Bernal Heights may be in San Francisco’s “Sun Belt,” but, alas, that’s no guarantee of blue skies overhead.
Over on the Instagram, ah_thenah captured the above photo of the fog making a bold assault on Bernal Hill from the southwest on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Neighbor Rally captured the scene on the ground as the leading edge of the fog bank sliced through Bernal Heights:
As always, complaints about the behavior of the fog bank can be directed to @KarlTheFog over on the Twitter.
Interior Decorator Jessica Laine snapped this photo late last week, while admitting that she is “falling in love with this part of the city.” (No surprise.) Apart from being lovely, however her photo also captures something very seasonal about summertime in Bernal Heights.
As we all know, summer is generally not the most glamorous time of year here in Our Faire City, because the season tends to bring fog, followed by fog, and then more fog, which is rather glum and chilly.
Yet to the extent that there is anyplace in San Francisco where the ill effects of summer weather patterns are not felt, it is here, in tony Bernal Heights. The realtors used to call this part of town the Sun Belt, and the label is generally true — except for when it is not.
Apart from our daily dose of sunshine, an additional benefit of our location is that we usually get a ringside seat whenever a massive wall of fog (it’s named Karl, by the way) creeps over Twin Peaks to engulf the northeast corner of the City.
UPDATE: Just remembered this photo from my own archive.
Here’s an aerial view of what it looks like when the fog rolls in, as seen from a Cessna flying about 1000′ over Bernal Heights on June 24, 2006:
And this photo, taken a few minutes later, explains why Sutro Tower needs an Observation Deck:
PHOTO: Jessica Laine. Below, Telstar Logistics.
Noisette is a “culinary concert block party” that will take place in the Mission District on August 4. Combining food from glamorous local chefs with music by glamorous musicians, Noisette is a pop-up extension of the annual Noise Pop Music Festival that has become a mainstay of the San Francisco alt/indie music scene.
What you may not realize however, is that both Noisette and Noise Pop have deep roots in Bernal Heights. Long story short, these festivals are organized in collaboration with Zeitgeist Artist Management, and the brain trust for Zeitgeist lives right here, among us, in Bernal Heights — which only confirms Bernalwood’s longstanding contention that everyone in Bernal Heights is a rockstar. Here are the details about Noisette:
WHAT: Presented by Noise Pop and Finger on the Pulse, Noisette- a culinary concert block party- will kick off the inaugural event in San Francisco on August 4th. This delicious summer feast and dance party will feature some of the city’s best up-and-coming chefs and a variety of indie bands and DJs.
WHEN: Saturday, August 4th from 1-5 p.m. VIP hour: 12-1 p.m.
WHERE: Public Works (Mission) 161 Erie Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
WHO: THE CHEFS-Noisette will host eight of the hottest chefs from the Bay Area’s highly influential culinary scene. Each chef has been tasked to create a unique dish inspired by seasonal summer cuisine. Confirmed chefs: Adam Dulye (The Monk’s Kettle and Abbots Cellar), Jason Fox (Commonwealth), Dennis Lee (Namu Gaji), Ian Marks (Beast and the Hare), Ryan Pollnow (flour + water), Mike Selvera (Bar Crudo), Arthur Wall (Garcon!), and Blair Warsham (graffEats).
THE MUSIC- Noisette’s diverse lineup of bands from the alternative and independent music scenes reflects Noise Pop’s mission of bringing innovative, quality music to a discerning and passionate audience. Confirmed talent: Dodos, Pillowfight – featuring Dan the Automator, Emily Wells and Kid Koala, Craft Spells and Taken by Trees. Confirmed DJ’s: Snacky Tunes, Nanosaur and Chad Salty will spin from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and between sets.
You can buy tickets to Noisette here. However, if you act now, Bernalwood has a pair of Noisette tickets that we will give away to a lucky Bernalwood reader. But like a true rockstar, you will have to work for it. Here’s the gig:
Bernalwood will award a free pair of Noisette tickets to the person who sends us the best photograph of themselves playing air guitar somewhere on the streets of Bernal Heights.
Got that? It’s pretty simple: You and a pal pair up to take a photo of one of you playing air guitar somewhere on the streets of Bernal Heights. You rock, your pal takes the photo. Or vice versa. Make it awesome, and you’ll win the pair of tickets to Noisette.
Rules and Caveats: Send your photo to us at bernalwood *at* gmail *dot* com. Along with your photo, please tell us your first name, and where you were in Bernal Heights when you took your photo. Mobile phone pictures are just fine; please send images at least 900 pixels wide. Air guitar style is more important than photographic excellence, but the ideal winner will combine the two. Any photo submitted for this contest may be published on the glamorous pages of Bernalwood. Energetic air guitar preferred; wan singer-songwriter types participate at their own risk. Contest ends at noon on Monday, July 30, 2012. Images from the winner, and select runners-up, will be published on Bernalwood.
Work on your style, find a scenic spot in Bernal Heights, pair up with a photog, and send us your photo by 12 noon on Wednesday, July 25, 2012. Rock on, Bernalwood!
UPDATE: Photo deadlines deadline has been extended until Monday, July 30. Send your pics to win two free tix!
Wow! Check out this vivid 360-degree panorama of Bernal Hill’s north face. It was created by Kaitlin Gaiss two days ago. Hint: The pano looks fantastic on a big screen.
Ah, the rituals of summer in San Francisco: BBQ, fog, more fog, and then some fog, punctuated by the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, which is rather fabulous from atop Bernal Hill. Even in the fog.
The fashionistas at 7×7 magazine published a glamorous online gallery of the 2012 Fourth of July fireworks displays (both officially sanctioned and not), as seen from our always-fashionable vista atop Bernal Hill. Note also: Fog.
H/T: Neighbor Rebecca
PHOTOS Joseph Schell
Yesterday turned out to be rather lovely. Warm sun and fluffy clouds. Not too hot and not too chilly. Most striking of all, though, the spectacular clear light made everything look electric and vibrant.
Here are two random photos from yesterday. The top one was taken from a southbound Caltrain in the morning, as Bernalwood woke up for the day; The one below was taken at sunset, as the sky exploded in a Martian orange halo:
PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics
There was a big plane crash at the Alemany Flea Market last Sunday.
Sprawling across several display tables, one of the merchants was selling dozens and dozens and dozens of scale plastic model airplanes.
The models had all come from the ceiling-suspended collection of a geeky aviation enthusiast. (I know, I know… that’s redundant.) The collection spanned decades, eras, nations, and types, and most of the models had been built with loving attention paid to paint schemes and insignia.
There were just so many planes, all stacked and arranged haphazardly, sometimes a few planes deep, so it looked as if a tornado had struck a desert aircraft storage yard.
Bernalwood’s Cub Reporter wanted to pick out an airplane to take home. She selected a lovely Lockheed Super Constellation in Lufthansa colors, circa 1955.
A very tasteful choice. Daddy was impressed.
PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics
In Bernal Heights, as in all of San Francisco, warm nights are a rare treat. So when they happen, I like to mark the occasion is by trekking up to Bernal Hill with a camera and tripod to take in the balmy nighttime air and shoot pictures of the monumental scenery.
Last Saturday was one such night, and the photos you see above were taken during a late-night stroll on the hill.
Here are a few more:
PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics
Let the record show that summer arrived in Bernal Heights last weekend, sometime during Saturday night. Sunday, June 10, 2012 turned out to be a gloriously sunny day, with no wind, no clouds, no chill, and really nothing to complain about.
Of course, by the time you read this, summer may already be over. Yet for 24 hours on Sunday, the Citizens of Bernalwood celebrated the arrival of the warm sun by taking to the streets for food, festivals, and fun. Let’s review.
At St. Anthony’s Church in Precitaville, they held a typically lovely gala in the church’s parking lot/playground area. It was a great scene, especially when the band began to channel Carlos Santana (who of course used to live just a few blocks away).
Give it a listen:
A few hundred yards west on Precita, the Bernal Heights Junior Capitalist League spotted an opportunity in the heat, which they decided to exploit by selling a very delicious sparkling citrus drink. It was two for a dollar, so Bernalwood’s Cub Reporter and I each had one. Refreshing!
On Cortland, things were jumping at Heartfelt, as Bernal neighbor Jane Wattenberg was on hand with a few of her animals for an event to celebrate her hilariously awesome Mrs. Mustard’s Beastly Babies book. When the Cub Reporter and I showed up at the door, we were greeted by a hungry goat:
Inside, Neighbor Jane (that’s her at far right) introduced visitors to her books, her ducks, and her chickens. All her animals are certified Residents of Bernalwood.
While we were there, one of her chickens laid an egg. They don’t get any fresher than that, really. Jane kindly gave the egg to the Cub Reporter to adorn her breakfast plate during the week ahead. (UPDATE Monday, June 11, 09:20 am: The Cub Reporter ate the egg this morning. Yum!)
Meanwhile, there was a block party on Mullen Ave., where cute little animals were also the focus of attention — but in a very different role. On Mullen, the animals were the main course:
Perhaps inadvertently, Mullen appears to have become a Apocalypse Now-style celebration of the senses, as the featured events included not only a spit-roasted pig, but also a glamorous sidewalk hot tub:
Neighbor Mason made a Zapruder-quality video that captures the vibe of the Mullen Melee. (PRO TIP: Mason! Could you turn the camera horizontal when you make movies? Thankssomuch. xoxoxo.)
Mercifully, Sunday remained warm, even as the sun started to set. Team Bernalwood celebrated this rare fact in true fashion by dining al fresco in the back yard.
It was wonderful, but much like the recent Transit of Venus, a night this warm may not happen again in San Francisco for another 104 years. We savored it.
PHOTOS: Top, Richfles. Mullen photos from Neighbor Amanda. All other pics by Telstar Logistics.
The fabulous photo of Bernal Hill that you see here was taken by a very talented iPhone photographer whom we will soon refer to as Neighbor Ian:
The sun sets and the moon rises… Looking towards what will soon be my new ‘hood… Moving from Noe to Bernal. Exciting times!
PHOTO: densf
Thank you, Estify, for adding this shot of the Esmerelda Slide to the Bernalwood Flickr Group. Right now, this is just what we needed.
PHOTO: Esther Reyes.
I think it’s fair to say that although it’s convenient, our new AutoZone on Chesar Chavez is not much to look at. But as I stood in the check out line at the new AutoZone last weekend, I realized that the store is actually a pretty great place to look out from.
PHOTO: Telstar Logistics
“The Brow Houses of Franconia Street” by craig sakowitz
Bernalwood is a Land of Plenty, because there are many things we have in abundance. Two of those abundant things are 1) spectacular scenery, and 2) talented photographers.
Here is a round-up of some recent greatest hits shared in the Bernalwood Flickr Group.
Bernalwood 