Went to look at an apartment. Outer Sunset…on 47th. I looked on a map and noted that there are no two farther points in the city than the radio station to that flat. I mean it

literaly is water to water. 45 minutes to an hour on the N Judah.

Why would I even consider it? Well, I made the mistake of walking around that neighborhood…and I fell in love. Not only is it right around the corner, and I mean RIGHT around the corner, from my favorite restaurant in the free world, but a short trip up a few blocks dumps you into what is known as “Chinatown 3.” You see, there is Chinatown, Chinatown 2(Clement Street) and Chinatown 3 (Lincoln at 23rd or so). As I walked around I noticed that every place of business had it’s “thing.” One joint was best to order a bbq chicken from, one was better at frozen yogurt. And if I wanted a “Char Siu Bao”(baked or steamed Chinese pork bun) I shouldn’t spend more than 75 cents…ever. Maybe I am the first to notice, but it was even more pronounced here: One of the things that makes the city BREATHE are all these single-owner, mom-and-pop spots. Places where food is love. Places the neighborhood knows.

You see, I’m a product of the burbs. GIve me a shopping mall with the gigantic pseudo health food store, tech megaplex, pet emporium and grocery store and I will want for nothing. I’ve spent most of my life in or around Salinas where the mantra is “Let’s just go to the mall.”

Fresno was another stop. Now THERE is a city of strip malls and apartment complexes, completely devoid of any soul. You don’t notice when you live there, you don’t know any different.

Here I was, walking down the street, store front after store front.

Plenty of grocery stores, but not a major chain in sight. And everything felt ALIVE. And ALMOST polite. Sure there were still jaywalkers, bad drivers and double-parkers. But that was to be expected. This IS the Bay Area after all. We care about each other, but not that much. I mean, you’ve gotta fight for your little piece of real estate at all times. Whether it’s a parking space, seat on the muni, sidewalk or whatever. You get there and you stand your ground. Back off…this is my place now.

As we parked the car on 23rd, I forgot how exhillarating it was to actually FIND a space in the city. You don’t plan your day and park, you plan your day around where you parked. We found the greatest Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall I think i have ever been to. I got a plate of rice and a bowl of ox-tail stew. Not even slightly fazed by the constant yammering of god-knows-who about god-knows-what going on around me.

I had lunch in the Sunset…and everything was alright.