As threatened, Bernal Cutlery has matriculated from the 331 Cortland Marketplace and set up shop in the hipster flatlands of the Mission District. And as promised, the business is still called Bernal Cutlery. (REPRESENT!) Plus, Neighbors Josh and Kelly, the dynamic duo behind Bernal Cutlery, still live here among us as hillpeople. So the connection to Bernal Heights remains strong.
… and convenient, too. Kelly writes Bernalwood to share the news about Bernal Cutlery’s new, handy-dandy drop-off service at Avedano’s:
We’re getting out the word about the sharpening drop off at Avedano’s. It’s up and running now. Drop off on Tuesdays before 2 pm get your sharp knives back by the following Tuesday.
Last week, map maven Eric Fischer zapped a tweet to La Lengua’s rebel spokesblogger Burrito Justice, sending him a link to an odd 1889 map of Bernal Heights:
On this 1889 map, present-day Coleridge, Mirabel, Shotwell, Esmeralda (from today’s park eastward), Peralta (north of Esmeralda), and Holladay were all called California Avenue. There are even three places where one California Avenue intersects another California Avenue.
It’s also a reminder of the tendency of planners to try to impose street grids onto terrain that makes building straight-line streets impossible — a folly which has resulted in the disconnected un-streets seen in another recent Bernalwood post.
I wrote about that phenomenon’s effect on Peralta Avenue last year, and I happen to live at one of the former intersections of California and California (Peralta and Esmeralda).These “paper streets” were a persistent feature on old maps, even as the names of the aspirational streets changed.
In this 1924 map, California Esmeralda goes over the top of Bernal Hill:
By 1948, unbuilt “paper streets” (map via Eric Fischer again) were shown as dotted lines:
Such visionary views of Bernal Heights are always good for a few knowing chuckles and “what-ifs.” Yet if you think it’s hard trying to get a cab or order a pizza today if you live on an odd stretch of Esmeralda, just imagine how much worse it would have been if you had to give directions that involved a delivery to the intersection of California and California.
Yet despite our vaunted self-reliance, there has been a conspicuous gap in our plentitude when it comes to the availability of high-quality, locally sourced ramen.
Of course, I’m not talking about the freeze-dried instant ramen bricks that are synonymous with collegiate poverty (and readily available at our Taoist Safeway). No, I’m talking about real Japanese ramen built from a sublime combination of hearty broth, chewy noodles, roasted meat, and tasty vegetables. (Cue: Pavlovian response)
Until recently, my ramen cravings could only be satisfied by leaving Bernal Heights to head west, over the hills, into the Asian culinary wonderlands of the Richmond District. But the other day, while walking past 903 Cortland, I noticed that the chalkboard sign out front said: Ramen
What?!? How could this be?!? And could it possibly be delicious?!?
Frankly, I was skeptical. As a general rule of thumb, a good ramen joint will specialize exclusively in making ramen — because making good ramen is an intense discipline unto itself. Yet 903 Cortland, while delicious, is a general-interest restaurant, and while it does have a distinctly Japanese accent via owner Mutsumi Takehara, it is not even a Japanese restaurant per se, and definitely not a dedicated ramen-ya. Hmmmmmm.
I ordered a bowl of the regular chashu (roasted pork) ramen, and, fearing disappointment, paced around the restaurant anxiously as it was prepared. But when my ramen was served, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, because it looked right. Even better, the steam coming off the bowl smelled right, as it was infused with the savory complexity that is the signature element of a good bowl of ramen.
And it WAS a good bowl of ramen! Quite good, in fact. So good, that I ate the entire bowl, down to the very last drop:
Now, let’s put things in context: No, the ramen from 903 is not the best I’ve ever had. (That honor belongs to an amazing bowl of ramen I ate in Tokyo that was so powerful it actually caused an earthquake.) Nor is it the best ramen that can be had in San Francisco. (Sorry, not telling.)
But the ramen at 903 is damn solid, and given the ridiculous convenience of a trip to Cortland, this means I can now make ramen a more everyday part of my family’s joyful lifestyle, which is a huge victory for the forces of Tranquility, Bliss, and Euphoria.
So, to all ramen junkies in Bernal Heights, I am glad to say that we can now get a very satisfying fix at 903 Cortland, right here on our very own hill. Celebration!
And to all ye who have never before tried real ramen, count yourself lucky that you can now sample it here in your very own neighborhood, without having to endure the hardship of a voyage to the Richmond District or the unpleasant airfare aftertaste associated with a pilgrimage to Japan.
Oh, and if you need a tutorial on proper ramen-appreciation technique, there is no better way to begin your journey than with the opening scene from Tampopo, Japan’s fantastic ramen-themed comedy film from the 1980s. Study the way of the ramen master, and you’ll do just fine at 903:
PS: Oh, and remember the parklet that 903 wants to install out front? The project’s Kickstarter goal was met successfully, raising $12,500 from Bernal neighbors to build the thing. Which means… ramen al fresco! Woa.
PHOTOS: Ramen at 903 Cortland, by Telstar Logistics
Neighbor Craig has been admiring some of the feral streets of Bernal Heights; streets so small, or so wonky, or so disjointed that it’s dubious whether they deserve to be called streets at all. Take it away, Neighbor Craig:
I’ve been thinking about the least Street Streets of Bernal Heights. Here are my current favorites:
Joy – one block long, only stairs, but many lovely cottages on those stairs. Next street over is Faith. Paradoxically, the rest of Joy was eliminated when the 101 freeway was built.
Esmeralda – About three blocks – not connected, mysteriously runs between Lundy’s and Prospect, then Winfield and Elsie on the Northwest Slope, mysteriously reappears on near the top of the northeast slope for one block connecting Alabama and Franconia with barely a curve to signal the start and end. At one point the street turns into a SLIDE.
Waltham – basically a driveway for 2 houses near the top of Alabama, one of which is listed on VRBO.
Emmett Ct – A sliver of an alley with 3 houses off of Precita
Heyman Ave – 5 houses between Coleridge and Prospect. It’s a SMALL block, but a real street Rosenkrantz – Famous for being a random sign with no apparent street or even stairs on the southern stretch of Bernal Heights Blvd. However, there are legitimately 5 houses on this street once you dive over a guard rail and dirt road to find it.
Mayflower – I dare you: Just try to find it. ONE house in all of Bernalandia has this street address, but the place where the street possibly lies is actually about 4 short blocks long!
Special recognition goes to Peralta for holding the title as the least contiguous street in Bernal, breaking six times over its course as it winds from the Alemany Farmers Market and ends in a scary stairway 50 feet directly above the Cesar Chavez/101 Hairball.
Neighbor Nicolette Zarday is a Bernal west-sider and a veterinarian whose name is often followed by the letters DVM and MPH. (She practices at the Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos.) She brings a special caution for Bernal canines, and the humans who love them: Beware of foxtails!
If you own a dog, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. If you have a dog and you don’t know about foxtails, keep reading.
Foxtails are small plant awns or seed-bearing structures, usually of the genus Hordeum. Starting in the Spring and continuing through the Summer, plants shed them indiscriminately. We started to see a steady flow of foxtail cases in our veterinary practice mid-April, right after several days of heavy winds which helped yank the awns from their plants and spread them far and wide.
Foxtails are shaped like a badminton birdie, but with a pointy instead of a round end. They also have tiny barbs along their shafts. All this adds up to a unidirectional migration pattern; they go in but they don’t come out. The most common problems we see with foxtails are wounds in the paws. Often the owner will just notice a swelling between the toes and think it is a growth or a tumor. After piercing the skin and entering the body, foxtails can actually migrate up the leg, if left untreated. We also see foxtails in noses, ears, and eyes very often.
The most dangerous exposure occurs when dogs inhale them. This typically happens if a dog is porpoising through a field of foxtail plants and inhales one, mouth wide open. As the dog takes a deep breath, the foxtail bypasses all the normal barriers, so they can end up in the lower airways of the lungs. These can be difficult to find, require extensive and expensive treatment and surgery, and are often fatal. Other places foxtails have been found, in many cases post-mortem, include the brain, spinal cord, urinary tract, and abdomen.
Fortunately for dog owners, foxtails usually represent a minor health hazard, although the expense of having the foxtail removed by a veterinarian (usually under sedation or anesthesia) can be considerable. For us vets in northern California, foxtails are simultaneously the bane of our existence and a significant source of income during the spring and summer. I even heard about one veterinarian who owned a boat named “Foxtail.”
So, what can you do to protect your dog?
If it is a long-haired dog, keep the coat short during the Summer, especially the feet. There are groomers who will do a “foxtail cut” if requested.
After each walk, check your pet thoroughly and remove any plant material.
If your dog suddenly starts sneezing uncontrollably, squinting, or shaking its head during or immediately after a walk, there is an excellent chance a foxtail is involved. Call your veterinarian’s office.
Do not allow your dog to run through fields of tall grass that contain these plant awns. (This is what I worry about most.)
Check your backyard for plants that shed foxtails, and remove the plants completely.
There are plenty of these nasty little dudes on Bernal Hill, so keep an eye out!
PHOTOS: Tabletop samples, Nicole Zarday. Wild foxtail from UCSC
Ever-vigilant, Neighbor Sarah attended the SFPD Ingleside Station Community Meeting on May 21. Afterward, she typed up these fantastic summary notes for the rest of us. Lots of very interesting crime statistics and data this month, so read on and be wiser:
Notes from Ingleside Community Meeting, 5/21/13
Captain Falvey presided.
CRIME STATISTICS AND TRENDS
Captain Falvey handed out a printout of the Compstat crime statistics. Part I crimes (shown below) are violent crimes and property crimes; Part 2 (not shown) are mostly misdemeanors. Compstat has changed from reporting a rolling four-week period to reporting monthly, which is helpful. These stats are for April 2013.
There was a 44% drop in violent crimes from March to April. Robberies are still up 42% YTD, but there has been a 15% decrease in all other violent crimes YTD.
Robberies have been trending down the past three months. They can’t say exactly why, but arrests are up a LOT, and the police have been using Compstat to deploy resources to high-crime areas.
Property crimes are up 17% YTD, with the biggest driver being theft from autos (up 71% YTD, but also declining in recent months). The station has gotten lots of the new recruits, which frees up other officers to focus on thefts from autos.
One area of focus has been Precita Park. They have had several plainclothes officers in that area, including one who broke his nose when he ran into an auto booster and they bonked heads.
Someone asked why Precita is such a popular spot for break-ins. Theories included easy freeway access, a nearby homeless encampment, and the proximity of the Bernal Dwellings. The Excelsior is similarly “popular” for auto boosters. It was observed that it seems as if there are more homeless people in the area, possibly because a large encampment near the Caltrain station was recently dismantled.
Burglaries were down 39% from March and are more or less flat YTD. Arrests are way up. Auto thefts were down from March and are also more or less flat YTD. One of the officers knows the auto thieves in the area very well and has been keeping track of those released from prison. “Criminals are lazy” and prefer to “work” near where they live. Also, they tend to run downhill (vs. uphill) when fleeing.
Personal thefts are up – again, it’s largely phones, iPads, laptops left in cars or at Starbucks when you go to the bathroom (do NOT do that). This category also includes shoplifting.
Homicides are down 86% YTD, but the stat is screwy because 2012 had one crime scene with five homicides (Howth Street murders).
Robberies so far in May are up a bit from April. Police continue to get photos of criminals from MUNI video – and victims using phones near doors. THIS IS VERY FOOLISH BEHAVIOR. Robbers have realized MUNI has good video, so now often will follow someone from bus stop and THEN rob them later. Often, they are still captured on video (because they were watching the victim), just not in the act of committing the crime.
Q&A/OTHER
Captain is working with DA and Permit Officers on 10 worst “problem properties” in district – both commercial and residential. These are addresses with most police calls and other problems. Coincidentally, moments after the meeting ended, officers had to go deal with one of these properties on Andover in Bernal.
There’s lots of innnnnteresting news to share about our glamorous Bernal Heights food scene, so let’s just dive right in…
Suite Foods Waffle Shop
Yes, the moment you’ve been waiting your entire life for is finally here. The Suite Foods Waffle Shop will open for business in the 331 Cortland marketplace tomorrow, on Saturday, June 1. As owner Sivan Wilensky told Bernalwood a few weeks ago:
We will be offering both sweet and savory waffles. Flavors that we will offer on a rotating basis will include espresso, brownie, mapbe bacon, and matcha. We will offer sweet and savory options as well, which will include poached eggs with smoked sea salt, frozen custard (from our friends at Frozen Kuhsterd), and fresh, seasonal fruit.
Kiss that silly paleo diet goodbye!
The Palace
They’re calling it The Palace, but it will always be the Palace Family Steak House to us. The latest iteration of The Palace will also open for business on Saturday, June 1. Unlike the previous culinary horror show, all indications suggest that this second reincarnation of The Palace will actually be quite good, if spiritually quite different from the original Palace Family Steak House of yore.
Taking over operations will be Chef Manny Torres Gimenez, who has a thing for pairing a fine dining experience with the vintage restaurant signage and homey cafes along Mission Street. Gimenez previously took up residence inside Mr. Pollo up the street at Mission and 24th without doing much more than ensuring the kitchen was up to code. (Adorably, when the food won accolades, the newspaper clippings would be posted proudly in the window.)
More recently, Manny picked up two-and-a-half stars from Michael Bauer for his food at Roxy’s Cafe, where the interior was “decorated on a shoestring” and “had nothing in common with any of those high-end restaurants” from Manny’s past experience at top spots like SPQR, Coi and Quince. Like the decor, the tasting menus were surprisingly low budget at $20-25 for a three- or four-course Chef’s Choice menu.
The new spot, which they’re just calling The Palace now, will open this Saturday, June 1st as a 48-seat affair with most of the interior retaining the comfy squeak of booth seating, and four at the chef’s counter. True to the steakhouse roots, Gimenez and his GM/Wife Katerina Barkauskas will focus on butchering and curing their own locally sourced meats to create à la carte steakhouse staples with inspiration from his Venezuelan roots.
As you can see above, Bernalwood snagged an *exclusive* photo of the slightly-updated, somewhat toned-down interior of The Palace on Thursday evening as we chatted with Samir, the new restaurant’s friendly sous-chef.
Samir told us that the exterior sign strategy for The Palace remains a work-in-progress, so don’t be deterred if the vestigial sign from the ill-fated”Palace Steak & Pizza” days remains over the front door for a while.
Oh, and speaking of which… Samir also mentioned that the new entrance to The Palace will be on the Serpentine Avenue Capp Street side of the building, not Mission.
Finally, never mind whatever The Michael Bauer might have to say about this new restaurant; the only critic who matters when it comes to The Palace will be Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable.
Angkor Borei
Lest we be accused of neophilia amid all this news of grand opening events, Bernalwood is also very happy to report that the venerable and delicious Angkor Borei Cambodian Restaurant on Mission Street near Cortland recently got some serious love on KQED-TV’s “Check Please” show.
The premise of “Check Please” entails several people you’ve never heard of sitting around a table to discuss the meal they ate at a restaurant you’ve probably never noticed. The show has a low-fi, pre-Food Network feel, which is somehow appropriate for Ankor Borei, which has been in Bernal since the 1980s. Angkor Borei is not hip, it’s not artisanal, and it’s not particularly stylish. But Angkor Borei makes very excellent and very unique food — and it’s good to be reminded of that.
The video is charming, so let’s watch:
PHOTOS: All photos by Telstar Logistics, except for the Ankor Borei facade, which comes from the Ankor Borei website.
An observant Bernalwood reader sent us a tip yesterday about a “For Sale” sign in the window of the beloved Rock Candy Snack Shop on Cortland.
So odd. So curious. So confusing. Thus confounded, we picked up the Bernalwood red phone to ask Neighbor Heather from the Rock Candy Snack Shop if there was any news for us to discuss.
We were saddened to receive this reply:
Dear friends of the Rock Candy Snack Shop,
I wanted to take a minute and respond to the concern of the store being for sale. I am looking into finding a good neighbor to take over the store. I love being here; it breaks my heart to give it up. There is a good reason though, and I hope you understand how hard this is for us, and how we appreciate your support and love! Being here is where we wanted to be and it has been a wonderful experience I will cherish forever!
Three months after I opened my mom was diagnosed with liver cancer, had a major surgery, and now is on chemo that will only work for so long. The cost of her treatment can get expensive and I don’t have the means to care for her and the store.
I want to focus my energy on my mom’s care and make sure she is happy for the brief time I have left with her. It is because of her I was able to have the opportunity to open Rock Candy Snack Shop, not only has she watched my son countless hours that I have been working but she has helped financially too, being my biggest supported and partner.
With all my heart I thank you for being our friends and supporters for the last 2 years. This is my home and I will see you at the garden or at the playground. Please send love and prayers to my family and wish us well as we do what is right for us.
I offer my hard work, love, and good will to the future of 521 Cortland Ave. We hope to find someone who will be fun and keep the heart of Rock Candy Snack Shop the same: to create a joyful place for family fun!
The good news is I am getting married and am so in love and happy! And as an entrepreneur I am already thinking about opening a push cart and catering business in the future, I love event planning and catering and want to keep the fun going, but for now first things first.
Thanks again Bernalwood for all the support you and your readers have offered. Thanks again Bernal Dads for coming together for us last year [to help buy a new laptop after Heather’s was stolen] and Happy Fathers Day!!
Sincerely,
Heather
Stunned. Speechless. Heartbroken.
Heather also sent along this photo of her family, which we are grateful to have. That’s her son, and her mom, marking the opening of the store in 2011.
We wish all of them the very, very best.
PHOTOS: Top, Telstar Logistics. Below, via Neighbor Heather.
Sad News: Neighbor Andrés is moving from Bernal Heights. But before he departs, he created this lovely montage of the places and spaces that will represent Bernal Heights in his memories:
As I move out, I think about the images that remind me of Bernal Heights. I’m sad that I’m moving out, but this place will always be my home and it’s only an 80 minute drive away.
Friends and neighbors, we may be at a tipping point. The density of fine drinking establishments along Mission Street between 29th and Precita has reached such critical mass that we may have a full-fledged Cocktail Zone on our hands. Or at least a proper Nightlife District.
Consider: This drinky region of Bernal Heights and La Lengua can already lay proud claim to Rock Bar, Iron and Gold, The Royal Cuckoo, The Knockout, and El Rio. Now comes word that the new owners of the former Naps III space, on Mission at the intersection with Precita, plan to reopen soon with an evocative new name and a dashing new look.
The new bar will be called Virgil’s Sea Room, and it is expected to open in the next few weeks. Here’s how it was described to us:
THE VISION
We are excited for Virgil’s Sea Room to become a part of the Bernal community and are honored to be taking over such a classic neighborhood space – the former Naps III. Most of us are long-time Mission residents and we are looking forward to opening a fantastic neighborhood bar. There are three partners and all of us belong to different but overlapping communities. We are aiming for a bar that truly reflects that, a space that is comfortable, friendly and welcoming for all walks of life: queer, straight, newly arrived or old school local – this is your spot.
THE TEAM
Lila Thirkield is the owner and operator of The Lexington Club, which she started 16 years ago. She is also a community organizer and long time Mission resident.
Gillian Fitzgerald, originally from Ireland, was most recently found gratifying the masses with her delicious concoctions at Nickies in the Lower Haight, a busy neighborhood staple.
Tom Temprano is a co-founder and DJ of the soul party Hard French, he is also a community activist and President of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club.
THE SPACE
Transformed by the keen eye of design and vintage guru David Marks of room4.com, Virgil’s is meant to convey a sense of comfort and warmth that comes from features like the existing ornate wallpaper (found underneath all the beer posters!) and the expertly sourced vintage furniture and fixtures. With a focus on bringing people together, Virgil’s has a number of seating areas and cozy nooks set aside for your next visit.
THE DRINKS
Virgil’s Sea Room will feature delicious drinks that can be enjoyed by a cocktail enthusiast or a vodka soda drinker, and will run the gamut from a reimagined Sazerac to a Mojito. Our goal is to provide quality libations for all tastes at a reasonable price.
Sounds promising. Also, personal bonus: Virgil’s Sea Room is close enough to my house that I could crawl home. Which I may need to do, at some point. Hopefully.
PHOTOS: Top, Courtesy of Virgil’s Sea Room. Below, new co-owner Gillian Fitzgerald, photographed by Telstar Logistics during a recent visit to El Rio, right next door.
From his observation post high atop Bernal Hill, Neighbor Michael captured the shocking scene this morning as a huge alien spacecraft abducted the entire city of Oakland.
The photographic evidence is incontrovertible, yet, oddly, there has been no mention of the news that the population of Oakland has suddenly gone missing in the mainstream media. That said, we would not expect the Citizens of Oakland to say much about their experiences aboard the alien spacecraft, as we are told that amnesia is a common side-effect of the bizarre scientific experiments the alien species likely conducted upon their human captives.
BART service to the East Bay is unaffected, and traffic on the Bay Bridge is expected to be terrible, per usual.
Turning Bernal Hill into a park was definitely a good excuse for celebration, and it looks like the party happened in grand style, with kite-flying, balloons, clowns, and … bagpipes.
But there’s just one problem; it’s not clear what year it was when this happened. There’s a small, penciled-in “1973?” notation in the top-left of the image above, and there’s some corroboration of that year on the old website of the San Francisco Parks Alliance:
Then it was time for Bernal Heights Park- the hill with 26 acres of open grasslands lying between a telephone company’s microwave tower at the top and Bernal Heights Boulevard below. It belonged to the Department of Public Works. In 1972, the Recreation and Park Commission voted to transfer the land to itself to protect it from possible development. Bernal Heights residents, who had pushed for the change, gathered at McLaren Lodge and cheered. Recognizing that Rec and Park had postponed the transfer because the department lacked funds for maintenance, they agreed not to seek capital improvements for the next several years. And in June, 1973, with soaring kites and bouquets of balloons, officials dedicated what one called, “the last and biggest city-owned space available for a park.”
Yet while the evidence to support a 1973 date is compelling, we’d rather hear it from a first-hand witness. So… were you in Bernal when the hill formally became a park? Do you recall what year it was when the neighborhood erupted in celebration and bagpipes at the top of Folsom? Do tell!
Bernalwood 