9 New Year's Resolutions San Francisco Residents Should Make, Because the City Is So Much More Than Just High Rent Prices

Sometimes it’s fun to play along with the rest of them. Head on over to Powell Street, and take a cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf. Then take a tour around the city on one of those double-decker buses, or take a RocketBoat or Bay Cruise ride. Other edgy ways to explore the touristy areas include going on specialized walking, segway, or bike tours. It may feel dorky to do things that people from out-of-town would typically do, but if you haven’t tried them before, it will feel like something new.

Image: Getty Images

Yup, I’m telling you to reverse roles! It’s so overplayed to take your folks or pals from back home to high traffic areas like Union Square, Chinatown, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Instead of Union Square, offer to take your friend shopping on Union Street , which houses a few high-end brand names amongst local boutiques. Instead of Chinatown, take your family to Japantown, where they can explore shops and restaurants with more diverse offerings and even stop by a karaoke lounge. Instead of Fisherman’s Wharf, go for a hike on the more peaceful side of the water at Land’s End. This is not to say you absolutely can’t go to Union Square if your Auntie Mae insists on shopping at the Macy’s there, but do suggest alternatives and new ideas to show them the true breadth of San Francisco.

Image: Getty Images

Ah, good ole MUNI! San Francisco residents are all too familiar with late arrival times, sometimes-crowded buses (OK, frequently crowded buses), and the odd characters that can be found hanging out, but we would not be able to function as a city without it. If you have a day off, check out 511.org and pick a bus line to ride all the way to the end. You can land in a neighborhood you love, or dare to visit a neighborhood that’s uncharted territory for you. As dreadful as bus rides can be, it’s also fun to look out the window and see what stores, restaurants, bars, venues, and businesses you pass by. You will also probably come across someone wacky enough for you to Tweet about.

Image: Getty Images

There has never been a better time to check out the San Francisco Giants. The boys in orange and black won their third World Series championship in five years this past October, and they have one of the best young pitchers in Madison Bumgarner locked in for the next several years. In 2015, the Giants will raise their newest championship flag, receive their rings, and reignite their rivalry against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and you should be at AT&T Park to see it unfold. If you’ve never been to a baseball game, grab a buddy, relative, or man friend who knows baseball to accompany you. The game is a treat in itself, and so are the incredible views of the Bay, the garlic fries, and the lively atmosphere of boisterous fans in one of MLB’s most beautiful ballparks. If you know baseball but have never been to a Giants game at home before, prepare to love every minute of it. Check out the schedule, and plan to buy your tickets soon — and don’t miss out on pre-season fun with the players at the yard for the annual KNBR Giants FanFest in February.

Image: Getty Images

San Francisco is known for being a destination when large music festivals like Outside Lands, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and the Treasure Island Music Festival come to town. However, with state-of-the-art musical, comedy, and other performance venues scattered throughout, you can rock out in the city all year round. For live music (some of these venues also host comedy acts), check out what’s brewing at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, The Independent, The Fillmore, The Regency Ballroom, The Warfield, The Masonic, Slim’s, and Rickshaw Stop. If you want a good laugh, you’ll find the best comics performing at Cobb’s Comedy Club and Punchline. If you want to catch Broadway by the Bay, the SHNSF collection of theaters — the Orpheum, the Curran, and the Golden Gate — hosts limited engagements of both well-known hits and new large-scale musicals and plays. For alternative theater, check out the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) and EXIT Theater. And if you haven’t yet, head on over to Club Fugazi to see San Francisco’s signature musical revue, Beach Blanket Babylon .

Image: Getty Images

We know how easy it gets to feel attached to certain meeting places, but step out of your comfort zone and set aside one day per month to go to a new bar or try a different place that serves your favorite kind of food (or maybe even something you don’t eat very often). Do a Yelp search, ask your friends and coworkers for recommendations, or take a walk around your neighborhood and see what catches your eye.

Image: Unsplash

Every woman deserves to have a hairstylist and/or aesthetician who makes her feel like a queen. My personal recommendations include B Parlor in the Lower Haight for cuts and dramatic hair changes, Blo in the Marina/Cow Hollow for blowout styles, and Atelier Emmanuel near Union Square for waxing.

Image: Unsplash

While Target, Safeway, and Trader Joe’s are just so easy to come by, and Westfield Shopping Center and Union Square are accessible one-stop destinations for apparel, gifts, and other things, don’t forget to support the small businesses that give San Francisco its flavor. Go to Bi-Rite, Haight Street Market, or a farmer’s market for your groceries and produce. Get your morning espresso from a small hole-in-the-wall coffee shop instead of Starbucks. Buy the book you’ve been meaning to read at City Lights. Instead of Victoria’s Secret, buy your Valentine’s Day lingerie at Pink Bunny. No matter where you live in San Francisco, there’s a market, liquor store, cafe, gift shop, boutique, or other type of small business nearby looking to serve you. Keep them thriving!

Image: Unsplash