Now: Valencia Street runs parallel to Mission Street, one block over, and they could be versions of each other in alternate universes. In the Valencia universe, the hipsters arrived to rule with a chimeric hand. Don't stop until you've at least seen Clarion Alley, just south of 17th Street.
Then: The Valencia corridor has undergone dramatic revival since the decline of the neighborhood in the 1960s.
How To Get There: Take BART to 16th/Mission and walk one block west on 16th to Valencia. Or start at 24th/Mission (also from BART) and go north on Valencia (one block west). Or connect via 18th Street, which hits the center of the Valencia commercial corridor. If you're driving and can't park anywhere else, there is a garage on 21st Street between Valencia and Mission.
Valmar Liquors, near the intersection of Valencia Street and Market Street
Bodhi Vietnamese Cuisine, on Valencia Street at Duboce Avenue
Pauline's Pizza, on Valencia Street near 14th Street
Valencia Street at 16th Street
Arinell New York Style Pizza, on Valencia near 16th Street
Mariachi's Mexican, on Valencia
Valencia Street near 16th Street
Luna Park, on Valencia at 17th Street
Frjtz - fries and crepes, on Valencia at 17th Street
Range - American Dining, on Valencia Street near 19th Street
Mission Playground and Pool, bordering Mission Street between 19th and 20th Streets
Mission Pool, on the 19th Street side at Linda Street
826 Valencia Street, near 19th Street
The Pirate Shop inside 826 Valencia
Osha Thai Restaurant, on Valencia near 19th Street
City Art Cooperative Gallery, on Valencia near 19th Street
Borderlands Sci Fi and Fantasy Books on Valencia between 19th and 20th Streets
Modern Times Books on Valencia Street
House on 20th Street near Valencia
Mirrors outside a Frame Shop on Valencia Street
X21 Modern - vintage furniture and decor, on Valencia near 20th Street
Herbivore Vegetarian Restaurant, on Valencia near 21st Street
Dosa on Valencia, near 21st Street
Jay's Cheesesteak, on 21st Street near Valencia
House at the corner of Bartlett Street and 21st
Lexington Street, near 21st Street
Udupi Palace, also serving dosas, on Valencia just south of 21st Street
Xanath Ice Cream
Valencia, between 21st and 22nd Streets
Spork, on Valencia between 21st and 22ns Streets
22nd Street at Valencia Street
22nd Street at Bartlett Street
Escape From New York Pizza, on 22nd Street between Valencia and Mission
Yotopia, on 22nd Street between Valencia and Mission Streets
The Make-Out Room, on 22nd Street near Mission Street
Beretta, Italian Dining and Bar, on Valencia at 23rd Street
Beretta, on Valencia at 23rd Street, in the daytime
Valencia Street at 24th Street
CCSF Mission Campus on Valencia
Tiled mural on Valencia at 25th Street
Anthony's Cookies, on Valencia near 25th Street
Clooney's Pub, on Valencia at 25th Street
Toad's Pub, on Valencia at 26th Street
Construction on Valencia Street between 15th and 19th Streets is scheduled to continue until Summer 2010
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