In the 70's, when I was in the service, stationed in Sacramento, I often drove down to San…read moreFrancisco for the weekend, staying for about $10 per night in the Montgomery Street Barracks which are set alongside the parade grounds, which have since been converted to The Lodge at the Presidio. I spent many of those days in North Beach, regularly visiting City Lights, where the staff taught me how to choose from amidst the mass of books they offered. RIP founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who managed to squeeze charm and pleasantness into the few minutes we spoke, the one time we met. I'd pick one or two books, then head over to Caffe Trieste, where, in my late teens, I tasted my first espresso and first heard operatic music performed live. I'd spend hours, reading and watching people. Later, when I'd get hungry, I'd walk down to Mario's Cigar Shop for a sandwich, or to Stella Pastry for a sfogliatella or (well, plus) a slice of sacripantina cake. Other times, I'd wander the city, learning about architecture and Chinese food and latter-day hippie culture, but when I was on Columbus Avenue, I stayed put. It was home base, and, for me, a comfort zone.

Met here for a networking dinner. Staff was welcoming and polite. Food was delicious and…read moresatisfying. Yummy Gorgonzola and pear salad. Handmade raviolis with amazing bolognese sauce. The waiter said the chef is known for his sauce! The entire entree was superb

Some nice favorite gems at the Inner Sunset [San Francisco]…read more I don't come to the Inner Sunset often except for one thing... mainly FOOD. Inner Sunset is located south of Golden Gate Park next to the UCSF campus. Many of the businesses are clustered on Irving Street and 9th Avenue... there are a lot of amazing places to eat at the Inner Sunset, maybe not as hoity-toity as the Marina District but the following are some of the places we've enjoyed and visited: * Tartine Inner Sunset [Irving Street] - this Tartine location is open for delivery and takeout only. Online ordering was easy and my bag of goodies was ready in 30 minutes (notifying me by text). My daughter enjoyed both the Lemon Cream Tart and the Lemon Cranberry Pistachio Teacake. I was also happy to see the Pain Au Chocolat Croissant available. Fresh and yummy... but pricey. * Mahalo [9th Avenue] - we ordered the Hawaiian macaroni salad. It's a favorite in our household. Delicious and authentic! * 16th Avenue Tiled Steps - we stopped by this beautiful tiled steps just west of Grand View Park. This popular steps is popular among tourists. There are 163 steps... heading up has a nice view of stars and sea design. There are a few landings in between sections (to catch your breath). The plants alongside the steps are well maintained by the community. Street parking. * Hidden Garden Steps - beautifully tiled stairway. The stairway is between a Kirkham and Lawton Streets. It's easy to miss these steps because the stairs are narrow and very steep. We got lucky at the time... no tourists! I love these steps! The ceramic tiles are colorful with beautiful designs and once we reached the midpoint of the steps there were some great views to be seen of the city. Truly a hidden gem. Next on my list to visit (not necessarily in this order): Arizmendi Bakery Hometown Creamery San Tung "Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul." - Jaime Lyn Review #2061

When I moved to San Francisco, I spent a good month looking for a place to live. I knew where in…read morethe city I wanted to live (where I eventually ended up living), but more importantly, I knew where I didn't want to live. Or at least I thought I did. There were also plenty of places that I would live if I had to, but they weren't high up on my list of places to check out. One of those places was the Inner Sunset. At the time, I was generally a Richmond boy, if only because my brother had mostly lived there, except for when he first moved to San Francisco and lived in the Outer Sunset near Polly Ann's (https://www.yelp.com/biz/polly-ann-ice-cream-san-francisco). In my mind, if I were going to live in the Sunset, I needed to be closer to Polly Ann's, so the Inner Sunset didn't do anything for me. Well, I was wrong. So so so so very wrong. So wrong, in fact, that when I had to start apartment-hunting again this past winter and into spring because my San Francisco home of almost 20 years burned down, the Inner Sunset was a preferred neighborhood, not just one that I would put up with living in. Ninth Avenue by itself is worth everything. But there's so much more, and sometime between my moving to San Francisco and my flat burning down, my brother had moved to the Inner Sunset, and then he moved even innerer into the Inner Sunset. The one place I was interested in seeing during my 2003 housing search was on Irving Street, between either 9th and 10th, or 10th and 11th. This was back when photos on Craig's List either weren't allowed or were few and far between, so all I had to go by was the potential future roommates' descriptions of themselves and the apartment. It sounded wonderful, as did they. But when I showed up for my appointment five minutes early, no one was home. I dutifully called and waited 20 minutes outside, and then called again, but no one ever got back to me. This might seem like par for the course now, but it was the first time, I believe, I had ever been ghosted. I'd been stood up before, of course, but there had been subsequent fake apologies or whatever. This time? Nope, neither of the potential roommates ever called or emailed me or responded to my polite email asking whether they need to reschedule. Ghosted. In 2003. By people I'd never met in person but had had a nice phone conversation with. It bothers me to this day, and sadly, I think I've held that aggravating experience against the neighborhood, if only a little bit. But you know what? Even if Canvas Gallery is long gone (and that's OK, because I really used to like Pacific Catch before it got so corporate), there's still Gordo and Green Apple and Arizmendi and Hometown Creamery and Sunflower Garden and the gelato place and so many other favorites, and again, that's just on a three-block stretch of 9th Avenue. I also love Hugo Street. And here's an important San Francisco-locals-only question for you: Is Hugo the "H" street of the Avenues, or is Hayes? Or maybe it's Haight? I have serious history with Hayes, but despite that, I vote for Hugo. What do you say? Compliment or message me with your true and final answer.

Family neighborhood, lots of tidy single family homes and narrow streets where neighbors wave you…read morethrough as you thread, carefully, between parked cars and opposing traffic. The main thoroughfares, San Jose and Alemany Avenues, are populated with a decent library, many good Salvadoran, sushi, Chinese and family businesses. This is a working neighborhood where people get things done. It's a modest neighborhood, seems quiet here on the southeastern quarter of the city, snugged up to Bernal Heights.

A colorful neighborhood in San Francisco. Known for street art and culturally diverse restaurants…read moreand bakeries. McLaren Park is also a highlight. Located roughly at the half way point between Daily City and downtown San Francisco - its probably not a bad place to live or visit. Tourists might find it hard to believe but downtown San Francisco is really not much to see besides tall buildings with not all that much character. Mostly office spaces and residential housing there is more recent - say the past five or ten years. The neighborhood is small - the boarders are Mission St and John McLaren park. Roughly ten by ten blocks and El Farolito is about in the middle on Mission. Come here for tacos or a Salvadorian bakery. If you prefer the more mainstream stuff you can give your money to Amazon and walk into a nearby Whole Foods. Balboa Park Bart stop is the closest but bus routes go to the city and that is also an option. Some might think of this as the 'outer limits' of San Francisco and I suppose in many ways it is. Most people from the city only recognize the seven by seven. No, no... I don't think this is the outer limits at all. If you consider the age of the neighborhood and how nobody wants to live downtown - it might just be the heart of the city.

When you dim sum, go to Chinatown!…read more The oldest and largest Chinatown in America is in San Fran and it offers plenty of Chinese street food classics and of course a wide selection of baked, fried or steamed dim sum. Most shops open at 7 or 8 so get there before the lunch rush as some of the popular ones get sold out. After devouring all the dim sum, explore and walk around. Another must stop is the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory which is a family run shop hand folding cookies since 1962. Watch the ladies fold, pack these iconic cookies and pick up a bag or two to take back home to your friends and family. Places we ate at: GOOG MONK KOK BAKERY WING SING DIM SUM DELICIOUS DIMSUM HOUSE OF DIM SUM GOLDEN GATE FORTUNE COOKIE

A special place in SF…read more Love how many dim sum spots there are, grab and go. Lots of Chinese restaurants too And takeout spots. Really happy about the new businesses opening up here! Yes bring the energy and charm! Parking can be hard so park at Portsmouth Square garage

This is a very unexpected path from Noe/Castro to Twin Peaks/Eureka Valley! I found this spot on…read moreaccident while on a hot girl walk! If you're trying to get steps in with elevation, visit these stairs and get a great view of the neighborhoods. Exploring the different stairs in SF is actually really fun, a great way to explore new neighborhoods!

This is a sweet neighborhood stairway between Collinwood and Diamond streets. There are 2 branches…read moreof the staircase, one with 72 stairs and the other with an impressive 191 stairs which is shaded. The staircase intersects an embankment that the neighbors tend to with native plants and many succulents. I wouldn't come out of my way for this staircase, but I use it to incorporate with an urban stair walk of this neighborhood towards the Castro which is about a half mile away. There are a few other staircases around (Sanchez, Cumberland, Liberty) and 22nd street at Church and Vicksburg is the second steepest city block in SF at a 31.5% grade. 24th street's bustling shops are 4 blocks away, so nice to take a walk after dinner.

Francisco Steps has 85 steps that go from the Fisherman's Wharf area to Francisco Street. This is…read moremore of a neighborhood thoroughfare yet if someone is doing something at Pier 39 and walking to North Beach it could be a little excursion. Caffe Capriccio and Café Francisco are a few blocks away. For a mile walk of Telegraph Hill you could also incorporate the nearby Greenwich, Filbert, and Vallejo Street steps.

As much as I hate exercise, dear husband got excited when he saw this was 'a thing.' It's out of…read morethe way so you have to purposely be looking for the entrance at the top. Really worth seeing the old houses when walking to the entrance. The stairs are wooden, but have guardrails and taped edged for safety, and every though it was winter-the views and foliage were gorgeous! Just a few hundred yards across the street and you're down at the wharf at the Embarcadero end. 100% worth the fun little jaunt to do them.

Still standing in its glory [San Francisco CA]…read more When we come to the City we try to stop by this Pacific Heights neighborhood and stop by for a respectful look as we remember the late Robin Williams. The three-level Victorian house sits in a prime location. Mrs Doubtfire is a really great movie and if you haven't seen it I would highly recommend it. 32 years later after the filming of the movie the house still stands and garners many visitors. The next time you're in San Francisco make sure you stop by 2640 Steiner Street to see the Doubtfire Victorian home used for the exterior shots in the film. Miranda actually mentions the actual address of the Hillard house in the movie. The door and the famous steps has been changed and the gate is installed by the current owner to keep fans from sitting on the steps to get their photos taken. Review #0958 updated

If you love the movie Mrs. Doubtfire then this is a good place to stop by and take a picture. It's…read moredown the street from the Painted Sisters.

Named after Adah Bakalinsky the author of Stairway Walks of San Francisco, this stairway is 90…read moresteps connecting Waller St to Buena Vista Ave. There's a green patch to the right of the stairs with plants and trees that serves as a sanctuary bird habitat as well as a plaque on top honoring Adah. I wouldn't come out of my way for this staircase but it's good to do as an add-on to hiking at Buena Vista Park and Corona Heights Park. Every 4th Saturday of the month Nature in the City has a volunteer workday that cleans and maintains the steps.

Another FtR? Why are people adding photos without reviewing? OK, dumb question; I do that all the…read moretime. But for something that hasn't been reviewed yet? I gave others a fair head start. They did not take advantage of my chivalry. The spoils of glory are absolute to the corrupt victor? Or something? Absolutely! These stairs are lovely. I don't understand why they and a cute little garden exist instead of a house or other large building, but I'm glad for the rare open space. I guess if you happen to live at the inside corner where Broderick Street turns into Waller Street, this is a convenient way to get to Buena Vista Park without having to walk back down to Haight Street, but otherwise, these stairs don't really serve a purpose. OK, I'm lying again, because when I park my car next to Buena Vista Park, these stairs allow me to walk to my house more directly than curving back around on Buena Vista Avenue, East, and spending a block on Haight Street, but when I walk back to my car, I don't use these steps, because while more direct going downhill, they don't make the uphill climb any easier. So it's a convenient way to get from one very out-of-the-way high place to another very out-of-the-way high place. In short, if you're walking, unless you happen to live within a very short distance, it's a climb to get to either end of the stairs, so they don't really serve any convenience purpose whatsoever for 99.99997 percent of the population that will encounter them. One of my favorite San Francisco landmarks is the Too Close for Comfort House. If you walk down Buena Vista East from that house, these stairs are on your right. But if you don't take the stairs and instead continue to the intersection with Haight Street, you'll see the neato triangular building at the corner. So these few blocks do hold some wonderful secrets, and they'll give your calves a proper workout.