San Francisco - Alison Bing [106]
415-436-9661; www.myspace.com/suigeneris_sfo; 2265 Market St; noon-7pm Wed & Thu, to 8pm Fri & Sat, to 4pm Sun; 24, F, K, L, M, Castro St
Even guys who thought they’d never go back in the closet crowd into this walk-in wardrobe of a boutique, with its streamlined Costume National jackets and crisp, slim-fit Filippa K shirts in front and deadstock rock tees in back. The selection is best for men who fit runway-model sizes, yet have relatively fat wallets – don’t think of them as clothes but collectibles, and auction them off on eBay next year.
CLIFF’S VARIETY Map DIY, Housewares
415-431-5365; www.cliffsvariety.com; 479 Castro St; 8:30am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9:30am-8pm Sat, 11am-6pm Sun; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
None of the hardware maestros at Cliff’s will raise an eyebrow if you express a dire need for a 4×4 beam, a jar of rubber nuns, non-toxic silver paint and more cocktail toothpicks than anyone can safely use in a lifetime, though they might angle for an invitation. The window displays at Cliff’s, a community institution since 1936, are a local landmark.
GIVEN Map Gifts
415-865-0353; www.givenonline.com; 575 Castro St; 11am-7pm Sun-Thu, to 8pm Fri & Sat; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
Have no fear of birthdays: it’s a Given that you’ll find worthy gifts for all ages in this emporium of offbeat design, from Kimochi the cuddly cloud to a wallet disguised as a memo-pad. If this storefront seems familiar, you’re right: this was once Harvey Milk’s camera shop Click here, and the shop closed for six weeks so that the Academy Award–winning Milk could be filmed here.
GLOBAL EXCHANGE FAIR TRADE CRAFT CENTER Map Gifts, Housewares
415-648-8068; www.globalexchangestore.org; 4018 24th St; 11am-6pm Sun-Thu, 11am-7pm Fri, 10am-7pm Sat; 24, 48, J
Consumerism with a heart of gold: wild splurges on splashy Rwandan laptop bags, fair-trade chocolate, sweatshop-free sneakers from Pakistan and crates of smiling, organic-Egyptian-cotton carrots seem somehow noble, since the proceeds go right back to the community cooperatives that made them via nonprofit Global Exchange.
HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ACTION CENTER & STORE Map Gifts
415-431-2200; www.hrc.org; 600 Castro St; 10am-7pm; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
Make more than a fashion statement in a Heatherette ‘Love is Real’ tank or signature HRC tees designed by Marc Jacobs, Kenneth Cole and other fashion-forward thinkers, with proceeds supporting civil rights initiatives. Hopeful romantics head here to sign marriage-equality petitions and pop the question with rings inscribed on the inside with Aequalitas (Equality).
UNDER ONE ROOF Map Gifts, Housewares
415-503-2300; www.underoneroof.org; 518a Castro St; 10am-9pm; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
All the fabulous gift ideas under this roof are donated by local designers and businesses, so AIDS service organizations get 100% of the proceeds from your indispensable elephant tape dispenser, etched San Francisco skyline martini glasses and adorable Jonathan Adler vase. Those sweet sales clerks are volunteers, so show them some love for raising – get this – $11 million to date.
KENNETH WINGARD Map Housewares, Local Designer
415-431-6900; www.kennethwingard.com; 2319 Market St; 10am-7pm Mon-Sat, noon-6pm Sun; 24, 33, F, K, L, M, Castro St
Upgrade from ho-hum IKEA with mod housewares priced for mass consumption that are positively scrumptious: glossy tangerine bud vases, vintage tiki-fabric cushions and mood-setting, ecofriendly cork-shaded lamps.
MABEL CHONG Map Jewelry, Local Designer
415-550-1665; www.mabelchong.com; 1311 Church St; noon-6pm; 24, 48, J
Sparkling wit is the specialty of local jewelry designer Mabel Chong, who combines painstaking craft with a touch of San Francisco whimsy: ‘Pinot Gris’ earrings are clusters of tiny seed pearls, while an asymmetrical chalcedony drop necklace is dubbed ‘Formula for the Hypotenuse.’
PHOTOWORKS Map Photo Processing
415-626-6800; www.photoworkssf.com; 2077a Market St; 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 11am-6pm Sat, noon-5pm Sun; F, N
Quick, pro-quality photo processing and