Adam Greenfield recently produced a video with the Neighborhood Empowerment Network covering the first Inner Sunset farmers market back on June 7th.

As expected, the Farmer’s Market was a hit!  

As an aside, there are more Farmer’s Markets to come in San Francisco, including one coming to the Outer Sunset as well!

Adam also founded the Inner Sunset Neighborhood Group of Facebook, which he still helps run.

Through the Facebook page, several hundred members have a steady stream of information to keep in touch with the Inner Sunset neighborhood. The group also organizes monthly social gatherings, which have gotten a great response since they began last December.

The community is really taking off now. And if you live in the Inner Sunset, I’m sure you’ll enjoy being a part of it!

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Sunset Farmers Market – Exploratory Survey

The Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center and Supervisor Carmen Chu’s Office are working with community members and the Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association to explore the possibility of starting a Sunset Farmers Market.  We would like to hear your thoughts.  Please complete this super short survey (only 5 questions) to let us know what you think.  If you already filled out a paper survey, we’ve got you covered, otherwise respond now!

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Thursday, October 2, 6-8pm
City Hall, North Light Court

This promises to be a unique and exciting community event to help rebuild West Sunset Playground for our families and residents. Come join us for an evening of gourmet food and wine and good company at City Hall. There will be a silent auction with items such as spa and restaurant certificates, lunches with local politicians, and many more great items donated by local businesses and friends of San Francisco’s parks.  If you are interested in donating a silent auction item or know of any local businesses interested in helping West Sunset Playground, please let us know!

To register for the event and make your donation, visit our website at http://www.fowsp.org/SunsetSoiree.php

West Sunset Playground, located in the Sunset District on 39th Avenue and Ortega, is a heavily used playground surrounded by a high concentration of schools, a public library and residential homes. This playground is in dire need of repair as it was deemed unsafe by the Neighborhood Parks Council in their recent April 2008 assessment survey. Let’s work together to rebuild this playground for our children and our community!

For more information contact us at 415-839-8875 or events@fowsp.org.

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I received an emergency plea today from the San Francisco Zoo. 

Please, if you care about conservation programs, please reach out to your San Francisco District supervisor.

Please read the details of what will happen if we let Chris Daly stick his nose where it doesn’t belong!!!  And take a look at the plea from the SF Zoo below.

We need your help and assistance as we near the upcoming Board of Supervisors hearing on Chris Daly’s “rescue zoo” legislation. This meeting will decide the fate of the San Francisco Zoo.

As you are probably aware, it has been a trying time at the San Francisco Zoo since the events of last Christmas, but changing the Zoo into a rescue facility is not the solution. We already care for more than 100 rescued animals (e.g., the Animal Research Center education animals, the grizzly bears, and Ulu, one of our polar bears), but the legislation would require that all future animals come from rescue situations, with a few limited exceptions. Under this scheme, our Members would no longer connect with rare and endangered animals or learn about the conditions of their native lands, but more importantly, the legislation would eradicate much of the Society’s contribution to conservation, endangered species education, and other vital programs here at the Zoo.

Supervisor Daly’s “rescue zoo” legislation will be heard before the full Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, September 9. The Supervisors as well as the Mayor need to hear from you before September 9 if we want to stop this legislation. To make communication easier for you, please visit www.sfzoo.org/rescuelegislation for more details on the legislation, the Zoo’s position on the matter, and how you can help save the San Francisco Zoo – from writing letters to meeting in-person with your District Supervisor.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Mayor Gavin Newsom District 1 Jake McGoldrick  District 2 Michela Alioto-Pier District 3 Aaron Peskin, President of the Board District 4 Carmen Chu  District 5 Ross Mirkarimi

District 6 Chris Daly  District 7 Sean Elsbernd  District 8 Bevan Dufty  District 9 Tom Ammiano  District 10 Sophie Maxwell  District 11 Gerardo Sandoval

On behalf of the entire San Francsico Zoo community, I thank you in advance for your consideration and assistance.

Best regards,

Tanya Peterson
Acting Executive Director and President

 

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We all see different things in different objects.  Data though – data is supposed to be cold hard facts.  You’re not supposed to be able to twist data around for your perverted pleasure.

So.  The other day, I made mention of a Forbes article which points to over-inflated property values in the Outer Sunset district. 

And today, I read the news from the National Association of Realtors.  The article is aimed at REALTORS – NOT at the general public. 

Their take on the SAME data that Forbes provided?

That the Outer Sunset is a Neighborhood Where the Bubble Hasn’t Burst!

Pardon my French but WTF?

Two completely different viewpoints taken from the EXACT same data.

The article from REALTOR.org reads:

In a report for Forbes.com, Hotpads.com, an aggregator of rental listings, produced a price-to-earnings spread for each ZIP code in the country’s 40 largest cities by comparing rental costs with buying costs for similar properties, based on number of bedrooms, location, and price per square foot.

A price-to-earnings ratio, or P/E, expresses how much a buyer has to pay for each dollar of return. Buyers in high P/E neighborhoods pay a huge premium to live in the area relative to how much it costs to rent a similar property there.

A high P/E can simply mean a neighborhood is overpriced, but it can also indicate where buyers have gambled that the area will ultimately appreciate further, turning an overpaying buyer into a smart investor.

I added the emphasis – because this is where I get thrown for a loop.

So?  Which is it?   

Well – I’m not sure.  Frankly, even I’m confused. 

And each party has different motives. 

There’s no denying that bad news sells.  Is Forbes manipulating the data?

And there’s no denying that if consumer confidence falls further, real estate prices will continue to fall.  So it the National Association of Realtors trying to spin Forbes article to make things look more peachy-keen?

My verdict?  It’s a combination of both.  And neither.  The real answer is that NO ONE HAS THE ANSWER. 

If you need to buy a home, and plan to stay AT LEAST 5–7 years, then chill out.  You’ll be allright.  Prices will appreciate enough to make up for any market slowdown that’s going on now. 

But if you are looking to buy for the short term – then stop and back away from the mortgage.  I can’t think of one good reason to buy unless you like throwing away your hard earned money. 

Want more answers?  Contact me.  I’ll try to walk you through it.  But as you can clearly see – no one has a crystal ball, and even data doesn’t give us enough insight for us to draw any real conclusions.

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Carmen Chu’s office rocks.  Oh wait, did I say I’m not endorsing any candidates?  I did.  And while Carman doesn’t have my official endorsement, I’ve been impressed by a lot of things she’s done. 

Her level of interaction with the community is awesome and she has embraced technology in ways that other candidates haven’t, including emailing her community newsletter to her constituents.  

And now – I’ve got one more reason to be impressed:

FREE tickets from Supervisor Carmen Chu’s Office to the de Young Museum on Sunday, July 27th.

If you are interested in participating in this free museum day and live in District 4 (Sunset), please contact Supervisor Carmen Chu’s Office and the first 200 to respond will receive free admission to the de Young.
Please wait for confirmation from our office and further details on how to claim your tickets.

TICKETS WILL NOT BE MAILED TO PEOPLE – THEY MUST BE PICKED UP ON THE FREE MUSEUM DAY – JULY 27 between 10:00 – 10:30am.

There will be a welcome reception with Supervisor Chu on the free museum day for ticket recipients at 10:30am at the Piazoni Room near Woolsey Court. The de Young Museum is open on Sunday from 9:30am to 5:15pm.

By Email:
Send an email to chustaff@sfgov.org
Subject line: de Young
Include in email: Your first and last name, phone number, home address and number of tickets you are requesting

By Phone
Call (415) 554-7460

If you are leaving a voicemail, please make sure to include your name and contact information.

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I might be a REALTOR, but I care about more than just SF home sales!  I dig community stuff too.  So on that note, The Avenues Blog has another community event to share in the Sunset District.

This time, it’s from Carmen Chu’s Office:

Please join our office in improving West Sunset Playground this Saturday, June 28th as we work to repaint structures, clean and sift sand and pick up litter in the surrounding areas so that children who use the playground have a safe environment to play in!

We are working in conjunction with the Friends of West Sunset Playground, the Neighborhood Parks Council and Recreation and Parks Department to help improve this playground.

Materials and supplies will be provided, and refreshments will be served.  Please dress comfortably.

To RSVP, contact our office – (415) 554-7460 or email us at chustaff@sfgov.org

WEST SUNSET PLAYGROUND CLEAN-UP
SATURDAY, JUNE 28
9AM – 12PM
39TH AVE & ORTEGA STREET

Hope to see you out there!

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The rumors where true!  I was driving by today (thus the sort of whacked cameraphone photo) and saw the sign!

Java Beach is opening a new location at Sloat Blvd and 45th Avenue! 

Hmmm… I’m probably still closer to the one on Judah Street – but having a second option across the street from the San Francisco Zoo is nice too!

Three cheers for the upcoming caffeine fix!

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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.

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I have a bit of an addiction that I don’t really like to talk about.  I’m addicted to reality TV.  And usually, it’s really bad reality TV.  Out of the reality TV shows that really feed my addiction, the cop/criminal shows are the ones that really do it for me.  But the TV shows just aren’t local enough, and I’d like at least part of my dose of reality to be located close to home. 

So I depend on my local police departments to feed my addiction to reality!

Depending on where you live, your local police department will email you a crime report, either on a daily, or a weekly basis. 

If you live in the Sunset or Parkside districts, Captain Paul Chignell of the Taraval police station will send you a fairly complete daily report of arrests and criminal incidents throughout the neighborhood, sometimes with a little bit of entertaining commentary to go along with it.  These reports are pretty thorough, but you will sometimes receive a few days worth of emails at a time when the Captain dares to take a day off.

If you live in the Richmond district, you receive an email from Captain Anthony Fotinos of the Richmond police station every Friday afternoon with a “greatest hits” style email that covers the highlights of crime (if you can call them that) that have occurred in the past week.  This newsletter also adds events from the Safety Network calendar to the email – which gives a nice balance of the good and the bad, or yin and yang, so to speak, but they’re definitely less thorough than the Taraval district’s daily updates.  Which makes me wonder exactly what qualifies for the weekly greatest hits list? :-/

If you want to get the Taraval station’s daily update, email the captain to request it. 

And if you want to get the Richmond station’s daily update, email the station to request it.

And even if you’re not a reality junkie like me, you might find these reports useful to know what’s going on in your neighborhood.   After all – knowing is half the battle!

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