This weekend, the city is host to the Fillmore Street Jazz Festival. 100's of artisits fill the streets to sell their wares. In addition to 2 days of great jazz. I'm sure you'll be able to find something for a great price in any of the booths. I'll be in the city as well, and am anxious for a great weekend : )

Deblynn: The beach is just south of the Cliff House. You can walk down to it from the Cliff House even. Very easy to get to. Just take Geary west toward the ocean and Cliff House. Most any map will show the route plainly. Your kids will like it. Take some paper towels so you can take your shoes off and wade a little!

Vesuvio Cafe/Bar has a great t-Shirt
design. You might enjoy a City Lights
bookstore T as well, both unique to SF.
In Chinatown you might like a T with
a chinese character (energy, strength,
love, etc.) or your animal fron the Chinese Zodiac.
R5

oh Lordy, do I ever have a haul from this trip. will post more later. (nothing really outrageous, just a lot of little things).

what a lovely city! even more beautiful than I remember it from last time.

One of my favourite buys is a hand made lampshade from Sue Johnson in Berkley. This one has oak leaves in the mica and looks stunning when on. I shipped mine back to Australia and now wish I'd bought a couple more. My other favourite items is a zip-up sweatshirt I had to buy when it suddenly decided to rain on a summer's day last year when I was inadequately dressed. I bought it for $11.99 at one of those stores at Fisherman's Wharf. It's a winner.
Cheers Mac123

See's is a regular for travelers, but if you want something more interesting chocolate-wise then take it from the largest chocoholic in town:

1. Goldleaf on Union Street - Best fudge I've ever tasted! Great for interesting souvenirs (chocolate cable cars, etc.) and it all actually tastes good too. Great truffles. XOX in north beach has great truffles too. (Goldleaf has larger prettier ones, but XOX is also well known for great truffles). Both the "best values" in town.
2. Sees (many locations) is good for a typical box of chocolates, which is what they're most known for. Not much of a "gift presence," especially if you want something that looks unique inside the box too. Lower priced. They are a chain with locations throughout parts of the west coast, so they may or may not be unique depending on where you live.
3. Recchuiti (sp?) downtown is a newer addition of high-end chocolates unique to SF. Beautiful & artistic and getting good reviews, though definately on the pricy end (most of my friends save over-priced, but then I suppose it depends on whether you care about price or not).

The great thing about these kinds of gifts is that you have to sample the wares just to make sure...

Pneumonia, from riding the harbor cruise boat and facing into the wind in March on first day of visit.

Update: LUSH store was on Powell street. WAS, now out of business.

Faina--Wow, that didn't last long there!

Rats! Lush was on my list of SF things to do. There's one on Ocean Avenue in Carmel if anyone's headed that way.

Lush is still open on Powell, or at least it was about 2 hours ago when I went in to buy someone a present. There's also one on Union Street.

LUSH on Powell (and Geary) IS still OPEN.

I saw the Lush on Union Street (I love that street!), a couple months ago.

Brought back authentic San Francisco sourdough bread from Fisherman's Wharf for our friends and neighbors. It was a big hit with all of them.

Chocolates from Teauscher (Swiss) somewhere down on lower Bush street are wonderful. I think they fly them in a couple of times a week to keep a fresh supply.

Wine! Great big store on the water sells Duckhorn Howell Mountain. It is the only place I've ever been able to buy it. I got the '97 when I was there in 2001. Amazing find.

Hmmm.... what the heck is closed then? I thought it was Lush...

From the Lush website, which let's hope is up to date:

240 Powell Street
SF CA 94102
(415) 693-9633

2116 Union St.
SF CA 94123
(415) 921-5874

May be a good idea to phone before you trek to the store, but I'm optimistic that there's still a source for their wonderful figs-and-leaves soap.

Years ago when I was still a "SoCal" girl, I brought home a t-shirt that said, "San Francicso, my favorite city, where the women are strong, and the men are pretty." Now I'm a NorCal lady and believe it's true!

I would buy a ton of wine and cheese. Also, lots of fruits if you visit farmers' markets.