Hedonia

Dessert first: Stella Pastry & Cafe

My adorable cousin Theresa is in town from upstate New York, on a field trip with several students in her graphic design department. They had a few hours to spare yesterday afternoon, so I trekked her and her friend Alex around the city for a couple of hours, showing the sites and spouting the copious amounts of tedious trivia I have stored away for just such an occasion. (I am, after all, a tour guide.) They were interested in checking out, among other things, Coit Tower and North Beach, so I obliged.

I don't make it up to North Beach often, and only can name a handful of places I like. But one place that stands out always in my mind is the fabulous Stella Pastry & Cafe right on Columbus Ave. And so I could not take them into the heart of North Beach and not tempt them (and myself) with the promise of the best cannoli in San Francisco. I mean, just look at them! (Image stolen appropriated from Stella's site.)

Purtroppo, when we arrived we discovered that there was exactly one lonesome cannolo siciliano left on its half-sheet pan, just begging to be consumed. Being a nice guy (I am, dammit!) I let Theresa have it. They also did not have any cassatine, so I had a slice of pear tart, which was also heavenly. But it wasn't a cannolo. But hey, I can go back any time I like. I'm thinking maybe breakfast tomorrow.

Stella Pastry & Cafe
446 Columbus Ave

The Canvas Gallery and Café

Yes, Virginia, there are cool things in the Western neighborhoods.

I had a meeting yesterday afternoon at The Canvas Gallery and Café, out in the Sunset. It chagrins me to think how seldom I make it out to the western half of the city, and after seeing this place, it has exposed a certain snobbery on my part about the Mission-Castro-Noe cluster that I consider to be the center of the universe.

Perched on the edge of Golden Gate Park and at the beginning of the cool business center along 9th Ave, The Canvas is an enormous space with high ceilings. The counter forms an island in the middle of the vast space, which in turn is broken into smaller gallery spaces showcasing a variety of artwork. The café menu is predictable and only ancillary to the real draws here: Free Wi-Fi, free comedy and musical performances nearly nightly and -- gasp! -- free parking in the small lot out back. It's worth the trip.

The Canvas Gallery and Café
1200 9th Ave (At Lincoln)