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Quirky fun things in San Francisco?
Hi there,
I'm looking for cool things to do in San Francisco, the kind of quirky stuff that only locals know about. I've found some great tips in this forum already, like riding the elevator at the St. Francis and the view from the (police?) parking garage in Chinatown. Someone wrote about a lone republican in Noe Valley with a window display in his store. What are some of your other favorites? It doesn't matter which neighborhood. Thanks a lot! |
Type "StuDudley" into the search box, and read his posts. He has a wealth of information on San Francisco.
Lee Ann |
I just added a comment about this on another thread, but I'll jump in here, too. My daughter and I just took a walking tour of murals in the Mission district and really enjoyed our experience. Our guide (a mural artist) first showed a slide show so we would learn a bit about what we would see and then took us on a wonderful walk through the colorful Mission district. We must have seen over 30 murals in just an hour and a half. The tour was through the Precita Eyes Mural Project on 24th Street. We are locals but hadn't even heard about this until we had to research ideas for a project for my daughter's Spanish class.
Another fun outing is to visit Fort Point for an unusual view of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is also where Kim Novak supposedly jumped into the water in one of Alfred Hitchcock's movies. I also enjoy walking down the Filbert Street steps (near Coit Tower) and enjoying the gardens the residents have planted. You may also catch a glimpse of a flock of wild parrots that have made the gardens their home. |
I'm not a local, and this certainly isn't insider info, but my kids loved the Tactile Dome in the Exploratorium. It certainly is a unique experience!
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Do they still have furniture glued to the building on 6th street? (don't go there alone!) I don't remember the cross street, but not far from Market.
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Faina,
I think it's at 6th and Howard? Definitely a drive-by activity. And, yep, the lone Rep in Noe Valley (not really, lots of old-timers in Noe Valley) still has all his literature posted up on the window of his business. 24th Street above Castro, say between Castro and Diamond. If you head over there, make sure to get a reservation at Firefly for dinner. Delish and low-key. |
Leely, yes, drive-by activities with a loud bang are popular in the city :))
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>>And, yep, the lone Rep in Noe Valley...... 24th Street above Castro, say between Castro and Diamond.<<
Between Castro & Noe - on north side of street. Twin Peaks Realty. Owner calls the area the "Looney Valley". Stu Dudley |
Thanks so much for all these great loopy suggestions---it's exactly what I was hoping for!
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Is anyone familiar with the pirate supply store at 826 Valencia? I've not been there, but my son loves this place, and it definitely sounds quirky. Here's the web site for the store:
http://www.826valencia.org/store/index.html |
Somewhere on the 9th street there is a bakery or sweets store selling very special cakes and candy.
I was well in my 40s then and I don't look younger then my age, walked in the store to see what's in. You should've seen the salesperson, how he watched me, hoping I didn't know where I'd walked in. He probably thought I'd realise those lolly-pops resemble body parts and run out. |
The Wells Fargo Bank Museum is free and interesting.
Beach Blanket Babylon a lot of laughs (but news of it has spread beyond the locals). The Grandviews Lounge in the Hyatt Hotel offers spectacular views from the 36th floor. |
Well, I don't know if this is quirky or not, but go to www.mapquest.com and put in the address for Levi Straus at 1155 Battery Street. If you walk through the Plaza and towards Telegraph Hill you will see a stairway going up the Hill to Coit Tower. On the map it looks like it might be called Filbert St. (perhaps someone can help me out here). See Napier Lane and the other little lane? There are beautiful views from here and you can see the famous "birds" (pet parrots that got loose and now are wild). Recently they wanted to trim back the eucalyptus trees in that area and people objected because that is where the birds live.
My sister told me there was a documentary done on the birds but I haven't seen it. They sure make a lot of noise. I love the huge trumpet type flowers that have been planted. You could very well start at the top and walk down, but if you take a look at the map, you will have an idea of where the stairs are. There are over 300 stairs (we lost count). At 1360 Montgomery Street there is an Art Deco building that was used in the film Dark Passage. Julius Castle is at 1541 Montgomery. |
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ttt
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Definitely try to see "Beach Blanket Babylon"
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Thanks for all the fantastic tips, everyone!
FainaAgain: I'd love to visit that bakery you described. Do you have any idea what it's called or where on 9th it is? Were you there recently? It sounds delish. |
If you're interested in avant-garde film and media, you may want to attend a screening or whatever's going on at Artists' Television Access (ATA) on Valenica Street in the Mission.
Check out the schedule at http://www.atasite.org/ It's a small space, so get there early if you're going. |
this place looks like the one, x-rated cakes listed
http://www.thecakegallerysf.com/ may be not exactly the same, as I worked in that area in 1992-95 Cake Gallery Party Center at 290 9th street |
Oh, another thing - everybody knows about fortune cookies - well, in China-town they sell them x-rated - same cookies, different text
Oh, boy, nice picture of myself I'm painting :) On sfgate.com check movies, the weekly schedule comes up on Fridays, there are theaters with independent movies only, often festivals, old movies, etc... |
Wow, FainaAgain, I think I want to tour the city with you!
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[email protected]
can't promise a tour - I "grew out" of the things I've mentioned, but a cup of coffee, lunch or dinner - why not? always happy to meet a Fodorite! |
Fortune Cookie Factory: Golden Gate Fortune Cookies Co. 56 Ross Alley (west of and parallel to Grant Ave. between Washington and Jackson St.s) Daily 10-7 (Fodors SF)
Kind of fun to watch but they are set up for tourists. Either buy something or pay to take a photo. Watch out for those naughty fortunes though. My daughter bought some by mistake. :) Waverly St. is another interesting st in China Town. You would think you stepped right into a Chinese city. I like it better than Grant St. |
Listen to me now and hear me later. I am recommend that you having a crepe from the trailer next to Butter that is serving at night times. I finding them from Google at 354 11th Street in SF 94103. So good to eat at any late hour after a night of flyovers for me. Many from clubs eat at Butter and I seeing the line going fastly for good service.
Do seek truth in all your travels and you will never be hungry, famished, nor starved. AR |
Are you sending a girl to 11 Street AT NIGHT??? I don't think she'll be safe in that area!
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At nights I am seeing hundreds of girls and boys on this area. Some are dancing inside nightclub and some are dining inside. Maybe is trouble on part of a long street numbered 11 in San Francisco. We having equal troubles staying at home than being outsides in public. Check your statistics, komrade.
Do seek truth in all your travels and you will never be shamed, nor scared, nor misinformed. AR |
I like to ride the cable car to Ghirdelli Square for a hot fudge sundae
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there's the wave organ. Best heard at high tide.
It's at the marina green, past the yacht club at the end of the jetty. Nice walk you can also see alcatraz and GG Bridge And if you rent a car, there is the REAL crooked street, Vermont Street, between 20th and 22nd in Potrero Hill |
a quickie, though not quirky is the sole hydrant that worked in SF during 1906 earthquake. It's painted gold to mark it's significance. Corner of Church Street at 20th.
And if you have never been to a columbariam (i'm sure there are ones in other cities) check out SF's Columbarium on Loraine Court off of Anza. You can go in and wander around. no one will mind. |
Thanks again for the tips, folks.
Armani_Rugpilot: So there's a trailor there at night? Is it like a lunch trailor, but for the club kids? I don't think I've ever seen one at night (except for maybe near a factory where folks work the night shift?), and definitely never one that serves crepes. Sounds like maybe a spot not to venture alone? digitaldiva: What's the columbariam like? It sounds iteresting. Thanks again! |
Oh, yes, the Columbarium, definitely a very interesting place, not depressing like a cemetary would. It's in the Arguelo (1st avenue) - Geary area.
Actually, it's a burial site after cremation inside a large building. When we were there, an employee gave us a tour for a small tip - load of information, and he pointed out the most interesting things to see. Put it on the top of your list! |
Listen to my wordings for you wandergrrl. Is not 'trailor' is a trailer once pulled by truck.
Is safe but nobody will know for self until going to see. Many times I have seen and eaten crepe alone and with friends. Is like Westwood of L.A. Always so many peoples and many eyes for no bad guys to want be seen by witness. Taxis always also. Very busy and Butter is bar immediate next door with white and yellow sign sideways from building so cannot miss. Is ok if you not go there - you say quirky so I think Butter is quirky. 1,000s of peoples already there. They do okay without one more customers. Do seek truth in all your travels and you will never be doubted, waved off, or discredited without merit. AR |
Go see a movie at the historic Castro theatre, great vintage movies and a Wurlitzer organ. My recent favorite the sing-along Sound of Music--defies description.
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You must go to the Buena Vista Bar near Fisherman's Wharf. The Irish Coffee was invented right there. They are the best Irish coffee's anywhere. You can sit on a bar stool and have a view of the Golden Gate.
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I always loved the walk to Fort Mason from Fisherman's Wharf along the edge of the water. The area around the Exploratorium that was once the site of the 1915 Exposition is magical. Do eat at one of the authentic (and not too fancy mexican or Salvadorian restaurants in the Mission, and ditto a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown (side streets - AVOID the famous ones)or better yet, dim sum on Clement St.
See the Legion of Honor - a lovely museum with one of the loveliest views in the world. |
...And the Saturday radio show at Fort mason whose name now escapes me - as much fun as Prairie Home Companion.
Oh! it's called "West Coast Live" Cheap. 10:am. |
You might enjoy going to the Glide Church (on the edge of the Tenderloin)..search for their web site. They have rockin' gospel music in an everybody-is-included atmosphere- very fun. They pass the hat so you can pay what you want. They do great work with the poor and homeless. I'm not religious and I loved it.
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Alamany Farmers' Market on Saturday Morning, the Ferry Plaza with magnificent food and breath taking prices. There is a Farmers' Market there, too, on Saturday, but the "poor peoples' Market" on Alemany is much more fun.
The new De Young Museum - not beautiful, but very interesting. The rowboats in the park. Tea at the Japanese Tea Garden. Go during the week so there are fewer Tourists. Yamato's - a Japanese restaurant that has been around for years. Take off shoes. Or any tatami room restaurant. Yank Sing for Dim Sum. The one by the Embarcadero. The French Quarter - Beldam Alley. B44. Eat outside. Or Cafe Claude in Claude Lane. Take the elevator to the top of the St Francis. Great view. Or to the top of the Bank of America for a sunset drink at the Carnelian Room. Greater View. Brunch at the Carnelian Room. OK, overpriced, but GREAT view. A little bit of Italy - sit outside and have Campari and Orange along a North Beach sidewalk or go to Emporio (or Pasticceria??) Rulli on Chestnut. Rulli is a piece of Rome (OK, Tuscany) near the Marina - inlaid marble floors, fresco ceiling - it appears to be mostly pastry, but the rumor is that they have a terrific new Italian chef. Brunch on Sunday is (so says the friend) Pannetone French bread with Nuttella inside. They have a wine tasting Tuesday nights. There is also a Rulli on Union Square - a one off with mostly Paninni - beats the awful Cheesecake factory - or when shopping go to the little crepe place on Geary or O'Farrell, just a block from Macy's. The Exploratorium or just the Marina. Fort Point - a Civil War Fort UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge. Take a jacket. A day trip to Angel Island, our version of Ellis Island. Take a ferry to Larkspur and eat at the Lark Creek Inn. Walk as much as you can in Muir Woods. Take the drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and over Mt Tamalpias to Stinson Beach. Go out to the great highway and watch the waves. Eat at the Cliff House (Expensive and not that good, but you are right on the ocean) or the Beach Challet (less pretentious and solid food with really great home brewed beer and great views of the waves coming in. Locals do the Beach Challet and tourists do the Cliff House. The Cable Car Museum. The Cable Car. Ride any of the old time streetcars down Market Street from the Castro to the Ball Park. Watch your wallet. It is pick pocket heaven there. Tacos in the Mission. Or anything in the Mission. I agree with the Mural walk. Do Stockton Street instead of Powell for Chinatown. On one of the sides (Jackson?) there are live tanks of live turtles and frogs. Chinatown is still surprisingly authentic and a great place to find really funky Christmas presents. Berkeley. Berkeley is its own trip. As in tripping, not travel. Lunch (not gourmet by any means) at John’s Grill, which is mentioned in the Maltese Falcon. Go into the Flood Building next door (gorgeous pre quake building – all marble) to see the actual statuette used in the movie and some San Francisco history. City Hall is pretty spiffy inside and you can get some interesting SF souvenirs there. Sit at the Chefs’ Counter at One Market restaurant and watch them cook really great food, talk to the chefs and cooks. Check out the few remaining auto palaces on VanNess. SFMOMA - the modern Art Museum. Just for the architecture. The children's carousel at Golden Gate Park. The zoo. It's crab season, so go to Tarantino's for fresh crab. Scoma's is better known, but Tarantino's gets them right off the boat. Call and make sure they are in fresh. Get them steamed with butter. San Francisco is a surprisingly safe town, by the way. |
Also: Maiden Lane (a 2 block street)off Union Square...the Frank Llloyd Wright building (it's a gallery) and Gumps Department Store.
Belden Place ..like a Paris Street..a line of outdoor cafes in an alley in the financial district...pretty after dark with all the lights. |
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