Anna

At the corner of Ocean and Lee
Ingleside
Friday morning

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“I’m from the Ingleside,” I would explain to anyone who asks which neighborhood I live in. More often than not, I’m met with a quizzical look and I’ll explain that I’m quite close to the City College of San Francisco and not too far from San Francisco State University. A smaller quotient of people may not know those landmarks so then I’ll just say I’m close to Daly City. If you haven’t heard of or set foot in Ingleside yet, let me tell you a little bit about it.

The San Francisco I grew up in isn’t the one people imagine from watching reruns of Full House. Ingleside is a working class neighborhood served by the K MUNI line. While riding the K along Ocean Avenue, I can spot tired people napping in their business suits, young couples saying goodbye at their stops, and parents reining in their rambunctious kids. While some neighborhoods can be easily pinned down with a few stereotypes, I don’t think I can say the same here.

Ingleside is home to Chinese takeout restaurants, a plethora of nail and hair salons, a few dive bars, and the first ever GAP store (long closed). Blockbuster and Safeway have closed their doors years ago, but family owned businesses have flourished on Ocean Avenue. Java Jitters (http://www.yelp.com/biz/java-jitters-san-francisco) proudly serves Four Barrel Coffee. San Francisco Meats & Delicatessen (http://www.sfmeats.com/) has great cuts of meat, cheese, and filling sandwiches. Ocean Cyclery (http://www.oceancyclery.com/) has been repairing and selling bikes as long as I can remember. However, in true city form, I never learned how to ride a bike or drive!

I currently work in the Mission and Oakland, hang out where ever the bus or my own two feet can take me. But Ingleside will always be a place I can call home.

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You can see a slideshow of Anna’s photo shoot here.

Anna on twitter: http://twitter.com/annajyu