-
nopna.orgNOPNANews
North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
2016 : issue 2
NOPNA: 25 Years
of Respecting the
Neighborhood
by J.J. Strahle
In 1991, The Independant was The Kennel Club, and covered in a mural.
PHOTO: Robert Durden Color Slide Collection at the San Francisco History Room at the San Francisco Public Library.
This is a milestone year for the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association,
which started 25 years ago, in 1991. At the time, the neighborhood was a victim
of the urban renewal efforts pushed on the Western Addition.
There were drugs, crime, empty storefronts and rundown
In recent years, NOPNA has been involved in a variety of
apartments. Leading with the slogan, “Respect the Neigh-
activities to further our mission. We recently raised funds
borhood,” a group of concerned longtime and newer
for the victims of a fire in our neighborhood. For the past
residents banded together to make a positive change.
12 years or so, we have built neighborhood pride with
The idea was to take ownership and accountability for
our annual summer block party, co-hosted with Parkside
one’s self and neighbors.
Market, our Halloween party and a holiday party.
NOPNA’s mission, last revised in 2010, remains true
As the city’s population has grown, we have partnered with
to that original idea:
other neighborhood groups to get funding for Panhandle
NOPNA is a nonprofit organization of neighbors who care
Park improvements, hold the sponsors of Bay to Breakers
about the community, our city and our world. Our mission
responsible for encouraging a more family-friendly and
is to establish neighborhood unity, maintain multiethnic,
positive event, and push for streetscape upgrades to
multicultural diversity, foster a sense of neighborhood
pride, promote a safe and clean community, and improve
the quality of life for all residents of the neighborhood.
(continued on page 3)
2 | NOPNANews
FROM THE BOARD
NoPa Comes Together. Oftentimes, communities are brought
together when faced with a difficult circumstance. While the trigger can be
something tragic, the result can be really special. We were reminded of this
on February 13, when a three-alarm fire heavily damaged two buildings on
Fulton Street and displaced 15 residents. Many neighbors volunteered their
help, belongings and money at NOPNA’s March 13 fundraiser for the fire
victims. It was truly special to see people gather at The Independent
to demonstrate their love and care for our community.
Throughout the year, NOPNA organizes neighborhood events designed
to engage, educate and support one another. A strong sense of community
allows us to have fun in the joyous times and care for one another in the
adverse times. These occasions are great opportunities to meet local
business owners, learn about community changes and developments,
hear updates on safety issues and get to know your neighbors.
We invite you to join us for our 2016 events:
General Meetings at Oasis Café
Halloween Party
Thursday, May 19, July 21, Sept. 15, Nov. 17
Monday, Oct. 31
Annual NOPNA Block Party
Saturday, May 21
Pizza & Politics
Saturday, Oct. 15 (tentative)
Please keep an eye on our Facebook
page for event details and reminders.
You can also visit nopna.org to join
our mailing list and sign up as
a volunteer.
Holiday Party
Saturday, Dec. 10
Kandace
Kaylor is a
13-year resident
of NoPa.
Calendar of Events
Divisadero Farmers Market
Sundays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Grove@Divisadero
SFPD Park Station
Community Meeting
Tuesday, May 10, 6 p.m.
Park Station, 1899 Waller St.
SFPD Northern Station
Community Meeting
Thursday, May 12, 6 p.m.
Northern Station, 1125 Fillmore St.
Panhandle Park Community
Work Day
Saturday, May 14, 9–11 a.m.
Meet near the playground
The NOPNA News is published by the North
of Panhandle Neighborhood Association for
the residents, businesses, and friends of
our neighborhood, which is bounded by
Masonic Avenue and Turk, Divisadero and
Fell Streets.
PUBLISHER
NOPNA Board of Directors
MANAGING EDITOR
Libby Estell
PRODUCTION EDITOR
Mimi Sparrow
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Lisa Eastlack
DISTRIBUTION
Will Valentine
PRINTING
Image Printing, San Francisco
NOPNA’s mission: The purpose of this
association shall be to establish neigh-
borhood unity, maintain multi-ethnic and
multi-cultural diversity, foster a sense of
neighborhood pride, promote a safe and
clean community, and improve the quality
of life for all residents of the neighborhood.
Contact NOPNA by email:
Get The News?—Pay Your Dues! Your
NOPNA membership gives us a stronger
voice at City Hall and supports our efforts
to create a clean, safe, and friendly neigh-
borhood.
Please join us! You can sign up online at
For more information, call 415-267-6113.
NOPNA General Meeting
Thursday, May 19, 7:00 p.m.
Oasis Cafe, 901 Divisadero St.
NOPNA Block Party
Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lyon between Hayes and Grove
mar : apr 2016 | 3NOPNA: 25 Years(continued)Divisadero and Masonic. We continue to work closely with our District 5 Supervisor to find solutions to complex issues, including displacement and development.In celebrating NOPNA’s 25th year, we would like to hear from you about your experiences in the neighborhood. We are looking to publish profiles of long-term residents or stories you have from growing up in the neighbor-hood. Or maybe you have a story about a NOPNA Halloween or block party, or how you and your neighbors came together to help another neighbor. Please send your stories to board@nopna.org. Tell us a little about yourself, and let us know if we can publish your story.NOPNA is open to any resident living within the boundaries of Fell, Turk, Masonic and Divisadero. In addition to this bimonthly newsletter, we host a bimonthly general meeting on the third Thursday of every odd-numbered month, at Oasis Cafe. We hope to see you at the next one on May 19 at 7pm.Hubcaps for sale on Divisadero (1991). PHOTO: Robert Durden Color Slide Collec-tion at the San Francisco History Room at the San Francisco Public LibraryJENNIFER ROSDAILNOPA resident since 2002c. 415.269.4663Jennifer@Rosdail.com | Living415.comLic# 01349379PARAGON-RE.COMI needed a change of scenery.Paragon is with you as you move through life’s stages & places.J.J. Strahle is a member of the NOPNA board. 4 | NOPNANews
Kava Herbal Cocktail Lounge Opens on Divisadero
If you regularly walk the Divisadero
took a lot of work. But we did it the
corridor, you probably watched the
right way. This building is going to
extended buildout of the Kava Tea
be here for a long time,” he said.
Lounge. The herbal cocktail lounge
opened in late February on the
northwest corner of Divisadero
and McAllister.
Caple is banking on the open, pro-
gressive, adventurous (and thirsty)
nature of SF residents. He wants Kava
to be a place to come relax with
Kava transformed a former discount
friends while ordering a concoction
store into a woodsy green lounge.
or two.
Owner Alva Caple designed the
interior, from the Balinese furniture
and wrought iron railings down to
the custom woodwork, lighting and
exposed brick walls. A contoured bar,
cozy front nook and elevated rear
seating beckon guests.
massage in a coconut shell.” Kava
enthusiasts claim it relaxes the body
without impacting mental clarity. And
since kava is physically non-addictive,
it is considered to be safer than alco-
Caple searched California and
hol. Informal therapeutic uses include
Colorado for a location before
the treatment of anxiety, insomnia,
choosing San Francisco. It took him
depression and stress.
more than nine months to find the
perfect space, and another four
months to negotiate the lease at 901
Divisadero. His journey to build Kava
took more than two years. The space
underwent two seismic and one
structural retrofit during construction.
Kava originated as a social, medicinal
and ceremonial beverage more than
3,000 years ago in Polynesia, where it
is still served in coconut shells. Fijians
might drink a light kava beverage all
day long, whereas on neighboring
Vanuatu, islanders are more likely to
Left: Construction at Kava Tea Lounge
took more than two years. Right: Alva
Caple, owner of Kava Tea Lounge.
PHOTOS: Mimi Sparrow
cans may have tried kava before, and
if not, Caple thinks they will want to.
Kava is made from the root of the
plant and served cold. Caple procures
his kava root from Vanuatu, where
there are more than 80 varieties of
what islanders call “the root of happi-
ness.” The substance is self-regulated
by the American Kava Association, a
national trade association that works
Caple opened Kava’s large double
doors with a limited drink and food
menu to start. Over time, he will be
rolling out more surprises. “You can
expect raw and vegan treats, sweet
and savory snacks, superfoods and
the best tropical salad in the city,”
he promises.
Other plans include the addition of
an indoor waterfall and herb garden
at the entry and a new facade. Live
music and art are also in the works.
Kava is open daily, 4 p.m.–12 a.m.
But what exactly is the lounge’s
to ensure the cleanliness and purity
namesake brew? Caple calls it “a
of the product.
“This space was not designed for a
drink stronger kava, typically in the
limited-use restaurant or lounge. It
evening. Well-travelled San Francis-
Mimi Sparrow is a member of the
NOPNA board.
Whether you are looking to downsize or relocate, consider NOPA for your next move. NOPA provides the perfect environment every new or continuing homeowner is looking for. Take it from Bonnie, who has been living in NOPA for over 25 years. Bonnie is a master at assisting clients in taking that next step, for every stage of life. Much more than just a Realtor, SHE’S A MENTOR.Take your next step, OWN A LITTLE PIECE OF NOPABonnie SpindlerAll Time Top Residential Sales Agent at Zephyr Real Estate415.474.4445properties@bonniespindler.comwww.bonniespindler.comLIC# 01175723 6 | NOPNANews
Protect Yourself From Fire
A house fire on Fulton Street damaged two buildings. PHOTO: Madeline B./Hoodline
Those are only some of the most
common causes to watch for. There
are additional steps everyone should
take to protect ourselves in the event
of a fire.
Smoke alarms are an essential life
saving device; make sure your home
has them and they are in working
order. If you rent, landlords must
provide working smoke detectors.
The SFFD also provides free smoke
detectors to qualifying low-income
households.
It’s not enough just to have smoke
alarms, you must also check them
regularly. Pick a date each month and
set up reminders to make sure you
test the batteries in every alarm. It
NoPa has many architecturally beau-
fires is the real key to protecting our
takes five minutes.
tiful homes, built in the late 1800s
homes and lives.
and early 1900s. We don’t think
about these Victorian gems as posing
a high fire risk, but they do. Our
community was reminded of this in
February, when a house fire on Fulton
Street displaced 15 residents.
If you think you are immune to fires
because you taken steps to prevent
the kinds of fires that have destroyed
homes and taken lives in our neigh-
borhood, you’re wrong. Only newer
buildings incorporate designs with
any significant fire protection.
The wonderful firefighters of San
Francisco work quickly to put out the
incredibly fast moving blazes that
occur in the neighborhood. Engines
from Station 21 at 1443 Grove St.
near Baker Street are on the scene
in minutes, but education to prevent
In the event of a fire, insurance
The SFFD investigates fires and has
coverage plays an important role in
found some regular patterns and
helping victims recover. Most home-
common causes behind how these
owners have insurance policies with
fires start:
• Candles burning near flammable
materials such as curtains
• Overloaded power strips in
older homes that lack the ability
to handle today’s electronics
• Barbecue grills left unattended
on wood decks
• Smoldering cigarettes disposed
of in planter boxes and down
light wells
coverage for replacement of their
possessions, but renters might not
always have this. Renters insurance
is an inexpensive way—about $12
per month, on average—to prevent
a terrible situation from becoming
catastrophic. Shop around for the
best coverage for your needs, look
for plans that offer replacement cost
value, and take a photo or video
inventory of your possessions (then
store it in a safe offsite location).
• Household hazardous chemicals
stored improperly or not disposed
of when finished
Tim Hickey is president of the
NOPNA board.
mar : apr 2016 | 7
Salad Daze of Spring
Spring is here, and I for one am feeling a little more buoy-
ant as I work on menus for clients, recipe development
and “vegucating” the Bay Area on the restorative super
powers of fruits and veggies. No other season fuels my
passion for being a plant-based personal chef more than
spring. Our palates are eager to be awakened by sweet
fruits, while our bodies crave the nutrients of seasonal
stars like asparagus, peas and spinach. It must be why,
at this time of year, I get excited about salads.
On Sundays, I walk through our Grove Street Farmer’s
Market, which is abundant now with spring arrivals like
strawberries, asparagus and fava beans. In my head is a
giant empty salad bowl. I shop, letting my imagination
go wild, mentally adding each item to the bowl until
it’s a work of art.
If you’ve ever been stumped on how to build a great salad
at home, try my easy “Thrive on Five” ingredient template
Easy Lemon Vinaigrette (Makes about a cup)
4 whole lemons or
Squeeze the juice of all
Myer lemons
2 Tbs. honey or
maple syrup
1/3 c. extra virgin
olive oil
four lemons into a mixing
bowl. Add in the honey
or maple syrup and whisk.
Slowly drizzle in the olive
oil while whisking. Add
the salt and pepper, give
it another quick mix and
¼ tsp. sea salt
enjoy.
for your next spring salad creation.
a pinch of black pepper
1. A healthy portion of fresh lettuce. Mix dark and light
leaf lettuces for color.
2. One roasted veggie. Asparagus, zucchini, cauliflower,
new potatoes, golden or red beet, and broccoli florets
are all good options.
3. One fresh fruit. Sliced strawberries, red or green grapes,
pear and tangerine sections all make great choices.
4. One kind of toasted seed or nut. Hazelnuts, walnuts,
pumpkin seeds, pine nuts and almonds work great.
5. A fantastic homemade vinaigrette (recipe below) or a
diced avocado and lemon or favorite vinegar, if you’re
avoiding oil.
Chef Stacy Ellis is
a personal plant-
based chef and
owner of Herb’n
Vegan. For infor-
mation and recipes,
visit herbnvegan.
com. PHOTOS:
Stacey Ellis
8 | NOPNANews
OUT AND ABOUT
What’s New Around NoPa?
RECREATION
FOOD & DRINK
Several pedestrian safety improve-
Ju-ni, the new omakase sushi con-
ments are coming to the multiuse
cept in the former Candybar space
path on the north side of Panhandle
at 1335 Fulton St., opened in late
Park by late summer. Get ready for
February. The “chef’s choice” menu
new striping and signage as well as
format offers 15 dishes for about $90
new benches, trashcans, bike racks
per person.
and even a water-bottle filler.
After 16 years on Divisadero, Fly Bar
is under new ownership. Mike Sturm
has passed the keys to the guys
behind the Lopac Group, which also
owns Fishbowl Bar & Grill in Lower
Pac Heights. Sturm continues to own
Fly’s second location on Sutter Street
in Lower Nob Hill.
Alamo Square Park will close in April
Indian Paradox opened March 4 in
for a nine-month renovation. A full
the former King Foot Sub spot at
closure was the only way the Recre-
258 Divisadero St. The menu pairs
ation and Parks Department could
small plates of Indian street food with
At press time, Horsefeather was set
to open in the former Ziryab space
at 528 Divisadero. The bar had a
temporary run as Tsk/Tsk before
closing in January to complete
keep the project on budget and still
wines from around the globe.
its transition.
deliver a new irrigation system and
handicapped-accessible restroom as
well as other improvements.
RETAIL
Health Haven closed for good
in early March after 22 years on
Divisadero, taking Pet Haven with
it. We’ll let you know when a new
tenant signs on.
Libby Estell is the managing editor of
the NOPNA News.
PHOTOS: Spinlister.com (Panhandle Park), Jeffrey Zeldman-Flickr (Alamo Square),
Ju-ni, lucy_cho/Instagram (Indian Paradox), Libby Estell (Fly Bar)
Inside Tanner Goods and Topo Designs
mar : apr 2016 | 9
Divisadero is a very different street
than it was just a few years ago. Two
of the latest harbingers of change
are the new retailers between Grove
and Hayes, Topo Designs and Tanner
Goods.
Sandwiched between Mojo and Bar
Crudo—in the storefronts formerly
occupied by Cara Glass & Sash and
Your Scents Trading—the two retail-
ers have much in common. Each is
the newest brick-and-mortar outlet
of an existing out-of-state business:
Topo is based in Colorado, and Tan-
Topo Designs sells a colorful range of outdoor goods.
ner in Oregon. Both stores are new
PHOTO: Ryan Tuttle/Topo, Jason Cauthen (Tanner)
to San Francisco, and to NoPa, and
opened within days of each other
during the holidays. And both stores
justify premium prices on the basis of
quality products that are made in the
USA.
Tanner Goods sells a range of mens-
wear, but specializes in hand-crafted
leather goods such as wallets and
belts. The store’s interior is warm and
inviting to welcome passersby in from
the street—even if they don’t plan to
purchase anything. To help draw folks
in, Tanner plays new vinyl selections
on some Sundays and is currently
hosting an art installation of a har-
more events open to the community,
monograph, a vintage mechanical
including a geotagging race, outdoor
device that uses pendulums to draw
photography workshops this summer,
a geometric image. (It’s cool—check
and a fundraiser in conjunction with
it out).
the SF Skate Club.
Topo Designs makes and sells a
If you’re walking around on Divis, be
variety of brightly-colored outdoor
sure to drop by and welcome them
gear. The store has been connect-
to the neighborhood. Both stores are
ing with the neighborhood as curi-
heavy users of Instagram, so follow
ous passers-by pop in and through
them there to get the latest.
occasional after-hours happy hours.
The employees in the store are all SF
residents, the newest of whom also
lives in NoPa. Topo plans to hold
Jason Cauthen is a 25-year resident
of San Francisco and has lived in
NoPa since 2011.
10 | NOPNANews
Meet Northern Station’s New Captain
There’s new leadership at the SFPD’s Northern Station,
which patrols the Divisadero corridor and a large swath
of the city to the north and east.
In February, after three years at the station’s helm, Capt.
Greg McEachern was promoted to Commander of the
department’s Investigations Division. Now, John Jaim-
erena, formerly the officer in charge of the SFPD Gang
Task Force, has been promoted to captain and given
command of Northern Station, at Fillmore and Turk.
You can meet him in person at the station’s community
meetings, held at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of
My name is John Jaim-
erena, and I am a newly
promoted captain and the
new commanding officer of
Northern Police Station. I
have been a police officer
in San Francisco for 22 plus
years, and my career has
been evenly split between
patrol and investigations.
PHOTO: SFPD
My previous assignment was as the officer in
each month, or perhaps at an upcoming NOPNA
charge of the Gang Task Force. Before that I was
General Meeting. Until then, we’ve asked Capt.
the swing watch patrol lieutenant in the Tender-
Jaimerena to introduce himself.
loin District. I am familiar with the Northern Police
District, having previously worked here for several
years as a patrol sergeant.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling and was actu-
ally in Spain when I received the call regarding
my promotion. I am also an avid hiker and enjoy
going out to the ballpark to root for our San
Francisco Giants!
Upon receiving the news that I was taking over
at Northern Station, I couldn’t have been more
excited. I have a great working relationship with
the previous captain, now Commander McEach-
ern, and know that I can reach out to him for
anything I may need.
I am committed to solving neigh-
borhood problems, and I know that
the best way to achieve this is by
working closely with the commu-
nity. I look forward to meeting with
members of the community and
maintaining open communication
for years to come.
Taking Art to the Streets, Literally
VISION ZERO
There are many ways to make our streets
safer, and traffic engineering measures are
one of the more permanent yet expen-
sive options. This includes things like
pedestrian bulbs, medians, stop signs,
traffic lights and speed bumps. But maybe
there is a less costly but equally effective
option, something more aesthetically
appealing than a pedestrian bulb.
Beautiful murals cover the walls of many
San Francisco buildings, representing our
neighborhoods’ diverse cultures. When
taken horizontal and painted in intersec-
tions, those murals can do more than
reflect and increase a sense of commu-
nity: they can help slow traffic and make
our streets safer.
Although San Francisco doesn’t currently
offer an intersection mural program for
community members, street murals are
an approved element of the city’s Green
Connections plan to connect people
to parks via a network of safer streets.
Pedestrian advocacy group Walk SF is
working with the city to initiate a inter-
section mural program, and NOPNA is
working with the nonprofit to determine if
our neighborhood can support one.
Check nopna.org for more information
about requirements and possible loca-
tions and complete a survey about which
streets you think are the best candidate
for a mural.
Tim Hickey is the president of
the NOPNA board.
Top: A painted intersection in Philadelphia.
PHOTO: Southofsouth.org
Left: A painted intersection in Seattle.
PHOTO: Greatcity.org
Right: A painted intersection in Vancouver,
Wash. PHOTO: Cityofvancouver.us
LOOKING FOR AWESOME PEOPLE
TO JOIN NOPNA NEWS
Managing Editor
Web Manager
Are you a writer/editor with a
passion for our neighborhood?
NOPNA is looking for a team
player with good project manage-
ment skills to be our next manag-
ing editor of the award-winning
NOPNA News.
This volunteer position maintains
the NOPNA website. Tasks include
posting content and handling other
IT administrative tasks. The ideal
candidate likes to be creative, a
good problem solver and enjoys
working with the community.
If you’re interested, please email board@nopna.org
MOLLIE POE
Top Producer & NOPA Specialist
As a long-term resident of North Panhandle, a Mom with kids in local schools,
and a strong supporter and advocate of everything NOPA (including the
neighborhood association as a business member and avid sponsor), I
regularly represent Buyers and Sellers within our wonderful neighborhood.
Please visit my website for further information on past sales and property
presentations, or call me directly with any Real Estate inquiries.
If you are thinking of selling, I'd love to help with a market analysis of your
property. Low inventory continues to drive our market and you maybe very
surprised to find the 'hidden equity' in your home, given these market
conditions. I have good insight into NOPA's Buyer pool, and I frequently
have access to pocket listings and a proven strategy to get you the best
results within NOPA's borders or other neighborhoods in our 7x7.
MY RECENT NOPA SALES
527 BRODERICK STREET
• Gorgeous Broderick St Home
• Remodeled Detached House-Like Condo
• Privately Located in Rear of Central NOPA Lot
• Large Exclusive-use Redwood Deck
• 2 Levels 3BD/2.5BA
• 11' Ceiling and Custom Designed Features
SOLD $1,818,000
REPRESENTED SELLER
1157 BRODERICK STREET
• Upper Level Condo Remodeled with
2077 GOLDEN GATE AVE
• Upper Level Condo, Recently Converted
1949 MCALLISTER STREET
• Detached Stand Alone
Designer Finishes
• Recently Condo Converted
• 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom
• Spacious Open Floor Plan
• Spacious Master Suite +Addl Powder Room
• Beautiful Southern Views
House-Like Condo
• Spacious Three Level Floor Plan
• 3-4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms
• Tranquil Views of Terraced Yard Designed
• Private Exclusive-Use Garage
• Deeded Deck and Shared Yard
by Flora Grubb
• Exclusive-Use Bonus Room on Ground Level
• 1-Car Independent Parking and Storage
SOLD $1,280,000
REPRESENTED SELLER
• 1 Car Independent Parking
SOLD OFF MARKET - $1,505,000
SOLD $1,030,000
REPRESENTED SELLER
REPRESENTED SELLER
Mollie Poe | NOPA Sales Specialist | Top 1% SFAR 2015
20 Year NOPA Resident | NOPNA Business Member
Pacific Union Int’l • Christie’s Real Estate
1699 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109
415.902.2447 | mollie@molliepoe.com | www.molliepoe.com
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