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“The Mission” as this area is called, is one which has seen a bit of a renaissance in recent years. This has always been a home to the Latin culture in San Francisco, starting from the first days of the historic Spanish mission which gives this neighborhood its name. It had become a bit seedy, but because of that, housing prices had become more reasonable here than in much of SF. The lower housing prices and the lively ethnic activity drew many young newcomers to the area and has given it new vitality. Mission Street is teeming with latin american stores which are now starting to see competition from asian run stores. You can find it all here.
Points of Interest:
The Mission, Mission just east of 3rd. Open: 12-4, Mon-Sat. Small exhibit space with nice gift shop.
Restaurants:
Spiazzino, 995 Valencia @ 21st St., 415-643-8814. Open: 12-4, Mon-Sat. Small exhibit space with nice gift shop. This is a great italian restaurant in an out-of-the-way location. We've only eaten there twice, once for lunch and once for dinner, but both times were excellent. Relatively inexpensive (dinner entrees $10-15). At dinner, we had the house chianti (Chianti di panzano 2001) which was also excellent. However, it didn't have many customers, better get advertising or die.
There is an ethiopian restaurant close to the stores described below that looks interesting.
Shopping:
Valencia st has lots of interesting stores along here. My favorite store in all of SF, is X21 All Vintage at 890 Valencia, across the street and north of Spiazzino. It is the craziest collection of home furnishings you will ever find anywhere, mostly from the 50's and 60's. Worth a trip to SF just to go there. There are other used furniture stores near by including Den, north and across the street from X21 and an antique store south of X21. Also, a couple of decent bookstores, Dog-Eared Books and Modern Times Books.
Parking:
Parking in Valencia area: There is a parking garage off 21st St., 1 block east of Valencia. Cost about $1/hr. Just on east side of garage is Bartlett street which has lots of (metered, but free after 6) parking (this street is one way going north).
(10/10/2004)
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