Star Sighting: Mayor Lee Visits New “Mission Bernal Merchants Association”

/ Todd_Lappin / 9 Comments

Mayor Lee ICHI

Mayor Lee Secession

Star Sighting!  Earlier this month San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee was seen hobnobbing in the Bernal flatlands to show his support for the Mission Bernal Merchants Association, the new group that appears to have deftly navigated their recent naming challenges.

Here’s the mission statement:

The purpose of the Mission Bernal Merchants Association (MBMA) is to facilitate unity of action among the merchants and nonprofits in the MBMA, San Francisco, in order to protect, promote and preserve the business conditions within the Mission Bernal Commercial District. The Mission Bernal Merchants Association is defined as that area inside the following boundaries: Mission Street from Cesar Chavez to Randall Street, 29th Street from San Jose Avenue to Mission Street in San Francisco.

Mayor Lee dropped in as part of his regular Small Business Friday tours to speak with with La Lengua Mission-Bernal merchants about business concerns and neighborhood issues. Neighbor Erin Archuleta (of Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar fame) shares these notes about the MBMA’s most recent meeting, along with details about the next one:

This past meeting resulted in drafting agenda items pertaining to merchants in the neighborhood, such as a visit with our Police Captain; a chance to host a Networking Mixer; and opportunities to participate in planning events that would benefit our community. The group is open to all business owners in our corridor along Mission (and just off Mission) between Cesar Chavez and Randall Streets.

Our next meeting is:
Monday, May 12th
10 AM
at PizzaHacker (3299 Mission Street at 29th Street)

PHOTOS: Mayor Lee at Ichi Sushi and Secession Design, courtesy of MBMA

Wednesday: Benefit Dinner at Hillside Supper Club for School of the Arts Instrumental Music Program

/ Todd_Lappin

seafoodserenade

Neighbor Julie invites you to a benefit dinner at Bernal’s glamorous Hillside Supper Club tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23 starting at 6 pm:

Hi- I’m a long time Bernal resident, and a community organizer and activist in the public schools here in SF.

A few Bernalwood residents are working with the folks at Hillside Supper Club to host a special evening to benefit the Instrumental Music Dept at the School of the Arts, the public high school devoted to visual, literary and performing arts located at Portola and O’Shaughnessy.

The School of the Arts receives about 30% of its operating costs from the San Francisco Unified School District. It falls to the SOTA community to raise the remaining 70%. This is achieved in a variety of ways, from regular performances on the campus and at different venues around the city, to bake sales, car washes and pancake breakfasts. The Friends of School of the Arts is a non-profit foundation that manages donations and contributions and also engages in targeted campaigns.

Instrumental Music is divided into four strands: Orchestra, Band, Guitar and World Music. The funds we raise go to purchase instruments and equipment and to pay for department Artists-in-Residence– working professionals in the Bay Area who coach and mentor our students.

This year we hope to purchase music stands and three clarinets, among other numerous needs.

There will be a three course meal- the “Seafood Serenade”, wine and dessert are included, and the musical entertainment will be provided by Matt Cmiel, Director of Orchestras and Brad Hogarth Band Director.

A portion of the purchase price ($100 per seat) is tax deductible.

Currently over 50 students in the immediate Bernal Heights neighborhood attend SOTA. It should be a great evening, tasty and fun!

Tickets are limited, so get yours right here. Additional deets

Seafood Serenade- a sublime feast, plus wine and dessert, with musical accompaniment.

One sitting.
Three courses.
Twenty two seats available for purchase.

Culinary genius courtesy of Tony Ferrari and Jonathan Sutton of the local pop-up grown-up, Hillside Supper Club.

Musical genius courtesy of Matthew Cmiel (Guitar) and Brad Hogarth (Horn), Directors of Orchestra and Band at Asawa SOTA.

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Peppino D’Agostino and his daughter, Aleza D’agostino will be surprise featured guests.

Seafood generously provided by Royal Hawaiian Seafood

All proceeds to benefit Instrumental Music at the School of the Arts.

MENU:

AMUSE
Asparagus, quail egg, and caviar

FIRST COURSE
Raw oysters with a cilantro lime mignonette
Grilled Monterey bay squid, with charred spring onions, basil pesto, and lemon
Pea tendril salad of spring peas, easter egg radish, honey vinaigrette, and pecorino;

MAIN COURSE
Lobster pot pie, king trumpet mushrooms, baby carrots, black truffle veloute.

DESSERT & WINE

Buy tickets here.

Violent Tales from Pre-Gentrification Bernal Heights During the Eighties

/ Todd_Lappin / 13 Comments

BernalMap1884.crime

Bernal Heights was a tough place during the Eighties. It was a time of rampant lawlessness, violent crime, substance abuse, and lots of un-neighborly behavior.

Burrito Justice, chief spokesblogger for the La Lenguan separatists, recently posted a series of tales that vividly captures the sordid underbelly of life in Bernal Heights during the dark days of the 1880s. Thus we meet Proto-Neighbor Jeremiah Buckley, who appears to have had some issues:

1888-daily-alta-bernal-moonshine

MEMO TO HOLY WATER: Put “Goat Chasers Great Internal Tonic and Stomach Reviver” on the cocktail menu, please, and make ours a double.

In any event, after concluding that “Twenty-seventh and Alabama” likely refers to the corner of today’s Precita and Alabama, Burrito Justice cites this sordid chapter of Bernal Heights history as justification for the cause of La Lenguan independence. “All La Lenguan residents should consider this fair warning when traversing Precitaville, as Consular services may not be available,” he writes.

Yet this strains credibility. After all, as he himself has documented, one of the most infamous hives of crime and scandal in the Dominion of Bernalwood was the Cable House, which once stood at the corner of Tiffany and Duncan, smack in the middle of the La Lenguan heartland.

The “Railroad Hotel” [was] a 30 room boarding house. Built in the 1880s, it was once known as the “Cable House”, and was torn down in the 1920s… All sorts of crazy-ass things happened at 24 Tiffany. Seriously, they could have made a reality TV show about it. If you ever time travel and stay at the Railroad Hotel, it’s best to not leave your things out:

1904-24-tiffany

Likewise, at La Lengua’s Cable House, it was best to avoid the liquor:

1899-24-tiffany-hugh-lynch-fall-out-window

IMAGES: 1884 Bernal Heights from the David Rumsey Historical Collection. Press clippings via Burrito Justice.

Easter Bunny Leaves Chalk Art Outside Bernal Homes

/ Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

bunnycar1

The Easter Bunny left us a cool present on Sunday morning, sometime between the time when I grabbed the newspaper after waking up and when I walked outside a short while later to run an errand.

The gift arrived in the form of a fun chalk drawing on the street in front of the driveway I share with my next door neighbors. The image showed a secret agent driving a custom Easter Bunny Egg car, and the details were rather wonderful.

bunnucar2

Thank you Easter Bunny!! Very much appreciated.

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics

Sunday Morning: Renegade Bernal Heights Easter Egg Hunt

/ Todd_Lappin / 2 Comments

easterbunny21

Shhhhhhh! There’s word on the street that the Easter Bunny may hide some eggs in Holly Park tomorrow morning:

Bernal’s unofficial, unauthorized, unorganized, nondenominational EGGZELLENT Hide & Hunt in Holly Park

WHEN:
Date Sunday, April 20
9:00 for hiders.
10:00 for hunters.

WHERE:
North steps of Holly Park

HIDE:
9:00 am. Meet at the top of the north steps of Holly Park for the hiding parent. (rules and chatter until around 9:15 and then 30 minutes of hiding. NO Kids until 9:45am please…)

HUNT:
Around 10:00 am we’ll go over the rules (quickly) for the kids and then start. The rules will be made up on the spot. They depend on how many people show up, the age range, and the weather.

BRING:
– at least 12 nicely colored eggs; chocolate or plastic. Also, there have been multiple requests for more stickers/plastic dinosaurs/ikea finger puppets/whathaveyou and less candy!
– a basket for your kid to carry eggs.

Notes:
– eggs with candy, crackers, tattoos, toys, confetti– what ever you like as long as its safe.
– there will be separate areas designated for toddlers and bigger kids so hide eggs accordingly.
– In previous years the outer areas were for the older hunters and the baseball field was reserved for the younger hunters (toddlers, babies,etc).

– watch your kids when they open the eggs. Make sure what is inside them is appropriate for your kid.
– If hiding eggs in the baseball field, please try to make sure they are more age appropriate
– ***please do not take more eggs than you came with***

RAIN DELAY:
– Light rain or shine… we hide and hunt…. same time same place.
Downpour, forget about it.

WHO:
This is a word of mouth event that is open to the community, but at risk of losing it’s charm and appeal if it gets too big. All welcome, but it doesn’t need to be majorly publicized. Thank you.

PHOTO: Hunting for eggs in 2012, by Bronwyn Ximm

It’s Official: Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar Is One of the Hottest Sushi Restaurants in the Galaxy Right Now

/ Todd_Lappin / 13 Comments

timichi2.0

Bernal Heights is already, and officially, the hottest neighborhood in the entire solar system. Now we are an order of magnitude more hot, because Eater National just anointed the tasty new Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar on Mission Street as one of the Hottest Sushi Restaurants in America.

Hotness.

Truth be told, this comes as no surprise. Your Bernalwood editor has eaten at the new Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar many times since we first announced its glamorous re-opening in the new space in February. We haven’t written about it since, however, because (shameful confession) we didn’t want to have to compete with you for a table. In true Samuel Brannan style, the hypertastiness of the new Ichi+Ni is just a little something we’ve been keeping to ourselves.

Well, now the word is getting out.

Anna Roth at SFWeekly said:

The new [izakaya] space is still coming into its own, but once it establishes its own identity, Ni Bar is bound to become not only a staging ground for the sushi bar’s omakase, but a destination in its own right.

Critic Jonathan Kaufman reported that the sushi remains amazing as always, while the new izakaya-style zone in the back of the new space takes things in a rather delicious new direction:

Your resolve to hold out for sushi may be whittled away by the sanbaizu sunomono ($7.50)–pink commas of shrimp with pickled cucumber and frilly, crunchy tremella (white fungus)–and crisp-skinned fried chicken wings ($9.50), first cooked sous-vide with yuzu juice until the flesh is as tender as a ripe peach.

If you want to preserve your omakase aspirations, don’t order the clams ($8.50), which come with ground pork in a ridiculously savory miso broth swirled with black garlic oil.

Because you may have to order seconds.

I’ll second that. The Miso Asari Clams & Pork are mind-blowing. In fact, yes, I actually do get two orders of it, because it’s just that insanely good.

We’re in good company, because the Michael Bauer says the miso clams are one of his favorite dishes as well.

misoclam

More of this sort of gush is likely to follow, because this week Eater National added Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar to their list of The 19 Hottest Sushi Restaurants In the US Right Now:

ICHI SUSHI + NI BAR
Already a favorite on San Francisco’s sushi scene, ICHI Sushi only got better earlier this year when it reopened in a new, bigger space. Eater SF took a look inside the new 30-seat sushi bar with an omakase counter, table seating, and an izakaya named Ni Bar serving booze and other izakaya-style plates.

Big congratulations to Ichi owners (and Bernal neighbors) Tim and Erin Archuleta.

If you haven’t already eaten at Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar, get thyself there quickly, because it won’t be long before you’ll have to compete with every foodie in the United States to get a table. You have been warned.

PHOTOS: Top, Neighbor Chef Tim, by Telstar Logistics. Below, Miso Asari Clams & Pork at Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar; photo by Inside Scoop

¡Oh Dios mío! Dr. Rick’s Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling Benefit Event in Bernal on Saturday Afternoon

/ Todd_Lappin / 8 Comments

LuchaLibreinvite1

As a general principle, it should not require much coaxing to persuade you to attend a simple, old-fashioned afternoon of Lucha Libre Mexican Wresting right here in Bernal Heights this Saturday. Especially when you consider that the event is a benefit for a medical clinic at San Francisco General Hospital. And especially especially when you throw in the fact that the event will happen at the glamtacular Farmhouse Mansion at the top of Folsom Street on Bernal Hill.

But just in case you need even more reasons why you really shouldn’t miss this simple, old-fashioned afternoon of Lucha Libre Mexican Wresting right here in Bernal Heights, Neighbor Orlando wants you to know why the money that will be raised on Saturday really matters:

My buddy Rick across the street who is a doctor at SF General, and he is putting on a fundraising event for the hospital. Well, his is clinic anyway. The clinic is for folks of lower income. It’s worth every penny of the $20 donation he kindly asks of us to attend.

San Francisco General for years has served an array of different communities from all over the City. Dr. Rick has been at General since he left medical school, and he’s been respectfully serving us since. He’s a man of integrity, with one of the kindest hearts you will ever meet in a lifetime. His clinic has been giving back to the community for years, and especially to non-affluent families. This is one big reason I have come to grown close to Rick over time; I respect what he has dedicated his life to.

So at this point, no further convincing should be required. All you should need are the exciting logistical details about Neighbor Dr. Rick’s Lucha Libre Mexican Wresting benefit, and when and where you should go Saturday afternoon, April 19. Dr. Rick himself seals the deal:

¡oh Dios mío!

You are invited to the rarest of events.
Lucha Libre Wrestling at the Farmhouse Mansion.

¡a lo grande!

It took a lot to arrange… this is an afternoon event, all VIP, private benefit, with professional wrestlers, the full ring, opinionated announcers, 10-piece mariache band, referees, tasty margaritas, taco trucks, beer, juice, two other bands, pinatas, gente apasionada, baile apasionado, you get the idea.

All to benefit a trio of hardworking volunteer and vocational rehabilitation programs at:

San Francisco General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry
Westside Community Services
SFSMILES

See you at the Farmhouse Mansion
3340 Folsom Street, SF
Sat. April 19th at 3pm (wrestling at 4pm)

What? You still have questions?

Here are some answers:

1) Yes, kids can come, but parent/guardian must be present and responsible.
2) Suggested donation is $20 per person (child or adult) or whatever you can give.
3) Yes, this is the real deal. The Lucha Libre Wrestlers you would see on TV, Cow Palace, or where ever such events occur.
4) No, I will not be wrestling… I think. Then again, anything is possible, probable, we’ll see.
5) No, you will not be wrestling either… I think. Oh, heck. Bring your mask and we’ll see.

In addition, just down the hill at Precita Park, on that same day, Sat from 11am – 2pm is… EASTER in the PARK where there will be Easter Egg Hunt, gift giveaways, 27 foot slide, jumper houses carnival games and much more for the kiddos prior to the below.

See you all soon!

Dr. Rick

Luchalibreinvite2

Kinfolk to Convert from Popup to Permanent Inside Former Pizza Express

/ Todd_Lappin / 29 Comments

kinfolkexpress

Well, the rumors turned out to be true. Our foodie fwiendz at Inside Scoop confirm that Kinfolk, the Cortand popup restaurant launched by Bernal neighbor Greg Lutes, will open a permanent location inside the former Pizza Express space at 919 Cortland:

For the last several months, Kinfolk has been popping up regularly for brunch and dinner at 903 Cortland. Well, it’s moving up.

The chef-owner behind the project is Greg Lutes, and he’s finally found a permanent location — and as it turns out, it’s just a few doors down from 903.

Lutes has inked a deal to take over 919 Cortland Avenue, which was most recently home to Pizza Express, though it’s currently home to a dirt floor. After a full build-out, Kinfolk is hoped to open this summer, with 40 seats — double the size of its set-up at 903.

KQED Obtains Police Dispatch Recordings from Alex Nieto Shooting

/ Todd_Lappin / 11 Comments

KQED.audio

KQED has obtained and released recordings of SFPD dispatch radio activity surrounding the officer-involved shooting of Bernal resident Alex Nieto on March 21:

The radio chatter started about 7:11 p.m. on March 21. Dispatch relays a call to Ingleside Station police, describing a man “in bright red jacket, 6’1, 200 pounds, black pants, has a gun on his hip.”

Police said after the incident that Nieto never had a gun, but that the caller might have mistaken his hip-holstered Taser for a handgun.

About one minute, 15 seconds later, more information comes over the radio.

“He’s got a gun at his hip and is pacing back and forth on the north side of the park near a chain-link fence.”

Another minute passes and a police officer asks for an update on the call about a person with a gun in Bernal Heights.

“He’s eating chips or sunflower seeds,” dispatch responds, apparently relaying information from the person who called police.

At about 7:17 p.m., an officer spots someone:

“Hey there’s a guy in a red shirt way up the hill walking toward you guys.”

Then another officer responds, “I got a guy right here.”

And 25 seconds later, an officer shouts, “Shots fired! Shots fired!” Another two officers also tell dispatch that shots have been fired, and one announces an emergency “code 33.”

More police officers radio that they are responding to an incident that quickly changed from a code 221 (person with gun) to 217 (shooting).

Police closed off the north side of Bernal Heights Park and cleared the way for an ambulance. They also transport two witnesses, one who they refer to as the “original 909″ (code for a citizen requesting interview) to Ingleside Station and begin canvassing the park for other people who may have seen the shooting. Police are repeatedly requested to switch to a different radio channel to discuss the shooting, so this audio may not include all of the chatter about the incident.

Audio files of the scanner activity are available for listening at KQED.

Cozy Evening of Anonymous Bernal Heights Bondage Becomes a Burglary Instead

/ Todd_Lappin / 9 Comments

bcuffsscene

Well, if we have to report on crime, at least this is the sort of crime that’s somewhat titillating. Vivian Ho from the Chronicle reports that for one Bernal Heights resident, a recent evening of hookup and bondage went rather wrong:

The 63-year-old victim believed he was going to have sex with the man when he invited him back to his apartment on Elsie Street at 3 a.m. April 7, according to police.

But he quickly learned that his purported paramour was into bondage, and in a bad way.

While bondage is a fetish some enjoy, in this case the victim found himself tied up against his will to his bedpost with neckties, said police spokesman Officer Gordon Shyy.

As he struggled in this compromising position, the suspect took off with his laptop, cell phone and tablet.

The victim was able to free himself and file a police report at Ingleside station.

Thursday: Bernal Filmmaker to Have Glamorous SF Premiere for New Documentary

/ Bronwyn Ximm

Image

Neighbor Samantha Grant feels like she’s hardly been in the neighborhood for the past 10 months, because she’s hardly been in the neighborhood for the past 10 months. Instead, she’s been busy jetting from film fest to film fest with her new documentary, A Fragile Trust. Luckily, now we can enjoy the fruits of her labor much closer to home, at the film’s San Francisco premiere this Thursday, April 17 at the Roxie Theater.

A Fragile Trust chronicles the infamous Jayson Blair scandal at the New York Times. (Remember that? New York Times! Plagiarism! Fabrication of facts!) Grant describes it as “a character-driven narrative” about “power, ethics, representation, race, and accountability in the mainstream media.” Stay home if you’re looking for fluff, because this one promises to be thought-provoking:

If you can’t make it to the Roxie, never fear: A Fragile Trust also screens at the Rafael Film Center on Wednesday, April 23 (tickets here), and it airs nationally on PBS on May 5.

Also on the theme of ethics in journalism (and also on May 5), Neighbor Samantha and team are launching a browser-based, iPad-friendly game called Decisions on Deadline, in which players navigate “the complex and shifting world of journalism ethics as they collect facts and information to report a story.” While aimed at journalists and journalism educators, the game’s goal is “to get regular people interested in these issues,” she says.

Because after all, everyone’s a journalist these days.