The best vinyl shops are in the Lower Haight, a pretty funky but fun area. Jack's Record Cellar and Rooky Ricardo's have been around since I moved here 27 years ago. From there, you can walk west about about eight blocks to Upper Haight where all the hippie shops are. On your way from Lower to Upper Haight, turn right on Pierce Street to stop at Mickey's Monkey, a funky used stuff store. Then walk two more blocks down Haight and turn right on Divisadero. 1 1/2 blocks down on the left is a store called The Other Shop. It has mostly mid century mod stuff with some fun vintage clothes in the back. Golddust mentioned the Goodwill at Mission and S. Van Ness. There is another one in the Upper Haight. The Mission District has several used bookstores and another great thrift store called Community Thrift on Valencia Street. Actually, the Mission District may be fun for both daughters. Used bookstores, used and new hip clothing stores, galleries with works by young artists very influenced by Japanese pop culture, Clarion Alley murals (see link below), and a comfortable lesbian presence on Valencia Street. As marti8a found out, the Mission Street bus can be real (ahem) urban experience. I would recommend taking a cab or BART. You can easily rent a car from downtown for a day to go to Muir Woods. Also, the Dickens Fair mentioned by Fun2BHere is really fun, especially if your daughters have read any Dickens in school. Have a great trip! Lisa Here is a link that might be useful: Clarion Alley

Cool--we'll be closer than we are when we're back home in the same state :) We'll be visiting some fun mosaic places (e.g. the Institute of Mosaic Art), doing at least one chocolate factory tour (it's for my daughter, not me, I promise :)), and otherwise trying to keep ourselves entertained for 5 days while DH studies his brain out. We have one day together on a Saturday to go to Muir Woods etc., then back home. I'm trying to restrain myself, but SF is a bit of a modern design *heaven*, and I suspect DD will be receiving some advanced homeschooling seminars in Eichler architecture and the multifaceted oeuvre of the Eames :)

I live in the Bay Area - have since 1986, so I was here for Loma Prieta, and numerous small earthquakes. They've taken some getting used to, but I've made sure we have our "kit" stocked and prepared. Especially after the Gulf States' storms and aftermaths, I think it's prudent to be prepared for at least a week of "no services".... Anyway, I've read most of Laurie King's books, the ones that I can find - the series started with "The Beekeeper's Apprentice", and I've found them pretty good. While the concept that Holmes might've married so late, and to someone so much younger seems a bit of a stretch, King makes the stories interesting, and the characters consistent. She addresses Holmes' previous attachments, or lack thereof, and makes some plausible rationales. The books also cover a lot of geographical territory, and adds some historical interest as well. There's another book that was prescient in discussing the effects on earthquakes and levees - "A Dangerous Place" by Marc Reisner. (He also wrote "Cadillac Desert", which discussed the development of the American West and the effect on water use.) Considering the current focus on earthquakes, I'm sure Mr. Reisner, if he were still alive, would be feeling pretty vindicated... take care! litlbit

It looks like it was probably a cheap beach house/vacation home when it was built back in the day. It was probably about $40,000 when it was new....guessing. I don't think it's pretty at all but it just looks like a summer home. If it was on Bolivar Peninsula on the Gulf, which is what it reminds me of, it would probably sell for less than $200,000 and be used for rental. I also noticed the water damage on the ceilings which instantly reduced its value/appeal for me.