New neighbor Rally P moved to Bernalwood recently from Boston, and he is justifiably fascinated by local meteorological and sartorial trends:
WINTER HAS HIT THE CITY! How do I know? Everyone is suddenly wearing their winter hats! Check out that sky… that’s not the fog, those are WINTER clouds that have swooped in from the great frigid North plummeting our temps to a bone chilling… 50 degrees :P.
Oh snap!
FAB PHOTO MONTAGE: Rally P
Great news. Julian Lozos, Bernalwood’s senior seismologist, successfully raised the funds he needed to begin production of the San Franthropomorphism 2012 Calendar. And in a recent email alert to his friends and financiers, Julian explained why he decided to represent Bernal Heights as a dog:
The dog is Bernal Hill. Why? Because I lived in Bernal Heights when I lived in San Francisco, and I want to represent it because I miss it. Bernal’s a dog because, well, you try to keep track of the number of dogs you see on the hill or being walked down Cortland Ave. Bet you need more than four paws worth of fingers! The coloration of his fur is based on the red chert rock that makes up the hill. The underlying curly patterns on the fur represent the folds in the chert. The black patterning is based loosely on the radio tower at the summit of the hill.
Julian says Bernal Doggie will make a cameo appearance on the calendar’s credits page. We’ll let you know when he finishes work on the project and makes the calendar available for sale.
You probably already know this, but Bernalwood is fat with creative people. We practically grow ’em here. And we’re lucky to have a local gallery that celebrates our neighborhood Art Heroes as local celebrities.
The current show at the Inclusions Gallery on Cortland is devoted exclusively to Bernal Heights artists, and there’s a reception to honor them happening there on Sunday, November 6 from 2 to 6 pm.
It is with great pleasure and excitement that we present, Inclusions 3 – Art From Within Bernal Heights. This year’s annual show features an eclectic array of paintings, sculpture, photographs, assemblage, prints and glasswork from 26 Bernal Heights resident artists. Each year this show highlights the diverse artistic talent, among us, offering an opportunity to celebrate, and support, the creativity within our local community.
His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Norton I was a nineteenth century San Francisco eccentric who fancied himself Emperor of the United States. Joseph Amster is a twenty-first century Bernal Heights resident who resurrects the spirit and dress of Emperor Norton to lead tourists on downtown historic tours. From his media kit:
Amster, a displaced journalist with an acting background decided he wanted to create a walking tour with a twist, offering his patrons a unique experience. “I decided early on that I wanted to do my tour in character and researched the historical figures from San Francisco’s past,” says Amster. “At first I thought about doing the tour as Mark Twain, but the more I read about Emperor Norton, the more fascinated I became with him.” After completing his research, Amster took on the character of Emperor Norton, complete with uniform, beard and plumed top hat. He now offers his tour to anyone with an interest in history.
A businessman originally from England and South Africa, Joshua Abraham Norton arrived in San Francisco in 1849 with $40,000, which after some shrewd investing, increased to $250,000 (which would be $3 million today). After losing his fortune to a bad rice investment, Norton disappeared, returning to San Francisco in 1859, declaring himself Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico. In any other city, he would have been dismissed as a madman, but the people of San Francisco embraced his reign. During his lifetime, Norton printed his own currency (which was accepted by San Francisco merchants), was served gratis in the city’s restaurants and always had the best seats at the theater. He also issued numerous proclamations, including calling for a bridge to be built between San Francisco and Oakland, and the founding of a league of nations. Today the Bay Bridge and United Nations stand as testaments to Emperor Norton’s vision.
As part of preserving Emperor Norton’s legacy, Amster is seeking to pay proper tribute to this visionary. “San Francisco has no memorial to Emperor Norton,” says Amster. “No streets are named after him, no statue has been erected, and there is no historical marker. The only plaque dedicated to his memory was on the old Transbay Terminal.” That plaque now rests with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, and will be part of an interpretive exhibit when the new Transbay Terminal opens. The tributes Amster proposes include naming Commercial Street’s Empire Park (Emperor Norton’s address when the 1870 census listed his occupation as “Emperor”) Emperor Norton Park, and naming the Bay Bridge in Emperor Norton’s honor.
Fine proposals, all. And kudos to Joseph Amster to reviving the spirit of Emperor Norton in high fidelity and grand style. Oh, and if you happen to see him in full Norton I regalia waiting for the bus to take him to work downtown, do not be alarmed. To the contrary, approach him with Bernal pride and admiration, because he is clearly one of our own.
PHOTO: Top, Joseph Amster as Emperor Norton, by Chris Ellen Montgomery. Below, Emperor Norton I, circa 1880, via Wikimedia Commons
Earlier this week Bernalwood presented the history of Brendan Lai’s Supply Co., the kung fu equipment store on Mission Street near the Randall intersection. But just as intriguing as the business itself is the building that houses it — the structure clearly looks as if it used to be something else. But what was it? Supersleuth Vicky Walker of the Bernal History Project takes on Part II of the mystery:
Store manager Al Lai recently asked the Bernal History Project to help research the landmarked building on Mission Street that now houses Brendan Lai’s Supply. Several customers and neighbors had told him the building might have once been a movie theater, because of its distinctive overhang and window design. But was it?
BHP got to sleuthing. According to city records, the building was constructed in 1930. In 1932, it was the office of real estate agent Edward H. Reed, who lived with his wife, Mary, at 103 Holly Park Circle. Edward began his real estate business at 3835 Mission in 1925. By 1932, it had moved into 3579 Mission. Here’s a clip from the 1932 city directory:
Edward Reed Sr. passed away near the end of World War II. His son, Edward D. Reed (b. 1920), took over the family business in 1948. He lived in Millbrae and later San Carlos with his wife, Shelagh. The Reed family ran a real estate office at this address for more than two decades; here’s the 1953 directory
BHP found some more clues in the background of two photos from the collection of S.F. streetcar and movie theatre historian Jack Tillmany. Jack’s pictures show that Reed Realty’s frontage and vertical sign are visible in a 1938 photo, which also features the 23 streetcar barreling down Mission near Randall on its way to the Geneva car barn. (Click to enlarge.)
Next door is the Cortland Paint Co., while at 3593 Mission is Schifano Ladies Tailoring, a clothes-cleaning store and tailor’s run by Joseph and Mary Schifano of 91 Whitney Street. The apartment building below the Lachman’s sign is now the Shell gas station.
And then there’s this stunner: A 1944 color photo from a similar angle shows that the paint store is gone and Reed Realty’s sign has been revamped in black and white. Schifano’s, just out of shot, is no longer listed in city directories and seems to have been converted to a residence.
The 1954 city directory shows Reed Realty still going strong, with neighbors Jebbie’s Restaurant at 3583 Mission (sister restaurant to Jebbie’s Hot Dogs at 1131 Ocean) and a clutch of real estate businesses.
By 1956, the building had become a State Farm office, and it stayed that way until very recently, when Brendan Lai Supply moved in.
So, alas, there was never a movie theatre here, despite its elegant frontage. Instead, his building has had a prosaic and orderly life – until the ninjas came to town.
(Find out how you can learn to research your own Bernal building.)
HISTORIC PHOTOS: Courtesy of Jack Tillmany
Following up on yesterday’s post about the spiders that have invaded Bernal Heights, Jacques Vidrine captured this amazing photo of a Bernal Heights orb spinner in action.
UPDATE: Neighbor Jeannie just sent along this photo that shows yet another member of the invasion forces:
Cats are cute, but cliche. Dogs are delightful, but a dime a dozen. If you keep chickens or goats on your property in Bernal Heights (it happens!), you may be glad to know that Jena Valdez is part of a small team of veterinarians who stand ready to help with all your livestock health-care needs. In a note to Bernalwood, she writes:
As a veterinarian here in Bernal, I was very excited to hear about the chicken/goat venture over on Folsom. Two other fellow veterinarians and I are in the early stages of forming a non-profit group which would serve the needs of backyard farmers here (by providing advice on husbandry, basic medicine, etc). Although we all currently see small animals at our “real jobs,” we all have livestock backgrounds, and are looking for a way to provide a service and get our hands on some barnyard critters! We realize there are a growing number of backyard farmers who might need a hand, and we want to put our skills to good use. We plan to start with Bernal, but eventually we’d like to work with livestock city-wide.
If your chickens or goats need some attention, contact Veterinarian Jena & Co. via email at <byvets AT gmail DOT com> — that’s short for “Backyard Vets” until they figure out a snazzier name.
PHOTO: Veterinarian Jena, with friend
Recognize the red-and-white car in the photo above? That’s right, it’s “The Whale,” the battle-scarred Volvo 240 wagon driven by the Bernal Dads Racing Team during the recent 24 Hours of LeMons race at Sears Point.
Notice something funny about The Whale? That’s right, it’s tracking perpendicular to the flow of traffic, with tiny whisps of smoke emerging from beneath the tires. Those whisps of smoke indicate the car is sliding out of control. Oops.
The image is screen grab from a nicely edited in-car video created by Team Tinyvette, a friendly-rival race team that also competed at LeMons. Here’s the backstory:
At Sears Pointless we had a great battle with [the Bernal Dads] car, lasting for 7 hours, both cars on either the same lap or just one lap apart, vying for the class win in a race that ran for 16 hours. So when Zep caught up with the car on Saturday at the Skankaway race he was 1. surprised, because they are usually faster than us, and 2. determined to win this one. It was a good chase, lasting 3-4 laps, while passing and being passed by other cars in the 150+ car field. This one ended in our favor, but the Bernal Dads got lucky on this one too because their spin did not get them black flagged.
The video gives a great sense of what it was like for those brave Bernal Dads out on the racetrack during LeMons, but jump ahead to about 10:44 if you want to see the part where The Whale car runs off the track and goes into the spin.
It’s not necessarily the Dads’ finest moment, but there were two good things to say about the incident: 1) Both driver and car emerged unscathed, and 2) I wasn’t driving at the time.
Sure, it was a funny little joke at first. A pothole on Ellert near the intersection of Bennington opened a few weeks ago, and a neighborhood wag dubbed it “The Great Bernal Sinkhole of 2011.”
Well, there’s actually some truth to that, because since we first reported the story in early October, the hole has gotten bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER. As a neighbor posted recently on the bernalsafe mailing list:
There’s a small sinkhole which opened up a few weeks ago on Ellert just off Bennington. DPW seems to know about it, as they keep coming and patching it, but it always re-opens in a day or two.
Indeed, the fissure that started as a cute little pothole has now blossomed into a crater so massive it requires five heavy steel plates to cover. Adding to the spectacle, neighbors report that repair efforts only take place at night, beginning in the early evening and continuing until about 11 pm. It’s great fun if you’re a fan of compressed-air tools and diesel machines; not so much if you’re trying to get some sleep.
Yet still the hole keeps getting bigger. On the bright side, Bernal Heights may soon have its very own express tunnel to China, which would offer numerous exciting opportunities for the expansion of commerce and local service industries — assuming it doesn’t engulf several of the surrounding homes first.
PHOTO: Telstar Logistics
OK, all you arachnologists out there, I’m sure one of you can identify this beauty that’s been taking over Bernalwood with a vengeance this Halloween season.
We’ve taken to calling ours Shelob because of her large girth, curtain-like webs that stretch across whole sidewalks, and uncanny resemblance to the famous arachnid from Lord of the Rings:
I’m thinking cross spider… only I can’t find the cross. In any case, here’s hoping she didn’t ensnare too many trick-or-treaters!
EDITOR’S NOTE: I’ve been besieged by spiders too, only my backyard companions clearly wear a cross:
PHOTOS: Top, Bronwyn Ximm. Bottom, Telstar Logistics
Oh, you know what they say about Bernal Heights: “It’s such a good neighborhood to raise a family.” And the thing is, that’s true — even if you happen to be an alarming family of cyclops mutants out for a leisurely Halloween stroll on Cortland.
… or if you have a daddy like this:
PHOTOS: Top, davitydave. Below, Adrian Mendoza
You want artisanal meat? Bernal Heights has it. A fine selection of tasteful, high-quality gifts for any occasion? Got it. Equipment to supply a lethal army of martial arts warriors? Bernal has you covered.
Vicky Walker of the awesome Bernal History Project has done some research into the mysterious and fascinating Brendan Lai Martial Arts Supply Co. on Mission Street, and she brings us this report:
Not many San Francisco neighborhoods can claim to host a full-scale ninja emporium. But if you find yourself on Bernal’s northwestern edge, near the entrance to 280 at Mission and Randall, you’ll spot a storefront with a domed frontage and what looks like a movie theater awning.
Brendan Lai’s Supply Co. at 3581 Mission Street (at Appleton) has been in business in San Francisco since the early 1970s.
The business was founded by Brendan Lai, who moved to the U.S. from Hong Kong in the 1960s and rapidly gained a reputation for his mastery of the Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu system. You can see him in action in this vintage demonstration footage:
Here he is in an instructional video:
Brendan Lai taught kung fu and chin-na classes at his studios on Clement and California Street, as well as in Italy, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, and Puerto Rico. He died in 2002.
Today, store manager Al Lai, son of martial arts master Brendan Lai, continues to manage the store, which moved to its current location last year. Al Lai says the family business supplies locals – “practitioners, fanatics, hipsters, and the plain curious” – as well as students and practitioners nationwide.
You can drop by anytime and test out a sword or two, ask for advice on studio referrals, or invest in some bruise medicine, posters, or uniforms. One Yelp reviewer promises, “You’ll be a kid in a kung fu candy store.”
PHOTO: Damon Styer
It’s Halloween! So where are the clever kids going to show off their costumes and scoop up piles of candy in Bernal Heights tonight? Here are a few hotspots:
Cortland Avenue will be the go-to place for members of the short set to see and be seen. In keeping with ancient tradition, the merchants of Cortland will be dressed in costume to hand out candy beginning at around 5:30. Quite charming.
25 Bessie Street will host a Haunted Garage. Says Neighbor Annalise, “We’ve created a small but fantastical and somewhat scary totally-homemade haunted garage at 25 Bessie street– open Monday night at 5:00. It’s free of course. Non-scary trick-or-treating for little ones too. Our house is just one block from the Harvest Hills market at the corner of Precita and Bessie streets. Stop by, it’s gonna be spooky!”
Bennington Street (above Cortland) SSArtist says it’s hopping there on Halloween.
Treat Street (DUH!) south of Precita Park gets a lot of kid traffic most Halloweens. As it should.
Precita Street between Mission and Folsom is kid-friendly and — bonus! — flat. Many homes here get a lot of trick-or-treaters.
Anything we missed? Comment below or email us, and we’ll update this list accordingly. Happy Halloween!
PHOTO: Bernalwood’s Cub Reporter on the Halloween beat on Cortland in 2009, with her bestest, bestest friend. By Telstar Logistics.
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