Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Glen Park
Wakes Up
Glen Park begins to stir before the
morning sun even thinks of climbing
above the hills that embrace Sussex and
Swiss streets.
Along Diamond Street, chairs sit
atop tables in local eateries, resting
where they were placed the night before.
A runner jogs past recycling dumpsters
anchored against black,
by green and blue containers
Murray on Kern Street. Around
Schneider the corner a man pumps
stationary bicycle pedals
at SOL GYM, while across the street
a truck driver carries crates of intra-
library loan books into the branch.
Along the east side of Cherney Street,
automobiles are apparitions, having
abandoned their parking spaces in
anticipation of 7 o’clock street clean-
ing. On the next block, a crowded 44
O’Shaughnessy idles next to Citibank, Destination Bakery at 6 a.m. Photo by Michael Waldstein
disgorging passengers who jaywalk
across Bosworth to BART. Others
join them, a few stopping long enough
“Baking is very physical work.
It’s like yoga practice,” Janet says.
whole wheat and multi-grain rye breads,
ciabatta, freshly baked croissants and
Strong Turnout
to purchase a paper from a newsboy,
cocooned in his newsstand, barricaded
It is hours before the first of her 50
employees will report for work.
bear claws, are the beneficiaries of
Janet’s pre-dawn heavy lifting. in Primary Vote
behind a windbreak of San Francisco A petite woman of 41, the mother The environs around Wilder and Glen Park came out strong for Sen.
Chronicles. of two boys aged 8 and 6, Janet and her Diamond streets are still a bit deserted Barack Obama in the Feb. 5 Democratic
Glen Park is awakening. husband Rich first had the idea for the when Janet begins wrestling the primary, handing him 2,196 votes. Sen.
Another low-riding hybrid 44 Canyon Market in 1998. After careful unwieldy sacks of flour. She has com- Hillary Clinton landed in second place
O’Shaughnessy moves up Bosworth, preparation, they saw their dream of pany, though. “The humming of the with 1,612 votes.
past the canyon where an owl insulates a family-owned and operated market Chenery Park dishwashing machines And while Obama could not claim
itself in a eucalyptus tree, its morning come true two days before Thanksgiv- is comforting,” she confides, as she a blowout in Glen Park,
chill allayed by a meadow of feathers. ing, 2006. Glen Park residents, espe- sculpts a breakfast roll one morning. the vote does reflect the
As the early threads of daylight roll cially those who enjoy fresh baguettes, CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
by momentum the Illinois
Rachel
back the last blanket of night, while senator is riding nation-
Gordon
much of Glen Park continues to sleep, ally. It also showcases the
Janet Tarlov ties her yeast-blemished Glen Park Association Meeting Notice split among the Demo-
apron around her waist, steps in front Wednesday, April 9th, 2008, 7 p.m. cratic electorate.
of her Canyon Market baking bench, NEW DAY!!! Clinton, the junior senator from
and begins slinging around 50-pound St. John’s School, 925 Chenery St. New York and former First Lady,
bags of organic flour. trumped Obama in absentee votes
Supervisor Dufty cast by Glen Park residents, 712 to
Chenery Crimestoppers Town Meeting 660. But it was Obama who surged on
See Page 15 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Glen Park News Page 2 Spring 2008
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Halpern Cafe Bello. first and only time I had a steady diet
As I watched the East of pasties, 48 years ago.
Bay hills drift by, I realized I’d done the My first summer as a married
same thing the day before, in downtown woman—a newly pregnant one, at
San Francisco, when I was about to stop
for lunch at Kuleto’s Caffe, and the day
that—we spent at Northern Michigan
University on the shores of Lake Supe-
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before that in West Portal. Instead of rior, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
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going anywhere, it seemed, my choice It was Sputnik time and the U.S. was
was always a spinach pasty at Cafe trying to catch up with the U.S.S.R.
Bello. Even when I’m home, I some- by beefing up the math and science
times create an errand—dropping off a curriculum throughout the country.
pair of slacks at Clean N’ Save Clean- My husband, an assistant professor of
ers, buying fresh veggies for dinner at mathematics, was on a National Sci-
Canyon Market, picking up a book at ence Foundation grant to teach what
the library or Bird & Beckett. I walk was then called “New Math” to high
down the hill, through the park, along school teachers. Then they could teach
the trail behind St. John School, across it to their students as part of the grand
the empty lot, and then I cross Diamond effort to land men on the moon within a
Street to the cafe. Odd, I thought on decade, a true “mission accomplished”
the train, for a person who loves new story. While he taught, I took courses
places, people, and food. Very odd. toward my master’s degree.
Is it the ease of not having to make The Upper Peninsula (UP) touches
a decision? Hold on to your habits and three of the Great Lakes. In the mid-
live a stress-free life? Maybe. Is it that 19th century, huge deposits of copper
I’ve trained the folks at Cafe Bello to and iron ore were discovered there, and
heat the pasty just so—two minutes in the UP actually produced more mineral
the microwave and then two or three in wealth than the California gold rush.
the toaster oven till it’s crispy brown? Miners by the thousands crossed
That way, I can cut it into a dozen the Atlantic and northeastern North
small pieces, noting the spinach green America, mainly from Cornwall, Eng-
and carrot orange before bringing each land, and also from Finland and other
steaming bite to my lips—mmmmm. European countries. The Cornish wives
And to be able to read at the same knew how to cook what miners needed
time. Sip lychee tea. Maybe it’s just for those long days underground. They
my hedonistic pleasure in the whole mixed potatoes and onions and what-
experience, that crunch just before my ever vegetables and meats were avail-
teeth close over the crust and my tongue able into a stew thicker than chicken
explores the feta and pepper. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16
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Pages from the archives illuminate the history and events of the neighborhood. Images courtesy of Michael Rice
The December 1995 Glen Park and Safe Neighborhoods Bond. San
News reports on a “Master Plan for Francisco voters approved the ballot
Glen Canyon” process, looking at measure on Feb. 5 with 72 percent in
user groups, automobile access, and favor.
natural resources. It’s a shock to Prop A is part of the City’s new
note this master plan, now part of a 10-year capital plan to upgrade San
citywide recreation and park “Natural Francisco’s recreation and park facili-
Areas Plan,” is still under way. We ties. Glen Canyon Park is designated
can recall, though, that those efforts in the bond measure for “repair
in the ’90s resulted in limiting parents and/or renovation of the recreation
driving their children up the canyon center, the children’s play area, day
to Glenridge Nursery School during camp, courts and field; restoration of
the school year, and to Silvertree Day roads and pathways; upgrades to the
Camp in the summer. A new drop-off infrastructure including lighting and
at Diamond Heights Boulevard and irrigation, modifications to improve
Sussex Street helps keep the cars accessibility, and overall recondition-
out. ing of the park landscape.” �����HENERY �TREET
With regular publication of the It’s a bit daunting to see the
News for the past 10 years, we know 30-plus years of steady efforts to �AN �RANCISCO ��������
the Friends of Glen Canyon Park keep our parks as one of the great
organizes volunteers for clean-ups, resources of San Francisco—and the ��������������
bird walks and native plant care. City neighborhood. I recognize many of
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funds and a large anonymous donation the names of the neighbors who spent
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created the boardwalk past Silvertree many hours and days in the park and ������������������������������������������������
and the cutting back of invasive plants at City Hall supporting these plans. I
in Islais Creek. Stories in the News tell know there will be new names to carry � René Furterer
us about the hawks, owls and coyotes. this on, and more good stories in the � Pureology
We read that the landscaping and the Glen Park News. n � Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Color
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Community Calendar
Glen Park Association Author Visits and Art Programs are Bird & Beckett Events beginning April 1. The store will be
Quarterly meetings are held in January, scheduled for spring 2008; get details Bird & Beckett Books & Records closed during this event
April, July and October. Everyone is from the library. continues to present a variety of liter- Sunday, May 4, 2–7 pm: “Big Bash
welcome, members and non-members Teen Programs: A new Teen Ser- ary and musical events in its spacious at the Clubhouse #2” at the Miraloma
alike. Annual membership dues of just vices Librarian will be at the branch new location at 653 Chenery St. (the Clubhouse, 350 O’Shaughnessey at
$10 support the Association’s important two days a week; check for upcoming former Glen Park library site). For Del Vale. Music, dance, poetry, food
work on behalf of the neighborhood.. special Teen programs. latest information, check the web and more—to celebrate the launch of
Next meeting: Wednesday, April 9, For More Information: A new site, www.bird-beckett.com, or call the Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy
7 pm, St. John’s School, 925 Chenery online “blog” lists all upcoming pro- proprietor Eric Whittington at 586- Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corpo-
St. Note the new day. grams, library news and spotlights on 3733. Unless noted, all events in ration whose mission is to present and
books. Visit http://glenparklibrarysfp the bookshop are free; donations are document the work of local musicians
Friends of Glen Canyon Park l.blogspot.com/. The general library always appreciated for the performers and poets. Tickets at the bookshop
Meetings and Plant Restoration web site also has event listings, at http: and participants. beginning April 1 and at the door, $10
Work Parties: Third Saturday of each //sfpl.org. The Glen Park Branch has Coming Events: each.
month, 9 am–noon. Next dates: April flyers for all its programs, as well as Jazz in the Bookshop: Every Fri- Sunday, May 11, 4:30–6:30 pm:
19, May 17, June 21. Meet behind the the monthly newspaper At the Library, day, 5:30–8 pm. March 21, April 4, A commemoration of the Berkeley
Recreation Center. Tools, gloves and which includes news and events of all April 18 – Don Prell’s SeaBop Ensem- Poetry Revolution of 1968, with
instruction provided. Learn about botany the libraries in the San Francisco Public ble. March 28 & April 25 – The Henry John Oliver Simon, Charles Potts and
and ecology, exercise your green thumb, Library system. Irvin Quartet with vocalist Dorothy Richard Kresch. Free.
enjoy entertaining camaraderie or exam- Spring Special Events: Lefkovits, alto player Bishop Norman
ine public-lands management issues. Saturday, April 5, 2–4 pm: Family Williams and drummer Jimmy Ryan. Choral Performance
Weekly Work Parties: Every Open House. Kids’ crafts provided by April 11 – The Jimmy Ryan Quintet Saturday, April 5, 8 pm, & Sunday,
Wednesday, 9 am–noon. For the current Simla Akyol from “It’s a Piece of Cake” with Joel Ryan, Rick Elmore, Scott April 6, 7:30 pm: St. Paul’s Catholic
week’s meeting place contact Richard and music performed by the Familia Pena- Foster and Bishu Chatterjee. Church, Church Street at Valley Street.
Craib, 648-0862. Govea. Light refreshments and a raffle. ± Poetry with Open Mic: 1st Karl Jenkins, The Armed Man – A Mass
To join Friends of Glen Canyon Tuesday, May 6, 10:30 am: “Out and & 3rd Thursdays, 7–9 pm: March 20 for Peace. Details at www.sfchoral.org/
Park or learn more about their activi- About with Kids: From Getting Across – Poets Carlos Suarez and Jerry Fer- upcoming.html. n
ties, contact Richard Craib at 648-0862 Town to Traveling Around the World.” raz. April 3 – Poets Marv Hiemstra and
or Jean Conner at 584-8576. Presentation, followed by discussion. Co- Paula Hackett. April 17 – Poets Kath-
Special Community Events: sponsored by Friends of the San Francisco erine Hastings, Jack Foley and Adele
Sunday, April 6, 10am: Spiders of
Join the Bookstore,
Public Library and the branch. Foley. May 15 – Poet David Meltzer
Glen Canyon Walk, cosponsored by joins forces with Los Angeles jazz pia-
Friends of Glen Canyon Park & CNPS,
Leader Darrell Ubick.
SFPD Community Forums
Third Tuesday of each month, 7
nist Theo Saunders.
& Three book groups meet
Receive Discounts
Sunday, May 11, 9am, Glen pm, Ingleside Police Station, John monthly at 7 pm; everyone is invited. A membership at Bird & Beckett Books
Canyon’s Birds, a walk led by David Young Way off San Jose Avenue. Note that some days of the month have & Records brings rewards for shoppers,
Armstrong. All residents are encouraged to par- changed. while helping keep our
Sunday, May 11, 10:30 am follow- ticipate in the informative monthly Bird &Beckett Book Club: 1st by neighborhood bookstore
ing the Bird Walk: Pancakes in the Community Relations Forum hosted Wednesdays. A book is discussed Denis afloat.
Park. Enjoy pancakes & syrup, sausage, by Capt. Denis O’Leary. Drop in and each month; participants choose the Wade New and renewing
coffee and orange juice, $5 donation. get acquainted with the dedicated next month’s selection. April 2 book is members have five lev-
people who keep our neighborhood Puccini’s Ghost by Morag Joss. els of membership to
Glen Park Branch Library safe. Meetings are subject to avail- Political Book Discussion Group: choose from, each with its own annual
The new library on Diamond Street ability of the captain; to check, call 2nd Thursdays. Current issues. April 10 fee and perks. Discounts apply on all
has become a hub of activity. With more the station at 404-4000. – call for the title. merchandise except newspapers and
space has come expanded programs. For Next dates: April 15, May 20, June Eminent Authors’ Birthdays: 4th magazines, all year.
specific dates and times, call the library 17. Thursdays. For these open readings, The options:
at 355-2858. bring a short piece from the works of Beboppers—$35—receive the new
Children’s Programs: Kiki-Yo Sessions a favorite writer born during the month B&B coffee mug, and a 10 percent dis-
Infant/Toddler lapsit, ages new- The Kiki-Yo fitness studio, 605 to read aloud. count all year.
born–3, Tuesdays, 10:30 am. Chenery St. near Castro, offers a vari- Literary Talks: Last Sundays. Existentialists—$50—receive the
Preschool Storytime, ages 3–5, ety of physical wellness courses. Visit March 30, 4:30–6 pm – Walker Brents new Bird & Beckett T-shirt (available
Tuesdays, 11:15 am. their web site, kiki-yo.com, or call 587- III discusses Coyote, the Native Ameri- in five sizes and three colors!) and a 12
Family Storytime, monthly on a 5454. can trickster figure. percent discount.
Wednesday, 7 pm. Community Hatha Yoga Classes: Children’s Story Time: Every Fri- Bohemians—$100—receive the
Preschool Video Program, monthly Fridays, noon–1:15 pm, taught by Jen- day, 11 am. Ruth Maginnis and others mug, T-shirt and a 15 percent dis-
on a Tuesday, 11:15 am. nifer Chein. Suggested donation $10 but read a variety of stories for the preschool count.
Adult Programs: no one is turned away, and 50 percent set. Medici members—$500—receive
Monthly Book Club, third Wednes- of the donation goes to City Youth Now, Special Events & Fund-Raisers: the mug, T-shirt, a handy tote bag, free
day of each month, 6:30 pm; call for the which supports children in the juvenile Sunday, April 27, 4–7 pm: Ben- shipping to the provinces, and a 20%
month’s selection. court system (www.cityyouthnow.org/ efit for Bird & Beckett featuring discount.
Computer Training Classes, basic home.php). poets David Meltzer, Diane di Prima God/dess members—$1,000—
and hands-on; upcoming classes include Meditation Makes Sense: A three- and Michael McClure. $35 per seat, receive all of the above, plus a substantial
“Internet 101” and “E-mail.” Check the week course beginning Thursday, March $25 standing room. Limited availabil- 25 percent discount for the year. Maybe
library for dates and times. 20, 6–7:30 pm. Suggested donation $10. ity—tickets on sale at the bookshop even an extra T-shirt and mug. n