Bernal Library Reveals Unadorned Facade During Mural-Free Interlude

/ Todd_Lappin / 24 Comments

If you’re one of those people who spent the last decade or two wondering what the Bernal Height library would look like if it didn’t have a mural painted on its facade, you’re now in luck. The old mural was removed last month and the new mural will go up sometime in the months ahead. Yet for now — and for the first time since the early 1980s — the library is sans mural.

In a way, it’s a little disorienting; kind of like seeing Gene Simmons without his Kiss makeup. But unlike Gene Simmons, our library’s looks seem to get better and better with the passage of time.

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics

Ichi Sushi Plans Move to Bigger Location on Mission Street

/ Todd_Lappin / 8 Comments

Ichi Sushi on Mission Street is thriving. The restaurant is getting noticed, and Chef Tim Archuleta is well on his way to becoming a local food celebrity, with the result that it’s getting harder and harder to find an empty table at Ichi during dinner hours. The problem is that Ichi currently occupies a very small space, which limits both Chef Tim’s cuisine and the number of tables he can accommodate. So it’s time for Ichi to grow.

Happily, that will not mean moving away from the Dominion of Bernalwood. Instead, Ichi plans to move across the street and a block north. Our foodie friends at Tablehopper scored the scoop:

[Ichi Sushi is] finalizing a lease to take over the former Inti Market space (in between Al’s Good Food and D/J Market), which is twice the size of their current location. The new space will host a full sushi bar, raw bar, kitchen, and cocktails. They will continue to serve sushi with sashimi and nigiri as the focus, expand the list of hot dishes, and for beverage options, they’ll expand their sake and beer lists and start offering cocktails. They will also have the capacity to host larger parties—woo hoo!

Thomas Pippin of Lifebox Studios is the architect, and they are targeting a spring 2013 opening—for now, it’s just a raw space that they get to design from scratch. 3282 Mission St. at 29th St.

Once it opens, the original Ichi space (at 3369 Mission St. at Godeus) will become Ichi Omakase, focusing exclusively on sushi counter service and chef’s choice meals at its 22 prized seats.

This morning Erin Archuleta tells Bernalwood that the lease was signed last night, so the new location is official. Woo hoo! Congrats to Team Ichi, and stay tuned for additional details.

PHOTO: Courtesy of Erin Archuleta

Meet Melinda and Jason, Your New Bernal Neighbors

/ Todd_Lappin / 15 Comments

Stars implode. Galaxies collide. Planets are formed. Somewhere, a baby is born. Old neighbors move away, and new neighbors move in. As part of Bernalwood’s occasional series of New Neighbor Interviews, we try to get to know some people who recently moved to Bernal Heights. This week, let’s meet new neighbors Melinda and Jason.

Name: Melinda and Jason
Move-In Date: April 2012
Bernal Address: Peralta Street
Came Here From: Most recently, SOMA. But we moved to SF just over a year ago from North Carolina.
Rent or Own? We own; it’s a cute 2 BR that’s almost 100-years-old.

What do you do for a living?
I work as a homeland security consultant and my husband is a financial analyst. I just started working from home, so I spend a lot of time in the neighborhood now!

Why Bernal Heights?
We searched all over the city for several months and quickly determined that Bernal was the perfect fit for us. I needed the sunshine and we both needed the convenience to the BART, Muni and the highway.

First impressions of the neighborhood?
We read that Bernal was fun and funky, and our first visit to Cortland affirmed it! After hanging out around Precita Park, we knew that the North Slope was going to be our stomping grounds.

You’ve moved around a lot during the last few years, all over the country. But now you own a home here. How does that feel?
It’s our first time living on the West Coast and in a more temperate climate. It’s taken a bit of adjusting to the lack of traditional seasons. One thing that made me feel right at home was our gorgeous Magnolia tree on the street. It took me right back to some of my favorite landscape elements of the South! As homey as some of it feels, there’s no mistaking we’re in San Francisco with those views of the Marin headlands and downtown.

Any unexpected surprises after you moved in?
Outside of a few “This Old House” type issues like a few leaks, nothing too surprising.

How would you describe Bernal Heights to a friend from out of town?
I tell them that it’s residential and quiet — a sanctuary from the bustle of downtown. I also tell them that it’s absolutely charming and they should come visit!

What are your biggest concerns about your new neighborhood?
What business is going in on Folsom at Bessie, near Charlie’s Cafe and the laundromat? (A wine bar or pub please, Charlie!)

Name your three favorite things about Bernal.
1. It has all the benefits of the city, but it’s a closer-knit and quieter residential neighborhood.
2. I can see the hill from my kitchen window and quickly ascertain the weather while I brew my coffee.
3. The sun! As i watch the fog roll across the city, I sit pretty in a little patch of sun 🙂

Name three things you wish Bernal had (but which it currently does not)?
1. A gondola to the top of the hill (for when I feel lazy but still want the view).
2. A bar on Precita Park (see concerns above!)
3. I can’t even think of a third!

PHOTO: Melinda and Jason

Amazing Photo of Shuttle Endeavour Over Bernal Hill Reminds Us That OMFG It’s Been an Intense Autumn

/ Todd_Lappin

If you crack open the current issue of San Francisco magazine — it’s printed on paper! — and look inside at page 28, you’ll find a rather stunning photo by Gregory Cowley that shows Shuttle Endeavour soaring over Bernal Hill on the morning of September 21, 2012.

Remember that? It was a glorious day less than two months ago, yet somehow it already feels like ancient history. That may be because the arrival of Endeavour in the skies above Bernal kicked off a rather momentous and intense series of events that will make the Autumn of 2012 memorable for a long time to come. Let’s review the highs and lows of the last few weeks:

Against a backdrop of all that otherworldly news, it seems appropriate that this period began with the spectacle of a spaceship circling lazily over our neighborhood. We have enjoyed euphoric highs and witnessed poignant reminders that our bliss is fragile. It’s wonderful and exhausting, all at the same time.

That’s why there’s solace to be found in the transcendent rhythms of geography, geology, and the ebb and flow of the seasons. Neighbor Ros put that in perspective nicely yesterday…

… with a coda provided by her photo of Bernal Hill, where it all began:

PHOTOS: Shuttle Endeavour by Gregory Cowley via San Francisco Magazine (Hat tip: Genevieve . Bernal Hill, by Yarrcat

Moon Over Sutrito Tower

/ Jobius (Joe Thomas)

Sutro, Sutrito and Luna

This has been an auspicious moon, I think. It saw the Giants win the National League Championship and the World Series. It was nearly full for Halloween, and it looked great dancing with the fog in my time-lapse shot a week or so back.

The moon enters its last quarter this afternoon. Yesterday it was waning gibbous, setting mid-morning. I drove around the warehouses of Butchertown, then just past 280 to find the conjunction pictured above: Sutro and Sutrito Towers, with the moon setting behind.

Would-Be Burglar Found Dead in Bernal Heights Home

/ Todd_Lappin / 16 Comments

Car 040

The residents heard a ruckus upstairs, and the SF Chronicle reveals what they found when they went to take a look:

San Francisco residents in the Ingleside neighborhood [sic] found a dead man in their bathroom Friday night who appears to have been a burglar who accidentally killed himself trying to escape, a San Francisco police officer said.

Residents in the 600 block of Bank Street called police at 10:46 p.m. Friday after finding a man in their bathroom who appeared to be unconscious but turned out to be dead, Officer Maria Donati said Saturday. She said the residents did not know him.

Donati said the police do not consider the death a homicide and turned the investigation over to the San Francisco coroner.

The coroner’s office identified the dead man on Saturday as Michael Gallegos, 53.

PHOTO: Telstar Logistics

Confirmed: Bernal Hill’s Verdant Transition Now Underway

/ Todd_Lappin / 6 Comments

With the arrival of some recent rainstorms, we are pleased to report that the chromatic transition of Bernal Hill from parched brown to verdant green is now underway.

La Lengua’s rebel spokesblogger Burrito Justice recently noticed that Bernal is turning green as he enviously looked up at our hill (as he is wont to do):

Indeed, the change is so conspicuous, I even noticed it while waiting on the checkout line this weekend at our Taoist Safeway on Mission Street:

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics (top, bottom) and Burrito Justice (center)

Family From Moultrie Fire Seeks Help Finding Housing

/ Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

There have been several residential fires in Bernal Heights during the last few weeks, with the predictable result that several local families are now trying to get their lives back together.

We’ve told you a lot about the Andover Street fire recently, but the family from the Moultrie Steet house that caught fire on October 30 would welcome your assistance in their quest to find a short term lease or sublet to live in while their home is repaired. Neighbor Matt writes:

I am the owner of the house at 672 Moultrie which burned on Tuesday.

It was a kitchen fire — apparently caused by a faulty toaster oven — and no one was home at the time. Our neighbor Traci smelled the smoke and called 911.

We are a family of four (wife, two kids 5+7), and we are looking for a 2-3 month rental anywhere nearby while we rebuild.
Any help we can get finding a place (2-3 bedroom) would be greatly appreciated. We hope to stay in the Bernal, Mission, Noe, Glen Park area, since our kids go to school at Leornard Flynn on Precita Park. We were told that renovations could take 3-4 months.

Insurance has been taking care of everything so no need for any other community support. Thank you!

So there you go. Please contact Neighbor Matt at <mattlz AT yahooDOTcom> if you have leads or suggestions.

Thanks as always, Dear Citizens of Bernalwood, for your interest and compassion.

PHOTOS: 672 Moultrie burning on October 30, 2012, by maxlug

VIdeo: Moon vs. Fog Over Bernal Hill

/ Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Earlier this week, Bernalwood contributor Joe Thomas created this rather awesome time-lapse video that captures a dance of moon and fog taking place around Bernal Hill. It’s beautiful.

Joe didn’t add a soundtrack, however, so might we suggest pairing his video with a song? Your audio sommelier has selected “Sandusky” by Uncle Tupelo, and it compliments the visuals rather nicely. Start the song below, then start the video above, and enjoy the ride.

Bernal Becomes Location For Glamorous Fiat 500L Commercial

/ Todd_Lappin / 11 Comments

Fiat has decided to supersize the tiny 500 car that’s already such a fixture around San Francisco. To prepare for the rollout of the new 500L — the “L” stands for “large,” we’re told — Fiat filmed a commercial for the car on Wednesday in Bernal Heights. Neighbor Robert got the scoop:

Elsie Street had some car-person excitement on Halloween. A soon to come hipster-SUV showed up in the ‘hood, without it’s costume!  It’s the new Fiat 500L, and it’s the star of a commercial being filmed in our very own Bernal — at one of the nearby houses.  Can’t say too much more as we don’t want to get the little guy’s handlers in trouble, but it’s definitely a cute bigger sibling to the 500s we see all over the City these days.

The fact that Fiat chose to shoot the new commercial in Bernal Heights is very sexy. As for the car itself, Car and Driver magazine recently quipped that “500L looks like a 500 that stuck its thumb in its mouth and an air hose in its tail. That said, it’s not totally unattractive.”

We’re sure they meant that in a nice way. Still, with such praise coming from the automotive press, Fiat probably figured that some Bernal Heights glamorousness might come in handy to help make the sale.

PHOTOS: Robert Freedman

Andover Fire Aftermath, Part II: Family From Burned House Next Door Located, “Suffering,” Needs Assistance [UPDATED]

/ Todd_Lappin / 19 Comments

We have a follow-up to yesterday’s awful and controversial post about the drug lab at 655 Andover Street which triggered the fire that engulfed two homes last week.

Bernalwood is pleased to report that contact has been established with the family from 649 Andover — the house next door that was also badly damaged in the blaze. They are a big, multigenerational family, their home is uninhabitable, and their situation is rather desperate. You can help.

Neighbor Sarah explains:

Thanks to those who have helped out organizing and making donations for Angelina and her 4 year old [from 655 Andover]! We live next door to them and I wanted to let you know that they secured a furnished rental today.

Thankfully, we were finally able to make contact with the neighbors who live at 649 Andover St. (the other house that burned as a consequence). This large family of limited means is really suffering.

There were 12 people living at 649, including 2 very frail seniors, a disabled young man in a wheel chair, two sets of parents and 5 young children. They are staying where they can, sleeping on floors and don’t even have enough bedding for everyone. It seems that they are so overwhelmed with trying to survive day to day, that they are having trouble sorting out what they are going to do for the long term.

Due to insurance complications, this family is not getting the immediate lodging and clean-up that Angelina’s family is receiving, and whatever assistance they are getting from the Red Cross is ending soon.

I was able to go inside the house at 649 today. You can’t tell from the outside, but everything in the main level is destroyed.  The family is still in crisis and I really think they would benefit from a legal advocate who can help them work out the insurance situation. It seems that they are in some sort of insurance limbo because insurance companies will need to fight over who has to pay.

There is a 2-year-old girl, 4-year-old girl, 5-year-old boy, 6-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl. They need most everything. We do know that their little boy has been wearing the same pair of pants since the fire. The six-year-old girl needs school uniforms for Flynn. They need bedding, backpacks, shoes, jackets, and food. They have lost everything.

Although Chloe’s is great for some things, it can be hard to find enough clothes for older kids there and they probably need personal items that you can’t get second-hand. Frankly, with caring for their elderly parents and the disabled boy and without a permanent place to stay, I don’t think this family is able to manage sorting or storing lots of clothing donations.

Gift cards for places like Target, Walgreens or Safeway would probably be the most efficient way to help them to meet some of their most immediate needs.

For those who want to help the family from 649 with donations of cash or gift cards, Kery Market at the corner of Andover and Richland is the collection point. Alfonso, the owner or Kery Market, has been collecting donations. You can specify that you want them to go the house at 649.

Oof.

To summarize, here is how to help the family from 649 Andover:

  1. They need basic necessities and medical supplies. The most useful donations are cash, or gift cards from stores like Walgreens, Target, and Safeway. Please do not donate clothes, housewares, or toys (yet), as the family has no place to put them.
  2. Donations can be dropped off at Kery Market at the corner of Andover and Richland. Mark the donations as intended for 649 Andover.
  3. The family needs legal assistance and advocacy, to navigate the insurance morass. If you can provide legal help, email <bernalwood at gmail doctom> and we will connect you with the appropriate contacts.

Thanks, Bernal neighbors, for your understanding and generosity. And special, special thanks to Neighbor Sarah, for locating the family from 649 and facilitating their assistance. Going forward, Bernalwood will provide additional updates and information on relief efforts as required.

UPDATE: Neighbor Sarah brings an update on how to donate via Chloe’s Closet on Cortland:

Chloe’s now has set up accounts for each of the families from 649 Andover:

The Zamora Family is listed as 649 Andover, Unit A
People can donate cash to acct. # 10427 or store credit to acct.#10428
They have 3 children ages 2, 5 and 8

The Aquino Family is listed as 649 Andover, Unit B
People can donate cash to acct. #10429 or store credit to acct. #10430
They have 2 children ages 4 and 6

PHOTOS: 649 and 655 Andover during the fire on October 25, 2012. Photo by maxslug

Precita Creek Returns (Briefly) As Truck Strikes Fire Hydrant

/ Jobius (Joe Thomas) / 1 Comment

Yesterday afternoon, as I was crossing Alabama, on my way from the Precita Park Cafe to Harvest Hills Market, I saw a trickle of water headed the other way. Someone washing a car? Soon, the flow became a torrent, and I realized that this was no mere car wash. Could it be the long awaited return of Precita Creek?

No.

A Recology truck had apparently uprooted the fire hydrant at the corner of Precita and Treat. And Precita Creek used to be on the other side of the park, anyway. Two little girls living on the temporary riverbank happily ran out to splash in it while it lasted.