Don't Judge a District by It's Cover

I didn’t even know that the Richmond district existed when I first moved to San Francisco, despite only being separated from it by the Golden Gate Park. The Richmond seemed like a bland sub-neighborhood of the Sunset, lacking the excitement I craved. I remember my first impression of the district: melancholic rows of avenues filled with apartment buildings and mid-sized homes showered in fog.

As I spent more and more time there, I realized that the Richmond is a lively neighborhood filled with diverse residents. The upper west corner of San Francisco that the Richmond district occupies is geographically detached from busier hot spots like Union Square, but several main roads that run all the way from downtown San Francisco to inner Richmond bring the big city feel all the way to the suburbs.

These main roads are what give the Richmond its character. My favorite hang out quickly became Clement Street. I love the energy, the diversity and the accessibility of the area, sometimes referred to by locals as “New China Town”. Usually, I like to begin my trip down Clement Street at Sixth Avenue. I start my journey at Green Apple Books, a labyrinth of new and used books for all ages.

From the book store, I usually find myself walking past Thai restaurants and convenience stores towards the blue neon lights of the Sixth Ave Aquarium. I have been in there 10 or so times now, but it never gets old. It is definitely a hidden treasure in the Richmond district. There’s a sweet girl who works in the front of the store, which is a flower shop, who can help you with the perfect bouquet or quick directions. Her family members run the aquarium in the back of the store, which is not much different from Aquarium on the Bay near Pier 39, except that it doesn’t cost a $20 to get in. They literally have everything under the sea, even lion fish, for purchase.

What I like the most, however, is hanging out at the Rockit Room, a bar and music venue, with the locals. Kanoa Blodgett, the charismatic bartender, is always there for a good conversation and makes you feel at home. Several small businesses and restaurants, often catering to a certain ethnicity or niche, support the Richmond community.

The biggest threat to the up-and-coming district is the invasion of hipsters and the loss of the small businesses that give the Richmond character, according to residents. Many businesses that can’t compete with larger companies, like the Third Avenue Food Mart, are cutting costs, for example, by charging customers to use credit cards. Despite being illegal, businesses are still charging the fee just to stay afloat. I am hoping to learn more about this by speaking with residents and business owners.

I appreciate the Richmond district much more now. I feel connected to it even though I don’t live there. The people I have met and things I saw and did while covering the Richmond have given me a deeper understanding of San Francisco as a whole, and what it really means to cover a beat. It doesn’t just mean writing about events in the community. It means understanding how events affect the community as a whole.

Trip Down Memory Lane at Green Apple Books

One of my fondest childhood memories is going to Border’s bookstore with my mom and sitting there for hours reading books. There was something so calm and relaxing about the tone of her voice rising and lowering while I sat nestled in her lap. Now, I’m 22 and too old to sit on mom’s lap reading Dr. Seuss. When I walked into the children’s section of Green Apple Books on Clement Street for a book signing, despite 17 years of growing up, I felt that calm, relaxing feeling from my childhood.

Green Apple Books is like grandma’s old attic, except filled with every type of book possible. Dusty light fixtures hang from the wall next to glass cases that house an assortment of colorful masks. As I walked through each room I started to feel like I was in a maze. Sections were marked by handcrafted signs made by the staff. Tiny hallways opened up into secret rooms with even more books. Finally, I made it to the book signing in the children’s section in back of the store.

I climbed up a set of creaky wooden stairs next to a life size version of the Cat in the Hat and traveled back to the time when I was five years old. There were kid’s books everywhere, spilling off of each shelf and crammed into every open space. Several children were running around, excited to share the treasures they found in each book case with their friends.

Kelly, a 12-year-old girl with braces, wearing a dark green crew neck sweater and green and white ribbons on her ponytail, was especially excited to be at Green Apple Books for the book signing. The book, “Smile," by Raina Telgemeier, was the first book she had read on her own beginning to end. Her mother told me that Kelly, a resistant reader, loved the story because it’s about a girl who gets braces for the first time. Kelly even got to participate in the book reading.

Twenty children and adults sat on tiny mismatched children’s chairs positioned around Kelly and the author, while the two took turns reading lines from the book. Telgemeier, a San Francisco native, told me that she used to come to Green Apple Books a lot with her dad who had an interest in used books. Her favorite part of the store was the comic section. I looked behind me and saw a mother delicately holding her 4-year-old son in her lap while reading a comic book and couldn’t help thinking that used to be me, and possibly Telgemeier.

I laughed to myself over some of the book titles I saw during the signing, like “Monsters Eat Whiny Children” and “A Day with No Crayons”. There was also a huge selection of used books, many only $1.99, and an assortment of strange novelty gifts like chattering teeth and slinky dogs. I reluctantly made my way to the exit, and along the way, saw a mother tucked away in a corner reading to her daughter. Green Apple Books, although it is for all age groups, has a certain charm that makes it a go to place in the Richmond district for parents and their kids, and those just looking to reclaim a childhood memory.

Blooming art scene in the Richmond

Park Life, an eccentric independent retailer and art gallery on Clement Street, debuted a new show this month called "You knew this was coming", featuring Southern California artists.

The store was full of locals coming to see the show that featured artists: Sahar Al-Sawaf, Sadie Barnette, Rich Bott, Mike Calway-Fagen, Thomas Helman, Vincent Manganello, Clare Parry and Louis Schmidt.

I was actually impressed by the size of the crowd. There were at least 15 to 20 people in the building at all times--random stragglers came in and out, mostly to step outside and get their nicotine fix. I'm sure the bucket of ice-cold free beer helped keep people in the gallery.

The art show itself was an interesting mix of media. Six paintings of eerie blob-faced individuals, painted using opaque out-of-the-tube colors by Rich Bott, demanded my attention when I walked in the door. The artists' work clashed together in the gallery, but individually, each piece was something to be appreciated.

Sadie Barnette's work also caught my eye. Cut-up photographs, glitter and detailed ink work delicately covered several white pieces of paper that were strewn about on the wall in the left hand corner of the gallery. I was admittedly confused about the concept of the piece, but then again, sometimes that's half the fun of art.

I haven't found many places like Park Life. Park Life

definitely fills a void in the Richmond District: a place in the community where you can shop, socialize and see local artists' work. You can also talk to the artists and owners of the store which makes Park Life more approachable and user-friendly compared to other galleries and independent retail stores in the area.

Community centers, gems of the Richmond

The Richmond district offers more community programs than I expected. With a large residential area, several programs for children and adults are available, many of which are a lifeline for parents who want a safe learning environment for their children.

The best place to learn about community is the Richmond police station. I was a little intimidated to go in; the unfriendly police officer working the desk didn't help to ease my apprehension. Once I looked around I found a wealth of information. The local newsletter I picked up there included every help hotline, support group and crime meeting in the area. It also highlighted upcoming events and classes available at community centers.

Two important centers in the district are they YMCA and the Richmond Recreation Center. Both centers offer similar programs including: yoga, karate, gardening, sewing, English classes and tutoring. The gymnasiums are also popular, especially for teens who like basketball. It made me happy to know they had a safe place to play in the community, especially with the limited amount safe basketball courts in San Francisco. Seniors in the area also have a safe place to congregate and be active through special programs tailored to the elderly.

Got traffic?

Have you crossed the Golden Gate Bridge lately? If yes, then you probably noticed the massive Doyle Drive construction project taking over the Presidio. The Doyle Drive project seems to be a big improvement for San Francisco, as well as a supply of jobs for locals. It's aimed at improving eroding structures and adding a more environmentally friendly roadway. However, commuters are bearing the load of this new project by driving in traffic and on dangerous roadways.

In order to build Presidio Parkway, the new design for Route 101, they closed the ramp from northbound Park Presidio and Highway 1 to southbound Doyle Drive. Park Presidio includes new lane changes and configurations. The part that seems to cause most of the traffic, however, is the constant changing of Nineteenth Avenue exit and entrance lanes, and sometimes their complete closure.

The lanes change each time a new phase in construction occurs. Sometimes commuters don't realize it's changed until they drive through--or in some cases, almost crash. Speed limits have been reduced to help prevent crashes, but lowering speeds add to the traffic. My advice: get on the road before peak commute times and stay alert for lane changes.

A Cultural Melting Pot in the Suburbs

The Richmond district, which quietly inhabits the north western corner of San Francisco, combines the historical roots of San Francisco with new cultural infusions that make it unique. It is bordered by pristine coastline, the Golden Gate Park and the Presidio. This district holds some of San Francisco's best kept secrets.

Upon first glance, the Richmond is a sleepy, family friendly fog haven; however, hidden between the avenues, main veins−California, Clement and Geary streets−connect the otherwise somber neighborhood to a lively and diverse atmosphere. Sometimes the neighborhood seems empty when I walk down the avenues in Outer Richmond, but once I hit Geary, I get that big-city feel. The residents are as diverse as the restaurant line up on Geary Street. Russian, Chinese, Irish, Mexican, Vietnamese and Korean communities have seamlessly plopped themselves into the heart of the district, making it a cultural melting pot.

The Richmond has a little something for everyone−you just need to know where to look. The Legion of Honor houses some of the most famous paintings in the world, while smaller local galleries, like Park Life, display quirky yet humble artwork. There's more too see than just art. One of the most popular shopping areas among locals is New Chinatown on Clement Street. Here you can find just about everything under the sun, especially if you’re on a budget. I have spent hours winding in and out of Asian variety stores that sell anything you can think of. This charming and understated area of the Richmond is one of the best kept secrets in the city and still relatively hipster-free.

The Richmond district is home to some of the city’s best restaurants and oldest bars. Ethnic restaurants, like Burhma Star, serve exotic dishes that attract many local food connoisseurs. Their chicken curry, although full of bones, is a spicy treat. Drive down Geary and you will find Irish pubs packed with thirsty college students and locals, many sometimes offering live music or events, like the Skee-ball tournaments at the Buckshot. Bars like the Plough and the Stars offer line dancing and an ambience that is hard to find elsewhere.

The Presidio isn’t the most popular destination for Richmond locals, but when needed, it does provide an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors hike, bike and walk along nature trails amidst century old Eucalyptus, Cyprus and Pine trees to enjoy the scenery.If you feel more like hitting the beach, drive west through the avenues and visit Baker Beach, the Cliff house and the Sutro baths−don’t worry too much about sunscreen though, it’s always foggy.

So for in the Richmond, I have found that despite the busy streets of New Chinatown and the vastness of the Presidio, what most people like about it is that it feels like home. When I walk down the street, I feel a sense of community; I don’t feel out of place. The Richmond has so much to offer and it’s all wrapped up in a tiny box just waiting for you to open it. Now it’s up to you to check it out.