San Francisco - Alison Bing [101]
Tans are too LA; in SF everyone is after that dewy, fogged-in-for-months fresh face. This Sebastopol-based company uses natural ingredients like rice bran and honey in the aptly named Rice & Shine facial wash, kava kava in the narcolepsy-inducing Knockout Bath Melt, and coconut cream in sea-salt scrubs that leave you as emollient as a Pier 39 sea lion.
MINGLE Map Clothing & Accessories, Local Designer
415-674-8811; www.mingleshop.com; 1815 Union St; 11am-7pm Mon-Fri, 10:30am-7pm Sat, 11am-7pm Sun; 41, 45, 47, 49, 76
To break up the khaki monotony of the Gap and wrest free of H&M trends, get out there and Mingle with SF designers. Local designers keep this boutique stocked with hot Cleopatra-collar dresses, mod ring-buckled bags and plaid necklaces, all for less than you’d pay for Marc Jacobs on mega-sale. Men emerge from Mingle date-ready in dark tailored denim and black Western shirts with white piping – the SF version of a tux.
MY ROOMMATE’S CLOSET Map Clothing & Accessories
415-447-7703; www.myroommatescloset.com; 3044 Fillmore St; 11am-6:30pm Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm Sat, noon-5pm Sun; 22, 28, 41, 43, 45
All the half-off bargains and none of the clawing dangers of a sample sale. You’ll find cloudlike Catherine Malandrino chiffon party dresses, executive-office Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dresses, and designer denim at prices approaching reality.
UKO Map Clothing & Accessories
415-563-0330; 2070 Union St; 11am-6:30pm Mon-Sat, noon-5:30pm Sun; 22, 28, 41, 43, 45
Laser-cut, draped and micro-pleated are the fashion-forward signatures of Uko’s inventive garments for men and women. Get bonus fashion IQ points for clever jackets with hidden pockets-within-pockets, Cop-Copine wrap skirts with oddly flattering flaps, and silver drop earrings that add an exclamation point to your look.
PLUMPJACK WINES Map Food & Drink, Local Makers
415-346-9870; www.plumpjack.com; 3201 Fillmore St; 11am-8pm Mon-Fri, to 8pm Sat, to 6pm Sun; 22, 28, 41, 43, 45
Discover a new favorite organically grown California vintage under $30 at the distinctive wine boutique that won former owner Mayor Gavin Newsom respect from even Green Party gourmets. A more knowledgeable staff is hard to find anywhere in SF, and they’ll set you up with the right bottles to cross party lines.
ATYS Map Housewares
415-441-9220; www.atysdesign.com; 2149b Union St; 11am-6:30pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun; 22, 41, 45
Tucked away in a courtyard, this design showcase offers version 2.0 of essential household items: a mirrored coat rack, a rechargeable flashlight that turns a wineglass into a lamp, and a zero-emissions solar-powered toy airplane.
SPORTS BASEMENT Map Sporting Goods
415-437-0100; www.sportsbasement.com; 610 Old Mason St; 9am-9pm Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm Sat & Sun; 15
All you triathletes who desperately need your gait analyzed or your kiddies outfitted with rental snowboards, you’ve come to the right place – and so have all you slackers looking to cadge a free coffee or hot cider in the Presidio. This 70,000 sq ft of sports and camping equipment was once a US Army PX, which is why you’ll find hiking boots near the Fresh Produce sign.
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SOMA
SFMOMA MUSEUM STORE Map Books, Gifts
415-357-4000; www.sfmoma.org/museumstore; 151 3rd St; 10am-6:30pm Mon-Wed & Fri-Sun, to 9:30pm Thu; 6, 7, 14, 21, 31, 71, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Montgomery St
Design fetishists may have to be pried away from the glass shelves and display cases, which brim with porcelain carafes shaped like logs, chirping bird pencil-clip holders and watches with a face to match Mario Botta’s black-and-white SFMOMA facade. Contemporary art books will keep aspiring collectors absorbed for hours, and kids will be entranced by William Wegman’s video of dogs spelling out the alphabet.
GAMA-GO Map Clothing & Accessories, Local Designer
415-626-0213; www.gama-go.com; 335 8th St; noon-6pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat & Sun; 12, 19, F, J, K, L, M, N; & Civic Center
Every one of SF-designer Gama-Go’s products seems calibrated to hit the fascination nerve: a bacon-printed