Society for the Study of Social Problems

Sourdough, Santana, Cable Cars, Fog, Harvey Milk
Welcome to San Francisco! Prior to my attendance in the Sociology Program at UC-San Francisco, I had never visited the city before and did not know what to expect. My undergraduate advisors described it as, “…a progressive place, with bubbling social activity.” After living here for six years, I can only confirm their description. Hopefully, you will leave San Francisco feeling the same way.

Although San Francisco is not comparable in size to New York or Los Angeles, it has a rich history, good food, and great energy that cannot be matched anywhere in the United States. However, the weather here during the summertime is chilly and windy, so please bring a light jacket and a sweater.

Getting Around San Francisco
Do not worry about getting around San Francisco and its neighboring cities. First, this is a walking city. To get the most out of your experience walk through the neighborhoods. Do not walk in dress shoes. During my first few days in San Francisco I had to trade-in my stilettos for sneakers because of the hills. If you are walking between the ASA Meetings and the hotel, just keep your nice shoes in your SSSP tote and change when you arrive.

If you plan on visiting the tourist attractions outside of Nob Hill, where the Stanford Court is located, I would recommend buying a 1-Day or 3-Day SF Muni City Passport. The City Passport is a bus pass that provides you with unlimited access to all MUNI transit. With a City Passport you can ride the cable cars and the 74X Culture Bus for an additional $3. All three cable car routes (California, Powell-Hyde, and Powell-Mason) have stops outside the Stanford Court. The Powell Lines heading north will take you to Chinatown, North Beach, and Fisherman’s Wharf. At Fisherman’s Wharf you can go see the Sea Lions bark, honk, and trumpet.

Cities in the East Bay, including Oakland and Berkeley, are only a thirty-five minute BART ride from Downtown. The BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit is a train system that takes you throughout cities in the Bay Area. I would recommend sparing a few hours to visit Berkeley. If you get off the Downtown Berkeley stop and head east, you will arrive to the UC-Berkeley campus. I recommend visiting Moe’s on Telegraph Avenue. It’s a three-story, local bookstore with a great selection of social theory. If you do not want to carry books in your carry-on, then just visit Berkeley for its warmer weather.

Around the Stanford Court and its Neighboring Areas
There are several hidden attractions close to the Stanford Hotel. One is the Tunnel Top, which is a bar that sits on top of the Stockton Tunnel at Bush Street. They also serve coffee and beverages for those who just want to mingle. The Tunnel Top, like many local businesses in San Francisco, only accepts cash. So, make sure to carry some with you.

Another gem by the Stanford Hotel is the Glide Memorial Church, close to the ASA Meetings. Religions aside, consider attending a Glide service. Their services are considered a celebration of life that is felt through the powerful music provided by the Glide Ensemble. During the 1960s, the Glide Memorial Church was also instrumental in establishing ethnic studies and affirmative action at San Francisco State University. Their services take place at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Get there half an hour early for seats.

Golden Gate Park-One Stop Tourism
If you only have one day to enjoy San Francisco, I would recommend visiting the Golden Gate Park, which is accessible via the N-Judah line and 74X Culture Bus. This grand park has a museum campus, a Japanese Tea Garden, and beautiful trails. The best part about the Golden Gate Park is that it is adjacent to the Inner Sunset District which has cheap restaurants all along 9th Avenue. One place that I would highly recommend that you visit is the Arizmendi Bakery. The Arizmendi Bakery is a worker-owned cooperative that stemmed from the Cheeseboard Collective in Berkeley. They have uniquely, delicious pizzas made from organic ingredients, as well as rustic treats and cheeses. Check out their bread schedule at: www.arizmendibakery.org.

In the end…
One of the goals of the Society is “…to encourage the work of young sociologists.” After becoming fascinated by some of the sights, you may be tempted to create a dissertation proposal that is based out of San Francisco. If you are trying to brainstorm ideas, I recommend heading to Caffé Trieste in North Beach. Here, you can find local politicians discussing new ordinances or local artists writing poetry.

Another great café worth visiting is the Crossroads Café in SoMa, which has a bookstore and delicious sandwiches. Crossroads Café is part of the Delancey Street Foundation, which strives to provide vocational skills and education to ex-convicts.

Although I know that most of you are participating in the Society’s annual meeting to present your research or meet progressive scholars, I hope that you also take this opportunity to have some fun. You may possibly find intellectual stimulation, and spiritual inspiration in unexpected places. Enjoy!

Airín D. Martínez, Doctoral Candidate in Sociology
University of California-San Francisco

Important Links and Websites
For transit trip planner and maps: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php
Instant transit directions from your phone, dial 311.
74X Culture Bus: http://www.sfculturebus.org/route.htm
Map of Downtown Berkeley, CA: http://www.downtownberkeley.org
Moe’s Bookstore: http://www.moesbooks.com/cgi-bin/moe/index.html
Golden Gate Park: http://www.nps.gov/goga
Glide Memorial Church: www.glide.org
Arizmendi Bakery: www.arizmendibakery.org
Caffé Trieste North Beach: www.caffetrieste.com
Crossroads Café SoMa: www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/entercafe.php