Until Next Time Excelsior!

I feel like just yesterday I was printing out the assignment pack for my reporting class and thinking to myself, “Oh my God! How am I going to pass this class?!” All I thought about as the assignment prompts were printing was the work each assignment required. In fact, after my first day of reporting class, I started thinking that I was going to have to ask for my work schedule to be changed so that I would only work Sundays, Fridays, and Saturdays in order to complete my stories. But that was back in August.

Now we’re in December and I’m happy to say that no drastic changes to my schedule were necessary. Reporting class was a great experience because I not only got the chance to enhance my journalistic skills, but I also got to discover more about the Excelsior District.

As was the case back in newswriting class last year, I had to overcome my hesitancy in going up to random people and trying to interview them. I remember just walking up and down the same blocks for about an hour or so trying to get interviews during my first couple of trips to Excelsior. I kept saying to myself, “Alright Robert, no more fooling around,” in hopes of breaking out of my shell, so to say. But as much as I would, I felt like I kept putting pressure on myself.

There were also times when I would walk into a store such as Radio Shack and pretend to look around at the items on display before trying to find an interview subject. But I realized that if I continued to do that, people might become suspicious of me, although I was just trying to get the information I needed for my stories. Looking back, I believe that I become hesitant because I’m afraid of not being able to find an interview subject. But that’s the way it is in journalism and I shouldn’t let something like that discourage me from doing my job.

Although I’m still a little hesitant in talking to random people, I feel more confident in asking people for an interview. It’s like what Stephen Morrison, a photojournalist for The Golden Gate [X] Press, told me when I interviewed him last year: The more experience I have with different people, the better I’ll perform my job.

My favorite part of covering Excelsior was meeting all the different residents. Whenever people ask me what’s one of my favorite aspects of journalism, I always tell them that I enjoy meeting new people and sharing their stories. One person who stands out to me was Sergio from El Corazon Gallery at 4889 Mission St. As I said in my business profile, he’s known about the importance of working since age 16. So it makes me happy to see how successful his business has been since opening up last December.

Since interviewing him this past September, I’ve stopped by the store on my free time and caught up with him, his wife, Teresa, and their daughter, Lydia. In fact, every time I’ve stopped by, they’ve made me feel like family. It feels great to know that even after reporting class concludes, that I can stop by Excelsior and know that I have some friends I can visit whenever I’m free, such as Tahmal from the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco and Cristy Johnston of Excelsior Action Group.

Looking back at my experiences in this class makes me think about how funny it was that I thought I would never make it out of this journalistic boot camp, as the syllabus referred to it as. But through hard work and dedication, I’ve made it to the end. My sights are now set on taking advanced writing courses to further sharpen my journalistic skills.

As this class concludes, I will miss the weekly trips I would make to Excelsior, though I can come back and visit every once and a while. I only wish that I could have spent more time in the neighborhood and met a few more residents and experienced a little more of the community’s diversity.

I’m happy to say that I didn’t get into any trouble throughout my time there or encounter any rude people. Along with the neighborhood’s diversity, Excelsior should also be acknowledged for people like Sergio, Tahmal, and Cristy, who work hard to make the community one that takes pride in family and unity.

The San Francisco You Should Know

I recently came across a mural located around the corner of Central Drug Store at 4494 Mission St. Named "The San Francisco You Should Know," it was funded by the San Francisco Clean City and Community Challenge program and was completed in time for the Nov. 21 Block Party and Celebration, which was held at Santa Rosa Avenue.

The mural presents a brief history of the neighborhood, culminating with what many hope will be the future of Excelsior. Some notable figures are featured, such as boxer Llewellyn "Lew" Powell, a former lightweight champion.


According to my "San Francisco's Excelsior District" book, Powell was the first to fight following the 1906 earthquake. In fact, his victory over Willie Wolfe in July 1906 served as a great morale boost to the city as it recovered from the quake.

Also featured is musician Jerry Garcia, who lived on Harrington Street. Every year, the late singer is honored at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park with an event known as Jerry Day, which originally began in 2002 as a fundraiser for Crocker Amazon Park.

One contributing partner was the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Vistors Center which, since 1977, has taken pride in enriching and beautifying urban communities and educating communities about the process and history of mural art.

Pizza, Pizza!

Recently, I decided to take a break from my reporting duties and have lunch at the local Round Table Pizza at 4523 Mission St. Dining there brought back memories of when my family would order out from there when I was a child. In fact, Round Table played a big part in my childhood because it was the first pizza I ever tried. I’m not afraid to admit that back then, I was a picky eater. But, as funny as it may sound, Round Table helped me understand the importance of eating vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. To this day, I’m happy to say that it’s still one of my favorite restaurants to eat at for lunch, dinner, or even a snack.

Until recently, I never ate inside the restaurant. When I would make quick trips to Excelsior with my family, I use to walk by it a few times, so you can say that was about as close as I got to it. Even during recent trips to the neighborhood, I’ve passed by and wondered what it looks like inside. As you can see, the building isn’t big and flashy. Instead, it’s small but inside, it looks completely simple.

One of my favorite memories of Round Table was going to other restaurants and playing video games after eating. But Excelsior’s restaurant doesn’t offer any to play, which isn’t a big deal to me at all. It does, however, have vending machines for kids that offer stickers of their favorite television characters like Hannah Montana and Pokémon as well as toys such as bouncy balls, all for just $0.25. Although there are only about three or four booths, they look like they could fit about a total of six to eight people, three or four on each side.


When I stopped by for lunch that day, I ordered my favorite: a personal vegetarian pizza (four slices) with a can of Sierra Mist. The pizza that day, as has been the case before, was delicious and reminded me of how much I enjoyed eating it as a child. There were not many people there but it really didn’t matter because I was looking forward to eating some good pizza.

While I was eating, I thought a little about how fast time has gone by and the fact that Christmas vacation is right around the corner. Speaking of Christmas, the restaurant was already getting into the Christmas spirit as they had lights hung up. In fact, their radio station was playing popular Christmas songs, including “Christmas Time is Here” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” I also thought about how not only the year 2009 is almost over, but also how 2010 is about to begin. It’s moments like these that make me not only thankful for everything that has happened throughout my life, but just for the fact that I’m able to live life to its fullest.

If anybody is looking for a nice dining experience, try Round Table Pizza in the Excelsior District. Like I said, it’s not the biggest and fanciest restaurant in the neighborhood, but the food is very good. Also, it’s a nice place to just hang out and relax if you have free time.

Don’t forget that you can have all you can eat with their famous lunch buffet for only $6.99!

If You Only Knew... Gambizi

Tahmal Fleming from the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco at 163 London St. said that he takes pride in working with kids because he gets the chance to combine his skills. What some people may not know is that he has musical talents as well, performing under the name Gambizi.

Fleming, who wrote his first rap in fifth grade, said that along with being good at writing, he also gets relief from making music and uses his own personal issues to get his message across.

“I make music so I can touch everybody,” he said. “Taking my pain and articulating it is a way that … somebody could sit back and be like, ‘Damn. I remember going through that.”

He said that he acknowledges hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, particularly group member Method Man, as one of his musical influences. He said that Method Man helped him not only articulate his words, but also believe that he could be a “verbal assaulter” on the microphone. Other influences include Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, and Webbie. “I listen to people who, just like, have an interest or have words that I like,” he said. “I just go into that zone.”

Before rapping under the name Gambizi, he said that he was originally named Gambit, a card player, because he felt that “I’m playing the hand I’m dealt (with) in life.” But being from San Francisco, he was encouraged to change his name to Gambizi because of phrases like “fo’ sheezy and easy.”

He also said that he wanted his name to be universal. “I do want to be (recognized) on a worldwide level,” he said. “You got to speak to people so that everybody can understand … ‘cause the masters is where you got to be able to touch.”

When asked about what the future holds for him, he said that next year he will film two music videos and release three albums, while just "(staying) grind and putting out good music.”

Photo: Courtesy of myspace.com/gambizi

Silent Auction

Photo: Courtesy of the San Francisco Community Alternative School's website

On Dec. 6, 2009, San Francisco Community Alternative School will present its sixth annual “Silent Auction.” The event, which will be held at the Sports Basement Meeting Room at 1590 Bryant St., begins at 4 p.m. and will go until 7 that night; bidding ends at 6:30. Prices range from $15 per person to $20 per family.

According to the auction donation letter posted on the school’s official website, the auction will be held to support physical education for grades kindergarten through fifth and ensure that the students can attend their class camping trip, “their one chance to get out of the city and enjoy nature.”

A print out version of the catalog is available at the school’s website. Some of the items that will be available include passes to places such as Disneyland and California Adventure as well as Ripley’s Believe it or Not. A unique item offered that night will be “teacher time,” where a group of students will get to participate in an recreational activity with a specific teacher.

For more information, visit the San Francisco Community Alternative School's website

La Última Colección (The Ultimate Collection)

In addition to being the owner of El Corazon Gallery at 4889 Mission St., Sergio Piña is also the owner of a collection of soccer memorabilia that I have dubbed “la última colección.” The collection, which he began in 1995, features jerseys from some of the best international soccer players, including Rafael Márquez, who plays for Fútbol Club Barcelona and the Mexican national football team.

Piña said that he received his first jersey from Argentine player Rubén Omar Romano, who he was personally introduced to by Hugo Sánchez, former member of Real Madrid. Piña also said that it felt good to receive such a gift from a player of Romano’s caliber.


What stood out to me about the collection was the various colors --- red, blue, green, pink --- that establish a national feel. In fact, Piña said that he put his collection on display to not only give it that national feel, but to also represent his Mexican heritage. In fact, he said that some of his favorite team jerseys, including Brazil, Germany, and Mexico, have been featured in the world cup.

Along with his soccer memorabilia, Piña also collects the masks of popular Mexican wrestlers, or luchadors, including El Santo (The Saint) and Blue Demon (pictured below), whom he acknowledges as Mexico’s “Batman and Superman.”


“When I was a kid, I would admire them,” he said. As a fan of wrestling from the United States and Mexico, it’s easy to understand why children admire these masked men. It’s like when they dress up as other masked heroes such as the Power Rangers and Spider-Man: They imagine themselves as their favorite heroes and believe that they are just as strong and can defeat any villain. But there’s more behind wearing the masks than just dressing up; they wear the masks to show support for their heroes as well. In addition, they’re encouraged to imagine what their favorite luchadors look like under the masks. Piña said that he would like to collect the masks of Mil Máscaras (The man of 1,000 masks) and current World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Rey Mysterio.


Piña also collects laminated photos of popular athletes, including legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chávez, who he acknowledges as a “Mexican Muhammad Ali.” As I prepared to ask him a question about the pictures, he told me that he doesn’t have to answer any questions about Chávez because “you know (who) Chávez (is).”


He’s right; as a boxing fan since age 3, I’ve watched Chávez fight with the heart of not only a true champion, but also a proud Mexican warrior as he earned six world titles by defeating some of the best like Héctor Camacho, Meldrick Taylor, and Frankie Randall. The same pride Chávez fought with is the same pride I see in some of today’s best such as Manny Pacquiao of the Phillippines and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

But the collection doesn’t end at the store. Piña said he currently owns over 160 jerseys at home and that he wants to continue collecting masks and jerseys. He also said that he’s shown his collection to customers who have asked him about it. I don’t think you can put a price on this collection of soccer memorabilia because it is very special to Piña, who said that he enjoys collecting simply because it’s a hobby.

Excelsior's Sweet Tooth

There's no doubt that the Excelsior District hits the sweet spot, literally. Here's a map of the bakeries located throughout the neighborhood.


View Excelsior's Sweet Tooth in a larger map

Excelsior Unity

The following is a map of all the community centers, day care centers, and schools located throughout the Excelsior District. The Excelsior library is also included.


View Excelsior Unity in a larger map

All in the Family

Since first opening in 1987 in Noe Valley, Martha & Bros. Coffee Company has been a family affair, with a total of seven shops open in California (six throughout San Francisco and one in Richmond).

In fact, Raquel Picazo says that all seven shops are family owned, including her father’s shop at 4726 Mission St. She also says that it feels good when family can come together and do some good.

“Obviously, there’s ups and downs when you work with family,” says Picazo, the store manager who helps her father, Sergio Guerrero. “But we’ve made it work.”

She said that her grandfather, Aquiles Guerrero, dreamed of opening a coffee shop, but was unable to before his death. However, Sergio Guerrero decided to open the shop in his father’s honor.

Interestingly, Picazo says that when her father decided to open the shop in Excelsior, many people didn’t believe it could be successful since they thought the neighborhood wasn’t a “coffee drinking neighborhood.” But as it turns out, the shop has done well since its opening almost five years ago.

“So far, we’ve proved them wrong,” she said.

The shop features some paintings which she said were brought from Nicaragua. One I can personally relate to is a simple painting: fruit in a paper bag. I was unsure whether the fruits were apples or nectarines but when I first saw it, I immediately thought of my job as a checker at Safeway in Millbrae, since I’m usually bagging those fruits.

Picazo says one of her favorites is a beautiful painting of villagers picking coffee berries at a plantation in Nicaragua.


She says she relates to it because her grandfather owned a coffee plantation in Nicaragua before coming to the United States. Although she says she’s unsure of where in the country her grandfather owned the plantation, she says that the painting “brings back memories of when we would go pick out coffee … I love eating the berries.”

She also says that it feels great whenever she helps customers of different ethnicities because customers teach her different words from different languages. She says that she even gets to help the customers learn her native language, Spanish.

“I have a lot of customers that will come and ask me ‘Oh, how do you say this in
Spanish?’” she says. “They actually practice their Spanish with us. It’s great.”

Along with the coffee, the shop offers Internet access and customers are also welcome to enjoy their coffee or pastries outside on a patio.


While sitting down, I felt like the patio had a Puerto Vallarta kind of feel to it with its big plants. I even felt like I was in my dad’s backyard, telling Raquel that “I feel at home.”

As the shop continues to succeed, Picazo says “It feels good to say, you know, ‘It’s all in the family.’”

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Growing up in San Francisco, I would visit the Excelsior neighborhood with my family. The trips, however, were usually brief. One day we might have stopped at Wells Fargo Bank on Mission, and another day we might have needed to pick up some goods at the Walgreens across the street from the bank. So it came as such a surprise to me when I recently visited the neighborhood to encounter some of its unique characteristics, some of which I was completely unaware of as a child.

It wouldn't take long for a person visiting Excelsior to realize how diverse a neighborhood it is. Whereas the Castro is recognized as the spot for gays and lesbians to unite and celebrate their homosexuality, Excelsior can be recognized as the place for Latinos and Latinas as well as people of Asian descent to unite and celebrate their respective cultures. "You get everybody here," said Kim Pham, a universal banker for U.S. Bank on Mission.

Throughout the neighborhood, the sidewalks are full of various cultural places. In fact, what's unique is each shop or restaurant's location. For example, somebody may walk past a Latin market such as Casa Lucas, where my mother and grandmother love to buy black beer, and then pass a Chinese or Filipino restaurant a second later. In a sense, Excelsior can be considered a mini flea market because of these different cultures, what Tuyet Tang of Living Collections at 4550 Mission St. considers "the beauty of the area."

Excelsior's diversity doesn't just stop with cultural shops and restaurants; the neighborhood also offers some of today's popular franchises, including Gamestop and T-Mobile. Despite the fact that both stores are small, the employees are dedicated to providing their customers with great customer service, such as those who work for John Williams.

"We want to make sure everybody is able to communicate with the people they care about and we want to make sure they have a good understanding about cell phones," said Williams, the manager of T-Mobile. Though he doesn't live in Excelsior, he enjoys working in a new environment, especially the fact that Excelsior "is all based on a community."

Excelsior also has various centers which emphasize the importance of life values. Inside the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco on London, the kids have the chance to play video games such as Ms. Pac-Man and X-Men vs. Street Fighter. Furthermore, they can also engage in other forms of art such as music, including guitar and hip hop. Most importantly, they learn the importance of values such as self respect.

Tahmal Fleming, a program manager at the Boys & Girls Clubs, said that he takes pride in being able to interact with kids.

"It's beautiful. It's beautiful because I get opportunities to combine my skills," he said.

Part of his joy in working with kids results from his years growing up with the Boys & Girls Clubs since age 6.

"It taught me everything that I needed to know as far as life skills," he said. He also said that he hopes when the kids leave the Boys & Girls Clubs that they know that "these people are going to keep me safe ... they are a parental role model that I can look up to."

Though it may look a little like a rough neighborhood, Excelsior has a little of everything for everybody. One last aspect to look out for in the neighborhood is its beautiful collection of murals. In particular, one that stands out features generations of Latinos and Latinas living peacefully. The piece culminates with a 52 Muni bus driving through Excelsior, further emphasizing Excelsior's diversity.