Bernal Hill

Help Plant Green Things on Bernal Hill, Saturday

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Bernal in Winter 2 (March 09)

If you’re green thumb is itching, wander up to Bernal Hill on Saturday morning to participate in a volunteer planting organized by the City’s Recreation and Park Department. Rachel Kesel, your Bernal neighbor and the Rec and Park gardener assigned to Bernal Hill, says:

The Recreation and Parks Department’s December work party on Bernal Hill is all about planting grasses and wildflowers. We will bring gloves, tools, and light refreshments. Volunteers should dress in layers and because the hill is pretty steep so closed-toed, sturdy shoes are recommended. The event will take place rain or shine.

Saturday, December 17th
10AM to Noon
Meet at the south gate off of Bernal Heights Blvd, on the uphill side, near the only water fountain on the hill. Anderson Street is the closest thru street to this entrance.

For more information, contact Joe Grey at Joe.Grey@sfgov.org or 415-831-6328

PHOTO: Ed Brownson

Apparently, It Was Lovely Here on Saturday

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As I write this now, it’s 5:30 am on Sunday in Bernal Heights… but I’m not in Bernal Heights. Instead, I’m sitting in a lounge at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, waiting for a flight that will take me back to… Bernal Heights.

I’ll explain more about what I was doing in Tokyo later — there’s a Bernal Heights connection! — but in the meantime, it was a treat to find these iPhone photos taken by Paul Wardein on Saturday.

What a nice reminder that as wonderful as my time here was, I’m lucky to have such a beautiful place to come home to.

PHOTOS: Paul Wardein

Even When Invisible, Bernal Heights Reigns

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Mr. Burrito Justice, the spiritual leader of the La Lengua separatists, posted this photo on his blog recently. It shows the summit of Bernal Hill emerging from a fog bank, as seen from the flatlands near St. Luke’s Hospital.

More importantly, the photo provides yet another reminder of how Bernal’s elevated supremacy so dominates the psyche of the poor La Lenguans, because even when our hill is shrouded in cloudy mist, the La Lenguans know — intuitively — that the hill is there, towering over them, awaiting an opportunity to reassert itself.

As Mr. Burrito Justice himself put it:

Out of a sunlit fog, Bernal emerges

… as it always has, and always will.

PHOTO: Burrito Justice

Help Keep Bernal Hill Beautiful, Saturday

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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

A Celebration of Last Night’s Superb Sunset

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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