Tuesday: Celebrate 17 Years of Heartfelt with Neighbor Darcy

July 25, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

darcystorm

Some things change, some things stay the same, and some things stay the same because they change a lot. The fabulous Heartfelt store on Cortland has been able to stick around for a long time because its proprietor, Neighbor Darcy Lee, is obsessively focused on making sure her “contemporary five-and-dime” store always feels fresh and new.

This week, Neighbor Darcy is celebrating 17 years of Hearffelt, with an in-store party on Tuesday, July 26:

I recently looked up to see when I bought the store, and discovered it was 1999. I was a retail newbie at that time, and I jumped in with both feet.

We would like to thank the neighborhood that made 17 years possible on Tuesday, July 26th from 6-8 pm. We hope to party like its 1999, and thus are asking folks to wear purple in honor of my favorite rock star of all time. First 50 folks that wear purple get a door prize.

We’l have cookies champagne, and Mariachi Jalisco will be playing!

Congratulations, Darcy!

HF_17_FINAL

PHOTO: Darcy Lee during a rainstorm, 2015, by Telstar Logistics. Poster, artwork by Reuben Rude

Thieves Smash Healthy Spirits Door to Steal Cash Register

July 19, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 10 Comments

healthyspiritsdoor

Grrrrrrrr. Rami from Healthy Spirits tells Bernalwood:

Healthy Spirits located at 249 Cortland Ave was broken into at 5:30 AM this morning. Two robbers broke the glass on the front door and entered the shop. They stole the cash register with the small sum of money and proceeded to exit. Thankfully the damage was only financial and no one was hurt in anyway.

PHOTO: Smashed door, via Healthy Spirits

Scenes from the 2016 Cortland “Summer” Solstice Stroll

June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

2016-06-23 19.08.50

The sun was out, the fog stalled over Twin Peaks, and last Thursday evening many smiling Bernalese friends and families headed to Cortland Avenue to partake of the ancient ritual of the Solstice Stroll.

2016-06-23 19.06.02

This being summer, of course, was a little chilly. So Bernalwood’s Cub Reporter insisted we head to Pinhole Coffee, where we’d heard there would be Japanese-style curry. The rumors proved true, the curry was warm, hearty, and delicious, and the Cub Reporter was happy and fortified:

cubncurry

One BIG news flash occurred when we realized that celebrity Bernal neighbor Terry Milne…

terrymilne

…. may have actually been separated at birth from his imperial highness Emperor Norton (aka Bernal neighbor Joseph Amster):

2016-06-23 19.57.26 Who knew???!!

Although, in the realm of rockstars, no one could touch the little guy we saw jamming with the big kids in front of Healthy Spirits. He was totally feeling it:

Thanks for making it happen, Bernal Business Alliance!

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics

Thursday: Celebrate Summer at the Cortland Solstice Stroll

June 21, 2016June 21, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

2014stroll

The legend is handed down among Bernalese from generation to generation: Tens of thousands of years ago, in the time of the sages and ancients, a race of wizened elves gathered in the area we now call Cortland Avenue for a gala celebration of the summer season. There was celebration. There was food. There was plenty of drink and glad cheer. And it was good.

Today, the Bernal Business Alliance has revived this hallowed ritual for the modern age, and the 2016 Summer Stroll happens this Thursday, June 23, from 6 – 9 pm on historic Cortland Avenue.

Here are the deets:

The Bernal Business Alliance and merchants will celebrate the solstice at the sixth annual Summer Stroll all along Cortland Avenue in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood.

Businesses will stay open later than usual, from 6 to 9 p.m.Thursday, June 23, 2016.Each participant will feature onenight specials, including giveaways, musical guests, treats and food & drink for the evening. Admission is free.

Here are some of the brickandmortar and homebased businesses who will be participating:

Heartfelt will have Cajun music, cookies and a specially crafted drink! Heartfelt & will be open with a special “sale”!

Little Bee Baking are hosting Good Eggs the “online farmers market” out front withinformation about their great service and local artist RaissaTrend will be showing newartwork inside the store.

Pinhole Coffee have a far eastern theme for the evening, with Japanese Curry by Chef Michael Black, former Chef and owner of Sebo, and ceramics for sale by Mitsuko Siegrist of the Tsuchikara Pottery.

Succulence are hosting an art opening for Cat Johnston whose amazing art will be hanging in the window for the month. They will also have music and wine and cookies.

Healthy Spirits will host a small band playing Middle Eastern inspired music as well as
making some rare beers and whiskeys available from their cellar.

Members from the Bernal Business Alliance will be in front of Heartfelt with membership information and helping our neighbors at the Mission Bernal Merchants Association collect donations for the victims of the recent Mission Street fire.

Bernal Beast will have doggy treats and chocolate cake for any human companions!

Red Hill Station will have Oysters, Oysters and yes, more Oysters!!!

Lauren Becker of Recycled Glassworks will be showcasing her new work in slumped, recycled glass.

Epicurean Trader will have Bernal local winemaker Bryan Harrington for a free Wine Tasting event.

Inclusions Gallery will host an art opening with San Francisco painter Jeffery Roth. There will also be 15% off all handmade jewelry as well as music & refreshments.

Both the Bernal Branch Library and the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center will also be joining us for the evening.

The Library Staff will be out front of the Library giving away books and small prizes and signing people up for the summer reading program. And across the street, the Neighborhood Center will have plenty of information about their current projects and you’ll be able to signup as a member on the spot.

And when you are done with the strolling you can stop by The Lucky Horseshoe for some smooth jazz with Larry Epstein from 811pm.

For more information about the Bernal Business Alliance, visit http://bernalbusiness.org.

BERNAL_STROLL_2016

PHOTO: Modern Bernalese elves strolling during the 2014 solstice, by Telstar Logistics

Wells Fargo Banking Robot Materializes on Cortland

May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 19 Comments

Late last week, a new Wells Fargo ATM opened on Cortland Street, at the corner of Moultrie, near the library.

This is a handy thing for Bernalese Wells Fargo customers (of which there are many in our lands) because until now the nearest bank robots were at our dysfunctional Taoist Safeway or Mission @22nd St.

Here’s how it works:

Customers should slowly approach the new banking robot and say “Klaatu Barada Nikto.” This will signal to the robot that you are friendly.
Insert your plastic card into the slot next to the flashing light on the right. The robot will smell the magnetic stripe to authenticate your identity and verify your account.
Use the icons on the screen to give the robot banking commands
When used properly, the bank robot can dispense slips of green paper that can be exchanged for goods and services from nearby Cortland merchants.

Progress!

PHOTO: New Wells Fargo ATM on Cortland by Neighbor Rally

Chef Prem Tamang Relocating to Bernal’s “South Asian Restaurant Row”

April 27, 2016August 9, 2017 / Todd_Lappin / 17 Comments

cuisineofNepal

A few weeks ago, Bernalwood received an adorable email from Prem Tamang, the chef at the much-loved Little Nepal restaurant on Cortland:

I have been running Little Nepal restaurant since 2003. The time make me to move to mission and cortland 3486 B mission.

It will be Cuisine of Nepal. I can’t take name of little Nepal because I was leasing this business. When I moved to mission street with new name cuisine of Nepal I would love to put in Bernalwood post so that all bernal Nighbor will know that I moved.

Best regard, prem

“Of course!”we replied. So here’s the news: Chef Prem is relocating to Mission Street where he will operate under a new name as Cuisine of Nepal.

Last week we received more detail on the move. Cuisine of Nepal will open at 3486 Mission, right across from the intersection with Cortland. The soft opening may happen as soon this Saturday, April 30 (fingers crossed), with the proper grand re-opening festivities scheduled for Saturday, May 14.

Chef Prem’s press release says:

Owner/Chef Prem Tamang announces the Grand Opening of his new restaurant, Cuisine of Nepal, located in the heart of Bernal Heights’ South Asian Restaurant Row at 3486-B Mission Street at Cortland Ave. The 30-seat restaurant reflects Nepal’s warm hospitality, where the cozy setting and market-fresh fare are as welcoming as a traditional Nepali home.

Chef Prem Tamang leads the kitchen with a menu that features local seasonal ingredients including neighborhood favorites such as Kukhurako Ledo (Chicken Cashew Curry), Saag Tarkari (Mustard Leaf Curry), and Poleko Khasi (Sizzling Lamb), as well as new specialties specific to Tamang’s home village in Nepal.

Since 2003, Chef Tamang has honed his skills as owner/chef at Little Nepal restaurant, a Bernal Heights gem where the San Francisco Chronicle has urged diners to “discover intriguing twists and variations on traditional South Asian dishes.” Tamang’s warmhearted approach and love of preparing fresh meals can be traced back to his nascent work as a high altitude cooking expert on Himalayan treks in his native country, where he prepared delicious meals at 14,000 feet above sea level for hardy mountain-climbers from around the world. […]

Open six days a week (closed Mondays), Cuisine of Nepal is located in the heart of Bernal Heights’ South Asian Restaurant Row at 3486-B Mission Street (at Cortland), San Francisco, CA 94110. The restaurant is open for Lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, and for Dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 4:30 – 10:30 pm. Major credit cards are accepted. Catering, Takeout, and Free Delivery are also available.

***OPENING DAY PARTY: The public is invited to join Chef Tamang & staff on Saturday, May 14th, from Noon – 8 pm, as Cuisine of Nepal offers a one-time only $5 Sampling Menu, with a choice of tasting one Appetizer and two Entrees from the day’s special menu plus Rice, Naan,and Lal Mohan dessert. A $2 glass of Wine or Beer will also be available to those 21 and over.***

Did you catch that bit about the Bernal Heights “South Asian Restaurant Row”?

It’s true! The corner of Mission and Cortland will now be home to restaurants representing India (Zante’s and Spicy Bite), Cambodia (Ankor Borei), and Nepal (Cuisine of Nepal). This is great news, because, our South Asian Restaurant Row is a terrific compliment to our NanoTokyo District, clustered just up the street around Mission and 29th Street.

So let us now join together to say: YUM!

Best wishes with the move, Chef Prem, and so glad you’re still a part of our community.

PHOTO: Work-in-progress facade of Cuisine of Nepal, as seen on April 23, 2016. Photo by Telstar Logistics

Sunday: Celebrate Pinhole Photography Day at Pinhole Coffee

April 23, 2016April 23, 2016 / Todd_Lappin

sutropinhole1

Neighbor JoEllen from Pinhole Coffee on Cortland brings word of a special photo-coffee event happening on Sunday, April 23:

There is a big holiday for Pinhole enthusiasts this Sunday. It’s Pinhole Day, a worldwide event that goes back to the roots of photography to celebrate pinhole photographs. It’s always held on last Sunday of April,and this year that’s Sunday, April 24th

Pinhole Coffee is featuring pinhole photographs by Bay Area artist (former Bernal resident) Joy Caves. In addition to taking pinhole photographs, Joy develops them with caffenol, a coffee developer. From 10-2pm on Sunda,y she will be present to show people how to take pinholes and how caffenol works.

In addition, anyone who wears Pinhole Coffee apparel, or purchases any, on Sunday the 24th will receive 1 free beverage.

pinholeday

PHOTO: Top, Sutro Tower pinhole photo, by JoEllen Depakakibo

The Epicurean Trader Celebrates First Anniversary (And For You, Special Price)

April 12, 2016April 12, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

epictrader

Oh, how the time flies. Neighbors Holly and Matt from The Epicurean Trader on Cortland are celebrating the first anniversary of their store, and to mark the occasion they’re offering a special deal to Bernal neighbors. Holly says:

We’re celebrating our first year as a Bernal merchant! We love this neighborhood. Mat and I have both lived in the neighborhood for years and all our employees live in Bernal Heights too.

The store has changed a lot since opening day – not our overall mission, but the assortment of products we sell. We’ve always wanted to be a neighborhood store, so we continually collect feedback from you about items you find difficult to buy locally. We stock as many as we can to make everyone’s lives a little easier.

We were also just named one of the Best Neighborhood Markets in San Francisco, and we’re now the highest-rated Specialty Market on Yelp (even ahead of Bi-Rite on 18th.) So now we’re even more excited to celebrate!

To thank the neighborhood for all their support, we will be extending a 10% discount off all purchases Monday thru Friday this week to Bernal Heights residents. Just ask for the discount when you check out. (Note: we may ask for some confirmation that you live in Bernal Heights.)

PHOTO: Telstar Logistics

House Portrait: Peek Inside the Home of Succulence’s Ken and Amy Shelf

April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

kenshelfcurbedsf

shelflifestyle

Where do Bernal merchants retreat to rest and recharge after they hang the Closed sign in the windows of their Cortland storefronts? Our friends at the CurbedSF blog recently did a profile of the house that Amy and Ken Shelf from Succulence call home. It’s a colorful look behind the scenes at one of Cortland Avenue’s most unique shops — and the people who created it:

The Shelf family had been friendly with the owner of [Four Star Video] before he died. David Ayoob was often in front of his business, sweeping up and greeting the neighbors. “He was a community character. When I read that the business and building were up for sale, I thought ‘I could be that guy,'” says Ken.

Borrowing every penny (“Back then, you could do that,” notes Amy), the couple purchased the building at 420 Cortland Avenue. The days of video rentals at a brick and mortar store were waning, and from the beginning they were planning the next phase. When Darcy Lee, the owner of Heartfelt down the street, suggested they start selling succulent plants out back, a new business was born.

Amy came up with the name Succulence to honor the richness of life, and for this couple, it’s an idea they take home with them after the store closes. The store, the neighborhood, and their family are inextricably woven into the into the nearby Victorian cottage they own on a short street that’s quintessentially Bernal Heights; in other words, it’s on a narrow, hilly passage where each crest hosts a scenic city view.

Read the whole thing to learn more about Neighbors Amy and Ken Shelf and to see pictures of their colorful home.

PHOTOS: CurbedSF

A Barroom History of the Odd Mural in The Lucky Horseshoe

April 7, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

luckyhorseshowsign2

Last week, the humble but delightful Lucky Horseshoe bar on Cortland celebrated its fifth anniversary. Hooray! That’s a big deal, because it means that The Lucky Horseshoe can now lay claim to its proud own era at 453 Cortland, a barroom space that has been home to several previous eras of Bernal dive-bar legend.

For decades after World War II, 453 Cortland was known as The Cherokee. (More about that in a moment.) Then the space became Skip’s Tavern, a bar nearby neighbors remember for being rough around the edges and loud at night. Yet Skip’s was also home to some rather incredible blues music and a vibrant culture of its own.

Since then, Lucky Horseshoe has established its own funky vibe, and it retains a commitment to music. It’s friendly and well-maintained, but it’s still the kind of dive a neighborhood can be proud of. CONGRATS Team Lucky Horseshoe!

Through all this, presiding over all these eras of boozy history at 453 Cortland, is the big, weird mural painted above the front door. It’s a faded, vintage scene of cowboys, Indians, and rolling Western landscapes, and it’s obviously been there for a long time:

Lucky-Horseshoe-interior-slide-3 copy

What’s the backstory on the mural?

Lucky for all of us, Neighbor Vicky Walker from the Bernal Heights History Project is on the case. Neighbor Vicky tells Bernalwood:

Here’s what we know about the mural inside 453 Cortland!

The mural was painted by Harold Vick (1915-?). Here he is as a young man:

Later, Harold Vick worked at the Sommer and Kaufmann shoe store on Market Street as a card writer, sometimes listed as an artist. (LOOK at that store. Amazing!)

Harold got married in 1940 and moved to 19 Roscoe in South Bernal. His brother, Melvin, took over The Cherokee and ran it with his wife, Barbara, from 1943 to 1946.

The Cherokee in 1973, from the Max Kirkeberg Collection

Harold probably served in World War II. There’s another Harold Vick listed as a survivor of the Bataan Death March, but I haven’t been able to confirm that it’s him yet. In any case, Harold Vick is absent from the city directories from 1942 onward, although his wife, Patricia (Patti/Patsy) is still listed at 19 Roscoe in 1946. And Harold Vick never appears in S.F. directories again.

All that means we can probably assume that Harold Vick painted the Cherokee mural right around the time it was first owned by Melvin Vick.

The story is told that the Harold Vick painted for beer money. The drunker he got, the odder the mural in the Cherokee became:

The mural in the Cherokee wasn’t Harold Vick’s only barroom masterpiece. We know he also painted “After Cassino” which hung at 309 Cortland in Duval’s Studio Club.

Duval’s Studio Club became Charlie’s, which was a dive bar. That became the Stray Bar, which is now Holy Water.

The mural there was from 1944. My pal Jenner Davis is a former bartender at Charlie’s, and the daughter of Anita Davis, who was Regi Harvey’s partner, who sang all the time at Skip’s. She says: “The scene depicted in ‘After Cassino’ was taken from an original sketch Harold Vick found, singed and burned, in a field as he was crossing it with his platoon during World War II. Nearby were the remains of the artist who created the sketch, and his unsuspecting female subject, who had blown them both to bits when her plow hit a land mine.”

Here’s a detail from Harold Vick’s ‘After Cassino’:

We’re told that After Cassino’ now lives in the private dining room at Avedano’s.

IMAGE: Hanging the new sign at the Lucky Horseshoe in 2011

What Is the Bernal Business Alliance and How Can You Get Involved?

March 31, 2016 / Todd_Lappin

sfmapvintage

Neighbor Darcy from Heartfelt on Cortland extends an invitation for all sorts of Bernal businessfolk to get involved with the Bernal Business Alliance. She also extends an invitation to join the BBA’s next meeting on April 13, as well as a call for artists to help create a vintage-style map of Bernal Heights.

Darcy writes:

The BBA (Bernal Business Alliance) has gone through ups and downs over the years that I have been involved. It used to be the Cortland Merchants Association. and after our leader, David Ayoob passed away suddenly, different merchants have taken turns leading the organization. We have tried to bring more energy and life by also including home-based business, contractors, chefs, writers etc. We also welcome business folks who live in Bernal but whose businesses are actually in other neighborhoods in the city.

Right now we are in one of those phases where there’s a surge of interest and energy, so please consider joining and adding your voice to the working neighborhood.

Our meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10 am in the library community room, and I will be running the next meeting on April 13th. The theme is safety, and Captain McFadden from SFPD Ingleside is sending a representative. How can the business community make Bernal safer for all residents? What are your concerns?

On top of all that, are publishing a retro-style map in the next few months, (the image above is an example of the style we are going for), and we are looking for an artist-in=residence for 2016. This would involve designing posters for the strolls, a vintage style Bernal map, and even working on a new logo for the BBA. If you’re interested please contact us at bba@bernalbusiness.org.

P.S. BBA Membership is only $50 for the year and you can join here.

Shoplifters, Scammers, and Other Challenges of Being a Cortland Merchant

March 18, 2016March 17, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 14 Comments

Shoplifter.heartfelt

It’s not easy being a merchant on Cortland Avenue.

Obviously, providing products, attracting customers, paying commercial rent, and managing the books are challenging tasks unto themselves. Yet over the last few years, as your Bernalwood editor has gotten to know many of the merchants who serve our community, I’ve also been impressed by how exasperating it can be when earning a livelihood means keeping your front door open to any random person who feels like walking in.

Neighbor Darcy from Heartfelt on Cortland shared this story — and a surveillance camera video — of a shoplifter who recently swiped some of her merchandise:

In the video, you can clearly see the young woman who shoplifts. The young lady with the tan cardigan, red scarf, and green purse looks around the room and pick up two Corkcicle-brand thermoses. At 02:09 she puts one in her purse, and at 02:52 she adds the second one to her purse, after which she quickly exit the store with a companion. We think the video speaks for itself.

https://youtu.be/HiW3-xB7KU8

Needless to say, if you recognize the perp, please stop by Heartfelt to let them know.

Meanwhile, a few blocks up the street, Neighbor JoEllen from Pinhole Coffee had her time wasted by this two-bit scammer who tried to pull the old “but wait, I gave you a $20 bill” trick:

ConArtist2B

JoEllen says:

The gentleman shown here has been trying to trick cashiers into giving him more change back. During the transaction he tried to distract me by being charming, pointing to certain areas of the room and commenting on the design…blah blah blah. He then told me he gave me a $20, when clearly he gave me a $5, and asked for more change. I said “nope.”

Norman of Elsie St. came in soon after and told us he heard he’s been doing that up and down the street that day.

Ask yourself: Have you hugged a Bernal merchant today?

Do You Recognize This Cortland Bike Thief?

February 25, 2016February 25, 2016 / Todd_Lappin / 22 Comments

Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 4.32.13 PM-1

Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 4.33.18 PM

Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 4.34.00 PM copy

Apologies for all the crime news this week, but we seem to be in one of those unfortunate periods where there’s a lot of crime news…

The proprietors of The New Wheel bike shop on Cortland are seeking help from Bernal neighbors to identify the woman who stole a very rare (and expensive) electric bike from in front of the store earlier this week. New Wheel co-owner Karen Wiener tells Bernalwood:

While taking inventory of our bikes, we realized that one of our demo bikes had gone missing. As you know, we display eight of our bikes outside. It turns out that while we were working with a customer on Monday evening, we forgot to secure a nice full suspension bike outside the shop. Upon inspection of our security camera, we found that it was a woman who walked away with it on Monday night at around 6:50 pm.

Super disappointing but I am optimistic that we might still locate the bike. The thief may live in the neighborhood, because other Cortland merchants have said they recognize the woman in the photo as someone whose been in their stores recently. The bike is certainly a looker — it has a full suspension with lime green accents. If anyone has any tips or suggestions, we’d be super appreciative.

Here’s the perp, walking away with the bike:

Screen Shot 2016-02-23 at 4.31.00 PM