:: Love and Haight

Posted by Vanessa on February 22, 2008

When I told my mum that Stephen and I had been to Haight/Ashbury, it sounded like her face lit up (over the phone, see). A big time seventies hippy, my mum had heard plenty about Haight and had always wanted to see it. I don’t know how much it’s changed, but it reminded me of a hybrid Melrose-Venice Beach; small boutique shops, incense-and-scarves-selling shops, hipster shops, and the original Amoeba records. It was lovely walking around in the sunshine, taking in the bustle. I had the best orange juice ever in a cafe just on this stretch and I can’t remember the name of the place, darn it! In the fabric shop pictured, a woman with very purple hair told me where the Singer shop was located since she had sold out of magnetic edge guides. Everyone seemed helpful and charming - recommending the best cookie, or helping us figure out which way the Golden Gate bridge was. All in all, one more lovely way to spend time in San Francisco.

Categories: local guide, shopping, style
Tags: Haight Asbbury, san francisco, shopping, wandering

10 Responses to “Love and Haight”

1. Emily says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 am

   That sounds lovely! I am wanting to go somewhere in the UK with D, and in my head I think I have pictured somewhere similar… not sure if there is anywhere like this in the UK though!

2. Kayla says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 9:03 am

   I like the idea of very purple hair. I liked it so much when I was 16, that I had that hair color for 6 months. Sigh. I miss it.

3. Kirsty says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 am

   Ooh, how exciting! I’d love to do San Fran next time I visit.

4. Joelle says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 am

   Ooh! I have a photo from my trip last year, that matches this post’s title perfectly:
   

   Love that street.

5. Vanessa says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm

   Kayla - I think purple was my favourite hair colour as well. It washed out the least horribly too.

   Jo - what a great photograph! How appropriate…

   Em - hmm, the corn exchange is a bit Haight-y or it used to be, but that’s not an exotic enough destination for you and D!

6. Kirsty says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 7:06 pm

   Yeah, purple did produce the least nasty washing-out colours. I once dyed my hair midnight blue and had to go around with swamp green hair for a while as it washed out.

7. Vanessa says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm

   I had swamp head too! That was right before I had to be a bridesmaid and dye it brown again.

8. Em says:
   February 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm

   The Corn Exchange is practically empty now - they are trying to get all the little independent shops to leave so that they can turn it into a food emporium, or something. It is so sad, the Corn Exchange used to be so lovely. Now there are only a few shops left…

9. Vanessa says:
   February 24th, 2008 at 2:21 am

   I bet Grin is still there?

10. Em says:
    February 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

    I’m not sure… I think it might be. I just know I went in with Ec the other week, and we left pretty soon after as there was hardly anything in there. It made me sad.

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