Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
232
and 24th streets, an easy trip fr om downtown. If you want to kno w where many of the
city's kids are growing up, come on over for bagels and coffee and just try not to trip over
a stroller. The children's stores take care of kids until they turn 10 or so, and then there's
a dearth of product for preteens (perhaps because families have by then fled for the sub-
urbs). You'll find cafes, restaurants, a juice bar, and stores galore.
The Mission
The best Mission shopping for non-food items is on Valencia Street. The
blocks from 16th to 22nd str eets contain a mix of hipster shops, stor efront churches, and
used-appliance and furniture dens. If you have an adventurous streak or want to see what's
up and coming, talk a walk here. BART is the fastest and easiest way to reach the Mission,
but please don't linger at the unsavory 16th and Mission streets station. The 24th and Mis-
sion streets station is only slightly better. Valencia Street is 1 block to the w est.
The Richmond/Sunset
Much of the shopping in these largely r esidential enclaves is
concentrated around 9th Avenue and Irving Street. The N-Judah streetcar travels right to
this corner, which is also close to the 9th Avenue entrance of Golden Gate Park. For kids,
check out the magic shop
Misdirections.
If you head to the S an Francisco Zoo, you
could follow your visit with a stop b y some West Portal shops, which ar e listed in this
chapter. The L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, or K-Ingleside streetcars all stop at the West Por-
tal station, and the M or K cars continue on to the S tonestown Galleria mall. O n the
Richmond side of the par k, Clement Street is the prime r etail area, starting at Arguello
Street and heading south. This area is like a less crowded Chinatown, with myriad other
ethnic restaurants (from French to Burmese) thrown into the mix.
2
SHOPPING A TO Z
9
ART & CRAFT SUPPLIES
Angray Fantastico
Lots of dried and silk flo wers, florist supplies, ribbons, baskets,
and decorations.
559 6th St.
&
415/982-0680.
www.fantasticosf.com.
Artsake
Fine-art supplies and classes for all ages in the heart of Noe Valley.
3961 24th
St.
&
415/695-0506.
www.artsakesf.com.
Cliff's Variety
This store is loaded with amusing, useful, necessar y, or just plain fun
items, among them art supplies. The store also carries a decent selection of to ys, games,
and puzzles.
479 Castro St.
&
415/431-5365.
www.cliffsvariety.com.
Discount Fabrics
The astonishing array of beaded, patterned, multi-color ed, or
plain white fabrics will have you dreaming up Halloween costumes for the kids and other
crafty projects.
201 11th St.
&
415/495-4201;
2315 Irving St.
&
415/564-7333;
525 4th St.
&
415/
495-4201.
Flax Art & Design
Everything for the ar tist is av ailable at F lax, albeit at dear
prices. You could lose y ourself her e just looking at all the pens, not to mention the
papers, bound blank topics, and ribbons. There's a special section just for kids.
1699
Market St.
&
415/552-2355.
www.flaxart.com.
Hobby Co. of San Francisco
Serious hobbyists find their way to the city's largest
purveyor of model planes, je welry-making supplies (including a r oom full of beads), ar t
supplies, and kits—all at r easonable prices.
5150 Geary Blvd. at 16th A ve.
&
415/386-2802.
www.hobbycosf.com.
