Our visit to 24th St. between Noe and Castro invites comparisons between this block and other particularly precious, retail-heavy blocks we’ve chronicled. We’re thinking about the 3400 block of Sacramento in Presidio Heights; we’re also thinking about the 1800 block of Union in Cow Hollow. The inevitable similarities between the three stretches are impossible to ignore, but where we found virtually nothing purposely funny on Sacramento and very little to laugh with on Union, there’s a certain humor here on 24th St. that’s a welcome change from the suffocating self-awareness that often weighs down the atmosphere of most boutique-rich areas....

Photo: Ted Weinstein/Flickr Once again, someone tore down a bitch of a wall and discovered even more old-time signage. (First bacon, now bourbon? What in heaven's name went on in this city back then?) This time it was uncovered in Noe Valley while renovation of a building at 25th and Church was underway. And once again, we hope someone puts a window where it ought to be.......

Prince Harry goes to war and stuff. Or something like that. We didn't get much farther than the picture at right. [SFBG]Check out a most brilliant car crash in Noe Valley. [Curbed]Obama, McCain looks like theyhe'll take it. But you knew that already. Well, that was a surprise. [SFGate]Tomorrow is "D" Day. [InsideSFPD]SFBG & SF Weekly wait patiently to hear who wins I-told-you-so sniveling rights. [SFBG, SF Weekly]Bust report #301: line cuts. Oh, Muni, you......

Got your calendar ready? We heard you when you told us to give more notice about fun events like the International Chocolate Salon at Fort Mason. Knowing that, along with the fact that Single Awareness/Valentine's Day beckons soon, we have a stellar line up of tasty chocolate events to get you in the mood. You know, it's totally okay to buy sweets for yourself -- we do it all the time. Think of it......

We saw this house the other day while running in Noe Valley, so it seemed appropriate to go back today and snap a photo. The decorations are on a scaffold next to the house, and that's a working model train down near the bottom. If you want to check it out, it's on 21st, up the hill a bit from Church Street.......

They must. Otherwise the store would go out of business. [Sorry to go all Noe Valley on you lovely readers, but yes, one more SFist writer is knocked up and ready to rant.] A Pea in a Pod near Union Square was on the list of dreaded maternity-clothes-shopping destinations when we realized that we could no longer button our jeans. Mistake. Big mistake. APIAP's non-designer jeans (We are not spending $130 on elastic-banded 7 For......

Although her contract ends in 2009, former SF Mayoral candidate and current San Francisco Public Utilities Commission chief Susan Leal might get the ax, according to Cecilia M. Vega over at the Chronicle. Her removal could kickoff a bloodbath of staff cuts by Newsom. And although her dismissal would need approval by committee, this seems like a done deal. According to the article: Leal received a telephone call Friday evening from Newsom's chief of......

During our visit to this block of Collingwood, between 21st and 22nd Sts., we ask three residents which area neighborhood they most closely identify with. We get three different answers. 1: “Noe Valley – although I guess, technically, Noe Valley’s northern border is 22nd.” 2: (Shrug.) “I don’t know. Maybe the Castro? Eureka Valley? What is Eureka Valley? I suppose you can’t really call this a valley, since it’s up on a hill.” 3: “Do you live around here?” Not quite the consensus we’re hoping for. But surely we can all agree that the 400 block of Collingwood is San Francisco’s preeminent home of sidewalk birdhouses....

Whether official neighborhood status has been self-established by its residents or not, it seems Pierre (pronounced pyair-ee) Valley actually exists. In fact, based on the map posted on the neighborhood's website outlining the neighborhood boundaries, we lived in Pierre Valley for two years. But back when we resided on Tiffany Avenue (allegedly the longest block in the city), we lovingly referred to the neighborhood as the Intermission. Guilty. We were among those who tried to......

Just what San Francisco really needs – renovated horse stables in Golden Gate Park! That's right. Proposition G, if passed, would raise $750,000 towards revitalizing the existing dilapidated stables. Proponents of the prop claim that this is all for the youth of San Francisco. Well, they must be thinking about little Spencer and Avery of St. Francis Wood, cuz we're pretty sure that the kids who go to John Muir Elementary in Western Addition......

The good folks over the Curbed SF have -- at last! -- posted on the conservative genius (an oxymoron, we know) that is Twin Peaks Properties in Noe Valley on 24th Street. (Apparently, a reader had never witnessed the monument to Noe Valley conservatism. The poor lamb.) Many of you have seen this storefront for years, and chuckled. But who is he, exactly? It's all too easy to chalk up his flair for window......

Hey, wouldn't it be neat if you could sign up for a weekly email newsletter that let you know when Muni closures would be happening? Well you CAN! If you're a member of the press. Towards the end of every week, Muni sends out an email to reporters about weekend traffic and transit disruptions. It's kind of like Muni's own little guide to what's happening around town, and what's fun to do if you......

A reader that wished to remain anonymous took this pic of a sign affixed to a tree on Chattanooga St. in lovely Noe Valley, where there are dogs (and children) aplenty. The text, for those who have trouble making it out, reads: "Hi Neighbor, need your help. We have soaped in disinfected the area around this tree to free it from the stench of dog urine . . ."...

Walking up Sanchez Street on our way to the Noe Valley Ministry, we passed by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglová (a.k.a. The Swell Season) strolling smilingly toward 24th Street, not a care in the world. They didn't look like two musicians preparing for a concert and they certainly didn't give off the air of being the stars of Once, a truly incredible film that's currently playing in theaters. They were enjoying each other and the......

Tonight at City Hall, three men are being honored for 1) attacking an attacker, 2) chasing said attacker, and 3) coming to the aid of the attacked. Remember in May when a teenage girl was randomly attacked with a knife in a bakery by some loser who got out of San Quentin the day before? Well, that happened in our part of the city, where not much usually happens. Have you ever heard of Miraloma......

Photo of costumed teens posing happily with their new books. These guys were great. They'd never heard of SFist before, so we skipped the questions about Ed Jew and recent shenanigans on the J-Church. We hate lines and we shy away from new things -- we're definitely a second- or third-generation adopter for tech, and a wait-for-the-paperback guy for books. But we guess this Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows turned things sideways. We......

Yesterday evening we had one of San Francisco's primary rules illustrated to us in vivid detail. You all know it: if you want to get somewhere on time, don't take MUNI. We were headed to Noe Valley to meet a friend and cadge a ride to Oakland, and we'd told her that we would be there at 5:25. "5:25?" she said. " You're pushing your MUNI karma by saying such a specific time." After......

And on the lighter side of MUNI news, this swiped-genitalia graffiti was found on the J-Church this past Friday night. Not sure if "they" means women, queers, Noe Valley residents, all three, or what -- or why it's on masking tape. Enjoy! (Thanks, Greg, for capturing this for us.)......

Supervisor Bevan Dufty meets with resdients concerning Google's bus service...

Recently accounced mayoral candidate, activist Josh Wolf, was seeking signatures to get him on the ballot sans fee at the Noe Valley Farmers' Market on Saturday. It wasn't a great day for it weather-wise, but he was meeting and greeting nonetheless....

--A source passes along these pictures of Gavin Newsom and Carole Migden at a Pride event some time back. We saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus! --Steve Jobs speaks at the Apple Conference today. --They say the real estate market's cooling off -- but the average single-family home in Noe Valley went for $1.4 million in April. Curbed SF gives you the analysis. --There's a new Tales of the City book coming out tomorrow. --The Police......

We were wandering around in Noe Valley the other day, and came across this: After the jump: the punch line!......

--Ha! The guy to your right ran for mayor of Barcelona, and doesn't he look like Matt Gonzalez? By copatbark from the SFist Flickr stream. --John Edwards was in town at Google. So was Hillary Clinton. --Yau-Man's back at work and gives the lowdown on the Survivor season to the UC Berkeley web newsletter. --Oh no, Ed Jew! Bevan Dufty's not living in his district right now either! (it's all okay, though, at least for......

Here where the Mission melts into the Castro to the west, and Noe Valley to the southwest, it’s a bit unclear which neighborhood we’re wandering around. If the shiny new brown sign at the foot of the hilly 000 block of Fair Oaks St. is to be taken seriously - and frankly, it’s not - then we’ve landed in the Liberty Hill Historic District. Crafty, real crafty. San Francisco needs more fictional “sub-neighborhoods” whose names reek of realtor-sponsored specificity, with the express intention of spiking property values, like it needs another earthquake. But since we’re still east of Dolores, let’s just go with the safe bet: this is the western edge of the Mission. Too general? Can we keep a straight face by upgrading this leg of Fair Oaks to tony-sounding Dolores Heights? What’s next? Pinning the “Amoeba Gulch” tag on the westernmost block of Haight?...

May's Asian-American Heritage Month, so of course there's an accompanying street fair to emphasize the fun! Stop by Howard Street between 5th and 7th any time between 11 a.m. and 6 for food, music, community awareness booths, and fun across all the Asian ethnic groups. Other events: --SF Women Against Rape present the documentary "NO!" at the Women's Building. 5-7:30 p.m., $5-$15 sliding scale, Audre Lorde Room, 3542 18th St. (x Valencia). --Bohemian Carnival --......

Something must have gotten to the SFPD because after a bad weekend in which five people were killed, the police have arrested people in conjunction with three of them. ...

Here's todays wrapup of the news...

Here's a funny stor about an alarm, an SUV, and a tow truck...

Tonight, tonight, la-la-la-la-la-la tonight. Fly thee to Phoenix Books! Not only do we love their calendar and used and new book selection, we're tapping our toes at the notion of musical entertainment and readings by Jane Juska, Jon Longhi, Meredith Maran, Bucky Sinister, S. Clay Wilson and more. Brownie points to those willing to find out exactly what word Sinister has tattoed on his gums. Phoenix is proudly celebrating their 22nd Anniversary with this......

Last week's winner, the Bay Guardian. Tim Redmond says the progressives need something to do (so why not run a mayoral candidate?). Too many skyscrapers. Wi-fi and sunshine laws, Ruby Rippey-Tourk, cars in Golden Gate Park, and SF is totally unprepared for global warming. The gay porn Oscars! Cover articles: Noise Pop! SFist Elaine says to check out Scissors for Lefty. Dude, there's like a review for every band playing! Yay Noise Pop! L.E. Leone......