27th and Geary.  I lived in this building a few floors up on the north side with my friend James who attended FIDM with me.  When I first moved in here I was still going to clubs and pretty  much acting like a carefree young fashion student but at some point I started to change.  My room mate did not.  I loved this location because of the cold and fog, the Holy Virgin Church next door, and a diner I really liked down the street whose name I can no longer remember.

Notable things that happened while living in this apartment:

This is where I lived when the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 struck.

I made a cornish game hen for an Italian with a big nose I had a huge crush on who did not have a crush on me.

Learned to make rosemary polenta.

Discovered what raw steak smells like when it’s been left in a hiding place in the kitchen by my room mate for well over a week.

This is the Russian Orthodox Church “Holy Virgin Church” that is next door to my old apartment building.  I always wanted to go inside but was too shy.  When I was there the other weekend I decided I was definitely going to go inside but I completely missed the visiting hours.  Next time…

It’s a truly gorgeous church.  And you should see the costumes the priests wear.

I love the datura and the row of pretty little houses.

Entering Seacliff.  You know it’s a fancy neighborhood because of the concrete pillars and the sign that say so.

Immediately you see less concrete and more lawn.  Lots and lots of lawn.  Very trim and precisely manicured.  The houses get bigger and prettier too.

The closer to the sea you get the more palatial the houses get.  I love the houses in this neighborhood but I have to say something about it – it’s eerily quiet and empty feeling.  You rarely see people walking around.  You could eat off the sidewalks they’re so clean but where’s the life of the neighborhood?  You get the feeling that the people here are too good to hang out in their own yards.  Too good for the outside world.

I did see one little boy throwing a ball around at no one in his front yard and it kind of creeped me out.  His parents were apparently close by inside the house but if I had been a pedophile I would have thought this child’s parents were offering him to me as a gift.  I realize that Sea Cliff is probably one of the safest neighborhoods in San Francisco – but I would not let my 4 year old play outside without me being outside with him.

I’d live in this house.  It has figs growing against the wall.  It has a pretty tiled roof and pretty windows.  This is the house I’d live in if I was a rich San Franciscan.

It’s a walled property.  I’d like to walk in that door every time I come home.

Clearly I’m in love with this house since I took more pictures of it than any other.  If only I could move this whole property to Santa Rosa – that would suit me perfectly.  I had enough of empty quiet neighborhoods in McMinnville – I like living in a neighborhood where people are constantly walking around outside with their dogs and their families.  I like living where there is noise and life.

Still, I’ll always love Sea Cliff just for the architecture and the clean sidewalks.