Juniper Tree Supplies

2520 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702

Gourmet G. writes: As much as we resent Martha Stewart for attacking every project with as much fervor as she does, deep down we've always wondered how much satisfaction is to be found in making our own scented soap or holiday candles. This shop carries the basic…

Cycle Sports
Neighborhood: Grand Lake, Lower Hills

3530 Grand Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610

Anna G. writes: So, being the klutz that I am, I sort of fell off my bike a couple of weeks ago. And by "fell off," I mean I pretty much crashed and burned, leaving me with a bruise the size of a pomelo* on my left thigh, a giant gash on my right, a shoulder that I…

Sue Fisher King
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

3067 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Sally K. writes: Since I'm known in my industry as a "sustainable contemporary residential designer" it is shameful for me to love every store on Sacramento street in Pacific Heights like I do.

Sue Fisher King definitely takes the cake.  This store is JAM PACKED with…

Walgreens - West Portal
Neighborhood: West Portal

2 West Portal
San Francisco, CA 94127

Janney B. writes: This evening, I saw a homeless guy here shoving Pepsi, Fritos, and Nutter Butters in his coat and down his pants.

He saw that I was watching him, and instead of being scared, he used my tall frame as a human shield to protect him from the cashiers'…

J2 Impressions
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

1839 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94115

andy r. writes: J2 has done half the work for you with their excellent selection of hand-mades and ' look-just-like-hand- mades'.

While waiting for the 24 Muni, I dodged into this little card shop to grab a card to give to cutie for no apparent reason.

I pulled…

Lucciola Children's Bookstore
Neighborhood: North Oakland, Piedmont Ave

3980 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611

Rinky N. writes: Even though my own kid is a teen,
I still love going to this lovely kids'
bookstore on Piedmont Avenue.  The people who run this store obviously LOVE books and kids and all their customers.

It is so refreshing to be greeted so warmly each time I step…

Wildlife Works

475 Gate 5 Rd
Ste 120
Sausalito, CA 94965

laura b. writes: Buy super cute, adorable, hip clothing for men, women and kids (as well as home and bath stuff and such) from Wildlife Works and actually gives back to both human and non-human animals.  See!  I care about humans too!  Sometimes!  I'll let their…

Guy's Flowers
Neighborhood: Castro

195 Noe Street
San Francisco, CA 94114

Sean O. writes: Located right on the corner of 15th and Noe, this curbside flower shop always brings a smile to my face.  Guy is always nice and it feels good to shop locally.

Fiesta on the Hill
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights

515 Cortland Avenue
- OCTOBER 21 this year, 2007 -
San Francisco, CA 94110

Mel P. writes: I love Fiesta on the Hill and I go to it every year, then again, I'm just a block away from it but still--it's a great block party where people can get together and eat good food (the BBQ is awesome, then again, I eat everything) and check out  the…

Rebel8
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill, Dogpatch

2415 3rd St
Ste 261
San Francisco, CA 94107

Professor J. writes: Rebel8 is rad

Rebel8 is DIY

Rebel8 is growing

Rebel8 is San Francisco

Rebel8 is tall can with a tightly wrapped brown paper bag

Rebel8 is specific

http://shop.rebel8.com/ - now you can buy direct.

Valencia Interiors
Neighborhood: Mission

974 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Kristina R. writes: Gosh, I sure do with I could afford to live like an adult with adult furniture and adult paychecks.  But I can't.  UNTIL NOW!

Reasonably priced, hip looking furniture worthy of the trendy Mission Street location they call home...and not one bean bag…

Tower Records Video Books
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin

2280 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

Kristina R. writes: I like this Tower.  They were nice and didn't laugh at me when I asked for the new Nelly Fritatta CD.  

And they DID laugh when I asked for a copy of Romancing the Bone.  

They're A-OK in my book o' cool.

The Next-to-New Shop & Consignment Boutique
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights

2226 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94115

Gregor G. writes: I'm not much for thrift store trolling or dead people's stuff in general, but this is a pretty cool shoppe. You always overhear interesting conversations and the well-polished, classy minxes running it really dress the place up. Wander through --…

Lush
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

2116 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94101

Adam W. writes: All I wanted to do while there was take a luscious (or lushious) bite out of one of the bars of soap.

Anyway, this is a good place to grab a gift bag. Sales folks are pushy but offer good suggestions. They'll set off a demo soap bomb for you too.

Next…

Rock Paper Scissors
Neighborhood: Uptown

2278 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94612

Lukey B. writes: A charming little establishment. It is comprised of a group of volunteers that run it. The store hosts arts and craft classes. Some of which are free of charge and others that are a nominal fee. They sell art contributed by local artists as well as…

Puma Store
Neighborhood: Union Square, SOMA

856 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Clinton K. writes: I see you looking, I know you like my style.

Well, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. My style was born in this Puma Store.

I mentioned before, I came to San Francisco five years ago for a conference while I was in college and I crammed as…

Payless Shoe Source
Neighborhood: Union Square, SOMA

934 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Lauren S. writes: Don't hate on cheap shoes.
In all the years i waited tables, and needed cheap non-slip soled shoes Payless came through .
If I ever needed a casual pair of shoes for work in a jiffy, Payless came through.
My favorite pair of white flats.  Where do you…

Dish Clothing
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

541 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Stellah D. writes: nice things with space around them make this store a delight to browse in. The range is typified by perfect detail, and as Elena says, and I echo, God, if there is such a thing, is in the details.

Bare Escentuals
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin

Pier 39
San Francisco, CA 94102

michelle i. writes: really good make-up! all products are made with natural minerals so its actually good for your skin.

Saks Fifth Avenue Men's Store
Neighborhood: Union Square

220 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Peter M. writes: I'm like a fat kid at a bake sale in this store.  Running around and sweating wanting to taste all the cupcakes and pies, hitting up my inhaler so I don't get an Asthma attack and avoiding my mom so she doesn't yell at me for furthering my already…

Ixia
Neighborhood: Castro

2331 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94114

Fong L. writes: Our company gets an arrangement from Ixia every week, and they're almost always beautiful and creative.  These gay boys know their flowers... the lines are always well put together, and they have great taste in general.  I've now ordered from them…

Lolo's Boudoir

San Francisco, CA 94101

erika l. writes: If there were one word I could use to describe my photo session at Lolo's Boudoir, it would be: baptismal.  That may be far too dramatic a term but it really sums up my inspiring photo experience with photographer Lone Mrch Schneider. My 34th…

Men's Wearhouse

47 Colma Blvd
Colma, CA 94014

Steven N. writes: Every couple of years I buy a new suit. I'm not someone that needs to wear one every day so I really have no idea what is happening in men's fashion. Years ago I tried the $100 suit approach and I ended up looking like a construction worker in a…

Orchard Supply Hardware

1025 Ashby Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710

Cathleya G. writes: If you have to choose between Home Depot and OSH, come here if youre looking for something common like a garden hose, a hand shovel, paint brushes, etc.  While the selection is definitely lacking compared to the Home Depot, theres plenty of helpful…

Papyrus
Neighborhood: Financial District

111 Battery Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Kelly H. writes: I am so not about cards with fabric butterflies on them and a shoe made out of ceramic super glued to a plain white card that's blank inside.  But Papyrus is just hard to resist... it has all the things you don't need to send someone a card to say…

The North Face Outlet

1238 5th St
Berkeley, CA 94710

Keane L. writes: Piles upon piles of strange colors and huge sizes. A man so fat as to wear XXXL does not need North Face clothing. He already sweats naked bullets in the tundra. Now you want him to be bright yellow too?

Clarissa Bridal Salon

1426 S Main St
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Sara O. writes: These days, you can almost always find a better deal online than in a small shop.  In my opinion, businesses need to give me a reason not to go on the Internet and spend less of my hard earned money.  Clarissa's definitely earned my money.  I don't…

Edgewise Arts
Neighborhood: Mission

3481 19th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Sally K. writes: Dan King runs his small framing shop out of the most adorable little space off Valencia.  If you want to frame your Rembrandt than obviously only a Versaille 4" wide, gold finish frame will do.  Or, if you're looking to frame that drawing you did for…

Oakland Art Murmur
Neighborhood: Uptown

23rd St and Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94612

Patrick M. writes: I've never quite understood why they tagged this event with the word "murmur".

Murmur:   a soft-sounded and quiet utterance, often where the speaker does not want to be known.

With the hipster hordes in full effect, free-flowing wine, plentiful…

Workshop
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow

2254 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

Dunzo S. writes: Exceptionally beautiful clothing. This boutique doesn't cater to the high designer fashion houses (try Susan of Burlingame San Francisco or M.A.C) They simply carry exquisite clothing, scarves, and other types of similarly beautiful pieces.

Derco Fine Jewelers
Neighborhood: SOMA

888 Brannan Sreet
Suite 137
San Francisco, CA 94103

Katie F. writes: Reasons why I LOVE Derco Jewelers:

10.  They give you bottles of water while you shop.  Clearly they're concerned with your physical well being as well as helping you select the perfect engagement ring or gift.

9.  It's located in the The GiftCenter in…

Gator Games & Hobby

4212 Olympic Ave
San Mateo, CA 94403

Shannon M. writes: The best store for RPGs and cards related to RPGs if we are talking along the Peninsula.  

Pretty good selection of hard to find materials as well as board games.  Miniatures, magazines, accessories and the like, too.

Extremely helpful staff. Most of…

San Francisco's Chinatown
Neighborhood: Nob Hill, Chinatown

Grant Avenue and Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94101

Kristina R. writes: It happened one year that many of the parents in my class were Chinese.  I mean Old School Chinese.  And they were great.  They all showered me with food, which is always the best way to bribe me into giving your kid "special treatment."

But it was…

Yun Yun Wong
Neighborhood: Inner Sunset

1000 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA 94122

Autumn K. writes: An amazonian white girl walks into  a store clearly marketing clothing toward the more petite Inner-Sunset asian population...and walks out with THE cutest to-die-for olive green cargo pants that can be worn with heels and cashmere for dinner or…

Natural Resources
Neighborhood: Mission

1367 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Nish N. writes: There are so many toxins and who knows what else out there, and you really start to pay attention once you have your own child. Everything NR carries is, well, natural. Or organic. Or very tested and approved, at the very least.

The store is also a…

Educational Exchange
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

600 35th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94121

andy r. writes: It's mid-July and the parents begin to panic. The summer camps are winding down. Unaddressed concerns from that last teacher conference about academic progress are starting to itch. Boredom is setting in with the kids. 'The devil will find work for…

Weinstein Gallery
Neighborhood: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin

383 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Mickey R. writes: An absolute pleasure in every way, Weinstein Gallery is an afternoon well spent. An afternoon, because you will not learn more about modern art in a shopping district any where in the U.S., save the Wal-Mart on the corner of Klan and Lout in Pig…

Timbuk2
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley

506 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102

Ed to the M. writes: I feel like I have to practice Cafe-Gratitude-like self-affirmations when I enter Timbuk2.

I Am Socially Responsible.
I Am Frugally Rich.
I Am Vanguard.
I Am Casually Urban.
My Consumer Choices Speak My Lifestyle.
I Think Globally and Spend Locally.…

Kiehl's
Neighborhood: Fourth Street

1848 4th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Hayley L. writes: I hate places like Bath and Body Works, places that just smell like artificial scented crap from the moment you step in...   This place is like the anti - Bath and Body Works.  The packaging is simple.  The layout of the store is straightforward.…