Like its inventory, a lingerie store should be a little bit secret, a little hidden, a little special. Belle Cose on Russian Hill is all three. This bijou little panty pavilion is the perfect place to find that outre piece you've been [more...]

Like many great cities, San Francisco has its own Agent Provacateur store. Naturally. You can't expect SF residents to do without the flirty, sexy, 1950's [more...]

I love being an urban girl. I really do. But sometimes I long for the suburban megastores of my childhood, places that will sell me furniture AND popcorn AND a set of picnic plates AND the DVD of The Way We Were. When this happens, I [more...]

Ok, ok...everyone knows about Victoria's Secret. But the store in downtown San Francisco is a delight, and since it's competing with all the surrounding chain [more...]

I am not into designer clothing...except for Betsey Johnson. Betsey takes all of the fun, bright colors, the sequins and shimmer, the moxy and pizazz that's [more...]

Ever since Victoria Secret went all hot-pink and school-girlish, I've had a tough time finding sexy grownup underwear. Fortunately, I discovered Alla Prima, [more...]

Few clothing stores offer the personal relationship with the proprietor that you get at Decades of Fashion in the Haight. I've never met her, but stories about Ciceily abound. Some love her, some hate her -- but everyone loves her [more...]

I can't believe I'm submitting a tip about produce, but Golden Produce on Church Street is actually worth reading and writing about. Let's face it, we don't all make it to the Civic Center Farmer's Market every day. And Safeway, just [more...]

Don't you miss toy stores? All that excitement and wonder, all those primary colors and plush fabrics and sparkly plastic? If you're sighing with longing now, pay a visit to Ambassador Toys in [more...]

You don't have to go all the way to Ireland to load yourself up with schlocky Irish gifts. All Things Irish is a store packed with every fun, silly Irish-themed item you could wish for, as well as some genuine Irish import foods that [more...]

In a green-thinking city, it makes sense that one of its largest street fairs is going green as well. The Union Street Festival is taking on a green tint as of [more...]

Does Your Mother Know is a card store that carries all those cards you just can't find in Safeway. Many of the cards are LGBT themed, but many are just gorgeous art cards suitable for any audience. The store also carries a ton of fun [more...]

If your date likes fish, the SF consensus seems to be that Lucky Ocean Aquarium is the place to buy his or her birthday present. The stock is varied and healthy, and the owner is knowledgeable and helpful. The perfect shop for a fish [more...]

The Bike Nook in the Outer Sunset is an excellent place to take a date who's into bikes. The knowledgeable staff and high quality stock will impress your little two-wheeler. And maybe they can get your own bike up to snuff for romantic [more...]

When it comes to corner stores, SF admittedly has very few that can compete with the bodegas of New York. However, New Rosenberg's Deli on Noe Street is a nice little neighborhood shop. You can find all the usual products of your [more...]

For those who are not content to merely satisfy the minimum requirements of modern fashion -- i.e. an ironic t-shirt and thick-rimmed glasses -- there is Solis. [more...]

Thrift store duds are the designer clothes of San Francisco. Where else can you get the fashions you hated two years ago but are finally ready to try? Or the vintage granny lace dresses, the plastic electric blue skirts, the fabulous [more...]

Trying to help your love grow? Pay a visit to Plant It Earth, the Castro's premier garden supply shop. Here you'll find lights, books, nutrients, seeds, and [more...]

For last-minute party clothes shopping, look no further than Entour. Nestled into a snug little storefront at Market & 16th Street, this boutique offers very affordable men's and women's clothing. Women will find everything from the [more...]

Books Inc. claims to be the oldest independent bookseller in the West, and it's easy to believe. The staff is warm and knowledgeable, and the store itself is clean and [more...]