Surfacing: In San Francisco, A Bleak Neighborhood Is Revived
September 11, 2012
It took the promise of freshly baked bread and recently laid eggs to drag Becky Eaton, 28, out of bed and all the way to Ocean Beach, on the far western edge of San Francisco. Outerlands hadn’t opened yet, but she was first in a long line of hungry locals dressed in hoodies and flip-flops. “This better be worth the half-hour on Muni,” she said, referring to the often slow city transit system. She knew it would be. It’s one of a few spots adding buzz to the Outer Sunset, a once bleak neighborhood home to surfers and families looking for affordable housing. Today, it hosts a cluster of arty shops and cafes covered in swirls of salvaged wood — a sort of Driftwood Alley.
Woodshop
3725 Noreiga Street
(415) 240-5504
woodshopsf.com
In July, four surfer-artisans turned an old gym into a studio-showroom filled with functional art made from salvaged wood. A slab of bay laurel becomes a beautifully imperfect dining table by Luke Bartels, and Danny Hess carves poplar into surfboards. Josh Duthie transforms cast-off chairs, while Jeff Canham paints witty, pretty bird feeders.
Outerlands
4001 Judah Street
(415) 661-6140
outerlandssf.com
With only a handful of tables but an abundance of homemade bread, this cozy spot, opened last year, is not for the gluten-averse. Specialties include decadent Dutch-style pancakes, oozy-cheesy sandwiches and hearty soups and stews, ideal for when the evening fog rolls in.
Trouble Coffee Company
4033 Judah Street
(415) 690-9119
troublecoffee.com/content
The owner Giulietta Carrelli calls out orders at a decibel level that far exceeds the Starbucks standard. There's always a line, for some of San Francisco's best espresso and dense chocolate-chip pumpkin bread. Next door is General Store, with a smart mix of new and vintage items.
The Riptide
3639 Taraval Street
(415) 681-8433
riptidesf.com
Refreshingly far from the city swank, this knotty-pine dive bar has stood mere steps from the ocean since 1941. Inside, a fire crackles and the cocktails flow. Wednesday is surf film night and Saturdays draw a 40-and-under bingo crowd hoping to cash in on a pretty sizable pot.