Duboce Ave, Duboce Triangle

Duboce really picks up at Duboce Park which is a long swath of grass that the three story fifties style buildings stare down onto. It is unfortunately a dog park—I say unfortunately because it smells in most spots like a dog park.

What you really admire after you pass the medical center are the homes here. They are classic three story beauties, well-maintained and all made up in burgundies and tans. The last three blocks after Castro Street are the highlights. As Duboce begins its final climb, you get these old fifties buildings of the kind you see in Vertigo, where Jimmy Stewart lives. Each and every home on these blacks has a picturesque appearance to it. If I were a painter, I could spend six months just painting aspects of these three blocks.

The final block tops it all though. You are at a fairly steep angle here and suddenly the street is lined by palm trees! Now I’m not really into palm trees—it is more of a So Cal aesthetic as far as I am concerned—but these squat beauties really work here. The two homes on the end are beauties too--especially the one on the south corner. It has all these great little details—its kind of an Italian style—very baroque—the more you look at it the more you see.

And then there is Buena Vista Park. You probably get the best views of the city from the top of these hiking trails--you can see the Golden Gate on one part, the Mission on the other. The lovely bay trees frame it all for photos as well. On the other side, you will find these cool stone steps that look like they came from a sword and sorcery film. When the fog hits these trails just right it must make for a transformative experience.

This is a terrific street. It is a little cul de sac hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Guerrero street. And yet its just minutes away from the Park, and not far from an amazing coffee shop called Java City. Besides being a beautiful and secluded street in an otherwise hectic neighborhood, it is also easily accessible by bus/bike/muni to both Castro and the mission night spots, so there is always somewhere to go out to!

This is an awesome part of the street for singles and young couples: there are a ton of apartments, many of them in classic old houses. It is just a couple of blocks up from Market Street, which is busy but also offers tons of cheap eating choices and activity, and one of the busy BART stations which is a hub to catch all kinds of public transportation. Best of all, it's a part of the city known as "The Donut Hole" -- if there's any sunshine to be had in SF, you'll find it right here, shining through the clouds like the hole of a donut!

Duboce's main attraction is its park, popular among dog-owners and families with kids. There is a large hospital across the street from the park, and a few nice coffee shops where you can sit and look out at people along the street. But Duboce gets a little skanky the further you travel down, and more so as soon as you cross Market.