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NOPNANews
nopna.org A Publication of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
Winter 2021
ONE CITY.
ONE DAY.
RISING TOGETHER.
October 17, 2021 marked the return of San Francisco’s
beloved Sunday Streets with dozens of neighborhood
block parties throughout the city on what was called
“Phoenix Day.” Like a phoenix rising from the ashes,
NOPA is emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic stronger
and a more united community as evidenced by the epic
Sunday Streets block party on Lyon Street between Fulton
and Grove Streets.
Organized by Christine Han of NOPA Corner Market, the
event featured free coffee and donuts from Bob Donut’s to
start off the day and catered lunch for all with two sessions
of hot feasts from Kung Food. All of this was washed down
with plenty of cold beverages for kids and adults. The
‘icing on the cake,’ so to speak, was served up by Lexie’s
Frozen Custard truck and brought smiles to young and
old alike, with a flavorful scoop of one’s choice or an Oreo
cookie ice cream sandwich. And as if that weren’t enough,
Barrel Head Brewhouse served up frosty beverages for
the festivities.
We are fortunate that several of the talented artists
and artisans in our neighborhood also contributed their
gifts to make it a truly special day. Todd Kurnat (featured
in NOPNA News 2021:3) painted a new original mural
on the side of NOPA Corner market that highlighted the
theme of the day. Our neighborhood chalk artist Sasha
(also profiled in this issue) contributed her beautiful and
(continued on page 3)
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2 | NOPNANews
FROM THE BOARD
A NEIGHBORHOOD RISING
And just like that, 2021 is coming to a close.
Sometimes, we forget what a special place we live in —
surrounded by kind, smart, talented, funny, giving,
creative, hard working, supportive, and down-to-earth
neighbors. Social-distancing only made this worse as many
of us now spend more time with screens than with one
another IRL (in real life).
Jason Cauthen
NOPNA News Editor
We were fortunate this fall to have three in-person events
which served as great reminders of the magic of this community and
the people around us, each in its own way. In September, The Celebration
of Life to honor Curtis Bryant — “The Mayor of Divisadero” — drew
hundreds of revelers to honor the legacy of a man who touched so many
lives with class, grace, and humor. In October, the neighborhood celebrated
our ability to rise with a Phoenix Day block party that welcomed all!
It featured food, art, music, and fashion where many of the hidden (and
less hidden) creative people in our community shined through. And, at
the end of October, our Grove Street neighbors welcomed kids back to
our annual Halloween Event (this year partnering with the “Alamo Scare”).
The joy of unlimited candy was exceeded only by the realization that
things are moving closer to “normalcy” one day at a time.
Events like these make it impossible to forget what this community
is all about. They are the types of things that prompted me to get
involved with the NOPNA Board several years ago and inspire me to
stay involved today. Meeting the eclectic characters, local heroes,
community-minded merchants, local leaders, and “regular people”—
who are anything but -- is one of the great joys of being in this
neighborhood and volunteering for NOPNA.
Here’s to the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. We’re looking
forward to more opportunities to enjoy spending time with this amazing
community and all the magic that everyone brings to it. Hope to see
you all (IRL) in the coming year.
Best,
Jason
Jason Cauthen is a native San Franciscan who has lived in this
neighborhood for the past decade with his wife and two kids.
When not editing the NOPNA News, he can sometimes be found
attempting to play a ukulele (poorly) in the Panhandle.
Sign up for our
email newsletter!
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
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Jason Cauthen
EDITOR
Emeline Minor
COPY EDITORS
Nathan Lovejoy,
Michelle Weinstein
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brenda Drake Lesch
PHOTOGRAPHY
Katie Zhao
BUSINESS OUTREACH/ADVERTISING
Emeline Minor
DISTRIBUTION
Will Valentine
PRINTING
Image Printing, San Francisco
NOPNA’s Mission: The purpose of
this association shall be to estab-
lish neighborhood unity, maintain
multi-ethnic and multi-cultural
diversity, foster a sense of neigh-
borhood pride, promote a safe and
clean community, and improve the
quality of life for all residents of
the neighborhood.
Your financial support allows NOPNA
to cover the costs of our newsletters,
community building events like
our block party and holiday party,
public art projects in the neighbor-
hood, and other activities that enrich
our dynamic neighborhood.
It also supports this site.
Make a difference on our streets and
become a member today!
Contact NOPNA
(continued from page 1)
issue 4 : 2021 | 3
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whimsical chalk art to the sidewalks,
inspiring several kids to add their
own contributions. Rosie Dittman
(featured News 2021:2) brought
out her famous focaccia and jams.
Yabette Swank of swanketyswank.
com collaborated with Bertha Pearl
of sizequeenclothing.com in support
of “Big Babes Bazaar” organized by
Saucye West at #fightforinclusivity. A
bevy of beautiful models turned Lyon
Street into a veritable catwalk, with
beats and background music provided
throughout the day by DJ Dillan
(another local talent).
In addition, numerous neighbors
pitched in to provide plenty of
entertainment for the kids, including
giant bubble blowing, chalk art,
Jenga, and an extremely popular
activities wheel, where a spin
might land on “tell a joke,” “sing a
song,” or “do a little dance.” Other
activities included a bake sale, a
lemonade stand, free library books,
and a stroll through the Open
Potter’s Studio.
Thanks to the herculean effort and
incredible generosity of Christine
Han and Eric Dy, the proprietors
of the NOPA Corner Market, and
support from NOPNA, the large
crowd of neighbors was satiated
with free food, drinks, and plenty
of activities to keep everyone busy
and entertained throughout the day.
The NOPA Corner Market became a
beacon of light for many of us during
the pandemic, providing a safe place
to shop for food and other essential
items. Their generosity of spirit shone
even brighter during their hosting
of this tremendous block party. We
neighbors of NOPA are sincerely
grateful for all that the NOPA Corner
Market has become. Please make
sure to support our neighborhood
treasure. Thank you, Christine and
Eric!
Mark Smolinski is a medical epidemiologist
and NOPA resident for over ten years. He is
enduring the pandemic with his Bombay and
Bengal rescue cats.
4 | NOPNANews
LOCAL ARTIST CHALKS UP HER
WORK TO A LESSON IN LETTING GO
“I was off work because you
obviously can’t do tattooing in the
middle of a pandemic,” Sasha shares,
down on all fours bringing to life yet
another creature accompanied by
the nostalgic sound of chalk scraping
asphalt. “So I started going for walks
and drawing almost every morning. It
just kind of was a way to relieve stress
and to encourage people by saying,
‘Hey we’re all in this together!’”
What passersby may not realize
about Sasha, given her casual style
and understated medium, is that her
sculpture work has been featured in
the de Young. What is it, one wonders,
that has motivated an established
artist to spend countless hours over
the span of nearly two years to create
a series of ephemeral sidewalk chalk
creatures?
“I appreciate the whimsy of it,”
Sasha explains. “It’s not serious,
even though it takes time, and I also
like that it’s not permanent. Once I
walk away, who knows what’s going
to happen?”
“Sometimes I would circle round to
touch stuff up. I remember coming
round to one piece that someone
had drawn over and my first thought
was, ‘Oh, someone drew on it.’ Then
I thought, ‘Oh, collaborative art!’
Other times, I’ve had work completely
washed away. There’s a freeing feeling
because it’s just chalk. It’s kind of a nice
lesson in letting go.”
Over time, Sasha has come to
realize that her chalk creations have
opened a form of dialogue with the
neighborhood, in spite of the fact that
they generally come to fruition in the
still of the early morning.
“I do this work in a bubble, but I
realize I’m having conversations with
people without ever knowing who they
are . . . or without them ever knowing
who I am. It’s just kind of fun.”
On this Halloween afternoon, though,
Sasha is very much not working in
isolation. An anonymous fan adorned
in a dramatic feather mask and
dark hooded cloak approaches her
and gushes: “Your drawings are so
beautiful!”
Unphased and still on all fours, Sasha
responds, “I’m so glad you’re enjoying
them.” She eventually looks up and —
delighted by the elaborate costume —
exclaims, “You look fantastic!”
The fan continues, “Thank you! I’m
trying to do something with your chalk,
but it’s not the same.”
Sasha responds warmly as she gets
back to work, “That’s great, that’s what
it’s there for. Just make a mark!”
Em Minor has lived in NOPA since 2018 and
enjoys strolling through the Panhandle in the
evenings with her husband John.
It’s a picture-perfect fall
afternoon“ as neighborhood
volunteers begin gathering on Grove
Street to prepare for the longstanding
NOPA Halloween Trick or Treat event.
A few blocks east, another group of
volunteers are cheerfully setting up our
sister event, Alamo Scare. To complete
the park’s festive mood, butterflies
flutter among the foliage, boisterous
puppies banter with new tail-wagging
friends, and some of our beloved
animated characters from NOPA stencil
the sidewalks — in costume, of course:
a snail dressed as a butterfly, a ladybug
dressed as a bunny, and a bunny
dressed as a witch.
Behind this whimsical and prolific
sidewalk chalk art is a local artist, Sasha.
She practices in a variety of media
ranging from oil paints to copper
sculptures. She also founded a unique
tattoo studio that partners with the
medical community to help patients
reclaim their bodies following invasive
surgery.
Sidewalk chalk art, however, did not
enter the scene for Sasha until the onset
of COVID when her cuddly creatures
initially featured medical masks rather
than the playful costume masks they
donned on this sunny afternoon.
issue 4 : 2021 | 5
CELEBRATING CB, THE MAYOR
OF DIVISADERO
“Keep doing big things.”
“You’re in it to win it.” These are
some of the many catchphrases
you’d hear from Curtis “CB” Bryant,
affectionately known as the Mayor of
Divisadero, whose life was celebrated
in September with a traditional second
line parade through downtown
Divisadero. Second line parades,
commonly held in New Orleans, are
led by a brass band (the first line)
with a large following of members of
the community dancing and singing
following (the second line). On
September 18, 2021, that’s exactly
what we, the neighbors of NOPA
and Alamo Square and —along with
CB’s loved ones from around the
country —did!
Organized by Leigh Ellison,
hundreds of friends, family, and
strangers all celebrated, danced, and
marched in celebration of CB’s life and
legacy from Alamo Square park, past
his home of 47 years on Grove Street,
and down Divisadero Street. “The
first thing you’d think when you saw
[CB], was that you were going to have
a good time,” said Leigh. “He was a
class-act who celebrated each day.”
CB was never caught without a full
suite of color and excitement and
on many nights would be found in
his “office,” the Madrone Art Bar. “He
was always dressed so immaculately
and respectfully. The whole room
would move away from him when
he entered,” Chuck Martin,a NOPA
neighbor since 1985, remarked.
“CB had a way with words. On
more than one occasion, I would
catch him flirting with my wife at Fly
Bar and I would always treat it as a
compliment,” said Lester Raww, 27
year NOPA resident.
His legacy didn’t go unnoticed
either. Even London Breed, Mayor
of San Francisco, knew him by name.
“Pretty much every night if you wanted
to hang out with somebody, Curtis
was your man . . . . I loved hanging out
with him and he always had a spot for
me at the Fillmore Jazz Festival,” she
told SFGATE’s Dan Gentile.
CB’s memory knows no borders.
With funds leftover from a GoFundMe
campaign, Leigh was able to have
a custom, seven foot tall headstone
inscribed with “Dedicated by the City
of San Francisco” made to mark his
burial place next to his mother in his
hometown of Centralia, Illinois.
Although CB is no longer with us,
he remains so in spirit. His legacy is
rooted all around us: from the mural
on Madrone Art Bar to the stencils
that can be found all through
Divisadero’s sidewalks, CB, The
Mayor, continues to live within the
neighborhood and our hearts. He
will forever serve as an example
of an unforgettable neighbor and
friend who made a lasting impact on
his community “Who’s got it better
than us? Nobody.” —Curtis Bryant
(01/26/1946–09/16/2020).
Martin Almaraz moved to the neighborhood
in 2020 and is an avid cyclist, runner, and
photographer.
6 | NOPNANews
SKATING ON GOLDEN GATE
If Page Street is the Lizzo of the
Slow Streets, then Golden Gate Avenue
is the Caroline Polachek of the Slow Streets.
(Outside Lands anyone?) She’s newer and
lesser known, but still a great time. As a NOPA
resident, I used Page Street a lot in the early
days of the pandemic. But I’ve been spending
some time on Golden Gate Avenue and
realized that those longer blocks are perfect for
practicing my fledgling roller skating skills.
If anyone else has picked up roller skating
during the pandemic, then you know that
dreaded feeling of getting to a sidewalk corner
and trying to navigate the detectable systems.
Detectable systems are those yellow raised
bumps at the corners that are necessary to
ensure the safety of those who are visually
impaired, but are a treacherous obstacle for
those who are still getting the hang of stopping
on eight wheels. So, a wide, slow street with
few cars is an ideal environment. A long street
block, where you don’t have to watch out for
cross traffic as much, is even better.
I recommend the blocks between Broderick
and Lyon Streets. After Central Avenue, it starts
to look a bit hilly for my taste, but maybe I will
be ready for it if and when the city extends
the western boundary of the Slow Street out
to Parker Avenue. According to the SFMTA
survey, 66% of respondents are in favor of that
expansion. If skating isn’t your style, there’s lots
of other ways to enjoy slow streets. I hear there
is even a weekly happy hour on Golden Gate
Avenue on Fridays.
See you out there neighbors.
Candace has been a NOPA resident since 2009 and
still misses the 99 cent store on Divis. When she’s not
roller skating, Candace likes to have a drink at Horse-
feather’s sunny patio.
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issue 4 : 2021 | 7
GETTING INVOLVED—
PANHANDLE STEWARDS
Early morning runs, afternoon
strolls, weekend bike rides, work
out classes, pickup basketball, Sunday
picnics, and much more — the
Panhandle is a place so many San
Franciscans go to stretch their legs,
get some fresh air, and enjoy our
city. It is home to some of the largest
Eucalyptus trees in the city and one
of the city’s most prominent native
gardens. For more than ten years
now, on the second Saturday of the
Month, a group of volunteers have
been coming out to help keep the
Panhandle beautiful.
This group, the Panhandle Stewards,
was formed by neighbors who are
invested in the preservation of our
local outdoor spaces. After a hiatus,
the Stewards are back taking care of
our park. While the native plants in the
Panhandle are hardy and well suited to
the climate, they do have their share of
struggles, including: invasive species,
Eucalyptus bark (which is harmful to
plants/insects), and heavy foot traffic.
Each of these make the Panhandle a
tough environment for our charming
and delightful, native plants.
calendar here: https://sfrpd.secure.
The next three second Saturdays
So, if you are ever in town on the
are:
second Saturday of a month, the
Panhandle Stewards would love to see
you. We work hard, but the best part
is meeting new neighbors. You can
follow us on Instagram or Twitter (@
panhandlestewards) and follow the
• December 11th
• January 8th
• February 13th
We meet at 10am by the Children’s
Playground in the Panhandle. See you
there!
8 | NOPNANews
FAMILY BUSINESS CLEANS UP
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
When the pandemic started,
NOPA residents Kip Fuller and Rosie
Hindes saw the many outdoor dining
spaces and parklets going up all
over San Francisco and were inspired
to start an exterior cleaning and
sanitizing service. Now after months
of planning Essential Power Washing
Services is open for business!
Kip is a community leader and
entrepreneur who was born and raised
in NOPA. You may know Kip from his
more than ten years as an insurance
business owner. You may recognize
Rosie from her time as the original
Shift Lead at Tartine Manufactory.
They are excited to use their
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sfpowerwashing.com/ —or by using
the QR code below.
Look for Essential Power Washing
Services to be cleaning up the
neighborhood near you!
experience to build a family business
and ready to help the reopening and
recovery effort. As Kip put it, “NOPA
needs help.” He envisions exterior
cleaning could bring a stunning
improvement to the neighborhood.
Essential Power Washing Services
is offering to clean up the sidewalks
and storefronts along the Divisadero
Corridor following a “pay what you
can” business philosophy through
December 31, 2021. They provide
commercial cleaning services
including graffiti removal. They also
do residential house washing up to
three stories, window washing, mobile
car washings, and more! You can
find Kip and Rosie at http://www.
Steve Nuzzo, a fifteen-year resident of NOPA, has been restrained from
traveling overseas for work this past year and a half, so you can find him more
often now biking through the Panhandle, up and down the coast, or making
photo portraits of people in the neighborhood
issue 4 : 2021 | 9
UPCOMING
EVENTS
NOPNA Virtual General Meeting
Third Thursday of Even months
Next meeting: Feb 2022!
Watch nopna.org for updates
Sign up for our email list and get
all the details and updates at
www.nopna.org! Or follow us on
facebook, Instagram, or twitter!
Farmers Market
DMV Parking Lot – Broderick@Fell
Sundays – 10am–2pm
Panhandle Stewards
Second Saturdays – 10am
Meet near Childrens’ Playground
in the Panhandle
10 | NOPNANews
HALLOWEEN 2021 —
THANK YOU!
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This year, Alamo Square and North
of Panhandle Neighborhood Associations
teamed up to celebrate Halloween 2021.
On Sunday, October 31st, 4pm to 6pm
ASNA hosted “Alamo Scare” in the park
and offered games, arts & craft activities,
and a walk through a haunted forest for
the little ones. At 6pm, a small parade of
goblins, ghosts, princesses, and pirates
marched down Grove Street, led by
master of ceremonies Cynthia Chapman!
Destination: 1500 & 1600 blocks of Grove
where NOPNA cordoned off four blocks
for safe trick-or-treating for the kids. The
USF Band kicked off an active night of
trick or treating by playing classics like
“Thriller” and “Werewolves of London”
to entertain families. It was another big
night for young and old, but by 9pm
we had the streets cleaned up and
looking spotless!
The NOPNA board extends a huge
“thank you” to everyone who helped
make the trick-or-treating a success. First
and foremost, we couldn’t have done it
without the generous neighbors on Grove
and Lyon Streets, who have hosted this
wonderful tradition since 2006. We would
also like to thank the many volunteers who
helped monitor the barricades, drop off
candy to houses running low, and help
set up and break down the whole event.
Finally, thank you to Maria Trefren and
Recology for delivering and picking up
recycle bins and to Alison Mickels and
SFDPW for the barricades and set up
support. You are all superstars who made
this joyous event possible!
VOLUNTEERS:
Photography:
Steve Nuzzo and
Katie Zhao
Music:
The USF Band
The Haunted Garden:
Megan S
Candy Donations
San Francisco
Day School families
Pacific Primary families
Redemption
Church members
Fibers of Being -
Elisabeth S - 645
Divisadero
Belann G
Caitlin S
Chris D
Jeff D
Kathy M
Kayle B
Leela G
Samantha C
Shannon C
Tricia S
Set Up, Clean Up
and Traffic Monitors
Andy H
Cynthia C
David B
Em M
Ethan B
Fennel D
Garen C
Haruto P
Jason C
Jeff D
Larry G
Leela G
Liana R
Lila S
Martin A
Nathaniel S
Olivia W
Parker H
Ronan K
Sally W
Shakirah S
Tim H
Yifat A
issue 4 : 2021 | 11
LEND A HELPING HAND
THIS HOLIDAY
The Village Project:
2097 Turk St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Event Support & Weekly Food Pantry
Lead: Adrian Williams
Contact: awilliamsassoc@yahoo.com
Nia Soul Kitchen:
Weekly Community Meal Prep and
Delivery & Distribution Support
Leads: Pia Harris
Contact: pia_harris@yahoo.com
Bethel AME Church:
916 Laguna St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Weekly Food Pantry Support
and Distribution
Leads: Pastor Robert Ryland Shaw
and Rev. Ann Champion Shaw
Contact: bethelamecsf@gmail.com
Kimochi Senior Center
Community Dining and Kitchen
for Home Delivered Meals
JCCCNC
Issei Memorial Hall,
1840 Sutter St., 1st Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
Contact: kimochikai@kimochi-inc.org
volunteer-form
Royal Adah Arms Senior Housing &
Western Addition Senior Center:
1390 1/2 Turk St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
Food Pantry Support and Distribution
Lead: Robin Bill
Contact: robin.bill@bhpmss.org
As the holidays near, there
will be no shortage of opportunities
to lend a helping hand to our
neighbors. Whether your idea of
volunteering involves packing food
and distributing it to residents who
need it most or contributing to toy
drives that bring happiness to families
in need, we wanted to share some
ideas for you to volunteer your time
(and money!) to have a direct impact
on our community.
As always, when volunteering
remember basic etiquette: Don’t
forget your mask, wear comfortable
clothing, and don’t show up if you
are sick. Be prepared to show proof
of vaccination and show up on time.
At the end of the day, be flexible,
kind, and self-sufficient to get the
job done!
Know of an opportunity in NOPA
that’s not listed below or have interest
in volunteering with one of the
organizations below? Reach out to us
via email at board@nopna.org.
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Respect the neighborhood, be part of the community
Your Custom Text Here