Geen rijs naar San Fransisco voor een muziekliefhebber zou compleet zijn zonder een bezoek aan deze platenzaak met de afmetingen van een warenhuis. Vroeger was het een bowlingbaan, bij de ingang van het Golden Gate Park. The Upper Height winkel bruist met honderden bezoekers die door de enorme selectie van CD's, platen, tapes, video's en posters. De korting op gebruikte en yellow tag (uiterlijk beschadigd, maar functionaliteit gegarandeerd) artikelen zijn de beste van de stad, net als de selectie van obscure en labelonafhankelijke titels. Uiteindelijk zorgt het voor zijn eigen live muziek podium waar opkomend talent voor publiek speelt vijf of zes keer per week.
This San Francisco landmark features some of Fisherman's Wharf's best shopping and attractions. Ride the carousel, people watch, or take in views of the bay. There are more than 25 one-of-a-kind gift stores that carry automobile, Hollywood, and rock 'n' roll memorabilia, as well as flags of the world, Russian dolls, collectible knives, hammocks, kites, and more. But that's not all. You will find over 30 more stores, including the famous Na Hoku to shop for clothing, jewelry and toys. It is a great place to pick up high-end San Francisco souvenirs. When you're done shopping and eating to your heart's content, visit the famous resident sea lions for a prime photo session. Pier 39 is a magnet for locals and tourists for many reasons, including their calendar of special attractions for the whole family like the Tulipmania tulip festival held in late February or the Holiday Tree Lighting in November.
In an area known for wineries and wine bars, Solano Cellars is a mecca for Bay Area oenophiles who sit at the imposing wood bar and sample a dazzling array of wines from around the world. A staff of refreshingly unpretentious wine experts can guide you through the selection and help you find just the vintage you were looking for. The shop attached is tiny, but what they do not have on display can be fetched from the seemingly bottomless wine cellar. To enhance the wine, an ever-changing appetizer and dessert menu, designed with wine in mind, is offered. There is a strict prohibition on cell phones.
Mars is repeatedly voted the best vintage clothing store in the East Bay by local newspapers and it is one of the best sources for fun and unusual retro garb. It has two stories filled with hip basics, shoes, glamorous accessories and clothing from a variety of time periods ranging from the Renaissance to the awesome 80s. Stock up on zoot suits, bell-bottoms, worn Levi's, leather coats and poodle skirts. It also specializes in a lot of theme attire for the seasons. Find costumes around Halloween, luau-worthy Hawaiian shirts for summer and fabulous faux and vintage fur coats for winter.
Visit this Haight-Ashbury bookstore and patronize one of the city's largest independent treasures. The Booksmith functions both as a source for hard-to-find books as well as a home to all the latest popular titles in fiction and non-fiction. It regularly schedules author readings/signings and gives away free author trading cards for the scribes who appear at these in-store events. Join a reader's club and save 10 percent every time you buy whether you're browsing the aisles or shopping online via their website.
Dr. Comics & Mr. Games has been delighting kids and adults since 1988. Fans of comic books delight in the huge, organized selection of comics, ranging from classics to new and everything in between. The manga section gets particular rave reviews. In addition to the comics, they also have a selection of puzzles and games.
Gospel Flat Farm is located about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) north of San Francisco. Offering a great insight into organic farming, the farm is a wonderful mix of numerous activities, educational elements, outdoor fun and of course organic produce shopping! The vast organic farm is covered with lush green vegetable fields, and if you're lucky you'll also be able to spot sunflowers in full bloom. On offer are farm-fresh veggies such as zucchini, pumpkins, carrots, pickled vegetables and lots more that are vibrant and incredible to taste. But meat-lovers needn't frown, since they also sell a fine quality of pork from their farm-raise pigs as well as dungeness crabs that they breed just a couple of miles from Gospel Flat Farm. They also have an in-house field baker who bakes a storm of awesome-smelling bread loaves on a wood-fired oven, that are a work of art in themselves. Apart from all the food fun, Gospel Flat Farm also hosts a fun range of activities, workshops and programs throughout the year. Group tours are available along with lunch options; check the website for more details.
This is a small gem of a shop specializing in traditional iron teapots of excellent quality at excellent prices. There are traditional designs, such as boxes and pumpkins in the usual black, dark green or dark ochre but there are some unusual colors too like robin's egg blue. Iron stands, iron cups and iron chopstick holders are also available. Also, available are some extraordinary incense burners in iron and bronze, some are antique such as a magnificent one in bronze, almost a foot high and engulfed in the undulations of a delicately rendered dragon. The owner can also tell you the history of Japanese ironware.
Located in the inner sunset, oriental art gallery is a weird little shop that offers various bizarre artifacts especially pins. In this shop you can see thousands of pins depicting guns, knifes, words, signs and anything you can imagine. If you happen to pass the inner sunset, it is good buy some funny pins with prices under 5 dollars for each.
For over 25 years the San Francisco Herb Co. has provided the city with an wide selection of herbs, spices, essential oils, potpourris, dehydrated vegetables, nuts, and seeds. But their specialty is herbs and spices, and you'll find the highest quality here at reasonable prices. The customer service is superb! They are committed at making sure you get what you want in spices. You can either peruse the flagship store or their catalog to fill you need of spice and everything nice.
Located on Telegraph Avenue, The Antique Center is one of the best antique stores in the city, popular for selling vintage goods at budget prices. Eye catching products like lamps, wall clocks, light fixtures, antique tables and chairs are on display here. You can also shop for some kitchenware and floor carpets.Rare art paintings can also be purchased from here.The staff here is quite knowledgeable about the products and attentive as well. If you are in the mood to shop for some quality and budget antiques, do so at The Antique Center.