A More Perfect Union
Far from sleepy, Cow Hollow’s main stretch revels in its double identity as 20-something hangout and shopper’s nirvana.
posted December 27, 2006 12:00PM
| In Cow Hollow, the grass has always seemed a little greener. Lined with charming Edwardians and Victorians and armed with a beautification budget for flower boxes, Union Street remains both an urban destination and a throwback to another time: a kind of modern, hip Pleasantville. Though small-business owners bemoan the zoning laws that limit the number of restaurants and, as a consequence, foot traffic (restrictions that don’t affect nearby Chestnut Street), upscale shops and post-collegiate sports bars keep Union busy seven days a week. Meanwhile, chains keep moving in, pushing sky-high retail rents even higher. Rumor has it BCBG is on its way to fill another stretch of window space, joining the likes of Bebe, Sephora and Armani Exchange. But independent shops and eateries remain creatively tucked into the seams, preserving the local vibe that makes Union Street eternally popular. |
| You’ll never be a copycat after a trip to Mingle, which showcases emerging local designers like Porcelynne and Nola Bella. Über-cute owner Mimi Ting is always on hand with limited-edition and one-of-a-kind jewelry, handbags and garb—plus inimitable advice. Desperately seeking denim? There are more than 30 brands of jeans on tap at the Blues Jean Bar, where you can get your sixth pair free, as well as happy-hour denim discounts (and drinks!) on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. Across the street at Bryan Lee, owner Lee Smith focuses on exclusivity, carrying 13 brands of jeans, including Ernest Sewn and Tailor Made. Look out for Rock & Republic jackets and trousers, due in early next month, and the colorful selection of graphic tees for guys. Subterranean boutique No Vacancy features rock ’n’ roll chic from edgy designers in L.A. and New York. Sign up for the email list and you may win free tix to local concerts (where you can show off your Michael H., Siwy or Serfontaine jeans). Guys and dolls can divide and conquer at Riley James. Ladies head to the upper level for a dozen designers that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. Meanwhile, video games, beer and a flat-screen TV lure the men downstairs, and the super-limited PRPS denim keeps ’em coming back. Don’t miss Shaw Shoes, where owner Shaw Dehghan has been forecasting shoe styles up to two seasons in advance and introducing designers like René Caovilla for more than 35 years. A flashy gold pair of Baldinis goes perfectly with a matching b.b. simon belt studded in Swarovski crystals. When vacation time comes, follow San Francisco society girls to Cara Mia for sundresses by Anna Sui, Jackie O’s favorite sandals by Jack Rogers and preppy cashmere basics by White and Warren. In this day and age, nobody has to know your legs haven’t seen sun in six months. Save your skin and your time with a spray-on glow at Brown Sugar. Then get Riviera-ready at Canyon Beachwear, where you can choose from string bikinis by Emamo, frilly two-pieces by Melissa Odabash and form-flattering one-pieces from Karla Colleto. For eye candy, check out the tailor-made glasses at Bjorn Eyewear.  |
  Between designing his colorful line of lenses on-site and opening a new location in the Castro at the end of the month, svelte Swedish owner/designer Bjorn Thuvesson is on a roll. We especially love his sleek, two-hinged Double Temple lenses for men. Finally, add a little summertime sparkle with a warm-hued sapphire necklace in a rainbow of colors at Union Street Goldsmith, which celebrated 30 years in business last month. With a track record like that, we know where we’ll go to get our grandmothers’ rings resized. |
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"Can you believe we got a Sunglass Hut? It’s like a mall store, and we don’t"
even get that much sun down here.
—Eleanor Carpenter, owner of Jest Jewels and president of the Union Street Merchant Association
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| Like your bod, you want your home to be dressed in a few original pieces that not everyone has. That’s why we dig Wingard, where designer Kenneth Wingard shows off his own whimsical creations—such as his collection of geometric wall hangings called Mo-bi-le-o’s —along with eye-friendly modern accessories and lighting. Tucked into an alcove just off the street, Atys is like a little escape to Italy without the jetlag. Sip on espresso and browse designer wares and avant-garde accessories from Europe and Japan, or give your pooch the Gucci of animal accoutrements, leather leashes by La Cinopelca—available in sky blue, tangerine, white or fuchsia. Krimsa’s authentic collection of handwoven rugs from Turkey, Iran and Pakistan would be worth a look no matter what, but the fact that manager Renee Cocke will send a large sample to your home so you can test it out makes Krimsa’s function as satisfying as its form. After 16 years selling women’s ready-to-wear at Nordstrom, Cheryl Modica opened her tiny boutique, Modica Home, last fall. She stocks a selection of one-of-a-kind items like Ankasa pillows from India, dainty umbrellas by Signature Bella and a line of decoupaged lazy Susans by her sister, Annie Modica. Craft lovers are in heaven at paper paradise Kozo Arts, where you can choose from more than 60 silk-screened papers imported from Japan, bark paper from Mexico and even flax paper made in a cave in Minnesota. Or create your own frames and scrapbooks in the store’s weekend classes. Celebrate spring with single stems and lush bouquets from premier floral designer Mandy Scott Flowers. Hey, if she’s good enough for SF Ballet’s opening night at the Opera House, she’s good enough for us. Kimberly McNatt and Liz DiBernardo stock their concept store and gallery space, Tate & Kennedy, which opened last July, with unique finds from their trips abroad. Dress up your urban garden with lightweight planters in copper and zinc, nifty rain catchers and watering cans and—our favorite—a sleek fire pit in stainless steel for cozying up on chilly SF summer nights. Or turn your outdoor space into a shrine at Gity Joon’s Treasures and Charms. Weave through vintage kimonos from Kyoto, tikis from the Marquesas Islands and a lavish “double moon wedding portal” from the 19th-century Qing Dynasty (retailing for $68,000!) before centering yourself in the Buddha-filled serenity garden. |
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At the end of the shopping day, tired store owners gather over drinks at Notte. Located behind the Italian restaurant Luisa’s, this cozy bar opened undercover last August and has quickly become the spot for a nightcap. (Be warned: Bermuda Trianglers have caught on and crowd the place on weekends.) Another relative newbie, Ottimista Enoteca Café is your best neighborhood bet for girls’ night out. Sit on the front patio and choose from a nicely edited rotating menu of more than 300 wines, plus seasonal small plates like the addictive olives baked in an Asiago crust. Relive lingering lunches on Rue de la République with Jocelyn Bulow’s crowd-pleasing French bistro fare at Chez Maman’s newest location at Union and Fillmore. Next time you’re craving carbonara, think beyond North Beach and consider Capannina, opened last year by Pino Spinoso of Belden Place’s Café Tiramisu. You’ll make friends with the staff and revel in the subtly warm vibe even before you get to the Cal-Italian menu. In November, Perry Butler (of Perry’s fame) took over old standby Prego, with plans to overhaul the space and menu. The remodel begins in late spring, but for now Butler’s been warming up by sticking to simple Italian fare and using the address—2000 Union—as a moniker. A few blocks west, Terzo has debuted just across the street from sibling Rose’s Café. Chef Mark Gordon is dishing out such tasty pan-Mediterranean small plates as fennel à la Grecque with olives, eggs and oregano.You’ll feel like a kid again at Goldleaf Chocolatier, where the basics (milk, white and dark) come in fun shapes such as cell phones, tennis rackets and even a wide-mouth bass. On the haute end of the chocolate spectrum sits Cocoa Bella, where owner Michael Freeman imports top-tier truffles from 18 of the world’s best chocolatiers. Try our fave, the “picante,” from Chuao: dark chocolate laced with raisin fondue, Cabernet caramel, pasilla chile and cayenne. If you’d rather satisfy your sweet tooth on the cheap, Union Street Pantry stocks jelly beans, taffy and frozen yogurt as well as standard corner-market odds and ends. Don’t leave without trying the peanut butter fro-yo. Delish. |
