Love Letters to Inner Richmond

posted May 06, 2009 8:33AM

There may be no neighborhood that better expresses the diversity of San Francisco. Chinese markets abut French bistros, late-night ramen joints exist just around the corner from Russian markets.

Share what you adore about where you live. Submit a “love letter” to the Richmond below for a chance to be published in the Neighborhoods section of an upcoming issue.

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submit102 posted 10:57 PM Jul. 21st

Dear Inner Rich, Can you believe we're approaching seven years together? To be honest, I thought I'd be long gone by now. Don't get me wrong--you're nice, well-cultured and clean enough to show Mom, but when it comes to feeling a spark, I'm sorry to say, my gaze(and body) have sometimes lingered elsewhere in search of excitement. Our relationship has been one of sacrifices. I've traded having an awesome crib for cheap rent; instead of loud bus lines and crackheads, I have to contend with old Asian ladies unapologetically raiding my recycle bin; and hardest of all, you're so far from everything: my friends, my job. The long bus rides don't bother me so much anymore, but I can't help feeling pangs of jealousy when it takes my friends only 15 minutes to get home or $6 for a cab ride. I know you're asking yourself: so why have I stayed? The truth is, despite the ugly annoyances, there's just something about you. Maybe it's the short walk to see a perfect view of the bridge. Or maybe it's the bragging rights I get for saying I live right across the street from Golden Gate Park. It could be the small neighborhood gems: the Korean karaoke place, Mountain Lake Park, Frankenart, the Russian mobsters, skee-ball. You haven't always been mind-blowing, but you've been safe and secure and I think that's the sort of relationship I've needed. I might throw in the towel at some point, but for now I think we can make it work.

kme posted 06:16 PM Jun. 12th

Early Avenues, Most people think that we are so far away, out dated and boring and have nothing to say Well here is my voice to represent where we come from and how awesome we are in our very own ways. Yes we have Burma Superstar, but did you know about Toy Boat Café? Any given day we can walk a few blocks and hang out with our crew, depending on where you’re coming from it might just be one or two, or a spin around the corner to catch an early cup of brew We have many picks to chose from, our personal favorites Blue Danube and a cup of Blue Bottle at Vela Rouge. Any given day we walk just a few, to have the best brunch or their mac n cheese w/ tater tots, at our favorite booth w/ the tree at Q’s Smile up at the red pepper lights, and write messages w/ the magnets on the wall Sit back and laugh about how much we love their bacon and the stories we have to recall Bellies full we ritually cross the street, to Park Life to get lost and inspired in their storefront and gallery. Skim thru arts, books, and other many objects to make us remember to go to Green Apple Books and have an arm load to bring back after. Any given day we walk just a few, just a cut through the park to the Panhandle and Upper Haight to buy some hats, incense, or shoes. Any given day we walk just a few and can hop on the Muni and travel the 38 Downtown or the 33 to the Mission and hang around Hop on the 44 go thru the Golden Gate and Inner Sunset head all the way to twin peaks and Glen Park in just 15 minutes Catch a ride on the 5 to Ocean Beach, with our blankets and wine we take the perfect seat. Inhale the fresh sea air and lay back for just a little sleep. Take the 31 back up to get back to our place just in time for happy hour we begin our race. Trivia Tuesday’s at The Bitter End, Thursday’s Irish Dance at Plaugh and the Stars, the best Guinness and company you’ll find thus far. 540 Club with Dj’s or a jukebox with the raddest bartenders on this side of the park Only on week nights will we venture to Buckshot so we can get a turn at ski ball and a shot at darts. Any given day we walk just a few up to The Bridge to see a film and maybe over to the park to smell a flower or two. The Conservatory of Flowers and The Botanical Gardens to the De Young Museum and Academy of Sciences, wait lets not forget The Japanese Tea Garden. Craving dim sum we easily cross few streets to Wing Lee’s Bakery where the quality surpasses the to-go prices we enjoy our cheap feast. Make a quick run to New May Wah’s such great produce and items we pay no attention to the ones pushing and rushing across Little do most know we have a Safeway hidden just 3 blocks down, however the Trader Joe’s is indeed known all over town. Any given day we walk just a few, to Nagano’s for sushi and their tempura green tea ice cream When we’re feeling super sweet a trip to Genki for their crepes makes a great late night treat. Nutella, banana’s and whip cream does it for me, but I know most love the red bean or lychee. The ladies at Stardust Liquor Market smile and sweetly take care of our loose ties and minor yet at times demanding needs. You never know when you need ½ n ½, brownie mix, or a 4-pack of TP. Drink Liquor family owned and operated are the most down to earth people that we’ve ever met, a few cents off here and there, and rolls of quarters if we need when they are out at the Laundrette. Any given day we sit on our front steps smiling to our neighborhood w/ absolutely no regrets. Saying “we love it here” and look forward to the rest. The rest from the hustle and bustle, the rest from the walk or journey’s through the park, the rest from the Guinness and dancing last night, and most importantly to the rest of our times spent in our awesome Inner Richmond.

sclairec posted 05:03 PM Jun. 12th

The first love letter I ever wrote to the Inner Richmond actually came in the form of a map. I marked off my haunts in giant red exes and recalled the first time I had visited each. I remember the quaint Blue Danube, a sweet yet headstrong cafe defying the norm of Asian establishments on Clement, always prepared to serve me my regular Rosemary Chicken sandwich. During my first visit, my roommate promised that it was the best sandwich she had tasted in the city. One bite and I knew she was right, as a heavenly chorus began singing in my mouth. Fellow customers complimented my divine voice, but little did they know I owed it all to the culinary masterminds of the Blue Danube. And I remember when I first stepped through the de Young’s sleek, modern doors. The young edifice enticed me lower, lower, to the basement level, where her wild Vivienne Westwood exhibit laid. As if one love affair weren’t enough, I discovered O’Keeffe’s, folded into one of the Inner Richmond’s quiet corners. Mainly frequented by Irishmen (not Americans claiming Irish blood, but actual Irishmen), the gritty dive bar won me over with sexy accents and cheap liquor abound. So with this letter, I proclaim my love for you, Inner Richmond, my physical map with red exes transformed into a literary map of my memories. I’ll let everyone know that we are in love, madly in love, and I will dance in your streets till my legs are old and weary, and even then, seated at your park benches, I will still take in your splendor.

spartacus posted 12:09 AM Jun. 12th

I've lived in the city most of my adult life, and am still scratching my head as to why I didn't spend more of it in the Inner Richmond. Having just moved to this diverse hood six short months ago, I'm agog daily discovering new gems. Watching baby ducks and geese paddling the ponds at Golden Gate Park. Strolling through the Presidio to arrive at pristeen views of the Pacific. Catching a college ball game at USF. Hanging out in the Haight. Sampling a variety of Asian delights on Clement. And talk about cultural diversity: I had my watch battery replaced by a Russian, bought tasty pastries from a young Kazakhstani girl, picked up produce from a Mongolian woman working for a Greek lady, and chatted with a neighbor from the Ukraine...all in the course of a few hours. Forget traveling the globe; I'll just step out my front door and see where this killer hood takes me.

omdog posted 11:12 AM Jun. 11th

Inner Richmond We're in different places now. Neither of us is the same as when we were together. I got really flabby after the second baby. You, on the other hand became cool, you got younger when I moved away. You have restaurants that get great reviews. You got a Walgreens, for heavens sake. Has it really been 10 years? I see you on Facebook, and you always look great, sometimes I barely recognize you. But some things will never change about you, will they? Happy Donut will always be there. And sometimes, I long to wander through Kamei buying plastic kitchen utensils I'll never use. But they are so cute and really so cheap. Part of Green Apple still exists, if it means part is missing. There will always be people playing chess, and the best Salvation Army in the city. I know we’re both happy now with our new lives, and maybe I was never significant to you. We never would have worked long term, we wanted different things. I wanted a car, and that was never going to be realistic. I never knew what you wanted, you were always so hard to pin down. Other neighborhoods are easy to define, but you are at once old and new, asian and Mexican, and a million things in between. Sometimes when I wake up early in the morning, I think it’s my crazy old Russian neighbor screaming at her husband to get to work. But then I realize it is the baby crying, and the salty, yeasty smell in the air isn't the wonderful Boudin bread wafting through the briny ocean air. That’s when I really miss you. That’s when I wish we could be together again.

jph posted 10:01 AM Jun. 10th

Oh Inner Richmond, where do I begin? With that night four years ago when we first met? Or that summer day nearly two years ago when you finally won my heart? Ah, but that’s all water under the bridge. The past is past! Let me ask you this, though. Do you know what it is that’s got me so in love? It’s how you know just how to fit my any mood. When it’s late night eats I’m looking for, you give me the 24-hour donut shop and Pizza Orgasmica. When it’s good reads, you give me Green Apple Books and the newly renovated Richmond branch of the library. And when I want to escape from it all, you give me an authentic slice of Asia, with Quickly bubble tea, Kamei, and the fish market down the street. I may sometimes get trampled or feel misunderstood as I weave down the aisles of New May Wah, but I know that’s only tough love! I shudder when people call you “foggy”, “grungy”, or even “dirty” because I know you’ve got a soft side that I wish they could see. You’re lush like Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, you wash and fold my laundry and then deliver it for free, and you’ve got the best rents on this side of the Bay. And people may call you “New Chinatown”, but when I sit nestled in my quaint Victorian studio watching the fog roll in as the smell of fresh-baked bread from the Boudin bakery wafts up the block, I know you are the quintessential San Francisco.

dmc posted 08:25 PM May. 31st