Out & About Lil' Kid: NOPA

Another week of beautiful weather is upon us, bringing with it another chance to get out and explore a neighborhood across town or right next door! Some of us may think of NOPA as more of a grownup's playground, but Bobby Shukla has some leads on making the most of it with kids.

Home of the Divisadero corridor—where hipsters and children casually collide—NOPA is a neighborhood in transition with much to offer. (Unless otherwise specified, all businesses are located on Divisadero.) Start with breakfast at popular Eddie’s Café, which offers Southern fare in a family atmosphere. For gourmet-style soul food, brunch at Brenda’s Meat & Three, which even has a fried veggie po’ boy for vegetarians.

On Sundays, walk down to the Divisadero Farmer’s Market (1300 Grove St.). Spanning only a block, it’s the perfect size for children to sample organic fruit. For off the beaten path shopping, check out the uniquely crafted items at Rare Device, including toys, books, and clothes for kids, or grab a cool board game at Gamescape, which offers a wide variety of games for all ages.

Ride your skateboards to San Francisco Skate Club, a skate shop that runs fun programs devoted to youth of diverse backgrounds. For outdoor fun, you’re not experiencing NOPA without a walk along the Panhandle’s footpath (bordered by Fell, Baker, Stanyan, and Oak streets), whose playground is up for a major renovation any day now.

Afterwards, grab handmade Tangerine Dream ice cream at Bi-Rite and freshly-baked Dark Mountain Rye bread at The Mill. Join other families for dinner at super-kid-friendly Green Chile Kitchen (1801 McAllister St.), Little Star Pizza, or Kung Food (1650 McAllister St.).

Bobby Shukla is a lawyer who represents employees in a variety of employment law areas, including discrimination, harassment, disability accommodation, retaliation, whistle-blowing, and severance negotiations.

This article originally appeared in the June 2016 issue of GGMG Magazine. Photo via Flickr.