Yesterday marked the 5th anniversary of the war and protesters were out in droves through the city. Today, SF Gate published a profound headline: “Bush says war makes U.S. safer, world better.”

“The battle in Iraq has been longer and harder and more costly than we anticipated,” Bush said in a speech at the Pentagon Wednesday. But he said “the world is better and the United States of America is safer” because of it.

Bush says war makes U.S. safer, world better [SF Gate]
*AFP/Getty Images photo by Jim Watson/ March 19, 2008

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Above is a picture of the former Out of the Closet consignment store. Below is a picture of the same building getting knocked down. Here comes the high-density, multi-use, multi-rate housing project we’ve been waiting for.

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What we believe was once an auto repair garage with two Victorian houses behind has turned into a new real estate development. We’ve been following this project for months and the pictures above show stages of the houses being lifted and the construction starting in front. According to a contractor on site, the building is going to be lofts and the two homes will be restored. There are more pictures that can be found in the stories below.

7th Ave Near Irving [SF Schtuff]
7th Near Irving II [SF Schtuff]

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Mr. is a gentleman’s club in the FiDi that was founded by Standford graduates, Sean and Kumi that offers camaraderie and fraternity in a lounge/barber shop setting to forward-thinking, ambitious men and women who appreciate great hospitality, chic environments and other phenomenal people. Barber shop, lounge and social venue, Mr. has been attracting a diverse clientèle looking for a place to relax, talk and get groomed. The barbershop & lounge will be screening every NCAA game on their 9 plasmas and serving free pizza and wings. Starting Friday, they’re also cutting their initiation fee by half (to $100).

Mr. [website]
*image provided by the Mr. website

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District Map (PDF)

You may have noticed that posts have not been as plentiful lately here at SF Schtuff; we apologize. Unfortunately, we are forecasting an even slower informative delivery to all our lovely readers for the weeks to come. We do anticipate however that things will pick up again in mid-April with our usual, multi-post per day action. Do you miss us already?

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Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the single family home sales in San Francisco from the previous week. If you would like the sales information for Condo’s, TIC’s or multi-unit buildings, just ask…

Ms. Mullen Lives Happily Ever After [SF Schtuff]
*actual sales price not reported

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As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

Ashbury Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
345 Upper Terrace: $1,049,000

Bernal Heights: 2:00-5:00pm
36 Bache Street: $995,000

Corona Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
4131 17th Street: $789,000

Diamond Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
5068 Diamond Heights Blvd. #18: $699,000

Excelsior: 1:00-4:00pm
85 Ina Ct.: $669,000

Forest Hill: 2:00-4:00pm
2165 9th Ave.: $1,595,000

Glen Park: 2:00-5:00pm
2432 Diamond Street: $1,669,000

Haight Ashbury: 12:00-2:00pm
437 Carl Street #J: $529,000

Ingleside Heights: 2:00-4:00PM
8300 Oceanview Ter. #304: $510,000

J (District 9j, Central Waterfront): 1:00-4:00pm
1067 Tennessee Street: $679,000

Read the rest of this entry »

The long and winding road has led to pure bliss for Ms. Mullen. She has finally found true love.

Schtuff:

• Asking Price: $2,295,000
• Selling Price: $2,150,000
• Beds: 4
• Baths: 4
• Days on Market (per the Schtuff clock): 180ish days…

Ms. Mullen [SF Schtuff]
Has Ms. Mullen Found Love? [SF Schtuff]
Love Hurts [SF Schtuff]
306 Mullen Ave. [Home San Francisco]

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The EPA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment tells us it’s now safe to eat bay area mussels that may have been contaminated by the Cosco Bussan oil spill last fall. The EPA did not test for other contaminates not related to the spill. Eat up…

San Francisco mussels safe to eat after oil spill [MercuryNews.com]
The Cleanup… [SF Schtuff]

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Over two years ago we wrote about the uncertainty surrounding the post-war, barrack-style Potrero Annex and Potrero Terrace, Potrero Hill’s dilapidated subsidized housing project. Yesterday, SF Gate reported:

The Housing Authority Commission on Tuesday named Sunnydale in Visitacion Valley, the Potrero Terrace-Potrero Annex complex on Potrero Hill and Westside Courts in the Western Addition as the next developments to be rebuilt using a mix of public and private funds.

The remade projects will include the same number of public housing units they do now, as well as hundreds of new affordable and market-rate rental units and homes for sale to help offset the costs. In all, there will be about 3,000 units in the new neighborhoods.

3 SF public housing areas getting rebuilt [SF Gate]
Potrero Terrace and Potrero Annex [SF Schtuff]

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By Jack Schtuff:

Friends, foodies and fellow winos…

The Wine Enthusiast introduces, “Toast of the Town 2008″, coming to the War Memorial Opera House on March 27th. Many restaurants (Michael Mina & Chez Panisse) and wineries (Fess Parker & Perrier Jouet) will be attending and it looks like it could be a lot of fun. So, get dressed up a little and enjoy your night out…

Schtuff:

• When: March 27th
• Where: War Memorial Opera House
• Tickets: toastofthetown.com or call 800-847-5949

Get Schtuffed!

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A couple units at 888 7th Street–one of David Baker + Partners Architects latest SF works–have hit the MLS.

Schtuff:

• Unit: #213
• Price: $399,000
• Beds: 1
• Baths: 1
• Copy: “This junior-one bedroom home features a separate sleeping area and tastefully appointed interiors.”

Read the rest of this entry »

By E-Manny:

It’s a beautiful, sunny day in SF and if there is no wind and you aren’t standing in the shade, you might almost call the weather perfect. Bliss. You wake up with the feeling that it would be a crime not to enjoy the sunshine and bask in it…..so now what? Well, if you’re hungry and thirsty, here are some starts:

The Ramp: Don’t be scared of the neighborhood which looks like a dump (literally). This little sunny escape sitting right on the dock of the bay in Potrero Hill/Central Waterfront provides an outside patio for drinking, breakfast, and lunch.

Foreign Cinema: A delightful safe haven in the middle of the Mission. A peaceful courtyard surrounded by a white brick walls with ivy patches, you can enjoy their various refreshing champagne concoctions.

Medjool: Also in the Mission. Drinks on the rooftop with a view to kill for. Enough said!

Palmetto: Grab a seat at one of the white-tablecloth sidewalk tables and watch the Marina day-time action on Union Street pass by. A glass of white wine is perfect for this setting.

Red’s Java House: Straightforward diner on the Embarcadero. Wander to the back patio where they serve a full bar. No frills about this place, but the view of the water is calming as is the price of the beers.

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Google Street View was all the rage when first introduced. It freaked some people out and privacy advocates went wild. Wholly smokes has somebody taken it to a new level. Check out MapJack.com, where you can see crystal clear images of the entire city. This service is currently only available for San Francisco, CA and Chaing Mai, Thailand, but it comes in handy if you your lazy ass doesn’t feel like leaving the house to make sure you didn’t park on the street cleaning side of the street (you can read signs!).

MapJack.com [website]

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District Map (PDF)

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We found this on theFrontSteps.org today and thought our peeps that don’t make it over there would want to watch, listen and boogie.

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Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the single family home sales in San Francisco from the previous week. If you would like the sales information for Condo’s, TIC’s or multi-unit buildings, just ask…

Miguel in Contract [San Francisco Schtuff]
*actual sales price not reported

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Well, that didn’t take long. After 8 days on the market, 752 Carolina Street went into contract. Last week, one of our readers wanted to know if we thought the house would sell at the asking price since this home has the potential of being the highest priced house ever to sell in Potrero Hill. Based on this breaking news, we’re pretty confident it sold for at least the asking price. Who wants to bet that this will be the highest priced home ever to sell in Potrero Hill despite the fact that San Francisco real estate is coming apart at the seams?

Update 3/10: The status is now pending (all contingencies have been removed).   

Marin Feel in Potrero Hill [San Francisco Schtuff]
752 Carolina Street [Home San Francisco]
Gem, Gem, Gem: 752 Carolina Street [Curbed SF]

Listing and pictures by Tower Properties. Agent: Mindy Kershner

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As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

Ashbury Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
144 Delmar Street: $1,079,000

Bernal Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
580 Prentiss Ave.: $695,000

Cow Hollow: 2:00-4:00pm
286 Moulton Street: $1,050,000

Dogpatch: 12:00-5:00pm
900 Minnesota Street #n518: $1,274,438

Excelsior: 1:00-4:00pm
27 Vienna Street: $665,000

Forest Hill: 1:00-4:00pm
2193 9th Ave.: $1,599,000

Glen Park: 2:00-4:00pm
542 Laidley Street: $1,095,000

Haight Ashbury: 2:00-4:00pm
1025 Shrader Street: $1,249,000

Ingleside Terrace: 1:00-4:00PM
65 Urbano Drive: $1,450,000

Jordan Park and other SF neighborhoods [Wikipedia]

Read the rest of this entry »

From MilkMarch.com:

WE ARE INVITING PEOPLE BACK TO BE IN THE MOVIE ONE LAST TIME and help us re-create Gay Freedom Day 1978 on Sunday Morning, March 9th.

Schtuff:

When: March 9th (time and place to be announced later)
Where: Castro Street and Market Street
Wear: Wardrobe suggestions below:

ENCOURAGED:

• Blue Jeans for Men and Women: Traditional brands and simple blue coloring preferred: Levi’s, Lee, Wrangler, etc. Tight fitting with straight leg or flare is preferred.
• Corduroy pants, khakis, other simple pants.
• Denim Jackets, Army jackets, Trench coats, corduroy jackets, brown and black Leather jackets, suede jackets, wool jackets.
• Women’s skirts: Knee length, denim, suede; worn with higher leather boots.
• Tops: Wool or cotton sweaters, Henley shirts, solid sweatshirts, solid T-shirts, flannel shirts in solids and plaids such as Pendelton-style wool tops.
• Shoes: Canvas sneakers such as converse, leather boots such as Frye, clogs; simple rugged shoes with basic materials such as canvas and leather.
• Hats: Wool knit hats, newsboy hats, bandannas for longer hair, etc.

DISCOURAGED: Read the rest of this entry »

By May Montana:

We have word that at least one bank will begin originating FHA (federal housing administration) loans tomorrow to $729,000 in San Francisco up to 97% of the purchase price.

On a purchase it would look like this:

Schtuff:

• No FICO score requirements
• No reserve requirements
• Does not have to be a First time home buyer
• All of down payment can be a gift, so 3% does not have to come from the borrower

May Montana [website]
Mortgage Consultant
Guarantee Mortgage
415.694.5513

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By SENSE:

If you (or someone you know) are between the ages of 18 & 25, check out this international essay competition being hosted by the World Bank, the Cities Alliance, and the government of Norway.

According to IDEALIST.ORG (one of my all time favorite websites),

“The year 2007 marked the first time in global history that more people were living in cities than in the countryside. That’s why the World Bank decided to focus this year’s essay contest on urban issues. They are asking: “What can you do to shape the city of your dreams?”

Is San Francisco the city of your dreams? Do you also have ideas about what could make sF even dreamier? Write about it!

Check out the link to the essay contest. If you or someone you know does write an essay about San Francisco, send it to SCHTUFF… we’d love to read it.

Stay Dreamy San Francisco…

International Essay Competition [website]
Put The City of Your Dreams Into Writing [Idealist.org]
Image courtesy of Ohad*’s photostream [flickr]

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From a reader:

The museum is filled with 150 floral arrangements that salute, riff off of or duplicate works of art and sculpture. It’s a visual feast and the museum smells like heaven! They offer seven different lectures on different styles of floral design by an international group of floral designers, as well as afternoon tea, a seated lunch and Hat Day, where visitors wear their best botanical-inspired hats and are judged by four Bay Area hat connoisseurs.

Schtuff:

• What: Bouquets to Art
• Where: De Young Museum
• When:March 11-15 (click here for specific events and program times)
• Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $11 for youths and free to children under 13

Boquets to Art [website]

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By Coach A:

I consider myself to be an expert on the “meatball sando.” I could bore you with why I’m an expert - but that’s not the point.

Top 3 meatball sando’s in San Francisco:

# 3. Connecticut Yankee –17th and Connecticut St in Potrero Hill- aka the Mike Stivich - I suggest getting the sando with fries AND a side of the slaw. Add the slaw to the sando - oh man - it’s good. WARNING - this is a M E A L - don’t expect to run around after this one.

# 2. Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe — Union and Columbus Ave in North Beach- aka - “Meatball focaccio” - Formerly ranked # 1 -As a former employee, I’ve served the sando and as the cook there, I’ve made the sando. It’s great and assuming the focaccio is from Liguria’s - you are in for a great sando. Eat at the bar on a sunny day with a cold Anchor Steam. Enjoy!

# 1. Angelina’s Cafe - California and 22nd Ave in the Outer Richmond — So you think meatball and you don’t think Outer Richmond but you should. Pannini style sando that is out of this world. Will leave you wanting a 2nd and while I haven’t downed 2 in one sitting yet, the operative word is YET.

Utah - get me 2! [youtube]

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752 Carolina Street sits atop a bank of bedrock and sprawls over three lots in Potrero Hill. The home is listed at the highest price a single family home has ever sold for in the neighborhood, but for good reason, it’s probably the most unique. The view alone is worth $2m (best I’ve seen from any home in the city–Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge from an amazingly unique vantage point) and the privacy is unrivaled for a city home. The house feels like something out of Marin, but instead, it sits high atop the city. An amazing home worth checking out.

Schtuff:

Price: $3,000,000
5 bedrooms
3.5 bathrooms
3455 square feet
Architect: Jack Byars
Open 3/6 from 5-7pm
Open 3/9 from 1-4pm

752 Carolina Street [Home San Francisco]
Listing and picture by Tower Properties. Agent: Mindy Kershner

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District Map (PDF)

We are not sure who created this excellent slide show that demonstrates needy borrowers, unethical lenders and fat-cat bankers, but it’s a funny as shit light-hearted explanation as to how the country got into this credit mess. Bastards.

Subprime Explained [google docs]

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Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly Productions and Starr Hill Presents, in a partnership with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, are proud to introduce the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival. The inaugural multi-faceted, three-day festival will take place in San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park August 22- ­24, 2008. Radiohead, Tom Petty and Jack Johnson will headline the event.

Golden Gate Park has been the site of such events as Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD Festival, the Tibetan Freedom Concert, the Guinness Fleadh Festival, Love, Laughter & Music celebrating the lives of Bill Graham, as well as single mega-concerts by the likes of Pearl Jam, Neil Young, and most recently the Dave Matthews Band. Outside Lands, perhaps the most ambitious event in the park’s history, will be the first annual ticketed large-scale multi-stage event in this historic location. A portion of every ticket sold will directly benefit Golden Gate Park.

Another Planet Entertainment [website]
Superfly Presents [website]
Golden Gate Park [website]

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Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the single family home sales in San Francisco from the previous week.

By Coach A:

As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

District 1: Sunday 2-4pm
734 32nd Ave: $1,195,000

District 2: Sunday 1-5pm
2187 25th Ave: $1,186,000

District 3: Sunday 2-4pm
482 Bright St: $548,000

District 4: Sunday 1-4pm
321 Marietta Drive: $1,890,000

Read the rest of this entry »

By Coach A:

A quick glance at Craigslist today revealed this little gem.

Schtuff:
$380K for a studio - and if one is to believe the photos, the studio must be inside City Hall. It appears you also get hardwood floors and a MUNI car - SWEET DEAL! Approximate HOA Dues, pix of a floor board and no actual unit number. Gotta love it!

988 Fulton Street [craigslist]

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Unexpected and historic treasures (circa 1905) were uncovered on the corner of 25th at Church Street. This stripped building was covered in sea-foam green colored stucco up until a couple weeks ago when this charcoal sign advertising Mr. Fisher’s Rye and Bourbon was found. So cool! After speaking with a contractor on sight, we found out that Anchor Steam Brewery is in talks with the building owner to remove that part of the wall in its entirety so that they can protect it and hang it in their brewery (they distill small batch rye whiskey at the Potero Hill brewery). This building has residential units up top and is currently under a major renovation. What’s going into the commercial space? A full service restaurant!

Building sold in 2001 for $567,500 and looked like this [MLS]

1296 Church Street [MLS]
Anchor Brewing [website]
Old Potrero Single Malt Whiskey [website]

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The historic Red Vic Movie House on Haight Street will play host to four screenings of the new film, UNCOUNTED: The New Math of American Elections, on Sunday, March 2. UNCOUNTED is a feature-length documentary that exposes numerous threats to the core of our democracy - our right to vote.

UNCOUNTED, written, produced, and directed by multiple Emmy award-winner David Earnhardt, examines how the fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater election fraud in 2006 and now looms as an unbridled threat in 2008. San Francisco has seen the threat to the integrity of the election process first hand having just settled a lawsuit with an electronic voting machine manufacturer. UNCOUNTED addresses the issue of electronic voting as well as other systemic problems that plague our nation’s elections and thus disenfranchise voters - Jim Crow-like voter suppression, voter intimidation, undervoting, provisional balloting, and the the privatization of the election process.

The San Francisco screenings of UNCOUNTED are sponsored by Green 960AM. Additional support comes from Voting Rights Task Force, a group committed to secure, open, and verifiable elections, and Election Defense Alliance, a democratic, participatory organization bringing together election integrity activists from across the country.

Schtuff:

When: Sunday, March 2 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 7:15 pm, and 9:30 pm
Where:The Red Vic, 1727 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117.
Extras: Post-film question and answer session featuring the filmmaker, David Earnhardt will follow each screening.

Uncounted [website/trailer]
Red Vic Movie House [website]
Voting Rights Task Force [website]
Election Defense Alliance [website]

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Though it was not easy getting potential buyers through the house, there was plenty of interest in the home that was on the market for 6 days before the 1pm offer deadline today. It’s been such a joy trying to sell this house where the agent demonstrated little interest in showing it to potential buyers because she knew that the grossly under priced home and the 7 day marketing period would cause a major bidding war (despite the doom and gloom news you read every day). Today was offer day and the lovely, face lifted agent was just as much of a pleasure to talk to in person as she was on the phone.

Me: Hi, I’m Garrett, it’s nice to meet you.
Agent: Is the disclosure package signed?
Me: Yes, it is. Are you the listing agent? What is your name?
Agent: I’m ——, the entire disclosure package is in this envelope?
Me: Yes ma’am, it is.
Agent: How did you fit it all in this envelope?

Read the rest of this entry »

By SENSE:

I live in the Grand Ave./Lake Merritt area in Oakland and I love it. But, sometimes you just gotta get away and take a break from your life.

This weekend I am going to do that, but I’m doing in it in San Francisco. Sound weird…? Between work and other obligations, and a lack of funds, I am unable to take a proper vacation to some remote or exotic location. So… I’m going to go on vacation right across the Bay.

A good friend of mine is coming up from Santa Barbara and he is hooking up a stay at the Four Seasons Hotel on Friday night and he has access to an apartment in the Marina on Saturday.

I am familiar with the Downtown/Tenderloin/SoMa area, where the Four Seasons is located… so I think I got Friday figured out. Some sort of combination of a drink at the Four Seasons Bar when he arrives, a couple drinks at a spot I know he will like, Bourbon & Branch (check this place out if you haven’t yet) and of course we’ll end up at Foley’s (my favorite Irish Pub in the city).

The Marina however, is unchartered territory for me.
Does anyone out there have suggestions for where one can partake in vacation like activities and get appropriately inebriated on the waterfront?

Now I know what some of you might be thinking… why do I want to hang out in the Marina…? Remember… I am going to be on vacation. It might be fun to be a tourist for the weekend.

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District Map (PDF)

Data Provided by SFAR

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By SENSE:

ATTENTION SAN FRANCISCO COFFEE DRINKERS!!!

Today at 5:30 p.m. every single last Starbucks Coffee on every single last street corner in San Francisco and throughout the country will close for 3.5 hours.

So why not take advantage of this temporary closing and try somewhere new? Here are some alternative coffee places that will get you your fix and will do so while you support a local, independent business:

Blue Bottle Coffee
Ritual Coffee Roasters
Martha & Bros. Coffee Company
Progressive Grounds

If you can’t bring yourself to go to one of these “mom & pop” joints, and still need that brand name… then may I suggest Peet’s. I happen to think Peet’s coffee is way better than Starbucks anyways and their baked goods are fresher and tastier.

All Starbucks Closing Today at 5:30 [Portland Business Journal]

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By Jack Schtuff:

With winter nearly over, I thought it might be a good idea to get you ready for the Schpring - on Schtuff.

Underschtanding that many Schtuff-ers could live outschide the schity, this will help you find the moscht convenient market for your cshircumschtancshes. Click here for schomething schpecshific to get a review on a market. Lascht, vischit here for a great SF gift idea.

Farmers’ Markets [SF Gate]
San Francisco Farmers Market [Yelp]
Farmers Market Cookbook [Chronicle Books]

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Home sales are slowing and prices are softening. In additioan to the doom and gloom, real estate agents are often compared to car salespeople and are called lazy, sleazy and unethical. The bad news is, those are true statements for many in the industry. The good news is, there is a new generation of agents. Below is a brief phone conversation I had (the new generation) between me and a lovely agent (the old school fool) this morning.

• Me: Good morning. I have clients that are interested in your listing. I noticed you’ve been on the market for 4 days and are already taking offers on Thursday. Can I set up a time for us to see it together on Tuesday or Wednesday evening?
• Agent: No.
• Me: Ok, is there a better time for you? My clients work during the day and would like to come by after work before offers are due. They mentioned it was very crowded over the weekend and they’d like to get a second look without so many people in the house.
• Agent: We are open on Tuesday afternoon for 1.5 hours and we were open all weekend long. I don’t want to waste my time showing you this house, do you know if your clients will even like it?
• Me: Yes, they saw the house over the weekend and would like to see it again because they think they like it.
• Agent: Why do they want to see it again? We had 300 people here over the weekend and I’m expecting many offers.
• Me: That’s exactly why they would like to see it again. They are first time buyers and wouldn’t mind seeing the house for another 15 minutes, alone, before they put an offer in to purchase the place.

• Read the rest of this entry »

Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold, will be available for your viewing pleasure each Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the single family home sales in San Francisco from the previous week.

*Investor Alley III [San Francisco Schtuff]

Poor 306 Mullen Ave. She’s single and back on the market, again. Take it from us Ms. Mullen, it’s going to be alright, there are many more fish in the sea…

Listing Schtuff:

• 2004: Empty lot sells for $365,000
• 2005: Empty lot with approved plans is listed for $699K; expires
• 2006: Empty lot with approved plans is listed for $689K; withdrawn
• 2007: Developed lot is listed for $2,295,000, on market for 76 days; withdrawn
• 2008: Developed lot is listed for $2,295,000, on market for 17 days; offer accepted
• 2008: Deal falls apart, Ms. Mullen is back on the market for $2,295,000

Ms. Mullen [San Francisco Schtuff]
Has Ms. Mullen Found Love? [San Francisco Schtuff]
306 Mullen Ave. [Home San Francisco]

Listed By: Vanguard Properties; Agent: Amanda Jones and Misha Breyburg

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As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

All you need is love [Youtube]

Bernal Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
340 Prentiss Street: $1,059,000

Cow Hollow: 2:00-4:00pm
2347 Union Street #4: $749,500

Dolores Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
347-49 Liberty Street:$2,950,000

Excelsior: 2:00-4:00pm
271 Moscow Street: $549,000

Forest Knolls: 2:00-4:00pm
270 Castenada: $3,890,000

Glen Park: 2:00-4:00pm
73 Miguel Street: $2,875,000

Haight Ashbury: 2:00-4:00pm
19 Delmar Street: $1,795,000

Read the rest of this entry »

Lock up the dogs, keep an eye on the kids and for god sakes, don’t turn your head for too long because the snakes are coming! According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the 250 pound Burmese Python is on its way to the Bay Area. At the current pace it is traveling, it will be here in just 12.5 years! How is this front page news? Let me get this straight, some irresponsible pet owners released their snakes into the Florida wild and the U.S. Geological Survey team stated that the Bay Area has a good climate for the beaver eating reptiles and that they are headed west at a pace of 20 miles per month–this story made the cover of our beloved cities’ newspaper? Surely there must have been something else going on in the world?

“It would be exceptional for one animal to be that unidirectional in its movement, but it’s mathematically possible.” The snake’s cross-country crawl would be made easier by the large population of beavers along the way. “Beavers would be a very tasty treat for them.” “No beaver would be safe from a python.”

Python Schtuff:

• Size: They can grow to 250 pounds and stretch over 23 feet.
• Popular pets: They’re often released into the wild by irresponsible owners.
• Lifestyle: When young, the pythons spend much of their time in trees. In adulthood, their weight makes tree-climbing too difficult.
• Food: They survive on small mammals and birds but have been known to eat deer and alligators.
• Eggs: They lay up to 100 at a time.

New Threat To Our Way Of Life: giant pythons [SF Gate]
Image provided by joe-ks.com

By SENSE:

One Man’s Trash…

…is another man’s business?

Mike Sugarman of CBS 5 San Francisco reported yesterday that San Francisco’s Conservation Core is looking through residents’ garbage to inspect if they are recycling properly. Currently, there are no fines for finding recyclable waste in trash bins (and not the blue recycling bins), but it may eventually come to that. For now, residents simply receive notices or “Friendly Reminders.”

According to Sugarman, “this is all part of San Francisco’s efforts to recycle 75% of its waste by 2010.”

This investigation of people’s trash appears to be a new policy.

Is this good green governing… or people’s privacy rights being thrown out?

SF ‘Garbage Cops’ May Be Digging In Your Trash [CBS 5.com]
image courtesy viewimages.com

Winner Alert! As you may remember from our post last December, Community Action Marin was raffling away cash prizes and a dream house where the proceeds from the raffle benefit Community Action Marin in its continued efforts to meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged people in Marin County. Winners were announced. Congratulations!

Dream House Give Away [San Francisco Schtuff]
Dream House Raffle Prize Winners! [website]
Community Action Marin [website]
House Photos [Dream House Raffle]

image courtesy of Dream House Giveaway via Community Action Marin

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Safe2Pee.org is a resource for people who do not feel comfortable with traditional public restrooms to help find safe alternatives and to support advocacy and research to further the cause of gender free, inclusive bathrooms. The service aims to be accessible from a variety of mediums. This project was put together by and is often maintained by a genderqueer hackers collective with a sense of humor and some anarchist tendencies.

Violence, harassment and discrimination are faced by gender variant, differently-abled, and some traditionally genedered (but not very stereotypical) people in public restroom every day. While many people take for granted the ability to use a toilet, others constantly fear being questioned, arrested or denied access, often by state sanctioned agents such as police.

This project is exclusively available in North America, but they have plans to become more robust. San Francisco seems to have the most data available and can be easily mapped, fed (RSS) or manipulated (csv).

safe2pee.org [website]
safe2pee.org [blog]
safe2pee.org [resource page]
safe2pee.org [san francisco map]

image provided courtesy of safe2pee.org zine

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By Jack Schtuff:

The counter point to our post, Yes We Can is No You Can’t (video above) and John.he.is [youtube].

We’re used to seeing Christian voters support Republicans. The SF Business Times reports that a Dallas website shows McCain way behind his competition for the Christian vote. This may be because of McCain’s wavering view of abortion.

I think he is going down! What do you think?

Yes We Can [San Francisco Schtuff]
No you Can’t [YouTube]
John.he.is [YoTube]

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Our weekly installment, Seductively Sold will be available for your viewing pleasure each and every Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the home sales in San Francisco from the previous week.

Subscribe and get this info delivered to your inbox each week.

Make a comment 

As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

Ashbury Heights: 2:00-5:00pm
857 Ashbury Street: $2,950,000

Bernal Heights: 1:00-4:30pm
17 Precita Ave.:$649,000

Cow Hallow: 2:00-4:00pm
2243 Greenwich Street: $2,200,000

Dolores Heights: 12:00-4:00pm
340 Sanchez Street: $825,000

Excelsior: 2:00-4:00pm
955 Excelsior Ave: $988,800

Forest Knolls: 1:00-4:00pm
370 Castenada Ave.: $1,899,000

Glen Park: 2:00-4:00pm
195 Randall Street: $629,000

Haight Ashbury: 1:00-4:00pm
1907 Page Street $925,000

Ingleside: 2:00-4:00PM
121 Louisburg: $539,000

J (in district 3, Oceanview) 1:00-3:00
258 Minerva Street: $780,000

Read the rest of this entry »

By Farrah:

Grand Lake (Oakland) vs. Noe Valley (San Francisco)

These hoods are cute, convenient and family-friendly. Let’s see what happens when they go head to head in a good old fashioned grudge-match…

Results:
Meeting hottie at local bar: Grand Lake
Getting around: Noe Valley
Kid friendliness: Grand Lake
Cool stuff to do: TIE
Likelihood that your neighbors aren’t just like you: Grand Lake
Necessary Stuff: Grand Lake
Price: Grand Lake

Meeting at hottie at the local bar: Grand Lake

Don’t people move to Noe Valley when they’re boo’ed up? When I moved in with my boo, we moved to Noe and didn’t go out to bars. Oh yeah, I guess I did pass a bar called Bliss on my way to the grocery store from time to time. Does anyone really go there?

Grand Lake has tons of bars. If you like cat daddies you can go to the Serenader. Hip young professionals can be found at Easy or Vine Wine Bar. Unprentious, dive-loving hipsters go to the Alley or Smitty’s. Lesbians (one Wednesday a month) and everybody else goes to Lucky’s.

Read the rest of this entry »

Excuse the horrendous picture, but the note reads:

“To provide the best health care for our employees a 4% health care initiative surcharge is included thank you for dining with us.”

This informative tidbit was included at the bottom of the bill at the new Waterbar restaurant on the Embarcadero. Fascinating! We are all for quality health care here at SF Schtuff and we understand that the cost of obtaining such health care is astronomical, but is the 4% tacked on charge the best way to suck your customers dry pass along the cost from the employees to the customers? Waterbar is not the cheapest restaurant in the city, if they added the 4% to each item before the bill (and reflected this in their prices) and didn’t charge the 4% after you have enjoyed your sea-meats and got a little liquored up, it would be less of a surprise. Perhaps instead, the note could read:

“To provide the best health care for our employees a 4% health care initiative surcharge was included in the price of all items.”

It was something new for us. Have any of you seen this before?

Inside Sneak Peak [Eater SF]

By Jack Schtuff:

Is anyone else excited about getting a new administration to lead this country? Hillary won in California, but Obama is celebrating a lead overall. I’m just happy that both Democratic candidates can speak with complete sentences.

The Schtuff Publisher shot down a political post idea about a month ago, but Obama SF is perfect for Schtuff.

The larger units at The Greenwich are quite nice, boasting all sorts of amenities and views. One thing that made near no sense to me however was the fireplaces at chest level, in the unit pictured above, at chest level adjacent to the door–what is that?

Schtuff:

• 29 Units (first offers are being accepted tomorrow 2/13/08)
• Price range: $589,000-$2,295,000
• HOA dues: $399-$507
• Too many finishes and amenities to list

Contact me for further information

The Greenwich [website]
Listing by: Shamrock Real Estate Co.

About a month ago we shared the fairy tale of Ms. Mullen. We now have word that the lonely, yet contemporary and sexy vixen may have finally found love. The relationship is early (active contingent), but perhaps the passion will get hotter. We’ll keep you posted with any further updates, love triangles and of course, the final price.

Ms. Mullen [San Francisco Schtuff]
306 Mullen Ave. [Home San Francisco]

Listing and images provided courtesy of the MLS and Vanguard Properties
Agent: Amanda Jones and Misha Breyburg

Our new weekly installment, Seductively Sold will be available for your viewing pleasure each and every Monday. This little gem will bring you all of the home sales in San Francisco from the previous week.

Single Family Home sales 2/3/08-2/10/08

Subscribe and get this info delivered to your inbox each week.

As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

Ashbury Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
1051 Ashbury Street: $1,675,000

Bernal Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
763 Andover Street: $699,000

Corona Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
7388 16th Street: $975,000

Dolores Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
4654 18th Street: $1,835,000

Excelsior: 2:00-4:00pm
325 Peru Ave: $519,000

Financial District: 2:00-4:00pm
690 Market Street #1502: $$1,729,000

Glen Park: 2:00-4:00pm
112 Chenery Street: $1,050,000

Haight Ashbury: 1:00-4:00pm
253 Carl Street: $1,098,000

Ingleside: 1:30-4:00PM
221 Faxon Ave.: $989,000

Just another post from our “top producer”

Read the rest of this entry »

The number of households in foreclosure who lost their home soared in 2007 to about 405,000 households.

This number might sound alarming, but a little perspective is in order :

• Foreclosures were lower prior to last year, which causes the numbers to appear to be soaring only when looked at purely in terms of percentage gains.
• RealtyTrac reports defaults on loans, not on properties, so one household that defaults on a primary loan and an equity line will be counted as two defaults, even though both loans were for the same house. This could artificially inflate foreclosure statistics.
• A foreclosure filing includes default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions. One home may fall into each of these categories as it moves through the long foreclosure process. RealtyTrac counts each step along the way separately. This also skews foreclosure statistics.
• The overwhelming majority of homes are not in danger of foreclosure. If slightly more than 1 percent of U.S. homes were in some stage of foreclosure last year, then 99 percent of homes were not. Although some of the hardest hit communities with high concentrations of defaults are suffering, those communities do not reflect California overall.

Foreclosures up 75% in 2007 [CNNMoney]

From Bloomberg.com:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage finance companies, will be allowed to buy loans worth as much as $729,750 for loans made between July 31, 2007 and Dec. 31, 2008, an increase over the current $417,000 loan limit, a move that could help struggling homeowners to refinance large mortgages at a lower interest rate. It will also allow the Federal Housing Administration to insure loans as high as $729,750 in expensive markets.

Senate Approves $151 Billion Economic Stimulus Bill [Bloomberg]

‘Tis the season for real estate companies to talk about how much money their agents made last year. Nothing like seeing a pyramid of face shots that drip down from the richest to the “poorest” agents. I hate these ads. Does anybody other than the lucky elite enjoy looking at these?

Some Thoughts about the 2007 San Francisco Real Estate Top Producers:

• If you are one of 50 agents, is “top” really the best term?
• It must be hard to be #2 to a guy with Dalmatians when you used to be #1 and the company owner.
• Isn’t it ironic that a SF company takes a punch at other brokerages about listing their top producers on a page, but goes ahead and does just that?

Since we love “top producers” so much here at Schtuff, we are proud to announce the 2007 top producing contributers (as determined by the amount of posts written). These lovely creatures are all filthy rich, have giant ego’s and love to show off. Please put your hands together for:

#1: Garrett
#2: Jack Schtuff
#3: SENSE (tie)
#4: Coach A (tie)
#5: E-Manny
#6: Jilly
#7: Matty P
#8: Farrah
#9: B-Hizzie

Comment Here

By Jack Schtuff:

This appetizer is delicious, colorful and you may already have most of the ingredients. It’s easy to prep ahead of time and throw together at the last minute. The home-made crostini adds a splash of class to this simple, Italian-style starter.

You’ll need:

• 2 cups cherry or sugar plum tomatoes
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cup fresh basil
• extra virgin olive oil
• goat chevre
• 1 schkinny schourdough baguette

Read the rest of this entry »

District Map (PDF)

Data Provided by SFAR

Vote Today!

Election: Consolidated Presidential Primary Election
Time: Polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Party Today!

Type: Fat Tuesday
Time: 7:30pm-2:00am
Location: Roccapulco

Carnival San Francisco [webstie]

SFGate has recently released an interesting mash-up to to their map collection. This map tracks the homicides in San Francisco during 2007. Each “pin” contains the name and cause of death. It’s hard not to look…

SFGate Homicide Map [SFGate]

Ya only turn 30 once and in celebration, we’re going out! We need some help for the post 11pm hour.

Here are the parameters, what would YOU do?

• Start time 11:00pm
• Starting in SoMa, but can mobilize
• have a group of 30
• no dance clubs
• everybody in the group drinks

you can press comments above the post or click here

As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.
Many homes are open earlier this Sunday due to the Super Bowl.

Anza Vista: 2:00-4:00pm
1800 Turk Street #202: $629,000

Bernal Heights: 12:00-3:00pm
33 Nebraska Street: $949,000

Corona Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
68 Uranus Terrace: $1,695,000

Dolores Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
319 Douglas Street: $749,000

Excelsior: 12:00-4:00pm
71 Mansfield Street: $1,299,000

Financial District: 11:00-4:00pm
690 Market Street #1803: $2,295,000

Glen Park: 1:00-4:00pm
156 Arlington Street: $859,000

Haight Ashbury: 2:00-4:00pm
116 Lyon Street: $379,000

Ingleside Terrace: 1:00-4:00PM
40 Cerritos Ave: $1,595,000

J-Church Muni (wikipedia)

K (district 10) Bayview Heights: 11:00-6:00pm
401 Crescent Way unit#4202: $551,000

Lower Pacific Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
1908 Divisadero St. #4: $579,000

Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve talked about new and unusual vending machines before on Schtuff. What we’ve learned is that you can can buy just about anything from these handy dandy dispensaries–iPods, fruit, newspapers, drinks, snack and weed!

“The computerized machine requires fingerprint identification and a prepaid card with a magnetic stripe. Once the card and fingerprint are verified, a bright green envelope with the pot drops down a slot.”

The first of the kind have appeared in Los Angeles, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see these set up in Golden Gate Park

Pot vending machines take root in Los Angeles [msnbc]
A Juicy Apple From the Vending Machine [San Francisco Schtuff]

By Coach A:

The weekly investment installment where Coach A picks a house, building or condo and talks about how somebody can create a return on their investment…

Schtuff:
Address: 657 Ulloa Street
‘Hood: West Portal
Price: $889,000
Beds: 2
Baths: 1
Sq. ft.: 1506
Extra: in-law unit

Plan:

• Purchase for $945,000 in as-is condition with a 21 day close (gonna be some competition for this one)
• Spend $100-$150K in upgrades (Home is in move in condition, but most likely needs a new roof.)
  • blow out the interior walls to reconfigure the space into a more suitable 2 bed / 1.5 bath upstairs and refine the outdoor space and garage area.
• Keep the in-law rented and generate $1100.00 a month.
• Ultimately, drop an interior staircase in the home and create a 3 bed / 2.5 bath 2500 sq.ft. home

Read the rest of this entry »

440 Brannan is owned and operated by SF fashion designer Roger Alan. 440 Brannan is a subterranean retail warehouse offering limited-edition outerwear that’s further customizable in the design studio. A cold body begins by picking a jacket– anything from a work-friendly trench coat to a cafe-racer-inspired bomber. From there, you can choose among bespoke stitching, linings, labels, thicken the quilting or swap bits of the jacket’s material for locally sourced canvas, denim or neoprene.

440 Brannan [website]
image provided by 440 Brannan

The Fed cut the fed funds rate yet again. The second such cut in 8 days. The rate now stands at 3%! The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which private institutions (mostly banks) lend balances at the Federal Reserve to other banks overnight. Though there is a slight lag in the time before consumers feel such a cut, it means money is getting cheaper to borrow. Some [me] worry about inflation, but the Fed seems to think that stimulating the economy in the short term is a good long term solution.

The New York Times Reports:

“The central bank acknowledged that it is now far more worried about an economic slowdown than rising inflation, and it left open the possibility of additional rate reductions.

“Financial markets remain under considerable stress, and credit has tightened further for some businesses and households,” the central bank said in a statement accompanying its decision. In addition, it said, recent data indicated that the housing market is still getting worse and the job market appears to be “softening.””

This, coupled with the soon to be voted on conforming rate stimulus package will mean that borrowers are going to save a whole lot of dough versus just a few months ago to borrow money to purchas a home in sF. If the Stimulus Package is passed, the conforming loan rate will change from $417,000 to $729,750 for one unit dwellings in San Francisco. This alone (not including the rate drop) will save a borrower $600 a month with 10% down on a borrowed amount of $900K.

Fed Cuts Rates by Half-Point; 2nd Reduction in 8 Days [NYT]
Federal Funds Rate [Wikipedia]

District Map (PDF)

Data Provided by SFAR

71 Miguel Street is in contract despite Mr. Miguel’s brother (73 Miguel Street) still sitting active after a price reduction.

Schtuff:
Price: $2,649,000
4 Beds
3.5 Baths
2890 Square feet
New construction

There was some fun conversation on CurbedSF about the neighborhood, but despite the “section 8,” somebody fell in love. Both of these homes are hecka sweet (71 is the smaller, more constricted of the two), they just don’t fit the typical make up of this ‘hood.

71 Miguel Street [Home San Francisco]
PriceChopper: Glen Park Gem With a Catch [Curbed SF]
[Image provided by MLS. Agent Pete Brannigan/Brown and Co. real estate]

We haven’t done much prodding for comments, but we’re startin’ to get a little worried. Cat got your tongue? A few people have been sharing their thoughts, but the vast majority of our visitors read us, use us and leave us–making us feel very cheap . This blogging thing isn’t easy kids! With some insight, feedback, comments, thoughts, ideas, sh*t talking and insightful narrative, this place will be a much happier place for us all, so speak up and comment.

Yesterday, EH, brought it to our attention that it was difficult to comment because the reader has to scroll WAAAAY, down to the bottom of the screen. Sometimes that is the case unfortunately. However, there is a “comment” link at the top of every post. Just click it (it often says, “no comment”) and our handy-dandy code will bring you right down to a comment box where you can spill your guts.

We look forward to hearing from you.

John King of the San Francisco Chronicle shared his feelings about the Soma Grand on Monday. Below are a few of our favorite insights…

Mr. King on shipping containers:

“Containerization” refers to the movement of goods by ship and rail in stark utilitarian crates. These days, unfortunately, it also describes what’s happening in more and more cities as the landscape gets cluttered with buildings that contain housing but otherwise just sit there, static and squat.”

Mr. King on shape:

“…San Francisco has the perfect tower to illustrate the trend: the Soma Grand” “It’s nearly as wide as it is tall, and it meets the skyline with nothing more memorable than a mid-block spire that looks like a car antenna.”

Mr. King on the Soma Grand:

“…It’s a wet blanket at billboard scale.”

SoMa tower: Grand it ain’t [SF Gate]
Soma Grand [website]
Image provided by Soma Grand

The Hugo Hotel, the 4 story structure that’s been sitting vacant on 6th Street at Howard Street for over 20 years with furniture suspended from the windows and outside walls may soon be taken by the city with some force. Eminent domain is the little trick that the city has up its sleeve to turn that giant plot of land in the ever changing, yet ever seedy 6th street corridor into space for affordable housing. Eminent domain with its roots in English Common Law is the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen’s private property without the owner’s consent. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to “public use.” This hotel has been sporting a for sale sign for years, but the owners refuse to sell the lovely structure and the land for a price anybody is willing to pay.

SFGate reports that “last week the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency announced it has begun the process of taking over the Hugo through the use of eminent domain. It will probably be demolished for space for affordable housing.”

Sixth Street keeps trying to make a comeback [SF Gate]
Eminent Domain [Wikipedia]
Defenestration (artists project/involvement with the Hugo) [Metaphorm]

By B-Hizzie:

I eagerly awaited the opening of Basso’s in Noe Valley. Walking by it every day left little to be desired (it looked the same as CyBelle’s…), BUT lemme tell ya, I ate there and it was d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s. Walking into the place, the renovations became more apparent as well. The fun part about this place is that it’s connected to Noe’s bar, so the atmosphere is casual and they have good c-tails.

We started with the Calamari and it was pretty darn good, not the BEST I have ever had, but good enough to order again. We had four in our party and with a pre-dinner drink each, apps., four entre’s AND a bottle of wine, each couple got out for about $75 and the food was excellent. Between the 4 of us, we enjoyed the fillet, a pizza, a New York steak and a pasta dish. All were very very good.

Read the rest of this entry »

As always, if you would like a detailed list of any particular ‘hood, just ask.

Ashbury Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
1025 Ashbury Street: $1,850,000

Bernal Heights: 2:00-3:00pm
580 Prentiss Street: $699,000

Cole Valley: 2:00-4:00pm
235 Broderick Street: $2,129,000

Dolores Heights: 1:00-4:00pm
32 Carson Street: $1,325,000

Excelsior: 2:00-4:00pm
525 Edinburgh Street: $589,900

Financial District: 2:00-4:00pm
550 Davis Street #35: $859,000

Glen Park: 1:00-4:00pm
73 Miguel: $2,875,000

Haight Ashbury: 2:00-4:00pm
1 Hillpoint: $1,549,000

Ingleside Heights: 1:00-4:00PM
40 Cerritos Ave: $1,595,000

Japan Town: 2:00-4:00
1455 Laguna Street #4: $375,000

Kite Surfing (youtube)

Lower Pacific Heights: 2:00-4:00pm
2064 Pine Street: $749,000

Marina: 2:00-4:00pm
767 Marina Blvd: $4,950,000

Noe Valley: 1:00-4:00pm
981 Dolores Street: $959,000

Outer Sunset: 2:00-4:00pm
4028 Ortega Street: $599,000

Potrero Hill: 1:00-4:00pm
1073 Mississippi Street: $899,000

Questlove bringin’ bodacious beats back! (youtube)

Read the rest of this entry »

Cortland Ave., the cute artery lined with shops, businesses and plenty of residents, connects Mission Street to Bayshore Blvd. The topography of Cortland Ave. is reminicent of a street in New Orleans–chalk full of deep pot holes, constant construction work, narrow side walks and bursting pipes with flowing water. There is almost always traffic on Cortland Ave., but the little avenue has continued to mature as new restaurants (Piqueos, Tinderbox) pop up, new business start (Home San Francisco, Avedano’s) and homes around Cortland continue to fetch top dollar.

There has been much drama associated with a large former lumber yard that sits at the end of Cortland Avenue on Bayshore Blvd. For years residents have put up a fight to keep Home Depot, a large box store out of their hood. For years this large lumber yard has sat empty with a “The Home Depot, YES!” sign out front. After driving by yesterday, a tipster sent us the above image with a new sign that says “The Home Depot; Coming Soon!” We anticipate a lot of stank eye from the residents of Bernal Heights and a whole hell of a lot more traffic along Cortland Ave.

Welcome to Cortland Avenue [San Francisco Schtuff]
Homes near Cortland Ave. [Home San Francisco]

Once upon a time in 2004, Ms. Mullen was nothing more than a lonely, grassy hilltop with a heart of gold. Poor little Ms. Mullen wanted to be something stylish, sexy and to find a suitor. Ms. Mullen decided it was time to strut her schtuff, so she got all showered up, shaved her long green whiskers and started making herself ready for a suitable mate. Along came her prince, architect Craig Steely, who saw her inner and modern beauty. Craig fell in love and decided to paint Ms. Mullen a portrait to show her all of what he saw she could be. Because Ms. Mullen started winning over the hearts of possible mates through Mr. Steely’s portrait, she felt it was time to get some practice in the “love department.” Ms. Mullen put on some clear heels and a short skirt and sold herself for $365K (little slut) after sitting on the corner [market] for 54 days. This made Ms. Mullen happy because she knew that soon, someday, somebody was going to make her look like her prince Steely saw her and that she’d be a champion in bed.

Craig Steely and some developers worked long and hard, night and day to make Ms. Mullen shine. With a sweet kiss, Ms. Mullen turned into 306 Mullen Ave. and looked like this:

306 Mullen Ave. felt so good, she felt alive! Her previously awkward slope now boasted 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, clear cut and clean lines, views, a media room, a fountain, designer kitchen and lots of windows. But alas, Ms. Mullen was all alone again, only to find herself sitting on the market in November of 2007 with nobody to love. She sat there, alone, for 76 days and all anybody had to do was offer $2,295,000 to have her. All she wanted was somebody to be inside of her (to live! Get your mind out of the gutter!). Ms. Mullen was pulled from the market to sit by herself through the holiday’s and the rain. Nobody to turn on her heat to keep her warm, nobody to cook Christmas dinner for her :(.

Ms. Mullen had enough and Amanda Jones and Misha Breyburg have decided yet again that 306 Mullen needs a suitable love. They cleaned her up, slapped the same price tag across her face ($2,295,000) and are pimpin’ her out to the highest bidder.

Go see Ms. Mullen yourself this Sunday from 2:00-4:30 pm as her doors will be open for all.

Craig Steely [website]
306 Mullen Ave [Home San Francisco]
Listing and images provided courtesy of the MLS and Vanguard Properties; Agent: Amanda Jones and Misha Breyburg

By SENSE:

For the socially conscious and well-dressed…
something new comes to San Francisco. The same guy who brought you Joe Boxer has teamed up with Good Will to create a new fashion line called William Good. At the moment, this line is available exclusively in SF.

It’s All William Good [papermag.com]
Logo courtesy of William Good [website]

Much more choice now as compared to January’s of the past.  Take a peek and shop ’till you drop.

As of January 22 at 8:00am:

Active single family homes: 466
Active Lofts/condo’s/TICs: 578
Active 2-4 unit buildings: 134

Search for active homes [Home San Francisco]

By E-Manny:

On my way to my third time at the Grand Pu Bah, I realized I was excited with anticipation of trying another one of their dishes. To date, I have had only dishes that impressed me and made me close my eyes in enjoyment (with the exception of one interesting appetizer). You might miss the Grand Pu Bah if you are passing by or mistake it for a design outlet. Tucked between two retail design stores and sitting underneath a cluster of new condos, you have to make a point of seeking out this Thai food gem.

During my most recent visit, we were greeted by the owner, and as always made to feel welcome. The owner and restaurant staff all exude a genuine friendliness and you are greeted by an eager hello, almost as if they’re saying, “We’re so glad you’re finally here!”

You can’t go wrong starting with the Sizzling Spicy Prawns ($10). The cilantro, lemongrass, and lime flavors are strong and don’t compete; letting you enjoy each zest. The Thai chili gives the dish a nice kick that leaves you alone after you’ve finished the bite.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Coach A:

House 1 Deets:

2821 Turk Street
Price $950,000
2 bed + sun room
1.5 baths
1725 sq feet (tax record)

Comments: The home needs a few “small” tweaks before it’s move-in ready, but there are some incredible expansion possibilities given the size of the garage. A $200K - $250K remodel would still put this house well under market value. It would make sense to remodel the kitchen and bath on the main level, create a master suite opening to the yard in the garage. These additionals can be done legally making the house 2400+ sqft with 3 beds, 2.5 baths, sun-room/office, yard and will still have parking.

House 2 Deets:

2539 Turk Street (extremely similar to house 1 with a nearly identical floor plan and location. This home has more upgrades and shows substantially better than house 1, but is also directly in front of a Muni stop.)

Price:1,150,000
3 beds
1 bath sq ft.
1683 square feet (tax record)

Comments: In contract after 10 days on the market (let’s assume it sold for slightly over the asking price)

Lone Mountain Deets: 2007
14 single family home sales
Average list price: $1,259,000
Average sales price: $1,350,000
Avg size: 1790 square feet

2821 Turk Street [McGuire Real Estate; agent Chris O’Connor via Home SF]
2539 Turk Street [ McGuire Real Estate; agent Barbara Callan via Home SF]
Investor Alley [San Francisco Schtuff]

If you are a drug or antique dealer or just looking for the ultimate hide-and-seek spot, 716 8th Ave may be the perfect fit for you. It’s not too often you come across an industrial grade vault in the garage, but the vault pictured above is included in the sale of this two unit building.

Deets:
Price: $2,190,000
Days on Market: 48
# of units: 2
building square footage: 4147
Random: owner died in lower unit

716 8th Ave [Home San Francisco]
Listing: Tom Cooke; TRI Coldwell Banker

We’ve been keeping our eyes on the changes along the 24th Street corridor in Noe Valley for some time now. It looks like a large space has recently been rented and is ‘getting all purdy’–out with the old and in with the new they say. The little Wells Fargo branch that’s been operating on 24th street for years (and only recently started handling cash transactions) will be getting a bigger, better and badder new home a few doors down. Now, what goes into the smaller shop that Wells Fargo currently occupies? Smoothie shop? Stroller shop? Real estate brokerage (there are only 6 real estate companies in Noe Valley–definitely room to squeeze in at least a couple more).

Previously on SF Schtuff:

Rite-Aid, formerly located at 4045 24th street currently sits dark with dusty linoleum floors and a large sign proclaiming its availability. Rite-Aid has been running a store in this location since 1998 when it changed from a Thrifty Jr. to the more current Ride-Aid store. The 6,727 square foot space supposedly underwent a rent increase and the store with over $900K worth of merchandise could not afford to keep its doors open.

24th Street Retail [San Francisco Schtuff]

District Map (PDF)

Data Provided by SFAR

For nothing more than a little fun, we thought it would be interesting to extrapolate some of the numbers we played with last week to predict what prices would be in ten years IF the rate of inflation and appreciation remained the same as it’s been over the last decade. So, with some very basic math, we averaged out the increase for single family homes, lofts/condos/TICs and Multi Unit buildings in five neighborhoods and applied it to a new neighborhood, Glen Park–2017. Not only do we doubt that the rate of appreciation will remain the same, but we hope with all our might that it doesn’t because not a damn soul will be able to afford a tank of gas let alone a modest house in Glen Park.

Then Vs. Now [San Francisco Schtuff]

By Jack Schtuff:

Just south of San Francisco, about 1/2 mile off the coast, surfers paddled into 20-30 foot waves at Mavericks. On December 4, 2007, the swell and underlying reef produced waves that topped 70 feet, but the conditions were less than perfect for the contest.

Last year Mother Nature didn’t cooperate, so the contest was not held. This year, however, with nearly perfect conditions on the horizon, Mavericks pioneer Jeff Clark, gave official notice.

Athletes, judges, volunteers and spectators got a 24-hour notice as the Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest was announced for January, 12, 2008. Everyone rushed to the Half Moon Bay area to organize and prepare for an event that brings thousands of people to the San Mateo County coast.

The best way to watch the event was via live web cast as several hundred thousand tuned in from home. It was a beautiful day at the beach, but I thought it was great to have a little commentary from contest announcers to educate us on the background of Mavericks and the contestants that risk their lives in the cold, shark infested waters.

The majority of the morning was somewhat quiet, but after a thrilling final, when the contest was over the judges made their decisions:

Read the rest of this entry »

By Coach A:

FULL DISCLOSURE: This listing is held by a Home San Francisco Agent

Deets:
Address: 504 Ellsworth Street
Price: $869,000
Currently 1000 sq feet of living space (per tax records)
3 bedrooms
1.5 bathrooms
Garage
Garden and deck
TONS of storage
Just 2 blocks from Cortland Ave.

Investment opportunity - An architect has developed a rendering which would legally convert a large portion of the garage into a master suite opening to a garden and yard. Once done, some small changes can me made upstairs to better utilize the living space. You are looking at a remodel of approximately $140K.

Before you shake your head in disbelief, take a look at some comparable stats:

[update: An offer was accepted in 4 days after the home hit the market and is currently pending]

Read the rest of this entry »

This week we’re going down memory lane in five districts–to wrap things up nice and neat, our last district is Bernal Heights. We’re bringing it back to good old 1997 when Ben and Jerry’s introduced “Phish Food,” the world lost Notorious BIG, Bill Clinton was President and Mission Bay was nothing more than a place on the map.

We’ve been getting a lot of interest in the Then vs Now series we ran this week from our readers and other blogs (thanks theFrontSteps, CurbedSF, Redfin) and we’re glad you likey. Now, speak up, leave comments, thoughts or questions–we’d love to hear your voice! Next week we’ll be putting the data together to do some head-to-head comparisons; gitty up…

Then vs Now [San Francisco Schtuff]

The Seventh Annual SF Sketchfest: The San Francisco Comedy Festival

The “one hour or so” show is part stand-up & part slide show and based around a San Francisco Chronicle cartoon, “Cheap City.”

Schtuff:
LEARN: Bad advice on getting by cheaply in the Bay Area.
DISCOVER: Failed cartoons like “Peanus, featuring Good Ol’ Chubby Browne”
WITNESS: a guest appearance by talented singer-songwriter, Jesse Dyen
WHERE: The Historic Purple Onion - 140 Columbus Avenue @ Pacific
WHEN: Friday January 18th at 8PM
WHY: There will be drink specials in addition to a great show
HOW: Tickets $15 at
Tip: BEFORE the show- there is great food upstairs at Caffe Macaroni

Sketchfest [website]

This week we’re going down memory lane in five districts–now up, NoPa. We’re bringing it back to good old 1997 when Ben and Jerry’s introduced “Phish Food,” the world lost Notorious BIG, Bill Clinton was President and Mission Bay was nothing more than a place on the map.

Sangha, a new restaurant in the ever changing Glen Park village is a Scandinavian-looking, minimalist style space offering a Japanese-Latin fusion menu from the chef behind Blowfish, Moki’s, and Mas Sake. Feast on flavors from Tokyo to Cancun with dishes like cornmeal togadashi dusted squid, citrus-soy fillet mignon and a tempura-style, maguro, avocado, and jalapeño creation called the Ecstasy Roll.

Sangha is a work in progress and seems to be running a bit behind schedule, (we were under the impression that it was supposed to open last summer) but has a continually expanding menu. Glen Park is poppin’ with all sorts of tasty delights from Chenery Park, Galina, La Corneta, and Le Petit Laurent and they are all easy to get to, only a block from the bart station.

Contact:
678 Chenery Street
415.333.0101

Glen Park is RED hot [GTwice]
First Look Inside: Glen Parks Sangha [Eater SF]
Thrillist supplied us with the image; thank ya.

This week we’re going down memory lane in five districts–now up, Noe Valley. We’re bringing it back to good old 1997 when Ben and Jerry’s introduced “Phish Food,” the world lost Notorious BIG, Bill Clinton was President and Mission Bay was nothing more than a place on the map.

Data provided by SFAR

This week we’re going down memory lane in five districts–now up, Pacific Heights. We’re bringing it back to good old 1997 when Ben and Jerry’s introduced “Phish Food,” the world lost Notorious BIG, Bill Clinton was President and Mission Bay was nothing more than a place on the map.

By Jilly:

Fresh off the press from Daily Candy…

The Hat Factory is a “first-rate co-working space” a space shared by a number of people to pool workplace resources. It’s fully equipped with WiFi, DSL, common desk space, and a kitchen. Enjoy a cup of joe on comfy couches. You can keep small personal belongings in lockers and easy Public Transportation plus street parking makes it even more convenient.

Hat Factory sounds like a great place for independent types to get work done and/or meet others who have flexible work schedules. I wish I was there this week.

Deets:

$200 a month
open for daily rentals if you just want to try it out.
801 Minnesota Street, at 20th Street, suite 8
415-548-3524

The Hat Factory [website]

By Jack Schtuff:

Schtart the year off right with a fresh batch of schtoney cookies, with coconut & dark chocolate chunks.

You’ll need:
1 1/4 cups softened butter
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks
1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ganulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg

Read the rest of this entry »

This week we’re going down memory lane in five districts–up first, Potrero Hill. We’re bringing it back to good old 1997 when Ben and Jerry’s introduced “phish food,” the world lost Notorious BIG, Bill Clinton was President and Mission Bay was nothing more than a place on the map.

From a doctor reader that wanted to share his new years day in the bay…

It’s hard to look at death sometimes

Today was rougher than usual, 7am new years day blows. Hungover, tired, and grumpy, I wasn’t feelin’ the healin’ today. Instead of the usual wake everyone up, look for obvious signs of some sh*t going wrong, 10-30 seconds of chitchat and an exit, I let everyone sleep. I went back and talked to everyone when they were up, except for one.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Jilly:

Homegrown in San Francisco, Turk+Taylor’s highly constructed, classically inspired casual-wear is operating out the head honcho’s 900 square foot apartment / design studio. That’s reason enough for me to want to stop by and check out this local brand. Well…that and the fact that they recently premiered a line of men’s and women’s tailored clothing to complement their hand-dyed organic T-shirt collection. Vintage inspired patterns come alive with bright, bold colors. All styles are limited editions, and all garments are hand-numbered…and with details like neon green silk linings, fun pocket fabrics, and a sewn pouch tag containing extra buttons and a handful of sow-worthy organic treviso seeds….I think this brand deserves some acknowledgement. Oh and did I mention T+T uses sustainable materials and natural fibers such as silks, organic cottons, linens and twills? This is one trend I’ll gladly exploit. Bring it on.

Turk and Taylor [website]
By appointment only [email]

The cloak has come off of 888 7th street to reveal “multi hued shingles;” ain’t that purdy…

Some units have already sold (150+ according the website) and there are floor plans for those with dirty minds. According to the developer, the project has been Greenbelt Certified as a “Livable Community.”

Deets:
61 studios
49 1 bedrooms
81 2 bedrooms
33 bedrooms
7215 sq feet of retail space
Architect: David Baker and Partners
Developer: AF Evans

Live at 888 [website]
Livable Communities [Greenbelt Alliance]
Deconstruction [time lapse video of building process]

By Matty P:

On the eve of this election year, 2008, we all raised a voice within ourselves to become conscious, present individuals – the type of person whose voice resonates further than the cube. After all, we live in a world torn by warfare; a world that we as locusts continue to plunder at the expense of our kids, grandkids and so forth. The time has come to rise up…to raise our awareness; so we immediately reached for strong drink and tore into a gluttonous tirade of epic proportions.

We ate, drank and smoked to excess. We broke marital vows, made out with same-sex partners in spite of their defiance and puked on the dog. We talked about important social matters like Jell-O shots, reality television and the difference between medicinal and street-bought marijuana.

With a whiskey still in hand, but poured on our crotch, we woke up wondering if we pissed ourselves. The answer still remains unclear, but what is clear is our fortitude. This year, 2008, Year of the Rat, we would be the Pied Piper to our friends and family seeking vision, unity and a bright future. Then, the New Year’s Day Party started.

We smoked the joint to kill our hangover. We hate cheap vodka, but if you mix it with Orange Juice it tastes surprisingly like a breakfast drink. Four screwdrivers in, we kick right back to whiskey on the rocks and a few Parliaments. By noon, we are drunk, belligerent and blaming it on the federal government and college football coaches. Meatballs don’t normally mix with bagels, but they do today. And that second helping of macaroni and cheese? Alright…we’ll take full responsibility for that one.

There are starving people all over the world. You think if they were in that room full of food, booze and cigarettes they wouldn’t have done the same? Listen, our moms have all told us about the starving kids, but they never told us about being so drunk you forget your own name or eating so much cheese your intestines are blocked for the month! It’s not our faults is it?

Wednesday, January 2nd…We have dropped a 25 IQ points. Great party on Sunday…but what was that we were thinking about doing again? Oh who cares…snow is falling in Tahoe and our parent’s cabins aren’t going to use themselves. Hop in the Yukon and grab a beer!

By Farrah:

For several years, thanks in large part to the efforts of former Oakland mayor Jerry Brown, once decaying blocks of Jack London square, downtown and uptown Oakland have been abuzz with the construction of mid-rise condo developments. Last summer, the City of Oakland’s Planning Commission began considering and holding public meetings to discuss a proposal to build Emerald Views, a One Rincon Hill-style, 42-story glass residential tower that would be the tallest condo developments and the tallest building in the Bay Area outside of San Francisco.

Although Emerald Views stands to be a significant change to Oakland’s skyline and the surrounding communities, more significant than the building itself right now are the scandals surrounding it.

On the main stage of the Emerald Views scandal arena is a battle to save a historic park. The proposed site for Emerald Views is a 32,000-square foot garden that is the last remnant left from condo development of the estate of August Schilling, a spice magnate who lived there in the 1890s. Although the garden is closed to the public, those who oppose destroying the garden such as John Klein, say that it had the potential to be reclaimed as a public park. Some supporters of the development like Eric from the Transbay Blog say that this “secret garden” is closed to the public and that it is better to use the land for some purpose than not to use it at all. The developer, I’m sure leaving out driveways and definitely leaving out the fact that the construction would dig up the entire park, says that the tower would be very slender with a footprint of only 12,200 square feet so some of the park would be preserved. Turns out that the City of Oakland made a major error that gave supporters of the project a huge advantage, it recently admitted that it missed an opportunity to accept an offer by the most recent owner to take possession of the garden. A city official stated that they didn’t realize at the time that it would be a high rise, wait - what?

In a side show, cute kids, all from an East Oakland boxing gym, were apparently bussed in to speak at the planning commission meetings on behalf of the development. How are these kids connected to a downtown Oakland high-rise? Folks are whispering that the developer might have stuck a deal with the gym owners to rebuild it if the condos are approved.

Also in the mix, of course, are the preservationists, pro-development folks, affordable housing activists, and people who just hope the building will being a Starbucks to their hood.

A Wasted Opportunity [East Bay Express]
Friends in High Places [East Bay Express]
Fight Over The Secret Garden [Transbay Blog]
emerald_views photo [Flickr via user leporello87]

By E-Manny:

People! Stop the endless search for the best burger you’ve ever had in your life. It’s here at Chez Maman. Every time I bring a Chez virgin there, they drool, commenting over and over again, “Best burger I’ve ever had”.

I’ve found it hard to enjoy a burger elsewhere in SF without endlessly comparing. Even at some of the finer burger establishments (i.e. Bistro Aix, Barney’s, Spork); I find myself dreaming of the soft/crunchy French roll, the perfectly cooked juicy meat, and of course: THE CHEESE. This is the secret recipe to the success of this phenomenal burger. I recommend trying either the gruyere and if you like strong cheeses, I say go for the Roquefort (my personal fav). I would do it injustice if I didn’t mention the aioli sauce. That is a incredibly nice touch to the masterpiece. The fries are small, crunchy, and scrumptious.

The best part is you can have any dish here and be impressed.

Now, excuse me, but I’m going to grab a burger.

Chez Maman [website]

By SENSE:

Okay… so it’s 3:30 pm on December 31st 2007. First of all, I can’t believe 2008 is upon us. But 2nd of all, ummm… I still don’t know what the hell I am doing for New Years. I think I just changed my New Year’s Resolution to less procrastinating and more planning ahead. The worst thing is… my homeboy Ian is flying out to SF to party it up with me and I got nothing planned at all. What am I… an asshole?

It’s getting late. Maybe I should stop writing this worthless blog and go Google the hell out of New Years Eve in San Francisco…

Google Search # 1:
“New Years Eve, hip-hop, San Francisco”

Okay… I see that Mos Def and Goapale are hosting a “sneakers only” party at Terra on Harrison… Ian would dig that… but I aint tryin to spend $125… even if it is Mos.

I moved to the Bay about 4 months ago. My favorite bar by far so far is Cigar Bar…

Google Search # 2
“Cigar Bar, San Francisco”

That might work… only a $20 dollar cover and comes with a champagne toast… and featuring the sultry sounds of Manicato. Who is Manicato?

Google Search # 3
“Manicato, music”

Manicato it turns out, is a great band. A mixture of Salsa, Reggae, Bomba, Hip-hop, Cumbia and Plena… I really like this band.

I do have that bottle of Moet that my boy Koji bought me. Maybe Ian and I drink that before heading out to a house party I heard about in Cole Valley. We could bring a bottle of Bullet (my new favorite bourbon that I first tried at Bourbon and Branch) and the cigars I know he will have on him when he arrives at Oakland International at 5:30. Then maybe it’s off to Cigar Bar… We can wake up hung over mañana and listen to Mos Def while drinking bloody marys at Garrett’s spot in Fruitvale on New Years Day.

Happy New Years to all ya’ll.

SENSE

Have a happy, healthy and safe New Years Eve. We’ll be back in the ‘08

NYE image [Flickr; City Kayak]

By Jack Schtuff:

A month and a half after the jack-ass hit the bridge the accident, the Half Moon Bay Review reports that a fender from the SF Bay Bridge washed ashore on Redondo Beach. Though most of the oil stayed within the bay, the recent fender finding is a sad reminder of what took place on November 7th, as the Cosco Busan crash devastated the SF Bay. As of December 20, 2007, the California Department of Fish & Game reports that the ship was bonded, before it was permitted to leave port.

The Cleanup [San Francisco Scthuff]
Bay Bridge Debris Washes up on Coastside Beach [Half Moon Bay Review]
Quicktime Video of new, “greener” Bay Bridge fender [SF Gate]

Conduit
Address: 280 Valencia St @ 14th
Phone: 415.552.5200
Parking: Parking lot space available

Conduit was designed by the modernist architect Stanley Saitowitz, who thought it would be a good idea to line the space with hundreds of metal wiring conduits. The American/Italian/French food gets its shine from a former Boulevard chef. In addition to a full bar and a 125-bottle wine list, there’s also a 14-person private wine room. At night, Conduit’s stainless-steel/copper grid will be lit up by LEDs.

Monks Kettle
Address: 3141 16th Street at Albion
Phone: 415.865.9523
Website: monkskettle.com

This beer hall serves pulled pork, ahi tuna confit sandos and giant pretzels w/ cheddar ale sauce, pairable with 124 handpicked bottles and draughts. The selection ranges from Bavarian Dopplebocks, to Scottish ales, to a section called “Grandpa’s Suds.”

Conduit Unveils Signage, Menu and a Possible Debut [Eater SF]
Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects [website and image above]

Only a couple of more days to vote for Pedro Greg. We want him to win! In an interview with him today, he promises to work hard and stay hot through the ‘08 season.

VOTE HERE (in the body of the email enter “Greg,” “Greg A.” or “Coach A.” remember, it’s anonymous)

DAMN, we’re HOT! [San Francisco Schtuff]

Productive measures to help the homeless in San Francisco need to be established. Below is a Lupe Fiasco song set to images of folks on the streets of San Francisco to help create awareness during this holiday season.

By Jack Schtuff:

Chez Robertson’s “Bird Night” commonly brings guests from a far. After one practice run, you too can add this dish to your weekly routine. It’s easy, delicious, and makes great left-overs!

You’ll need:

1 whole chicken (preferably organic) 4-7 pounds
2-3 tablespoons EVOO (extra virgin olive oil
4 medium carrots
2 large onions
4 celery stalks
8 garlic cloves
1 organic chicken broth
2 large lemons
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Blender

First, preheat oven to 420 degrees.

Read the rest of this entry »

theFrontSteps has started what might be the funniest thing to hit the SF real estate blog scene, EVER. The whole thing began from one of the most painful pictures ever published in the Nob Hill Gazette and now we have a full blown beauty contest goin’ down. One of our contributers officially made the list and another received an honorable mention and would have made the list if she was a SFAR member.

Alright ya’ll, we want Coach A to win this one, so make sure to Vote for Greg here

Our two hotties (click pictures for full size):

…and the Nominees for Sexiest Realtor are [theFrontSteps]
Vote!!! [theFrontSteps]

Follow-up Monday over here at SF Schtuff HQ. Goin’ through some older posts’ it was noticed that a few promised updates had to be addressed.

From October’s $1,344.231 per square foot:
“This listing fascinates me for several reasons:

1. It’s a good deal of money for a very small house
2. It’s being listed by an “online” company (redfin)
3. This home was on the market for the exact price in May ‘07 and was never sold (withdrawn)

I’ll be sure to report back with further details”

Further Details:

• Accepted offer 12/06
• Reduced from $699K to $650K on 12/15
• House goes back on the market 12/15

55 Laidley Street [Home San Francisco]
$1,344.231 per square foot!?! [San Francisco Schtuff]

*photo courtesy of Redfin Real Estate via SFARMLS.

As promised, an update to our earlier post about the soggy, wet, home with a view in the Sunset that received 29 offers.

Asking Price: $629,000
Selling Price: $780,000
% over asking: 24%
$ over asking: $151,000
Listing Agent: N. Johnson*
Selling Agent: N. Johnson*

The Deets (to refresh your memory):

Read the rest of this entry »

Jay-Z , president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records and arguably one of the all time greatest MC’s, continues to broaden his business portfolio, adding some real estate to the mix.

According to the New York Post, Jay-Z teamed up with a group of partners to finalize a $66 million deal for a piece of prime real estate in New York’s trendy Chelsea neighborhood, where they are considering to build an art gallery or high end hotel.

Jay-Z Closes $66 Million Real Estate Deal [baller status]

We want to welcome Farrah to the folks that like Schtuff. Farrah will be droppin’ some knowledge from across the bridge and is our official East Bay representation mingled with some SF knowledge.

By Farrah:

Fruitvale (Oakland) vs. The Mission (San Francisco)

Both have a deep-rooted Latin culture and some of the best Mexican food in the Bay yet nightly, the Mission teems with bar-hopping hipsters while Fruitvale’s residents settle in at home with their families, their partners or their goldfish. The fact that both are thriving due to an influx of new businesses and development makes them similar enough for some comparison.

I interviewed two thirty-somethings - an attorney who has lived in a two bedroom house (that she owns) in Fruitvale since 2003 and my friend Gene, a Market Coordinator for a large insurance company and DJ, who has lived in a large apartment on Valencia (in the Mission) since 1999. I’ve also done a little of my own research, including many nights of drunken debauchery in the Mission and getting my grub on in various Fruitvale taquerias.

Results:
Neighbor hotness: Mission
Likelihood of getting jacked: Probably Fruitvale
Likelihood of getting swagger jacked: Mission
Kid friendliness: Fruitvale
Getting around: Mission
Cool stuff to do: Mission
Likelihood that all your neighbors are just like you: Mission
Price: Fruitvale

click the link below for play-by-play action…

Read the rest of this entry »

For those of you looking to purchase some style for your loved ones, you may want to get over to Potrero Hill and check this fashion event out.

THREAD SAN FRANCISCO // XMAS SHOPPING SPECIAL

THREAD will showcase 100 fresh emerging fashion designers and artists alongside some better known brands from San Francisco and the bay area. THREAD San Francisco gives fashion adventurous the chance to pick up limited edition & hard to find pieces whilst snagging designer lines at discounted prices.

Schtuff:

• When: Sunday, December 16th; 12:00- 6pm
• Where: The Galleria, 101 Henry Adam’s Street, San Francisco, 94103
• Cost: $10 at the door / $7 if you RSVP
• Perks: Members will get exclusive pre-view hours, juicier gift bags, free cocktails, free magazine subscriptions and discounts at the cooler stores, cafe’s, bars and restaurants in San Francisco.
• Extras: Art show presented by ART NOW SF. Music by Kaptain Harris and DJ Rootz

Thread SF [website]
RSVP [Thread]

Data Provided San Francisco Association of Realtors

I don’t take bath’s, but if I had the bath shown above–which happens to reside at 300 Sea Cliff in the Sea Cliff district of San Francisco–I’d get myself some Mr. Bubbles and chill all day.

House Deets:

• Built in 1936
• 5 bedrooms/6.5 Bathrooms
• 9436 Square feet
• 4 car parking
• Swanky Sea Cliff address
• Price: $22,000,000 (reduced from $25,900,000)
• Active for 341 Days
• Previously unsuccessfully listed (not sold) for 1,396 days
• $8,000,000 renovation took place
• You can hear the Pacific Ocean crashing from almost every room.
• HUGE views
• The house is owned by Joan Waitt, wife of Gateway Computer founder Ted Waitt. Earlier attempts to sell it didn’t work, so she sunk another $8 million in remodeling, and now it’s on the market again.
• Has not been lived in in year–what a waste!!!

300 Sea Cliff Ave. [Home San Francisco]
$26M Mansion For Sale [cbs5.com]

By Coach A:

The Commodore 64 Turns 25!

That’s right – today marks the 25th anniversary of my first “gaming” system. I, like many tried to hoodwink my parents into thinking I had legitimate interest in the “computer” aspect of the new technology – but Walt and Beth saw through that. I had to pay for it myself – and I did!

Happy Birthday Commodore 64

Some of my favorite games:
Leaderboard Golf
Summer Games
Castle Wolfenstein
One on One – Julius vs Bird
SpyHunter

what games are we missing?

Now the fancy, tech-heavy part of the building process is taking place at One Rincon Hill with the installation of “intelligent elevators” and the sort.

Elevator Deets:

• travel at 1,200 feet per/min (2nd fastest in sF just behind BofA building)
• 4 total in building (versus 38 in the Bank of America building)
• “smartest” in the city
• moves 61 floors in 26 seconds–that’s ear poppin’ speed

Factoid:
According the to SFGate, “The One Rincon tower now under construction has a footprint of 9,800 square feet - less than a quarter of an acre. One football field = one acre. Monster park Candlestick, you better watch your back.

Elevators with brains [SFGate]
Bathroom With a View at 1 Rincon Hill [SanFrancisco Schtuff]
60th And Last [SanFrancisco Schtuff]
One Rincon Elevators Have Brains, Will Travel [Curbed SF]

Have a good weekend.

For an open house list, email [email protected]

Sit in the comfort of your San Francisco living room and watch one of the most anticipated fights of the year taking place in Las Vegas.  Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton, 12 rounds, for Mayweather’s Ring/WBC welterweight title.

We’ve been watching the soil get tossed around in the Inner Sunset for the last 8 months or so, but we’re still lacking the deets. Anybody care to share their brilliance? What we know merely from passing by and examining pictures is that there are two shell-like Victorian homes that rest on the back of the lot and are propped up on stilts. The lot was fairly flat and the earth was about as high as street level.

The digging down started and now it smells like parking (above).

Some concrete was laid and now it tastes like foundation (above).

It’s a sizable project and we can look up some permit information, but are missing crucial block numbers. Don’t be shy–let us in if you have any information.

7th Ave Near Irving [SanFranciscoSchtuff]

This partially painted house was spotted today and it just had to get blasted. You’ll notice there is still one more side of the house that needs to get painted, but wholly crap, that may be the ugliest paint job I’ve ever seen! This blog is not intended to call people or houses out, but the poor thing really deserved some attention…

By Jilly:

So far this Holiday season, online retail sales have jumped 30% over last year’s total volume (according to statistics from the Chase Paymentech Pulse Index).

Online sales volumes over the post-Thanksgiving weekend were up 38% year-on-year according to the index. On “Cyber Monday,” while we were all at work, sales volumes for 10 retail websites tracked by Chase reached $104.8 million!

Based on this late November / early December activity- consumers are expected to leverage the value and convenience of online shopping. According to President and CEO of Chase Paymentech ; “If previous years’ results are to be used as a barometer, we will see an increase of last-minute shopping taking place from December 18- 20, as Americans place orders that can be delivered in time for the Christmas holiday.” With all these sale notifications littering my email inbox lately, I’m not surprised! Allright, I gotta get back to shopping…oops, I mean work.

Paymentech Index [Chase]
Image: Abandon Cart [Flikr user CrazyBobcat]

There was once a cute little green house on the 400 block of Cortland Avenue that was smushed in between to larger buildings. The two larger buildings never allowed the poor little green building much sun and the little green building never served passers bye with treats like The Wild Side West to the left and Liberty Cafe to the right does. What does that mean in the ‘07? Knock that b*tch down! No, no, just raise it up and blow it out. Noe Valley, watch out–Bernal is right behind you…

Speak now or forever hold your peace, the public hearing is scheduled for December 13th at 9:30am at city hall. holla.

24th Street Retail [SanFranciscoSchtuff]

We are crossing the Golden Gate Bridge this morning for this one. Community Action Marin, a private non-profit social service agency is raffling a $2.1 million Marin Dream House overlooking the Bay. Proceeds from the raffle benefit Community Action Marin in its continued efforts to meet the needs of the poor and disadvantaged people in Marin County.

Raffle Schtuff:

• Tickets are $150.
• Grand Prize winner chooses either the Dream House or $1.7 million in cash.
• 349 other prizes are also available. 1 in 100 chance to win a prize.
• $150 helps support local social services in Marin and enters you into the raffle for a chance to win this $2,100,000 home.

House Schtuff:

Read the rest of this entry »

Macy’s San Francisco is making shopping easier and healthier with Apple’s. In the basement level (just past the food court before you enter the housewares department) they have an Apple iPod vending machine! This machine is futuristic (or something you’d see in Japan) as hell! You’ll notice from the picture above, people trust it and use it! The screen is amazingly simple to use, the products are packaged in all the finest materials that will never break down in a landfill but look sweet as [eye] candy and without a nagging salesperson by your side, you can be in and out, iPod in hand in moments. Simply fascinating.