Store Trek is a regular Noe
Valley Voice feature profiling new stores and
businesses in Noe Valley. This month, we introduce a 24th
Street pub specializing in craft beer, and a children’s art
and activity center on Church Street.
Gisele Clark wants kids
to know they can paint like Jackson Pollock at Spark
Creativity, her art studio on Church Street.
Photo by Pamela Gerard
At Spark Creativity, being
messy is okay. In fact, it’s encouraged. Owner Gisele Clark
opened the children’s art studio in January in a space once
occupied by Loft 1513. Now instead of women’s fashion, kids’
paintings hang on the walls.
“I prefer messy,” Clark says
as she sits at one of the miniature, kid-sized chairs placed
around long, low tables covered in paper, glitter, and paint
streaks. “Just be sure to wear old clothes and shoes. All the
paint is washable, but your best tutu is probably not a good
idea.”
Projects include clay,
mosaics, collages, and painting. Clark is mom to two young
children, and she’s also a veteran teacher, having spent 10
years in the field, including two at Adda Clevenger, a K-8
grade school on Fair Oaks Street.
“I’d rather not show kids a
model of what we’ll be working on beforehand,” she says. “I
give them the materials and explain the project, and we might
talk about an artist we’re studying, the seasons, or
textures.” Clark cites Jackson Pollock, whose splatter
paintings appeal to kids, as an example. “Kids love the
freedom to swirl paint or string-painting or watching the
patterns a marble rolled inside a box with a dab of paint
makes.”
There’s a small room in the
bright, cheerful studio, which Clark plans to convert to a
splatter-painting room.
Classes are for the 2- to
6-year-old set and last for 11/2 hours. If children are
potty-trained, parents and caregivers can do drop-off.
Hanging out is also fine. “I
leave it up to the parents and children to work it out,” Clark
says.
Classes for younger children,
ages 2 to 4, are scheduled in the mornings, and for older
children, ages 4 to 6, in the afternoons. Parents can sign up
for 10-week sessions attending twice a week for $450 or once a
week for $225. Drop-ins ($25) are fine as long as there is
space—there’s a maximum of 10 children per class.
Additionally, the space is
available for birthday parties. A two-hour party for 10
includes art materials, setup, and cleanup. The host is
responsible for refreshments, serving materials, and
decorations. Clark will work with parents to tailor a theme
for the birthday child.
Parties are $225, and there
are no age restrictions. “Parents have asked if they can have
an adult party with alcohol,” Clark says, smiling. “Why not?”
Call to make a reservation.
Spark Creativity is open
Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and
Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Check the website for
the schedule.
Caskhouse co-owner John
Dampeer complements his handpicked menu of beer and wine
with sandwiches, pretzels, and house-made chips.
Photo by Sally Smith
In the space occupied by Joe’s
Caf… for many years, Caskhouse has made itself a part of the
Noe Valley landscape. Bar, gastropub, or tavern—whatever folks
want to call it—the newest addition to 24th Street since
January offers a rotating selection of beers and wines, as
well as a small menu of “bites” and snacks.
“I know it’s a clich…, but I’m
living my dream,” says John Dampeer, who co-owns the business
with Adnan Daken. Dampeer was in sales when he met Daken at
the latter’s Laurel Heights wine bar, Internos. “Since I
graduated from college, having a place that focuses on beer,
wine, food, and entertaining has been something I’ve wanted to
do.”
Caskhouse has about six beers
on tap and most are small-production craft beers. They
highlight local Northern California breweries, and switch one
or two taps about every two weeks. “Customers will see some
repeats, like the Kent Lake Kolsch from Fairfax and the
Sculpin IPA from San Diego,” Dampeer says, pointing to the
taps. Draft beer is $6.
Those who prefer bottled beer
can order from a menu of three or four 22-ounce offerings for
$11. These might include the California Common steam beer from
Novato’s Lucky Hand Brewing, Evil Twin Red Ale from Pittsburg,
or Puddle Jumper Pale Ale from Santa Rosa.
There’s also a small selection
of six to eight white, red, and sparkling wines, which run $10
to $12 per glass. “These are more global, but still small
producers.” Wine drinkers can try a Neblina from Italy and a
Tempranillo from Spain. “We don’t want to overwhelm people
with a beer bible,” Dampeer says. “For one thing, we don’t
have the storage for that much inventory, but mainly we want
to introduce customers to some things they might not have
heard of before.”
The food menu is growing and
evolving. Dampeer and Daken make their own fig jam, which
they’ve paired with saut…ed rabe, roasted peppers, goat
cheese, and ciabatta. A “fan favorite” on the menu is the
braised beef short rib slider with horseradish sour cream on a
brioche bun. Everything on the sandwich menu is $8, and you
get two sliders on a plate with house pickles and a side of
Caskhouse chips. For $2 more, you can sample the “Dog,” made
with 4505 Meats pork, cheddar, and saut…ed Napa cabbage. A
warm farro salad with beets, caulifower, and feta cheese is $4, as are the bar’s soft
pretzels with beer cheese sauce.
The new owners kept the dark
slate floor tiles of Joe’s and installed a black walnut bar
where the kitchen was. Metal ceiling lamps with an industrial
feel hang over it, and there are bar-stool-high tables
throughout the space.
Since food is served, children
do join their parents for a late lunch or early dinner.
“Everybody in the neighborhood has given us a great
reception,” Dampeer says.
Caskhouse is open Tuesday
through Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 2 p.m.
to 2 a.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
