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NOPNANews
nopna.org A Publication of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
Fall 2023
Scarlet Fox
owners, Kaela
Miller (left) and
Kate Maeder.
By Meg Rahner Antelyes
On a vibrant corner of Hayes
Street (near Central) in NOPA,
a distinctive new wine bar has
taken root: Scarlet Fox.
The brains and hearts behind this
venture is a charismatic couple, deeply
embedded in our community. We
recently spoke with owners Kate
Maeder and Kaela Miller to learn more
about the inspirations behind this
intimate wine bar.
Can you tell us a little bit about
yourselves?
We’re both California born and raised,
and we’re NOPA neighbors who’ve
lived in San Francisco for over twelve
years. We got married three years ago
and we’re dog moms to our corgi/
border collie mixes, Tio and Sprout.
Kaela is a certified sommelier who’s
worked in hospitality for over twenty
years. Kate is a political strategist and
media consultant who’s a partner at
the national media firm KMM Strategies.
Our house is always filled with
conversations about politics and wine—
or the politics of wine!
(continued on page 3)
POURING HEART
& S UL: Q+A with the Owners
of Scarlet Fox
2 | NOPNANews
FROM THE BOARD
WHAT EXACTLY IS
NOPNA?
Martin Almaraz
NOPNA President
Sometimes I take for granted the awesomeness that is the NOPA
neighborhood—from the wide-array of transit options, easy access to Golden
Gate Park and the Panhandle, both high-end and affordable eating options, the
beautiful Victorian homes on every street, and the wonderful friendly people
who live in them, I almost never pass up an opportunity to brag about NOPA to
my friends across the city. It’s part of my identity, a topic of conversation when
I meet new people, and a segue to discussing what I care about most.
All this is to say that I love my neighborhood and home, which is the reason I
continue to be involved in our neighborhood association. Speaking of, this
is the perfect way to transition into another favorite topic, NOPNA and how
we work.
NOPNA aptly stands for North of the Panhandle Neighborhood Association,
pronounced naw-puh-nuh or no-puh-nuh, depending on who you ask (my
preference is the latter). NOPNA is a completely volunteer-driven, non-profit
501(c)(3) with a goal of uniting and improving the neighborhood. That said,
we’re definitely not a homeowners association, nor a neighborhood watch.
NOPNA hosts community meetings and board meetings in alternating
months, both of which always land on the third Thursday of the month. In
our community meetings, we invite relevant political speakers or folks with
interesting ideas and stories to tell based on neighborhood chatter and emails
we receive through board@nopna.org.
Board meetings are another beast. There we follow “Robert’s Rules”—the
go-to manual for parliamentary procedure—as best we can. This means
these meetings involve lots of debate, information gathering, and voting on
various matters such as budgets for block parties or Halloween, and advocacy
for changes to the immediate neighborhood (the Fell Street bike lane, for
example). Of course, coming to an agreement is always a challenge, especially
since we promote diversity in our board’s 15 members across several different
dimensions: renter/owner, ethnicity, background, kids/no-kids, age, and
gender. This diversity enables us to consider a wide array of perspectives and
helps ensure we remain true to the needs of the community.
NOPA is a wonderful neighborhood in the heart of San Francisco. Everyone
knows that, but not everyone knows about NOPNA and all the work we do
to support this vibrant community and make it a better place for us all. When
NOPNA works best, it’s by channeling the energies and passions of the
community to make our neighborhood a better place for all of us. If you’d like
to be more involved in this kind of work, attend a community meeting or reach
out to us at board@nopna.org.
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, and
Divisadero and Fell Streets.
PUBLISHER
NOPNA Board of Directors
MANAGING EDITOR
Chrissy Loader
COPY EDITORS
Jason Cauthen, Maria Diploudis,
Bronwyn Doran, and Nathan Lovejoy
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brenda Drake Lesch
BUSINESS OUTREACH / ADVERTISING
Caitlin Stanton
DISTRIBUTION
Will Valentine
PRINTING
Image Printing, San Francisco
NOPNA is a non-profit organization
of neighbors who care about
the community, our city, and our
world. Our mission is to establish
neighborhood unity, maintain multi-
ethnic, 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.
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 neighborhood,
and other activities that enrich our
dynamic neighborhood.
Make a difference on our streets
and become a member today!
Contact NOPNA
Martin is a lifelong cyclist and avid film photographer. You can always find him in the
Panhandle or lost at Ocean Beach!
Sign up for our
email newsletter!
continued from page 1
POURING HEART & SOUL:
Q+A WITH THE OWNERS OF SCARLET FOX
issue 3 : 2023 | 3
What inspired you to open a wine
bar in the neighborhood and what
makes it unique?
It’s always been Kaela’s dream to
open her own wine bar, so when
1690 Hayes Street became available
we jumped on the opportunity to
convert the old laundromat into a
neighborhood wine bar with the
help of the Grgich brothers, who’ve
owned the building for over twenty-
five years. Right place, right time,
right moment.
We’re unique in a few ways. We’re
one of the few LGBTQ-owned,
women-owned, spouse-owned bars
in San Francisco. We may also be
the only San Diego Wave soccer fan
bar in the city—we regularly show
women’s soccer league games on our
wall projector. But most importantly,
we offer incredible wines of the
world at affordable prices—both
by the glass and by the bottle. And
weekdays before 6pm, we have $9
happy hour and free snacks.
How has the reception been
so far?
The reception from our neighbors
and the LGBTQ community has
been fantastic. As NOPA neighbors
ourselves, it’s so important to us to
serve the neighborhood and create
a space that’s welcoming and
unpretentious. We love feedback.
Because we’re 100% hands-on
day-to-day, feedback is direct
—sometimes we buy new wines
based on neighbors’ preferences.
What does a perfect day
in NOPA look like to you?
We take our two pups to Alamo
Square or the Panhandle. We might
grab a coffee from Ali at Central
Coffee in the morning, a beer from
Mickey at Barrel Head Brewhouse
in the afternoon, and order pizzas
to Scarlet Fox for a memorable
evening of wine, music, and laughs
with friends.
Anything else you want readers
to know about Scarlet Fox?
We’re not just a wine bar—we’re
a retail shop, too. So stop by, take
wine home, pack it with a picnic to
the park, or grab a bottle to take
to a friend’s house to celebrate.
Bottles are $10 off to take-away.
You can always reach us at
hello@scarletfoxsf.com to schedule
a private event or reserve our large
table that seats 8-10. Cheers!
Meg has lived in NOPA since moving to San
Francisco 13 years ago. The NOPNA News
inspired her to get involved with the organiza-
tion in 2017, and she joined the NOPNA Board
shortly after writing her first article.
4 | NOPNANews
NEIGHBOR PROFILE:
YABETTE SWANK
By Jason Cauthen
You may have seen Yabette
Swank’s work at our annual
Phoenix Day celebration, displayed
decades in our neighborhood
span multiple passions, interests,
and causes.
at NOPA Corner Market, or Kate’s
Raised in Ohio, Yabette moved to
Kitchen, or at other local venues over
San Francisco in 2000 after a visit to
the years. Painter, clothing designer,
a local café on Baker and McAllister
furniture refinisher, advocate, and
(now Matching Half), where she
entrepreneur, Yabette’s two-plus
felt at home. Trained as an audio
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engineer, her first local job was
editing audio for independent films.
Following 9/11 and the birth of her
daughter, she chose to work closer
to home and began refinishing
and selling furniture online under
the brand “Swankety Swank.”
Swankety Swank grew—expanding
to a storefront on McAllister, an
occasional steampunk event-space
and a retail space on Divisadero,
where she brought in and sold work
by other local artists.
Sustainability has always
been central to Yabette’s ethos.
After a trip to Paris in 2014, she
was inspired to launch her own
fashion brand. Seeking the best
material, Yabette uses hemp for
its sustainable, biodegradable,
agriculturally-beneficial properties.
A brand focus body-positivity and
providing clothes in extended
sizes to suit people identifying as
issue 3 : 2023 | 5
gender-fluid. These creations were central to her fashion shows
at the past two Phoenix Day celebrations. She’ll be back again this
year with partner Saucye West for “Big Babes Bazaar,” an event
supporting local artists and creators.
Though she still sells her clothes on swanketyswank.com,
Yabette has recently opened a new chapter, which she calls
“Artchemize.” Yabette works with clients who are struggling with
difficult emotional experiences. As a client talks through an issue,
She paints in response to what she’s hearing, creating a work of
art that represents the client’s struggle. The title of the painting
becomes a mantra for the client, and the client keeps the painting
as a totem of their transformation. Through this work, Yabette
helps clients address grief, depression, and trauma.
Artists like Yabette both embody and are essential to the
character and texture of our eclectic neighborhood. If you’d
like to support Yabette, you can purchase her artwork at NOPA
Corner Market and her clothing on swanketyswank.com. You can
learn more about her Artchemize project and other works at
yabette.com. Or stop by and say hi at the next Phoenix Day
celebration on October 15.
6 | NOPNANews
LARRY GRIFFIN, NEIGHBORHOOD
HERO AND COMMUNITY LEADER
San Francisco’s community.
a number of city government roles—
“Larry was the neighbor who
including working as an investigator
made your day a little brighter with
for the District Attorney’s Office, a
a big smile and a warm hello when
Child Support Services investigator,
you’d see him on the street,” Larry’s
and a contract compliance officer
neighbor and fellow NOPNA board
for the Office of Labor Standards
member Meg Rahner Antelyes said.
Enforcement—and held several
“He was a sage in our community,
leadership roles.
a fantastic storyteller, and even
“As a NOPNA board member
somewhat of a neighborhood
and neighbor, I could always count
historian. He was deeply involved as a
on Larry to volunteer for an event
long-time leader in San Francisco and
or help us navigate tough community
always made sure we were thinking of
issues,” Vice President of NOPNA
those who may be marginalized.”
and longstanding community
Larry was a born community
member Leela Gill shared. “His warm
leader, which stemmed in part from
smile, engaging personality, and
his political and social upbringing.
consistent willingness to give back
Larry’s father, Herman Griffin, started
were just a few of the many things
a police community relations program
I loved about him.”
for Western Addition neighbors back
When we interviewed Larry in 2018
in the 1970s. Herman and his wife,
as part of a neighbor profile article for
Estelle Klein, were one of the first
NOPNA News, he told us, “I’m trying
interracial couples to be married in
to make people’s lives better. That’s
San Francisco after the California
what I’m doing at City Hall, trying to
By Leela Gill
On July 7, 2023,
Larry Griffin—friend,
neighbor, and North of Panhandle
Neighborhood Association (NOPNA)
law banning interracial marriages
recover stolen wages. I can’t sit back
board member—passed away. He
was rescinded. Larry’s parents
and do nothing.” Larry’s words serve
was 69 years-old.
were open about the hostility they
as a reminder that we must strive to
Larry was born in San Francisco in
faced, but countered adversity with
take action to positively impact our
1954. In 1962, when Larry was eight
unwavering service to the community.
community and our city to help make
years old, his grandparents bought
Herman also volunteered to coach
people’s lives better.
a place for his family on McAllister
youth basketball at the Booker T.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi once
Street (near Lyon Street) and he
Washington Community Center, an
called Larry a “champion for working
grew up in the neighborhood.
organization serving Black youth and
people.” Indeed, he was that and so
As an adult, after a few years living
families in the Western Addition.
much more. We’ll miss all he brought
in other San Francisco neighborhoods,
Larry provided unwavering service
to the neighborhood and the people
he returned with his wife Sally and
to his community. In addition to
of San Francisco.
they lived in the same building he
serving on the NOPNA Board
grew up in on McAllister Street.
twice, Larry went on to serve as the
There he became a well-known,
friendly face in the neighborhood
President of the Board for Booker T.
Washington Community Center. He
and a visible, active member of
also engaged in local politics, holding
Leela is a 20+ year NOPA resident active in
community safety and event planning. With her
two boys and husband, she enjoys every day in
the neighborhood.
issue 3 : 2023 | 7
PHOENIX DAY +
NEIGHBORHOOD-WIDE GARAGE SALE
Wait, two events in one day? YES!
Phoenix Day Party
Come out October 15, noon to 5
pm, 500 block of Lyon Slow Street,
for a great block party (sponsored by
Avenue Greenlight and organized
by Nopa Corner Market). Here are
a few things you can enjoy:
• Fashion Show
• Music
• Kid’s events:
• Bubbles
• Face-painting
• Art Show
• Quick-fix Bike Repairs provided by
Scenic Routes Community Center
• Kid’s carpeted book station
and games
• Beverages, ice cream, and
food from Kung Food and
Bob’s Donuts.
NOPNA-wide Garage Sale
Are you ready to get rid of your
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garage for a few hours, meet some
Send your garage sale location
Covid-era hobby gear? Don’t need
neighbors, and make some dough
(e.g. “500 block of Lyon”) to
that sewing machine, stationary bike,
(unless you’re selling your mixer,
board@nopna.org by October 8
and baking equipment? Open your
then someone else can).
and we’ll add it to our sale map.
NEW TRADITIONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BUILDING TURNS 100
Come to 2049 Grove Street and help celebrate the New Traditions
Elementary School building turning 100 years old on Sunday, October 15,
1 to 4 pm. Enjoy a fun and relaxing afternoon BBQ to honor the legacy of
the New Traditions Elementary School building. This event is open to
the whole community—whether you attended New Traditions, you’re
considering attending, or you just want to join in the celebrations and tour
the building that has brought joy to families for a century.
8 | NOPNANews
EXPLORING NOPA’S
NEWEST CULINARY HOTSPOTS
By Meg Rahner Antelyes
NOPA’s vibrant culinary scene continues to be a treasure trove for food enthusiasts seeking fresh flavors and innovative
dining experiences. From the rich heritage of Japanese udon to the tantalizing allure of French-Mediterranean cuisine,
the neighborhood has recently welcomed a slew of intriguing eateries that promise to delight neighbors and visitors
alike. Join us on a journey through NOPA’s latest culinary additions.
Katsuo + Kombu (559 Divisadero) opened
in June. It’s a Japanese udon shop and its name refers to
the dried fish flakes and seaweed used to make traditional
dashi, or broth. The restaurant specializes in dishes that
incorporate fresh Japanese udon noodles in its small—
but mighty—menu, which consists of nine dishes. The
menu will change seasonally, according to co-owner and
head chef, Taka Saito, but we’re hoping the incredible
broth won’t change anytime soon. Katsuo + Kombu is a
welcomed addition to Divisadero and is quickly becoming
a destination. It’s open Monday through Saturday from
4:30 to 9:45pm.
Fish in the Box (800 Masonic), formerly
Amiti’s Cafe, opened in June and its menu is true
to its name with a focus on boxed chirashi sets. The
menu includes a $50 deluxe set (ikura, Hokkaido
scallops, bluefin negi toro, amaebi, crab, and salmon
toro), and also serves a variety of more affordable
dishes including poke bowls,
the San Francisco-famed
“sushirittos” or sushi burritos,
chicken katsu, and boba tea.
Fish in the Box is open Monday
through Saturday from 11:30am
to 2pm and 4:30 to 8pm.
issue 3 : 2023 | 9
Curry and Kabab
(507 Divisadero), located in the
former Wine Kitchen space,
opened this summer and is
the third Bay Area restaurant
in the franchise. Curry and Kebab’s expansive menu
includes Indian pizzas, curries, vindaloos, tikka masalas,
tandoori dishes, and spiced kebabs. It’s open Tuesday
through Sunday, 11am to 10pm.
La Sarrasine
(607 Divisadero) is a new
French/Mediterranean
restaurant that opened in
the spring, located in the
former Zaytoon space. Chef
Kamel Bouzidi serves classic
interpretations of delicious,
savory galettes and sweet
crêpes along with seasonal
creations inspired by his 17
years of crêperie experience
in Paris. La Sarrasine is open
Monday through Friday,
11am to 9pm; Saturdays and
Sundays, 10am to 9pm.
More Food News…
Bobahead (1770 Fulton)—a new boba shop—
recently opened right next to Lucky. Scarlet Fox (1690
Hayes), a charming wine bar, is now officially open.
Coming in 2024: Chef Carlos Altamirano—known for
his Michelin-starred Costanera in Half Moon Bay—
and his wife and business partner Shu Dai have filed
permits to open a restaurant at 1775 Fulton in the
former Jannah space in 2024. It will feature a Peruvian
themed menu similar to his other restaurants.
Meg has lived in NOPA since moving to San Francisco 13 years ago.
The NOPNA News inspired her to get involved with the organiza-
tion in 2017, and she joined the NOPNA Board shortly after writing
her first article.
10 | NOPNANews
SUPPORTING NOPA
BUSINESSES
By Tim Hickey
Businesses are an essential part
of our community. They add
character and help make NOPA
unique. But in this age of one-touch
purchasing, an unforeseeable but
absolutely relevant and visible side
effect is the blight of the community
we love. Every time we buy online,
not only is money diverted out of
the community, but the soul of the
community is lost. We save dimes
or dollars, but our character dies.
We lose our local entrepreneurs and
get empty storefronts, blight, more
vandalism, and a loss of the vitality
that makes NOPA such a great home.
The thing is, this isn’t like reversing
climate change. We can fix this.
Here’s what you can do to help:
Tim and his son Liam
enjoying pizza at Little Star.
1. Call a NOPA restaurant to place
your order. Better
yet, go out for dinner.
Restaurants are being
charged extortionary
fees by third-party food
delivery services. The
Board of Supervisors
proposed 15% maximum
fees, but they backed
down after they were
threatened by lawsuits
from the companies,
and now our restaurants
are choking from the
exorbitant 30% fees
charged by these
companies. This impacts
working class wages, and
our community.
issue 3 : 2023 | 11
UPCOMING
EVENTS
September 24 — Sunday Streets
October 8 — Refuse/Refuse
Neighborhood Clean Up
October 15 — Phoenix Day +
Garage Sale
October 19 — NOPNA General
Meeting
October 28 — Alamo Scare
October 31 — NOPA Halloween
Block Party
November 12 — Refuse/Refuse
Neighborhood Clean Up
November 16 — NOPNA General
Meeting
December 7 — Holiday Party, 6-8 pm,
Club Waziema, 543 Divisadero
December 10 — Refuse/Refuse
Neighborhood Clean Up
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or
Twitter, and get details and updates by
signing up for emails at www.nopna.org.
Recurring Events:
NOPNA General Meetings — 401
Baker Street, 7:30 pm, 3rd Thursday
of every other month
SFPD Community Meeting — 4th
Thursday of every month, RSVP to
Neighborhood Clean Ups with
Refuse/Refuse — 10 am to 12 pm,
meet at The Mill (736 Divisadero)
Farmer’s Market — DMV Parking Lot,
Broderick@Fell, Sundays, 10 am to 2pm
Email us to get involved:
Every time we buy online, not only do we
divert money out of the community, we also
divert the soul of the community.
Need proof? Little Star, our
beloved local pizzeria—with
shops are being decimated by
neighbors who buy bikes, parts,
possibly the best deep-dish
and accessories online then
pizza in the city—is so severely
expect the local bike shop to
financially challenged due to
install the part, and will even
third-party delivery fees that
haggle over the charges. Buying
their business is at risk.
2. Buy local. Instead of buying
a product online, see if you
can find it at a NOPA business
and buy from them. Have a
conversation with the staff—
local ensures we have bike shops
like Freewheel (Hayes and
Clayton), San Francyclo (Arguello
and Golden Gate), Scenic
Routes (Balboa and 6th), and
American Cyclery (Frederick and
Stanyan)—and bike experts in our
they’re very likely a neighbor that
neighborhood.
can provide recommendations
What makes NOPA great? It’s
and advice! If you only buy
the activities in our community,
online, there will be no local
the proximity to sights, and the
store, no friendly neighbor.
great businesses located here.
Example? Our local bike
Help support those businesses.
Tim and his wife, Leah, have lived in the neighborhood since 2010 and can be seen
with their son, Liam, biking and walking through the area.
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City, State, Zip
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Respect the neighborhood, be part of the community
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