youdamom

Elliot Avenue W is a long highway that runs along the water (Puget Sound), offering a plethora of stores, auto shops, restaurants and more. Taking Elliot Avenue sometimes warrants heavy traffic, depending on what time of day you are traveling, but the scenery is worth it. The Old Spaghetti Factory lies here, a great place for the entire family to eat.

I love this neighborhood and so would anyone with kids. The Queen Anne Playfield makes West Blaine a family friendly street, and the nearby boutique shopping district doesn't suck, either. There are lots of really cute, unique toy stores and not just for little kids. A card/game store entertains the minds of older kids, as well. A wonderful, pleasant and happy looking street, this residential area has much more to offer than plain ol' houses.

Broad Street is home to the Space Needle, as well as one of the best Sports Bars I've ever eaten at. I don't remember the name, but it is directly across the street from the Space Needle (FYI). If you get a chance to go there, the Kobe Beef Burger is totally worth the $12! Also right in that area (next to the Space Needle) is an entire park that has so much to offer for people with kids, a Children's Museum being one of the places to go.

1st Avenue intersects Pike Street and it's where all the tourists gather to shop at Pike Place Market. I wouldn't hang out after dark, though. When I visited, 3 people were shot here the night after I spend all day walking up and down this street. Overall, it's a great Seattle experience (minus the shootings), and right along the water, you couldn't ask for a better view.

Houses here aren't cheap! This residential street in the Sunset Hill District is nestled with Craftsman Bungalows that just reek charm! With original hardwood floors in most homes and gorgeous water views, Sunset Hill is one the more premier places to live in Seattle. You have to drive out a bit to reach any sort of retail life, but being up on this gorgeous hill is worth it!

Fairview is a hot spot for singles and couples after dark. In the daytime, it is a great place for families to stroll and get a glimpse of the Seattle boats that line the dock of Lake Union. There are a few great (though not inexpensive) restaurants on Fairview, one being the BluWater Bistro. Their outdoor deck is crowded when the sun comes out, and the Tiki-syle bar is a favorite place to hang and grab drinks.

This street is full of darling homes in the Maple Leaf District. It's a residential neighborhood, and very ideal for those who enjoy a quiet and modest lifestyle. The homes are understated, but unique. There aren't many of the traditional Craftsman style homes here that you are used to seeing in Seattle, but houses are charming nonetheless.

The most exciting thing about Golden Gardens Drive is the beach that sits at the end of it. On those rare hot days, Seattle folk cram their cars into the parking lot and hurry down to the freezing (but extremely refreshing!) Puget Sound. A few restaurants nearby delight visitors with fish 'n' chips and milkshakes. All in all, it's the perfect summer getaway.

Pike Street is where you'll find most of your tourists, and a bunch of locals, too. It is home to Pike Place Market, an excellent place to grab fresh fish and beautiful bouquets of flowers. Street performers line the sidewalks and vendors share their unique goods with passersby. It's a wonderful and busy street where you can get fresh produce, t-shirts, gifts, great coffee, and more. Pike Street is also where the very first Starbuck's store still operates - a fun place to stop for a photo.

One of the best things about Queen Anne Avenue N is the MarQueen Hotel. If visiting Seattle, this is the place to stay. Beware, though: no stairs! Surrounding the hotel are a billion places to eat, and the Space Needle is just a few blocks away. Queen Anne Ave is a bustling street with great cafes, including Seattle's "best" (as voted by Zagat), Caffe Ladro. It is centrally located, and convenient for tourists who want to get a taste of the different historic and well-known neighborhoods of this beautiful city.

Columbus Ave. is the heart of the North Beach District. It's a very long though quaint street, with lots of Italian eateries, coffee shops and famed comedy clubs. If you're looking to get the Italian, North Beach experience, just walk down this street and see what you find. Interestingly enough, it butts up next to China Town, so you'll also see the Chinese influence as well.

Mission may be the longest and oldest street in the city, but it's also one of the grossest. It is VERY dirty and although the city has tried to "hip" it up, it hasn't worked thus far. Yerba Buena Gardens is the best thing it's got going on, but even that area can be sketch. It's really just a dark and poor street, meaning lots of trash and lots of crime.

The best thing about Vallejo Street in the Russian Hill District is that it feel like its own little family. It's a wealthier area of the city, so residents tend to know their neighbors and the people in the area. There aren't a lot of shops, but Polk Street, which intersects Vallejo, has plenty. It's very quiet, not a lot of traffic and has access to great views.

There are some fun clubs on Broadway. When I was single, I was here almost every weekend. Yes, there are many strip clubs, but those were fun, too. I never had a bad experience at any place on Broadway, at all. It's a great place to party, but pretty boring during the day. There are also some great buildings on this street and it's actually a very pretty place to live.

Lombard is famous for being the most crooked street in the world...I think. But that's just a touristy thing and Lombard is much more than that. The street is a long passage way into the city from the Golden Gate Bridge and it is full of hotels, restaurants, bars and more. It's a great place to spend a day, just shopping and eating. And you can pop quickly over to the Marina to take in even more.

You don't live on JFK Drive. You can't. It runs through Golden Gate Park and is home to recreational activities, drivers looking for a shortcut through the park and lots of beautiful scenery. It also houses the Conservatory of Flowers and De Young Museum. On Sundays JFK Drive is closed to auto traffic, and it's the perfect place to ride bikes, skateboard or do whatever it is you love to do...right in the middle of the street. There are also free swing dance lessons that take place and an area dedicated to rollerbladers.

What else can be said about Haight Street? It's the infamous hippy hangout, and funny enough, you'll still see kids in tattered scarves and military jackets begging for quarters outside the novelty shops that line this street. There are some decent aspects of Haight Street, though, such as a wonderful fabric/craft shop, lots of shoe stores and pretty good restaurants. Parking is a nightmare, though. Be prepared to walk.

Valencia is the classic example of a not-so-nice area suddenly turning hip. Bookstores, posh bars and retro furniture shops line Valencia and forget about trying to grab brunch on Sunday without waiting 2 hours. There are people lined up down the street, pushing their way into the overrated restaurants, hoping to get an outside table so everyone can see them sitting outside on Valencia! It's a bit ridiculous, but a cool place for singles.

Guerrero has a lot going on. Lots of bars, taquerias, tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurants and clubs. It's a great place for single people to hang out, no so much for families. Guerrero is a very convenient street, as well, for it eventually turns into San Jose Ave, which takes you right to the freeway going south.

There is no doubt that Dolores is gorgeous. Its hilly streets are well-maintained and Mission Dolores church is beautiful. Dolores park is a place where many people gather to play tennis, sunbathe or watch live music in the summer. There is a play area for kids, though both times I brought my kids to Dolores park, I was harassed in some way. The first time a stoner came up to me and asked me if I wanted to smoke. The second time a guy that looked like he just got out of the loony bin stared me down and started yelling some freakishly weird stuff. So, yeah, it's a pretty place, but also a gathering spot for a whole bunch of crazies.

From King Street, you will reach AT&T Park. You will also be right up against the Bay, so there are great views to be had for those who live or work on this thoroughfare. Caltrain is also here, so transportation to the South Bay is not a problem. There are some exceptional corporate buildings here and newer lofts for residential living. The whole area is rather industrial, but very beautiful.

La Plays means "The Beach" in Spanish, so it's no surprise that this street is inhabited by surfers. Any day of the week that's what you'll find here. It runs parallel to The Great Highway, which is the street that runs along the beach, so while it's a bit more removed from the beach, all you have to do is hike up a small dune, cross the street and you're in the sand. Not much to do here; in fact, there's only one tiny coffee shop for miles. But, for beach lovers, it's the ideal place to live.

For people looking for some exercise, Lake Merced Blvd. offers a huge lake with surrounding trail. All the way around, it measures around 5 miles, so it makes for an excellent bike, run or walking path. It is one of the only places in the city where you can experience a non-congested exercise trail. Within the park grounds, there is also a golf course and restaurant called the Boat House.

The fact that you cannot make a left turn on 19th Avenue, no matter which way you are headed, is a huge annoyance. But 19th Avenue is basically only used to quickly get from Golden Gate Park to the South end of the city. In fact, you can follow it all the way to the freeway which will take you to Daly City and beyond. Still, it would be nice to be able to make left hand turns, if not on every street, on a few. Not a good place to live. Way too busy and dangerous. But a good way to quickly get from North to South.

There is a lot going on on this street. Muni runs right through it, so transportation to and from W. Portal is a cinch. There is also a movie theatre, lots of restaurants and specialty stores, tons of eyeglass stores, coffeeshops, salons, an independent toy store called Ambassador Toys and more. You could spend an entire day here, really, just walking around and shopping.

Holloway intersects 19th Avenue where San Francisco State University stands. For this, Holloway is a great place for students to live. In fact, many houses here are rented out to college students. It is a purely residential area, in decent location, close to the freeway and Stonestown Shopping Center. It is quieter as you travel further from 19th Avenue and the college.

9th Avenue, where it crosses with Irving Street is possibly the Sunset District's most popular hangout. What is otherwise a mostly residential district, the Sunset area starts to actually look like a city within itself at 9th Avenue. Great nightlife scene as well as daytime chill area. Some highlights here: Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Pasta Pomodoro, Bank of America, many independent cafes, Pure Beauty and more.

Sacramento is a great street for families. It's a nice, clean place to live and here you'll find a few specialty kids' and maternity stores. The Laurel Village area is the best part of Sacramento. Further toward downtown, Sacramento gets a lot busier but still remains charming and in its own way, very elegant.

Duboce's main attraction is its park, popular among dog-owners and families with kids. There is a large hospital across the street from the park, and a few nice coffee shops where you can sit and look out at people along the street. But Duboce gets a little skanky the further you travel down, and more so as soon as you cross Market.

Van Ness is definitely useful. But is it fun? Is it nice? Not really. If you need an oil change or a new mattress, Van Ness is the place to go. But the street is far too wide and the stores along it far too spread out for it to be a cozy hangout. The best thing about Van Ness is the AMC movie theatre, but any after-movie eating or drinking is better done elsewhere.

Grand View is just that...a grand view. It's basically living quarters for the rich. Winding parallel to Market in the Portola Heights District, Grand View is full of extraordinary homes that seem to drop of the hill. Grand View is a purely residential area, though there are plenty of stores and restaurants close enough. A trip down Clipper (which crosses with Grand View) will bring you to Noe Valley.

This darling and safe cul de sac is a wonderful but expensive place to live. A tiny and curving street in the Diamond Heights district, Crags Ct. backs up to Glen Canyon, where hiking and and access to a large park and shopping center is possible. Perfect for people who like a quiet and private neighborhood.

Noe Valley is a great neighborhood and while Noe St. itself isn't too "happening," the surrounding area is. Noe intersects with Castro and 24th streets, both of which have a lot going on. But Noe itself is pretty much a residential street. It is quiet and pretty. North of Castro, Noe is really adorable. The street is a little more narrow and lined with trees, making the charm factor go way up.

Clement is one of those streets that is so eclectic, you never know what to expect when you go. For the most part, Clement is comprised of lots of Asian markets and restaurants. However, there is also the Irish element, a very popular independent bookstore called Green Apple, dive-y bars and lounges, pizza joints, diners and more. It's a fun place to hang out at day or night.

Franklin is a one-way street that runs parallel to Van Ness. It is used, mainly, for those who want to avoid the pedestrians who love to take their time crossing Van Ness. It's a fast-paced street with no stores of any kind until you get past Geary going North. Then Franklin is a bit more interesting. It can get very congested, though, as lanes are fairly narrow and drivers speed.

Gough is another popular street to get around quickly on. It passes over some steep hills, so driving along it can be quite fun. It's kind of like a mini roller coaster ride. It's pretty uninteresting until you get down toward Market St. and Hayes Valley. Then Gough fills up with bookstores and cafes and all sorts of little hang outs. There's a Walgreen's here as well, which comes in handy for everyday necessities.

There are some great aspects to Grove St. It's a popular street for Opera goers, as it has a very large parking garage, an excellent and upscale restaurant and is walking distance to the Opera Hall. There is also a slightly overrated but charming nonetheless coffee shop/restaurant called Citizen Cake on Grove St. that is a favorite amongst tourists.

Divisidero Street is never dead. It's got a huge nightlife, with bars and clubs and liquor stores, as well as lots of restaurants and stores. It is one of the main drags in the city, and runs all the way from the Marina to the Castro. In fact, Divisidero eventually turns into Castro Street and will take you right down to Market Street. Huge Edwardian homes decorate this well-known street.

Page runs parallel to Haight Street. It's full of beautiful Victorian buildings and there's no a whole lot of noise. It happens to be a popular place for visitors of Haight St. to park, however, so the streets are usually pretty full of cars. It's a great place to live, but there aren't a lot of shops or anything on this street. It's mostly just a residential area with the occasional coffee shop.

A fairly new freeway entrance off Fell makes it one of the most popular ways to get around town. Fell St. is fast-moving and easy to access from various points in the city. It runs from the Panhandle all the way down to Hayes Valley, where you can hop on the freeway and head further downtown or across the Bay Bridge. There isn't a whole lot going on with the street as far as restaurants and nightlife go; it's a one-way street running west to east and is mostly used to quickly get from point A to B. There is also a DMV on Fell St. that, of course, is always crowded.

Eddy St. isn't the worst in the city, but it certainly isn't the best. What you'll find here: apartment buildings and liquor stores, mainly. There really isn't any charm to Eddy; in fact, west of Van Ness, Eddy is home to low-income housing and no shops to speak of. East of Van Ness, Eddy becomes part of what is known as the Tenderloin District - one of the lousiest areas in S.F.

Everyone speeds on this street. That's because it's the fastest way to get from the Sunset District to Downtown San Francisco. Lincoln doesn't actually go all the way downtown, but it turns into Oak Street, which pretty much does. So, many commuters choose Lincoln as their favorite to and from routes to work. Not a whole lot to see here, but a convenient (sometimes dangerous) street.

The Great Highway is not only a convenient way to get from the south end of San Francisco back up to the North end, but it makes for a beautiful trip. To your left is the gorgeous Pacific Ocean, and you can stop off at any number of spots along the way to take in the scenery. Along the way, there are a few restaurants which offer the same amazing view. The Great Highway never gets old. It's wonderful to drive down, walk down or bike down. No stores, but that's what makes it unique. It's just nature at its best.

Usually a street with Muni as one of its main attractions isn't really oh so cute. But Carl is an exception. Intersecting with Cole, Carl features a great variety of coffee shops and breakfast restaurants. It's a wonderful (but noisy) place to live, VERY pet and kid-friendly, and home to a wonderful day spa and salon. There is also a hamburger joint and darling little park where dogs more than kids play.

I WISH I lived here! The best time to visit Belvedere Street? Halloween! The neighborhood goes all out. These wealthy homeowners decorate their enormous and charming homes with lights, pumpkins, monsters and more. It's a narrow street in Cole Valley that has a lot of sweetness and elegance. Belvedere residents also get together once a year for a large, block-wide garage sale. It's a place that is great to bring your kids and also a great place to get some exercise, as it is a sloping hill.

Stanyan is home to Kezar Stadium, a place where many local sports events are held. Across the street, a salon, bike shop, bar and coffee shop make it place that is not so sports-oriented. Drive a bit up the hill and health-food stores and flower shops make it even more charming. Stanyan is also a gateway into Golden Gate Park, so many cyclists, runners and walkers are seen traveling up and down this popular street.

Cole is a beautiful street. People lucky enough to live here are blessed with French boulangeries, the historic Cole Hardware store, great restaurants for Sunday brunch, nice weather, and being right on the N-Judah line. Cole is also extremely close to Haight Street, so there are plenty of stores nearby. An excellent wine bar and restaurant called Eos is one of my favorite places to go on Cole.

Walking down 4th Street from Market, you will find plenty to do in the SOMA district. For one thing, there is a large Imax theater with an entire play area for kids called Zeum. There is also a Mel's Diner and a Denny's that is open 24 hours (a hot spot for club goers). SOMA has a lot to offer. One block East of 4th Street, you'll find MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and a fabulous park known as Yerba Buena Gardens.

Lake Street is where I go with my family to ride bikes or to visit the awesome Mtn. Lake Park. Lots of people don't know this, but there is an actual lake here. You can feed ducks, play on the playground nearby, have a picnic, play tennis or just walk through the paths available to cyclists and pedestrians alike. There is also a designated area for dogs to run around sans leashes.

Polk is full of personality. Its eccentricity and variety is what makes Polk infamous. Yes, there are shemales who will try to hit on your boyfriends. But that's only one side of Polk...the side I used to live near. And yes, my boyfriend was propositioned numerous times by transvestite prostitutes. However, the other side of Polk...the fun and sporty side, is all about activity not of the sexually ambiguous kind. Lounges with live music, a huge recreation/camping store, yummy restaurants, crowded sports bars, recycled clothing stores and more make Polk a great place for singles, especially.

I visit Ocean Avenue regularly, but I don't really enjoy the vibe. The only reason I go there is because there are a few places, such as car repair garages and drug stores, that I like on the street, but if I didn't have to go, I wouldn't. It's not my kind of place. It's kind of scuzzy - a kid was shot there a few days ago, actually. I know this kind of thing can happen anywhere, but I got to tell 'ya...it's not pretty here.

From Judah, you can basically get anywhere in the city. The N-Judah line runs all the way down to the beach and also takes you downtown, to Market and the Embarcadero, even all the way to AT&T Park and Caltrain. However, there isn't a whole lot to do on Judah. It's mostly a residential street. Near the beach, there are a few cute stores, such as a health-food store and smoothie bar. The only thing that really stands out is that it's the best way to get from one end of the city to the next fairly quickly (on Muni, that is).

Castro Street can be great. It can also get really old really fast. There is, no doubt, a lot of personality to Castro Street. There are some fun, wacky stores and posh clothing boutiques. But there is also a lot of superficiality going on there. It's basically the gay man's playground. Like I said, this can be a lot of fun...mostly if you're a gay man! But a few trips to the Castro and the thrill of it wears off. I spent a lot of time here in college, mostly because it was a place to go where the bars didn't card (shhhh!), but Castro street, as a whole, is basically just a crowded, overrated hot spot.

My optometrist is on Hayes Street, so when I go I always make sure to allow for extra time to wander around. I love the shops on this street. There are a couple high-end shoe stores (fun to look, not so much to buy!), a sake store (great for gifts), a pretty lingerie store, a Mexican folk art store (my fav!), a couple cute deli's and restaurants, and a yoga studio. Best of all, because I'm a parent, there is a park at the intersection of Hayes and Octavia. It's a fairly new park and a great addition to the street. Finding areas of the city that are not only fun for you but for your kids, too, is difficult. Overall, Hayes St. is a great place for the entire family.

The part of 24th Street I'm going to write about isn't the colorful Mission District, but the laid back, family-oriented Noe Valley District. Here, 24th Street becomes a place where there is truly something for everyone. Whether it's a loud Irish bar, a classic pizza parlor, a calming yarn and craft store, a variety store full of dirty cards and funny, gag gifts, a children's boutique, an import store with all sorts of incense and silver jewelry, a used-music store, or whatever! There are places to eat, bars, stores, salons, banks, and even a small Farmer's Market on weekends. This is definitely one of my favorite areas of San Francisco.

California is such a long street that it is hard to rate it as a whole. Like Geary, California Street runs all the way through the city, East to West. My favorite area of California St. is Laurel Village. It is a super duper kid-friendly area. There is a Baby Gap, a Gymboree, Noah's Bagels, Jamba Juice...you get the picture. There is a hospital and several doctor's offices, as well. It's a great place to stroll around with your little ones, grab a coffee and just hang out for a while. There are a few higher-end markets in Laurel Village, as well. Books, Inc. makes for a great place to read to your kids and Pasta Pomodoro is a nice, affordable restaurant for families.

Masonic intersects Haight, so on that end, the street is pretty colorful. There aren't a whole lot of stores on Masonic, but there are a few at its crossing with Haight. North of Haight, Masonic gets less exciting. However, if you drive up far enough (just past Geary), you'll find a Trader Joe's...possibly the highlight of the entire street. This TJ's is ALWAYS busy. There is also a pretty bizarre but useful shopping center on Masonic that houses as Best Buy, Mervyn's, Office Max and more. There used to be a Toys R Us, which was great for families, but it went out of business. Bummer.

There are areas of Fillmore that are excellent. As you go north, past Geary, Fillmore gets a whole lot nicer. South of Geary, Fillmore is a bit of a 'hood. This is where I used to live. It was fine, but not my favorite place to inhabit. My personal preference is to be near California and Fillmore streets. The stores get a bit more boutique-y, there is a great independent movie theater called The Clay that shows midnight movies, a Peet's Coffee, Johnny Rockets, and other slightly more enjoyable places to eat. There is also an excellent hospital nearby (California Pacific Medical Group) and a Whole Foods.

For being one of the most popular streets leading down to Ocean Beach, Sloat Blvd. should be a whole lot cooler than it is. As is stands, Sloat is home to the S.F. Zoo (with absolutely no street appeal), a mediocre surf shop (Aqua) and a ton of gross, an overpriced and overrated nursery, dirty restaurants. Sadly, the best thing about Sloat is that is has a pretty decent shopping center between 19th Avenue and the Zoo, called Lakeshore. As for charm, Sloat falls short. Way short.

Union Street offers great boutique shopping, yummy restaurants and cafes, and busy bars. It is blocks from the Marina and Bay. The only downside (besides, of course, parking) is that Union Street is full of poseurs. Yeah, that's right. It's just a bit uppity and unnecessarily snobbish or my taste. I enjoy going there, but don't ever spend too much time there. The attitude on the street reeks of elitism.

Irving Street is a great destination for a day of quirky shopping, coffee drinking and eclectic eating. On the upper end, near 9th Avenue, Irving is bustling with college students getting their nails done, hitting cafes and bar hopping. On the lower end, just past 19th Avenue, Irving Street is almost like a second Chinatown. With Asian restaurants and markets galore, this side of Irving is less clean and definitely a bit less interesting. You wouldn't really "hang" here unless your interests include shopping for cell phones and drinking tapioca juices. There are a few fun bars near this end, but the street is mostly comprised of Asian restaurants and Asian variety household stores, etc. Living on Irving Street means hearing lots of traffic all the time, as it's one of the main routes of the N-Judah MUNI line. The street noise might and the uncleanliness of Irving makes it a less-than-desirable place to dwell, but an enjoyable place to visit.