Treasure Island. What image pops into your head? Swashbuckling pirates? Buried gold and precious gems? If you’ve been living in San Francisco, you probably know it as “that island” seen between the city and the East Bay as you’re driving across the Bay Bridge. Recently though, Treasure Island has become a mecca for bargain hunters and entrepreneurs. The last weekend of every month, the Treasure Island Flea Market arrives, bringing vendors that sell everything from vintage furniture to jewelry made out of old computer parts. It’s definitely worth perusing each row of tents because there are treasures to be found where you least expect them. The market also features a number of food tents and trucks, selling their freshly prepared foods with amazing views of the city as a backdrop. The best way to get to the Treasure Island Flea Market is by driving or taking the 108 bus from the Transbay Terminal. Entrance fee is $3, Kids 12 and under are free. Parking is free. |Treasure Island Flea|

Last Weekend of Every Month:
Sat & Sun: 10am – 5pm

Specializing in upholstered furniture and case goods made with sustainable products, Cisco Home features the hand crafted designs of Cisco Pinedo. Based in Los Angeles, the family run business also has design showrooms in Southern California, Florida, New York City and Hayes Valley. The Hayes Street store has a beautiful lofted ceiling that helps showcase their selection of unique chandeliers. Their sofas and chairs are well crafted, and their bed frames would make a great addition to any bedroom. I love that many of their case goods have this distressed look that often comes from using reclaimed wood. One of my favorite designs would be their chandeliers made from old wine barrels, just the thing to complete the look in a chic loft or contemporary home. |Cisco Home|

Walking along Hayes Street, I happened to come across a very special little flower shop, one unlike any I have ever seen. Upon entering Birch, one immediately notices the striking black interior walls, contrasted by the spectrum of bright colors and fragrances emanating from the beautiful flower arrangements that fill the store. Every corner invites a further look, from its wall of hard to find design and fashion magazines from all over the world, to the selection of unique stationary, vases, and objects d’art that are fit for any gift giving occasion. Owner Torryne Choate has a definite skill for creating strikingly beautiful arrangements of flowers, not to mention a knack for keen visual merchandising. |BirchSF|

Hours of Operation:
Tues, Wed, & Sat: 12pm – 6pm
Thurs-Fri: 12pm – 7pm
Sun: 12pm – 5pm

With sweeping views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge from its front yard, the Legion of Honor is the perfect setting to showcase some priceless works of art spanning over 6,000 years. Located in Lincoln Park, the museum was erected in 1924 as a 3/4 replica of the Palais de laLegion d’Honneur in Paris and was a gift to the city by Alma de Bretteville Spreckels. While the permanent collection includes ancient works from Egypt, the Near East, Greece, the Aegean islands, and Rome, the main draw would be their collection of fine European art. Featuring works by Rembrandt, Degas, Renoir, Monet, Pissaro, Cezanne, Picasso, and Van Gogh, the museum also owns a vast collection of ornate antique furniture pieces from various periods. The museum’s collection of Auguste Rodin sculptures is impressive and includes some of his notable works such as the Thinker and the Kiss. |Legion of Honor|

Museum Hours of Operation:
Mon: Closed
Tues-Sun: 9:30am – 5:15pm

Specializing in vintage Americana, Zonal Home Interiors in Hayes Valley is a must visit for anyone looking to outfit their place with unique furniture, artwork and accent pieces for the home. The store is filled with antiques one might find picking in an old farm house in the Mid West, many of which are handmade items that were not made on a factory assembly line. Perfect for that rustic, worn in look, items sold here feature the original paint and aging, repaired to be functional but not restored to look brand new. Besides country furniture, this store also sells contemporary sofas and chairs, even Italian linens. |Zonal|

Hours of Operation:
Tues-Sat: 11am – 6pm
Sun: 12pm – 5pm

An acronym for Resident’s Apparel Gallery, this Hayes Valley boutique is just a couple blocks from the shops and restaurants on Hayes Street and has been in business since Blakely Bass opened the shop in 2002. RAG is a clothing cooperative and gallery that features over 70 local designers selling apparel, accessories, art work, designs for the home, and stationary.

The concept is simple: local designers can rent shelf space and consign their wares, promoting their brand and themselves with biographies and their individual logos to build a clientele. The store is a mix of one-of-a-kind items and ready to wear garments, and its inventory is refreshed often with new products that are made locally. |RAG Co-Op|

Hours of Operation:
Mon: 12pm – 6:30pm
Tue: 12pm – 6pm
Wed-Fri: 12pm – 6:30pm
Sat: 11pm – 6pm
Sun: 12pm – 6pm

Close to the boutiques and restaurants that dot along Hayes Street, this small park in Hayes Valley is the perfect place to take a breather from a long afternoon of shopping. The park is named after Patricia Walkup, a community activist who helped bring about the demolition of the double decker freeway that divided this neighborhood. Amenities at the park include a grass area that’s perfect for a picnic, a playground for children, park benches and tables.

With views of the City Hall dome seen in the distance, the park also currently features a massive six ton, 30 foot salvaged steel sculpture named “Ecstasy”. Created by artists |Dan Das Mann| and |Karen Cusolito|, the sculpture was first displayed at the Burning Man Festival in 2008, and was one of eight pieces from their work Crude Awakening. The sculpture will be on display until the end of December 2010, more information on this work and their other projects can be found at |Black Rock Arts|.

Meaning “beautiful” in Turkish, Guzel blends traditional and contemporary jewelry designs to produce unique and often one of a kind pieces of wearable art. Designed by owner Semiha Durak and a selection of artists abroad, the jewelry is all hand made by skilled craftsmen in Turkey.

Guzel is also the exclusive U.S. retailer for their Creita line of jewelry, which uses a mesh fabric-like material that can be stretched and shaped into place to create a more personalized look to compliment any outfit. These designs are available with matching earrings, bracelets, and necklaces sets to complete the look and are perfect for any occasion. |Guzel Jewelry Design|

Hours of Operation:
Tues-Sun: 11am – 6pm

Part art gallery, part boutique, this 24th Street shop is the place to go to find unique art and fashion made by local artists and designers. Located in an emerging part of the Mission District, Wonderland SF is the brainchild of owner Irene Hernandez-Feiks, who opened the store to showcase the works of independent Bay Area artists and designers.

With its high ceilings, charming chandeliers, and unique art pieces displayed throughout the store, it’s a great setting for browsing the racks of apparel, accessories, jewelry, and handbags. It’s definitely worth stopping by on the first Thursday of every month for their art openings that are held in the store. |Wonderland SF|

Founded in 2009 by local San Francisco artist Fred Crum, the New Timezone Gallery is a Tenderloin district art space that features the work of emerging and well established local artists and craftsmen based throughout the region. Conveniently located just four blocks from Union Square, the gallery attracts a wide range of visitors from local residents to tourists.

Currently the gallery is open by appointment only, but the special exhibits and backyard receptions are great events worth checking out. Past exhibits have featured work by artists Tim DeSoto, Frank Skillman, Jack Freeman, Tripp Scott, and Derf Murc. For more information on the gallery and for upcoming exhibits, be sure to visit the the New Timezone Gallery web site: |Timezonesf|

Appointment Hours:
Mon-Sun: 9am – 6pm