So I was all excited to dive into the SF Bay Guardian’s annual “Best of the Bay 2009” list tonight, confident that our great neighborhood with all its character, fabulous restaurants and history would be well represented. Well, how should I say this… WHERE WERE WE RICHMOND?
I mean really, we didn’t even snag a throwaway category like best magician?!
Apparently, we’re only the best neighborhood for things like public pools, parks, sunsets, all of which is very, very nice. San Franciscans, please visit us anytime for these lovely attractions!
On an encouraging yet slightly depressing note, we did sweep in the crucial category of love drama. If you want to break up with someone, the best spot is The Bitter End pub on Clement. And then if you decide to try and work it out, we also are home to the best couples counselor.
The venerable Green Apple Bookstore made the list (always well deserved) but other than the Academy of Sciences (which is on every list these days, snooze), we really didn’t have anything notable to contribute. Really? Not even a single restaurant?
Or maybe it’s the SFBG that needs to do better. Need I remind them that when their trademark van was stolen, it was recovered right here in the Richmond? I think that deserves a BEST right there. 😉
Below are the Richmond District places that did make the list. See the full list of Best of the Bay winners here.
Sarah B.
BEST MUSEUM
California Academy of Sciences
BEST PUBLIC POOL
Rossi Pool, 600 Arguello (415) 666-7014
BEST PARK FOR HIKING
Land’s End
BEST PUBLIC PARK
Golden Gate Park
BEST PLACE TO WATCH THE SUNSET
Ocean Beach
BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE/BEST USED BOOKSTORE
Green Apple Books and Music
BEST BREAKUP SPOT
The Bitter End, 441 Clement
BEST COUPLES COUNSELOR
Dossie Easton, 406 16th Ave. (415) 752-7455
SHOPPING: BEST LOOKIN’
Park Life, 220 Clement
BEST COMFORT CARB
Shanghai Dumpling King, 3319 Balboa
BEST BURGERS OVER 40
Hamburger Haven, 800 Clement
there’s been some suggestions that this year the “vote” was thrown in favor of Guardian advertisers more than usual, and many people who submitted ballots never had their ballots counted.
I am always torn between wanting acknowledgement about how livable and awesome the Richmond is, and wanting them to stay the hell away so I don’t have to wait an hour for a table.
Hey fab Richmond blog — it’s Marke B., the editor of this year’s BOB (and for the past four years). You have a great point — I wish there had been more richmond winners in the Readers Poll. I worked in the Richmond for a long time, and love the neighborhood. HOWEVER, I think that our Editors Picks, which included Richmond things from Hamburger Haven and Schubert’s to the Holocaust Memorial (OK, kind of iffy if that counts as Richmond, but still … ), still honored the area. We try to be a geographically diverse as possible with our editors picks because we know that sometimes people vote for the same things year after year …
We had a ton of voters this year, but would love it if next year we had even more from the Richmond!
As for the tired, slightly paranoid insinuation that we’re somehow slanted toward our advertisers, I happily challenge anyone to count how many winners actually advertise with us. You need to back that kind of thing up, yo — especially since I was up 48 hours straight handcounting the snail mail ballots …
Go Richmond! And love the blog. ;)m.
Hi Marke – thanks for stopping by the blog. I must have missed a few Richmond items on the list, thanks for pointing it out! There was so much in there. It’s all in good fun – lists are always controversial, right? 🙂 Next year, I’ll be sure to rally readers to go in and vote for the real gems of the district. Cheers,
Sarah B.