whole thing. Doh!
PHOTOS: Reader Winston
Neighbor Isaac captured the moment when a small child in Bernal Heights first experienced the Joy of Chert. Though her young brain hardly comprehends the multi-faceted magnificence of our chert, we all know that in an intuitive, pre-reptilian way, she nevertheless understands its deep and stabilizing influence.
IMAGE: Isaach
Attention arborphiles! Friends of the Urban Forest will lead a free “tree tour” of Bernal Heights this weekend, on Sunday, November 13, at 10 am.
Friends of the Urban Forest invites you on a free two-hour walking tour of the trees and other plants of Bernal Heights. Bring your questions, a note book, and a good pair of walking shoes, as we will be covering a lot of ground, a lot of trees, and a lot of great information. Tour leader Mike Boss is a founding owner of the award-winning San Francisco landscape company Rock & Rose Landscapes, and is a former member of the Urban Forestry Council of the City of San Francisco.
Meet at 10:00 a.m. outside Progressive Grounds Coffee House, 400 Cortland Ave at Bennington St.
PHOTO: A tree in Bernal Heights, by Michael De Boer
Craig Sakowitz took these photos of the dawn light from Bernal Hill just a few days ago. The images are beautiful, but my favorite thing of all may be the fact that Craig awoke early in the morning to take these pictures — so I didn’t have to.
PHOTOS: Craig Sakowitz
I really loved the tale Eric Fermon told earlier this week about growing up during the 1970s in the Bernal Heights Projects on Ellsworth Street. But did you happen to catch this line he tucked in there?
Learning how to bowl at Mission Bowl while participating in a Saturday morning youth bowling league and looking forward to eating the best french fries on the planet there, and knowing that with just the right amount of ketchup they were extra-extra special.
That caught my eye. Bowling? At Mission Bowl? WHAAAAAATT!!!???
I’m a history geek, but I’d never heard of Mission Bowl. So what was it? And more importantly, where was it???
The brilliant Vicky Walker of the Bernal History Project provided the answer: Mission Bowl — or Sports Center Bowl, as it was formally called — used to occupy the lot at 3333 Mission that is now home to the large residential complex and Big Lots store, kitty-corner across the street from our Taoist Safeway.
But before we get to that, let’s back up a few decades to recall what that site looked like before Mission Bowl — and the reason why I was confused about its existence. My understanding had been that the present-day site of the Big Lots etc. used to be a streetcar repair facility operated by the Market Street Railway Company. And indeed, for the first half of the 20th century, that’s exactly what it was. Here’s how the “car barn” looked in 1921:
And here’s another view looking north up Mission Street in 1928. (Notice how the tracks have a switch that heads into the building on the right):
I knew about the Mission Car House, so I thought I understood the history of that site. But apparently, there was a gap in my timeline. Sometime between the time when the Car House was torn down and the Big Lots was constructed, the site had been home to the postwar Sports Center Bowling facility, aka Mission Bowl, which is shown in the image at the top of this post.
I found this little remembrance about Sports Center Bowl on Facebook:
This bowling alley was the epitome of 50’s and 60’s ambience. Dimly lit and smoky. A simpler times vibe with Dan O’Glove as your host. He was a great promoter of the sport of bowling. His Sports Center Bowl attracted the elite adult bowlers in not only San Francisco, but of the bay area and even southern California. His 32 lane house was a staple of AMF theme houses. Located at 29th and Mission streets in San Francisco. Home to The Washington Birthday Tournament. Such Pro and elite bowlers as Terry and Mike Leong ran the Pro Shop. Woman’s pro bowler Vesma Grinfelds was a regular when not on tour. Notable juniors and future adult stars to have frequent the lanes were Wayne Chester and Joe Goldstein. A 1 to 4 board shot was the norm and pot games were always flowing. The counter served up delicious American food fair right out of the 50’s and 60’s and the pinball machines were always full of adults and kids jockeying to play!
That “American food fair” [sic] presumably included the french fries Eric Fermon remembers so fondly. It also offered ample parking on the roof, via Coleridge Street:
So there you have it. Sadly, Mission Bowl is gone without a trace, and with it, Bernal Heights lost its bowling alley. But on the bright side, bowling is set for a revival in the Mission District, with new lanes planned for the Mission Bowling Club, which hopes to open in February on 17th Street near South Van Ness.
HISTORICAL PHOTOS: via the awesome San Francisco Public Library Historical Photograph Collection
