Neighborhood: Fillmore District- Therapeutic Shopping

It’s hard to believe that the quarter is half over. Mentally exhausted from the hours put in at the library studying for a flurry of midterms, you can at least rejoice at the fact that you have survived the first round. Congratulations! Now for some relief- there are a thousand ways to enjoy a much needed and well deserved catharsis. Retail therapy? Culinary healing? Chocotherapy? You can find it all in the Fillmore district, a mix of quaint boutiques and specialty shops with a smattering of shops for those with discerning palates.

Over the past few years, I have grown quite fond of Fillmore. Coinciding with the conclusion of a spat of grueling tests, we make a quarterly trek to Fillmore where my wife Lucky gets her hair done while I spend an hour or so walking up and down Fillmore looking in shops and trying snacks at different bakeries and eateries. Usually, I am not really much of a shopper. But for those times when I feel like I’ve just been eaten alive after a nasty midterm or two, it’s therapeutic to splurge on something nice, either for Lucky or myself. While we are still students, I don’t feel so bad about spending if I get what I pay for. After a few years and several miles worth of walking, Lucky and I have found a few cures for the midterm blues.

Lucky’s favorite place for retail therapy is Muse Ten, an unassuming boutique that sells stylish bags and accessories made by independent up-and-coming designers such as like Anna Corrina, Kale, and Carla Mancini. Inside is a collection of purses in an abundance of styles- totes, satchels, accordions, clutches. While the plethora of styles and beautiful, intricate detailing make Lucky’s eyes pop out, what amazes me is the softness of the leather crash bags and the rainbow of colors from which to choose-ranging from the classic to unique colors (moss, milk, apple green, petrol). With prices ranging from $68 for a Tusk brand zip wallet to a $799 Belen Eschandia shoulder bag, it isn’t cheap, but quality handbags never are. Besides, I’d rather pay that than shell out double the price for a purse of equal quality just because it has Gucci or Prada stamped on it. Muse Ten can be found at 1820 Fillmore St. or online at www.museten.com.

For those who prefer a little chocotherapy, Bittersweet is a little chocolate café located at 2123 Fillmore St. With a wall lined with over 120 different types of chocolate bars, you can choose a bar by just about any qualification: there are dozens of brands to choose from, including big names Scharffen Berger, Valrhona, Charles and Guittard among others; percentages of cocoa (or none at all, like white); fair-trade, vegan, organic; or flavor. Over the course of time, some of the more unique bars we have tried include Café Tasse’s Szechuan Peppercorn studded bar (talk about spicy!), Dolfin’s Earl Grey Tea infused dark chocolate (very subtle and mild), New Tree’s Forgiveness (tangy lemon highlighting rich dark chocolate), and Vosges’ Naga (coconut curry and chocolate go better together than it sounds). Many of the bars sell for $2 to $9, depending on size and make. Their own line of chocolates Origins are worth a try as well. For those who just can’t decide, Bittersweet offers guided tastings Monday through Thursday for $30, which includes a $15 giftcard. Those who would rather drink their chocolate can choose from no less than 9 varieties, ranging from pure thick chocolate drinks to chocolate thai iced teas to mochas.

My favorite way to recover, though, is with a trip to La Boulangerie at 2325 Pine St. A cute little shop right always with a crowd inside and a mini traffic jam outside, this place has some of the most delectable goodies at very affordable prices. The glass cases are lined with beautiful fruit tarts, decadent cakes, and enough cookies to make you forget all your academic worries. We just recently found out about this place, as it is somewhat tucked away on a side street of Fillmore. We have not tried all their goodies, but what we have tried has us looking forward to the next round of tests, kinda. They are well known for their macaroons with various fillings, including lime mint, black currant, mango passion fruit and lavender. Their unique recipe results in an airy, slightly chewy inside, surrounded by a slightly crispy shell. Lucky prefers regular macaroons; I prefer these, though at $1.50 a piece I was hoping they would last longer than one or two bites. Winning the “Best Lucky Has Ever Tasted” award for streusel was the Peach Plum Rustic Streusel. Using plump fruits with intense flavorful, the contrast of the tangy and sweet fruits really stood out. My favorite pastry was the Napoleon, a pastry with alternating layers of cream and crunchy phylo. At a reasonable price of $3.50, one can wallow in self-pity or celebrate a test well taken without breaking the bank.

For those who prefer to recuperate by meditating over a beautiful view of the city and bay, the northern end of Fillmore offers this free option as well. Adding a Yoshi’s Jazz Club in a little over a month will only make trips here more restorative.

Originally published: www.ucsf.edu/synapse/articles/2007/Oct/18/fillmore.html