Half the field has already been eliminated in the Curbed Cup, our annual award to the San Francisco neighborhood of the year. This week we'll have one matchup per day—with the polls left open for 24 hours—and by Friday only four contenders will be left vying for the prestigious fake trophy. Let the eliminations continue!
[Photos: Halo Over Bernal Heights via Todd Lappin/Bring Your Own Big Wheel 2011 via Bhautik Joshi]
Bernal Heights advanced to the second round by securing 71.9% of the vote against the Outer Sunset. From the locals fighting over the historical relevance a vintage Coke mural to a Bernal Heights architect hosting a coloring contest for neighborhood kids, the folks on the hill seem to really enjoy being a part of a close community. (And hey, how about that view from the top of Bernal Hill?)
Potrero Hill won the 2010 Curbed Cup, so it's no surprise that it beat out South Beach in the first round. But will it be able to retain its crown by taking down Bernal Heights? Potrero Hill didn't see much development this year. Still, though, the people who live there love it and even call themselves "lifers," meaning they're never moving out of the neighborhood. Potrero Hill still has the same pros as last year: you can quickly find parking and you can buy a slick piece of contemporary residential real estate for under one million bucks. Let the voting begin!