FF: Size Doesn't Matter

This tiny studio sized gallery proves once again that size doesn't matter. FF Gallery is the physical counterpart to the culture and art community website fecalface.com. Open Wednesday through Saturday, this art space boasts monthly and during some summer months, weekly installations from artists who are inspired from the more underground, urban, skateboard, and graffiti counterculture. On reception nights the gallery explodes onto the street with people who've come by to see what new art FF has to showcase. You can often find folk, comic, and graffiti art, photography and mixed media pieces. The cozy space enhances the opportunity to mingle with guests and featured artist. So it's time to stop judging the gallery name and head over to what is easily one of the most vibrant art spaces in the city.

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Art Galleries • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Books by Melissa

Melissa Richmond owns Bibliohead, and independent bookstore, that is nestled between two Italian restaurants on Gough Street. You'll find her behind the counter either cataloging incoming books or helping a customer find a title. This gem of a bookshop is small and cozy, and brimming with current bestsellers as well as those hard-to-find titles. Melissa specializes in classic literature, books on opera, ballet and the arts, and that rare find you won't see at a chain store. She buys books for trade or cash including children's literature, fantasy, mystery, philosophy and metaphysics. And if you're picking up a gift for a friend, Melissa has an eclectic assortment of greeting cards, too.

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Bookstores • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Merchant of Vino

Crazy about wine? So is Arlequin Wine Merchant. You'll find great value wines if you're on a budget--and who isn't these days--from California to South Africa. It's the place for premium wines, and those boutique selections, too. So if you're searching for a good pairing for your ratatouille or hosting a gallery opening or your ex-partner's new flame, you'll find the perfect bottle for the occasion at Arlequin. Every wine is hand-selected with love. Wine tastings and events are always happening there, too.

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Liquor Stores • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Creatively Colorful

The minute you step into F. Dorian you're enveloped in a world of art, color, and design from around the world. Whimsical mobiles hang from the ceiling; creative groupings of vases, ceramic tiles, jewelry, and accessories beckon you from the shelves; contemporary paintings adorn the brightly colored walls; and Asian, African, and American antiques decorate the store. Manager Mitch Durkee lends his expertise when selecting a gift for that special friend. So stop in during lunchtime or before dinner. You'll go home with a smile and a great piece of art.

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Shopping • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Self Serve Succulence

You come for the coffee and raspberry jam brioches, and I guarantee you'll be back for lunch. You'll be riveted to DeLessio's self-serve salad and hot bar laden with market-fresh dishes that include tamarind honey glazed pork ribs, BBQ brisket, meatloaf with smoked tomato jam, just to name a few. If it's sandwiches you're after try the turkey salad with chipotle spread or the roast beef with coppa. Add a side of cole slaw with miso and tuscan kale. But whatever you do, you must try their Felchin Swiss chocolate bubble wrap even if you have to take it home and devour it later. And if you're in a party mood, you must order the chocolate tower cake. You'll be everybody's favorite host.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Middle Eastern Gold

I struck gold when I tasted the babaganoush at Hayes & Kebab. The right way to make it, and the way I ate it growing up, is to charbroil the eggplant first to give the dip that distinctive grilled flavor. Scoop it with warm pita bread and you can make a meal of it. But you won't want to stop there because the marinated lamb, beef gyros, falafels, and beef and chicken kebabs are succulent dishes too. Add a fresh tabbouleh salad and finish the meal with homemade baklava. Emin, the owner, and his staff will not only take your order but go back into the kitchen to prepare it for you. During it all you will experience warm Middle Eastern hospitality.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

The Kind of RAGs We Like

RAG is a cooperative boutique. According to its website, it is "curated much like an art gallery--only the art is wearable. Local clothing and accessory designers rent space on a monthly basis. They then outfit a rack or shelf with their latest designs and biographical information about their line." And RAG does feel like a fashion art gallery, with little treasures tucked into every corner of the store. The store has clothing for men, women, and babies alike, and accessories that range from understated to bold. If you love Project Runway, you will love this place. You'll feel as if you're discovering--and supporting--up-and-coming fashion designers.

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Shopping • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Veggie Delight

Cha-Ya is easily one of my favorite restaurants of all time. It's a vegetarian's answer to fish-free sushi, but it's so good that most of the time I forget it's strictly vegetarian--vegan, actually. That's right, no meat and no dairy. But if you're thinking, "It must be bland, gooey, or made with fake soy meats and tofu," you could not be farther from the truth. Cha-Ya uses fresh vegetables and none of the over-processed soy mystery meats you'll find at some vegetarian restaurants. There is tofu, yes, but it's served either in a fresh roll alongside exotic veggies like lotus root, pickled burdock, and kaiware sprouts, or fried in a tempura batter and served with sweet soy-ginger dipping sauce. My personal favorite is the Cha-Ya Roll, a scrumptious combination of avocado, yam, and carrots that's lightly battered and deep fried, which I order alongside miso soup and the Shira Ae salad. I could eat at Cha-Ya pretty much every day and never get tired of it.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

The Spirit of the Drink

There are few things as ridiculously fun as afternoon drinking among friends in Zeitgeist's outdoor beer garden. Such things are made even more enjoyable by recent, freakishly warm January weather that allowed for t-shirts in the dead of winter. Invigorated with unexpected wintery happiness, my friends and I decided to try the renowned Bloody Mary, said to be the best in town. I give it credit for the presentation--a pint glass bedecked with a set of salt-and-peppered green olives and two pickled green beans on a spear. Needless to say, people who love their Bloody Marys say Zeitgeist is the place to go for spicy and strong. Can't say I'm one of said enthusiasts, but I tried. The place is so inexpensive that after my failed efforts, all I had to do was sidle back to the bar for a refreshing $4 Red Stripe and tasty veggie burger. Then it was time to cruise back to the packed rows of benches to sip my brew, nibble on my burger and enjoy the atmosphere in one of the best places to people-watch in town. Bloody good times, with or without Mary.

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Nightlife • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Let Them Eat Citizens!

Every good citizen deserves the occasional piece of cake or other floury treat. After a particularly stressful day last week, I decided to award one good citizen (myself) with a little treat at Citizen Cake. Tempting as it was to head straight to the patisserie, I dipped into the restaurant first for a quick lunch. Although the meal was certainly not my primary motivation for the visit, the fish tacos were a surprisingly crunchy and flavorful treat. I designed to forgo the self-described "imaginative cocktails" and hold out for the sweet-sweet goodness next door. Alas. It was a wise decision for not just one good citizen, but several. Since I couldn't decide on just one, I chose a cupcake (Chocolate Chip Mania) and an assortment of iced sugar cookies (in the shapes of a dog, a seahorse, and a brontosaurus). Then I offered them to family members. Good citizens all, they dutifully helped me devour the stockpile.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Evertasty Pho

There is nothing else like a good bowl of pho. Rain or shine, this delicious soup will have you coming back for more. We are lucky to have a lot of good pho in San Francisco. But what if you're not in a neighborhood bourgeoning with Vietnamese restaurants? Perchance you find yourself buried in burritos and surrounded by enough bacon-wrapped hot dogs to overwhelm Joey Chestnut. Evergreen's nice relaxing setting is a good spot to enjoy a bowl. I try to eat pho as early as possible in the day because a Vietnamese chef once told me that when the broth boils off and it must be watered down. The stock is made from boiled beef bones and simmered with roasted ginger, onion, star anise and other aromatics. A splash of fish sauce gives it that distant twang. Squeeze the lime, tear the basil, drop in a couple of jalapenos, a handful of bean sprouts and voile: medicine for the soul.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Pub Grub Good Food

I'm a pub gal. Give me some dim lighting, an old wood bar, a sudsy pint of ale and a burger and fries, and I'm happy. The problem is I'm tired of grimy tables that remain sticky even after they're wiped down. I'm tired of the soggy fries and droopy pickles that show up on my plate. Here in Frisco we have plenty of good beer bars that serve food. But that's just the thing: They are beer bars that serve food! And they don't put much thought into what's coming out of the kitchen. Not so at Monk's Kettle in the Mission. The folks at Monk's have redefined pub grub. Not only do they offer an extensive selection of imported and locally produced beer, with a special nod to Belgian brews, but they also make their veggie burgers from scratch, use fresh organic ingredients and free-range meats, and offer a laidback, unpretentious atmosphere. My french fries were extra crispy and my pickle cold and crunchy. And when the waiter cleared my plate, it didn't stick to the table.

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Nightlife , Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Mission Campout

You've got to strategize and tag-team it at Pakwan. Put one friend on table duty, and send another off to find some forks while you order. You can expect a chaotic battle to get your table set, but once you're sitting down drinking your $6 bottle of wine out of plastic cups and tearing into pieces of garlic naan, the glorious territory is yours to keep. Something tells me you could camp out at a table all night, enjoying the colorful array of customers, and making trips to the liquor store across the street. You could probably bring in a bottle of tequila and the blase cashiers wouldn't really care. You'll come with ten bucks, leave with a full stomach, and a newfound friendship with a vagabond and his seeing-eye dog.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

New Soul, Old Bull

The new face of El Toro has been up for a while and I hadn't had a chance to eat there until recently. Aside from the new mural and some nice windows, the makeover didn't seem to make much of a difference. El Toro will still stampede your hunger with no shame, and cram your burrito with fresh and orderly ingredients. It has always held a high place in the taqueria hierarchy of the city. The carnitas, which were known to be of the most succulent variety, may have suffered from the remodel. Alas, meat in a steam table often does. As always, the salsas were spot-on, displayed neatly in a refrigerated unit and ranging from mild to muy picante. There are more choices now and even the verde had enough kick to it to deserve the description "medium hot." The burlap benches remain, but the original grime has disappeared. Pancho Villa's sister restaurant still ranks among the city's best, but I only fear whence has gone its soul?

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Noodle How U Like It

It's a hole-in-the-wall with barely enough room for a cramped bar and a three-woman kitchen. It was early but still full. I was lucky to get a seat and huddled hungrily to a stool. The lady hefted woks back and forth on an ancient Vulcan range. She dropped a ladle full of water over some pot stickers and covered them with a pan lid. On one visit here, the youngest lady told me that at Yamo, you have to yell. TEA SALAD. CHICKEN CURRY WITH NOODLES. And a COCONUT. The pantry lady hacked the top off of the coconut with a cleaver and set it down. The tea salad arrived in a neat pile full of textures--cabbage, crisp fried garlic, beans, peanuts, shaved onion--with the aroma of dried shrimp and fermented tea. Yellow curry so good it will make you sweat. Cumin, coriander, ginger, and garlic, assault your senses. Yamo is not for the faint of spice. And at such a bargain, it's impossible to keep a restaurant this good a secret.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Kitty Condo

I'm a sucker for cat and dog boutiques. Yes, it's frivolous spending when the economy is going to the dogs. But when I chanced upon various cute items in the window of Wag Hotels the other day, I had to meander inside. Its website says that its "focus is to give you peace of mind and give your dog or cat a safe, clean place to stay." Kitty can chill in the cattery. Fido can spend the night in a room or suite or just drop in for a day that includes playgroups. While there, dogs can be groomed, opt for a dip in the swimming pool, or romp about on the rooftop grass. Webcams offer people a way to spy on their pets from afar. I wasn't with a pet, so I came in empty-handed. But sucker that I am, I left the boutique clutching a luxury pet bed. The cat's love is deep for both the pet bed, and the paper bag it came in. So at least I know that a cheap paper bag might suffice next time when the economy continues its descent into hell.

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Services • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Cheese For Every Humour

This summer, a friend and I learned how to make cheese at Pedrozo Dairy and Cheese, a dairy farm near Chico. The experience increased our respect for family-operated farms and the work that goes into making artisanal cheese. On our way out, the owner told us that we could buy their products locally from the savvy cheese sellers at SF's Rainbow Grocery. According to its website, the grocery is "an independent, collectively run, worker owned and operated cooperative at which decision-making and responsibilities are shared through democratic structures and elected committees." Quite a mouthful, but well worth the trip for both culinary--and visual--delights, as award-winning murals adorn the exterior and interior walls. When I made it past the dizzyingly beautiful array of bulk foods, pastries and produce, I found the cheese mecca. As promised, the person working at the counter was quite knowledgeable. I had a senior moment about the name of the farm, offering only "it's a dairy farm near Chico." He said, "Oh, Pedrozo's. I don't have it out right now, but I'm just about to cut that cheese." At which point, I quickly regressed to five years old and tried not to snicker.

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Shopping • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Slammin' Beats and Stuff

For 16 years, Soundworks has been keeping Bay Area DJs in the mix with an impressive selection of club beats in every format from vintage vinyl to CDs to mix tapes. For DJs working a minimum of 2 nightly sets per week, they offer a $75 record pool membership to keep you loaded up on monthly selections of the hottest studio drops and crossover fills of every genre. Posters, turntables, and a local talent bulletin board round out the Soundworks experience. Contact DJ Sam LaBelle to get your promos into the Soundworks pool.

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Shopping • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Rock Your Follicles

Where do the Trannyshackers get their fierce on? Step into the world of Glamarama. Inhale. That's the scent of professional purdyness. Hair goddess Deena and her crew of stylebombs will rock your follicles as you sip coffee, tea, Hennessy, whatever while soaking in the rotating display of glama-riffic art all around you. If you're just a schmo like me who works it without sequins and platform boots, fear not. They will just give you the best haircut ever in a warm and funkadelic space. Ask Olive about her demented rabbit.

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Shopping • Hayes Valley / The Mission

Don't Cry for Thai, Argentina

They must pipe in the brown note amid that generic dance music. We were eager to try another nearby Thai place, but everything was so "eh" we didn’t have the opportunity. Osha: Something about the music made us cranky. We were unimpressed by the overly chic décor, making it look like a random Asian restaurant chain envisioned by Ikea. We returned months later, hoping they had their shit together. Same 'NTZ NTZ NTZ' beat reverberating my soup and steering us towards an argument. Lukewarm tea served on a chilly night was not heated up after repeated requests.

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Restaurants • Hayes Valley / The Mission