The Mission Christmas Edition: There is still time to find a gift before Christmas . There a few…read moreexcuses you can use this year in 2025 for not getting that gift in SF. You can blame the power outage but that happened over the weekend in SF before Christmas. There are a few days left to grab a gift. One place has some good fun gifts which will be a bit more unique from that Target store gift card you may be planning to give. It's located in the Mission District and it's called Serendipity( not the Christmas movie) . On a Winter Holiday stroll on Valencia street between the Chic n' Time and the Valencia Pizza & Pasta there is a cards and gift shop. Serendipity has cards for the holidays and also the traditional stocking stuffers and Secret Santa gifts. You will find candles, socks, jewelry,and other surprises. This is the spot if you want to gift something to a person who most likely doesn't have the item you're giving them. Come to Serendipity before you turn into Ebenezer Scrooge. Come to Serendipity where they have gifts for any occasion and "setting "from Birthdays Christmas , and, the "Wedding" because Winter is season for Holiday cheer should be "spreading" and the last thing you want is having a Christmas gift that you are "forgetting" Go to Serendipity by bike , car , bus, feet, BART, or Waymo , Uber, or "Lyft " because the Holidays is the time to "uplift" the spirit of a person with a Holiday "gift" and get that Christmas card with Mariah Carey or Taylor "Swift"

I saw this place while walking by and decided to take a Quick Look. They have an incredibly large…read moreselection of cards for all kinds of occasions. Think about stopping here before your next birthday party. So many cute things here.

The perfect store to visit for books, magazines, trinkets, and stationary! I visited on a weekend…read moreafternoon, and it wasn't too busy. I spent about an hour here roaming through all the items the newsstand had. There were so many fun items, ranging from gorgeous food and architecture magazines all the way to mini notebooks and colorful stickers. I will definitely be visiting again to buy a birthday gift or treat myself to some stationary!

Heath Newsstand is a delightful treasure trove tucked away in the vibrant Mission District. Nestled…read moreconveniently next to Tartine Bakery and its partner store Heath Ceramics, this spot is such a cute place to check out next time you're in the area. What makes Heath Newsstand stand out is its eclectic collection of magazines, books, and gifts. The variety is astounding but you can tell the selection has been carefully curated, a testament to the company's taste and items are priced pretty reasonably too. The aesthetic of the store is pure eye candy. The thoughtful arrangement of books and magazines, along with quirky and unique gifts, creates a great atmosphere. I have definitely left with things I didn't know I needed. One thing to note is that it's one of the only stores to carry Golf Le Fleur and an array of other cool finds. tldr; such cool items, I love coming here on the weekends

They say art is timeless but there is only one week left until May 3 to see the KAWS art exhibit in…read moreSF. Some art I enjoy has a message or a cause. Some art remain static which are displayed only on building walls and some are art statues which are frozen like a mannequin. Then they are performative artist promoting and selling you a vibe or brand on my social media feed. There is a place where you can get art to wear art on a T-shirt or hat and you can show off the art in public with a tote bag. You can also learn about art with a book and also get art replicas you can put on your coffee table. This place is located inside SOMA of San Francisco and it's called the SF MOMA Museum Store. On an art crawl also known as a Spring stroll in SOMA past the Yerba Buena Gardens I landed on 3rd street in SF. Before walking in and walking out the KAWS exhibit at SF MOMA there is a museum store that has something for almost anybody. You will find it before entering and exiting the SF MOMA. Once inside you will feel it's part gift shop and part bookstore. You will see hella games and puzzles along with toys. There are some interesting books available for sale. You can show off some art by getting some art you can wear with a hat. Give the gift art by getting a gift with art from SF MOMA Museum store. Art displays are visual and still alive and I do "see them"displayed at the store SF MOMA "Museum" art is still alive around the world you can even see art for the dead at the "mausoleum" in the city you will see Emperors wearing no clothes stationed in the Legion of Honor but not at the "Oakland Coliseum" Some art they try to ban and "prohibit" and art is a lifestyle and some people do "live it"and now you can buy art piece and share it as a gift you can "give it" and where you can go to shop is located at the SF MOMA Museum before and after the KAWS art "exhibit"

Service was great, the person at the ticket counter let us know about the discount we would get if…read morewe brought our ticket stubs back the next time we were there, I forgot her name, but she was pleasant. The Teen and I were there to see the KAWS Exhibit and it didn't disappoint, very creative from every perspective. Since we visited other floors before on our previous visits, the special exhibits are always worth the fee. The selection of art has something from various artists & mediums, that my opinion is always appealing to the eye and leaves me inspired to go home and paint. As an art lover, and an artist myself, it's always a value and I always experience something new even though I've been there plenty of times. Of course I'll be back: Matisse's Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal.

I've had a mixed experience here however, after a really uncomfortable experience with management I…read morethought I'd share my experience as a cautionary tale to other artists who might want to get involved with this studio. The water colors are special they have really good opacity and sit well on top of the paper. They might not have as nice of translucency as other brands. However they are really expensive and there are other products that are available for cheaper and comparable quality on the market. However, the staff can be aloof and rude within the store. The teachers are generally sweet and supportive and classes are affordable. After multiple positive class experiences, I had inquired about teaching as I have been doing art for a while and really wanted to give back to my community and share what I know I'm good at. The application to get involved process was odd, they were slow to respond, but also rude and unprofessional. It upfront on their goals and processes. I was not notified that there was a already an established class nearly identical to my proposal prior to filling out a lengthy application. I was also told they didn't want to move forward because I lacked an established creative arts background (while not inquiring directly about a CV), which was later amended to they were unable to move forward due to scheduling and volume of inquiries (while only offering 3 in person classes that month instead of the standard dozen). I have no issue with being rejected, it's all about fit anyways, but was saddened to have my creative experience being belittled and the lack of professionalism. It was just a very odd and condescending experience that I would not want any artist that puts their heart and soul into a proposal to have to experience.

Case for Making (CfM) is a woman-owned watercolor specialty shop. You can find its handmade…read morewatercolors at places like the SFMOMA Museum Store and select arts and crafts stores, but this location is CfM's brick-and-mortar shop. This small business makes its own watercolors and letterpress paper goods. CfM watercolors are made from high-quality pigments and natural binding mediums (gum arabic, glycerin, honey, distilled water, and clove oil). Some CfM watercolors are more expensive than others because colors like Malachite and Lapis Lazuli are made from actual crushed minerals. Please note that their watercolors are priced similarly to other premium watercolor brands like Stoneground Paint Company and Beam Paints. [Best seller]: The CfM Small Palette (fits up to 14 half pans and has room in the center for a small travel brush) and the CfM Simple Travel Palette (small enough to fit in a purse or pocket) are some the top favorites. [Workshops]: CfM offers online workshops via Zoom as well as in-person classes at its new studio next door - the CfM Art Room. [Parking]: Street parking only, but not impossible to find an available spot in this part of the neighborhood. In addition, the shop is located near the Judah St & 46th Ave streetcar stop. [In-store]: Customers can choose a tin and build their own watercolor set. The store also sells sketchbooks, art supplies, stationery, Toyo toolboxes, stickers, etc. [Conclusion]: An amazing shop and definitely worth checking this shop out for watercolor enthusiasts, but this is an alright shop for those looking for unique stationery options.

First went to this place for the opening event and had a great time...rumor has it that maybe more…read morelive acts will happen in the future, and that sounds really fun! I didn't have my card with me that night, so I came a few days later after work. The craft market was bustling pretty hard that day, but the shop girl, Courtney (ps anyone who has the same name as me is a+!!) made sure to give me some good recommendations. I walked away with a really cool food focused zine (Remedy) a San Francisco zine (Wonder & Wander) and a hilarious red hot chili peppers fan fiction zine. Courtney recommend a few others, but I grabbed all my lil bag could carry. Despite the small little store front, I felt like there was a pretty good mix of things to look through. A lot of feminist lit, lots of political stuff, travel, food, and just general aesthetically pleasing things. I told her id be really interested in reading more queer zines, (they definitely have some!) and she assured me that she cosigns in small quantities to keep the shelves fresh and to date. I really enjoyed the market itself, but this newsstand is definitely a gem and brings a lot of community to a place where some locals would consider a tourist trap. I look forward to seeing The Grand Newsstand soon!!

This is perfectly awesome small 'zine, poetry and art kiosk right off of market street by that…read morepublic market thingy they do. This is a walk up kiosk by justin herman plaza/fountain and thus you will not be driving here. This is however, one of the most walkable parts of one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in the world so you have about a half dozen non driving ways to get here from around the city. This is the business inspiration of one local artist (it's the woman running behind the counter) and it sells art. It's in an re-purposed ticket booth and as such it's super tiny. There is no interior space so you'll be browsing via the sidewalk. Small whimsical locally produced self published pamphlets (hereafter referred to as 'zines), buttons, patches, cards and suchlike. The written items focus on various themes-love, city life, humor etc. are the stock in trade, made both by the owner and by other local artists. Pricing can be as low as a couple of bucks for a tiny booklet to 20 ish for a full size book. This is a perfect place to get some unique, local art/spoken word items and to find a little inspiration.

I needed ink for my fountain pen. Not only did they have a large selection of ink colors, they also…read morecleaned the nub and got the pen working to its' original form. Plus the ink cost was in line with what is available online. Very helpful, many thanks again. M

What can I say. Every single time I come to this store to get supplies for my child who is an art…read morestudent we are never acknowledged when we walk in. Now this doesn't bother me until about 3rd /4th time. At about the 8th time visiting this store when we are leaving I hear the alt boy behind the counter pipe up and say "hello" to whoever walks in. It baffles me. I'm not wanting to be "instantly greeted" I don't want a red carpet, or some fake ass enthusiasm , but an even/ "do you need help" or "are you finding everything you're looking for" would be chill and friendly.

Where do I start? This is one of my favorite bookstores (and not just because it is the one closest…read moreto where I live.) Amazing staff, amazing selection of books, gifts, trinkets, stationery (I love writing cards and come here for birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, and Christmas cards--also just-because cards!), and also board games. It feels like home. It's cozy, warm, intimate, and what a small indie bookstore should be. They update their selection pretty often and are just wonderful people.

I call them and order ALL my books here if they don't have it in stock. I'm happy to support them…read moreas they run a great bookstore. It's amazing to also see the old and special edition books for sale.

This place has an really interesting and curated selection of books, zines, and a few other cool…read moreunexpected things like records and typewriters. They have some neat art and music events from time to time in a good size space in the back. It's a great place and fun thing to have in the neighborhood.

Medicine for Nightmares is all you want in a bookstore. The proprietors are quite knowledgeable,…read moreand dedicated to building an artful community. The books are mostly a high brow selection with a lefty intellectual bent. Browsing is a pleasure. Buying some book-friends and cozying up with them will get you through the night.