Urban Hiker SF

When I was little, I had Barbie dolls - lots of them. There were the standard Barbie dolls like Malibu Barbie, and then there were the ones my dad would get on his business travels like Indian Barbie and Chinese Barbie (who was then called the cringe-worthy “Oriental Barbie”). I loved dressing up my dolls, doing their hair, and inventing make-believe lives for them. While arguably not the best role model for little girls, Barbie had one clear benefit - she gave me the ability to exercise my imagination and creativity. Now as a 34 year old woman, the dolls (and my childhood) are both long gone. But somewhere up in Upper Market, the spirit of Barbie is still alive. Yes people, I have found Market Street Barbie.   I run urban hiking tours with my company Urban Hiker SF . On my Urban Jungles (Castro/Upper Market/Twin Peaks) hiking route, I pass by the intersection of Market and Glendale Streets numerous times a week. It is here where I have found Market Street Barbie. ...

Recently we published a slideshow in the SF Chronicle on 10 of San Francisco's Quir kiest Homes . This is the original blogpost that inspired me to reach out to the Chronicle. San Franciscans are known for being quirky. We've got an entire website dedicated to the topic . We're the city that hosts Bay to Breakers (exhibits A , B , and C ), and we flock to Burning Man for Labor Day. We have an bike race on Big Wheels Bikes and a hunky Jesus competition...on the same day!  While many of us carry our quirk inside of us, some of us wear it on our bodies , and some choose to express it through our homes. As we scour the city with Urban Hiker SF, we've taken note of some eccentric houses and buildings all over the city. Here's a list of 10 of our favorites: 1. The Bike House - You think you like bikes, but not as much as this guy (or gal).   Neighborhood: Laurel Heights Location: Blake Street between Geary Boulevard and Laurel Hi...