I will visit San Francisco in May ...

[Jubb Jubb]

I spent 6 days in San Fran last year. Was probably 3 days more than I needed.
The amount of homeless and crackheads completely shocked me. I didn't think it would be that bad.

The very last thing I saw when leaving the city was a woman throwing her boiling hot coffee over a mans face near Powell station. Definitely keep your wits about you.

The hills and all were nice, as others have said take a good pair of shoes. The 24 hour bus tour around town was good, I'd recommend it if you wanted to learn a little about the place and see the sites.

And as you're coming from Italy, it's hard to get a good coffee, you'll have to resort to a Starbucks or something.

 

[wilonstott]

Stay out of the Tenderloin. Sketchy.

Hang out in North Beach---Columbus Street: Washington Square Park all the way to City Lights Bookstore. Good area night or day.

 

[djcphoto]

Do not wear short shorts. Don't ask me how I know...

 

[wilonstott]

Do not wear short shorts. Don't ask me how I know...

oh shut up

 

[djcphoto]

oh shut up

oh lighten up

 

[Cron]

wow!
Great and useful answers!
Thanks all, that's a reason to love this forum!
Best regards from Vienna

 

[Bingley]

Hi Chron,

Let us know when you will be in the City and if you'd like to meet up w/ any of the Bay Area RFF group. We're a harmless bunch... except, that is, for MikeL. 🙂

 

[Honus]

Cron,

You'll have a great time I'm sure. Plenty to see and do. The weather in May is usually good because the summer fog has yet to arrive. Like others mentioned, give a shout out to the Bay Area RFF group before you arrive. They're always looking for a good excuse to get out of the house and have a drink. A great group of guys, except for that Mike fella. Not to worry though, because he's not up for parole until June.

Not sure what Jubb Jubb is talking about regarding coffee, though. Lots of great coffee shops as long as you avoid Starbucks.

 

[Jubb Jubb]

Not sure what Jubb Jubb is talking about regarding coffee, though. Lots of great coffee shops as long as you avoid Starbucks.

Hah, Im sure a local would know where to go. I couldn't find a decent coffee in 6 days (and i went to starbucks twice).

 

[28mm]

The Tenderloin (roughly Mason to Van Ness and Market to Geary) near your hotel is grungy, overrun by drug dealers and prostitutes, but does not have high rates of violent crime unlike the Western Addition, Bayview-Hunter's Point or the Mission District.

This begs to be repeated. The Tenderloin looks unfriendly, but it's not really a violent place. It's safe to visit and walk through contrary to what many will say. If anything, I'm more worried about the drunk fratboys that just came out of a bar than the poor tweekers wandering about.

And the Mission is generally okay. There is some gang violence, but it is generally off the main drag.

The main thing with these neighborhoods, and any other city, is that you stay aware of your surroundings. You should be doing that if you're a photographer, anyway.

The worst parts of the city, Sunnydale, Bayview, Hunter's Point, you probably will not see as a tourist.

Post in this thread again in May, I'm sure many of us would love to show you around. Also, it is almost never t-shirt and shorts weather in San Francisco. Always bring a light jacket with you.

 

[Honus]

Hah, Im sure a local would know where to go. I couldn't find a decent coffee in 6 days (and i went to starbucks twice).

No worries. If you ever make it out here again let me know and I will buy you a good coffee (and a good beer, but not necessarily in that order) 😀

 

[28mm]

Hah, Im sure a local would know where to go. I couldn't find a decent coffee in 6 days (and i went to starbucks twice).

Decent coffee is harder to find around Union Square, however the SFMoMA and Ferry Building serve Blue Bottle. Haight Street Market also serves it (close to Haight & Ashbury). However as a tourist, these might not be highly advertised to you.

 

[28mm]

That sucks. I was used to getting that treatment growing up in Chicago, but I've never had a problem with the cops in San Francisco. I still don't like cops, but they've never harassed me in the 17 years I've lived here.

Agreed, considering how much crap SF cops have to tolerate, I feel they're doing a good job of being pretty tolerant. They can always do better, but for a big city, we have one of the nicer police forces in the country.

 

[PMCC]

This begs to be repeated. The Tenderloin looks unfriendly, but it's not really a violent place. It's safe to visit and walk through contrary to what many will say.

+1. Some of the best Vietnamese and Thai food in town is to be had in the Little Saigon section of the Tenderloin. The neighborhood is home to a major part of SF's SE Asian immigrant population, and the positive influence of the influx of multi-generational families is evident. The "Tandoori-loin" area hosts a number of good, cheap and cheerful indian/Pakistani eateries.

And the Mission is generally okay. There is some gang violence, but it is generally off the main drag.

The Mission is the one of the most diverse and culturally vibrant parts of town. The Valencia Street corridor is the epicenter of home-grown SF foodie culture, and an incubator for breakout young chefs from various culinary traditions. In addition to being the hottest part of town to score an amazing meal, it's also home to numerous primo coffee bars. You usually have to be out late and poking into some pretty sketchy places away from retail areas to stumble into any gang activity.

The worst parts of the city, Sunnydale, Bayview, Hunter's Point, you probably will not see as a tourist.

The risk of a tourist even finding these neighborhoods is low. They are really out of the way.

 

[E__WOK]

The Tenderloin (roughly Mason to Van Ness and Market to Geary) near your hotel is grungy, overrun by drug dealers and prostitutes, but does not have high rates of violent crime unlike the Western Addition, Bayview-Hunter's Point or the Mission District.

It sounds like a good photo opportunity.

For breakfast, Sears' Fine Foods and Dottie's True Blue Cafe are nearby and OK. I would recommend taking the F line tramway to the Ferry Building, which has a great gourmet food court. Universal Cafe and Mission Beach Cafe have outstanding brunch, but are quite far.

Never been to Sears but I like Dotties.

 

[Cron]

thanks again! Also for your kind invitations!
It seems I should do some running training as my hotel is located in Mason Str. near Market. Or better muscles? 😉

 

[Rogier]

Before I forget. Have a taxi (or rent a car) drive you up on Twin peeks to enjoy an awesome view over the city and the bay!

 

[agi]

And as you're coming from Italy, it's hard to get a good coffee, you'll have to resort to a Starbucks or something.

Wow you obviously didn't know or ask where to go as SF has some of the best coffee shops around. 🙂

Caffe Trieste (North Beach) - classic institution where Francis Ford Coppola wrote the script to Godfather. They make one of the best cappuccino in the City.
Philz - hand crafted coffee
Blue Bottle - Ferry Building, Hayes Valley
Coffee Bar - Fidi
Ritual - Mission
Four Barrel - Mission
Trouble Coffee - Outer Sunset - you gotta try their cinnamon toast - while you're there have brunch or lunch at Outerlands.

So many others as well.

My advice to the OP is to go off the beaten path. San Francisco is made up of neighborhoods and you can literally walk from one end to the other. It's safe but be street smart. SF has a ton of characters that can amuse or scare the hell out of you (lol). Check out the local zines for events that would be ideal for photographing.

BTW if you are here in May, we have Bay To Breakers, Carnaval and the How Weird Street Festival. You are in for a acid trip treat if you go to any of these events 🙂.

My favorites parts that aren't on the tourist lists are Hayes Valley, Bernal Heights, Richmond District (some of the best Asian restaurants), Polk Gulch and the Sunset District.

Get off the beaten path, put on some walking shoes and this town will fascinate you.

 

[drew.saunders]

And as you're coming from Italy, it's hard to get a good coffee, you'll have to resort to a Starbucks or something.

Apparently, them's fightin' words amongst the coffee folks in SF, literally!

http://youtu.be/oMqutKBS5iE

 

[stompyq]

Go to tout sweet in macys. They have the most heavenly million crepe cake that I've tried