Lauren

Derby Street
Tendernob
Saturday afternoon

***

San Francisco is magic.

I can’t even begin to describe the way I felt the first time I stepped onto a San Francisco sidewalk. Love at first sight doesn’t cut it.

Two summers ago I came to San Francisco on a girl’s trip with my grandmother. It was then, the second I stumbled out of the airport shuttle, that I knew. The city spoke to me. No. The city screamed to me. I couldn’t get out here fast enough.

I loved Colorado. I still do. But San Francisco makes my heart stop. The city, the people, the diversity, the food, the ocean, the buildings, everything about this city is effervescent. Never have I been anywhere so vibrant and alive.

I’m not sure anyone back home realized how serious I was about moving here. Not only was I still in school, but I was also graduating in the worst economy. The idea of me having enough money to move and live in an extremely expensive city was absurd. Finding a job? Yeah, right. That was challenge enough for me.

After visiting for a week over spring break of last year, I couldn’t wait. The city entrapped me.

I graduated and began the job hunt. Three weeks after the start of my job search, I became the luckiest girl in the world. I was offered two jobs, from out of state, without having physically met either company. One of which, was my dream job. In a whirlwind, I was out here two weeks later. Who knew my dream would come true in every way possible.

I’ve been here a little over six months and I am even more in love with the city as I was before. There are so many people, from all over the world, doing so many interesting things. San Francisco is the kind of place that embraces each of these people. It’s a city of unlimited exploration. I’ve barely scratched the surface.

So, what do I love about SF so far?

I love how I was worried about my nose piercing when walking into my first day at work, only to be greeted by my boss and his magenta Mohawk.

I love how the first festival I attended was the Dore Alley, “Up Your Alley” Street Fair. Next was Folsom.

I love how the city is divided into districts that are distinctly different from each other.

I love how I have to wear a dress to go out some places in SoMa, and I have to dress down to go out in the Mission.

I love how I can watch the city go by from the bay windows in my studio.

I love how each building, even if they’re right up next to each other, is different architecturally.

I love how they sell marijuana truffles at Dolores Park.

I love how I don’t have a car, and don’t need one, because everything I need is either a footstep or a bus ride away.

I love how you can be exactly who you are without being judged.

I love the shopping.

I love the different restaurants – the fancy ones and the mom-and-pop shops.

I love how I’m surrounded by cement buildings downtown, but 20 minutes away is the beauty of nature in Golden Gate Park.

I love everything about this city by the bay.

I couldn’t be happier to live here, SF.

***

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

Lauren can be found at her blog: http://theoffbeatreport.com

Or follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lauren_hannah

Julie’s note: Although Lauren and I had never met until the day of her photo shoot (which is typical of most of the shoots, actually), she decided to give a makeover to my site that very day… She’s responsible for the new and wonderful look of this site. Thank you, Lauren!