Noe Valley Voice April 2008
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Store Trek

By Lorraine Sanders

Store Trek is a regular feature of the Noe Valley Voice, introducing new stores and businesses in Noe Valley. This month, we highlight a new hair salon in the "mini-mall" behind Savor Restaurant, and an art gallery and event space near St. Paul's on 29th Street.

Honeycomb Salon
3915 24th Street, Suite C, near Sanchez Street
415-401-0100
www.honeycombsalon.com

Sometimes the future has a funny way of arriving ahead of time. Such was the case for friends Gillian Hanson and Gilbert Pickett, owners of Noe Valley's newest destination for hair, Honeycomb Salon.

"We had talked about going into business like three years from now," says Pickett. However, one day last fall, as they ate lunch at Savor on 24th Street, they noticed a store space for rent in the courtyard behind the restaurant.

"A week later, we were signing a lease," recalls Hanson, 33.

"It all just kind of fell into place," continues Pickett, 38.

On Dec. 1, they opened their doors at 3915 24th Street. (To find the shop, just walk down the alley to the right of Savor.)

The two stylists, both Bernal Heights residents, share more than a penchant for finishing each other's sentences and a love of hair. "We're like weird twins separated at birth. We have the same zodiac, we have similar names, we have the same ATM pin, randomly. We both pick the white vanilla cupcake over the chocolate one," laughs Hanson.

They also have similar experience working in hair salons--Pickett comes most recently from Willow salon in the South of Market area; Hanson from Bella Union in the Lower Haight. In addition, they're glad to be in Noe Valley, one of their favorite neighborhoods.

For Hanson, the move meant a return to her former stomping grounds. Before entering Miss Marty's School of Beauty, where she and Pickett met, she was the assistant manager at the Aveda store on 24th Street.

In remodeling the Honeycomb space, "our philosophy was to keep it simple, keep it clean," Pickett says. "We wanted to bring downtown sophistication"--"minus the pretension," interjects Hanson--"to Noe Valley."

Inside the salon, a central skylight allows natural light to illuminate two stylist stations on the main floor and two additional stations in a small upstairs loft. (The upstairs ones are currently available for rent.) Hanson and Pickett tapped friend and interior designer Joshua Rowland to punctuate the shop's dramatic honey-hued back wall with hexagonal shapes that look like honeycombs. A pair of white leather chairs sit just inside the entrance. To the left, Davines hair-care products line a set of shelves. The upscale Italian brand, known for its eco-conscious business practices, is the only one the salon carries.

Salon services include haircuts ($60 and up), color ($80 and up), and highlights ($135 and up). Hanson also offers on- and off-site bridal hair and makeup services, which she recommends scheduling at least three months prior to the big day. While Pickett considers color his forte, Hanson has a knack for working with curly locks. Another perk? Clients undergoing longer treatments can order up lunch from Savor.

To celebrate the opening, Honeycomb is offering its clients, both old and new, a free hair and scalp treatment and head massage. If you'd like to take advantage of this offer, be sure to mention it when booking your appointment.

The salon is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours are seasonal and may change.

Rozanoff Art
35 29th Street between Church and Sanchez
917-916-0899
http://rozanoffart.com

Just as the future has a funny habit of showing up early, it also has a way of ushering in the unexpected. This was certainly true for artist Anna Efanova, who opened Rozanoff Art with her husband, Andre Rozanoff, in September.

"I grew up in a family of artists, and I didn't want to be one because there were so many of them. My mom always wanted me to be a doctor," says Efanova, who grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and now lives with her husband and 9-year-old son in Glen Park.

Along with sister Julia Efanova, a New York artist, Anna was surrounded by artists from an early age. Both grandparents were artists, and their father was a prominent Russian architect. Whether it was nurture or nature that drew her into the art world and turned her into a realist oil painter, Efanova isn't sure. She just knows that it happened gradually during years living in New York, where she and her husband owned a gallery on the Upper East Side.

After relocating to San Francisco a little more than two years ago, Efanova, 32, and Rozanoff, 41, began looking for a space to house a new gallery. They found just what they were looking for along a quiet stretch of 29th Street, opposite St. Paul's School.

"I want it to be a cozy artistic space. I want people to know it's not a big, fancy gallery. It's a place to come and have a cup of tea and chat about art and look at our current exhibition," she says.

Inside the three-room, apartment-like space painted in neutral brown and gray hues, Efanova and Rozanoff feature rotating exhibits, usually on a monthly basis. Shows have included "Affordable Art," "Nudes," and the current "Three Dimensional," an exhibit of sculptural works by six artists. The couple try to feature Bay Area artists in the gallery whenever possible.

As for the overall aesthetic that drives what they choose to exhibit, Efanova reports that there is a wide range, thanks in large part to her and her husband's differing tastes.

"Andre's more conceptual, and I think I approach everything through the visual point of view. For me, concept is not as important as it is for him," she says.

Prices for the art on display vary from show to show, but Rozanoff and Efanova aim to keep them relatively affordable. In general, pieces range anywhere from $250 to $6,000 or more.

Efanova also uses the space for workshops, events, and children's art classes. On April 6, local artist Marlene Aron is offering an afternoon workshop and slideshow presentation entitled "Working Class Hero and Spiritual Mystic: The Life and Work of Vincent Van Gogh."

And on April 17, Efanova kicks off a monthly offering called Creative Night Out, an evening get-together for anyone who'd like to work on an art or craft project in the company of others. For $10, Efanova supplies an activity (though attendees are welcome to bring their own), as well as wine, tea, and snacks.

For budding artists, Efanova teaches 11/2-hour Saturday classes to small groups of five or six students. The recommended ages for the classes are 5 to 12. In April, she is adding after-school classes to the schedule. Saturday classes are $15. The series of after-school classes is $120 for instruction throughout April and May.

"I see how much kids like to do art, but even in private schools, they don't have enough art education," Efanova says.

In each class, Efanova introduces students to a particular artist or art genre and asks them to create their own work based on the work they've just learned about.

"If we talked about African sculpture, I would ask them to make a sculpture about their own culture.... I try to expose kids to different art and tell them that they don't have to do realistic art. I think it is not always important to do realism," Efanova explains.

For event information and registration details, call Rozanoff Art or visit the gallery's website. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, noon to 7 p.m., and for scheduled classes and events.