Got to see my friend perform here tonight on a Saturday! Super fun! Like 6 benches that fit about 5…read moreppl on each. One stage and lots of lightbulbs for shows at night!

So I live at 23rd and Harrison and there happens to be a garden between 23rd and 24th, closer to…read more23rd. There is a little sign that says "Secret Garden", in a little alley enclosed by a white fence between two homes. I've passed this sign millions of times but every time the fence has been closed! Finally, this past Saturday the gate was ajar! We diverted and went inside the garden! Suspense! Someone's back was turned towards the vegetables, there was human in the "Secret Garden". I said "Hello". I was greeted warmly by an older gentlemen. He says his name is "Tree". How fitting :). Anyways, Tree tells us the history of the 23rd and Harrison garden. It was supposed to be a common space for all the houses in the area, then it became a crack den and the parks people sealed it off. Supposedly everyone in the neighborhood had keys before it was closed. Now only Tree and someone else that runs a gardening program for kids has a key. He uses the park for his urban farming project. Tree used to hope he could feed all the homeless with his urban farms, he has a few. There is one at 23rd and Treat st., I don't know where his others are. With the produce he gardens he gives it all away at his food stand in the mission for low income and homeless folks. How cool is that? Amazing to have people like Tree in SF. I've heard he also had something to do with the trees that line Folsom, I'm not sure about that rumor. Here is a link to his blog: http://freefarmstand.blogspot.com/

An outdoor art experience, for sure!…read more I read that many of the murals along this alley have political undertones to them -- had I not known that going in, I might have looked at the murals in a different way. There is a ton of talent displayed on these walls, garages and doors. I also noticed that a few murals have expanded to the streets directly left and right of here - kind of extending the experience. Worth a stroll through. To be honest though -- I'm not great at interpreting a lot of their meanings, but do plan to do a little more research. Note: I was here a little early (9am-ish) on a Saturday. I had the alley to myself, along with one gentleman in the middle of the street who may have been on some substances (based on his behavior). I overall felt safe... but was a little put off by him and did walk past him on the quicker side. 2024: 69/100

Clarion Alley is a super impressive free outdoor mural gallery from local artists. I got lucky and…read morewas invited into the studio of one of them as I was walking by, admiring the pieces. There are a range of messages and meanings, but almost every single one revolved around a social justice matter. Prioritise this alleyway if you're visiting SF!

The glass elevators at the Westin St. Francis are key-card protected and not open to public…read moreanymore. You need a hotel key card to access one of the glass elevators, and I think it's used to be one of free things for locals and tourists years ago.

Wheee! What a fun way to see the city! This elevator is in…read morethe St Regis overlooking Union Square. If you act like you know where you're going, and just jump in with some random guest, you'll get to see a great view of the city for free! The glass elevators are constantly zipping up and down. You need a guest's key to get the elevator to work, so be sure to hop on with someone going to their room, and just start mashing the highest numbers on the keypad. It's kinda thrilling to know that they put in a card reader to keep out the public, but this is totally worth the trip if you don't stay here. Unfortunately, this Glass Elevator is not like the one written about in the sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Unlike the one in Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory, this one doesn't go sideways, through the roof, or upside down at all.

Had the chance to visit this art installation during my work trip in San Francisco! It's a…read morebeautiful piece of art that captures the night and great for a walking date in Golden Gate Park. It's an installation that turns off at 9:30 pm until late April, 2024. It's near peacock meadows, so be careful if you're taking an Uber/Lyft there as Golden Gate Park as your intended destination will bring you to the other side, which is what I experienced! Great attraction for families, couples, and all ages!

All Man, The Entwined Lighted Festival is FIRE. You have to come check out the vibes and beauty…read morehere of the forest and lights. Its like a scene in a Fairy Tale. Its not far from the Golden Gate Bridge, but it is a joy to see and be around. I took plenty of photos that I will have our every chance I get. It was just a scene to see for me. I will visit again.

This amazing side street features a wide variety of murals that captures the diversity and…read morestruggles of the city.

If you walk fast, you can easily miss this side street that's filled with incredible street art…read more After having lunch in the Mission I decided to take a walk and check out the area. I'm always driving through, getting whether I need and leave. I realize just how much culture and awesome things I miss by not walking around. You can easily spend 30 mins here because there are so many murals, each one being unique on its own. If you're looking for something to do on the weekend, check this street out if you haven't before and get lunch nearby!

Huge selection of bean to bar chocolate and other chocolate related treats but heavily focused on…read morethe bars. Service was helpful and accommodating and kind but not intrusive. A fantastic stop for any bean to bar fanatic.

What a gorgeous, unique shop! The sheer scale of chocolate selections here is impressive. The…read moremoment I stepped in the store, my jaw dropped. Right off the bat, the decor is so eye catching. I loved looking at the tins fixed on the wall with a variety of street names, chocolate brands, and landmarks. It makes for a very visually fun store. The chocolate choices here are unmatched. Every single chocolate I saw looked divine, and there are so many chocolate brands to choose from. There are also individual truffles for purchase. I visited on a Monday evening, and the store was completely empty, so I could take my time looking around. The brand Fossa caught my eye - they had chocolate bars with flavors like spicy mala, salted egg cereal, and satay sauce. Not only were there fascinating flavors, the packaging of every single bar I saw belonged in a museum. This felt like a store with high-quality, artisanal options, and I loved my visit!

A way to have fun and get a workout! The best part...the Esmeralda slides at the top. I wish the…read moreslides would go all the way down... now that would be a blast.

I usually always take the Esmerelda stairs whenever I go hiking at Bernal Heights Park since the…read moretrails there aren't that long or rigorous. These stairs have 162 steps spread out among 3 different legs. The first leg starts at Coleridge Street and the last leg takes you into Bernal Heights Park. There are actually a lot of staircases in this neighborhood but this one stands out because it has a really cool long slide.

Seriously soo many restaurants, bars, cafes, local stores,…read morehidden gems you will find here. Take a few hours to explore and eat your way through the place! You just can't eat it all. Always need another trip Parking and traffic suckssss

Parking's horrendous, even on weekdays when it's not a super busy time (people going to work and…read morepeople getting off of work). I can't imagine what it's like on the weekends when people actually want to go out and do things. I can't really speak for how it's like in the evenings and at night considering how so many things in the Bay Area close so early in comparison to SoCal, but I digress. Parking can get quite confusing here since there are so many loading areas, other spots where it's metered parking but ONLY for a certain time period or else you're not allowed to park there, some actually free parking (I think), and much more confusion, so be prepared to sort of park before you can get closer to read all of the fine print on the signs. Even Koreatown isn't this bad. Eugh. But other than that, I really do like the variety of restaurants and businesses that they have here and the fact that it doesn't feel gentrified or franchise/trend slop. Definitely more lively than many parts of LA and other major cities as so many in person things are dying out. One day I'd like to go back and go eat here, and hopefully be able to find parking. Also random, but my boyfriend and I saw a stubby caterpillar looking van that was super close to the ground with 6 wheels and I sadly couldn't take a picture in time, but the visage haunts me to this day.

Yep... another reason to LOVE SF. Culture, community, and somehow... magically clean?! Like I don't…read moreknow what spell they cast over Japantown but the usual city "aroma" is nowhere to be found lol. Just good vibes, music, anime, cosplay sightings, and me absolutely losing it over a Japanese vintage shop like it was a life event. Gifts everywhere, manga on manga on manga... I blinked and suddenly I needed everything. You can literally watch fresh udon being made, bounce between ramen spots, sip tea like you have your life together, and yes... plenty of veggie and vegan friendly options so we're all thriving. And the history? Not just cute... it's legit. This is the OLDEST Japantown in the U.S. and one of only three left, built after the 1906 earthquake when Japanese communities relocated here and made it their cultural home (Japantown Cultural District⁠). It was once a booming hub with hundreds of businesses before WWII internment basically wiped it out, and the community had to rebuild from scratch after . So yeah... what you're walking through now is resilience with really good snacks. Hit the mall, the Peace Pagoda, the paper stores (origami, stationery, art... obsessed), and all the Ghibli love. Cute AND historic... we love a neighborhood with depth.

I'm sure I'm biased bc I grew up up coming here in the 70s/80s and then as a teen and grown up in…read morethe 90s... 2000s lol... it's like a second home despite a lot of changes over the years. Some of the changes I like and some not so much. Parking is hella easy in the underground lot and you can always find a nice gift at any price range as well as a nice snack, drink or meal. I always bring my visitors here when we run out if other stuff to see- but it's hit or miss. My company either loves it and always asked to return, or they think it's a waste of time lol. Like I said, I love it and always will- but I'm not sure how much is pure nostalgia. Recommend visiting at least once. I know the J town in LA feels a lot bigger and I appreciate that one too, but this one is my favorite and I have to show support as a Sansei. Most importantly, restrooms are always clean lol ...

Cool street in the SOMA Pilipinas neighborhood! They added these cool lanterns and it looks so nice…read moreat night! Recently they had DJs playing music on Thursday nights. We dropped by, got free kombucha, and chilled/listened! Some people were dancing. There were some food and drink options for sale as well. The street itself has murals and there was a projector playing something. When you enter, this is someone sitting there to greet you and to see if you have any questions. Overall, I'm excited to see what other events and pop-ups they have in the future!