The People's Guide is Curbed SF's tour o' the nabes, lead by our most loyal readers, favorite bloggers, and other luminaries of our choosing. Have a piece to say? We'll be happy to hand over the megaphone. This week, we welcome Sarah; Editor of the Richmond SF Blog.
[Looking northwest over the Richmond District from the de Young Museum tower via Sarah B.]
Neighborhood: Richmond District
Tell us something we don't know about the Richmond: Even though we were one of the last neighborhoods in the city to form (it was all sand dunes out here!), there is a lot of rich history to the area. One of the first bi-planes flew over the sand dunes here in 1915, the neighborhood was a "sin city" of sorts with beer halls, road houses and a racetrack (Bay District Racing Track from 1873 until 1896), and we even had a military camp for a short while during the Spanish-American War.
Local customs of note: Grinning and bearing the fog, seeking out hot coffee and other beverages to beat said fog, groaning about Outside Lands, losing yourself in the rows of books at Green Apple, getting homemade ice cream at Joe's Ice Cream on Geary, and wishing that it didn't take hours to get downtown on MUNI from our end of the world. ;)
Hidden gems in the Richmond: It's hard to hide things in this day and age, but I'd say Lands End is definitely one of our local favorites. To walk out there and enjoy the views at sunset is awesome. Another favorite is the view from the de Young tower. And if you like to eat and enjoy the view, don't be afraid of the Bistro at the Cliff House - it's not only for tourists. We're fans of the Johnson Omelet at brunch - dungeness crab, avocado and sour cream.
Are your neighbors "Rotten Neighbor" worthy? If so, dish. If not? well, why not? Neighbors seem to love to dump their crap on corners and sidewalks - old furniture, belongings - anything goes. I saw an entire bedroom's contents in front of a building once. Not sure what that's about but it's a neighborhood wide "issue." We give them a "bad neighbor award" for that kind of thing. Otherwise people are generally friendly and go about their way without much fuss.
Inflate the bubble or burst it: What's not-so-swell about your "perfect" neighborhood? Alright, we admit the foggy weather can get to you at times. When you're driving home from sunny downtown and see the giant bank of fog awaiting you, it can dampen the spirits. But you just have to balance it with all the other great things we have - the Presidio on one side, Golden Gate Park, the beach - and you quickly forget about it.
The final word on the Richmond: It's not as quiet as you think, and there's no better place to live if you're looking for homey comforts and outdoor beauty. It's the best place to start a run in SF - hands down!
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