We all need a little Therapy now and then. This is kind of like design Therapy, via the Mission’s very own furnishings and home decor shop on the always hip-hopping Valencia Street. Valencia Street is full of great home decor shops, and Therapy is one of the good ones. Their furniture is mostly mid-century modern and designer knock-offs, stylish, quite colorful, and reasonably priced. It’s a good spot to find unique gifts too, as Therapy’s got a wonderful selection of home accessories, too, from cool clocks, to kitschy artwork from local artists, to throw pillows and ceramics. And who needs a shrink when you can get your own darn couch?

Therapy
545 Valencia Street (between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco 94110
415.865.0981

I love the neighborhood known as San Francisco’s Russian Hill and it’s main drag for great shopping and delicious cafes, Polk Street. I lived on Polk & Lombard (that crazy crooked street!) for many years and loved the Russian Hill neighborhood. It’s quite pretty and cozy, tucked up among the big hills that take you down into North Beach, once you hike up and over their steep 18% grades! It’s a ‘hood built on the hills to be sure. Big old mansions, including many beautiful Julia Morgan shingled beauties, and jammed packed with apartments, arm in arm with amazing views of the city and the bay. It’s home, as well, to Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City Macondray Lane - a lovely place to take a stroll. Just wear comfy shoes!

[image above: Russian Hill Pet Grooming, and the infamous Macondray Lane]

[Old Russian Hill Market, and the view at sunset]

[Cherry blossoms in bloom, and Cat Seto’s Paper Studio]

[ Swallowtail - one of my very favorite shops, and an aging old Victorian]

[Apartments in the sky, and old gilded glories]

[Beautiful bay windows, and Atelier de Modistes bridal boutique]

I dropped into the San Francisco location of Rare Device this weekend and had my usual head spinning desire for everything in the shop. Rena Tom and Lisa Congdon are the talented proprietors of Rare Device, both with an exquisite eye for the stupendously cool and crafty. From great local (and not so local) independent artists, to lovely hand crafted works of art, jewelry, clothing and design, I always find something at Rare Device that just needs to come along home with me. It’s true that their Brooklyn shop is sadly closing, but that will just give them more time to devote to us here in San Francisco, and to the Rare Device online shop, as well. Lisa and Rena have done a fantastic job decorating the shop, and I just enjoy being in the unique and art-filled atmosphere they have created. From the amazing mural, and mobile, to the way they display the art gallery work, being at Rare Device is invigorating - and I always leave with something new to enhance my surroundings, or inspire new thoughts and ideas. If you can’t get to San Francisco soon, be sure and drop in on the Rare Device online shop.

Rare Device
1845 Market Street, San Francisco 94103
415.863.3969
Hours: Tue/Wed/Fri/Sat, noon to 7pm; Thu, noon to 9pm; Sun, noon to 6pm

As you may already know if you read sfgirlbybay, I’m a big fan of thrifted accessories, furniture, art etcetera when decorating my apartment. Perhaps I was just born in the wrong era, because I’m a big fan of vintage cars, clothing and architecture as well. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. And finding eclectic treasures I love makes me happy when I look around my home and remember where I found them. The Alameda Flea Market , held the first Sunday of every month here in the bay area and with over 800 vendor booths, is my very favorite source for these finds. My thrifted finds are usually my favorite finds. I even keep track of them in a little journal; where I found them, what I paid and any other fun tidbit I’d like to remember. Here are just a few of the great items I saw at this last Sunday’s Flea Market.

A lot of folks go at the crack of dawn, but I don’t put rules around my flea marketing experience - it’s just plain fun for me. And if I don’t feel like waking up early, I find that if I go a little later, the vendors are usually keen to unload their merchandise (so they don’t have to pack it back up!) and are eager to give you a great deal. So, I am of the mindset that believes if you’re not one of those folks that can get moving too quickly in the morning, you can always head out a little later and find some pretty great deals towards the end of the day. I never bargain too much though, the vendors have a tough enough job as it is, and I like to be respectful of that. So splurge on the gorgeous sofa in yoru favorite retail shop, but remember, the flea market is a decorator’s best friend.

Alameda Flea Market
First Sunday of Every Month, 6am - 3pm
Directions.

How about a walk around San Francisco’s own little Italy, North Beach, today? I love North Beach, its funky little back alley shops, my favorite bookshop, City Lights Bookstore (home to beatniks like Jack Kerouac), every one’s favorite custom tailor, Al’s Attire, and more Italian food choices than you could possibly ever need, all nestled beneath historical Coit Tower. And it smells so good - loads of yummy Italian spices in the air. Here’s a glimpse of one of San Francisco’s most historical neighborhoods and one of my very favorites.

[image above: Cherry blossoms in bloom, and hats by Al’s Attire]

[image above: Favorite vintage finds at Aria, and the view from Union Street]

[image above: Gilded Victorian doorways, and the old Buon Gusto Sausage Factory]

[ Little City butcher shop, and vintage Vespa]

[ Sodini’s restaurant, and
Aria’s eclectic shop window]

Continuing in my quest to share all that is cool and good in San Francisco’s Mission district, I bring you the Candystore Collective . I love this quaint shop, filled with unique handmade and funky finds from all over the world, and all available online, as well. The Candystore Collective is a collaborative effort, owned by Jennifer Jones, Jenny Klowden, and Marilyn Jones. One partner is a designer, one a foodie, and the other a vintage hunter, and all of them were tired of homogeneous, mass-merchandised everything. So, the goal of the Candystore Collective is to find the kind of stuff from great designers and craftspeople that come from all over, “as long as their stuff is simply beautiful, or makes them laugh, is well made, handmade, was given a bunch of thought, or has great story, was the result of a passion, an obsession, or just a plain old weekend hobby, or simply a great idea, or made with love.” The partners know where everything comes from in the store, who made it, why they love it, and why you might like it too. There’s wonderful artwork from artists like Annie Galvin, journals from Meg Mateo Ilasco, great handbags and accessories from London designer Orla Kiely, and cute Woollyhoodwinks dolls from San Francisco artist, Jeff Root. All gathered with love under one very special San Francisco roof, and all available to purchase online.

http://www.candystorecollective.com/

http://3fishstudios.com/live/shop/gallery

http://www.mateoilasco.com/

http://www.woollyhoodwinks.com/

http://www.orlakiely.com/uk/

The BellJar is the Mission’s newest addition to the bountiful bevy of funky boutique shopping. Opened recently by designer Sasha Wingate, the BellJar is a mix of new and vintage finds….but mostly new. The beautiful boutique is chock full of home furnishings, ceramics, apothecary items, stationary and cards, garden-inspired gifts and even a bit of fashionable women’s apparel. The name gives a nod to Sylvia Plath, but it more references the Victorian age when BellJar’s were popularized as decorative accents. And, the BellJar’s intimate back room gallery also hosts art openings featuring a new local San Francisco artist every month.

BellJar
3187 16th Street (between Guerrero and Valencia Streets)
San Francisco, CA 94103
belljarsf@gmail.com
415.626.1749