Over the Rainbow
This article originally appeared in 7x7 Magazine

At the hub of the free-flowing SF lifestyle, the Castro is as festive, communal and colorful as always.

When the enormous rainbow flag at the corner of Market and Castro comes into view, you know you've entered a different zone--a neighborhood where toddlers, tourists and trannies happily share the sidewalks seven days a week. Anchored by the iconic Castro Theatre, the Castro offers--despite its renegade reputation--some decidedly traditional charms: We'd venture to say it's one of SF's most stable districts. Loyal customers help long-term businesses thrive, houses remain unchanged (almost) since the days they were built and the vibe is heavily oriented toward large groups of friends who stroll, eat and drink together. Between the bustling foot traffic, bubble-proof real estate and rare sense of community, we're thinking this "gay agenda" might be onto something.

SHOP
Shopping-wise, Castro Street is a big, bustling outdoor mall. Well, not exactly. But you really can get nearly everything you need between Market and 19th streets. For starters, stock up on eco-friendly skincare provisions at Bare Necessities, where Dr. Hauschka creams and Pre de Provence ointments share shelf space with Lanolin-Agg-Tval egg-white soaps. Don't be confused by the rich smell of coffee wafting from the Castro Cheesery. Though it does stock 50 kinds of cheese, the tiny shop is also packed with 100 varieties of coffee, including such flavors as banana cream, apricot and mandarin orange. Both an old-school five-and-dime and a bona fide hardware shop, Cliff's Variety is one of our favorite spots for browsing; it carries everything from yarn and fabric to faucets and Halloween masks. In the space formerly known as Friendly Spirits, Swirl sells wines handpicked and tasted by owner Jerry Cooper. It also turns into a wine bar at night, pouring samples from small producers around the world. There's a Clobba on Castro and another just a few blocks away on Market, but each carries different merchandise, so you can stock up on affordable trends like striped camis and drapey cotton jersey tops. For below-the-ankle action, De La Sole's tiny showroom is packed with some of our favorite brands: Seychelles, Jeffrey Campbell and Pony. Gallery Flux offers custom...

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