Bell's Books is a family-owned bookstore in Palo Alto that's been passed down from generation to generation. Lot of people will tell you that this bookstore is a treasure. If you love reading or you are a book collector, this is definitely a place to go and stay for hours. Do not expect to find People Magazine or the latest New York Times best-seller; this store only sells used books. They offer an important selection of antique books and historic documents.
Downtown Palo Alto Farmer’s Market has a charm of its own. With bustling stands of vegetable vendors, meat sellers as well as food stalls and food trucks lined around the Gilman Street this is a place for meeting friends, stocking up groceries and strolling under the bright sun. Founded in 1981, this market is an important part of the city. Over 50 farmers from the neighboring cities bring their produce here for sale and the market has been a source of livelihood for all of them. From flowers, fruits, fresh herbs, dried fruits, nuts or honey you can shop to your hearts content. If you are hungry after a long shopping haul take a break and enjoy homemade crepes, pastries, pancakes and more at the food stalls.
This sophisticated mall is a magnet for discerning shoppers from all over the Bay Area, both North and South. Its European-style gardens and outdoor markets exude elegance, and the many cafes and bakeries offer welcoming spots to relax over a light snack and a cup of coffee, before resuming the shopping frenzy. It houses department stores like Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom along with the outlets of Apple, Banana Republic, Bath and Body Works, Hugo Boss, Gap, Janie and Jack, Louis Vuitton and Victoria's Secret among many others.
Ce lieu iconique indépendant de North Beach, fut fondé par l'auteur et mentor du mouvement littéraire et artistique de la "Beat génération" Lawrence Ferlinghetti. L'endroit va au-delà d'une librairie classique en mettant l'accent sur la littérature de la "Beat génération", des anthologies, et fiction d'Amérique Latine, des Caraïbes, du Moyen-Orient, d'Afrique, d'Asie et plus encore. Découvrez San Francisco à travers les mots écrits par certains des écrivains les plus célèbres du quartier, et souvent difficle à trouver. La boutique à sa propre maison d'édition, City Lights, ce qui a enrichi la communauté de San Francisco depuis 1953 en promouvant l'émergence les nouveaux auteurs.
Temescal Alley has emerged as a hotbed of activity. A lot of development has happened through the years and now a lot of independent shops, restaurants and artist's shops are open in the alley. There are restaurants and ice cream parlors also, which offer a wide variety of cuisine to the tourists. The architecture of the alley is of early 20th Century and due to this the shops which are located in this alley have maintained the buildings as they were. The owner's of the shops have formed small communities amongst themselves. This place has developed a lot over the years and has become a small sweet little alley for people to shop, eat and spend some time with their family.
With its own BART station, Rockridge's main artery is College Avenue. Half in Oakland and half in Berkeley, Rockridge nevertheless feels like its own little town. Locals, as well as those in-the-know throughout the Bay Area, know this is the perfect place to wile away a sunny weekend afternoon shopping for antiques, gourmet groceries, and the best in locally made clothing and crafts, or to just enjoy a leisurely brunch at one of the many fine restaurants. Whether you are visiting for a short while or are new to the area, a day in Rockridge is not to be missed.
Rafael's boutique suits the sophisticated and well-dressed woman in fine formal, professional, and casual clothing. Shoppers will find a plethora of handsome suits, hand-woven jackets, and velvet brocade shrugs. Customer service is the key at this boutique, so let a friendly wardrobe coordinator help you pick out an outfit for a night in town, or a casual stroll through the streets of San Francisco.
This small neighborhood bookstore specializes in titles in Slavic languages. You will find a selective range of new and used titles in Russian and in English translation. Featuring titles in literature, mystery, politics, reference, history, and more, it also offers a number of vintage art prints. One of the only Slavic bookstores in the city, it is located in the Richmond District, where a lot of the local Russian immigrant community resides. Check website for details.
The silver collection at this gallery includes everything from tiny mustard spoons to an English soup terrine, from ornate candelabras a la Beauty and the Beast, to stylish clean lines of a knife-rest, you will find the handiest little mealtime accessories to outshine any sunny day. The owner's personal favorite is a child's gold plated rattle, with a whistle at one end and a smooth pink stick of cool coral at the other for teething, it reputedly fends off colic at a reasonable price! Whether you want classic silverware or a South American Ybarra lion that pours tea from it's scratchy toothed silver spout, the selection here will truly dazzle you.
888 Brannan is a one-of-a-kind store where you can find almost anything under the sun. Whether it be fashion accessories or clothes, books or kitchen devices or just a knick-knack to adorn your home, you are sure to find it here. It also holds special sales and events for occasions like Thanksgiving and Mother's Day.
Few quality designer stores cater to the business traveler exclusively. Glaser Designs is one such store which specializes in leather bags and briefcases for corporate executives. Besides work bags, it also offers traveler's bags, laptop carriers and so on. A departure from the usual deep warm colors used for business leather items, Glaser Designs successfully experiments with lighter tones for both men and women. They also have a separate product line for corporate gifts like hand-finished wallets and memo jotters.
This is an adorable little boutique located at the Waverley Street inside an old Victorian style house. Everything in the store is eclectic and they have given a designer touch to your conventional house pins, chop sticks, plates, bowls, toasters, clocks, etc. The items on their racks are one-of-a-kind and become a great gift or conversation piece. Be it a baby shower or a house warming party of a friend pick up something at the Five Ten Gifts; the recipient will love the gift and will never want to return or exchange it.