If you close your eyes half way, you can almost imagine that the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets is still headquarters to the hippie movement during the Summer of Love in 1967. People fill the streets dressed in their bell-bottoms, tie-dyed shirts and love beads. On cooler days, which aren't uncommon in San Francisco, the flower children don their suede jackets draped with fringe. Even moccasins are still seen. Fingers are cramped into permanent peace signs from constant use.
But when you open your eyes you realize that much has happened in the Haight-Ashbury district since the 1960s. Nixon came and went. Ronald Reagan took one for The Gipper. And maybe most surprisingly for San Franciscans, the 49ers have become a true phenomenon in the world of football.
Still, through all the change, "the Haight" as the yuppies call it, has managed to keep its tradition while almost acknowledging current trends. The Haight is a wonderful place for the adventurous. With its many boutiques, galleries, and eating establishments, the Haight has become a contender in the shopping world of San Francisco.
The streets are lined with all sorts of shops. The merchandise sold in these stores ranges from beautifully beaded sweaters and trendy shoes, to antique housewares and clothing, to holograph art and unique prints. Each store offers something different from anything else on Haight Street.
Eating establishments follow a likewise pattern. They are similar in decór and locale but unique in the foods they serve and the decade they promote. Some cafes look like they have been in business since the 1960s (some of them have) and some are very contemporary both in the food they serve and the method of preparation. In tune with San Francisco tradition, there are foods from several different countries, everything from fresh bagels with vegetable cream cheese to chicken jumbalaya served over rice.
Several must-see landmarks make this area one stop not to be forgotten when visiting the city. The Victorians are magnificent. Many of them have been renovated, and they make a walk around the neighborhood a pleasant one (unlike other neighborhoods, this one has few hills). An interesting one to point out is the house at 710 Ashbury where the members of The Grateful Dead lived in the 1960s. 558 Clayton Street still houses the first free medical clinic opened in the United States.
Maybe the most intriguing part about the Haight is the concern for the environment that is felt all over that part of the city, which is a product of the old views as well as the new. That consciousness is timeless.
Friendly people, colorful atmoshpere, unique settings. If you can relate to all walks of life your friendly energy will cicumvent around you. You can be whoever you are and nobody cares. Unlock your mind and visit. If you swallow the magic you may look at life a little differently in a positive way. ....Click Here for the full review
Reviewer: A traveler, Chicago, IL Date Submitted: 11/03/2004
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