I am looking for a rental and know the general whereabouts of this area. Any insights as to how good a location it will be for our annual winter visit to SF?

We have stayed in hotels the last 3 times and thought it might be nice to stay in a more residential setting. We are familiar with public transit and plan to use it for getting around on our travels.

So, what say you?

I see that you have found the previous thread about the area, it should have answered most of your questions. It's a lovely area, full of Edwardian houses and tree lined streets. Close to the Castro, lower Haight, and Mission.

Agreed ( as always)

{Search first, search first }

I always appreciate your help, my trusted San Franciscans.

What's SF like from Christmas to New Years - weather wise, how busy is it, are things open during that time span?

Thinking about 12/20 til 1/1.

Do you think re: Duboce Triangle vs. area in Noe closer to 24th?

I much prefer the Noe Valley to the Duboce area. Actually, I prefer the Noe Valley over anywhere else in San Francisco. There must be 20-25 restaurants along 24th & Church streets. We dined at Incanto last Sat - fantastic. That's the place we took you when we met up a few years ago. I also like Firefly. Also on 24th & Church, there are about 10 really nice breakfast spots (we like Savour and Chloes), the typical Starbucks plus several smaller chain type coffee places, a Whole Foods (Safeway near Duboce), lots of nice non-chain shops, pizza places, kitchenware stores, etc. There is a weekly Farmer's Market in a parking lot on 24th street. J-Church will get you downtown in 30 mins, and 24 Divisadero takes you to some interesting spots too. I've never had trouble parking in the Noe Valley - although the 2 hr limit parking is creeping in - but the B&B may have a solution to that. There is not 2 hr limited parking around 24th st - it is usually south of about Clipper and only a few blocks east & west of Church, south of Clipper.

The Noe Valley is quite active around the Christmas time - with people shopping & such things. Dead on New Years Eve, however.

Shops & restaurants will be open all over San Francisco around Christmas. There is a skating rink in Union Sq - which is our favorite time (Christmas) to enjoy Union Sq. There is another skating rink in the Embarcadero center.

Stu Dudley

Stu and I both lived in Noe Valley years ago (before moving to the 'burbs). I LOVED that neighborhood. We don't get there much now, but when we do, we remember how much we loved living there! We lived in walking distance from Noe and 24th.

I loved http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/About/aboutus.html in the Noe Valley and it's right on the J Church MUNI line. The stop was literally in front of the door and an easy ride into the city.

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/asystem/routedesc.php?rted=J

I know Stu is a BIG fan of Noe Valley, which may be the last word for some, but I will dissent--I actually prefer Duboce over Noe Valley. Let me explain--many SF residents view Noe Valley these days as "stroller hell", full of 30-something, non-native, "Mommy and me" couples, who don't want to move to the suburbs but are turning Noe into the same homegenous kind of place. So it may be OK to visit for an evening, but an extended stay. . .

Duboce is still an interesting mix of people, straight/gay, couples/singles, with an active night life near by in the Castro.

Just my two cents. Oh and yes I used to live in Noe Valley many years ago, when it was much more diverse.

>>


Hmmmm, I haven't lived there since 1986!

I left in 1979, lived in Duboce and now live in Cole Valley. Although some residents are beginning to refer to Cole Valley it as "Noe Valley North" as it becomes less diverse and more and more double strollers clog the sidewalks.

Everywhere in San Francisco was much more diverse many years ago. Mission, SOMA, Haight (especially lower Haight), Duboce Triangle, Divisadero between Waller & Geary, NOPA, Dogpatch, areas in the Western Addition.

Yep - lots of mommys with buggys in the Noe Valley. Many cafes, restaurants, shops, bakeries, and parks & rec centers for mommys to enjoy while out on the streets pushing the buggys around.

Here is a real estate oriented article about the Noe Valley.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...REC41FIQVJ.DTL
The author wrote that the northern boundry of the Noe Valley is Market St. That is incorrect. The area just south of Market St is the Eureka Valley/AKA Castro. Noe Valley ends around 22nd St.

Stu Dudley

Call ahead around 12/25 - Fri, Sat, Sun. I know in downtown area most of museums, shops, restaurants will be closed.

Good time for a GTG though

>>Call ahead around 12/25 - Fri, Sat, Sun. I know in downtown area most of museums, shops, restaurants will be closed.

Looks like we will be staying at The Mosser as we got a great deal with their weekly rates. Also looks like it will be mid February now. Depends on airfares.

I liked the idea of Duboce Triangle with its close proximity to the F and J and the shops in the area. Mommies and stroller are a bit too much for me to take these days.

I am still hoping to do an extended stay in SF and will definitely go with a VRBO for that.

As always, thanks for your insights.

Deb

While you are here in February, check out both the Duboce Triangle and the Noe Valley & decide for yourself which area to stay in.

The Noe Valley Farmer's Market is Saturday
http://www.noevalleyfarmersmarket.com/

And prehaps give Firefly a try for dinner, or Savour for breakfast, brunch, or lunch (Savour not on a Sat or Sunday when there is usually a wait).

Stu Dudley

and Thep Phanom (Thai) or rnm in the lower Haight/Duboce area. The restaurant we frequent most often (about 10 visits a year) in the Noe Valley is Pomelo on Church off 30th St. Excellent food per $$$. We will be there this weekend. J-Church stops directly in front of the restaurant It is Ellen's favorite restaurant when we are paying for dinner.

Stu Dudley

While you are here in February, check out both the Duboce Triangle and the Noe Valley & decide for yourself which area to stay in.

We will do just that; when you are looking for a place to stay vs just strolling through, you tend to look at things with a slightly different take i.e. where's supermarket, laundromat, deli, bakery, pizza place etc.