To the crew at the Richmond SF Blog:
So here I sit, bored out of my mind, in humid and sticky Kailua, Hawaii. Not much to do but watch palm trees sway. (Big deal!) The first 4 days of my planned 17 day vacation now long gone and fondly remembered, wishing I was in SF. I don’t care if it’s raining heavily in SF. I’d rather be in SF than here.
To give you guys a little heads up: Sarah B might be more familiar with who I am… I am Randall of Rhode Island. For about a year in advance, I booked a vacation in which the first 4 days of my vacation were to be spent in SF, with the remainder of said vacation to be spent in Hawaii. I can say with assurity that the 4 days I spent in SF were not nearly enough.
I was blessed to be in SF over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Enjoyed some truly gorgeous weather; it was 70 when I stepped off the plane. The warm and blue skies continued throughout most of my time in SF. I did have one foggy couple of hours on Sunday AM in the outer Richmond, but truth be known was that that particular weather at that particular time was perfect for me. I’m a marathon runner, and I ran some distance out to Ocean Beach and back; that kind of weather is supurb for distance running. (Gotta say, some of the hills of SF were, well, let’s just say, challenging, to a runner who lives at sea level in RI.)The highlight of my distance running in SF was running the Golden Gate Bridge; I did that twice. Man, I get goosebumps thinking about what a thrill it was, seeing The City from the iconic GGB while running. It was magical.
During my short visit to SF: I did NOT visit Fisherman’s Wharf, did NOT ride a cable car, and did NOT go to Ghiradelli Square. Rather, I visited the Richmond (both Inner and Outer), Dolores Park, the Haight, the Castro,(where I saw my first legally naked man in public ever), a funky area of Fillmore Street, some of the inner Sunset, and got lost in the Presidio. Enjoyed some of SF’s finest dining at the Toy Boat and at Bill’s Place.
While I didn’t actually stay in the Richmond (I wanted to), my B&B (at Divisidero and Ellis) was easily walking distance to it. Once I crossed over Arguello, I knew I was offically in the Richmond.
I truly feel that I have now seen a small portion of the “real” San Francisco. The parts of SF where real San Franciscans live, toil, love, dream, fight, fall in love, and have their hearts broken. I don’t think I have missed anything by intentionally not making the “mandatory” walk down Lombard Street or visiting Pier 39.
In any event, San Francisco has now forever charmed my heart. It will be eternallly special for me. I may have not seen what some say are it’s “best” areas, but I want you to know that what I did see, for all of it’s good and what may be considered bad, well, it was all pretty darned lovely to me.
Note: Next time I read someone make a snide comment in the blog about the area around 48th and La Playa, or empty storefronts on Clement Street, I’m likely to tell them to…well, forget that thought. I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. I just wish some naysayers would realize how darned lucky they are to live in SF, despite the problems they perceive it has. If the Richmond is that bad, go oahead, try Cleveland, Buffalo, or Minneapolis in January. (They’ll come running back to SF, trust me on this!)
Thank you all at the Richmond SF Blog for your service to the Richmond and San Francisco and making me aware that there’s a whole lot more to San Francisco than the just the Marina, Telegraph Hill, and Union Square. Well, thanks, sort of. The Richmond is now my “secret”. Not sure I want it becoming too too popular!
I can’t wait to return!
Sincerely,
Randall of RI
Thank you Randall of Rhode Island!
Thank you for your outsider’s insights into our neighborhood and for hopefully sharing your ‘secret’ with many others. Please come back and visit soon!
Eric Mar, Supervisor for the Richmond District
There are several Kailuas; if you’re (still) in Kailua-Kona, be sure to hit Kona Brewing, which is an excellent place at which not to do much. 😉
This was lovely! Thanks for loving our neighborhood.
Sarah, can we get him a key to the Richmond, or something? 😉
Whoa! I never thought that the inner Richmond would work it’s charms over *Hawaii!!*
Glad you enjoyed your visit here Randall!
Hmmm, if we can’t give him a key how about a teeny tiny replica of the Green Apple gnome?
Wow.. Thanks Randall for writing this beautiful story about our little city & neighborhood. I’m in love with the city too, and feel in love /w the Richmond District after moving from the Inner-Sunset just last year.
I really appreciate how you included your various explorations & experiences around the city, while adding the touristy places you hadn’t visit. This sounds just like something I would have recommend to those visiting San Francisco. To go visit some of the out lining areas of the city & the different districts that are within our beautiful city.
Next time you visit, you might want to include going to the top of Twin Peaks. It is a bit touristy at times, but the view of the city is worth it. And or, you can cross Golden Gate Bridge and explore the Marin Headlands (there’s a handful of hiking trails there too).. which also has some excellent views of the bridge and San Francisco.
Thanks again for this beautiful write-up!
Cheers.. from San Francisco Native! 🙂
Randall.. Thank you very much for you compliments! I, too, am a marathoner and blessed to live in this neighborhood. Let me know the next time you’re able to pass through here and I’ll get another great run for you!
Cheers from a 25+ year resident of the Richmond District. 😀
Excellent post!
I live in the area of 48th and la Playa and we like to keep up the reputation it has. Keeps the riff raff out. 🙂
Re: Twin Peaks, I agree with the previous poster but you can get a pretty good view from Tank Hill and none of the traffic.
Randall of RI should try running Land’s End next time, too. Spectacular.
Wonderful words about my native district. You are right Randall, the westend of SF is the gem. I never take for granted my hood. I know I’m in the beat place ever, that’s why I’ve never left 🙂 … I have always loved my city, but in recent years don’t even venture into “town”, its just not the same as it once was. If you want to experience other parts of the City when it still had the character it was built on, watch the Streets of San Francisco. Cheers.
Awesome!
Randall, San Francisco is the best place for running. Spent my four years of NCAA running in Golden Gate Park, the Presidio, the bridge, Ocean Beach, and outside of the Richmond too, in Marin. You’ve still got so much running left to do here!
Oh before I forget, if you’re running in Golden Gate Park or the Presidio, watch out for coyotes!
Seriously…
What a lovely valentine. Please, come back soon.
Wow…so much neighborhood pride for The Richmond! Woohoo! And rightfully so I must add as well. The Richmond is the kind of place I could see calling home. I simply loved it! I appreciate all the kind words each of you have expressed in response to my observations about my new found love of this part of what once was the “Outside Lands” of San Francisco. Should be noted that I did see that little area of natural sand dunes at the intersection of the Great Highway and Balboa, speaking of the Outside Lands, while running my out and back by Kelly’s Cove at Ocean Beach.
Couple of specific comments I’d like to make. To Alyxandr: I’m currently in the Kailua located on Oahu’s Windward Side. No Kona Brewing on this side of the island, but there is one on the other side of the island in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu. But if it’s beer we’re going to be drinking, forget the Kona…let’s all go for six packs of Anchor Steam instead! 🙂 To Derek: I did make it into the Green Apple Book Store. Just about as neat as the New May Wah store I also visited. Both amazing stores. I am also being honest about rather being in SF than Hawaii. Whereas I do feel that certain “Spend your money here in Hawaii and then go home” sort of attitude here (maybe I’m being paranoid..probably not!), all I felt when I was in San Francisco was freedom. I totally enjoyed the prevalent laissez-faire attitude about the city where I feel one is essentially free to be whoever s/he wants to be without judgment. Very liberating experience for me.
My vacation ends on Sunday. Pretty soon, I’m going to be on a non-stop flight from Honolulu to New York, headed back to the East Coast. Usually this flight, en route to NY, flies right smack-dab over SF at about 35,000 feet or so. I don’t know how I’m going to feel the moment it arrives in the early morning sky over SF. I’m thinking sad. Maybe depressed, as it’s probably going to be a long time before I see San Francisco again. Geez, I hope not. I’ve really fallen for your neighborhood and city in a way I don’t think I can truly express.
Randall, I couldn’t agree with you more! I moved here about 3 years ago and love calling SF home. Even when I am in Paris or London or Singapore, I think to myself that I live in one of the best cities, if not neighborhoods in the world.
I am glad you enjoyed yourself and hope you can love to our neighborhood. We have room for you, I am sure. I am sure one grumpy person will boot itself out anyway.
Too bad you will miss our Clement St event this Thurs.
Btw, whenever ask where I am from anyway in thd world, they always have a “wow” expression after I say SF. That makes me feel warm every single time.
I think Sarah B keeps our hood together with this blog, no other hoods in SF has this. She reminds us how lucky we are with this blog, everyday!
Thanks Sarah!!
*whenever people ask
I am so sorry, iPhone typos!
*whenever people ask where I am from anywhere in the world
Randall, thanks for this beautiful letter and reminding us how lucky we are to call the richmond home. check out air b&b or vrbo.com for some great bed and breakfasts in the richmond for your next visit!
Thanks, Randall. Once a place touches your soul, it becomes a part of you. I’m glad the place that got into me is San Francisco–the Richmond specifically. Enjoy your visit, and come back soon!
And thank you, Supervisor Mar for commenting as well.