Posts Tagged ‘house’
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Remember back in the day when you could see the Hanging Gardens of Sutter Street on Sutter Street? Here they were:

No longer. The front yard of this place had recently been converted into a “private drive.” Not saying that this is illegal or anything - don’t know what all the rules are.
But check it, as the place looks today:
“Oh yes, we’d love for you to pop on over. Just park on our private drive!”

Click to expand
Of course anybody parking in this private spot needs to pull in at an angle to keep the back end of the Volvo wagon from hanging out over the sidewalk. The problem with the current setup is that, even with diagonal parking, the back end of the Volvo wagon hangs out over the sidewalk. Oh well. Maybe if they got a Smart Car, they’d have an easier time.
Now you’d think the trees would have slowed them down, but no, the trees are still there on the sidewalk.
And the ridiculous sign isn’t to prevent anybody from parking on the former front yard of the house, cause who on Earth would try to park there, right? No, the sign is to prevent people from parking on the street and inadvertently blocking the driveway’s owners from parking on their lawn, so to speak.
Call it the World’s Shortest Private Drive, if you want.
Welcome to San Francisco.
Tags: car, drive, driveway, front yard, hangin gardens, house, lawn, mapjack, off street, park, parking, paved over, real estate, San Francisco, street, sutter, volvo
Posted in cars | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Per UC Hastings Law School graduate Nathan Ballard comes news from UC Hastings Law School graduate Jackie Speier. It seems California’s most-beloved lawyer will stay in D.C. after all:
“Rep. Jackie Speier “Grateful” To Stay In Congress. Speier: Unfinished Work To Do On Consumer Protection, Health Care, Education
Washington, D.C. – Today, ending days of speculation, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) announced that she will remain in Congress.
“I am thankful that so many supporters came forward to urge me to run for statewide office, but after talking it over with my family, I have decided to stay in Congress,” said Speier. “I am convinced it is the right thing to do for my family, and I believe I can best serve my constituents by remaining in Congress and working hard on consumer protection, financial reform, jobs, and health care.”
Jackie in the Halls of Congress:
“Today’s announcement by Speier, who served for 18 years in the state legislature, ends speculation that she will seek statewide office in 2010. She has served in the U.S. Congress since 2008 and is a member of the financial services committee, the oversight and government reform committee, and the select committee on energy independence and global warming.
“My constituents have given me an extraordinary opportunity to protect the environment, the elderly, and a woman’s right to choose,” said Speier. “I am grateful to serve in Congress, and I do not take a single day for granted.”
In November 1978, Speier was serving as a legal advisor to Congressman Leo Ryan when she flew to Guyana to investigate crimes committed by Peoples’ Temple cult leader Jim Jones. While helping captives escape, Speier was shot five times by cult members and left for dead.
Since then Speier has dedicated her life to public service. She has written groundbreaking legislation in privacy and consumer protection, education, and health care.
Over the years Speier has earned a reputation as a reformer. The San Francisco Chronicle said “Jackie Speier has taken on some of Sacramento’s most powerful forces — banks, insurance companies, prison guards, University of California administrators, even legislative leaders — in her crusades for the public interest.” (May 14, 2006)
Speier, 59, graduated from UC Davis and received her law degree from UC Hastings. She is married with two children.”
Tags: california, congresswoman, county, d. c., house, jackie speier, nathan ballard, representatives, San Francisco, San Mateo, Washington
Posted in politics | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
That big residential solar project in the Lower Haight / Western Addition / Hayes Valley from SunWheel Energy Partners just went live. The juice, she is flowing.
See all the deets in this 15 minute video - it’s just like being there.
San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil “The Thrill” Ting was there for the ribbon-cutting…

…as was District 5 Supervisor Ross “The Boss” Mirkarimi:

San Francisco Affordable Housing Sites Power On Solar Energy
Federal, State and Local Officials, Site Residents and Community Members Celebrate Green Energy and New Jobs at Western Addition Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
San Francisco, CA, January 26, 2010 – On Monday, January 25, 2010, Sunwheel Energy Partners, which provides turnkey solar energy systems for urban and community partners, celebrated the commissioning of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at three affordable housing community sites in San Francisco’s Western Addition and Hayes Valley neighborhoods — bringing solar power, green jobs and financial relief to residents and owners. The ribbon cutting ceremony at Plaza East Apartments was widely attended by a notable group of federal, state and local officials as well as the site’s residents and community members who were hired to install the solar panels.
Dignitaries in attendance included Henry Alvarez, Executive Director, San Francisco Housing Authority; Timothy Alan Simon, CPUC Commissioner; Phil Ting, SF Assessor-Recorder; David Rubin, Director of Service Analysis, PG&E; Michael Carlin, SFPUC Deputy General Manager; Neola Gans, Vice President, SF Housing Authority Commission; Caroline Krewson, Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Stephen Schneller, Director, San Francisco Office of Public Housing; Ross Mirkarimi, San Francisco Supervisor; and representatives of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s offices. Senator Mark Leno issued a proclamation commending the site.

Even more deets, after the jump
(more…)
Tags: Assessor, Assessor-Recorder, barbara boxer, Caroline Krewson, commission, commissioner, CPUC, David Rubin, Deputy Regional Director, director, Director of Service Analysis, district 5, electric, electricity, Energy Partners, Executive Director, gavin newsom, general manager, hayes valley, Henry Alvarez, hope VI, house, housing, Housing Authority, HUD, low income, mark leno, Mayor, nancy pelosi, Neola Gans, north, offices, panels, PG&E; Michael Carlin, Phil Ting, photovoltaic, Projects, public, pv, Recorder, representatives Congresswomen, residential, rooftop, ross mirkarimi, San Francisco, San Francisco Office of Public Housing, Senator, SFPD, SFPUC Deputy, solar, south, speaker, Stephen Schneller, sun, SunWheel, SunWheel Energy Partners, Supervisor, Timothy Alan Simon, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Senator, vice president, Wheel
Posted in environment, government | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
Pity poor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – tonight he crashed the annual San Francisco Democratic Party Fundraising Gala and Auction at the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill and he was rewarded with a loud round of booing.
Poor guy. Did Assemblymember Tom Ammiano spontaneously yell, “You lie” at Arnold, ala Congressman Joe Wilson? Haha!

The evening captured via Francis Tsang’s BlackBerry
Per SF FYI Net:
When: October 7, 2009 – Wednesday
5:30 p.m. Cocktails and Auction
7:00 p.m. Dinner and Program
Where: The Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason Street, San Francisco
What: San Francisco Democratic Party’s Annual Gala Fund Raiser. Many voices – one vision. Funds raised at the gala will directly support voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities to ensure that we elect a Democratic governor in 2010. $150.
Tags: 261, Aaron Peskin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, assemblyman, associates, association, Barack Obama, Barbary Coast, bay area, Benefactor, bevan dufty, BMWL, board, Bob Dockendorff, boo, booed, booing, california, carmen chu, Chair, Chartered, Chris daly, city attorney, club, congresswoman, Consulting, Contributor, david campos, David Chiu, Dean Florez, debra Walker, democracy action, democratic, Democratic Clubs, Democratic Women's Forum, dennis herrera, district, District Attorney, Emerald Fund, Emerge California, eric mar, eric potashner, Fairmont, fairmount, former, friend, Governor, hms, hotel, house, ILWU, jackie speier, james, jewish, Jim Meko, Joe Julian, joe wilson, john avalos, Jose Cisneros, juim, Kamala Harris, Laborer's, Laura Spanjian, Leader, leland yee, linda post, local, Local 16, Lynne, Majority, mark leno, Mary, Meagan Levitan, Melanie Nutter, Michael goldstein, Michael Silver, nancy pelosi, Newhouse, Northern California District Council, nurses, partners, party, platinum, president, rafael mandelman, Raoul Wallenberg, richmond, Robert Friese, San Francisco, Sean Elsbernd, Segal, senate, Senator, sffyinet, sophie maxwell, speaker, Sponsors, Stearns, Supporter, Table Host, Theatrical Stage Employees, tom ammiano, Treasurer, Union labor, United Educators of San Francisco, William Coblentz, willie brown, you lie, Young Democrats
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Monday, September 21st, 2009
Hey, did you catch South San Francisco Day in Orange Memorial Park over the weekend? Well, then here’s a little Rorschach test for you.
What do you see in the following sequence of photos? What do you think the kids thought? What does the performer playing Ronald think about this now? How about sponsor Genentech? And how about the pie? Was it egg-free vegan custard? Natch!
Anyway, get up to speed here and then take a peek at the following:

The color match between the bird and Ronald is impressive.


More deets and commentary here.
Let’s leave the last word with PETA:
“A man dressed as a giant chicken and identifying himself as a PETA member took Ronald McDonald by surprise and pied him in the face with vegan custard this afternoon during Ronald’s appearance onstage at the South San Francisco Day in Orange Memorial Park. The protest is part of PETA’s campaign to convince McDonald’s to switch to an improved slaughter method that would eliminate the worst abuses of chickens, including having their legs slammed into shackles, often breaking them, and being scalded to death. To see pictures from this event and get more information, please visit http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/09/ronald_mcdonald.php?c=pfrmpsf09
“”McDonald’s can stop a great deal of cruelty simply by requiring its suppliers to render chickens unconscious before they are roughly handled and slaughtered,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “McDonald’s is responsible for forcing millions of chickens to experience an agonizingly painful death.”
Tags: Animals, charity, chicken cruelty, creaMED, day, face, fast, food, genentech, house, kids, mcdonald, McDonalds, meat is murder, people for the ethical treatent of animals, Peta, peta people for the ethical treatent of animals, pie, pied, protest, pwned, ronald, San Francisco, south, south san francisco, vegan
Posted in food and drink | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
San Francisco’s City Hall was swarmed with people the day this undated photo was taken, but when was that?
It’s hard to say - the 1930’s? The twin fountains and the lollipop trees should be good clues…

Click to expand
Tags: 1930's, 94102, building, california, City Hall, fountains, herbst, house, larkin, library, mcallister, McDonalds, Opera, photo, Photograph, polk grove, San Francisco, state, van ness
Posted in architecture | Comments Off
Saturday, June 6th, 2009
Uh oh, seems as if there’s a little unrest at the paradise that is this weekend’s Union Street “Eco-Urban” Festival 2009. No, it wasn’t the Republican party recruiting again, it was trouble with promoter Steven Restivo trying to tamp down on the boozy house parties that have occurred on Union Street during festival weekends past.
What you would have is hundreds of kids at Union Street residences drinking beer. Heaven forfend! Let’s hear from Party Person Brooke on the Yelp:
“Each year (for the last 5!) some friends of mine who live on Union St have a big party during the festival which allows all of us to get together, drink, dance, and be merry and peruse in and out of the street festival. It’s a well managed production, with control of who comes and goes, safe, in control, etc…. This year Steven Restivo has put an end to it, and the festival hasn’t even started yet! Steven took it into his own hands by calling the police, the fire marshals, and LANDLORDS of the apartments and buildings on Union St ahead of time, to ensure there were no parties this weekend, OTHER THAN THE ONE HE WAS THROWING. It seems he’s a big cry baby and thinks the house parties which are a custom with Union St Fest detract sales from the Beer Gardens he hosts.”
Doesn’t that just twist your mellow? Stevo “slandered the organizers of the party and contacted the building owners“? Oh well. That means no more house parties, like this one from last year.
The perils of post-adolescent Union Street Fest shotgunning. The front of this house faces Union.

That entire residence was filled to the brim with partiers in 2008. Ah, memories.
Oh well, on to this year. Of course, you’ve got to expect more than a modicum of peroxide, silicone, designer funglasses and lapdogs. Of course, it’s Cow Hollow.
Having said that, the seems a perfectly fine fest. Let’s take a gander at 2009. By the way, it continues tomorrow.
This thing is biiiig – it will take you a long time to wander about Union even if you don’t hit the biergärtens:

You know who proved popular was Tom Rigney, “electric violinist, Cajun fiddler, composer, graphic artist, and leader of the American roots music band, Tom Rigney and Flambeau.”

Best in Show – Candy Wrapper Handbags, something like this, as seen on Oprah

Micro cupcakes continue their dominance over the cuisine of the late aughts

Your streetfest four basic food groups are poultry (including turkey legs, they’re not just for renaissance festivals anymore), corn on the cob, couscous (not pictured) and garlic fries (not pictured).

2.5 star-rated Left at Albuquerque offered crowd-pleasing beer towers to sidewalk diners:

Now they’re renting out A2B electric scooters to tourists. Do people really ride these things on the Golden Gate Bridge sidewalks at 20 per back and forth to Sausalito? People do. Anyway, Blazing Saddles bike rentals was offering test drives.

Suds on the Roof, but much less than in years past. I think a man partying outdoors feels more like a man if he can have a red cup of suds.

Last year’s “Eco-Urban” fest featured a hell of a lot of gas powered Honda generators, but this year, not so much. Originally, I thought this distribution amplifier was a box full of car batteries, but now I’m at a loss at figuring out how this band got its power. If they had a generator, they hid it well.

What’s this?

It’s an overhead extention cord leading from a Union Street business to one of the food vendors in the middle of the street. Is that an extension cord being used as internal wiring? Cough electrical code cough.

Oh, there it is! One of at least two Hondas in operation today.

But at least all the amplified music won’t disturb this slumbering. ear-protected pooch.

See you there tomorrow and next year!
See all the participants, after the jump.
(more…)
Tags: 1760 union, 2008, 6, 6th, 7, 7th, a2b, annual, banned, beer bong, beer garden, beergarden, bicycle, bike, bio-hybrid, boycott, cancelled, concept car, cow hollow, drinking, electric, Event Services, fair, faire, fest, Festival, fillmore, generators, gough, house, june, LLC, mnarina, party, photos, rental, Restivo, saab, San Francisco, SF, shot gun, shot gunning, shotgun, shotgunning, steiner, stephen, Stephen Restivo, Steve, Steve Restivo, Steven, Steven Restivo, street, Tom Rigney, union, union street, union street festival, upscale, yuppies
Posted in events | 1 Comment »
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
Now back in the day, rooftop solar meant routing black water pipes up there, so you could heat your water for free. High tech photovoltaic panels, where sunlight converts directly to electricity, were reserved for astronauts ‘n stuff.
But these days, you can fork over $27,000 for a 3 KW system and you’ll end up making your own electricity with something like this on your pointy, pointy roof.
As seen on Ashbury Street near Haight in sometimes sunny San Francisco:

Click to expand
Tags: +3, 5 KW, ashbury, clouds, Cogeneration, credt, department, district, facing south, fire, five, fog, gosolar, haight, house, infrared, ir, kilowatt, occidental, Occidental Power, panels, permit, photovoltaic, Planning, power, pv, rebate, roof, rooftop, san francsico, solar, street, sunset, taraval, tax, victorian, yelp
Posted in buildings | Comments Off
Monday, May 4th, 2009
She’s not getting too much attention from the San Francisco Bay Area MSM yet, but Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw’s name is being queried all over the Internets this A.M. Why? ‘Cause she’s a strong candidate to replace outgoing United States Supreme Court Justice David Souter.
Judge Wardlaw ladles out bowls of rich, creamy justice in Pasadena mostly, but she probably comes to San Francisco to visit the H.Q. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. And guess what? She was born here! A short bio:
“Judge Wardlaw was born on July 2, 1954, in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the Bay Area, raised by her Mexican-American mother, who worked as a bookkeeper, and her Scotch-Irish father, who worked as a door-to-door furniture salesman.”
The judge et vir:

[Horrible red-eye effect reduced in post, somewhat, so don't rely on this for eye color.]
Now, about that Legally Blonde stuff. Check it:
“During my second set of confirmation proceedings, I was told that some people thought I wasn’t smart enough because I looked like a California girl (which I proudly am). I actually empathize a bit with Reese Witherspoon’s character in “Legally Blonde”– during my first semester at UCLA, no one invited me to be in their study group!”
So there, you have it. Oh, and how about her answer here:
Q. On a related note, do you consider yourself to be a judicial diva?
A. Yes.
O.K. then. See what the New Republic and what the SCOTUS blog thought about KMW back in the day, and look at this relatively recent take as well, if you want.
Could Favorite Daughter Kim McLane Wardlaw rise from little old San Francisco all the way up to the SCOTUS? Only Time Will Tell.
Tags: 9th, barack, blonde, Cass Sunstein, circuit, David Souter, Democrat, democratic, Deval Patrick, Diane Wood, district, diva, Elena Kagan, federal, female, Governor, Granholm, Harold Koh, house, jackie speier, jennifer, Jennifer Granholm, Jennifer Mulhern Granholm, Johnnie Rawlinson, Judge, judicial, justice, Kathleen Sullivan, Kim McLane Wardlaw, Kim Wardlaw, legally, Margaret McKeown, Mark Nagales, Merrick B. Garland, Merrick Garland, michigan, Mulhern, ninth, obama, outer, Pam Karlan, parkside, pasadena, president, representative, Ruben Castillo, San Francisco, Sonia Sotomayor, speier, sunset, supreme court, twelfth, United States, wardlaw, wOMAN
Posted in law | Comments Off
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
Here’s the scene this morning in the outer Outer Sunset District / Parkside area of San Francisco – it’s Congresswoman Jackie Speier at her Town Hall Meeting. Here’s the news – as far as the replacement for departing United States Supreme Court Justice David Souter is concerned, Jackie has “no doubt it’s going to be a woman.“
And who might that woman be? How about Miss San Carlos (San Mateo County) 1977 and current rust belt governor Jennifer Mulhern Granholm? She went to Cal and then Harvard Law and she’s the Democrat Sarah Palin - how’s them apples? Jackie helpfully points out that Ms. Granholm would be the first [actually second, see comments] naturalized citizen to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. We’ll see.
Click to expand:

Look below to see what Representative Speier has been up to the past year.
Town Hall Meeting -Congresswoman Jackie Speier
When: May 2, 2009 – Saturday
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Ulloa Elementary School, 2650 42nd Avenue, San Francisco
Mark Nagales, Field Representative
Tags: 12th, 42nd, avenue, barack, Cass Sunstein, congresswoman, David Souter, Democrat, democratic, detroit, Deval Patrick, Diane Wood, district, Elena Kagan, federal, female, Governor, Granholm, Harold Koh, house, jackie, jackie speier, jennifer, Jennifer Granholm, Jennifer Mulhern Granholm, Johnnie Rawlinson, Judge, justice, Kathleen Sullivan, Kim McLane Wardlaw, Kim Wardlaw, Margaret McKeown, Mark Nagales, Merrick B. Garland, Merrick Garland, michigan, miss, Mulhern, obama, outer, Pam Karlan, parkside, president, representative, Ruben Castillo, San Francisco, San Mateo, san matoe, Sonia Sotomayor, speier, sunset, supreme court, twelfth, ulloa, uloa, United States, wOMAN
Posted in politics | 2 Comments »