City Streets

CITY STREETS

Clement Street

CLOSER TO MARIN than San Francisco’s other commercial neighborhoods, the Richmond District contains practically a city’s worth of restaurants, shops, parks, nightlife and charming oddities — looking at you, 6th Avenue Aquarium (and flower shop) — all within 2.7 square miles of mostly flat residential streets. But it wasn’t always that way. Not unlike the Sunset District, the “Avenues” on the other side of Golden Gate Park, the Richmond was mostly shrubbery and sand dunes until the late 1800s. Early developments housed a predominantly Irish-American community until waves of refugees from the city center moved west after the earthquake and fire of 1906. At first these newcomers lived in small, city-built wood-frame refugee shacks in public parkland. But like earthquake survivors in other areas, many decided to start fresh and settle where they were. Within a few months the Richmond’s open parcels of land were subdivided and houses went up all over the district, where streets were named after early notables like Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, first S.F. mayor John W. Geary, and attorney/ supervisor Roswell Clement. Clement (pronounced Clement) Street today is often dubbed the city’s other Chinatown, and in fact you’ll find Chinese tea shops and dim sum restaurants next to Irish hole-in-the-wall bars and old-school Italian pizza joints. Here’s just some of what Clement Street has to offer. KASIA PAWLOWSKA

WHERE TO EAT Aside from the restaurants mentioned, local popular eateries include B Star, Cafe Bunn Mi, Chapeau!, Eats, Giorgio’s Pizzeria, Good Luck Dim Sum, Grain d’Or, King’s Thai Cuisine, Kitchen Istanbul, Koja Kitchen, Le Soleil, and Shabu House.

WHERE TO PARK Parking in the Inner Richmond is notoriously difficult. There is a lone lot at 330 9th Avenue between Clement and Geary; other options are side-street and meter parking.

1 2 WAKO Traditional yet inventive, this diminutive eatery has seating for 22 people and features no à 3 la carte menu, just omakase — the chef’s selection. sushiwakosf.com 4 5 6 7 8 9

SEEDSTORE Heritage brand favorites like Pendleton blankets and Filson jackets share space with newer independent labels for men and women at this fashionable outpost. seedstoresf.com

PARK LIFE

Started in 2006 by Jamie Alexander and Derek Song, this store carries a range of design-centric goods, including books, prints, home wares, T-shirts and jewelry. parklifestore.com

BLUE DANUBE COFFEE HOUSE

This neighborhood java joint’s current incarnation opened in 2013 but the original dates back at least 30 years prior. It’s known for Mexican hot chocolate, journals customers can write in, mimosas and small bites. Bring cash. 415.221.9041

BURMA SUPERSTAR Don’t let the line scare you — it moves fast and is well worth the wait. Try authentic Burmese food including the famed tea leaf salad and samusa soup. burmasuperstar.com NECK OF THE WOODS With a large dance HIGH TREASON Started by floor upstairs, a daily sommelier John Vuong happy hour downstairs, — formerly of Ame and live music and plenty Gary Danko — and mas- of large-screen TVs, ter sommelier Michael this late-night club Ireland, the wine bar’s got has something for a casual vibe belying its pedi- everyone in the group. gree roots. hightreasonsf.com neckofthewoodssf.com

GREEN APPLE BOOKS

The San Francisco institution recently celebrated 50 years in business. More than 60,000 new and 100,000 used books plus a music and fiction annex make it easy to spend hours here. greenapplebooks.com SCHUBERT’S BAKERY Established in

1911, this family-operated bakery features classic desserts like Neapolitan and Opera Cake alongside more modern takes like the popular Swedish Princess cake. schuberts-bakery.com