Faves and raves by Bryan Ranere
Personal stats
AGE: 42
YEARS IN THE CITY: 19
NEIGHBORHOOD: Noe Valley
OCCUPATION: Drink maker and bar manager at Foreign Cinema and Laszlo
SELF-DESCRIPTION: Enthusiastic fan, participant and collector of the best things in life
FAVORITE HOLE IN THE WALL
The Attic
WHERE: 3336 24th St., between Osage and Bartlett streets
WHAT: The perfect dive
INFO: (415) 643-3376
The Attic is a perfect dive. Cheap prices on good spirits, long narrow bar, dark lighting, a few interesting characters and decent music.
FAVORITE PLACE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC
The Great American Music Hall
WHERE: 859 O’Farrell St., between Larkin and Polk streets
WHAT: Intimate grandeur and warm sound
INFO: (415) 885-0750 or www.musichallsf.com
The Great American Music Hall offers intimate grandeur. It’s like a small-scale Fillmore. The room has a really good, warm sound, and it might be the last chance to catch a great band before they graduate to large theaters or arenas.
FAVORITE PLACE TO SEE A FILM
Castro Theatre
WHERE: 429 Castro St. between Market and 18th streets
WHAT: The ultimate palace
INFO: (415) 621-6120 or www.castrotheatre.com
The Castro is the ultimate palace! That’s the first theater I went to when I moved here in ’91. The movie was “Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut.” It’s so beautiful that I wanted to get married there! My mother-in-law nixed it.
FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT SNACK
Won Mi Korean
WHERE: 1545 Fillmore St., between Geary Boulevard and O’Farrell Street
WHAT: Start with a nice pot of tea and a great array of kimchi
INFO: (415) 441-3906
They bring you a nice pot of tea and a great array of kimchi to start. Then, bring on the sizzling meats! It’s always a spicy afterparty.
FAVORITE PLACE TO GET A CUP OF COFFEE
Grand Coffee
WHERE: 2663 Mission St., between 22nd and 23rd streets
WHAT: Nabil’s brew is perfect; try the egg creams
INFO: (415) 206-1238
I drink espresso at home, but when I’m out, I like a fancy coffee drink! I think Nabil over at Grand Coffee on Mission Street is really killing it now. … He’s got the perfect draw every time, and he makes delicious egg creams!
FAVORITE BAR
Laszlo
WHERE: 2526 Mission St., between 21st and 22nd streets
WHAT: Fresh ingredients, reasonable prices, diverse clientele and music.
INFO: (415) 401-0810 or www.laszlobar.com
On my night off, I might be out and I’ll get a call from friends saying, “Guess where we are?”
FAVORITE CHEAP EATS
Peasant Pies
WHERE: 4108 24th St., between Castro and Diamond streets
WHAT: Healthy sweet and savory options for under three bucks
INFO: (415) 642-1316 or www.peasantpies.com
During the day, I like Peasant Pies. Great for a quick breakfast or lunch with a wide variety of healthy, nourishing tastes.
FAVORITE PLACE TO SEE ART
White Walls
WHERE: 837 Larkin St., between Myrtle and Geary streets
WHAT: An interesting variety of talent, from “street art” to modern painters
INFO: (415) 931-1500 or www.whitewallssf.com
White Walls showcases an interesting variety of talent that mixes what is categorized as “street art” with modern painters with more traditional backgrounds.
FAVORITE PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS
Ferry Building Farmers Market
WHERE: Outside the Ferry Building, at the foot of Market Street
WHAT: A variety of taste with a great view of the Bay
INFO: (415) 291-3276
There are so many delicious tastes under one roof, and it’s a beautiful example of what makes this part of the country great.
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