Explore SF
6th Avenue & Clement

Guardian Photo by Brandon Joseph Baker

Russian, Korean, Chinese, and Irish influences all converge in the Inner Richmond neighborhood, and you can find them all present at this usually sunny, bustling intersection. The nearby Park Presidio to the north is perfect for nature lovers, and further up Clement Street you'll find an almost-suburban ambiance with well-kept family homes and adorable little gardens.

Green Apple Books and Music
With three ramshackle floors of books in the main building and a large fiction and music annex two doors down, Green Apple is the largest used bookstore in Northern California - and carries a seemingly infinite range of new titles as well. Exploring the haphazardly stacked tomes of yore here could easily engross you for weeks.
506 Clement. (415) 387-2272, www.greenapplebooks.com

Toy Boat
An tasty ice cream store brimming with rare toys and hilarious hard-to-find novelty items, this cute aqua-painted outpost of collectibles is an inner child's dream come true. Gaze upon the many frozen faces of Pee Wee Herman marionettes as you lick your pistachio cone with sprinkles.
401 Clement. (415) 751-7501

Antique Traders
Art nouveau and stained glass by the crateload, intricately carved jade figurines, and bountiful Victorian busts profusely line the aisles of this multiroomed antique heaven. Well worth the side trip just to browse through the estate bounties of San Francisco's rich and well-appointed, even if you may not be able to afford a Tiffany interior.
4300 California. (415) 668-4444, www.theantiquetraders.com

Good Luck Dim Sum
Park your buns in the tiny dining area to chow down on scrumptious pork buns and sticky rice, or grab a green onion pancake and parcel of shrimp dumplings to go. Good Luck is only one of the many dim sum pit stops along Clement Street, but it's one of the best. It's also one of the hippest, so expect a lengthy but culturally literate line.
736 Clement. (415) 386-3388

Spices!
Somewhere it's written that everyone should try pig's intestine casserole with "numbing chili oil" just once in their life. OK, there's probably some exceptions, amid the other curious and familiar items on this nouveau-Sichuanese hole in the wall's menu. Boasting pumped-up peppery flavors that'll make you burst into tears, the multiple offerings here are at least a must-see, if not a must-try.
294 Eighth Ave. (415) 752-8884, www.eatspices.com

The Plough and Stars
A lively roster of folksy Celtic musicians and boatloads of Guinness in this attitude-free tavern are its claims to fame, although the lovely local lads and lasses who flock to The Plough and Stars' bar and worn-smooth benches are its main attraction. Several other Irish pubs dot the area, so your glass will never unfrost and your head will never fall.

116 Clement. (415) 751-1122, www.theploughandstars.com

  • Inner Sunset
    Muni: N Judah, 6 Parnassus
    To the south of the Richmond district, on the other side of Golden Gate Park, is the Sunset district, named to attract homebuyers to its rather foggy environs. But it's actually quite sunny on many days, and Irving and Judah streets between Fourth and 10th avenues offer a number of interesting shops, restaurants, and bakeries, as well as sidewalks packed with casual strollers and young mothers pushing double-wide prams. It's not too upscale, but since it's pretty family oriented and right off the park, perusing this area makes for a nice side trip. For some of the best Cajun and seafood cooking, stop by PJ's Oysterbed (737 Irving, 415-566-7775, www.pjsoysterbed.com) to enjoy a New Orleans-by-way-of-San Francisco - i.e., wildly festive yet healthy - lunch or dinner. Or grab a refreshing cupful of iced delight (you'll know the vanilla bean flavor by the picture of Vanilla Ice above it) before you hit the park at Holy Gelato (1392 Ninth Ave., 415-681-3061, www.holygelato.com ). If you're looking for some edifying entertainment back at the crib later - or just want to pick up some flyers and connect with some of the city's culturati - peruse the labyrinthine shelves of foreign and rare film releases at Le Video (1231 Ninth Ave., 415-566-3606, www.levideo.com).
  • Beaches
    Yes, those myths about San Francisco being foggy and cold are mostly true - although things heat up often, and the skies can be clear and the air dry for weeks at a stretch, especially in late spring and early fall. While the waters of the Pacific and the bay are far too cold and often too dangerous to swim in, locals usually find other ways to have fun on the city's beaches. Like by taking off their clothes, for example, and engaging in a spirited game of volleyball on picture-perfect Baker Beach (25th Ave. and El Camino del Mar, 415-566-0560) on the city's northwest outer reaches. Recent construction has made Baker less secluded and more accessible to families, so you may want to watch where you spike your balls. On the west side of town, Ocean Beach (Fulton and Great Highway, 415-561-4323) is a wide expanse of sand that sometimes hosts wild bonfire parties at night that attract Burning Man fans. And there's nothing like the exhilarating sight of hang gliders swooping over the cliffs of Fort Funston (Skyline Blvd. and John Muir Dr., 415-561-4323), just to the south of Ocean Beach.

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