Coffee Time in the Inner Sunset

With its cool breezes and wispy fog, the Sunset offers a perfect climate for enjoying coffee in a cozy spot. Fortunately, enticing coffee shops abound with unique blends of beverages and treats. Consider coffee shop hopping along Ninth Avenue and Irving Street and discover your favorites.

The Beanery’s locations at 1307 Ninth Ave. and 602 Irving St. serve drinks made from certified fair trade arabica coffee. Beans are roasted locally, some at the café’s roaster in the Ninth Avenue storefront. Choose from varied coffees, chai latte and hot and cold espresso drinks, as well as Italian sodas. Tempting pastries are all locally baked.

Pick up a coffee from the to-go window at Luke’s Local at 1266 Ninth Ave., near Irving Street. Imaginative specials include blueberry mocha, honey lavender chai and strawberry matcha. Stop by on the first Friday of every month for $1 drip coffee and tastings from vendors.

Relax with your coffee, macchiato or Valrhona hot chocolate on the patio or inside the charming Tartine Inner Sunset at 1226 Ninth Ave., near Lincoln Way. Treat yourself to a morning bun, croissant or breakfast sandwich on a sweet potato bun.

Locals flock to Snowbird Coffee at 1352 Ninth Ave. for its single-origin coffees from Ethiopia, Sumatra and Colombia, along with assorted baked goods and coffee beans to go.

Morning Vibes Café at 1392 Ninth Ave. at Judah Street serves an array of hot and cold coffee drinks, plus smoothies, yogurt parfaits, juices and breakfast items. The cheerful and vibrant yellow, green and pink décor is sure to brighten your day.

The spacious light-filled St. Frank Coffee at 744 Irving St., near Ninth Avenue, prides itself on sourcing complex coffee from small-scale farmers and building relationships with producers around the world from Honduras to Burundi.

The intimate Earthtone Cafe at 1097 Irving St. at 12th Avenue offers unusual beverages, such as coffee lavender latte and banana Thai latte. Its “matcha mood” selections include matcha and passionfruit, matcha oat strawberry and matcha and mango.

Care to put a Gaelic kick in your coffee? The Little Shamrock (807 Lincoln Way) and Temple Bar (834 Irving St.) will make you an Irish coffee with the whiskey of your choice. Slàinte!

On the Run: A Favorite Source for Shoes Since 1979

Many runners and walkers en route to Golden Gate Park discover a neighborhood gem at 1310 Ninth Ave. – On the Run. With its tagline “walk, run, hike, play, live,” the store embodies the spirit of the Inner Sunset and offers an extensive selection of athletic and comfort shoes, along with an expert staff.

“We are a sit-and-fit store, not just clerks” said administrator Cindy Barr. “We are serious about the correct fitting for our customers.”

Knowledgeable about the biomechanics of the foot and ankle, specialists can suggest shoes and high-quality European orthotics that work for each customer. They can also stretch shoes and make minor orthotic modifications that make all the difference in achieving comfort.

Mark Wachter founded On the Run in 1979 as the running trend was taking off. He said that when he bought his first pair of running shoes, the sales associate knew did not know anything about shoes, nor feet. The shoes didn’t fit, resulting in pain. Knowing that running was a growing sport, he decided to address the problem. The store he established soon became a destination for runners and active people throughout the Bay Area.

Although Wachter passed away in 2023, the specialists he trained continue his legacy and now train new staff.

“We are carrying on what he built,” said COO Sid Burger. On the Run is still family-owned and operated.

As On the Run has evolved over the years, lifestyle shoes have become a larger portion of its business.

“The store’s niche is everyday people who want to stay active as well as runners,” Burger added.

The clientele skews older, as foot problems occur more frequently with age. However, younger generations are becoming more aware of how ill-fitting shoes negatively affect posture and general health. Popular brands include Hoka, New Balance, Brooks, Asics, Taos, Birkenstock, Blundstone and Dansko.

As business attire has become more casual, many comfort shoes are ideal for work, as well as a walk in the park.

The Wachter family and On the Run have deep roots in the neighborhood.

“We love to support our micro-neighborhood,” General Manager Eric Meuser said. “We frequently donate gift cards for local schools’ fundraisers.”

On the Run also generously donated 75 pairs of Hoka shoes to deserving healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fun and Free Cultural Events

Check out the Illuminate LIVE free concert series at the Golden Gate Park Bandshell. From now through mid-November, there are 125 performances ranging from reggae, jazz, blues and rock. The schedule includes Midweek Melodies (Wednesdays), Happy Hour (Fridays) and Crucial Reggae Sundays. Special events are on select Saturdays and cultural celebrations. Visit sfrecpark.org/1570/Golden-Gate-Bandshell-Concerts for more information.

Also at the bandshell, the Golden Gate Park Band holds Sunday concerts through September from 1-2:30 p.m. Select performances spotlight global traditions and feature guest dancers, singers and speakers.

“Parched: A Show About Water” is the theme of the June exhibit at San Francisco Women Artists Galley at 647 Irving St. Inspired by water, artwork includes acrylic and watercolor paintings, mixed media, pastels, photography and sculpture.

The Inner Sunset Merchants’ Association is the voice of our neighborhood’s business community. We are an all-volunteer, nonprofit association committed to supporting, promoting and advocating for the needs of our local business community. We welcome new merchants into our neighborhood and work hard to drive new business to our growing community. Learn more at innersunsetmerchants.org.

Ellen Eason is a writer and Inner Sunset resident.