Mission Dolores

Mission Dolores is the area sandwiched between the Mission District and the Castro where the old Mission that founded San Francisco is. That basically makes it the oldest spot in SF. The old mission is actually the little tiny one. The bigger one was built afterwards.
If you are a movie fan you will no doubt recognize the whole area from one of the Hitchcock movies—Vertigo maybe?
The other attractions to the area are Dolores Park which gets a lot of residents from the surrounding area for events held in the park like their movie nights. People also treat it like a beach on warm days. Though it really isn’t that conducive to either these days in my opinion, given the cold summer that we have been having.
There are a number of bars and other attractions in the area, including the Tartine Bakery which is a lovely little French bakery and the ice cream from the Bi-Rite Café—you will have to wait in line for it, but like Lombard, it is becoming a destination for locals.
The restaurant scene is pretty strong in the area as well, with Delfina leading the way. This 5 –Star Italian restaurant is considered by many people to be the best restaurant in all of SF. I don’t know if I would go that far, but you will definitely have to wait for a table (even with a reservation) as if it were.
Overall this is a pretty cool spot to live, but watch out, rents are high and so is the crime. If you look at a crime map you find that much the Mission’s relatively notorious crime environment has its epicenter around here. So be careful if you are in the area.
I’m not sure this is the best place to live but it definitely has some destinations for those that like to have a good time.

The first time I went to this pocket of the city, I thought I had taken a wrong turn. Valencia is a bit trafficky and back then I was a midtwenties single girl with a printed google map, no cell phone, and no GPS. And it really is a small pocket of the city, a beautiful slice between Haight to the north and Noe Valley to the south. I love the influence of Latino cultures in the neighborhood, in the cafes, and in the music wafting from cars and bodegas when you stroll the industrial blocks of Valencia midday.

My maiden voyage was to Hairplay Salon, on the corner of Dolores and 29th. There's a grassy median in the middle of Dolores, which makes this residential part of the neighborhood an enticing option if we ever move to the city. Don't even get me started on Dolores Park, with soccer, dogs, and soccer dogs on the flatter part and hillside city views on the slope. Our dog, Gershwin is one such soccer dog. He actually dribbles and shoots with his nose and front paws.

In return trips to Hairplay, I made it a habit to visit the church. No, not Mission Dolores, which is a very cool old adobe built so long ago that it has the honor of being the oldest standing building in the city. Rather, the church I was talking about is Mitchell's Ice Cream on the corner of 29th and San Jose. I should get just one scoop, but usually get two, depending on whether I am feeling fruity or chocolatey.

Did you know that vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor, in a study conducted recently? This surprised me because vanilla is often a go-to term for things boring and bland. But there is nothing bland about Mitchell's Vanilla Custard ice cream. All of those egg yolks make for custardy deliciousness that never crosses the line into the realm of "too eggy." I pair this scoop with the Lemon Chiffon. Heaven.

Almost as heavenly is a double scoop blend of Mexican chocolate (chocolate and cinnamon, need I say more?) and Butterscotch Marble. I dare you to try to finish every bite of these two scoops. You will stop between bites to say, "Oh, this is so rich. I can't eat it all." But, don't worry, you will. You must.

A couple other things about this neighborhood. Theatre and literature. We started going to shows at the Marsh on Valencia Street when it was about 12 years old. It opened in 89 and its name refers to marshlands themselves. Apparently, a marsh is do moist and warm that it is fertile ground for lots of species to thrive. Makes me think mostly of large nests of mosquitoes. Anyway, such "fecundity" in the SF performing arts is what the Marsh theater hopes to foster.

Loving the Carpenters (my friend Tony who lives in the Castro sang "For All We Know" at my wedding), we made it a habit to see the Carpenters' Christmas, with two unbelievably believable impersonators performing what a live special with Karen and her nameless brother (okay, it's Richard) must have been like. We went every year. Until it stopped. Then we went through withdrawals. But there's a show there now, Dan Hoyle's The Real Americans, that I hope to get to before summer's over and I have to go back to teaching. I guess the Marsh really is a fecund place because they also offer theater workshops for kids ages 2-18.

Finally, the literature. After reading Dave Egger's big-break hit A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genuis", I subscribed to McSweeney's literary anthology and wracked up about seven of their tomes on my shelf before I just went for the online archives. The writing is current, funny, assumes an intelligent readership, and (I hate this word) irreverent. Eggers started 826 Valencia, a place for kids to write, read, be creative, take classes. They offer a lot of what they do in Spanish too. I've been by 826 Valencia several times, and am amazed that such a long-sighted soulfully profitable venture not only persists, but thrives.

Mission Dolores is a very popular neighborhood. While you may be able to find relatively inexpensive places to rent here, it tends to be very pricey. The location is top notch. You are right next to the Castro and this means all kinds of options for eating and shopping.

Also this neighborhood has lively Mission Dolores Park. This is a very fun place where you see a lot of people playing sports and also doing all kinds of wacky things on a nice day. The park hosts various parades, dances and festivals. It also has a bunch of soccer fields and tennis courts.

There actually is a building called "Mission Dolores," which is apparently the oldest building in all of San Francisco. It is from 1776! The church really is beautiful inside. You get a very vivid sense of history.

Also you will find some great restaurants in Mission Dolores. A new vegan Mexican restaurant that is taking the world by storm is Gracias Madre. Organic vegan Mexican food is something that truly must be experienced. The tamales, for example, are full of butternut squash and green chiles.

The Mission District has become the centerpiece of San Francisco's eclectic alternative culture and hip lifestyles, and Mission Dolores is right in the middle of the mix.

Mission Dolores offers a wide array of real estate options, including condominiums, lofts, and distinctive single family homes.

There is wonderfully strange shopping in the neighborhood, like, Therapy (offering the greatest selection of unique jewelry, hats, clothing items, and more).

Bars and clubs in the Mission are by far the best in the city. This includes Double Dutch, Monkey Club, and the Beauty Bar.

Up and coming chefs who want to make a name for themselves often open up their niche restaurant in Mission Dolores. Some of the elegant options include Delfina, Limon, Luna Park, and Blowfish. And, don't forget Mitchell's ice cream for dessert!