(8/14/15 Update) Due to the lack of customer support and a low farmer turn out, the Upper Haight Farmers Market has stopped operations.  Their last day of operation is August 26. If you are looking for other farmers markets, look to the Inner Sunset market that runs on Sundays.



(7/5/15 Update) Many neighbors have continued to complain about low vendor turn out for the weekly Farmers Market. According to market manager Jeff Jelsma, there aren't enough customers coming out each week which deters vendors from making an effort to show up. 

"We are at an impasse with the market. Customers will not come to a small market, and producers will not come to a market with low customer counts. We have attempted to bring more producers out, to little to no avail. We hope to continue providing the market to the Upper Haight community, but our farmers need more community support!"

Show your support for local produce by showing up to the farmers market. Maybe if more people show up, more vendors will too.


(3/15/15) The Upper Haight Farmers' Market opens on Wednesday, April 15 this year! 

As a result of a recent community survey, the Upper Haight Farmers’ Market is happy to be able to provide even more organic options this year! The market will welcome several new vendors, as well as favorite producers from past seasons. There will be a constantly changing array of seasonal California produce available, including vibrant citrus, juicy apricots, and succulent strawberries. The market will also feature locally-grown dahlias, locally-raised grass fed meats, and locally-made baked goods (even gluten-free) and vegan granola. There will also be live music, kids’ arts and crafts, and fun games for all ages. 

Some of this year's vendors will include Wholeness Farms, Gauchito Hill Farm, Aztec Dahlias (in June), Fly Girl Farm, Blue House Farm, L&M Farms (grass fed beef), Rainbow Orchards, Schetewitz Family Farms, Tomatero Organic Farm, Cipponeri Family Farms, and Triple Delight Blueberries. Per the survey results, vendors will be featuring fresh vegetables and fruits, stone and winter fruits, apples and apple cider, and nuts.

The market, located at Stanyan and Waller, is open every Wednesday from3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and runs through October 28. 

Say Cheese is excited to announce another cheese classes, "I like your style." 

Join them on Thursday, July 9 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Café Reverie 848 Cole St.

July's class will focus on broad topics related to the classification of different styles of cheese, based on flavor, history, and cheese-making technique.

Their cheese buyer, Steve Wooten, has designed this class to accommodate all levels of cheese knowledge. They will be discussing new technical developments alongside traditional cheeses.

Tickets will include a flight of cheeses and accompaniments, as well as discounted drinks at Reverie. 

Due to space restrictions we require advance purchase with a 48 hour cancellation policy.

Tickets are $25 in advanced and available at Say Cheese during normal business hours.

Starbucks announced earlier this week that it will l close all 23 of its La Boulange bakery-cafes, mostly in San Francisco by September 2015, saying the stores "weren't sustainable for the company's long-term growth" and that it had begun very difficult to operate two different chains at the same time. For many Cole Valley neighbors this is a tearful farewell.

Many still remember, Tassajara Bakery at Cole and Parnassus. The bakery came into Cole Valley in 1976 and sparked a bakery revolution in San Francisco. Interesting fact, Tassajara Bakery was spin off of the delicious breads the Tassajara Zen Center in Carmel made. Neighbors and bread lovers mourned the closing of Tassajara in 1999.

In 2001, a French-born baker, Pascal Rigo, rented the space for his bakery, La Boulange (formerly named Bay Bread). La Boulange, greatly known for their French-inspired decor and menus, and the pink envelopes, was sold to Starbucks in 2012 for $100 million. The deal was seen as a strategic move by Starbucks to gain a bigger presence in the food business, particularly expand their bakery and food products.  

"After more than 40 years, we will be able to say that we are bakers, too," Howard Schultz, CEO at Starbucks, said at the time.

But at what price? Pascal Rigo is now out of a job (is leaving his post as VP at Starbucks) and now Starbucks are bakers. And those tasty treats and French decor will only be a memory.

What do you think of this news? And next question, what will go into the La Boulange storefront come September? We're hoping for another bakery! 



http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/06/17/starbucks-la-boulange/28851063/

http://www.mistersf.com/farewell/index.html?fwtassajara.htm

Zazie has recently gone tip free as a way to bridge the gap between employees at the front and back of the restaurant and ensure a more equal pay scale. Owner, Jennifer Piallat has always put her employees first, with offering paid time off, retirement plans and health insurance.  With the new system, all employees will get a raise; servers will see a three to seven percent increase and the back of the house will enjoy a solid 35% boost.

In a recent SFEater article, Piallat tried to sway San Franciscans who might be on the fence about this new system. 
"The thing is," Piallat explains, "we’re not adding a 20% service charge. Servers are getting 11 percent. Plus, they don’t do the best they can to keep you happy because they’re worried you’re going to dock their tip. They want you happy so that you don’t call their manager and so that you don’t disturb their section. No one wants to deal with an angry customer."

Though this is great for the employees of Zazie, customers should be aware that with this new no-tip system, prices have increased by 15-20% so keep that in mind. All in all, we are happy that Zazie is putting employees first and setting an example for other restaurants as well. Great job!

Content for this article from SFEater. 

Two long time businesses are closing their doors in Cole Valley, quickly making Cole Valley somewhat unrecognizable. The laundromat at the corner of Carl and Cole has closed its doors after over 20 years of business. This came as a bit of surprise to residents since it seemed very sudden and without much notice. Owner, Doug Olssen, posted up a note mentioning that the business lost its lease and that his other laundromat, at 1101 Cole St, is still in business. For those that live near Carl/Cole and without an in-unit W/D, they must now venture a bit farther to clean their clothes and linens.

Cole Garage has also announced that they will be leaving because of the sale of the building. Most might recognize the building because of the colorful pet-filled mural on the front facade. The owner is currently looking for a new location for his business and possible storage location for the equipment.  The space has been rumored to become condos and businesses on the ground floor. We are hoping that the new owners will preserve the front of Cole Garage in the process. 

Once we wipe our tears away as more long-time businesses leave our hood, we always ask the daunting question, "Who will move into the space?  What do you want to see in the now vacant space? 

There seems to be a strange bermuda triangle at the intersection of Frederick and Stanyan. Several businesses cannot seem to survive. Remember Sun Tanning Salon and Cole Valley Cardio [now Past Perfect]? That particular storefront has seen more turnover than most in the neighborhood. Well another bites the dust at this mysterious intersection. Pitch Salon (514 Frederick), moved to the Mission late last fall and the former space has remained empty. Lack of foot traffic could have been due to the salon's decline, and with the other businesses around this intersection. Maybe new business owners in this strange bermuda triangle should take some advice from American Cyclery who have been a staple at the Frederick and Stanyan corner for decades! 

According to Hoodline, an online head shop, Billowby, will be moving into the former Pitch Salon space. Billowby is San Francisco based and has been in business for five months. From a quick jaunt through the Haight, it's obvious we do not need any more headshops. Since they are predominately an online store, it will be interesting to see how they use the space. 

Also the CEO David Matthews is a Cole Valley/Upper Haight resident himself so it's nice to see local business owners being able to set up shop close to home. Major neighborhood points there!

Writer Jessica Velez of Refinerary29.com took a little stroll (and quick stroll given CV's size) around our quaint neighborhood and spotlighted some of our hidden and not so hidden gems. We love that newcomer Pitch Perfect, the popular Ice Cream Bar, and old timer The Sword and Rose got mentioned! Here are some highlights from the article:

From The Mission’s burgeoning tech scene and storied past to The Haight’s history-making hippie-dippy characters, every San Francisco hood has a distinct reputation. But, there’s one that’s managed to stay under the radar — at least, until now. We’re talking about fog-drenched Cole Valley, an area that, sadly, some locals have yet to explore. 

It's a real shame, since it’s undeniably one of the city’s most charismatic corners. A flock of notable local shops are setting up camp there, adding allure and sought-after creativity to the nabe. Naturally, we’ve been tracking their progress and have pulled together a full-fledged itinerary for your first mosey into the valley. Whether you’re looking for a decadent sundae in an art-deco styled ice-cream parlor or an adorable toy shop to entice the tots, Cole Valley is about to be your next great escape. We bet you won’t even miss the crowds in those other parts of town. 

Past Perfect
If you've got some serious interior motives, this is your spot. While Cole Valley isn’t exactly known as a shopper’s paradise, this recently opened decor store is worth a visit. It's littered with a finely curated selection of mid-century (and older) furnishings, and also happens to be the only spot above The Haight where you’ll find racks of designer-brand vintage gear. You’re bound to snag a one-of-a-kind wonder for your nest. And, if you’re not completely convinced the piece you’re eyeing will vibe with your abode, the shop has a try-it-out policy so you can give it a test run for 24 hours without spending a buck. (854 Stanyan Street)

Ice Cream Bar
Don’t make your way inside Ice Cream Bar just to satisfy your sweet tooth, because it’s more than just a standard scoop stop. It's completely outfitted in art-deco style with vintage touches that transport tasters to the glitzy era. That’s not to say the treats aren’t enough to bring us back for seconds, though. Find flavors like fan-favorite basil and a top-notch Morello cherry. Yeah, good luck turning down a pint. Unlike other cream-churning shops, this one has "jerks" slinging handcrafted (and sometimes spiked) sodas. (815 Cole Street)

The Sword and Rose
If you’re not already under Cole Valley’s spell, you’ll be won over by this mystical outpost. You have to wander through an enchanting courtyard garden to even find this moody nook filled with spiritual treasures. In addition to ornate swords, dazzling stones, religious texts, and incense that the owner makes by hand, you can pick up some insight into your fate with an on-site tarot reading. We may not be psychic, but our intuition tells us you'll love this place. (85 Carl Street)

Zazie
There's no hard-core bruncher in the city that doesn’t already have Zazie on her radar. But, for those less in the know, this picturesque French eatery reigns supreme for its drool-worthy griddle choices. And, we know for a fact its lunch and dinner options are equally gratifying. On Monday evenings, you can bring your dog to dinner on the newly renovated back patio. Tuesdays mean there’s no corkage fee. Whenever you stop by, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t come sooner. (941 Cole Street)

Cole Valley Dog Park
Before your pup chows down on Zazie’s milk bones on doggy night, let him work up an appetite at this dog park right near the eatery. Later in the day, the energetic hounds come out to roughhouse. And, word on the street is owners like to bring a bottle of vino on Wednesdays to make playing fetch just a little more fun. A note on safety: Make sure your pup's well-trained or leashed, because the Muni trains come through right next to the park. (86 Carl Street)

Urban Mercantile
Urban Mercantile is littered with quirky and modern nesting knick-knacks — making this a must-stop during wedding season. For the utmost in unique gifting, check the in-house line of graphic napkins and trays. For old-school letter writers, there's a whole wall dedicated to stationery. Pretty much, after shopping here, get ready to be famous for your present-giving prowess. (85 Carl Street)

See the full list here.