San Francisco Gallery – Color Series III, The Mission

There are  number of fantastic murals in an alley just off Valencia.  These murals are in another alley, this one called  "Balmy," off 24th in the heart of The Mission.

San Francisco Bookstores — Borderlands, Other Worldly on Valencia

This is part of a series about San Francisco’s independent bookstores and the neighborhoods they serve. For previous articles please click here.

If only we crime writers had a local San Francisco bookstore specializing in the kinds of books we write. I hope that writers of fantasy, science fiction and horror appreciate the jewel of a store that is Borderlands Books on Valencia.

The day I visited, the staff was setting up for an author event. There was a sense of enthusiasm in the room — people with good cheer, enjoying their work. I wandered through the aisles of bookshelves, gazing at the collection of new and used books. These were for serious readers of the genres. The shelves were neatly kept, the categories clearly identified. This isn’t a place deeply engaged in pop-culture — no super-sized superhero character cut-outs or Star Trek memorabilia, just books and more books. However, one of the big draws is Ripley, a sweet mild-mannered, and lovely, hairless felinean from the planet Sphynx.

I’ve written about the Mission neighborhood before. It may be the city arts and letters central. There are a number of bookstores and galleries in the area. Valencia Street, in particular, continues its dynamic growth — with shops selling mid-century furniture, stuffed antelope, vintage clothing as well as restaurants (trendy high-end to deliciously low-end) springing up near its start at Market Street and stretching almost all the way to Cesar Chavez. This is the neighborhood of around the block lines waiting for Bi-Rite ice cream and mile-high meringue on Banana pie. This is a great walk or bike ride that includes a couple of alleys with spectacular murals.

While its doubtful you could call Borderlands Books trendy (they sell books on paper, after all), they are doing what great independent bookstores are supposed to do. They have a staff that knows the subject matter. They hold many author and other book-related events and participate in a thriving, creative community. They also make you feel welcome.

Maybe they should add a mystery annex.

866 Valencia Street, (415) 824-8203, www.borderlands-books.com

San Francisco Bookstores — Heart of the Mission, Modern Times, Adobe Books, Forest Books

For some, the Mission is just the street — a long, bustling, wide-sidewalked avenue with boarded up movie house, pawn shops, produce markets, tacquerias and brightly colored bargain products spilling out of store doorways. It is much more. Well beyond the loud and somewhat gaudy main thoroughfare is a rich and vibrant Hispanic neighborhood. To the west of Mission, you meander along Guererro and Valencia with their upscale restaurants, galleries and trendy shops. If you stroll east of Mission you’ll discover the authentic Mission, both residential and not generally trendy commercial areas on tree-lined streets. As far as Mission bookstores go, too many have closed their doors; but a number still remain. Among the survivors are:

Modern Times — After years on Valencia, the progressive collective moved deeper into the Mission, taking with them their concerns for the most vulnerable, or at least, most misunderstood populations. New and used books about gender and sexual orientation (fiction and nonfiction) are highlighted. So are books on philosophy and progressive politics. Modern Times also carries literature for children and many Spanish language books as well. As it did before, the bookstore acts as community center and holds many events of interest to writers, readers and political activists. Check out this San Francisco treasure.

2919 24^th Street, (415) 282-9246, www.mtbs.com

Adobe Books — Almost synonymous with the Mission, Adobe Books has been on 18^th near Valencia for years. Its narrow aisles are crowded with books (I will have to lose a few pounds). If I were younger, I’d gobble up the wonderful ‘70s and ‘80s mass paperbacks if for no other reason than an as investment because pocket-sized books are becoming extinct. They will be, if they aren’t already, collectibles. There is an eccentric sense about the place. While this isn’t a bookstore dedicated to religion, for example, there’s a complete section of Bibles. Bibles? Why not? There are comfortable chairs in which to read at your leisure (or doze off) and at the very far end, an active art gallery.

3166 16^th Street, (415) 864-3936

Forest Books — This simple, unpretentious but elegant store carries a full range of used books and exudes a strong spiritual ambiance. Clean, spacious, ordered and filled with soothing music, the bookstore specializes in poetry and art as well as Asian culture and Eastern philosophy. There are many books about Buddhists and Buddhism. They also have a collection of rare books. This quiet place in the midst of the busy Mission should definitely be on any booklover’s list of places to check out.

3080 16^th Street, (415)863-2755, forestbooks.net

San Francisco Bookstores — Three Bookstores, All in the Family

Phoenix Books, Noe Valley — Though it recently changed storefronts, moving further into the Noe Valley shopping district on 24th. Phoenix is the oldest of three small, independent bookstores owned by Kate Rosenberger and George Kirby Desha. In the heart of the “baby district,” this one is the most family oriented of the three, though you’ll find an eclectic collection of books well suited to adults with discriminating tastes as well. The location is also great for wandering, shopping and eating. Great restaurants and bakeries add to an essentially full-service neighborhood, which serves increasingly young, affluent baby-bearing, child-rearing residents.

3957 24^th Street, (415) 821-3477

Dog Eared Books, The Mission — Founded in 1992, the store at Valencia and 23^rd Street has great windows and offers a range of books befitting the highly diverse neighborhood, which is often described as the epicenter for the city’s avant-garde. Despite all the emerging writers, artists and chefs, particularly on or near Valenica, the last few years have witnessed the closing of many of the neighborhood bookstores. Dog Eared dominates the English-language readers in the Mission. Great selection of magazines and don’t forget the boxes of cheap books out on the sidewalk.

900 Valencia Street, (415) 282-1901

Red Hill Books, Bernal Heights — Once a communist stronghold (thus Red Hill, suggests the bookstore’s web site), Bernal Heights is a pretty substantial little hill town within a hilly city. Like Potrero Hill, the remoteness of this neighborhood means we can go there and feel we’ve actually left town. Because many of the great restaurants there are only open for dinner, you might want to consider an evening visit to dine well, stroll the busy main street and browse through the cozy, warm and inviting bookstore at the western end of Cortland.

401 Cortland Avenue, (415) 648-5311

All three stores carry new books, but most of their books are used or are well-chosen remainders — meaning great bargains on great reads. Also check for author events. For more information go to: www.dogearedbooks.com, where you can learn about all three stores.