San Francisco - Stu Dudley's Recommendations
You're no Stu Dudley.
May 24th, 2008, 06:40 AM
#44
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What will I be Kal, if I pipe in? I don't have much to add, this post has it all!
LoriNY- Did you visit the Haight during the day or in the evening? I had your same experience at night about a year or so ago, though it was pleasant during the day. Alternatives to the Haight, would be the Castro, Noe Valley and the quieter/smaller Cole Valley. Also Union Street in Cow Hollow is fun, though more upscale shops & dining. I see Stu already mentioned most of what I said, LOL.
LoriNY- Did you visit the Haight during the day or in the evening? I had your same experience at night about a year or so ago, though it was pleasant during the day. Alternatives to the Haight, would be the Castro, Noe Valley and the quieter/smaller Cole Valley. Also Union Street in Cow Hollow is fun, though more upscale shops & dining. I see Stu already mentioned most of what I said, LOL.
May 24th, 2008, 07:40 AM
#45
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When I walk around the Haight, I rarey set foot on Haight St itelf. I wander around Page looking at the Victorians. On any side street, if I see a house that looks interesting or has a new paint scheme I'll hit a few streets between Page & Haight or Page & Oak. I might even wander on the Panhandle side of Oak to admire the Victorians and find the "Wren's Nest" plasterwork decorations in the gables of a few Victorians. Then I'll walk up Masonic (lots of Queen Anne Victorians) to where it ends, and then wander through that area (it's called Corona Heights) - totally different architecture. I'll then walk north (downhill) along the west end the of Buena Vista Park to admore the large homes & the views. Then west on Waller to Cole, up & back on both sides of Cole, then east on Frederick to Downey. Head north & then south on a 1 block stretch of Downey, then south on Downey to Ashbury St. and then north on Ashbury past the Greatful Dead House at 710 Ashbury.
One of the Grandest Victorian houses in San Francisco is the Spencer house at Haight & Baker. It was built around 1895. It remains as one of the fe relatively unaltered free-standing Queen Anne mansions left in San Francisco. It occupies 3 city lots. It's spacious lot & corner location allowed the possibility of trimming the house on all 4 sides. No exterior modification of a significent nature has ever been done to it. It stood peeling & decrepit for 40 years. It was offered for sale in 1975 for $125,000 - a high price at the time. After a resale it received a thorough restoration as a B&B in the '80s with lavish period furniture & fixtures. The attic floor was completly rebuilt and finished as the owners residence. The house was sold as a private residence in 2000 for 3.5 million. (Quoted from "San Francisco, Building the Dream City). Recently, it has undergone another exterior restoration that cost over 1 million. We've visited the interior of the house a few times - and it's magnificent. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in '05.
You'll see a lot more baby buggies on this stroll than wiped-out druggies.
One of the Grandest Victorian houses in San Francisco is the Spencer house at Haight & Baker. It was built around 1895. It remains as one of the fe relatively unaltered free-standing Queen Anne mansions left in San Francisco. It occupies 3 city lots. It's spacious lot & corner location allowed the possibility of trimming the house on all 4 sides. No exterior modification of a significent nature has ever been done to it. It stood peeling & decrepit for 40 years. It was offered for sale in 1975 for $125,000 - a high price at the time. After a resale it received a thorough restoration as a B&B in the '80s with lavish period furniture & fixtures. The attic floor was completly rebuilt and finished as the owners residence. The house was sold as a private residence in 2000 for 3.5 million. (Quoted from "San Francisco, Building the Dream City). Recently, it has undergone another exterior restoration that cost over 1 million. We've visited the interior of the house a few times - and it's magnificent. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in '05.
You'll see a lot more baby buggies on this stroll than wiped-out druggies.
May 24th, 2008, 07:51 AM
#46
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I'll post this again with fewer typos
San Francisco – Stroll around the Haight.
Let's define the Haight (for this purpose) as bordering on Oak St to the north, Divisadero to the east, Stanyan to the west, and 17th to the south. Cole Valley & Corona Heights will be within "my" defination of the Haight
When I walk around the Haight, I rarely set foot on Haight St itself. I wander around Page looking at the Victorians. On any side street, if I see a house that looks interesting or has a new paint scheme I'll hit a few streets between Page & Haight or Page & Oak. I might even wander on the Panhandle side of Oak to admire the Victorians and find the "Wren's Nest" plasterwork decorations in the gables of a few Victorians. Then I'll walk up Masonic (lots of Queen Anne Victorians) to where it ends, and then wander through that area (it's called Corona Heights) - totally different architecture. I'll then walk north (downhill) along the west end of Buena Vista Park to admire the large homes & the views. Then west on Waller to Cole, up & back on both sides of Cole, then east on Frederick to Downey. Head north & then south on a 1 block stretch of Downey, then south on Downey to Ashbury St. and then north on Ashbury past the Greatful Dead House at 710 Ashbury.
One of the Grandest Victorian houses in San Francisco is the Spencer house at Haight & Baker. It was built around 1895. It remains as one of the fe relatively unaltered free-standing Queen Anne mansions left in San Francisco. It occupies 3 city lots. Its spacious lot & corner location allowed the possibility of trimming the house on all 4 sides. No exterior modification of a significant nature has ever been done to it. It stood peeling & decrepit for 40 years. It was offered for sale in 1975 for $125,000 - a high price at the time. After a resale it received a thorough restoration as a B&B in the '80s with lavish period furniture & fixtures. The attic floor was completely rebuilt and finished as the owner’s residence. The house was sold as a private residence in 2000 for 3.5 million. (Quoted from "San Francisco, Building the Dream City”, and the Victorian Alliance monthly newsletter). Recently, it has undergone another exterior restoration that cost over 1 million. We've visited the interior of the house a few times - and it's magnificent. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in '05.
You'll see a lot more baby buggies on this stroll than wiped-out druggies.
Stu Dudley
San Francisco – Stroll around the Haight.
Let's define the Haight (for this purpose) as bordering on Oak St to the north, Divisadero to the east, Stanyan to the west, and 17th to the south. Cole Valley & Corona Heights will be within "my" defination of the Haight
When I walk around the Haight, I rarely set foot on Haight St itself. I wander around Page looking at the Victorians. On any side street, if I see a house that looks interesting or has a new paint scheme I'll hit a few streets between Page & Haight or Page & Oak. I might even wander on the Panhandle side of Oak to admire the Victorians and find the "Wren's Nest" plasterwork decorations in the gables of a few Victorians. Then I'll walk up Masonic (lots of Queen Anne Victorians) to where it ends, and then wander through that area (it's called Corona Heights) - totally different architecture. I'll then walk north (downhill) along the west end of Buena Vista Park to admire the large homes & the views. Then west on Waller to Cole, up & back on both sides of Cole, then east on Frederick to Downey. Head north & then south on a 1 block stretch of Downey, then south on Downey to Ashbury St. and then north on Ashbury past the Greatful Dead House at 710 Ashbury.
One of the Grandest Victorian houses in San Francisco is the Spencer house at Haight & Baker. It was built around 1895. It remains as one of the fe relatively unaltered free-standing Queen Anne mansions left in San Francisco. It occupies 3 city lots. Its spacious lot & corner location allowed the possibility of trimming the house on all 4 sides. No exterior modification of a significant nature has ever been done to it. It stood peeling & decrepit for 40 years. It was offered for sale in 1975 for $125,000 - a high price at the time. After a resale it received a thorough restoration as a B&B in the '80s with lavish period furniture & fixtures. The attic floor was completely rebuilt and finished as the owner’s residence. The house was sold as a private residence in 2000 for 3.5 million. (Quoted from "San Francisco, Building the Dream City”, and the Victorian Alliance monthly newsletter). Recently, it has undergone another exterior restoration that cost over 1 million. We've visited the interior of the house a few times - and it's magnificent. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in '05.
You'll see a lot more baby buggies on this stroll than wiped-out druggies.
Stu Dudley
May 24th, 2008, 08:38 AM
#47
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I don't know if it's been mentioned, but there are two especially nice pieces of architecture on the U of SF campus, a Jesuit school. The church on the corner (which name I forget), and especially the Lone Mountain campus. It was originally a Jesuit residence, I believe, and is a gorgeous old Spanish building with views all around from the back garden. Very nice place to visit for free.
May 25th, 2008, 02:21 AM
#51
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Ditto for our resident SF lover.
And a minor coincidence - Stu's early reference to 'the police station on Vallejo' sent a shiver down the spine, having only last night watched Zodiac, which featured the police station at Vallejo.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 07:50 AM
#53
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Stu, everytime my husband and i plan a trip i get on fodors to get some input and you are writing about our destination place. Thanks for being involved in all the planning and help for italy(tuscany), croatia, san fran and now napa.
Jun 16th, 2008, 12:38 PM
#56
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Oh my goodness!!! I'm just starting to really get into the planning of our trip this Sept and came across this post.
Wow!!! Thank you SO much Stu.
I am thrilled to have found it.
You certainly have gone to a lot of work, and I know I appreciate it, as I'm sure others do.
A huge , huge thank you.
Wow!!! Thank you SO much Stu.
I am thrilled to have found it.
You certainly have gone to a lot of work, and I know I appreciate it, as I'm sure others do.
A huge , huge thank you.
Jul 1st, 2008, 12:48 PM
#58
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Hello Kodi. I always think of StuDudley as Mr. San Francisco.
He is as charming as is his most informative posts and his wife is a very lovely woman. They are now in Europe but they will be home by the time you arrive here.
I always encourage any new or even repeat visitor to San Francisco to pull of StuDudley's posts. He is a true born and bred San Francisco man!
He is as charming as is his most informative posts and his wife is a very lovely woman. They are now in Europe but they will be home by the time you arrive here.
I always encourage any new or even repeat visitor to San Francisco to pull of StuDudley's posts. He is a true born and bred San Francisco man!
Jul 13th, 2008, 11:36 AM
#60
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We used parts of your last list (a couple of years ago)and are finally going back so I was thrilled to see that you have updated it with more information. Thanks so much.
We got the AAA map before our last trip -- one of the best things we had with us.
We got the AAA map before our last trip -- one of the best things we had with us.
