For fans of Tales of the City, it's definitely worth stopping by for a pic of the sign and the view…read moreof the bay in back of it. Otherwise, it is nothing else like the show, there is no apartment complex nestled in the hill, that was filmed on a soundstage. Technically there are some apartments along the path but nothing really to see. It's nice go this way if going from North Beach to the Marina/Cow Hollow or Russian Hill. Vallejo, Lombard, Green, and Greenwich pathway stairs are nearby so best to make a stair walk out of it.

If you've been wondering where the steps of 28 Barbary Lane are in the city, here they be. That's…read morebecause the cloistered walkway that is Macondray Lane served as the inspiration for Anna Madrigal's compound in Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City", the classic series of books about the liberating life in San Francisco primarily during the '70's and '80's. The residential path is in front of a series of charming homes that are understandably well ensconced in the seven-figure range. On the other side is a steep embankment covered with greenery and freckled with nice touches like a tranquil little waterfall and a trio of trousers doubling as planters. Just be quiet and respectful because people live here but enjoy the atmosphere. RELATED - Exploring Russian Hill? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2IfTVOB

this is really one of the prettiest and sunniest neighborhoods in sf. there are beautiful, classic…read morehomes as well as some more modern buildings. tons of restaurants and shops galore...including some local boutique shops, owned by sf locals. each time i dine at a restaurant here, i experience something a little different, a different flavor, culture, clientele, but still very much noe valley. for the outdoors enthusiast, there are many hills here, so you can jog or hike and get a good workout. if the hills are too much, catch any one of the muni bus/trolleys. on a sunny day, you can see some terrific views of downtown sf from the top of some streets. just stand (or sit) and enjoy. accessible via 24th & mission bart (about 1/2 mi walk to this area) or 280 or 101. one good thing about parking, many areas have FREE parking, and it's not as hard to find a spot as many other parts of sf!

Honestly, I shouldn't still make fun of Noe Valley with my San Francisco-circa-2003 jokes, but I…read moredo. In one review, I called it "the land of $1200 double strollers." In another, just "Land of the Double-Wide Strollers." Both are good, and I'd add "The place where Marina Grayson and Marina Taylor find an apartment together once they decide to get serious." But I know a lovely couple who did move in together in Noe Valley once they decided to get serious, and she's a kickass union organizer now and is in a million ways a go-getter and a tough customer (in a good way) and a true Mensch, so who am I to make fun of where people live? Right. I'll still do it. Not so secretly, I still love Noe Valley, but not for the proposed $1.7 million toilets or the lovely toy stores that have gone out of business or the ridiculous Whole Foods that took over for what was a ridiculous-in-a-good-way Cala Foods. Nope. I love Holey Bagel (despite or because of its interior?) even though it reminds me of getting fired and the memory of the Global Exchange Fair Trade Store and Elizabeth Street for obvious and not-so-obvious reasons and its closeness to the Mission even though I don't associate it with the Mission. But it's really close, and before I got my I parking permit, I used to park in its Z parking area illegally and never got a ticket and always enjoyed walking back to my cozy car parked in front of the same(!) cozy house because even though I didn't know whether I'd have a ticket waiting, I knew I'd have a catalytic converter, because who's going to steal one of those on that particular street in the wrong-side-of-the-tracks section of Noe Valley? I'm kidding about that description because it's not true but it is but it's not and you know it. So there. The 24-Divisadero! It makes stops in the middle of the steepest parts of Castro Street in Noe Valley because it makes more sense to stop on the flat cross streets than to go past them to the inclined curbs! And I feel perfectly safe waiting too long for my 48-Quintara/24th Street, and there's a big, comfortable bench there waiting for me. And even back in the day, when I rode the 48 in the opposite direction and waited near the corner of 24th Street & Castro for the 24 back to my flat, I would use those lovely benches as well. Or if it was pouring raining, I'd stand under one of the closed stores' awnings or right in their doorway itself, and I wouldn't feel bad at all about it. That's when there was a Hahn's Hibachi (RIP) out here as well. And plenty more. Plenty more. It's lovely, but its businesses are ridiculously and coldly and just shadily overpriced, especially on the south side of 24th Street. Why is that, exactly? I still love it. And I still reserve the right to make fun of its residents.

I've been here before most of y'all were born. Oh, the things I've seen! Guess I like bad boys…read morecause I'm hopelessly in love with the Lower Haight. Well, the crack dealers have moved on, replaced by million dollar condos, & fancy pants establishments. Haight & Divisadero streets are alive with destination worthy restaurants, cafes, shops, bars, and great people watching. Nothing but locally owned businesses here, except for the beloved CVS. Bless its heart surviving corporate closures & unrelenting shoplifting. Now the goods are under lock & key. Anyway, I'm not leaving my blue bubble.

People from cleaner and ritzier 'hoods gasp when I say I live in the Lower Haight. "Is it safe?"…read morethey inquire. I just laugh with a sinister grin and say "I like it." As Brian M. said we've got a diverse selection of eats (mostly cheap) and drinks. Not only that but we're close to two lovely parks, home to many churches, not to mention two excellent cafes- Bean There and Cafe du Soleil. Public transportation couldn't be easier here, either. Is the LH for everyone? No. And thank god almighty for that. It has, however, proven an unexpectedly lovely place for me to be.

Really lovely and small side street close to Union Square! It's like a little Parisian oasis…read moresmack-dab in the middle of the dystopian financial district of San Francisco. Came here recently for a SF Junk Journal event. There was live music by a jazz band, and it was super welcoming. It was super cold and windy, even on a sunny day. It IS San Francisco, after all, so come bundled up!

Nestled between Union Square and Nob Hill, Maiden Lane is a pedestrian-only alleyway with…read moreParisian-inspired architecture, unique shops, and charming cafes. Stepping onto Maiden Lane feels like stepping onto a quaint European street. The brick-paved alleyway, lined with gas lamps and adorned with colorful flowers, creates a romantic and inviting atmosphere. Maiden Lane is home to unique boutiques offering one-of-a-kind finds from vintage clothing and handcrafted jewelry to homeware and art galleries. In here, you can enjoy a leisurely brunch, a quick coffee break, or a romantic dinner in a charming setting. Choose from French cafes with sidewalk seating to intimate bistros and trendy restaurants. However, the place is small so there's limited options for shopping and dining. Also, there are no public restrooms and no cars are allowed in this alleyway.

Coveted neighborhood in San Francisco…read more I felt like a stalker driving in this beautiful upscale neighborhood located in the northwestern part of San Francisco... just admiring the large houses with breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and amazing scenery of the ocean. The best part was discovering an access to Baker Beach!! We found it by accident, there is a trail that heads down towards the beach... there are houses along the entrance on 25th Avenue N and parking is limited because the gate sits in a neighborhood. This access is probably mostly for the residents. These celebrities have called Sea Cliff home at one point: * Robin Williams - before he moved to Tiburon * Sharon Stone - when she was married to the executive editor for the SF Examiner * Cheech Marin - "Whoa! Quarter Pounder!" [referring to an impossibly big joint - "Up In Smoke"] * Eugene Levy (American Pie series of movies) * Kirk Hammett - musician [Metallica] * Paul Kantner - musician [Jefferson Airplane] * Jack Dorsey - Twitter CEO * Luke Brugnara... now that name may not sound familiar to me or you but he was once a commercial real estate investor and developer. He once owned the pink mansion built into a cliffside which overlooked the SF Bay and has a clear view of the GG Bridge. The house also has a staircase that zigzags down the cliffside and leads into a private cove. Well, "Lucky Luke" turns out to be a scam artist and went to jail. The mansion is now a fixer-upper... $15 million, anyone? I may never own a home in this exclusive neighborhood but "dreaming" that I own a home in this exclusive neighborhood is FREE! Review #2014

I love this part of San Francisco. Anytime that I hike Land's End or I find myself at Baker Beach,…read moreI always try to take a short walk through the neighborhood. The houses are stunning here and worth a fortune of course. I love passing by Robin William's old estate and seeing its' condition. It hasn't been looking too grand as of late, but I'm sure that'll all change when someone moves in and remodels it. If you're hiking from Land's End to the Golden Gate Bridge, you're almost bound to pass through this beautiful neighborhood anyways. Come and explore the estates of the rich and famous! Can you imagine having Land's End and Baker Beach just steps away, practically right in your backyard?! Well, this is it. Sea Cliff has the most gorgeous views of the beach and city. It's a quiet neighborhood but so fun to walk through. I love seeing all of the beautiful flowers and well manicured lawns. If only I could afford to live here! Ha! Only in my dreams. Maybe one day in the far, far future. Until then, I'll just enjoy my walks through the neighborhood on my trips to the beach.

I read a cute magazine review that made me want to visit. The shops in the review existed but they…read morearen't clustered together so either prepare for long walk or drive down this street.

Shopping and parking on Clement Street can be stressful, akin to playing an adult version of…read moremusical chairs. Will you effortlessly cruise into an open parking spot or circle multiple times? Will you blink in disbelief there isn't a long line at the register on Market Day or groan when you see it? The sidewalks, stores and restaurants aren't overly crowded- this isn't Manhattan- but expect to be jostled, pushed, elbowed, ignored and sometimes helped and given a smile. Clement Street is one of my favorite destinations but the owners make you work for it like you're a suitor and they're Scarlett O'Hara at the barbecue at Twelve Oaks. I love a challenge; I will be liked! I'll smile sweetly and whisper "thank you" when they secret free shrimp eggrolls and sesame balls into my bag. But for my very favorite shopping, Clement Street is worth a trip to buy fresh and inexpensive produce. I secretly pump my fist when 3 stalks of lemongrass cost $0.59 (versus $6 at Whole Foods) at Yin Xing. The sight of deeply hued bok choy and brightly gleaming clementines makes me giddy. I marvel at the open bins of bean sprouts that cost next-to-nothin' and begin mentally shredding my menu plan as I strategize where I can fit a Viet soup recipe into the rotation. Restaurants range from strictly take-out, good and ridiculously inexpensive (Clement BBQ, Good Luck Dim Sum) to moderately priced and worth standing in line for 30 minutes (Burma SuperStar, talkin' to you). I've burned a few brain cells and flirted up a storm with soccer players from a random UK team at the Plough and the Stars (and made out with a good-like lookin' guy from Ogilvy & Mather/Japan after too many Black & Tans but that was a dozen or more years ago, sssh). Every bank has a branch so you can shop, dine, drink and grab cash to satisfy the many cash-only mom 'n' pops dotted along Clement. With prices so low, you respect merchants can't pay to process credit cards- they're passing the savings along to you. Stop grumbling. The sidewalks are dirty, they're always unloading produce, you can watch a fresh fish go from swimming in the tank to gutted and wrapped up in 90 seconds. Farm-to-table has nothin' on that spectacle. Clement Street is a slice of San Francisco you really shouldn't miss if you're a local or tourist. Just go!

This is one of those spots that does itself over every once in a while. My favorite version thus…read morefar was the Dig Dug x Donkey Kong x Pac-Man et al. some years ago. Directly off Market Street, its location is about as obvious as possible, yet being here can feel like you're getting away from the rumble of city life.

One of the many free Privately Owned Public Open Spaces in SF! While lovely, this location is…read morepretty small and is only a tiny walking area with a pretty water fountain. There's no seating like other spaces so keep this place in mind for more of a quick stop to admire the water and plants.