At La Boulange, the ceilings are high, the sample croissants greet you at the door, the waiter sets my favorite toast with avocado (note the little chives:) and large soy latte in front of me every morning, with a huge smile.
At Real Foods, the checkout guy always says hello and makes small talk, the produce guy tells me which veggies are the tastiest that day (the green onions were so great!), and when I sit outside for a quick lunch, the sun shines in just the right spot.
The Cheese Store down the street has the best sweets & healthy soda pops, it's a candy store for adults!
The frozen yogurt place will custom make and blend any order and tosses on generous toppings. The interior is SO cute.
The tennis courts are my favorite in the city, and pick up games happen all the time. Only downside, the tennis balls that are hit over the fence are forever gone and never to be found again!
The Nook is a sun-soaked small coffee shop where the same people turn up daily, lab tops in tow, holding down a corner table for hours. The cable cars rumble by all day, the people watching is awesome. Service is spotty, but I don't think this place really earns any money, since they are unable to turn over those tables!
The neighborhood feels like a community. You get a cross-section of SF, the chinese lady hurrying along with a pink plastic bag of steamed buns, the overly preened sartorialist with a handlebar mustache, the wizened old man meeting up with his buddies for the WSJ & daily coffee, the 7th year grad students with their noses burried in coffee stained notes, the shopkeeper gazing out at the doorway waving hello to the regulars.
Just by walking up and down the hilly streets, you get spectacular views of SF & toned butt and legs :).
My kind of neighborhood.
