Jubb Jubb
Well-known
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.
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
Wil O.
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.
Hang out in North Beach---Columbus Street: Washington Square Park all the way to City Lights Bookstore. Good area night or day.
djcphoto
An Englishman Abroad
Do not wear short shorts. Don't ask me how I know...
wilonstott
Wil O.
oh shut up
djcphoto
An Englishman Abroad
oh lighten up
Cron
Well-known
wow!
Great and useful answers!
Thanks all, that's a reason to love this forum!
Best regards from Vienna
Great and useful answers!
Thanks all, that's a reason to love this forum!
Best regards from Vienna
Bingley
Veteran
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.
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
carpe diem
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.
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
Well-known
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
Established
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
carpe diem
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
Established
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
Established
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
Late adopter.
+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.
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 risk of a tourist even finding these neighborhoods is low. They are really out of the way.
E__WOK
Well-known
It sounds like a good photo opportunity.
Never been to Sears but I like Dotties.
Cron
Well-known
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?
It seems I should do some running training as my hotel is located in Mason Str. near Market. Or better muscles?
Rogier
Rogier Willems
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
Well-known
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
Well-known
Apparently, them's fightin' words amongst the coffee folks in SF, literally!
http://youtu.be/oMqutKBS5iE
stompyq
Well-known
Go to tout sweet in macys. They have the most heavenly million crepe cake that I've tried