New Cafe with Lots of Options
By Bob Barnwell
Mercury Cafe, 201 Octavia Street at Page, has only been around six months but there are a lot of things to do there. Depending on the day, they open at 7:00 or 8:00 am and close at 7 or 8:00 pm. They specialize in breakfast and lunch and are one of several gourmet coffee places in Hayes Valley. They have organic and fair trade coffee made on the spot. All baked goods are made there besides custom chili made for the early dinner crowd.

Owner Nick Parker has the cafe open seven days a week. He is also a big supporter of community programs in our neighborhood. When you go in there in the afternoon, you may see 5 or 6 people on computers working on the wireless or the free wifi.

If you’re not on the computer you may enjoy the art work around the inside of the dining room. The server, Nicole, may be getting ready for the happy hour of beer and wine besides serving coffee to the people stopping in. While the cafe closes relatively early, it is available for special functions and fund raisers. Sometimes there will be acoustic performers for everybody to enjoy.

If you are in a hurry, you can call first for pick up. There’s a lot to handle at 201 Octavia - breakfast, lunch, organic coffee, locally baked goods, computer friendly, happy hour, and pick up. Call 415-252-7855 for info on special event planning, and enjoy the music and art. We welcome Mercury Cafe to Hayes Valley and wish good luck to their business.

Octavia Boulevard Freeway Parcels
At the August HVNA meeting, very interesting presentations were made regarding possible temporary development of several freeway parcels. The 2 parcels adjoining Patricia’s Green are explored in a proposal labeled “proxy”, and the 2 parcels where the freeway formerly touched down between Oak and Fell, Octavia and Laguna, are explored in a proposal called The Hayes Valley Urban Farm and Garden Education Project.

Each of these is just a proposal, and they are not related. Still, the large number of members in attendance at the meeting were very supportive of the proposals, and planning with the mayor’s office is ongoing as we go to press. Please review the information provided, and contact the developers with any feedback you may have. You may also contact voice@ hayesvalleysf.org with any comments and suggestions and we will forward them.

Housing Hero Award
San Francisco Housing Action Coalition (SFHAC), of which HVNA is a long-time member, will be bestowing its annual Housing Hero Award on September 23, 2009. This year, awards will go to Planning Commission President Ron Miguel and Planning Commission Vice President Christina Olague, representing the hard work and long range planning of the entire Planning Commission. The event will take place from 5-7pm at Yerba Buena Gardens. The price is $40 for SFHAC members, and $55 for non-members. If you are a paid member of HVNA, you can attend for the lower price! For more information, see www.sfhac.org

With so much development planned in the Hayes Valley area, it’s a good idea to hear from our Planning Commissioners about their thoughts, and a good idea to network with people from throughout the development arena as well. We don’t exist in a vacuum, and pro-active involvement can play a vital role in assuring well planned, well located and well designed housing is a priority in this City.