InsideScoopSF broke the news today that popular restaurant Namu (439 Balboa) will be closing for good on December 24th.

Namu is owned by the three Lee brothers, who will be opening up a new spot, Namu Gaji, at 499 Dolores at 18th Street:

It’s no secret that the Lee Brothers have been ramping up their new Mission restaurant, Namu Gaji, for much of 2011. They’re still eying an early 2012 debut for their izakaya-esque restaurant. More new details on Namu Gaji will be shared in tomorrow’s column, including the reservation-only chef’s counter.

Their current location on Balboa near 4th Avenue is popular and often crowded. So why close? Dennis Lee says it has to do with failed lease negotiations.

“Given that we’re investing so much in the new restaurant and we’re really excited about that, and that we couldn’t come close to an agreement with the Balboa landlord, we decided to close,” Lee says.

Namu has been open for 5 years, so it’s a shame to see them close their doors here in the neighborhood. Will you miss it? Leave a comment to let us know.

Sarah B.

This Saturday night, the Parks Conservancy is hosting an “Explore the Night Sky” event at Lands End.

Lands End is one place in San Francisco where we can still enjoy the beauty of the night sky. The National Park Service is committed to protecting natural lightscapes where it can, and the construction of the new visitor facility here reflects that awareness. Please join us for an evening of stargazing and learning how you can help protect the night sky.

To attend, meet an hour after sunset on Saturday, December 3 in the USS San Francisco Memorial Parking Area (upper parking lot) off of El Camino del Mar.

Parks Conservancy always appreciates a headcount, so if you do plan to attend, please RSVP by calling 561-3054 or email trailsforever@parksconservancy.org.

More on viewing the winter sky

Sarah B.

A special sculpture has taken up temporary residency at the Legion of Honor. It’s the Baroque masterpiece The Medusa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The loan is part of The Musei Capitolini’s program The Dream of Rome, a project initiated by the mayor of Rome to exhibit timeless masterpieces in the United States.

This is the first time Bernini’s scuplture has traveled to the U.S. and only the third time it has left Rome in nearly 400 years.

Recent conservation efforts have restored the Medusa to its full glory and revealed previously hidden polish and patina. Believed to date from between 1638 and 1648, this extraordinary work takes its subject from classical mythology, as cited in Ovid’s Metamorphoses. It shows the beautiful Medusa, one of the Gorgon sisters, caught in the terrible process of transformation into a monster. Her hair is turning into writhing snakes, which, according to Ovid, was a punishment from Minerva for having had an affair with Neptune, god of the sea. The punishment also made Medusa an instrument of death by turning anyone who looked upon her to stone.

Unlike most classical art that depicts Medusa as a monster in her post-transformation state, Bernini’s sculpture focuses on the agony of her transformation, showing the pain and anxiety she experiences, her mouth drawn in agony.

Bernini’s Medusa is on display until February 19, 2012 at the Legion of Honor Museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30am until 5:15pm.

Sarah B.

A curious pooch looks into the Internet Archive on Clement near Funston. Photo by mike dillon

One happy hawk: Remember the hawk who had a nail shot through his beak? He was released back into the wild a couple weeks ago and was seen this week in Golden Gate Park’s Botanical Garden, doing quite well.

Richmond resident does good: Richmond District resident Anwar Ghanem was honored at City Hall for helping rescue a man from a burning car. “Ghanem’s 3-year-old daughter, Jasmine, watched her dad receive his awards. She shrugged when asked if her dad’s a hero, but Ghanem seemed to acknowledge that he is. “I feel kind of like a hero. It feels good,” he said.”

Muppet mania hits Argonne School: Mention Argonne School at the Balboa Theater this Sunday and save on your ticket to see the new Muppets movie. Mention Argonne during either of the afternoon showings (2:20pm or 4:35pm) and you will receive a special ticket price of $6 per person plus a free goodie bag.

Surf’s still up: Check out this nice set of pics in Surfing Magazine from the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Search contest that was held at Ocean Beach:

Mom & Pop school supply store shuts down: The Educational Exchange store on Balboa, one of the Bay Area’s last family-owned teacher supply stores, is closing this Wednesday.

Early Thanksgiving morning, 29 year old Albert Bartal was run down at the Shell gas station on the corner of 9th and Geary by a man he fought with earlier at the nearby Jack in the Box.

The suspect, described as a mixed-race or Latino man, between 18 and 24 years old, with short black hair and a manicured beard, fled the scene and police are still looking for him. The suspect was driving a black Mazda CX-type SUV, with 12-spoke sport rims and possible front-end damage.

This week, in an effort to get assistance from the public, police released video of the suspect (see below) while he was at Jack in the Box.

Anyone with information about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is encouraged to call the Police Department’s anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411.

Bartal remains in critical condition with life-threatening injuries at SF General Hospital. For the past five years, he has worked as a seasonal firefighter at Cal Fire’s Saratoga Summit Fire Station in Santa Cruz County. Bartal also served four years of active duty as a Marine in Iraq.

SFPD also announced that a relief fund has been set up for Albert Bartal. People may make donations to account No. 1379608 at the San Francisco Police Credit Union, located at at 2550 Irving Street near 26th Avenue. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to:

Albert Bartal Relief Fund
C/O the San Francisco Police Credit Union
2550 Irving Street, CA. 94122
(Account # 1379608)

Bartal’s fellow firefighters from the California Division of Forestry set up the trust fund for his daughter and also to help pay for his medical bills.

UPDATE 11/30: Police arrested Eduardo Shaparo Esquivel, a 22-year old South San Francisco man. He’s being held with felony charges for mayhem, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault with great bodily injury. Read more at SFWeekly

Sarah B.

Registration begins December 1 for the free weekend winter art workshops at the Richmond District Neighborhood Center for kids age 5 to 12 years. This winter’s courses include:

Saturdays in January with Donna Ozawa
Every Saturday from 1-3pm, artist Donna Ozawa will show students how to create fun artwork using a variety of mediums. Students will learn how to make marble mazes, scribble monsters, portable landscapes and cardboard automata (simple machines).

Saturdays in February with Lyall Harris
Artist Lyall Harris will lead art projects in book making, valentine’s day cards, map making and printmaking. Every Saturday in February from 10am until 12noon.

Fun with Photography Scavenger Hunt | January 15 & February 12
Photographer Jan Nicholas is back with more inventive photo challenges for young shutterbugs. Each day from 1pm until 2:30pm, kids will explore the neighborhood around the RDNC, as well as Mountain Lake Park, as they participate in a photo scavenger hunt.

To register for the free RDNC winter art workshops, download and complete the Multicultural Arts Program application and turn it in at the RDNC offices at 741 30th Avenue, or fax it to 751-5606. You can also register by phone at 751-6600.

There is a limit of two workshops per child, who must be between the ages of 5 and 12 and reside in San Francisco. Registration opens December 1 but spaces fill up fast so get your application in as quickly as you can.

Sarah B.

They’ve been open for a couple of months, but I just noticed the new Amphawa Thai Noodle House (5020 Geary) while on a neighborhood walkabout last weekend.

The restaurant is named for a floating market in Thailand where vendors prepare and serve their Thai specialties on their boats filled with fresh produce. Chef and owner Kob Varaphol ran a Thai restaurant in London before opening Amphawa.

It was late afternoon when I stopped in so I wasn’t ready for a meal. But the interior was lovely, it smelled delicious, and the staff was very welcoming. The menu is expansive, offering typical Thai dishes like curries, noodle soups, salads, and rice plates, as well as twelve vegetarian dishes (plus other dishes can be modified to be vegetarian). See photos of their food

The “Amphawa Favorites” section of the menu includes Crying Tigers (barbecued beef steak with vegetables served with chili sauce), Pla Sam Rod (deep fried pompano fish topped with sweet and sour sauce), and for the more adventurous, Tom Luad Moo (pork blood pudding in clear broth with pork entrails and marinated ground pork).

If you’re having a get together, Amphawa can also cater your event, offering four different menus. The charge is $15 per person with a minimum of 5 people, plus free delivery.

The restaurant is open daily from 11am until 10pm and offers free delivery with a minimum charge of $15.

Have you tried Amphawa? If you have, leave a comment with your review.

Sarah B.

This Wednesday night, the Richmond Village Beacon (part of the RDNC) will host a free parent workshop on Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying.

The workshop will be led by Inspector Ken Esposto of the SFPD Juvenile Division, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit. He will discuss the dangers that exist on the internet and what you can do to keep your children safe.

The event is open to the community, and food and translation will be provided. The workshop will take place at Roosevelt Middle School (460 Arguello) at 6:30pm.

Sarah B.