How about Dad?... The weather is continuing to get warmer and as spring inches forward it’s time to do something special for “Dad” as Father’s Day is on June 16. Booking a brunch at one of our many neighborhood restaurants, surprising him with flowers from our florists on West Portal Avenue, or pampering him with a spa day at Dimitra’s are just some of the ways in which we can honor the Dads in our lives.

Memorial Day. In our minds and hearts.. with the Memorial Day weekend upon us it’s a good time to pause and thank everyone who has served our country, both present and past. We owe so much to those who fought for our freedoms and, in many cases, paid the ultimate price. I make it a point to visit the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno sometime during the weekend to pay respects to those who have served. It is a wonderful lesson in history as markers harken back in remembrance of those who served in the Spanish-American War of 1898 through to the present day.

Weekend Excitement… quite a few fantastic finishes over the long weekend. First, the Giants won an exciting game with a 2-run inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the 10th on Saturday afternoon, then anyone who watched the Indianapolis 500 race on Sunday saw 38 year old Tony Kanaan win the race with a daring passing move on the final 3 laps in a race that saw the lead change over 60 times. Only tenths of seconds separated the top five cars at speeds of over 220 miles per hour. It was Kanaan’s first victory at Indy despite having leads in 9 of the last 12 years. Perseverance, a little luck and terrific driving skills all contributed to his accomplishment.

Our local “Speedway”… At the WOTPCC meeting, local resident Bill Chionsini spoke about the difficulty that the local neighborhood groups are having in getting information and cooperation from the DPW and Caltrans on the ongoing project to make Sloat Blvd. safer for pedestrians and drivers. It seems that the local groups that were instrumental in getting the grant for the highway improvements are not being kept in the loop as the project moves forward. Supervisors Norman Yee and Katy Tang were in attendance, so let’s hope that they can assist the governmental agencies in being more cooperative.

Be aware… (Also from the WOTPCC meeting). Avrum Shepard noted that there have been several reports of people having their cell phones and other electronics stolen while riding on MUNI, and while walking throughout the city. It’s usually a quick “grab and run” type of theft, but in several cases people have been injured. It’s a good reminder to be aware of your surroundings and to especially have information stored on your devices backed up for retrieval.

Summer arrives… with the passing of the Memorial Day weekend, and the unofficial beginning of summer it’s time to get out into our local venues and enjoy the music festivals, the beaches, and outdoor dining. Of course, while San Francisco’s summer season is best in September, take advantage of the good weather days to explore the great areas all around us.

For some great places to visit right under our noses note our new feature column, Hidden Gems of San Francisco. Each month a different tour guide reveals one of their best kept secret places. This month it’s the Hippodrome, the only building left with a hint of Barbary Coast character. (Page 7)

Remember to save the date – Neighborhood Night Out (Miraloma Park/ Ingleside Police Station)… Neighborhood Night Out is a community police-awareness festival held on the first Tuesday of August throughout the U.S. and Canada. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 6th, at the Miraloma Park Improvement Club clubhouse. Starting at 5PM, the officers from the Ingleside Station will preside over a barbeque. Other entertainment will include information booths, games, party favors, photos and comradeship. The equine members of the SFPD may also make an appearance (that’s horses you know.)

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop us a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

How about Mom?...The weather is continuing to get warmer and as spring inches forward, it’s time to do something special for “Mom” as Mother’s Day is on May 12. Booking a brunch at one of our many neighborhood restaurants, surprising her with flowers from our florists on West Portal Avenue, or pampering her with a spa day at Dimitra’s are just some of the ways in which we can honor the Moms in our lives.

The season for “Warriors”… “Warriors” are on the mind as our local basketball team is currently making only their 2nd playoff appearance in the past 19 years, and playing very well against the Denver Nuggets.

Over at the Asian Art Museum, crowds are being enthralled by another group of warriors, the Terracotta Warriors from Xian, China. We recently visited the exhibit and it is spectacular, a must see this spring.

Save the date – Neighborhood Night Out (Miraloma Park/ Ingleside Police Station)… Neighborhood Night Out is a community police-awareness festival held on the first Tuesday of August throughout the U.S. and Canada. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 6th, at the Miraloma Park Improvement Club clubhouse. Starting at 5PM, the officers from the Ingleside Station will preside over a barbeque. Other entertainment will include information booths, games, party favors, photos and comradeship. The equine members of the SFPD may also make an appearance (that’s horses you know...).

Sunnyside Membership Drive… The SNA wants you!! The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association is undertaking a membership outreach to everyone in the neighborhood to bolster membership in the association. Its quarterly membership meeting is on May 4 at the St. Finn Barr Church Hall, located on Edna St. @ Flood.

Birthday wishes…A “shout out” to the founder and former publisher of this periodical, Phyllis Sherman, to wish her a very happy birthday. We helped her celebrate her event at Alfred’s Steakhouse on Merchant St. and the evening was most enjoyable. The food was great, the service wonderful and we had lively conversation. If you haven’t been to Alfred’s (or it’s been a while) make the trip; the ambiance is “pure San Francisco.”

Racing on the Bay… the newest America’s Cup racer for the Oracle (U.S.) team was unveiled last week on the Bay, with the customary cracking of the champagne bottle across the bow, which was heavily protected. The challengers for the Cup race in their series from July 4 to August 30, with the Cup finals starting on September 7 and continuing through the 21st. These large sailboats, 72 feet in length, will actually rise out of the water when racing to ride the waves on foils, increasing their speed and making for difficult and exhilarating sailing. It should be a great show.

A note for the Mayor… I was in attendance at the Public Health Commission meeting where the work of Dr. Derek Kerr and Dr. Maria Rivero was publicly acknowledged as part of the settlement of the whistleblower lawsuit. Over 70 people were in attendance and many spoke out on the good work performed over 20 years by the doctors, and also about the poor management by the CEO of the hospital, which resulted in the lawsuit and settlement. Although I am sure it was stinging for the commissioners to sit and hear each speaker discuss the failings of the board, it was extremely galling to watch a commissioner (appointed by the Mayor) texting on her smart phone while seemingly tuning out the speakers. You would think the commissioners should at least pretend to care about what they were hearing. I would be surprised if any further action was taken. Nevertheless, with the television media in attendance this shameful performance by the commission will be on the internet in perpetuity.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop us a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

May 2013

Comings and goings dept…the former Café for All Seasons spot is primed to open later this month as Trattoria Da Vittorio. Completely remodeled, the workers are putting the finishing touches on the exterior while work is almost completed on the interior. It is really looking good and owner Vittorio D’Urzo feels that he should be able to have everything ready to go by the end of April. Best wishes and much success to the chef and his staff.

The West Portal Merchants Association held a meeting last week to see a presentation from the team at La Boulange, who are working through the conditional use and permit process to open a new location at 16 West Portal Avenue. The architectural drawings and renderings look very good, and several merchants and citizens spoke in favor of the bakery/café citing the wonderful food and ambiance which the company exhibits at their other SF locations. Concerns were raised about increased traffic and parking, as well as the fact that the operation was recently purchased by Starbucks and that West Portal is against chains moving in and driving up rents. It was explained that Starbucks did indeed purchase La Boulange as an investment to improve the food within Starbucks locations, and to expand the SF based company to other locations throughout the country. The founding executives are still running the operation, which now numbers 13 locations in the city. Everyone seemed to agree that the concept is attractive, but it is a shame to lose a food market, and the risk is of more chains type stores (known as “formula retail”) coming in, with the result being jacked up rents that will price the small boutique retailers out of the market. It is a risk, as many of the landlords are not realistic about building rental values and are willing to keep empty storefronts rather than rent the spaces at a reasonable rate.

The boutique nature of “neighborhood” shopping districts is what is charming in districts like Noe Valley, the Castro, the Mission and in West Portal. For shopping in a cluster of larger retail brands there is always Stonestown Galleria. Of course, the avenue has formula retail in banking, Noah’s Bagels, Radio Shack and the ubiquitous Starbucks and occasional Peet’s. It really comes down to landlord leasing reality. Unfortunately so many of the buildings have been passed down from generation to generation and it is not uncommon for owners to have a skewed (or no) concept of how retail market leasing works. Stay tuned for more on this in the future…

Pawnshop alert…it seems that the new proposed tenant in the former “Just Because” card store on West Portal is another “gold broker / pawnshop” type of operation. Given that the neighborhood has an existing one the question begs to be asked “Do we really need another one?” If you feel strongly about this you should let Supervisor Yee know, as well as the folks at the Planning Department.

Mayoral “summit”…Mayor Ed Lee drew a large crowd to the Village Grill recently as he invited members of the public to meet with him in small numbers at a booth in the back. His aides handled the flow pretty well, allowing people to speak with his honor, while allowing the breakfast patrons room within the restaurant. Kudos to the Mayor for having these types of events. (It must also be noted that Supervisor Yee also was on the avenue later that morning having a neighborhood chat with folks at the Greenhaus Café.)

Arbor Day action… while driving on Junipero Serra Blvd. you may have noticed groups of people working in the median strips. It turns out that the Department of Public Works and students from San Francisco State teamed up to plant new trees to beautify the median areas and to celebrate Arbor Day. It’s always beneficial to have more trees to beautify the city, as well as to “soak” up more CO2 from the atmosphere, converting it to oxygen. I spoke with several of the people and they seemed to be having fun while performing a good civic service.

Bengal Alley Update: It’s between Miraloma and Lansdale, the main link for many Mt. Davidson and Sherwood Forest residents where the 43 bus stops right at its gate on Miraloma Drive. Without notice a cyclone fence showed up blocking the way on Miraloma. Now, 5 years later, Bengal Alley is ready to open. The permits are signed off — with no ceremony, then there was some confusion about who had installed the chainlink fence — so who should remove it — then that got resolved. The Alley is now open to the public, again with no ceremony. Kay and Fred Curry say they will be “putting together a party soon, and other activities.” At press time they reported that the fence is down. The public walkway is once again open to the public.

Kay observed this visitor at Bengal Alley and Lansdale --her neighbor took a couple of pictures of what appears to be a wild turkey in one of the backyard trees. A brief google search didn’t turn up any reports of wild turkey sightings in San Francisco.

Any one else seen him/her? Or any wild turkeys in San Francisco? Report it here.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

April 2013

A very informative meeting took place last week at the West of Twin Peaks Central Council. Several speakers spoke to the group, which consists of representatives from each of the local neighborhood organizations and groups. If you don’t know what the WOTPCC is about you should, as they have been representing homeowners and neighborhoods since 1939. It’s a great place to find out what’s going on in the back offices of the city’s departments.

This was the first of the meetings — while the Forest Hill Clubhouse is being renovated ­— in their new location at the Miraloma Park Clubhouse, located at 350 O’Shaughnessy Blvd. It is held on the last Monday of the month at 7:30pm.

Photo:
Mark Farrell addressed the Council

Several representatives of Café La Boulange were on hand to give a presentation about the proposed new café and bakery at 16 West Portal Avenue, to occupy the space most recently held by the St. Francis Market. The drawings and plans show a very well thought out operation that should fit in nicely in the neighborhood, possibly opening in the October-November timeframe. It really needs to be understood that the café did not push the market out; that was the doing of the landlord, who refused to extend the market’s month-to-month lease. You would think there is space on the street for a vibrant market; maybe we could spare one less nail salon. Unfortunately in commercial space it’s a “market rate” world.

Wet Wednesday… did you hear helicopters and sirens last Wednesday? Work crews descended on 15th Avenue and Wawona to see the damage and flooding caused by a ruptured water main at 3AM Wednesday morning. The 16-inch pipe burst under the street and unleashed tens of thousands of gallons of water and mud into the houses, yards and cars located downhill from the break. A large sinkhole blocked a driveway on 15th Avenue. San Francisco Water Department officials said that the pipe was over 60 years old. The flooding is estimated to have damaged 23 homes and a dozen cars. Some houses were damaged and under two to three feet of water. News reports state that six buildings were yellow-tagged, but the residents will be allowed to stay in their homes while the cleanup and repairs progress. At this point there is no estimate when crews will be done with their cleanup or when repairs will be completed.

Supervisor Tang… At midday last Wednesday, Mayor Ed Lee appointed Katy Tang to the position of Supervisor for District 4, which includes the Parkside and Sunset neighborhoods. Ms. Tang replaces Supervisor Carmen Chu, whom Lee appointed to replace Phil Ting, as the SF Assessor-Recorder. Ting was elected to the state Assembly in November. Ms. Tang has served for five years as Chu’s legislative aide and is a long-term resident of the Sunset District, having lived there since the age of one. She will face an election in November to try and retain the seat.

Eating Crow (or Raven)… well, our 49ers couldn’t quite pull out the Super Bowl last month, so I took the ribbing from my siblings in Maryland and NY. Maybe next year… but changes are afoot as the team announced they have traded former starting quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs. I wish him well in his new environment. A recent report on “charitable foundations” run by both athletes and non-athletes do not always measure up with their levels of donations compared to contributions. In many cases the charities give less than 60%, using the balance for administrative costs and overhead. Alex Smith’s foundation was highlighted as an excellent example, by distributing 91% of donated funds to the recipients. That’s what more charities should aspire to. Thanks Alex.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop us a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

Red and Gold fever…All is right in the football world with the 49ers again going to the “Big Dance.” By the time you read this we will either be whoopin and hollerin, or crying in our beer…oh that’s right, all of us 49er fans are routinely characterized as wine sippers… tell that to the patrons at Portals, the Dubliner or the Philosophers Club… I beg to differ.

As a native Baltimorean (or Baltimoron) I will be rooting for the 49ers as I have been in the Bay Area longer than I was in Maryland, and really, MY team was the Baltimore Colts, the team of Johnny U., Ray Berry, USF grad Gino Marchetti, and Lenny Moore. A disgrace that they were allowed to slink out of town in the middle of the night to where?…Indianapolis.

But I digress. My “Ravens-rooting” siblings have made a wager with me and I hope to be enjoying some Maryland Crab Cakes in the very near future. Go Niners!

Local Historic Place to Check out… Congratulations to Vanessa Villacarlos and her team at the Historic 7 Mile House, located at the corner of Geneva Avenue and Bayshore Blvd. The restaurant/bar is celebrating their 160th anniversary. No, that’s not a typo…160 years open for business in the same location. It is the only “Mile House” in the Bay Area that is still operating in its original building and location. Originally a stage coach stop exactly 7 miles from the ferry building it opened on February 6, 1853, just 4 years after the California Gold Rush. The team will be having a big anniversary celebration on Wednesday, with free adobo, live music and other festivities starting at 12 noon. The food and atmosphere is great and it’s fun to be standing in a place where gunslingers, miners, bootleggers, gamblers and others (politicians?) once downed some local suds…

Ode to “Café”…We have an article in this issue by Keith Burbank on the new Italian restaurant that will be opening soon in the location that was formerly Café For All Seasons. While its recent operators kept the name intact, the magic of the Café was gone, never as great as when long-time owners Donna and Frank Katzl owned the place. It was a must for brunch on the weekend and lines were routinely out the door. The cuisine was terrific, so much so that once I dined there for lunch and dinner because there were too many great specials to choose from. Annually listed in the SF Chronicle’s Best Restaurants in SF it is a place that has been missed by its fans for years.

Sharing “Sharon”…A note to our readers…this months’ Observer features a “Sharon the Health” column from writer Sharon Caren. It will be her last as she has decided to take a hiatus from writing a column and concentrate on her various business ventures. We thank her for her contributions over the years and wish her well.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop us a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

February 2013

The rain has arrived and here in San Francisco it can only mean one thing…it’s the holiday season!!

A perfect West Portal evening…my wife and I attended the holiday open house at Dimitra’s MediSpa last Thursday evening and had a wonderful time. Between 5-minute chair massages, a rejuvenating facial, appetizers and Dimitra’s famous homemade baklava it could not have been better. Even in the rainy evening over 40 people braved the elements to help celebrate the holidays with Dimitra, Elliot and staff.…with perfect ravioli… at Paradise Pizza and Pasta, where Sal’s house made beef ravioli is the best ravioli I have ever had outside of Rome. You have to try it to believe it.

These are just two of the many wonderful stores that make up the special place known as “West Portal.” Think of them for the holidays and shop local if you can. It’s a great way to spread the holiday cheer.

Fire aftermath - assistance for employees… With the devastating building fire at number 1 West Portal Ave., the West Portal Merchants Association has set up a fund for those who wish to donate to assist the more than 60 employees of the businesses that are affected by the temporary closure of the businesses. You can walk into any Bank of America and ask to deposit into the “West Portal Fire” account. ALL of the money received will be distributed to the displaced employees. The West Portal Merchants Association is covering all of the overhead fees. Please be generous to help those affected by the fire.

Sloat Blvd Update …The Lakeshore Acres Improvement Club has been working principally with San Francisco’s Department of Public Works and the MTA to improve pedestrian safety on Sloat Boulevard. DPW and MTA put together an application for a federal grant in the amount of $1,000,200, to fund pedestrian safety improvements on the busy thoroughfare. The Lakeshore Acres Improvement Club strongly supported San Francisco’s action and wrote a letter in support of the application. The application for Highway Safety Improvement Program funding was approved. The award is for the requested amount, a total project cost of $1,000,200, with $797,000 in federal funds plus local matching funds. Community meetings to discuss the plans will be held in Summer 2013. (Thanks to Bill and Barbara Chionsini for the information and their efforts on this project.)

Just like it Ever was…Have you ever been to Westlake Joe’s? While most long-time locals would laugh at this, there’s a whole new generation finding out about this neo-classic spot. At the corner of Lake Merced Blvd. and John Daly Blvd., “Joe’s” has been serving well-priced meals since 1956. Listen to the King Hutch band and you expect to see Frank, Dino, and Sammy walking around the corner with their food to go… The best seat in the house is at the counter watching the continual “cooking show.” Jeff, Lucio and Mario will take care of you with great service and Neftali is the best at knowing when your steak is perfectly cooked on the grill. Kudos to Gus, who handles the crowds and helps to make it all happen. Founded by Bruno Scatena, it is still proudly run by his daughter Melinda, her husband Hal and a terrific staff. A fun bar, great banter with the employees, excellent food, and well worth the drive over to Westlake.

As we close our 26th year, I just want to say “Thank You” to our readers, our advertisers and all of my colleagues for helping us to keep local journalism alive. Our goal is to enrich the community through hyper-local news, events and opinions and have fun in the process. It’s been another fun year. I hope you have enjoyed letting us in to share our views of our little piece of San Francisco. Happy Holidays, we’ll see you in February.

Almost forgot—be sure to check out the newly renovated Sunset Recreation Center at 29th and Lawton—sometimes they do get things right! The old WPA (1937) building, 18,000 square-feet gym and clubhouse with seismic upgrade, etc. are top notch. Kids love the foam rubber “floor” beneath the childrens playground. The tennis and basketball courts and athletic fields, replacement of restrooms, doors, windows, roof and all mechanical and electrical systems add up to a real improvement for the neighborhood.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop us a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

October 2011

What a weekend. First, the West of Twin Peaks Central Council organized a very well-attended District 7 Supervisor Candidate’s Forum, then our SF Giants clinched the Western Division title (over the dreaded Dodgers), then to cap it off, the 49ers came out flat in Minneapolis…and the Raiders upset the Steelers. It proves that you never can tell what is going to happen. Saying that, it will be interesting to see what happens on the national and local levels as we start to come to the end of the 2012 election season. From the Presidency to our local Supervisor, the seats are up for grabs and there’s no telling what the voters will do.

Thank you to everyone who called and commented about the candidate profile in last month’s issue of the Observer. In this issue there is additional coverage and commentary from our local political pundits. Whether you physically go to the polling station, or vote by mail, just remember to exercise your right to vote. Make it a priority to get out and make your choices known.

It’s a small world… I recently watched a PBS special on Marilyn Monroe, as this year marks 50 years since her passing, and in the Observer mailbox I received a note from local hairdresser and celebrity Marc Troy describing his sessions with the Hollywood star…

“I was always ‘Hello Mr. Troy’ to Marilyn Monroe. Yes, she was everything that hundreds of writers wrote and said about her, maybe more or even less, but at the end of the day, when alone she was simply Marilyn. Weekly visits to the St. Moritz at 323 Geary Street (the tens of thousands of cable car riders who passed below would never have imagined that Hollywood’s most talked about and glorified star was having her hair done above their heads)….which extended through the months she visited the salon as Mrs. Joe DiMaggio.” Thank you to Marc for sharing this amazing experience with us.

Visit the “Villa”…My wife and I had the pleasure of having dinner the other evening at the classic SF restaurant, Villa D’Este on Ocean Avenue in Lakeside Village. Owner Ramon Orapeza has an extensive and delicious menu that carries on the traditional Italian dinner that we’ve lost, as places such as The Granada Café, Caesars and the Gold Spike are no longer with us. The food is great, the décor is classic and the prices are very reasonable. THE Classic San Francisco experience.

Congratulations to the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association on joining the West Of Twin Peaks Central Council organization. The WOTPCC has been representing the Westside neighborhoods since 1937 and now has 20 neighborhood member organizations.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop us a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com Check out www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Twitter @ Twitter!@WestS_Observer and Facebook. and share your ideas or just let us know what you think.

September 2012

Labor Day has come and gone and the autumn season is nigh upon us. We have two new restaurants that are in varying stages of opening on West Portal Avenue. Potrero Hill’s own Goat Hill Pizza has opened at the site formerly occupied by the West Portal Bakery. Sad to see, but their windows were damaged by a graffiti attack not even a week after opening. We wish them a long and prosperous tenure on the avenue. Across the street, a new restaurant serving Greek cuisine, Orexi, is in the final stages of construction and will be opening soon, as the owners have completely gutted and remade the former Round Table Pizza location.

“Hollywood” came to the neighborhood last week as Director Woody Allen chose the corner of Claremont and Ulloa as a locale for a scene in his “yet to be named” film currently being filmed in San Francisco. Scenes were shot in and around the corner building on August 27th and 28th and all in all it looked to be pretty seamless, as the streets remained open, albeit with lots of trucks loaded with equipment parked up and down Ulloa. The security guys were all local San Franciscans and were nice enough, although I couldn’t wrangle my way inside for a photo. I did catch a glimpse of actresses Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins during my time at the location. (No, I didn’t get recruited as an extra…)

I did run into District 7 Supervisor candidate F.X. Crowley outside his campaign HQ. He mentioned that he was involved in coordinating the union contracts for the film crew for the movie shoot in his former role as the Business Manager for Local 16 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.). He too was headed over to the set to take a look.

Local author and historian Woody LaBounty, founder of the Western Neighborhoods Project (www.outsidelands.org), has a new book out entitled Ingleside Terraces – San Francisco Racetrack to Residence Park. It’s a wonderful look back at the racetrack, the progressive era, and eventually a new neighborhood. Much like his first book, Carville-by-the-Sea: San Francisco’s Streetcar Suburb, the book is detailed with great photographs and narratives of our local history. The book is available at BookShop West Portal, Ocean Avenue Cyclery, and Franciscan Hobbies. You can also pick it up online at inglesidebook.com.

Looking ahead, the fall promises to be an exciting time with the upcoming District 7 Candidates Forum coordinated by the West of Twin Peaks Central Council, the election of several new Supervisors in the City, as well as a multitude of California Propositions and the contest to see who wins the White House.

Note: There was no WOTPCC meeting in August. The next scheduled meeting is Monday, September 24th at 7:30 at the Forest Hills Clubhouse.

Do you have an event, a neighborhood fact or just an observation to share? Drop me a line at mitch@westsideobserver.com and share your thoughts. Check out www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Twitter @ Twitter!@WestS_Observer and Facebook.

September 2012

July-August 2012

Summer is here, and not a bit too soon. Our local “boys of summer,” aka the SF Giants, completed a three game sweep of the dreaded Dodgers this week, winning each game in a shutout. It was historic as it was the first time in the Giants SF history that the team had pitched shut outs for three games in a row against the Dodgers. Now tied for first, we shall see how the last three months of the season unfold.

The 75th season of the Stern Grove Music Festival is being celebrated this year with a great selection of music! One of the world’s best music venues for enjoying a great afternoon.

A new Greek restaurant is slated to open at the site formerly occupied by Round Table Pizza on West Portal Avenue. The construction is nearing completion and it’s good to see a new retailer opening. Unfortunately, WPA lost two tenants with the announcements that Fruition Spa and Lite for Life are both closing their operations. Although the recession is easing, somewhat glacially, business is still “a touch and go” for many of our favorites. A good reminder to “Shop Local;” explore West Portal and Portola Avenues and spread the word.

The San Francisco Chronicle featured the Avenue in their “Food” section of their April 22nd issue. The piece highlighted such neighborhood spots as the Submarine Center, the Bullshead, Shaw’s Candies, Fresca and Market & Rye, the new restaurant from celebrity chef Ryan Scott. A nice feature complete with a map, for those readers who have no idea where West Portal is. (I suspect there are many.)

Speaking of daily newspapers, did you know the San Francisco Examiner, recently purchased by a Canadian group, has in turn bought the “lion of the left”, i.e. the SF Bay Guardian. Rumors are swirling that the group is looking for other acquisitions. Could SF Weekly be next? Time will tell.

Bits and Pieces… a welcome to our newest Observer “staff member” Luke Griffin Casson. He’s not doing layout yet, having just been born on June 15. Parents Julie and Ronnie are doing well and his grandparents (Alice and I) are thrilled. I’m sure he will be typing in no time…

Congratulations…. To everyone associated with Mollie Stone’s Markets. This locally-based (Mill Valley) specialty grocery store was recently named the outstanding specialty retailer by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, one of only five U.S. companies honored for 2012.

Have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper? Just drop it to us in the mail, or email: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Check out www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Twitter @ Twitter!@WestS_Observer and Facebook.

July-Aug 2012

June 2012

It’s hard to believe, but it is already June 1st and with that a California Primary Election. Due to the timing of the California Primary, many pundits feel that the primary election means little in the scope of the “national political scene.” On the local level, each vote could be very important as this election could have a big effect on the Bay Area and California. The voters will be making history on several fronts. With the passage of the “open primary” concept, the “top 2” finishers (regardless of political party affiliation) in primary elections will face off in the November General Election for the first time.

Combined with the realignment of Assembly and State Senate Districts, passed previously as Proposition 11, this election could very well impact our legislative representatives for the next 12 years. As many as one-half of the seats in the 80-member California Assembly could change hands due to existing term limits and the aforementioned redistricting. Several of our local elected officials are at the ends of their terms and are running in “new” districts for other offices. In all, voters in SF will have the choice of candidates in two Congressional Districts, a US Senate Race, a State Senate District, three State Assembly Districts, and of course the Presidential Primary.

Changes to term limits in California is on the ballot (Proposition 28) enabling an elected official to serve 12 years in the Assembly, instead of the current six year ceiling. Senators are still limited to eight years. Prop 28 applies to officials elected for the first time this year. Officials previously elected would have their “year count” start anew. A much publicized additional tax on cigarettes for Cancer Research (Proposition 29) is also on the ballot.

San Franciscans also are voting on two Measures, the first, Measure A would change the way that Garbage and Recycling is handled within the city; the second, Measure B proposes to limit use of the dollars gained by the concessionaires at Coit Tower to the maintenance and restoration of the landmark, not for other city projects. It should be interesting to see how the voters respond, but however you feel, please make the effort to vote as we do have the power to affect change and make our voice heard.

Bits and Pieces….on a sad note, we lost two friends last week. Bill Kruse, an avid golfer and family friend, and Dante Santora, who both passed away last week at the age of 96. I had the pleasure of Bill’s company for years, and whatever the season he always asked how I thought the 49ers were going to do this year. Dante was a former catcher in the SF semi-pro leagues and a retired longshoreman. He loved the game of baseball and was a long-time fixture in the SF baseball community as he still followed the game and was always seen in his SF Giants World Champion jacket. Both men were in (relatively) good health until recently and enjoyed their friends and families. They will be missed and remembered.

Congratulations…. To everyone associated with the West of Twin Peaks Central Council, which will celebrate its 75th Anniversary of representing the citizens on the Westside. There will be a celebration party at their next meeting, Monday, June 25th at 7:30 PM at the Forest Hills Clubhouse.

Do you have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper? Just drop it to us in the mail, or email me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Check out www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Twitter @ Twitter!@WestS_Observer and Facebook.

June 2012

May 2012

The business of running the city never ceases to amaze me. Between the Board of Supervisors, city staff members, and members of the myriad commissions, task forces and panels, it seems that almost everyone you meet is involved in some facet of contributing to the greater good for the citizens of the City and County of San Francisco. I mention this to highlight the work of some of these citizen-volunteers. The City Redistricting Task Force recently wrapped up their project to “balance” the districts so that each district will have approximately the same number of citizens. This process is revisited every ten years to ensure that as population growth evolves, the districts are realigned to stay on a (more or less) equal footage from a base number of residents. The task force heard thousands of comments and other input from the voters before making any decision. For District 7 the changes were relatively minor, with both sides of Ocean Avenue being included in D7, as well as the entire Sunnyside neighborhood being included in D7, whereas it had been split in the past. This is good for these neighborhoods and we welcome the “newcomers” to district 7. The whole redistricting challenge has been completed through the hard work and dedication of the task force volunteers. We owe them a big “Thank You” for their efforts. Another “thank you” goes out to all of the concerned citizens that took the time out of their busy schedules to speak with the task force and stand up for the concerns of the citizens and neighborhood that make up District 7.

SFMTA is still considering revising parking planning for the city and is looking at ways to raise revenue, including extending meter times during the evening and adding meter times on Sundays. The merchants in the retail districts (such as West Portal Avenue) are split on the Sunday proposal. Having meters operate on Sunday will make it more expensive to go to the movies, dinner, etc., but will possibly free up parking as some people just park on the avenue on Sunday and leave their cars all day while they jump on MUNI and go downtown. I can see the benefits of both sides of the debate. What about you? Make sure the MTA knows how you feel.

Speaking of MUNI, much has been written on the program to allow everyone under the age of 17 to ride free on MUNI. The commission voted to explore just applying the program to low-income children. How do you administer this? Or afford it? The City (and MUNI) are not flush with money, but continue to act as though they can just give away benefits with no real plan on paying for it (other than more taxes or bond measures, or taking it from another line item budget). It’s a nice idea, but why exclude low income seniors, the disabled, those who have been recently laid off, etc. With other articles written on the number of fare-cheats that ride the system, shouldn’t we be looking at ways to make sure that people pay for MUNI? Electronic scan cards for students, etc. I am all for discounting for those in need, but giving away the benefit just seems foolhardy in this time of budget constraints. Of course if children were assigned to their neighborhood schools maybe they wouldn’t be required to ride for hours on MUNI each day, but that’s another topic for another day.

Do you have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper? Just drop it to us in the mail, or email me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Be sure to check out the Observer online @ www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

May 2012

April 2012

Parking in SF… seems to be on everyone’s agenda. Merchants are torn over the proposed extension of meters to times after 6PM and on Sundays. There are valid points to be made, but the bottom line is that MUNI needs the money, so anything to bring in more revenue will probably be approved.

Earlier this month I had a visit from one of my brothers and his family. On a rainy day we decided to go to the Academy of Science and the deYoung Museum. Driving the group into the city we got to the (underground) garage in the park and were greeted with a sign at the entrance that said “Garage FULL.” Not an uncommon occurrence when many people are looking for a place to go on a (very) rainy day. But there is a hitch…

Seeing cars exiting the garage, we decided to take a chance and see if a slot was open for us. Taking our ticket we motored down the ramp and through the North garage. To our amazement, not only was a slot available, there were at least 100 slots open. We couldn’t believe it. Walking through the “South” garage, we were treated to the same sight.

So, the question begs: We live in an area where we are renowned for our technology acumen, yet we cannot install a system that shows us electronically how many open slots there are in a garage that is extensively used. I have seen this technology in other garages, so I know it exists. In this wireless age, it couldn’t be too expensive to install a real time system. Certainly the loss of revenue for the people that left when they saw the “Garage Full” sign would help to make up for the cost of the system, or at least lessen the gap in the City’s finances. Maybe someone in the city could explain it to me. (My address is still in the staff box at the front of the paper.)

Parking aside, the deYoung and the Academy of Sciences are both terrific facilities with lots of things to do and see for kids and adults. Friendly docents are there to explain anything that you have questions about and the quality of the exhibits is top notch. Well worth your time on a rainy, or a sunny day.

A plug or two – Check out the new restaurant on West Portal, MARKET AND RYE. Early reviewers are gushing about the lunch entrees and the salads. Right up the street, THE MUSIC STORE will be having a special “Record Store Day” on April 23rd, celebrating the art of music. Limited Edition Vinyl will be featured and big discounts (25% on all USED music and movies on the 1st floor; and 50% off of ALL records on the 2nd floor AND FREE gifts to the first 100 customers). But wait there’s more…no, not steak knives, but LIVE Music and cheap drinks and snacks. Check it out!

Finally, the Golden Gate Men’s Chorus will be presenting “Pure Imagination” at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, April 29th at 3 PM and Tuesday, May 1st at 8PM. Tkts are $20. Visit their website: www.ggmc.org for the details.

Do you have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper? Just drop it to us in the mail, or email me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Be sure to check out the Observer online @ www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

March 2012

All hail the Balboa Theatre, which is in the process of celebrating the 86th anniversary of its opening in 1926. In this age of 20 and 25 screen venues showing first run selections on multiple screens, the “Bal” continues to show first-run and indie fare for interested SF movie goers. Long run by former Landmark theatres executive Gary Meyer, who is also the Director of the Telluride Film Festival, the theatre operation was recently ceded to a new group who is dedicated to keeping the venerable two-screen Cineplex open for the foreseeable future. It’s a great place to see a movie, have dinner and a nightcap across the street at Hockey Haven or one of the other establishments. With the buzz around the annual Academy Awards, it’s great to keep our local pieces of movie magic alive with visits to our neighborhood theatres that are still operating such as the Vogue, the Bridge, the Clay, the Empire, the Roxie, the Lumiere and the Balboa. Don’t forget the fabulous Castro while you’re at it. Parking may be difficult, but their film programming is superb.

District 7 native son F.X.Crowley hosted a fundraising get-together at his home last week to kick off his entry into what looks to be an ever-growing field for the contest to replace termed-out Supervisor Sean Elsbernd. Over 130 attendees squeezed into his Lakeshore home to rub elbows with the candidate and hear what he had to say to the assembled audience. Citing the need to create jobs, strengthen the city infrastructure, preserve neighborhood character and keep SF safe—all well-received by the partisan crowd. Crowley becomes the fourth declared candidate to join the race.

Other declared candidates vying for the seat include Joel Engardio, Michael Garcia and Norman Yee. Engardio and Yee have the early lead in fundraising as reported by the Ethics Commission. With the election taking place on November 6th it is expected that the field will become a bit more crowded as other hopefuls enter the race.

Hetch-Hechy redux…a showdown is looming over the future of the Hetch-Hechy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park between the SF Public Utilities Commission and its opponents, who wish to drain the valley to “restore” it to the time prior to the building of the dam. Questions abound, such as: where is all of the water currently sitting in the reservoir going to go, be collected and held; are the other reservoirs equipped to handle the storage needs; and can the proponents of the restoration ensure that the City, as well as most of the Peninsula (as clients of the SFPUC) will have the water resources this very important region needs to function? An important issue that we will face. Of course, we will cover this and other election issues as Election Day moves closer.

Do you have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper? Just drop it to us in the mail, or email me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Be sure to check out the Observer online @ www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

March 2012

February 2012

A San Francisco culinary institution is reborn, as “Original Joe’s” has reopened on Washington Square in the location that was formerly operated as DiMaggio’s, and for eons before that, Fior D’Italia. Congratulations to the Duggan family for keeping the tradition alive following the demise (by fire) of the old site on Mason.

The City is amazing in the number restaurants available for all of us, as well as the regeneration of the spaces. No sooner than one closes, a sign goes up extolling the “grand opening” of another. The regeneration of restaurant spaces seems to be never-ending, yet with few exceptions when a landmark closes, the name joins the ledger of the places we used to go to… The Gold Spike, Granada Café, Ernie’s, Paoli’s, the Chuck Wagon, the Blue Fox, Moose’s, Washington Square Bar and Grill, and Old Krakow are now just places in history, joining the Red Chimney, Clown Alley, Doggie Diner and the Carousel. How about Julius’ Castle? I saw the familiar façade staring down from high in the hills, wondering if it will ever reopen?

SF has a rich and varied history of culinary delights and with Valentine’s Day approaching and we look for that “special place” for a romantic dinner, we invariably remember the “ledger” of places that used to be while trying to decide on one that has reservations available for February 14th. Fortunately, we have many on the Westside from which to pick. Staying “local” helps our merchants, and helps to ensure that more of our favorites don’t become new names on that infamous “ledger.”

In this issue if the Observer, we devote a good amount of space to the subject of redistricting. Reformulated every 10 years to correspond with the census, the process works to balance out the number of residents in each of the city political districts. As the South of Market area has witnessed a dramatic increase in residents over the past 10 years, the result is that other District lines have to be redrawn to balance out the number of inhabitants.

Districts 4, 7 and 11 could be changed dramatically, with the possibility of neighborhoods being shifted from one district into another. The SF Redistricting Committee is soliciting feedback and input through scheduled meetings and presentations. All of the neighborhood groups and improvement associations should encourage their members to attend the meetings and make their preferences known to the committee members.

With new bond measures being prepared by the Park and Recreation department targeting local neighborhood park renovations, it is more important than ever to give them feedback and input so the decisions that are made accurately represent the views of a majority of the citizens in the neighborhoods affected.

Every voice counts when selecting which parks to renovate and the Park and Recreation folks cannot work in a vacuum. Attend a planning session and make your priorities known on where you want the bond money to be spent. Now is a great time to volunteer and get involved

Do you have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper? Just drop it to us in the mail, or email me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Be sure to check out the Observer online at www.WestsideObserver.com, or on Facebook and Twitter.

February 2012

May 2011

Several of us monthly newspaper publishers had the opportunity to sit and chat with Mayor Ed Lee last week about things around the town and it was quite a pleasurable experience. The Mayor, who told us he is definitely NOT running for the job on a permanent basis, was very forthcoming with his views and comments and quite a fan of the local, small businesses that make up the neighborhoods in San Francisco.

He emphasized his plans to continue working to ensure that San Francisco is SAFE (through Public Safety, as well as keeping essential social programs); SOLVENT (fixing the budget to ensure ongoing fiscal management) and SUCCESSFUL (focusing on what brings people to town, both as tourists, residents, and businesses). All in all I think he has vastly improved the communication between the Mayor’s office and the current Board of Supervisors, and as he is not seeking re-election he can focus on how to confront and solve the myriad of issues that the city faces.

Speaking of small businesses, there is a new business over at the Lakeshore Plaza Shopping Center, on Sloat Boulevard. “True Sound” is a new business that specializes in all things hearing-related. During the interview for June’s “Business Corner.” I was struck by how impactful hearing loss can be for a people and their families. Most people are embarrassed to admit hearing loss and reluctant to do something about it, affecting their enjoyment of everyday living – on average they wait 7 years. Check out the new store if you or someone you are close to has hearing loss or can benefit from dong a self-evaluation. It is well worth your time as it is comfortable and non-threatening with a very helpful group of employees. We will feature a more in depth look at “True Sound” next month.

I am in the process of reading a book of short stories by local West Portal-based writer, Ethel Rohan. Cut Through the Bone is an innovative and emotionally jarring collection that makes us ask questions and draw assumptions about most of the emotions we face in everyday life. The individual stories are short (3-4 pages each) and so well written that you cannot help but be hooked into the emotional fabric of each vignette. You have to check out the video trailer where Rohan reads pieces of the prose. Not being familiar with the book or the author, once I saw the video I had to have the book as soon as possible. The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B0y5ydm-v4 . We will be doing an interview with the author in the very near future.

A life well lived…Elsewhere in this issue we say farewell to columnist Hank Basayne, who passed away on April 11th. I cannot say that I knew him for many years, having met him only three years ago, but he had a remarkable way about him and shared himself with us each month with his “On the Plus Side” columns, often writing about aging and the fears and realizations that one sees upon the journey.

He also officiated at Bay Area weddings for over 30 years and assisted many couples as they started their married lives together. To me, he was great to talk with, truly kind, and an inspiration to be a better person. We are better for having known him (and his musings). Our condolences go out to his family and his many friends. We will miss him.

If you have an interesting story, idea, or some insights you’d like to get in the paper just drop it to us. You can reach me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Be sure to check out the Observer online @ www.WestsideObserver.com.

May 2011