From the Publisher’s Desk…

Thanksgiving; The start of the Holiday Season; and the end of another year…

The Thanksgiving holiday is one I always look forward to. Many of us get a few days off, we share cooking with family and friends, there is football on TV, and we don’t yet have to concern ourselves with gift buying or mountains of cards to be delivered. These tasks can be forgotten until at least the Friday after Thanksgiving or better yet, a week or so later.

After the turkey, we have been working on putting together the final issue of the Observer for 2009. With the first issue in 2010 (February), the Observer will be marking its’ 22nd year covering the people and places that make San Francisco, and the Westside, so special.

2009 was my first full year as the Owner and Publisher of this publication and I am very proud, and humbled, not only by the effort that everyone puts forth to make each issue informative and relevant but also by the comments that I receive from the readers and people who have visited our website. For this I thank everyone involved with making the paper a valued asset to the neighborhood, and something that is still relevant in this electronic age.

During this difficult economic year, I have tried to highlight our local merchants and shops. They do a great job of presenting unique goods and services and I believe they are also a critical component of the fabric that makes a neighborhood special. Please think of them when you are out on your holiday shopping rounds.

This year has been tough on almost everyone, and especially difficult for those who are on the cusp of poverty and homelessness. During this season don’t forget to support programs such as the Second Harvest Food Bank, St. Anthony’s Dining Room, The Glide Foundation, The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, or your favorite charity. The need is great and a small donation can go a long way to help those in need.

Thanks for your support for our writers and the paper. All of us at the Westside Observer hope each of you have a Happy Holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

Want to communicate with us? If you have an interesting snippet, or some other information you’d like to get into the paper just drop it to us. You can reach me at: mitch@WestsideObserver.com. Be sure to check us out online @ www.WestsideObserver.com.

December 2009

From the Publisher’s Desk…

Parking, Police changes and more … the issue of parking is still a hot topic. At the WOTPCC meeting on Monday, 10/26 the proposed meter extensions were discussed. It looks like the MTA is planning to extend West Portal Avenue until 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11-6 on Sunday. They’re saying it’s about the need to have more rotation of the available parking spaces, and making the meters run longer will do that. It seems to this desk, that revenue has a whole lot to do with it.

I am trying to understand both sides of the topic. My concern is that Stonestown comes out ahead (with free parking) and Merchant Districts like West Portal continue to suffer. If you have a feeling about it, contact the Mayors office and the SF MTA. The MTA commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, not by the Board of Supes.

I met the new Police Chief, George Gascon, at the WOTPCC meeting and at first blush he seems to have a handle on what is going on. He is supporting the concept of “community policing,” and is getting the detectives out into the district police stations. Sounds like a good start.

Sad note: It is still not determined if the Granada Café (on Mission) will reopen after their fire. I heard that the patriarch of the business, Giovanni, passed away three weeks ago, and that the plans to reopen are in limbo. Here’s hoping for a revived Granada.

Lots of road construction coming in 2010…the major intersection of St. Francis Circle will be reworked and under construction from May – September in 2010. Prior to that project, the PUC and MTA will be closing the left land of Junipero Serra for several months to excavate and replace the main piping system that supplies water from Hetch Hetchy to the Peninsula. (start your breathing exercises for patience while driving now.)

I wrote last month about a new book about the community of houses built from old cable cars, horse drawn cars, etc. It’s called “Carville-By-The-Sea”- San Francisco’s Streetcar Suburb, and is written by Woody La Bounty of Outside Lands Media, and the Western Neighborhoods Project. The book is a delightful and interesting history of an artistic bohemian community living in cable cars in the sand dunes East of Ocean Beach. Check out the website at www.carville-book.com.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Chinese Immersion Education Project, which started at West Portal Elementary School 25 years ago and became the model across the country. There were several celebrations in October honoring the program and the people associated with starting it and keeping it alive over these 25 years. Congratulations.

What about you? If you have an interesting snippet, or some other fact you’d like to get into 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.

November 2009

How did it get to be September so quickly? It seems like the summer has just flown by, and here we are in the fall of 2009.

With 2010 on the horizon it is amazing to me to think that it’s been 40 years since Apollo 11 made the first moon landing with Neil Armstrong descending the ladder with “One small step for man…” on July 20, 1969. I was a teenager sitting in Baltimore watching on TV and never imagining that I would be living and working in San Francisco.

Oddly enough, a local store also opened in 1969. Located at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Fairfield Way, this small store, selling records, tapes and blue jeans was originally named, “Pants and Discs”, but the owners soon changed the name, and retail history was made when The Gap was launched.

The company became an important part in my life when I “fell into The Gap”, joining the company after college and eventually relocating to their SF offices. While there I met my future bride, and my one-year “trial period” at headquarters turned into a 13-year career. Although I left the company many years ago, I‘m grateful for the opportunity to move to San Francisco those many years ago, and work with many talented people. To Don and Doris Fisher – Happy 40th anniversary on founding the company. That small store on Ocean Avenue changed the world …and my life.

Speaking of time moving so rapidly, this is the 1-year anniversary of our becoming the publishers of the Westside Observer. We have learned volumes over the past 12 months and have been helped by so many supportive people. The other publishers within the SFNNA (San Francisco Neighborhood Newspaper Association) have been terrific, as have the great writers, columnists and advertisers. Of course, Editor Doug Comstock, “Sales guru” Catha Hall, the guys at MarinSun Printing, and founding publisher Phyllis Sherman have all played an important part in my “rookie” year, as has Julie and her “Open Late” series of comics. I also want to thank you, the readers, for giving us an audience, for sharing your ideas and concerns, and really letting us know what you think. Your passion for San Francisco and the neighborhoods makes it fun and rewarding. Finally, a big “thank you” to my wife, Alice, the best Associate Editor and partner I could have.

Now…about the neighborhood:

The sights and sounds of Indian music filled the Western end of West Portal Avenue on Saturday, August 1 as the streets’ newest arrival, Clay Oven, celebrated their grand opening. Musicians delighted the crowd as they performed on the tabla and sitar. The crowd assembled on the sidewalk sampled some of the delicious food, and were treated to dancing as well. The Clay Oven has an extensive menu featuring entrees such as Punjabi Lamb Curry, Prawn Vindaloo, and many other dishes. If filled tables are any indication, the restaurant has gotten off to a rousing start as the crowds during the first several weeks have looked to be very strong. The restaurant is located at 385 West Portal Avenue in the location formerly occupied by Old Krakow.

While we were on the street we popped in next door to the Paradise Italian Restaurant, for a quick bite prior to seeing the newest Harry Potter film. Sal, the proprietor, convinced us that the pasta would be quick as we had a limited amount of time. My wife and I could only sum it up in one word, “magnifico!” We agreed that the house-made ravioli and fettuccine dishes we had for dinner were the best since we were in Rome several years ago.

For those of you that have sent e-mails asking about the Little Fish Boutique, they are planning to open later in September at their new address, 616 Irving Street on or about the 18th of September. Their telephone number will be the same, 415-681-7242. “Best of luck” to Tori in her new location.

The best golfers in the world (yes, Tiger will be there) will meet at Harding Park to vie for The President’s Cup, from October 8-11. It’s usually a sold out affair, so try to get your tickets early.

There’s some question if the annual Taraval Street Fair will be held this year. The permit fees and associated costs have skyrocketed. Stay tuned for more information.

You won’t find the West of Twin Peaks Central Council follow up in this issue, as they don’t meet in August. We’ll see everyone in the next issue.

What about you? If you have an interesting snippet, or some other fact you’d like to get into 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.

September 2009

Do you know the way to San Jose…Or West Portal Avenue?

Apparently some people don’t. Ursula, owner of the White Rose Boutique on West Portal Ave. reports that several people have visited her store and asked her “How long have you been open?” and are amazed when she replies “Twenty Years.” She asks if they are in the neighborhood, and they acknowledge that they are.

West Portal Avenue is a great street, but can be hard to find for the “newbe,” or someone who hasn’t been there before. One end has the Muni tunnel, and the other an intersection that “may have been designed by Rube Goldberg” – who was famous for his convoluted mechanical solutions to simple problems.

Unfortunately, the avenue doesn’t get the “drive through” traffic that benefits the merchants. Once you find it, it’s a quaint street with great restaurants, interesting retailers, a few watering holes, and a lot of businesses with “spa” or “salon” in their name …and challenging parking.

I write this with sadness that two merchants have announced closures: Little Fish Boutique and Old Krakow Restaurant. The high cost of rent, and the downturn in the economy just proved to be too much in their current locations. I wish them well, and hope to see them possibly resurface in the future as they were great establishments.

The future of the small retailer/merchant is in the balance, as even the big guy’s are suffering (Circuit City / Good Guy’s, Comp USA / Mervyns, etc.). When you are looking to go out to dinner, have a facial, buy a bottle (or glass) of wine, get eyeglasses, a new stereo or TV, make travel plans, or buy a new top or outfit check out the customer oriented shops on the Avenue. The owners are local, they know their merchandise, and give great advice and customer service.

I attended a seminar last month about the state of things in California, entitled, “The Golden State is Tarnished—What can we do about it?” It centered around a panel discussion with several speakers trying to make sense of the terrible fiscal condition that our state is in. Much of the blame can be put on the passage of Prop 13 all those years ago, where tax relief was achieved but the results were far reaching and some of the (unknown) ramifications have helped to put the state in the current situation.

Some ideas can be found at the website of the group “California Forward.” The more I read about the problems and see inaction in Sacramento, maybe it’s time for the voters to move towards a constitutional convention to make some meaningful changes, (like not having the budget held hostage by a handful on “no new taxes” radicals in the Central Valley and Southern California). We also cannot continue to pass well-intended propositions without figuring out where the money is coming from to pay for them. We can’t continue to crave parks, highways, social services, and other amenities without looking at the earmarked funds within the government, and the lack of revenue that California is bringing in.

It’s important to fix (or dismantle) Sacramento, as money and services should be focused on the local cities and towns where we have a better local feel for governance. As it is today, “ol’ Sacto” will be siphoning off more of the local taxes to fund their insatiable demand for larger government.

Best Wishes…

A quick “Get Well Soon” to my niece, Lindsay Bull, who lives in Maryland. She is recovering from a tonsillectomy and we wish her a quick and speedy recovery. Use this column to hit your dad up for an ice cream to soothe that throat.

And a quick note of congratulations to Supervisor Sean Elsbernd and his wife on the birth of their first child. Best wishes to the family.

What about you? If you have an interesting snippet, or some other fact you’d like to get into 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.

July/August 2009