Video Shows Parcel Grinch Stealing Holiday Cheer in Bernal Heights

November 21, 2014November 21, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 23 Comments

As Neighbor Eric just learned first-hand, Grinch Season is upon us.

Grinches, in this case, are opportunistic thieves who steal parcel deliveries containing Holiday gifts. It’s already happening this year, much as it happened last year. Neighbor Eric tells his seasonally sad tale:

I wanted to send you a clip of a package thief on the job today in our neighborhood. This video was taken from a Dropcam at our house on Prentiss Street, near Jarboe Avenue, [on Nov. 18] at 3:15 pm. A very ballsy move, as there was lots of sidewalk traffic — including people a minute or so on each side of this pilfering.

Today’s loss was no big deal. In fact, I would pay money to be around when he opens the two packages containing various sets of cocktail napkins with anchors, poppies, and a classic Moroccan tile pattern. I’m sure the reaction was pure comedy as he discovered the fruits of his labors. Hopefully he’ll have a nice cocktail party. He’ll have to supply the spanakopita and the mini quiches, but the napkins are on me.

Anyway, as the package season ramps up it might be nice to remind all of our lovely neighbors of the baddies roaming the streets. We’ve been pushing our luck lately, and literally had thousands of dollars of packages left on our doorstep recently. I guess we got off easy with today’s reminder.

So let this be your reminder too: If possible, consider having your seasonal parcels delivered to your workplace, rather than to your home. Because this guy is out on parole:

GRINCH IMAGE: via FreakingNews.com, with Bernal accents

Sunday: Hear Beethoven in Bernal for Free (and BYOB)

November 21, 2014November 20, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

The Neighborhood Performance Project Team will host a free performance of Beethoven by the Chamber Music Society of San Francisco’s at the BHNC on Sunday, and all you need to bring is some wine:

We are excited to present our next event featuring the Chamber Music Society of San Francisco. They will be performing the great Beethoven op. 132 string quartet and Haydn Op. 20 #4.

The event will be held on Sunday November 23 from 5pm-6:30pm at the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center at 515 Cortland Ave. A public performance as always: no cover, wine, and donations appreciated.

Look forward to seeing you there!

The Neighborhood Performance Project Team:
Adam, Camellia, Marco, Aldo

New CSAs Offer Boxloads of Farm-Fresh Produce Near Precita Park

November 19, 2014November 19, 2014 / Todd_Lappin

Neighbor Ian lives near Precita Park, and he’s spreading the word about a few new CSAs* that offer boxloads o’ fresh fruit to the Citizens of Bernalwood:

We still need a few more folks to sign up for the Frog Hollow Farm fruit CSA to get it off the ground. We had a great showing at our fruit tasting last weekend, and many neighbors got to sample the delicious Frog Hollow fruit, jams, chutney, olive oil, and sign up for box delivery.

Once we get a full roster, Frog Hollow will notify everyone on the waitlist and start deliveries. There is a lot of info on the Frog Hollow website about the CSA, the fruit, the size of boxes and the cost.

Need vegetables too? Our house also hosts a veggie box CSA for Full Belly Farms that people can sign up for as well. Sign up for either or both here:

Frog Hollow Farms fruit CSA (we are the Bernal/Mission site) Phone: 888.779.4511 option 4 (M-F 9a-4p)

Full Belly Farm vegetable CSA (we are Precita Park site) Phone: 800-791-2110

* Neighbor Mark asks, “Wait, what’s a CSA?” Fair question. Here’s a good summary and definition.

PHOTO: Some recent goodness from Frog Hollow Farm, via Neighbor Ian

Recent Sunsets Provide Special Treats for Fans of Purple and Orange

November 18, 2014November 18, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

There have been some rather spectacular sunsets on Bernal Hill of late.

And we are fortunate to have some rather spectacular photographers in our ranks to capture these sunsets for us all to enjoy. The shots you see here were all taken by Scott Morin on November 9, 2014, and shared with us via the always stylish Bernalwood Flickr Group. Thanks Scott!

Check out more of his awesomeness:

PHOTOS: Scott Morin

Passing the Torch: La Terraza to Become Craft Beer Bar and Restaurant

November 18, 2014November 17, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 28 Comments

There’s been lots of transformation on Mission Street in Bernal Heights, along the northern reaches of the La Lengua Autonomous Zone.

Anchoring the party, El Rio has (blessedly) been there since more or less forever, of course. More recently, the arrival of Blue Plate, Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack, Baby Blues BBQ, Iron and Gold, The Royal Cuckoo, Virgil’s, ICHI Sushi+Ni Bar, the Pizza Hacker, and a few other 21st century foodie/drinkie institutions have steadily transformed the northern half of Bernal’s stretch of Mission into a destination for folks from all over our City.

Yet so far, this transformation has not extended south beyond 30th Street and our Taoist Safeway. By the time you reach the (Bernalistically symbolic) intersection of Cortland and Mission, for example, you’ll notice that the urban fabric today remains pretty much as it has been since the 1980s. Pretty much.

Now, however, comes news that evolution is coming to our southern part of Mission Street. InsideScoop broke the story yesterday, revealing that at 3472 Mission Street, a new bar/restaurant called Old Devil Moon will soon replace La Terraza.

Google recently captured La Terraza for posterity, in first-rate form, looking awesome and adrift in time:

InsideScoop sez:

Old Devil Moon is in the works at 3472 Mission Street, the location probably best known as La Terraza, which has been owned and operated by brothers Pedro and Isidro Navarette for the last 20 years. La Terraza will remain open for about three to four more months, until the liquor license transfers.

Old Devil Moon will be a craft beer bar, albeit one with a full liquor license and menu of Southern food. The folks behind it are a trio of beer nerds: Chris Cohen (founder-president of the SF Homebrewers Guild), Andrew Kelley and Will Marshall.

That’s Chris, Andrew, and Will in the photo up top (though not necessarily in that order).

At first blush, this probably looks like yet another in a contemporary series of awkward local tales about Old-Timers vs. New People. Gentrification! Hipsters! “Erosion of our San Francisco culture!”

Alas, this isn’t really one of those kinds of stories. Instead, it’s is a tale of neighborly evolution and passing-of-the-torch. Old Devil Moon’s Chris Cohen told Bernalwood how the change of ownership went down:

Pedro was my next door neighbor on Tiffany Ave for 5+ years, and I knew he owned la Terraza from talking over the fence over the years.

One day when we were both taking the trash out at the same time I asked him if he knew any bar owners who may want to sell (I’d been looking for a space for months). He said, “I’ve actually been thinking about retiring for a couple years, I’d love to sell you my place.” It took another few months to get the deal done and we finally just posted the ABC notice of license transfer in their window today. Everyone did well and is happy with the results of the deal.

It’s essentially similar to what happened with Emmy’s taking over El Zocalo, and the Nap’s/Virgil’s story. Nap was ready to quit the business, and his bar wasn’t doing as well as it used to because the neighborhood had changed around the business. The process and reason for the changes at our La Terraza location are similar.

Pedro and his brother Isidro have owned La Terraza for about 20 years and are ready to retire. They were happy to sell to a neighbor.

PHOTO: Team Old Devil Moon, via Old Devil Moon

Large, Sunbathing Snake Spotted Today on Bernal Hill

November 17, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 12 Comments

Neighbor Darcy shares this photo of a big-ass snake she saw today on Bernal Hill:

This is the big snake I saw at about 12:30 today on Bernal Hill, on the west side just off the paved part near the wood steps. He appeared to be sunning himself.

Most of the snakes Bernalwood has reported on in the past have apparently been gopher snakes, but this one is even more big-ass.

PHOTO: Neighbor Darcy

Bernal Filmmakers Creating Documentary About Emperor Norton

November 17, 2014November 18, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 8 Comments

In the late nineteenth century, back when he was alive and well and enjoying worldwide fame as the self-proclaimed sovereign of all the United States, his Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I did not (as far as I know) live in Bernal Heights. Nevertheless, Bernal has today become the nexus for a devoted cadre of Emperor Norton aficionados.

First and foremost, of course, is one of America’s premier Nortonologists, Bernal Neighbor Joseph Amster, who channels the spirit and dress of Emperor Norton as he leads tourists and history geeks on guided tours of San Francisco:

And who could forget that in 2013, La Lengua rebel propagandist Burrito Justice helped orchestrate a spirited (if unsuccessful) effort to name the Bay Bridge in honor of Emperor Norton.

Now, to complete Bernal’s trifecta of Nortonphilia, Neighbors Jesse Chandler and Kat Shreve have just launched an effort to create a proper, feature-length documentary about Emperor Norton.

Neighbor Kat tells us:

Jesse and I are proud Bernal residents! We reside at Cortland and Prospect (in Cortlandia). We’re writing you today to announce the launch of our Kickstarter campaign to fund a feature-length documentary about Emperor Norton.

The Kickstarter funding will pay for editing, research, illustration, animation, audio mixing, and a musical score to help re-create the world of 1860s San Francisco. We’ve gathered the talent to create an amazing film about the Emperor but now we need your help to tell the story properly.

Thank you for taking the time to check out the project!

Of course, all this Bernal-based Nortonmania doesn’t really require much explanation. From the vantage point of 2014, it would seem that the original Emperor Norton was a very Bernal sort of oddball — whether or not he ever spent much time here. And besides, a proper documentary on Emperor Norton is long overdue, so we raise our imperial champagne flutes to Neighbors Jessie and Kat for making it happen.

Here’s their promo video, in which you will notice that Bernal neighbor and Emperor Norton impersonator Joseph Amster features rather prominently:

So far so good — Neighbors Jessie and Kat are off to a great start. Don’t forget; you can donate to the Kickstarter here.

Sunday: World’s Most Awesome Book Editor and Producer Explains How the Magic Happens

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 7 Comments

There comes a moment in every neighborhood blog editor’s career when he must embrace life’s conflicts of interest, face up to reality, and toss any pretense of objectivity aside like some sort of useless, depleted husk.

For your Bernalwood editor, that moment is right now…

Neighbor Leslie Jonath lives on Precita Avenue. She is a very talented book editor, producer, and packager who specializes in creating highly visual coffee table- and gift-style books that are both fun to read and gorgeous to look at.

In addition, she is your Bernalwood editor’s sweetie. In fact, we live together. In fact, we sleep together, and do the full gamut of life-partner activities together. In fact, as your Bernalwood editor writes this now, at 11:16 pm on Thursday night, he can even confirm — EXCLUSIVE SCOOP! — that Neighbor Leslie is downstairs at this very moment, watching her favorite legal-procedural drama on TV.

So, with all that fully and properly disclosed, Bernalwood is extremely proud to tell you that Neighbor Leslie will be giving a little talk at the Heartfelt Pop-Up Store at 301 Cortland on Sunday, November 16 at 4 pm to reveal how you go about creating beautiful coffee table-style books, and why (somewhat counter-intuitively) these kinds of books are now more popular than ever.

Neighbor Darcy Lee from Heartfelt says:

We are thrilled to announce that local author Leslie Jonath will be schooling us all on how to create a book, at Heartfelt’s newly curated Pop-Up location.

If you haven’t already heard Leslie’s the real deal!

Here’s a little more about her:

Leslie Jonath has been producing cookbooks, art books and kid’s books for over 20 years. Some of her favorite projects include The Pleasures of Slow Food, Miette, The Model Bakery Cookbook, Arts for the City, Postmark Paris, and The Dictionary of Extraordinary Ordinary Animals. Bee & Me, a book she co-wrote under the pen name, Elle j. McGuinness, sold over 150,000 copies. and was on both the New York Times best-seller list.

Before launching her book packaging company, Connected Dots Media, she was a creative director and editor at Chronicle Books for 18 years. Upcoming titles include three books on floral design, two cookbooks, and an inspirational journal called Give Yourself a Gold Star: Celebrating Life’s Little Achievements.

Yummy surprise refreshments will be served!

PHOTO: Neighbor Leslie Jonath in Paris, by a totally biased Bernalwood editor

Drama! Bad Driving! Streetcar vs. SUV Accident in the Bernal Cut

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 10 Comments

Neighbor Fiid from Highland Ave. saw the aftermath of a rather nasty collision between an SUV and one of MUNI’s modern Breda streetcars last night on San Jose Avenue at the entrance to the Bernal Cut. Here’s Neighbor Fiid’s report, filed in Bernalwood Action News mode:

Location is San Jose Avenue at the Shell station (north end). The SUV drove up the middle of the platform instead of either side, and ran out of concrete where it drops to just tracks and gravel. Then it either hit or got hit by the train.

Not 100% clear what the chain of events was. Officer at the scene said that this happens quite frequently (less than once per month – so maybe 6-10 times a year??).

The SUV is totalled; but the occupant(s) were unscathed. The Breda had its mating connector damaged, and there was a damaged panel, and some boxes zip-tied up underneath to enable a “get it home” strategy. (Just like the Bernal Dads!)

Could easily have been nastier, but totally avoidable.

From the Highland Bureau: signing out.

PHOTOS: Neighbor Fiid

See “Art in Bernal” at Inclusions This Weekend, Before It Disappears

November 14, 2014November 14, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Neighbor Rachel urges us to check out the homegrown, locavore, and 100% organic art exhibit on display at Inclusions Gallery on Cortland this weekend… before it disappears:

I wanted to remind the community about the Bernal artists exhibit at Inclusions Gallery.

The show runs through November 16, and there is a reception this Saturday evening from 5 to 7 pm.

There are artworks from 30 Bernal artists on display, and the local talent is truly phenomenal. Inclusions is such a gem of a gallery, and the proprietor, Lisa, has a great eye for art. She really works so hard on this local show. I hope Bernaland turns out in droves to support the gallery and the neighborhood artists.

PHOTOS: Art in Bernal on display at Inclusions, via Inclusions

Neighbor Deanne Explains Why You Should Check Out the Bernal Yoga Open House on Saturday

November 14, 2014November 13, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 1 Comment

Neighbor Deanne from Winield Street really likes Bernal Yoga at 908 Cortland (near Folsom).

She doesn’t work at Bernal Yoga, or own the place — she says she just enjoys the yoga and the sense of community. Bernal Yoga has been a part of the neighborhood for many, many moons, and this Saturday, Nov. 15 the studio will host an Open House for the yoga-curious from 2 to 5 pm.

Neighbor Deanne explains why she’s become such a Bernal Yoga fangirl:

For those of you Bernal Yogis who do not often venture to the Eastern side of Cortland, you are missing out on a wonderful community-minded space we know as Bernal Yoga (“BY”). Or maybe you pass the studio all the time thinking that you’d love to try Yoga, but it seems too intimidating to get started.

I used to fall into the latter category until I finally ventured into this studio several years ago to take an intro class. I couldn’t believe what a friendly and nurturing environment it was compared to other studios where I had tried Yoga in the past.

For the record I am not an instructor, nor an employee – I’m simply a student, and from time to time you will find me volunteering at the BY front desk.

BY is a very unique and charming studio that really embraces the first time student (and the inflexible) and has an amazing group of instructors that teach all classes for all levels – from newbies to the very experienced practitioner. There’s a wide variety of classes for all ages and abilities, and if you want to just lay around on props and de-stress from your day, check out one of the restorative classes.

So now I am hooked – not just for the Yoga, but because of all the wonderful friends and neighbors I have met over the years at BY and for the community environment the studio fosters.

I also love that the studio offers much more than Yoga – including lots of different styles of classes (there is now an acroyoga class!), amazing workshops, pilates and bootcamps, but they also host the Bernal Yoga Literary Series, concerts, films, and other events to foster community and support local artists.

If you haven’t checked out the studio, or just want to do something fun this Saturday and meet some new neighbors, BY is hosting a fabulous open house from 2-5pm. They will be doing yoga demos with the lovely Meghan, having a free raffle, free food, drinks and Living Greens juices, offering free acupuncture, Reiki and Chinese healing massage with local expert healer Man Chiu Tam, Tarot readings, and offering special discounts for Yoga classes.

It’s going to be a fun event for Yogis and non-Yogis alike. So drop by to meet some new neighbors and experience the goodness of yoga and community!

PHOTO: Top, via Neighbor Deanne

Behold, an Elegant New Photo of the Mysterious Tree-Shrub Thing on Bernal Hill

November 13, 2014November 13, 2014 / Todd_Lappin / 3 Comments

Over on the Twitter, Neighbor Tim shared this super snap of the spooky tree-shrub thing on the eastern slope of Bernal Hill summit.

It’s long been known that Bernal’s tree-shrub thing has supernatural powers and functions as a gateway to the afterlife.

Some say it’s a California Buckeye, but no one seems to know exactly definitely for sure.

What we can say for sure is that Neighbor Tim has captured the beauty of the mysterious tree-shrub thing, in a very elemental way. Lovely!

PHOTO: Neighbor Tim

TONIGHT: Bernal Bard Neeli Cherkovski Kicks Off New Poetry Reading Series on Cortland

November 13, 2014November 13, 2014 / Todd_Lappin

Neighbor Notty Bumbo is launching a new monthly poetry reading series on Cortland that begins tonight, featuring special guest (and rockstar Bernal bard) Neeli Cherkovski.

Notty tells us:

Attention Bernal Poets: I am pleased to announce the start of the new Bernal Poets Reading Series! This will be a monthly event, held at The Bernal Star Cottage, 2nd Thursdays of each month from 7-9 PM.

The series will offer a featured poet followed by a round-robin style open reading, with a twist!

Be sure to arrive before 7 to sign up, to be sure you get your work heard. Our first event will happen Thursday, November 13, 2014, and our lead-off poet will be Bernal’s Own Neeli Cherkovski!

Books will be available to purchase. We are seeking Bernal poets to be our future featured readers, so please pass on any suggestions. Contact Notty Bumbo (atnottyb@bumpintheroad.net) for more details and suggestions! I look forward to seeing you there!

PHOTO: Top, Neeli Cherkovski reading at City Lights June 2014. Photo by Steve Silberman