MOST San Francisco Places in SF

For me North Beach because it was the first place I came to in SF and it forever remains as quintessential SF. Especially by City Lights Books and Vesuvio.

Of course Lombard Street and the Wharf too.

The one place that I would not include that you do is AT&T park, just because it is relatively new and for me, hasn't quite been there long enough to feel like quintessential SF. (But I tend to be backward looking--I still can't call Candlestick where the 49ers play by its new names--I don't even know what its called these days. Monster Park? Threecom? Who can keep track?)

Oh yeah, and Alamo Square where the Painted Ladies are.

Oh, here is a shameful admission--after 20 years of being here, I am yet to go to Crissy Field. I just realized the other day that I've never actually been there. (Until about two months ago I thought Crissy Field was somewhere in Golden Gate Park.) Yikes!

I will have to find a way of getting out there.

Hahahhahah no worries, to each his own. That is impressive that you have never been to Crissy Field. It's definitely a nice spot to go.

I also like the North Beach addition - having only been there once myself, I can't say too much about it, but it does have a very SF feel. I think SOMA, for me, can be added as well, although it's pretty block-by-block.

I am starting to worry about you Owl. No Crissy Field? No Mystery Spot? Someone needs to get out more.

Definitely North Beach and Crissy Field.

I kinda get what you are saying about AT&T park but I've gotten used to it. SoMA and the Mission.

But the most SF Place for me might be the Castro because its what so many places think is wrong with us here in the Bay Area and because its exactly what's right about us! When I see that big rainbow flag, I swell with pride the way a veteran does when they see the American flag!

Okay, maybe I'm a little over the top--but still--other than say New York or maybe Miami, I can't think of too many places where the Castro could exist in its current form.

Hmm...I think I have to agree with you on the Castro. I was on the Castro/Noe Valley border yesterday and actually thought of this thread. You are absolutely right, Castro is about as San Francisco as eating sourdough bread laced with Ghiradelli chocolate on the bay. New York certainly has its own version of the Castro (Chelsea/West Village), and there are other cities that could get away with a similar neighborhood (Sydney, maybe Miami - don't know enough about it, maybe Montreal, Portland, Amsterdam, Paris perhaps, and then of course there is Provincetown in Cape Cod and Fire Island off of Long Island...) but nothing is quite so quintessentially SF as the Castro district itself.

I've actually been playing a fun game lately, called "What NYC [or insert city of choice here] neighborhood does this SF neighborhood remind me of?" May warrant another post.

Thanks for your additions, I agree with all of them but AT&T Park, especially being on the bay, does hold that SF-ness. It could be that I am a relatively newbie to the area and it was one of my first tastes of the city after moving to California.

You know what, that's what really matters--the spots that have meaning for you. 90% of this city wasn't even here a hundred years ago. It's always changing, renewing itself. I guess most major cities are.

When I was lived in New York as a kid, I thought the most New York places were the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the Twin Towers--but the towers hadn't even been there more than ten years at that point. So places become a part of our mental geography quickly, I guess is what I'm saying.

@Nightowl, check out my new forum topic on YOUR most SF place - inspired, primarily, by this post.

Maybe I misunderstand this conversation .. but (as a tourist) when i think of SF I think of

- Golden Gate Bridge
- Alcatraz
- Pier 39

but those were not mentioned? Maybe they are too touristy and not SFy....