Half the field has already been eliminated in the Curbed Cup, our annual award for the San Francisco neighborhood of the year. Today we will have two matchups—with the polls left open for 24 hours—and by Wednesday only four contenders will be left vying for the prestigious award. Let the eliminations continue!
Tenderloin photo (left) via SF Fun Cheap; Marina photo (right) via SF Recreation & Park
We start the day by pitting the Tenderloin against the Marina.
The Tenderloin is traditionally one of the grittier neighborhoods in the city, but it's also one of the most happening areas in town. Last week, it narrowly beat out Pacific Heights for our award. Perhaps the fact that the TL has plenty of new restaurants, bars, and bakeries, and its popularity as a entertainment destination is ever-growing gave it the winning votes. This fall, we asked resident Erin Montoya to lead us on a People's Tour of the neighborhood, and she said the best kept secret about the district is the "incredible art galleries, new and old." Judging by the buzz around the Tenderloin, it's edgy charm is not much of a secret anymore.
Then we have the Marina, one of the city's most picturesque neighborhoods, thanks to its proximity to the San Francisco Bay. In a fast-changing city, this well-established district has retained its character for many years. But at least one big change is on the horizon: The Palace of Fine Arts' future is in question, and what it should become has been a fiercely contested debate this year.
· Tenderloin Resident Erin Feher Montoya Has the DL on the TL [Curbed SF]
· Palace of Fine Arts Moves Toward New Tenant as Furor Grows [Curbed SF]