new in the nabe

 Yay! A new, big and colorful mural up on Bryant and 24th, the heart of the Latino district. I couldn't get it in one shot, as you can see. I believe that's a coyote along with birds and a car and flowers galore. 

a touch of tranquil

 The corner coffee shop (Precita Park Cafe) is sort of the glue that holds our neighborhood together. Often if I don't feel like walking I will lure myself out of my comfy home with the promise of a latte in the sun, or fog. Yesterday the maniac in Washington, DC, called off the troops for now, so my city won't be looking like Nazi Germany. I celebrated at my little cafe. Fingers crossed.

a walk to/fro dinner

 Precita Social is open and I think that they are doing just fine. We celebrated Barb's birthday there last night and the food is excellent. Yes, a little pricey, but certainly worth every penny. Perfectly cooked steak and fries and an unusual salad and hot Parker House rolls. We went early (duh) but almost every table was full when we left. A treat for me to walk there, yay!

fancy food truck

 There is a handy lunch spot a few doors down from the Salvation Army where I did some smart shopping yesterday. A Mexican food truck that features tablecloths, flowers (!) and a decent veggie burrito All part of a very pleasant neighborhood walk. 

a new restaurant ~ soon!

 The sign for Precita Social was up when I walked by yesterday. This will be a burger and oyster dinner spot with a famous chef (Greg Lutes who lives here in Bernal Heights) at the helm. I hope it isn't too expensive. I like walking to/fro dinner. Fingers crossed as it is supposed to open in 3 weeks or so.

Friday morning ritual

 Bernal Bread has a pop-up store down by Precita Park every Friday morning. My neighbor Heidi and I walk down to join the breadline and then have coffee at Charlie's Cafe afterwards. Today was particularly nice with the sun burning off the fog earlier than usual. Gratitude (again).

I got a feeling...

 Yesterday on my neighborhood walk I passed by this cheery scene outside a NOT fancy little residence and I just knew in my heart that I would like the person(s) who created this lovely, colorful front "yard". I bet you would like them too.

new mural celebrates the nabe

 Bernal Dream is the name of this 40 ft. mural in my Precita Park Cafe where I often stop for lunch or a latte. It opened in 2011 and brought this community together in a way we never imagined at the time. Kids, dogs, big families and happy singles always find a smile and a table inside our out, depending on the weather. One of my very favorite local artists, Paul Madonna, was commissioned for this outstanding mural and I am so impressed. 

The Farmhouse

 This is a Thai restaurant in the neighborhood and I want to go based solely on the waiter's floral uniform and the wonderfully colorful sign-in booth right out of the Barbie movie. However Jen with two dogs reports that the menu is fabulous, so I will do a Farmhouse foodie review ASAP. 

once a year

 Who knew? Well, Amy (who lives downtown) did and so yesterday we walked along Cortland Avenue and some side streets and talked to people who do this religiously. Once a year here in my own little neighborhood and although we were early, I could tell it was going to be a great day for buyers and sellers. It was fun and there was even sunshine for the event. Since I am busy downsizing and purging I managed NOT to buy more stuff. 

so rare

Most of the houses here in Bernal Heights have back decks which are an amusing topic of conversation and hardly ever used. On Sunday night, however, my neighbors Heidi and Rob invited me to a family gathering and BBQ dinner and we spent some time outdoors!  Here is Rob teasing his two nieces from New Jersey. A lovely time and more gratitude. 

 

not every day

 Some days I just have to stop and appreciate all that I have. Monday was such a day when I had my latte and a sandwich down at Charlie's Cafe. Reading my New Yorker, fussing on my iPhone and looking out at my neighborhood filled with sunshine and really nice people.

finally ~ fireplace relief

 What a long, cold winter. I can't tell you how much we missed our fake gas fireplace that broke way back when. But now, hooray ~ with a lot of patience and $$$$ the new one was installed yesterday. Then, after the rain and wind, I went walking in the nabe and the air was beyond clean and clear. All in all, an almost perfect Friday. Today? I head downtown for lunch. Life is good, and that is an understatement.

my front yard

 This should be the final, awful no-drive, too much dirt and noise day. Maybe. I am everso thankful for our trusty Muni bus service and was able to visit and walk with Ginger in the sun yesterday after an (ahem) interesting ride on the 49 Van Ness. So many people do their grocery shopping with big carts which tend to bunch together on the bus making it difficult for the folks trying to find a seat. Then we add a wheel chair or two and it's time to sing "I love my city," and get off a few blocks earlier than planned. 

yes, another party!

 A young couple moved into Bernal Heights so Heidi and Rob hosted a party yesterday afternoon so we could all meet them and discuss how difficult it is to find a home in this cool (ahem) SF neighborhood. I'm sure that everyone had a good time, I know I did. We never got around to "must you park in front of MY house all the time?" but of course we will. 

scenes from my nabe

 After the most welcome rain. The woman in the middle of the street in the bottom photo is an artist, looking at and sketching the local coffee hangout in the top photo. When we moved here way back when, we had absolutely no idea how delightful this spot would become. These days when I open the garage door I need to plan on an extra five or ten minutes just to chat with people who live nearby. 

celebration in the nabe

 It was Cristina's birthday yesterday so we gathered amongst her garbage cans to drink champagne. She is a deckhand on the Larkspur-SF ferry and is also a bartender ~ she is in the bottom photo with the yellow bar towel in her pocket. The sweet dog is Lola. 

small town feel in big city

 Every Friday morning we line up down by Charlie's Cafe at the end of Precita Park to buy our loaves of Bernal Bread for the week. The baker, who started this successful venture during the pandemic of 2020, knows everyone and it takes me a while to walk to/fro because there are so many neighbors and dogs to meet and greet. It is impossible not to slice or pull off a hunk when I get back home. Oh, yum. Oh, SF.

Mr. Handsome

 That is what the vets named this two year old mountain lion who was roaming around Bernal Heights last week. Beautiful creature who somehow got here from the south. (Probably faster than the always clogged freeways.) He is gorgeous but I'm glad I didn't encounter him as I walk the nabe. 

ooops, I missed Treat Street

Now how could I have missed the side view? You can see that I walked again yesterday and honestly, I had no idea that this home had three units. It's BIG.  I promise to get off my anti-beige rant tomorrow!