Potrero Hill, San Francisco

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Potrero Hill in San Antonio

The San Antonio Museum of Art celebrates 25 years, and one of it's most popular works is Wayne Thiebaud's 'Potrero Hill' (1975, above).

"The National Endowment for the Arts provided funds that were used to purchase this painting and several other significant works of art when the museum opened.

Born in Arizona, Thiebaud is best known for his creamy still-lifes of cafeteria desserts — cakes, pies, pastries and ice-cream cones. This off-kilter California cityscape reflects his whimsical sense of humor, making it appear that the buildings might slide down the frighteningly steep hill at any moment."

• Art from SAMA's collection [MySA.com]

Potrero Hill goes primetime

nykrinsf posts on the message boards that on Wednesday, March 22nd, ABC will air a new crime drama called 'The Evidence' which will feature Potrero Hill's Klein's Deli.

Here's a snippet about the shooting of the pilot from 'San Francisco' magazine:

The next morning. Second shooting day. Owner Avery McGinn—rimless glasses, brown hair with gray streaks, doting yet distracted—watches as set designers transform her deli. Outside, they add pink and purple silk flowers to the ceramic planters, along with a half-dozen black wrought-iron tables and chairs for her fictitious patrons. In the window they stick a long, rust-colored rectangular sign that says "Home of San Francisco's Famous Hot Pastrami Sandwich!" bordered on either side with retro-sparkly window film.

McGinn
We're actually famous for our chicken salad sandwich.

To film here and to use the store name, DEK paid McGinn a substantial sum, though neither will say how much. The Kelley folks don't disclose production costs as a matter of industry policy, but between the permits, officers, security, rental equipment, local crews, and hotels, insiders say, the budget for three days of filming in San Francisco was about $250,000.

McGinn is tickled that her restaurant will be featured; she says the producers told her that if the series is a success, Klein's could be a regular hangout on the show. (Whether that means DEK will use the real McCoy or build a duplicate set on a soundstage in L.A. is unclear.)

Updated: Oops, looks like the shoot at Klein's was for another pilot, 'Halley's Comet' which wasn't picked up. 'The Evidence' did shoot near 20th and Arkansas ... so look for Potrero Hill in the pilot.

Potrero Hill in Sunset Magazine

The March issue of Sunset Magazine features an article about Potrero Hill entitled: 'Local flavor at San Francisco restaurants - Why foodies flock to Potrero Hill,' written by Hill resident Amy Wolf.

"You might expect a neighborhood to get too big for its britches when it’s home to a culinary academy, at least half a dozen destination restaurants, world-class Anchor Steam beer, and an urban winery too. But not Potrero Hill. Maybe it’s the Hill’s apparent remoteness from the rest of San Francisco that keeps it uncrowded and low-key.

In fact, the Interstate 280 on-ramp means the neighborhood is less than a 10-minute drive from downtown. Hurry over to enjoy sidewalk dining, a view-filled stroll in the sunshine (fog’s not a big issue up here), and a taste of something delicious."

The article goes on to spotlight Bistro 350, Chez Maman, Farley's, York Creek Vineyards, McKinley Square, and Bell & Trunk Flowers.

Photo by: Jenny Pfieffer

Editor's Note: Happy birthday to Farley's which turns 17 on March 17 (Saint Patrick's Day)

Read More
• Local flavor at San Francisco restaurants [Sunset Magazine]

More retail stores in Potrero Hill?

From a recent San Francisco Business Times article, "Mission Bay's condo craze is sparking a retail renaissance. With more than 1,000 residential units completed and 6,000 more slated for completion within the next 36 months, plans are progressing to pack shops and restaurants into the area. Along with some 170,000 square feet of ground-floor retail planned within the Mission Bay development, a further 100,000 square feet or so could be developed at existing sites throughout the nascent neighborhood."

" 'I know of four to six other sites that are actively being explored for additional retail. These are existing buildings that would be reconfigured.' said Sheldon Pont, a retail and shopping center consultant with GVA Whitney Cressman. Pont noted one such site was 444 De Haro St. -- an office building across the street from the new Whole Foods Market at 450 Rhode Island St. slated to open April 2007."

"Pont said he's had informal conversations on behalf of building owners Gregg Flynn and Divco West with retailers like Anthropologie, the Gap, Barnes & Noble, Crate & Barrel Outlet Center and Restoration Hardware. Such retailers have opened stores near Whole Foods markets in Chicago, Long Island and "at least three dozen locations analogous to Potrero Hill." Most have been very successful, said Pont."

Editor's Note The Planning Department has scheduled a community planning workshop for Showplace Square / lower Potrero Hill for Wednesday, March 1, 6 - 8 pm at the California College of the Arts (450 Irwin St @ 8th St).

This first workshop will review the effort to date, provide an overview of the proposed refinements and describe the next steps.

Thanks to blogger / realtor Matt Lanning for first noting this article.

Read More
• Homes are in and retail seems sure to follow [SF Business Times]