Faves and raves by Kathy Mancall
Personal stats
AGE: 42
YEARS IN THE CITY: 20
NEIGHBORHOOD: Mission district
OCCUPATION: Writer, creative director, knitter, proprietor of Princess Animal
SELF-DESCRIPTION: Awesome, obviously — a shut-in misanthrope
FAVORITE CARD SHOP
Serendipity
WHERE: 803 Valencia St., between 19th and 20th streets
WHAT: Quirky, fun cards and gifts
INFO: (415) 401-8760
It has an array of unexpected fun gifts and laugh-out-loud cards. There are some locally sourced products and they definitely support local artists/letterpress artists specifically. Personally, I’ve bought cards, socks and a spatula shaped like a guitar.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR HOMEMADE ITALIAN FOOD
Lucca Ravioli Company
WHERE: 1100 Valencia St., at 22nd Street
WHAT: Homemade ravioli
INFO: (415) 647-5581 or www.luccaravioli.com
It’s just a tiny, great Italian market. They specialize in homemade ravioli that is made right there but the other Italian treats are also great. It’s not terribly pricey. Lucca’s operates every day except Sunday.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR A SIT-IN COFFEE
Luv a Java
WHERE: 1300 Dolores St., at 26th Street
WHAT: Perfect spot to get work done
INFO: (415) 401-6444 or www.luvajava.com
It is my favorite coffee shop. It obviously has great coffee. If I still had an office, it would be my office away from the office. I go in the morning, as it’s the best place to get work done. The owners Abe and Ruth are very friendly.
FAVORITE RECORD STORE
Aquarius
WHERE: 1055 Valencia St., between 21st and 22nd streets
WHAT: Best music recommendations
INFO: (415) 647-2272 or www.aquariusrecords.org
iTunes can’t beat my man Irwin for great recommendations. He is the nicest, most unpretentious music guy. I can get obscure excellent CDs like Asian pop records from the ’60s and ’70s, which is better than it sounds.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR DESSERT TO GO
Mission Pie
WHERE: 2901 Mission St., at 25th Street
WHAT: Desserts fit for a dinner party
INFO: (415) 282-1500 or www.missionpie.com
This place is great to get an impressive dessert to bring to a dinner party when you are too lazy or busy to make one. I like their seasonal fruit pies and their banana cream pie.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR CLOTHES SHOPPING
Afterlife Boutique
WHERE: 988 Valencia St., between Liberty and 21st streets
WHAT: Just cool clothes
INFO: (415) 796-2398
It’s a cute and quirky hipster boutique. They just have cool clothes. I go for their collection of Cheap Monday stuff. The guy Byron is very helpful. The prices aren’t too bad. It won’t burn a huge hole in your pocket.
FAVORITE WATERING HOLE
Dovre Club
WHERE: 1498 Valencia St., at 26th Street
WHAT: The place to become a regular
INFO: (415) 285-4169
It’s my local. I go for the friendliest, closest bar buddy in The City (it’s my Cheers). I ask him for recommendations, and I know it will always be awesome. It’s the next big thing. Dovre is for drinking with friends and socializing with a community of awesome people. It’s sort of its own little community. It’s not a fancy bar, but the atmosphere is very friendly and cozy. Don’t miss Dee’s Dirty Baby Martini, Powers on the rocks and a refreshing Magners.
FAVORITE ROOFTOP BAR FOR A COCKTAIL ON SUNNY AFTERNOONS
Medjool
WHERE: 2522 Mission St., between 21st and 22nd streets
WHAT: Place to wile away a sunny Sunday afternoon
INFO: (415) 550-9055 or www.medjoolsf.com
Medjool is the best, and perhaps the only, rooftop bar to enjoy a cocktail on a sunny afternoon, and to see a wide view of the Mission in all its glory. I advise to only go there during the day and strictly on sunny afternoons — otherwise it can be full of a different crowd. I don’t go there for music but for their excellent cocktails, the Pimm’s Cup specifically.
Laura Colgan
Faves and raves by Kathy Mancall
Personal stats
AGE: 42
YEARS IN THE CITY: 20
NEIGHBORHOOD: Mission district
OCCUPATION: Writer, creative director, knitter, proprietor of Princess Animal
SELF-DESCRIPTION: Awesome, obviously — a shut-in misanthrope
FAVORITE CARD SHOP
Serendipity
WHERE: 803 Valencia St., between 19th and 20th streets
WHAT: Quirky, fun cards and gifts
INFO: (415) 401-8760
It has an array of unexpected fun gifts and laugh-out-loud cards. There are some locally sourced products and they definitely support local artists/letterpress artists specifically. Personally, I’ve bought cards, socks and a spatula shaped like a guitar.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR HOMEMADE ITALIAN FOOD
Lucca Ravioli Company
WHERE: 1100 Valencia St., at 22nd Street
WHAT: Homemade ravioli
INFO: (415) 647-5581 or www.luccaravioli.com
It’s just a tiny, great Italian market. They specialize in homemade ravioli that is made right there but the other Italian treats are also great. It’s not terribly pricey. Lucca’s operates every day except Sunday.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR A SIT-IN COFFEE
Luv a Java
WHERE: 1300 Dolores St., at 26th Street
WHAT: Perfect spot to get work done
INFO: (415) 401-6444 or www.luvajava.com
It is my favorite coffee shop. It obviously has great coffee. If I still had an office, it would be my office away from the office. I go in the morning, as it’s the best place to get work done. The owners Abe and Ruth are very friendly.
FAVORITE RECORD STORE
Aquarius
WHERE: 1055 Valencia St., between 21st and 22nd streets
WHAT: Best music recommendations
INFO: (415) 647-2272 or www.aquariusrecords.org
iTunes can’t beat my man Irwin for great recommendations. He is the nicest, most unpretentious music guy. I can get obscure excellent CDs like Asian pop records from the ’60s and ’70s, which is better than it sounds.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR DESSERT TO GO
Mission Pie
WHERE: 2901 Mission St., at 25th Street
WHAT: Desserts fit for a dinner party
INFO: (415) 282-1500 or www.missionpie.com
This place is great to get an impressive dessert to bring to a dinner party when you are too lazy or busy to make one. I like their seasonal fruit pies and their banana cream pie.
FAVORITE PLACE FOR CLOTHES SHOPPING
Afterlife Boutique
WHERE: 988 Valencia St., between Liberty and 21st streets
WHAT: Just cool clothes
INFO: (415) 796-2398
It’s a cute and quirky hipster boutique. They just have cool clothes. I go for their collection of Cheap Monday stuff. The guy Byron is very helpful. The prices aren’t too bad. It won’t burn a huge hole in your pocket.
FAVORITE WATERING HOLE
Dovre Club
WHERE: 1498 Valencia St., at 26th Street
WHAT: The place to become a regular
INFO: (415) 285-4169
It’s my local. I go for the friendliest, closest bar buddy in The City (it’s my Cheers). I ask him for recommendations, and I know it will always be awesome. It’s the next big thing. Dovre is for drinking with friends and socializing with a community of awesome people. It’s sort of its own little community. It’s not a fancy bar, but the atmosphere is very friendly and cozy. Don’t miss Dee’s Dirty Baby Martini, Powers on the rocks and a refreshing Magners.
FAVORITE ROOFTOP BAR FOR A COCKTAIL ON SUNNY AFTERNOONS
Medjool
WHERE: 2522 Mission St., between 21st and 22nd streets
WHAT: Place to wile away a sunny Sunday afternoon
INFO: (415) 550-9055 or www.medjoolsf.com
Medjool is the best, and perhaps the only, rooftop bar to enjoy a cocktail on a sunny afternoon, and to see a wide view of the Mission in all its glory. I advise to only go there during the day and strictly on sunny afternoons — otherwise it can be full of a different crowd. I don’t go there for music but for their excellent cocktails, the Pimm’s Cup specifically.
