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A More Perfect Union
SF's perennial shopping Mecca keeps growing by leaps and bounds.
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by Morgan Muir
posted on November 29, 2007
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The lights, the crowds, the window displays. What started as a central gathering spot for pro-Union rallies during the Civil War has evolved into the city’s hub of commerce, where tourists line up for cable cars, conventioneers fill hotels and everyone—including us—shops at big-name stores, whose ever-increasing rate of arrival speaks to the continual resurgence of Union Square since the post-dot-com dark days. Hotel occupancy keeps creeping upward (we’re one of the country’s top 10 convention cities and its number one tourist destination, after all). The recently opened Barneys New York has been joined by Helmut Lang, Ben Sherman and a new, larger location for Prada. Throw in two of the city’s best seafood restaurants and a few new bustling nightspots, and you’ve got yourself a 24/7/365 neighborhood.
photography by Stefanie Michejda
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| clothes + shoes |
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TOP: Adriano Goldschmied Jeans: made in America and altered on-site; MIDDLE: London calls at Ben Sherman; BELOW: Fornasetti plates and glasses, available at Barneys New York
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The newest addition to Union Square’s distinguished roster of retail anchors—think Macy’s, Saks and Neiman Marcus—Barneys New York opened its doors at O’Farrell and Stockton in September, bringing its to-die-for shoe collection with it. Other newcomers may be smaller in square footage, but they have us equally excited: In the new Helmut Lang store on tony Maiden Lane, shop for the label’s signature minimalist neutrals and peek into the second-story men’s collection through its glass wall. Brit import Ben Sherman continues the masculine theme with its famously anglophilic button-down shirts and stylish blazers. But let’s talk about you for a minute: There is New Year’s Eve to consider, and why not face it in one of Couture by Azadeh’s custom gowns, fitted in-store to compliment every contour of your body? Another option for special occasions is Barcelino, with three locations within blocks of one another: Check out unique Ravazzolo and Belvest suits at the men’s outlet in the Crocker Galleria, or head to Post and Mason for its men’s and women’s boutiques; Barcelino contracts directly with European apparel makers, so you’re spending your money on fine materials and workmanship (not to mention individualized customer service) instead of just a name. Speaking of names, Emporio Armani may be the only designer store in the city to feature a bona fide fullservice cafe on its ground floor. Shop for signature dresses or sit down to delicious flatbread pizzas; on sunny days, a few choice tables line the wide sidewalk outside. Curvy girls who shun skinny jeans, think again: Premium jeansmaker Adriano Goldschmied carries a cut called the Stilt that flatters every body type—and all hemming is done in-store on a gold-plated sewing machine. Barcelona native MNG by Mango arrived in the ’hood this fall, joining Euro rivals H&M and Zara, with comparably trendy, affordable pieces (not quite as out there as H&M, but not as understated as Zara). Accomplishing all this retail therapy on your lunch hour demands comfortably chic footwear, the kind you can find at recently refurbished Arthur Beren Shoes: Our winter favorites include ballet flats by Thierry Rabotin and Prada’s low-riding boots. And if you’re looking for reasons to stick to that recurring New Year’s fitness resolution, try stocking up on stylish athletic wear at newbie Lululemon Athletica, where you can find tangerine hoodies to help you stand out in any Pilates class. |
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"MY FANTASY: DINNER AT VILLA FLORENCE, a show at the Curran, stay at the Prescott. Next day, Swedish pancakes at Sears Fine Foods."
—local David Erikson
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| jewelry + more |
| Heels may have become more practical recently, but jewelry has not. Everyday hoops and single strings of pearls have given way to bold, occasion-specific pieces, such as the four-to-six-caratdiamonds in the windows of Shreve & Co. Across the street, at the new DeBeers, set to open in late January, classic solitaires will be joined by dramatic, more modern pieces such as the Dragonfly ring, a round 3.09-carat diamond surrounded by a platinum loop-de-loop of nearly 200 inset diamonds. At Cartier, the newest must-have is the Marcello de Cartier line of handbags, a custom-ordered collection available in three sizes and a variety of luxurious skins and rich colors—like the strikingly exotic calfskin furtiger motif. Baby, it’s cold outside, but you can cozy up your winter at Frette; a throw made of cashmere, velvet or silk and fur is just the thing for warming up a chilly winter evening. If, after all this, there’s anyone left on your shopping list, cross them off at Fresh with one of the store’s signature lip balms, killer mascaras or detoxifying sake bath products made with 50 percent sake—the kind traditionally used by geishas. |
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LEFT: Detoxifying sake bath products at Fresh; RIGHT: the Marcello de Cartier bag in a fur-tiger motif made of calfskin.
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"I WISH THERE WERE MORE BARS AND RESTAURANTS aimed at the after-work crowd."
——local Marta Gaiser
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| eat + drink |
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When craving fruits de mer in a traditional chi-chi setting, you can’t go wrong with Michael Mina; in his eponymous eatery in the Westin St. Francis Hotel, high-rollers dine on Mina’s famous lobster pot pie. A few blocks away, Union Square’s other fresh-catch temple, the underwater-fantasy-themed Farallon, just celebrated its 10th anniversary with a new raw bar and, of course, its legendary rotation of desserts by acclaimed pastry chef Emily Luchetti. Raw fish is also the focus at Bar Crudo: Ask your waiter to pair your selection with one of the many wines or a beer from an extensive list of Belgians. French-California favorite Campton Place is changing it up; Taj Hotels recently purchased the hotel and restaurant and promoted former sous chef Gavin Schmidt to exec chef. The neighborhood’s not all fine dining, though: One of our favorite lunch spots, Punjab Kabab, features humongous lunch specials of tikka masala, a vegetarian side and rice for about $5. A lighter option is Boxed Foods on Kearny, which offers some of the city’s best salads—from beets with goat cheese, fennel, mint and walnut to grilled chicken with roasted red peppers and apple. That quiet after-work cocktail or business meeting is best conducted at Rouge & Blanc, the loungey Grant Avenue wine bar run by the owners of the nearby Café de la Presse—peaceful enough to hear your conversation but lively enough for people-watching. Livelier still is Duggan McDonnell’s newest bar, Cantina, on Sutter, which continues the SF trend of high-end bartending—the Farmer’s Market Sangria, for instance, calls for Frog Hollow Farm peaches infused in brandy, Laird’s applejack, lemonade, fresh-squeezed OJ and Castoro Cellars Blanco Zinfandel. Too sweet? Try the Laughing Buddha: Hangar One vodka, crushed ginger and Thai chiles with wild-sage honey. The Sir Francis Drake Hotel may represent old SF, but the lobby has been rejuvenated with the opening of Bar Drake, where you can sip one-ofa-kind martinis created by mixologist Jacques Bezuindenhout. Everyone knows that Saturdays are not San Francisco’s big night out. Instead, head to Slide on Wednesdays to hear DJ Solomon or on Sundays for Frenchy Le Freak. Ladies, be sure to wear pants if you want to enter the club via its (very fast) signature sliding board; dress-wearers are not permitted to ride. But just in case you do venture out on Saturday night, try our favorite Union Square hangover remedy: the Live Jazz Sunday Champagne Brunch at Anzu in the Hotel Nikko.
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LEFT: the line at Boxed Foods is long for a reason: super-fresh salads and sandwiches made With mostly local ingredients in bright combinations; RIGHT: Wash down the offerings at Farallon’s new raw bar with the “Mariner”: a mixture of peppercorn-infused Skyy Vodka and dry sherry shaken and served With a cucumber slice. ABOVE: Bar Drake.
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|
|
The lights, the crowds, the window displays. What started as a central gathering spot for pro-Union rallies during the Civil War has evolved into the city’s hub of commerce, where tourists line up for cable cars, conventioneers fill hotels and everyone—including us—shops at big-name stores, whose ever-increasing rate of arrival speaks to the continual resurgence of Union Square since the post-dot-com dark days. Hotel occupancy keeps creeping upward (we’re one of the country’s top 10 convention cities and its number one tourist destination, after all). The recently opened Barneys New York has been joined by Helmut Lang, Ben Sherman and a new, larger location for Prada. Throw in two of the city’s best seafood restaurants and a few new bustling nightspots, and you’ve got yourself a 24/7/365 neighborhood.
photography by Stefanie Michejda
|
| clothes + shoes |
|
|
TOP: Adriano Goldschmied Jeans: made in America and altered on-site; MIDDLE: London calls at Ben Sherman; BELOW: Fornasetti plates and glasses, available at Barneys New York
|
|
The newest addition to Union Square’s distinguished roster of retail anchors—think Macy’s, Saks and Neiman Marcus—Barneys New York opened its doors at O’Farrell and Stockton in September, bringing its to-die-for shoe collection with it. Other newcomers may be smaller in square footage, but they have us equally excited: In the new Helmut Lang store on tony Maiden Lane, shop for the label’s signature minimalist neutrals and peek into the second-story men’s collection through its glass wall. Brit import Ben Sherman continues the masculine theme with its famously anglophilic button-down shirts and stylish blazers. But let’s talk about you for a minute: There is New Year’s Eve to consider, and why not face it in one of Couture by Azadeh’s custom gowns, fitted in-store to compliment every contour of your body? Another option for special occasions is Barcelino, with three locations within blocks of one another: Check out unique Ravazzolo and Belvest suits at the men’s outlet in the Crocker Galleria, or head to Post and Mason for its men’s and women’s boutiques; Barcelino contracts directly with European apparel makers, so you’re spending your money on fine materials and workmanship (not to mention individualized customer service) instead of just a name. Speaking of names, Emporio Armani may be the only designer store in the city to feature a bona fide fullservice cafe on its ground floor. Shop for signature dresses or sit down to delicious flatbread pizzas; on sunny days, a few choice tables line the wide sidewalk outside. Curvy girls who shun skinny jeans, think again: Premium jeansmaker Adriano Goldschmied carries a cut called the Stilt that flatters every body type—and all hemming is done in-store on a gold-plated sewing machine. Barcelona native MNG by Mango arrived in the ’hood this fall, joining Euro rivals H&M and Zara, with comparably trendy, affordable pieces (not quite as out there as H&M, but not as understated as Zara). Accomplishing all this retail therapy on your lunch hour demands comfortably chic footwear, the kind you can find at recently refurbished Arthur Beren Shoes: Our winter favorites include ballet flats by Thierry Rabotin and Prada’s low-riding boots. And if you’re looking for reasons to stick to that recurring New Year’s fitness resolution, try stocking up on stylish athletic wear at newbie Lululemon Athletica, where you can find tangerine hoodies to help you stand out in any Pilates class. |
|
|
|
|
"MY FANTASY: DINNER AT VILLA FLORENCE, a show at the Curran, stay at the Prescott. Next day, Swedish pancakes at Sears Fine Foods."
—local David Erikson
|
| jewelry + more |
| Heels may have become more practical recently, but jewelry has not. Everyday hoops and single strings of pearls have given way to bold, occasion-specific pieces, such as the four-to-six-caratdiamonds in the windows of Shreve & Co. Across the street, at the new DeBeers, set to open in late January, classic solitaires will be joined by dramatic, more modern pieces such as the Dragonfly ring, a round 3.09-carat diamond surrounded by a platinum loop-de-loop of nearly 200 inset diamonds. At Cartier, the newest must-have is the Marcello de Cartier line of handbags, a custom-ordered collection available in three sizes and a variety of luxurious skins and rich colors—like the strikingly exotic calfskin furtiger motif. Baby, it’s cold outside, but you can cozy up your winter at Frette; a throw made of cashmere, velvet or silk and fur is just the thing for warming up a chilly winter evening. If, after all this, there’s anyone left on your shopping list, cross them off at Fresh with one of the store’s signature lip balms, killer mascaras or detoxifying sake bath products made with 50 percent sake—the kind traditionally used by geishas. |
|
|
|
|
LEFT: Detoxifying sake bath products at Fresh; RIGHT: the Marcello de Cartier bag in a fur-tiger motif made of calfskin.
|
|
|
"I WISH THERE WERE MORE BARS AND RESTAURANTS aimed at the after-work crowd."
——local Marta Gaiser
|
| eat + drink |
|
|
|
When craving fruits de mer in a traditional chi-chi setting, you can’t go wrong with Michael Mina; in his eponymous eatery in the Westin St. Francis Hotel, high-rollers dine on Mina’s famous lobster pot pie. A few blocks away, Union Square’s other fresh-catch temple, the underwater-fantasy-themed Farallon, just celebrated its 10th anniversary with a new raw bar and, of course, its legendary rotation of desserts by acclaimed pastry chef Emily Luchetti. Raw fish is also the focus at Bar Crudo: Ask your waiter to pair your selection with one of the many wines or a beer from an extensive list of Belgians. French-California favorite Campton Place is changing it up; Taj Hotels recently purchased the hotel and restaurant and promoted former sous chef Gavin Schmidt to exec chef. The neighborhood’s not all fine dining, though: One of our favorite lunch spots, Punjab Kabab, features humongous lunch specials of tikka masala, a vegetarian side and rice for about $5. A lighter option is Boxed Foods on Kearny, which offers some of the city’s best salads—from beets with goat cheese, fennel, mint and walnut to grilled chicken with roasted red peppers and apple. That quiet after-work cocktail or business meeting is best conducted at Rouge & Blanc, the loungey Grant Avenue wine bar run by the owners of the nearby Café de la Presse—peaceful enough to hear your conversation but lively enough for people-watching. Livelier still is Duggan McDonnell’s newest bar, Cantina, on Sutter, which continues the SF trend of high-end bartending—the Farmer’s Market Sangria, for instance, calls for Frog Hollow Farm peaches infused in brandy, Laird’s applejack, lemonade, fresh-squeezed OJ and Castoro Cellars Blanco Zinfandel. Too sweet? Try the Laughing Buddha: Hangar One vodka, crushed ginger and Thai chiles with wild-sage honey. The Sir Francis Drake Hotel may represent old SF, but the lobby has been rejuvenated with the opening of Bar Drake, where you can sip one-ofa-kind martinis created by mixologist Jacques Bezuindenhout. Everyone knows that Saturdays are not San Francisco’s big night out. Instead, head to Slide on Wednesdays to hear DJ Solomon or on Sundays for Frenchy Le Freak. Ladies, be sure to wear pants if you want to enter the club via its (very fast) signature sliding board; dress-wearers are not permitted to ride. But just in case you do venture out on Saturday night, try our favorite Union Square hangover remedy: the Live Jazz Sunday Champagne Brunch at Anzu in the Hotel Nikko.
|
|
LEFT: the line at Boxed Foods is long for a reason: super-fresh salads and sandwiches made With mostly local ingredients in bright combinations; RIGHT: Wash down the offerings at Farallon’s new raw bar with the “Mariner”: a mixture of peppercorn-infused Skyy Vodka and dry sherry shaken and served With a cucumber slice. ABOVE: Bar Drake.
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