10 Years in San Francisco
Heyyyyy, it’s me! BeSeeingTheWorldYo! I’m celebrating my 10-year anniversary here in San Francisco, and I thought—what better way to roll out my new BeTravelingThroughTimeYo blog than with a post about my home: San Francisco.
I still remember the excitement bubbling up as I finally approached the San Francisco Bay Area, ready to start a new job (same company) and a new life. That first night—June 30, 2015—I wore a maxi dress and jean jacket to dinner after my coworker warned me it might be cold. I was surprised when she showed up in a trench coat and jeans, but I quickly realized what I was getting myself into as we hugged goodbye in the blustery wind.
I let myself play tourist the next day. As I stood there in disbelief that my Fisherman’s Wharf crab Louie sandwich cost me $20, seagulls attacked me and knocked the sandwich out of my hands—quickly turning my lunch into theirs. I remember thinking, “Dorothy sure isn’t in Kansas anymore.”
So let’s have it—here are my top three favorite things about life in San Francisco!
Festivals, Block Parties & Daytime Magic
SF thrives in the daytime. I live for the block parties hosted by some of the city’s nightclubs—and these aren’t your Midwest block parties with neighbors and a grill. These are daytime raves. DJs bring the vibes from garage rooftops to full-on city blocks.
SF hosts two major music festivals—Outside Lands and Portola—bringing world renowned artists to Golden Gate Park and the shipyard outside the USS Midway. During summer, there’s Sunday Streets, where different neighborhoods shut down to traffic so people can walk, shop, dance, and explore.
Other pop-up festivals happen all the time, and Stern Grove offers free concerts in the forest. Sundown Cinema adds movie nights under the stars—just bring a blanket and hope for minimal fog. If nothing’s going on, chances are you’ll end up in one of the city’s many parks, soaking in the sun (or fog) with friends and a Trader Joe’s snack spread. Bonus points if it’s warm enough to skip the jacket until after 5.
The People & The City Energy
People often talk about how expensive SF is (true), or how visible the homeless crisis is (also true). But here’s the thing: people make it work. When I first arrived, friends lived in closets or converted living rooms. That’s less common now—maybe because we’re mostly in our 30s—but the hustle is still real.
SF’s energy is fueled by innovation and entrepreneurship. Even as the city has pushed back on tech, it’s still the birthplace of companies like Uber, Reddit, Instacart, X (formerly Twitter), OpenAI, and Slack. A bunch of my friends have side hustles—some just for fun. (Still unsure if this blog counts… am I supposed to be making money for it to qualify? lol.)
One of the things I love most is the diversity—not just in identities, but in backgrounds. People come here from all over the world. I’ve met chefs, nurses, principals, startup founders, and more. Having friends and colleagues from different countries and cultures has taught me a lot about being open-minded—and staying curious.
The Food (Yes, We Got It)
Of course the food scene delivers—this is a major city, after all—but what makes SF special is that cultural melting pot I just mentioned.
When I started dating Justin and realized how little I knew about the world, he basically gave me a passport through food. We’d try a new cuisine (ex: Burmese), and he’d pull up a map to show me where it’s from (ex: Burma). That kind of learning-through-eating became our thing.
My No-Fail SF Map for When Friends Come to Town
I’ve saved a handful of my favorite restaurants and visitor go-to’s on this map, so you don’t have to dig through Reddit threads or Yelp wormholes. Whether you’re into tacos, Burmese, or bougie brunch, you’ll find something that hits. This list covers food, but SF’s full of epic sights too (not all shown here!). You’re always welcome to email me at beeceeingtheworldyo@gmail.com for personalized recommendations too.
A Decade In
Ten years in, I still turn a corner and stop in my tracks at how beautiful this city is. The media and people can hate on it all they want—but I love this city.
Thanks for coming along.
Brittany
#BeSeeingTheWorldYo
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