Faves and raves by Sharon Beals (Click picture for Sharon's faves)
Personal stats
AGE: A woman of a certain age
YEARS IN THE CITY: 30
NEIGHBORHOOD: Potrero Hill
OCCUPATION: Photographer and author
SELF-DESCRIPTION: Passionate about habitat restoration and preservation, and usually wandering in one of San Francisco’s green spaces with her camera looking for birds and nests
FAVORITE DAILY MORNING RITUAL
Hiking Bernal Heights Hill
WHERE: Bernal Heights Boulevard
WHAT: Off-leash park with lots of greenery and views
INFO: www.yelp.com/biz/bernal-heights-hill-san-francisco
I love walking up Bernal Hill with friends and my little dog, enjoying great views of The City in all directions. It’s a sweet community of dogs and walkers, and enough of an uphill climb to get the blood flowing and the brain tuned up to face the day.
FAVORITE SATURDAY MORNING RITUAL
Alemany Farmers Market
WHERE: 100 Alemany Blvd.
WHAT: Affordable produce grown by small farmers
INFO: www.sfgsa.org/index.aspx?page=1058
A lot of organic produce with great stalls for breakfast and lunch. I’ve made friends with vendors over the years and they know what I like. Everything is fresh and cheap.
FAVORITE COMPUTER STORE
Create More
WHERE: 689 Third St., at Townsend Street
WHAT: Certified Apple dealers and specialists
INFO: (415) 896-9622 or www.createmore.com
You can’t beat the no-appointment drop off for repairs and great technical support. I got my last Macbook Pro from them, plus all of my data migrated for a decent price, and they even let me keep my messy desktop.
FAVORITE ART SUPPLY STORE
Arch Drafting and Supply
WHERE: 99 Missouri St., at 17th St.
WHAT: Tools for designers and supplies for artists
INFO: (415) 433-2724 or www.archsupplies.com
The place to go when you need anything for making or presenting your art. The informed staff are quite helpful, and there are always a few dogs to accompany your shopping.
FAVORITE MONTHLY NATURE LECTURE
San Francisco Naturalist Society
WHERE: The Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way
WHAT: People dedicated to S.F.’s natural environment
INFO: www.sfns.org
At San Francisco Naturalist Society monthly meetings at the Randall Museum, you can hear experts talking about everything from beekeeping to the islands of San Francisco Bay. A wonderful way to get to know natural S.F. in concert with a dedicated community of nature-lovers.
FAVORITE RESTORATION GROUP
Nature in the City
WHERE: Throughout The City
WHAT: Restoring S.F. biodiversity and wildlife habitats
INFO: (415) 564-4107 or www.natureinthecity.org
NITC is working on the restoration of 33 green areas in San Francisco, and Saturday mornings you can find a place to put on some gloves and join them. While you are at it, enjoy the wildlife and learn your wildflowers.
FAVORITE EVENING DE-STRESS
Heron’s Head Park
WHERE: Cargo Way at Jennings Street
WHAT: Salt Marsh and Uplands restoration with walking paths
INFO: www.sf-port.org/index.aspx?page=210
There is nothing like a walk in Heron’s Head Park with a little dog on a leash and binoculars around my neck to relax me after a long day. Lately I’ve been scouting for the recently-arrived rare California Clapper Rail.
FAVORITE ARTS COMMUNITY
Hunters Point Shipyard Artists
WHERE: Galvez Avenue, at Home Avenue, and 1 Rankin St., at Custer Avenue
WHAT: Home to many S.F. artists
INFO: www.shipyardartists.com
Hunters Point Shipyard Artists is where I have my studio and work on my plastic-in-the-ocean project. It is still wild enough to remind me what real artists’ lofts were like, the bird song is the soundtrack to my work, and the creative energy of the other artists is inspiring.
