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Rodney · 07-15-2006, 02:07 PM

Other mini-cities:

Clement Street, in the Richmond District. From Arguello out to about 19th, it and the surrounding blocks are a second Chinatown (bigger than the "real" one), with some non-Chinese restaurants and hangouts that have hung in from 20+ years ago, like Giorgio's pizzeria. There's a lot happening, but it's more of a real neighborhood than Chinatown -- mainly Chinese, but with a lot of young (ish) Ango office workers, well-to-do types, and elderly Russians. Lots of different kinds of Asian restaurants -- all the flavors of Chinese, big dim sum places, Chinese bakeries, Thai, and more. Past 19th, Clement is still Chinese, but more yup and Russian -- nothing wrong with that. My favorite no-frills Italian restaurant in SF, Ernesto's, is out there around 24th or so.

Inner Sunset -- south of the park, from Stanyan out to about 19th, centered around Irving and Judah Street. It's the UC San Francisco neighborhood, a Chinese neighborhood, and a few other things mixed in.

A good way to explore this western chunk of San Francisco is to head out there on a Sunday when Golden Gate Park is closed to traffic (parking's a bitch, but hey). You can check out one neighborhood, then check out all the street action in the park -- acrobatic skaters, skateboarders, and bikers, with ramps and all set up in the road -- then head over to the other neighborhood. And Ocean Beach is right out there at the west end of the Richmond. There's a lot to see, and it's a part of town many tourists don't know is there.

That's about it for ethnic enclaves that haven't been mentioned. But other cool little neighborhood/minicities, ethnic or otherwise, include Potrero Hill, the Noe Valley (24th Street west of Dolores), Lower 24th (technical part of the Mission, but it's own space -- 24th between Mission and Portrero, lot of cool stuff there including a mural project), Asbury Heights (near the Haight, lots of cool houses), Bernal Heights, West Portal (where the old-timers live, plus more Chinese) and Taraval Street.

There's also Polk Gulch, another gay neighborhood. Originally rawer than the Castro, but now going somewhat upscale. Polk Street from around O'Farrell (by the Mitchell Brothers Theater) up to Broadway.

The thing to remember about SF is that most of the people who move there don't spend their time at the big-name attractions, or even downtown. They stay out in the neighborhoods. Because SF's major beauty has always been that it's a great place just to hang, and the neighborhoods are where that's done. The neighborhoods might stand out to tourists at first glance, but they're full of great places to eat, meet, drink, hang, and shop.

07-15-2006, 02:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Other mini-cities: Clement Street, in the Richmond District. From Arguello out to about 19th, it and the surrounding blocks are a second Chinatown (bigger than the "real" one), with some non-Chinese restaurants and hangouts that have hung in from 20+ years ago, like Giorgio's pizzeria. There's a lot happening, but it's more of a real neighborhood than Chinatown -- mainly Chinese, but with a lot of young (ish) Ango office workers, well-to-do types, and elderly Russians. Lots of different kinds of Asian restaurants -- all the flavors of Chinese, big dim sum places, Chinese bakeries, Thai, and more. Past 19th, Clement is still Chinese, but more yup and Russian -- nothing wrong with that. My favorite no-frills Italian restaurant in SF, Ernesto's, is out there around 24th or so. Inner Sunset -- south of the park, from Stanyan out to about 19th, centered around Irving and Judah Street. It's the UC San Francisco neighborhood, a Chinese neighborhood, and a few other things mixed in. A good way to explore this western chunk of San Francisco is to head out there on a Sunday when Golden Gate Park is closed to traffic (parking's a bitch, but hey). You can check out one neighborhood, then check out all the street action in the park -- acrobatic skaters, skateboarders, and bikers, with ramps and all set up in the road -- then head over to the other neighborhood. And Ocean Beach is right out there at the west end of the Richmond. There's a lot to see, and it's a part of town many tourists don't know is there. That's about it for ethnic enclaves that haven't been mentioned. But other cool little neighborhood/minicities, ethnic or otherwise, include Potrero Hill, the Noe Valley (24th Street west of Dolores), Lower 24th (technical part of the Mission, but it's own space -- 24th between Mission and Portrero, lot of cool stuff there including a mural project), Asbury Heights (near the Haight, lots of cool houses), Bernal Heights, West Portal (where the old-timers live, plus more Chinese) and Taraval Street. There's also Polk Gulch, another gay neighborhood. Originally rawer than the Castro, but now going somewhat upscale. Polk Street from around O'Farrell (by the Mitchell Brothers Theater) up to Broadway. The thing to remember about SF is that most of the people who move there don't spend their time at the big-name attractions, or even downtown. They stay out in the neighborhoods. Because SF's major beauty has always been that it's a great place just to hang, and the neighborhoods are where that's done. The neighborhoods might stand out to tourists at first glance, but they're full of great places to eat, meet, drink, hang, and shop. Last edited by Rodney; 07-15-2006 at 04:03 PM..