’Tis the season for song, wine, latkes, and
Santa, as Noe Valley
celebrates “24 HoliDAYS on 24th Street” through December.
This year is the first to feature live reindeer,
who will stomp
their hooves at the west parklet in front of Just for Fun,
3982 24th St., on
Dec. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Santa will land the sleigh (sans reindeer) six
times throughout
the month, immersing himself in cookies, cocoa, and photo ops
with kids and
pets. He’ll be in front of Zephyr Real Estate from noon to 2
p.m. on Dec. 3, at
Just for Fun from 12: 30 to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 10, and
miraculously at the
Animal Company from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 10. Then he’ll fly
back to Just for
Fun from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 15 and from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec.
18. On Dec. 17,
he’ll appear at an art sale benefitting disabled adults at
Hill & Co. from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A free horse-drawn wagon will pick up riders at
the Walgreens on
Castro Street and take them for a hayride loop down 24th
Street to Vicksburg on
Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17, from noon to 3 p.m.
Adults might be more interested in the motorized
cable car that
will shuttle oenophiles from Chattanooga to Diamond streets on
Dec. 7 from 4 to
8 p.m., at the first Noe Valley Holiday Wine
Walk.
Participating wineries include Terra S‡via Bourassa Vineyards
and Wine Thieves.
Buy a “tasting wristband” prior to the event at www.sresproductions.com or
on-site
at the Farmers Market parking lot between Sanchez and
Vicksburg. Wine
glasses and a map of tasting locations will be available at
the lot.
The festivities will take place against a
backdrop of music, most
of it situated at the two parklets or at the city parking lot
on 24th Street
between Castro and Noe. The streets will be alive with chorus
groups from Adda
Clevenger School, roving carolers in Dickens-era dress, and a
brass quintet
from the Conservatory of Music. Farmers Market favorites the
SHE’s, the Buds,
and Circus Finelli will also play. As an extra treat, Whole
Foods Market will
cater a concert by a cappella hipsters the Clef Divers on Dec.
14 at 6:15 p.m.
There will be plenty for little ones to love
throughout the month.
Small Frys children’s store will host singer-songwriter essence on
Dec.
11, performing songs from her CD, A Dog Named Moo.
On Dec. 13
and 14, 10 a.m., the store will host readings of holiday books
for children,
including The Nutcracker.
Terra Mia Decorative Art Studio, a block away on
Castro, will have
holiday face-painting from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 16.
At the west parklet, face painters will be
looking for eager
children Dec. 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. and Funnybone the Clown will
make holiday
balloons and perform magic Dec. 23 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Hanukkah falls late this year, so Rabbi Gedalia
Potash and family
from Chabad of Noe Valley will lead a menorah lighting
followed by latkes and
gelt at dusk on Dec. 22 at 24th and Noe streets.
The monthlong HoliDAYS celebration, co-hosted by
the Noe Valley
Association and the Noe Valley Merchants and Professionals
Association, is
sponsored by local businesses and groups, with major
contributions from Zephyr
Real Estate and PG&E.
Throughout the month, stores will feature
specials on gifts, food,
and drink. For exact dates, times, and locations, check the
printed calendar of
events available in local shops and restaurants or at www.noevalleyassociation.org.
