Only in SF

826valencia826Valencia
Arrrrrrrrgh

If you have a funny bone, hook or patch, visit one of the city's hidden gems! (see more)

amoeba-musicAmoeba Music
Record hounds *beware*

Amoeba is by-far San Francisco's biggest and best known music store - and self-proclaimed "World's Largest Independent Record Store" :) (see more)

anchor-steam-breweryAnchor (Steam) Brewery
Great tour, delicious beer, free? Make a reservation!

Those who take the tour - 45 minutes tour & 75 minutes of delicious brews - will quickly learn why Anchor is San Francisco's best known brewery.  The steam brew is (by far) the most popular,  (see more)

arizmendi-bakeryArizmendi Bakery
Bread line 2.0

This "worker-owned cooperative" feeds the Inner Sunset proletariat some of the tastiest bread, pizza, pies and pastries around. Named after economic revolutionary Jose Maria Arizmendiarrieta, a Basque priest who built a network of cooperative enterprises despite Francisco Franco's rise to power in Spain. Arizmendi also has a Mission outpost and three sister cooperatives in the East Bay. (see more)

armoryArmory
Sweet dreams are made of these...

Mothballed for 3 decades, in 2006 this 200,000 square foot Moorish Revival castle in the Mission was purchased for Kink.com, the world's largest producer of S&M pornography! (see more)

asia-sfAsia SF
Asian fusion :)

Smoking hot trans-gals► augment fruity beverages and passable food for a festive SOMA scene! (see more)

bar-tartineBar Tartine
Another one bakes the cake...

With an openly fragrant kitchen (the "bar") and the freshest smelling bathroom in SF - BT starts with the nose and moves inward. (see more)

bats-improvBATS Improv
Keepin' it real...

With every performance 100% plan-free (much less practice!) and imbibed with audience input (and sometimes on-stage participation) - BATS amuses, inspires and, occasionally... falls totally flat :) (see more)

bay-modelBay Model
How does the bay model model itself?

The US Army Corp of Engineers created the Bay Model in 1958 to understand the effects of new structures built in or by the bay. The meticulously constructed scale model of the bay area (complete with tides!) is more than 1.5 acres itself and spans from the Pacific to Stockton and Sacramento. (see more)

bay-to-breakersBay to Breakers
Putting the fun in run

Nominally a 7+ mile road race► from the "Bay" to "Breakers" exudes San Francisco spirit in concentrated form - outrageous costumes mixed with a well-poured party► with nearly a hundred thousand participants - bands, costumes galore, floats, lots of drinking and overall merriment in a unique and thrilling "anything goes" atmosphere. (see more)

beach-blanket-babylonBeach Blanket Babylon
Larger than life - and funnier too :)

Combining massive millinery with nearly continuous music, song and dance - BBB jets the audience through time and space in blinks of an eye - spoofing everyone from Tiger Woods to Louis XIV, and reliably delivering a hilarious performance. (see more)

beat-museumBeat Museum
The original hipsters...

Transcending the "Beaten" down post-Depression/War generation, Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady and Allen Ginsberg (among others) explored, wrote about, and advocated an experience-first life which came to inspire (and frighten) the world during the iconic and notorious 1960's. (see more)

blue-bottle-coffeeBlue Bottle Coffee
Rocket science

This Hayes Valley garage turned rocket fuel depot► pushes the neighborhood to new heights among crack enthusiasts. For further slimming, Dark Garden provides world famous Victorian corsetry - next door! (see more)

bourbon-and-branchBourbon & Branch
Would you like to play a game?

A prohibition-style "speakeasy" with passwords, multiple rooms (not to mention secret passageways and exits), a massive drink menu and some serious bartenders► - B & B is carves it's own retro-niche out of the Tenderloin. (see more)

burning-manBurning Man
Reality will return after these brief messages

No longer held in San Francisco, or even California (Nevada), the Burning Man festival is a big part of San Francisco life for many residents. The event is a week long and held on a dried lake bed - attracting upwards of 50,000 people► annually and otherwise defying brief description. (see more)

cable-carsCable Cars
Walk Like a Victorian

Originally invented to spare horses dying (literally!) on the steep hills of San Francisco, the city's now-iconic transportation► is worth a ride if it's easy - waiting for an hour or more makes the decision harder. (see more)

chinatownChinatown
More China than town

The oldest Chinatown in North America, the largest Chinese population outside Asia - and a bold break from the foggy pastels of San Francisco... epitomized by the colorful Chinese New Years parade► (see more)

city-lightsCity Lights

North Beach's historic Beatnik bookstore stays fresh with a great selection of material and a comfortable (well lit!) atmosphere, including a poetry► room on the top/3rd floor.  For those digging a Beat-ly break from the books, Vesuvio awaits just across Jack Kerouac Alley :) (see more)

commonwealth-clubCommonwealth Club
Uncommon talent

Describing itself as "the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum" the downtown Commonwealth Club hosts a wide spectrum of politicians►, technology luminaries►, writers►, artists►, Nobel laureates►, etc - many familiar and many not - on its busy calendar. (see more)

concourse-exhibition-centerConcourse Exhibition Center
Indie convention center

The smaller, hipper sibling of the massive Moscone Center, the Concourse Exhibition Center hosts a variety of quirky events throughout the year. (see more)

craigslist-orgcraigslist.org
What grocery lists dream of...

In addition to maintaining the world's most popular list, the unflappable► Craig Newmark operates the Craigslist Foundation "to help strengthen communities and spark community engagement." (see more)

critical-massCritical Mass
Political mayhem party's greatest hit

San Francisco's urban traffic take-down brake-down inspired 300+ others around the world. Hard to describe, always lively, and mostly legal - the crew roams free the last Friday of every month at 5:30pm (at Justin Herman Plaza). Costumes encouraged (especially for the extra special Halloween/October ride!►) and any human-powered vehicle is good to go. (see more)

fogFog
In Fog We Trust

Wikipedia: "The famous fog of San Francisco, California is a specific case of sea fog. Sea fog is a specific type of advection fog, which is characterized by the lateral transfer of temperature by wind blowing over cooler water. The water is often cool enough to lower the temperature of the air to the dewpoint, causing fog generation." (see more)

folsom-street-fairFolsom Street Fair
Tour or Terror?

The last Sunday of September brings the world's largest S&M/leather event (with 400,000 attendees) to SOMA, replacing the usual car traffic with a sea of skin and black-leather. (see more)

four-barrel-coffeeFour Barrel Coffee
Coffee, Donuts and... Boar Heads

The new kid on the roast-it-yourself cafe circuit, FB augments coffee and pastries (including Dynamo Donuts) with eclectic decor - most notably four stuffed boars heads overseeing the (sparse) coffee condiments.  It's harder and harder to get noticed in the Mission - what will be next? :) (see more)

frank-chuFrank Chu
12 galaxies united in perplexion

Frank Chu wears a well-worn suit, walks with a slight limp, and carries a large sign with quasi-political statements usually starting with "12 galaxies united..." (the sign almost always has a black background). The now-defunct "12 Galaxies" club in the Mission District paid titular homage to Frank. (see more)

gay-pride-weekendGay Pride Weekend
World's finest "political party"

Often referred to simply as "Pride" and possibly the biggest annual party in San Francisco - Gay Pride makes other "political parties" seem pasty and gray, and the transcendence of oppression into a massive for-anyone great-vibes party is simply remarkable. (see more)

golden-bear-sportswearGolden Bear Sportswear
Jacket of Champions

In a windy city of non-conformists, there is one uniform ➜ a leather jacket! (see more)

good-vibrationsGood Vibrations
For those who like sex

Friendly and helpful staff augment a high quality selection of books, videos and sex toys in this clean well lit sex positive male/female/trans-friendly shop. Founded in 1977, there are now two locations in San Francisco, one in Berkeley and another in Massachusetts. (see more)

googleplexGoogleplex
Feeling lucky?

No searching for free gourmet food, massaging toilets, vintage arcade games, and countless other worldly delights on this kindergarten (college►??) colored campus! (see more)

historyHistory
Her story continues...

The San Francisco Bay Area has supported human life for an estimated 8,000+ years, and today is no exception :) (see more)

humphry-slocombeHumphry Slocombe
Come quickly?

What do milk, sugar, cream, cornflakes and bourbon make? (see more)

japanese-tea-gardenJapanese Tea Garden
Feeling lucky?

The oldest public Japanese garden in the country, this Golden Gate park gem is a great place to walk, check out the koi, structures, statues.. or have a cup of tea :) (see more)

japantownJapantown
A very little bit of Japan in SF

The largest and oldest Japantown in the United States. With excellent sushi restaurants, a Japanese mall, a supermarket, and the delightful Kabuki Springs & Spa and more packed into about six blocks "J-Town" makes a great visit. It adjoins the Fillmore District, Pacific Heights, Western Addition, and annually hosts the Cherry Blossom Festival. (see more)

le-videoLe Video
Putting bittorrent in its place

With 90,000 films Le Video provides cover from even the longest stretches of Inner Sunset fog. The premier rental in the Bay Area has something for everyone with many foreign and obscure films - the challenge is choosing :) (see more)

lombard-streetLombard Street
Get your wiggle on

Iconic of San Francisco, the Lombard street hairpins are a quick hit of fun. If the weather is bad, or the location inconvenient - feel free to skip it. It's relatively close to the Maritime Museum and Aquatic park. (see more)

maker-faireMaker Faire
Do. It. Yourself.

Organized by "Make:technology on your time" magazine and advertising itself as "The World's Largest DIY Festival", the faire is worth a visit for anyone who loves to make things or is inspired by the creative works► of others. (see more)

mission-pieMission Pie
Sweet, savory, or one of each (!)

An urban offshoot of Pie Ranch in Pescadero, Mission Pie's commitment to sustainability, local produce and community involvement roots in SF's social entrepreneurship camp. (see more)

mister-s-leatherMister S Leather
Gearing up for the erotic wilderness...

If were possible to cover the ever-expanding range of human excitations, Mr. and Mrs. S Leather in the historically-appropriate SOMA district would have it nailed to the bedframe! (see more)

painted-ladiesPainted Ladies
Not just a bad tranny joke...

Post-industrial skyscrapers juxtaposed behind sparkling Victorian gingerbread! (see more)

parrots-of-telegraph-hillParrots of Telegraph Hill
Feral parrots on patrol

Frequently flying in flock formation and often heard before seen, these colorful squawkers inspired a well-regarded film ("The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill") and otherwise appear well-adapted in this city of transplants. (see more)

philz-coffeePhilz Coffee
One cup at a time...

The most inventive, down-homey and apparently successful (?) of SF's coffee-obsessed businesses - Philz serves up a menu of previously unimagined (unless your name is Phil Jaber►) beany beverages... each individually filtered to-order (including an optional mint sprig) on-the-spot, albeit sometimes after a wait :) (see more)

piedmont-boutiquePiedmont Boutique
Shiny happy glitter

Piedmont has pushed the boundaries of petroleum for 30+ years► with a wild collection of shiny, shimmery, sexy - and synthetic - clothing! (see more)

rainbow-groceryRainbow Grocery
What Marx intended

Packing delicious organic vegetables (with samples), bulk► grains, local products (eg, TCHO chocolate), exotic supplements and piles of customers into a not-quite-supersized building often makes for a cozy and exciting grocery experience. (see more)

ritual-roastersRitual Roasters
Ritual de lo Habitual

Promoting the rise of the cafetariat► with in-house-roasted beans and free wifi (but no power outlets), Ritual has become a staple of Mission life. That is to say, it gets crowded and loud :) (see more)

santarchySantarchy
No force on earth can stop one hundred Santas!

Join Santa & Mrs Claus in a not-entirely-sober celebration► of Christmas - plus elves, grinches and dreidels! (see more)

sisters-of-perpetual-indulgenceSisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Nun of the above

With combined commitment to community fundraising and full-femme nunwear, the Sisters are hard to miss! Founded in San Francisco (1979►), there are now chapters around the world. (see more)

smitten-ice-creamSmitten Ice Cream
Prepare for smiting!

The robotic "Kelvin" pushes gourmet ice cream to new heights by spinning fresh local ingredients (eg, TCHO chocolate) at sub-zero (liquid nitrogen) temperatures! (see more)

sourceSource
Vegetarians Delight

Mashing locally sourced ingredients, an easy-to-love menu -  eg, truffle oil on pizza (!) - and a Burning Man aesthetic (tent-patio in front!)... recently-opened Source breaks new ground on the SF dining scene in a food-wise sparse section of SOMA. (see more)

speakeasy-brewerySpeakeasy Brewery
Just the beer ma'am...

Run like a fast moving and lean startup (15 people!), Speakeasy cranks out serious ales from it's warehouse in Bayview and runs a decidedly modern operation despite its prohibition era name(s) and iconography - start to finish, the ales take about 2 weeks to brew. (see more)

stanford-universityStanford University
Summer camp for achievers

An ever growing collection of illustrious students and faculty, a short list of mega-successful companies, great weather (little/no fog!), and a beautiful sprawling campus ("the farm") combine for an inspiring educational setting. (see more)

stern-grove-festivalStern Grove Festival
Not as stern as it sounds

The longest running free concert in the United States, the festival is a great way to spend a summer Sunday afternoon. There are a lot of other folks who think so too, and arriving early is the name of the game for getting good seats. (see more)

swensens-ice-creamSwensen's Ice Cream
Parlor up cowboy

The first Swensen's Ice Cream parlour opened in 1948 and is still rocking Russian Hill. (see more)

tamale-ladyTamale Lady
Our Lady of Tamale

Virginia Ramos►, the "Tamale Lady", is a delightful woman who travels the Mission with a cooler of delicious tamales. (see more)

tchoTCHO
Chocolate 2.0

Combining carefully sourced and locally produced with typical San Francisco innovation► (the CEO and President previously co-founded Wired magazine), TCHO (pronounced "Cho") chocolate rewards a visit and/or taste for anyone interested in raising their chocolate game.  TCHO products are also available widely around SF as ingredients - eg, Blue Bottle Coffee and Smitten Ice Cream, and as products - eg, Rainbow Grocery and Sports Basement (?!), among others. (see more)

the-marshThe Marsh

A self-described "breeding ground for new performance", the Marsh hosts some amazing solo performances► in addition to organizing classes and youth performances. (see more)

trannyshackTrannyshack
Larger than life!

The inimitable► Heklina runs SF's best-known and longest-running drag show and still rocks her stilettos for a great performance! (see more)