Saturday Night: Watch “Night at the Museum 3” in World-Famous Precita Park

September 25, 2015September 25, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Following up on last weekend’s princess-heavy screening of Frozen in Precita Park, Neighbor Dean Fryer tells us that CPMC will show Night at the Museum 3 in Precita Park this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6:30:

So, we have the next movie on Saturday—Night at the Museum 3. And, we have something special happening on Saturday—an exciting performance (related to the movie) will begin at 6:30! It’s going to be amazing (Hint—as if a movie character comes alive). I would love to tell you more but this is a big surprise.

PS: Check out this ridiculously adorable photo of some Bernal kids who showed up to see last weekend’s movie.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Bernalwood

Tuesday: Go See Neighbor Dan the Automator in “Got a Girl” at Great American

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

We all know that everyone who lives in Bernal Heights is a rockstar. So you may already know that music producer Dan Nakamura — aka Dan The Automator — is a Bernal resident too. Neighbor Dan is well-known in the music biz for the work he did to give artists like Deltron 3030, the Gorillaz, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Handsome Boy Modeling School their distinctive sounds. His most recent collaboration is a retro-chic project called Got a Girl that he created with actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

I really really enjoyed the album — so much so that all the 0s and 1s on my streaming audio player got glitchy from nonstop listening. Now, tomorrow night, Tuesday September 22, you can go see Neighbor Dan perform with Got a Girl at the Great American Music Hall. He tells Bernalwood:

I’m very excited to bring out Got a Girl to San Francisco. It’s been a project that I am super proud of, and I hope people enjoy it as well. It was all recorded and mixed in Bernal Heights, so I’m extra glad to see it on Bernalwood.

Please come out and see us on Tuesday the 22nd if you have the time.

Its homegrown! It’s locavore! It’s sultry and sexy like Paris in the rain, but it was born and raised right here in Bernal Heights. Got a Girl is all that, and tickets are right here.

Here’s a rather confusing third-eye fetish video from Got a Girl, and don’t miss the super-extra-bonus photos Neighbor Dan shared with us below:

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Dan the Automator

Saturday: Put on Your Elsa Costume and Watch “Frozen” in Precita Park

September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

Have you ever dreamed of joining together with dozens of your friends and neighbors to sing “Let It Go”? Have you visualized the high-alpine rapture of myriad voices joining together as one under an atmospheric Bernal night sky? Come on… you know you have.

Neighbor Dan on Mirabel works for California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), and he tells Bernalwood about a sing-along motion picture event happening in Precita Park on Saturday for princesses of all genders and ages:

CPMC invites Bernal Heights to come out for an evening of family entertainment, with free outdoor movie screenings and festivities in Precita Park starting at 7:30 pm or dusk:

Saturday September 19 – Frozen

Saturday September 26 – Night at the Museum 3

Children are invited to come in costume and enjoy a magical experience as the park becomes a backdrop for the movie wonderland.

Grab your picnic blanket, pack some snacks and join us!

CPMC has increased our outreach efforts over the past couple of years in neighborhoods surrounding our four hospital campuses. We have been involved in Sunday Streets activities across the city—including the Valencia Sunday Streets where we offer games for the kids while we discuss health related activities with parents. We see this as another way to up our game to involve our neighbors in some fun outdoor activities. Precita is a great location for an outdoor move—as we know—and this is a natural progression in our community engagement.

It should be a lot of fun. Hope to see you there…

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: Elsa in Precita Park, by Bernalwood

Tonight: Learn More About How to Research the History of Your Bernal Heights Home

September 16, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

Tonight, your friendly neighborhood time-travelers from the Bernal Heights History Project will share part two of their series on how to learn about the history of your glamorous Bernal Heights home. It happens this evening, Wednesday, September 16 at 7 pm at the Bernal Library:

Following on from last month’s presentation on “How to Research Your Bernal Home,” John Blackburn of BHP will explain the life history of 22 Newman Street and show how he used our research tools to find out as much as he could about the building.

Feel free to bring your own research, photos, etc., and share with everyone.

If you missed last month’s slideshow, you can watch it on YouTube. Unfortunately the hyperlinks in the slideshow aren’t clickable, so we’ll compile them in a handout and update our Research Your Home page.

Wednesday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. sharp in the downstairs meeting room at the Bernal branch library (500 Cortland at Anderson); turn left at the bottom of the stairs. As always, it is free and open to all.

PHOTO: 1942 photo of the Schwery family, outside their home at 536 Nevada (visible on the left with the car outside). via the Bernal History Project on Facebook.

Thursday: Drink Wine, Eat Bites at the new Avenue Space on Mission

September 16, 2015September 15, 2015 / dfyoung / 3 Comments

You might have already noticed it, but there’s a new business on the burgeoning Mission/La Lengua corridor, right across the street from our Taoist Safeway: Avenue.

But what is it?

Avenue is an event studio and creative space pivotally located between the Mission and Bernal Heights neighborhoods. With the aim to inspire collaboration, Avenue celebrates local talents and innovative visions of the surrounding communities and beyond.

The 850-square-foot studio features 14-foot ceilings, a west-facing facade allowing profuse light, and ample wall space for art curation/installation. There is also a private conference room that comfortably accommodates 4-6 people.

We welcome you to our space! Use our beautiful canvas as a foundation for your creativity. Conduct meetings, parties, photo shoots, art shows, community events and more.

Neighbor Jennifer (of Andover Street) tells us Avenue will be hosting a Wine & Bites event this Thursday, September 17th, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at Avenue. They’re partnering up with Front Porch, Blue Plate, and Ichi to make it happen.

Get your tickets here, and all the details follow:

PHOTO: via Avenue

Tonight: Dr. Sketchy’s (Rather Raunchy) Anti-Art School

September 15, 2015September 15, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 10 Comments

Neighbor Laurie Wigham, subcommandante of the Bernal Heights watercoloristas, brings word about a saucy lil’ event for artists happening tonight at the Principality of Chicken John:

Did you know that San Francisco’s coolest (hottest?), sexiest, silliest and most-fun life drawing group meets in (where else but) Bernal Heights? Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School started in New York city but has spread all over the world, from New Zealand to Nashville, and has been meeting in our neighborhood for three years.

The models are an ever-changing parade of wildly costumed characters, including performers from the New Burlesque movement, aerialists, acrobats, yogis, Aztec dancers—and even the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. There’s a strong commitment to celebrating SF’s diverse local culture and community.

Dr Sketchy’s happens at Chicken John’s Warehouse on Cesar Chavez, near Mission. It meets every other Tuesday, 7-10 pm, and the next one is September 15th. The model will be Eva Von Slut, rock ’n roll singer for Thee Merry Widows and White Barons. $15 at the door. Anyone 21+ is welcome

Tuesday, September 15, 7-10 pm
Chicken John’s Warehouse/SF Institute of Possibility
3359 Cesar Chavez St (@Mission)

Read more about the local branch, here.
Check out the Facebook group, here.
And the Flickr group, here.

PHOTO: A Dr. Sketchy SF event, via Neighbor Laurie

Saturday: Rock the Guacamole at the 4th Annual Guac-Off Competition

September 11, 2015September 10, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

Exciting news for all guacamole fans: There’s a guacamole taste test smackdown happening in Bernal on Saturday, and you’re invited.

All the guacamoles. Lots of discerning guacamole criticism. And plenty of complimentary chips. It’s all free, and it’s all happening on Saturday, September 12 beginning a 1 pm at the glamorous Farmhouse Mansion, at the top of Folsom near Ripley. Bernalwood is told:

Guacamole. It’s made with avocados, lime, excitement, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, love, and several dozen other food companions. It’s the tastiest green dish to eat on a Saturday with a beer, and sharing it is a proven way to make good friends, better. This Saturday, we’ll eat as much guacamole as we possibly can consume.

For the 4th year in a row, on the second weekend in September, we’re holding San Francisco’s Annual Indian Summer Guac-off. It’s a competition showcasing the best guacamole’s that the City has to offer. It’s also a party where the fine people of San Francisco get to decide who makes the best guacamole in town.

It’s the perfect way to kick off San Francisco’s Indian Summer: hanging out with friends both old and new in a beautiful garden with a cold beer in one hand and some chips and guacamole in the other. It’s completely free to enter, and all we ask is that you have a good time.

Everyone gets to vote on their favorite guacamole, and at the end we give out a bunch of fun prizes from our favorite local companies, including the Guacamole Glory Trophy, the title of official “Guacamole of San Francisco” and bragging rights until the next Indian Summer.

Complete details on the Guac-Off website, and here:

Celebrate the Book Neighbor Anita Wrote and Illustrated, “The Magical World of Abra”

September 11, 2015September 11, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Neighbor Anita Ellis wrote and illustrated a new book, called “The Magical World of Abra.” It was a ton of work, so now she wants to celebrate, with a big book release party and art show on Saturday night.

Neighbor Anita provides the rest of the details:

My name is Anita and I ‘m having a book release party. I’ve lived in Bernal Heights for 20 years.

The title of the book is called “The Magical World of Abra” and the book release party is Saturday, September 12 at Code and Canvas Gallery (151 Potero Ave.) from 6-9pm. There will be a children’s book reading at 6:30, live music, food and cocktails.

The backstory: My friend and co-worker at The Wild Side West in Bernal Heights had a story she wanted me to illustrate. And I should really thank her, or this project would have never happened. Her story was based on a little girl who was a collector/hoarder who took things she found home with her until her room is completely cluttered.

I have taken every painting and illustration class offered at city college and have been doing art since I was a little kid so I figured that it would be fun, and I was up for the challenge. I had done a handful of illustrations for her but she did not really seem to like the images I created, and I was not really following what she had in mind.

Friends encouraged me to work on it on my own when they saw the artwork I had done. So instead of writing about a hoarder, I decided to write about a little girl named Abra who sees the beauty of everyday objects and life. Hence the title, “The Magical World of Abra.”

I’ve probably spent over 10,000 hours on the illustrations, hand-written text, book-binding, art classes and the story created. I met Attaboy who is an amazing artist and one of the founders of Hi-Fructose magazine. One of the things he said that stood out to me was that you are what you do. Don’t do whatever it is you love half-ass; do it times 1000. Get into it, surpass your own and everyone else’s expectations. That is when you will know you are doing it right.

The message of the story is one for adults and children and we need to be kept aware of it daily: Look around you, there is beauty everywhere and so many things are working in our favor. There is always something special and magical there, even if it’s the darkest of clouds above you. Suck it up, inhale it and live it because one day you will not be here to enjoy it.

ILLUSTRATION: Courtesy of Neighbor Anita Ellis

Friday: Volunteers Wanted for the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema Film Crawl on Cortland

September 9, 2015September 9, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

Attention Bernal Heights cinemaphiles, auteurs, special effects gurus, show-runners, and red-carpet sycophants: The 2015 Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema season gets underway on Friday, with a glamorous opening night Film Crawl on Cortland.

If you want to help make it happen — AND get a star-studded, backstage look at the celebrity action — Neighbor Leslie from BHOC tells Bernalwood they need a few volunteers to lend a hand on Friday eve:

Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema is back for our 12th season and we’re coming back to Cortland.

We need volunteers for Friday’s Film Crawl. With six venues simultaneously showing screenings at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00pm , takes a good number of volunteers to pull off what has become the highlight of the weekend festival.

Volunteers are asked to do pretty light-weight duties e.g. audience direction, greeting, etc. In exchange they receive an official 2015 hoodie tee, reserved seating at other venues and an invite to the “wrap party” for filmmakers and sponsors/advertisers.

To volunteer, contact us at info@bhoutdoorcine.org.

BHOC moves to fashionable Precita Park on Saturday night, September 12. For the complete schedule, check out the Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema website.

PHOTO: Top, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema in Precita Park, by Telstar Logistics

Wednesday: Learn How to Learn About the History of Your Bernal Heights Home

August 18, 2015August 18, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, August 19, those intrepid time-travelers from the Bernal Heights History Project will share some tips on how to research the history of your Bernal Heights home:

“How to Research Your Bernal Home”
Aug 19, 2015 7:00pm-8:30pm (Wednesday) at Bernal Heights Branch Library

We have an admittedly ambitious plan: We want to research and record the history of every building on the hill, and we’d love your help.

On Wednesday, August 19, we’ll present a slideshow that explains how to investigate your own home and all the resources you can use, including city directories, tap records, Sanborn (fire insurance) maps, neighborhood newspapers, and many more free databases.

We’ll be using several examples of Bernal homes and businesses in our show, but this is an interactive presentation, so feel free to come with stories and photos of your own, especially if you want to find out more about your street and the people who lived in your home before you did.

PHOTO: Left, Anita Nieto, cousin Betty Reyes, and a friend outside the Reyes and Nieto grocery store at Crescent and Anderson, late 1940s; Right, 1905 Sanborn map. (Family photo courtesy Anita Nieto; map courtesy David Rumsey) — at 511 Crescent Avenue, San Francisco.

Tonight! Celebrate the 8th Anniversary of Secession Art & Design

August 14, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

Secession Art & Design is a Bernal Heights treasure, and tonight it’s proud proprietor, Ms. Eden Stein, is celebrating her store’s eighth anniversary.

It’s hard to emphasize how hard she’s worked to make this happen. Secession has always been awesome, but when she lost her lease in the space across from Safeway in 2014, Ms. Eden had to scramble to keep Secession alive. Thankfully, through lots of hustle and a little good luck, Secession was able to re-open in the former SoCha Cafe space at 3235 Mission (near Valencia). Today, the store is bigger and more vibrant than ever, Ms. Eden is a pillar of the glamorous Mission-Bernal Merchants Association, and Secession become an integral part of La Lengua’s increasingly lively (and delicious) Mission Street corridor.

Ms. Eden writes:

I am hosting our 8th anniversary on Friday night!

Secession is throwing a party to celebrate 8 years in the Mission Bernal neighborhood. Please join us this Friday, August 14 6:30 to 9:30 pm to honor what we’ve all built. Meet our featured artists Andreina Davila, Heather Robinson, as well as many others who’ve been part of our community over the past eight years.

Sometimes you have to dream big and just go for it. Thank you to everyone who helped us on our journey to our new home when we lost our lease a year ago. Thanks to your support, we were able to stay in the neighborhood and relocate to our beautiful 3235 Mission Street gallery and boutique. You rock!

Many of you have asked how you can help us to make sure Secession is part of the arts community and the changing San Francisco retail landscape. If you’d like to support us, the best way is to shop in-store (we’re open Tuesday-Sunday, noon to 7pm), shop online, or donate to our ongoing fundraiser.

Hope to see you tonight.

Congratulations, Eden, and best wishes for 800 more fabulous years!

IMAGE: Courtesy of Secession Art &; Design

This Is Your 2015 Bernal Heights Hillwide Garage Sale Treasure Map!!!

August 7, 2015 / Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

Tap to view the most up-to-date map

It’s here! Saturday! Saturday! SATURDAY! The biggest and most glamorous neighborhood garage sale in all of San Francisco happens this Saturday, August 8, 2015 all over Bernal Heights, and if you want to find the goods, you need this high-tech treasure map.

Yup, it’s time to put on a comfortable pair of walking shoes, stuff your pockets with wads of petty cash, and load up the bootlegged copy of that FedEx route-optimization software you downloaded from a sketchy Albanian website. Because you’re going to want to map-out your plan of attack for the more than 100 Bernal homes that are having a garage sale on Saturday.

Here’s the pre-sale update:

As of late Weds evening, the Bernal Hillwide Elves tallied 111 garages that have registered to participate in this years most epic garage sale ever! Facebook has been blowing up with tons of likes, 60+ shares, lots and lots of comments and general social media mayhem!

Sellers are going to have a fantastic day on Saturday. And if that weren’t enough, we’ve raised over $2,300 for the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center! Booyah!

Sellers can still register your sale.

Buyers, check out the map and plan your route.

Tuesday Eve: See Neighbors, Eat BBQ, Meet Local Law Enforcement at National Night Out in Bernal Heights

August 3, 2015August 3, 2015 / Todd_Lappin

Tomorrow evening, pack up the kids, bring an appetite, and head to the Bernal Rec Center behind the Library to meet some of the people who put the safety in Bernal’s public safety programs.

It’s time for the Bernal Heights edition of National Night Out, the nationwide program that seeks to build stronger ties between local communities and law enforcement. Neighbor Sarah shares the glamorous preview of what’s happening:

Join Your Neighbors on Tuesday, 8/4, for National Night Out at the Bernal Rec Center!

National Night Out, in its 32nd year, is designed to get neighbors out on a summer evening so they can meet each other, police and fire personnel, local organizations, and merchants – all with the goal of promoting community safety.

This year’s National Night Out celebration for the Ingleside Police District will be in Bernal Heights. Come out for a FREE BBQ dinner, lots of fun, kid-friendly activities, and a chance to learn from numerous organizations that will be tabling at the event. Join a neighborhood watch with SFSAFE; sign up for NERT training with the Fire Department; improve the safety of your block through environmental improvements like planting a tree with Friends of the Urban Forest.

Meet members of the city attorney’s office, the district attorney’s office, and Supervisor Campos’s staff to voice any concerns to them directly. Climb the SF Park rock climbing wall; jump in bouncy houses; play basketball with SFPD recruits. Visit the library to learn how it can be safe place for teens and tweens. Pick up the coveted 2015 edition of the Bernal Heights Safety Resource handout. Full details below:

Tuesday, August 4, 5-8pm
Bernal Heights Rec Center and Bernal Heights Library
500 Moultrie Street @ Jarboe Ave.

FREE BBQ dinner
Climbing wall
Games
Jumpy houses
Arts & crafts
Giveaways
Safety resources
& More!

Exhibitors include SFSAFE, NERT, ALERT, the Department of Emergency Management, the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, the SF District Attorney’s Office, the SF City Attorney’s Office, Rec & Park, Friends of the Urban Forest, and the Bernal Heights Library.

Sponsors include SF POA, SFFD, Recology, Cordova Market, Mollie Stone’s, and the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Bernalwood

Broadcasting from glamorous Bernal Heights, San Francisco (Elev. 443 ft.)

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