Discovering favorite spots in the Haight

The Haight/Ashbury neighborhood was founded after the rebellion era of rock n' roll in the 1960's. Still the nostalgia and culture has been preserved. Tourists and locals alike lavish in the storefronts, restaurants, and psychedelic lifestyles. The freethinking decade with daisy chains and tie-dyed swirls everywhere never ended here. Making friends and meeting new people is as easy as taking a walk down Haight St.

I was first introduced to the area via my roommate. We met in a strange way at a church picnic, on the other side of town. I was new in town, with my toddler son, and needed to find a new place. My roommate, Emily, had lived here for one year from Michigan. She moved to the Haight to be near USF, where she is studying to get her doctorate in law. She showed me the walk of life in this hood.

We started off peeking in store windows on Haight St. I told Emily I was in love with the beat of the Haight. The tall trees and funny smells of a forest in the panhandle park were like a new world to me. Each day, I take my son to play in the park, and other days I can go jogging. Later on, we began selling and buying used clothes at the consignment shops like Buffalo Exchange. Emily showed me her favorite top eat spots: Squat and Gobble, and The People's Café. Emily loves to cook, and the stores like The Haight Market always carry fresh fruits and vegetables for making homemade apple pie. The coffee shops in the area are like most of the eating-places, all have independent artist's work hung on their walls. The ambience of the simple things here is just so tranquil.

Whether getting around to shop, eat, or take photos like Rambo on his last mission, there's constantly something to do. One common ground to break on with new friends from the street is the history of the Haight. Everyone who I have met with more than 10 years in the vicinity loves to talk about the early Yerba Buena century of San Francisco, and the foundation of the Victorian Row houses. I enjoy learning more on this topic each day. Find your spot to have new cultures and outdoor adventures in the Haight. The park is full of bikers, kids, and current era rebellions just as it was then. Don't hate it!