North Beach is a San Francisco, California neighborhood adored by both San Franciscans and tourists alike. Whether searching for historic landmarks, sampling espressos, shopping, or eating at the many Italian restaurants, North Beach has plenty to offer for both an afternoon visit and a night on the town. North Beach, historically an Italian neighborhood, is best known as San Francisco's Little Italy. The somewhat compact layout of the neighborhood consists of three-story buildings painted in light colors dating from the 1920s, when people rebuilt after the earthquake and fire of 1906. North Beach is a popular destination for fans of the Beat movement who seek the old haunts of Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac and poet Allen Ginsberg. An alleyway off of Columbus between Kearny and Broadway is named for Kerouac, who once lived there and frequented the famous City Lights Bookstore on the corner of Columbus and Broadway as well as the numerous nearby coffee shops. The boundaries of North Beach are bounded by Jackson Square and the Financial District south of Broadway, Chinatown to the southwest of Columbus below Green, Russian Hill to the west, Telegraph Hill to the east, and Fisherman's Wharf at Bay Street to the north.
Originally, the city's northeast shoreline extended only to what is today Taylor and Francisco streets. The area largely known today as North Beach was an actual beach, filled in with soil years ago. North Beach was infamous until fairly recently as home to many of the city's striptease clubs – particularly on Broadway east of Columbus. The sex-related nightspots such as The Condor Club, The Lusty Lady, and Mabuhay Gardens have been converted to other, more mainstream uses.
North Beach is home to some of the liveliest nightclubs and bars in town. Visitors will also find many small boutiques selling handmade clothing and imported, particularly on upper Grant Avenue. Washington Square Park is located between Powell, Stockton, Union and Filbert Streets. The park offers a bit of relief from an afternoon of navigating the crowded, narrow streets. Visitors can lounge on the grass or a bench and observe locals walking their dogs or groups practicing Tai Chi. Saints Peter and Paul Church is located at 666 Filbert Street and anchors Washington Square Park. Originally a parish of Italian fisherman, a procession still departs for Fisherman's Wharf each October for the annual blessing of the fishing fleet. Coit Tower/Pioneer Park: The tower stands atop Telegraph Hill in San Francisco's Pioneer Park and offers incredible views of San Francisco. The Filbert Street Steps are a public stairway that runs along a short section of Filbert Street. Filbert Street in San Francisco, California is one of the world's steepest streets in a major city. Columbus Tower/Sentinel Building, 916 Columbus Ave. During the earthquake of 1906, the steel frame building was under construction and survived the fire. Known as Columbus Tower from 1958 to 1972, film director Francis Ford Coppola bought and restored it in the early 70's. Hotel Boheme: Established in the 1880s and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake, this hotel has been recently renovated in the style of the late-fifties Beat era. 444 Columbus Ave. Local museums include, Beat Museum, Lyle Tuttle's Tattoo Museum, and the North Beach Museum. The San Francisco Art Institute is located in the Northern end of North Beach, on Russian Hill.
There is a street fair on Grant Avenue on Father's Day and a parade along Columbus Avenue to Aquatic Park around Columbus Day. Art in the Alley is a biannual outdoor art event in Kerouac Alley between City Lights Bookstore and Vesuvio. More than two dozen emerging and established artists showcase their work, including painting, photo collage and photography, printmaking, mixed media, art books and jewelry. Beach Blanket Babylon is a cabaret show based in San Francisco. As of 2006, it has sold out every performance for 32 years, making it the longest running musical revue in history. The North Beach Festival celebrates the Italian heritage and Beat history of North Beach, with live music, poetry readings, dancing and arte di gesso, or street chalk art. The Oyster and Beer Festival is the largest Celtic festival on the West Coast. The event features the unique combination of oysters and stout and is supported by a great cast of traditional and contemporary live Irish music.
