Originally named for the rallies once held in this location to show support for the Union Army during the Civil War, Union Square continues to play a central role in the city as a backdrop for various ceremonies, art shows, cultural activities, the occasional protest, and its annual Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting during the Winter holidays. In terms of historical significance, the 97 foot tall Corinthian column and winged Victory statue were erected in 1903 to commemorate Admiral George Dewey’s victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War. In 1941, the world’s first underground parking garage built beneath the plaza was opened.

It’s no mystery why this part of the city is a desirable tourist destination for its proximity to the theater district, landmark hotels like the |Westin St. Francis|, fine dining restaurants, and plenty of places to shop. Major department stores |Neiman Marcus|, |Sak’s Fifth Avenue|, and |Macy’s| have flagship locations bordering the square along with national retailers such as |Williams Sonoma|, |Levi’s|, and |Nike Town|. Union Square is also a destination for luxury goods with stores like |Louis Vuitton|, |Salvatore Ferragamo|, |Prada|, |Gucci|, |Dior|, |Chanel|, |Bulgari|, and |Tiffany & Co.| all having locations in this area. Access to the plaza is served by numerous bus lines, two cable car lines (Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason) that run along its Western perimeter, and the Powell Street BART station located just a few blocks away.

Named after the natural stimulant that is quite popular in Southeast Asia, Betelnut’s menu of contemporary Asian dishes and selection of crafted cocktails may evoke a similar reaction of mild hot sensations in the body and slightly heightened alertness to one’s surroundings. Located right along Union Street, the street facing windows are often opened up on warm days to encourage people watching while dining and drinking. The interior of this restaurant has one of the cooler Asian-inspired designs, similar in theme to a beer house found in places like Singapore. Design touches from the wooden Chinese paddles nailed to the wall, the sprinkler pipes painted to look like bamboo and the wall art posters all help transport diners far from its Cow Hollow locale.

Betelnut takes a contemporary approach to more traditional dishes from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and China. Their selection of appetizers go great with beer or their list of specialty cocktails. Personal favorites include the dishes pictured below along with the glazed pork short ribs, their noodle dishes, and the fried Red Snapper that is served whole.|Betelnut|

Open 7 days a week:
Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-12am
Sun: 11:30am-11pm

Founded in 2009 by local San Francisco artist Fred Crum, the New Timezone Gallery is a Tenderloin district art space that features the work of emerging and well established local artists and craftsmen based throughout the region. Conveniently located just four blocks from Union Square, the gallery attracts a wide range of visitors from local residents to tourists.

Currently the gallery is open by appointment only, but the special exhibits and backyard receptions are great events worth checking out. Past exhibits have featured work by artists Tim DeSoto, Frank Skillman, Jack Freeman, Tripp Scott, and Derf Murc. For more information on the gallery and for upcoming exhibits, be sure to visit the the New Timezone Gallery web site: |Timezonesf|

Appointment Hours:
Mon-Sun: 9am – 6pm

A fairly consistent barometer for delicious and authentic Dim Sum can often be surmised on the quality of the siumai. This Outer Sunset destination does not disappoint with their large-sized pork, shrimp, and shiitake mushroom dumplings, which are freshly prepared in-house and served piping hot. Unlike other establishments that have their menu items wheeled around the dining room on carts, the Dim Sum here arrives to the table directly from the kitchen, often needing a few moments to cool down.

Favorites here include the shrimp dumplings, stuffed rice noodles, minced pork dumplings stuffed in deep-fried glutinous rice, pork spare ribs, mixed sticky rice steamed in a lotus leaf, and the bell peppers stuffed with crab.

Hours of Operation:
Dim Sum: Mon-Fri: 10am – 2:30pm
Sat-Sun: 9am – 3pm
Dinner: Mon-Fri: 5pm – 9:30pm
Sat-Sun: 5pm – 10pm

Long before sandwich chains drew national acclaim for adding toasted sandwiches to their menus, Submarine Center has been serving them quietly here for over 25 years. This West Portal district staple has gained a loyal following from locals and jealous out of towners alike for their freshly toasted sandwiches.

Eating at one of the wood tables inside, it’s cool to see the various autographed San Francisco 49′ers memorabilia that adorns the wall; telling an interesting story of the affinity this sandwich shop shares with its fans on the team. Favorites include the BBQ Beef, Italian, and Pastrami sandwiches served with all the fixins. |Sub Center|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sat: 10am-7pm
Sun: 10am-5pm

Celebrating 40 years in the city, this annual weekend long event draws an estimated crowd of over one million people, all there to show support for tolerance and pride. The festivities include a parade down Market Street, culminating with a massive festival in Civic Center Plaza. The event features live music, food and beverage concessions, a diverse crowd, and plenty of colorful costumes. Admission is free and is open to all ages. |SF Pride|

From the owners of Beretta comes Delarosa, a modern Italian restaurant that’s conveniently located on Chestnut Street in the Marina district. Though the signage looks more at home on a stainless steel Italian espresso machine, the interior is warm and inviting, with its share of high top communal tables encouraging conversation amongst diners.

Chef Ruggero Gadaldi’s menu features a mix of antipasti, salads, pastas, and Roman style pizzas, all complimented by a large selection of draft beers, wines and cocktails. Best of all, Delarosa is open late until 1 am most nights and also has a weekend brunch perfect for some daytime drinks. |Delarosa|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sun: 11am – 1am
Sat & Sun Brunch: 11am – 4pm

Right in the heart of North Beach, participants at this Summertime festival in Washington Square will find live bands and vendors selling food and beverages, all in a nice park setting. Unlike the street fairs in other districts, it’s great to be able to sit down on the grass and bask in the sun while watching the performances. On the streets around the park, open only to pedestrian traffic, you’ll find various arts & crafts booths and beer gardens. Admission is free and the festival runs both Saturday and Sunday. Parking is impossible, using public transit is highly recommended. |Event Site|

One of my favorite restaurants in the Mission for its sleek and modern design, Farina’s ambiance is so inviting it just exudes cool. The curved curtain of glass that wraps around the frontage is beautiful yet functional, able to slide fully open to allow the breeze to circulate through. Skylights help keep the space bright with natural light, while the comfortable designer furniture helps to define the setting.

Chef Paolo Laboa relies on seasonal and fresh ingredients to bring out the best from his rustic yet elegant dishes influenced from his upbringing in Liguria, Italy. Freshly prepared pastas with their signature Genovese Pesto is a popular favorite here, as well as their Neapolitan pizzas. With so many delicious choices, it’s always fun to sample a bit of everything, just leave room for some of their amazing desserts. |Farina|

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Thurs: 5:30pm-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-10pm
Sun: 9am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

The new owners have since moved in and we wish them lots of fond memories in the home for years to come. Stay tuned for the next Project Noe house, which should begin in the coming months.