San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide - Winter/Spring 2009 - (Page 16) D i s Cover hAiGhT-AshbuRy Known as hippy central during the Summer of Love in 1967, “the Haight” is now popular with a much more varied crowd. In fact, the best way to enjoy the district is simply by taking up residence at a cafe and people-watching for an afternoon. All types are drawn to the neighborhood for an incredible range of shopping and dining — a mix of upscale vintage shops, ethnic restaurants, design-forward gift shops, counterculture bookstores, high-end boutiques, record shops, Eastern importers and bead shops. Not-to-Miss Sights: Corner of Haight and Ashbury; Buena vista Park; The Grateful Dead house (710 Ashbury Street) [ PhOTO OP The street signs at the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets offer the perfect excuse to ham it up with your friends or family. Be sure to give the photographer the peace sign. ] MissiOn disTRicT “The Mission,” which is centered around the historic Mission Dolores dating back to 1776, is The City’s oldest neighborhood. Today the area is a prime example of how various cultures have merged in modern-day San Francisco. Explore the area and you’ll find you can choose either from a number of popular burrito joints or an array of top sushi restaurants; peruse vibrant murals from the sidewalk or step into sophisticated home stores; browse trendy thrift shops or explore a produce market that caters to the neighborhood’s large Latino population. Not-to-Miss Sights: Mission Dolores; Mission Dolores Park; The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts; Women’s Building Mural cAsTRO disTRicT Known as The City’s gay capital, this vibrant, close-knit neighborhood maintains its 1960s foundation of expressive activism. Named after its busiest street, the Castro is famous for its brightly restored victorians, rainbow flags and pulsating clubs. visitors also flock to the area’s novelty shops, organic coffeehouses and worldly restaurants. The movie “Milk” was recently filmed here, and many local landmarks were featured in the film, which stars Sean Penn. Not-to-Miss Sights: Castro Theatre; Harvey Milk Plaza; Pink Triangle Park; San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center. AbOVe: Vibrant murals decorate many of the Mission district’s buildings. ©Hernán Sosa 16 San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
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