Now: Any day of the week, the Upper Haight is filled with a potent mix of locals, tourists, and young homeless people. Many shops are geared toward luring visitors with some kind of reflection of the neighborhood's storied past. The carnival-like energy and strong vintage atmosphere comes through everywhere, from the clothing shops to the ornate Victorian architecture.
Then: Once the connection between the dense downtown area and the new Golden Gate Park was bridged by a cable car line in 1883, homes began to be built around Haight Ashbury. Although most of the neighborhood survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, it was a somewhat forlorn area through the first half of the 20th century. The 1960s brought an influx of young people and appreciation for the Haight bloomed.
How To Get There: The N-Judah Muni train passes very close to Upper Haight Street - you can get off at either Carl and Cole, or Carl and Stanyan, and walk four blocks down to Haight Street. The Haight Street buses (6, 7, 71) depart from the end of Haight, two blocks down Market Street from the Van Ness Muni station. If you're driving directly to the Upper Haight, there is an inexpensive parking lot at Stanyan Street, two blocks south of Haight (near Frederick Street).
The intersection of Stanyan and Haight Streets
Haight Street entrance to Golden Gate Park at Stanyan Street
Haight Street between Stanyan and Shrader
Stanayan Street at Waller Street, facing Golden Gate Park
Haight Street near Stanyan, in the morning
Rockin' Java Coffee House and Tea Lounge
Amoeba Music on Haight between Stanyan and Shrader - the city's largest palace of physical media
Driveway next to Amoeba Music
Wall of Amoeba Music building from the driveway
Window of Amoeba Music building
Stanyan Street near Waller Street, looking south
Sidewalk on Haight Street near Shrader
Cha Cha Cha - Tapas on Haight at Shrader
Haight Street near Shrader
La Rosa Vintage, on Haight Street
Wasteland, vintage clothing
Positively Haight Street
Kan Zaman Cafe on Haight at Shrader - Middle Eastern Cuisine and belly dancing
Magnolia Pub and Brewery on Haight at Masonic
The People's Cafe on Haight near Masonic
Earthsong - clothing and furnishings
Pork Store Cafe - breakfast and lunch on Haight between Masonic and Ashbury
Taqueria el Balazo on Haight
Booksmith on Haight Street
Held Over, on Haight Street
Haight Street sign with hanging shoe
Haight Ashbury T-Shirts at the corner of Haight and Ashbury Streets
Haight Street Piercing and Tattoos
Love of Ganesha shop on Haight Street
Haight Street between Masonic and Ashbury Streets
Aquamarine jewelry and art
The Cannabis Company
The northern edge of Buena Vista Park, on Haight Street at Central Avenue
Mural in the parking lot at Stanyan and Frederick Street
33-Stanyan bus on Haight Street
37-Corbett bus on Haight Street
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