The other day, The Avenues Blog got a little love from the San Francisco Chronicle.  (Thank you… hold the applause please.) 

A lot of you took the time to write in and say “hello” after reading the little blurb.  I got email from friends, past colleagues, Sunset and Richmond district residents, fellow REALTORS and other local bloggers too! 

One of the readers that contacted me, Grace Cunnane, is also a Sunset District resident, and has started her own blog, In My Hood SF. She focuses on the Inner Sunset district of The Avenues.

Grace writes:

I am writing a series of articles, highlighting the merchants and employees of my neighborhood. My column, “In My Hood SF.”is a 52 week community based project. My stories, are their stories and together we engage in conversation and something special illuminates. “In My Hood SF” will be updated weekly.

I will interview a different merchant or employee from the Inner Sunset and bring their story to life. I want you to see their work, their value and their dignity.

And Grace does it well. 

One of the things that I love about the City is that everybody has a story, if you just take the time to listen.  And while Grace is able to highlight local businesses in her blog, her main strength is really highlighting the people behind that make these business what they are. 

From her acupunturist, Liling, to her cobbler, Glen, Grace takes the time to introduce you to the people that make up the Inner Sunset.  Swing by In My Hood SF.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy the read!

I’m still stunned.  It seems like it was just yesterday when my boyfriend and I were talking about going out for dinner at PJ’s Oysterbed.   We decided to go somewhere else that night because, well, it wasn’t like PJ’s was going to shut its doors or anything right?

Au contraire!

PJ’s did shut it’s doors at 737 Irving Street a couple of weeks ago, and per the word across the blogosphere (and the stench that can still be smelled across the street), they left something for the neighborhood to remember them by. 

On June 5th, Eater SF (Curbed SF’s hungrier cousin) reported that the answer machine at PJ’s Oysterbed insisted that the closure was temporary. 

I held my breath.  (Both due to the gut wrenching smell on Irving Street and because of my anticipation for the stench-free reopening.)

Yesterday, I couldn’t hold my breath any longer and called the restaurant.  The answering machine message states “We regret to inform you that we are permanently closed…….” 

A tear (almost) ran down my cheek. 

It was one of my favorite places in the City, let alone in the Avenues.  But like so many of my favorite restaurants that have gone before, it too had to shutter it’s doors. 

The funny thing is that I don’t think I even remember what I ate there.  I vaguely remember gumbo.  I know I loved their desserts.  I loved that they knew how to make a cocktail without watering it down.  And I loved that the chef would come out wearing white shorts and beads and dispersing jello shots to the customers.  Really, I just loved the vibe there.  I always had a good time. 

But I still have a glimmer of (false) hope.  In addition to announcing the permanent closure, the answering machine message also states that you’ve reached “PJ’s Oysterbed in the Outer Sunset,” not Inner Sunset.  If they’re wrong about the location, maybe they’re wrong about the permanent closure?  I know I’m grasping at straws here… but what if it doesn’t reopen ever?  Will I have to make my own jello shots while wearing white shorts and beads around the house? 

I know I’ll come to terms with the loss one day.  I know I’d be able to deal with it better if I knew what happened and the reasons for closing.  But, I’ll be ok… eventually.  For now, I just regret not going when I had the chance. 

Good-bye PJ’s - I’m sad to see you go.