...by Wikipedia. And me, in italics."San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the United States." [2nd only to New York!]
"Famous hallmarks and landmarks include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, the Transamerica Pyramid [the what? oh well], Coit Tower, and Chinatown.
"Over this same period, San Francisco became a magnet for America's counterculture. Beat Generation writers fueled the San Francisco Renaissance and centered on the North Beach neighborhood in the 1950s. Hippies flocked to Haight-Ashbury in the 1960s, reaching a peak with the 1967 Summer of Love." [Yay! We are cool! Or at least, used to be.]
"San Francisco is famous for its hills, which are defined as elevations over 100 feet. There are a total of 43 hills within city limits." [Uufff, the hills. Oh well, you should see my calves now.]
"Average summertime high temperatures in San Francisco peak at 70 °F and are 20 °F lower than they are in nearby inland locations." [Right! So people should stop saying, "Ooh, I bet you're all nice and warm in San Fran."]
"...September and October, which are the warmest months of the year." [Yes. The summer is freezing. Fall is the nicest, but still not that warm.]
"Due to its sharp topography and maritime influences, San Francisco exhibits a multitude of distinct microclimates." [It's so true. All in one day, the weather and temperature will be completely different depending on where you go in the city.]
"For those who live on the eastern side of the city [that's me], San Francisco is fairly sunny, with an average of 160 clear days, and only 105 cloudy days per year." [It's not too cloudy, really.]
"The historic center of San Francisco is the northeast quadrant of the city bordered by Market Street to the south. It is here that the Financial District is centered, with Union Square, the principal shopping and hotel district, nearby." [I repeat, the principal shopping and hotel district. *rolls eyes* We despise the tourists. And that posh type with bad style. *frustrated sigh*]
"The Tenderloin is often portrayed as the crime-infested underbelly of the city." [
That's because it is!]
"The Mission District is predominantly working-class and populated by immigrants from Mexico and Central America [
hee!], but is also gentrifying."
"Haight-Ashbury, though heavily gentrified, still has some bohemian character. [
Some. Some.]
"The Castro is the center of gay life in the city. [
Love the Castro!]
"The South of Market [
district], once filled with decaying remnants of San Francisco's industrial past, has seen significant redevelopment." [
Well, sort of. I guess. Okay, it's not so bad.]
"Ocean Beach runs along the Pacific Ocean shoreline...[it is] not suitable for swimming because the waters off the coast are cold and have deadly rip currents." [
I s'pose here is where I should insert my picture of the Ocean Beach warning sign. =D We go to Ocean Beach a lot and have bonfires.]
"San Francisco is a minority-majority city as non-Hispanic Whites make up less than 44% of the population." [
This is really great, especially after having grown up in Delaware.]
"Asian Americans, principally Chinese, comprise nearly 31% of the population." [
I don't know why, although probably, again, because of having grown up in Delaware, but I am continually amazed at how many Asians there are. They're everywhere! I mean, I don't care or anything, but I'm just saying...]
"Few of San Francisco's residents have lived there their whole lives. Only 35% of its residents were born in California; 39% were born outside the United States." [
Fun!]
"San Francisco has the highest percentage of same-sex households of any American county. Gay men outnumber lesbians; it has been estimated that one in five males over the age of 15 is gay." [
And yet still I once got asked, "Where are all the gay people?" I said, "Um, everywhere?" She: "I haven't seen any yet." Me: "What??"]
"Following a national trend, an out-migration of middle class families...has left the city with a lower proportion of children, 14.5%, than any other large city in the United States." [
Aha! I told you there were no kids in the city! Now here is statistical proof!]
"Homelessness has been a chronic and controversial problem for San Francisco since the early 1980s. The city is believed to have the highest number of homeless inhabitants per capita of any major city in the United States." [
They really are everywhere, it's amazing. And I don't know why; if I were homeless, I sure as hell wouldn't stay in San Fran, it's way too cold.]
"Montgomery Street in the Financial District is known as the 'Wall Street of the West.'" [
Quite near my dorm and right by two of the school buildings.]
"The penetration of national big box retail chains into the city has been slow. Small businesses with fewer than ten employees and self-employed firms make up 85 percent of city establishments." [
Yay! It's so nice. Well, except when you really need a department store.]
"Most commonly known shopping areas are Geary, Powell and Post streets, and surrounding blocks between Market and Sutter streets [
I live on Sutter, which is one block above Post and two down from Powell]. Here luxurious shops and inexpensive [
inexpensive?! are you kidding me? nothing's inexpensive in this city!] boutiques sell everything. Big hotels, splendid restaurants and colorful flower stalls all add to the atmosphere." [
That's one way to put it.]
"Alternative weekly newspapers include the San Francisco Bay Guardian and SF Weekly." [
Yay SF Weekly
! Tres handy.]
"The University of California, Hastings College of the Law, founded in the Civic Center, is the oldest law school in California and claims more judges on the state bench than any other institution." [
This is so near my dorm, and I didn't even know that it existed until just a couple weeks ago. "We have a law school?" ::shakes head::]"Visual arts are served by the...Academy of Art University, the largest private school of art and design in the U.S." [
Yay! That's us!]
"The California Culinary Academy, associated with the Le Cordon Bleu program, offers programs in the culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, and hospitality & restaurant management." [
My neighbor Becky's boyfriend goes there. Or is going to go there. Or wants to go there. Whatever.]
"Because the cost of living in San Francisco is exceptionally high..." [
Oh, good god! It's awful!]
"The Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) contains 20th Century and contemporary pieces." [
I love the MOMA!! And I get in free! Love art school discounts.]"Public transit solely within the city of San Francisco is provided predominantly by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni)." [
Yay Muni!]
"Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the regional rapid transit system which connects San Francisco with the East Bay." [
Yay BART!]
"The Transbay Terminal..." [
Yay homeless people? (The Transbay Terminal is a huge bum-magnet, I have no idea why.)]
"San Francisco International Airport (SFO), though located 13 miles south of the city in San Mateo County, is under the jurisdiction of the City and County of San Francisco." [
Who would've guessed? Maybe the 49ers will get to keep the SF name, too. "NyQuil at SFO..."]
Okay. That is all you need to know about my new city, which I
LOVE.
