I've lived in this neighborhood for 14 years, and, for the first time, it's getting its own identity. Formerly, this area was sort of a no-man's-land between the Upper and Lower Haight. Divisadero Street was only notable for the fact that it had 3 gas stations, a rarity in these parts. But now, trendy upscale eateries and bars have been sprouting up at an alarming rate. One place even has valet parking. VALET PARKING!
I can't tell you anything about the new restaurants 'cuz they're not really in my price range. It's really weird... there's like this little pocket of chi-chi-ness in the gritty and grimy Haight. How long it'll last, I don't know. But I guess it could be worse... if you aren't full after your wild mushroom ragout and oyster shooters, you can just go to the Popeye's chicken right across the street!
IMPORTANT NOTE!!! The first week of September has seen an escalation in a simmering Latino gang war in the Mission District around 24th Street. So far 6 killings in two weeks. No tourists (or anyone else except gang members) have been caught up in the violence so far, but I would be very careful if you are thinking about checking out the Mission. This is perhaps the only area you are likely to visit as a tourist that is not safe (by comparison, there have been no murders this year in the northeast quadrant - the main tourist area - and there weren't any last year either).
