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The Richmond District

Tucked away in the northwest corner of the City, the Richmond District is a large, culturally diverse and mostly residential neighborhood located directly north of Golden Gate Park. Both the Richmond District and its neighbor The Sunset District (which flanks Golden Gate Park from the south side) are often known as "The Avenues" because all but three of the 49 streets that run north/south in these two neighborhoods are numbered avenues (what would be 1st Avenue is actually Arguello Boulevard; what would be 13th Avenue is actually Funston Avenue; and what would be 49th Avenue is actually La Playa Street). Because the area is so expansive, some have divided the Richmond into three sections: the "Inner Richmond," the "Central Richmond," and the "Outer Richmond." Here's a look at Central Richmond.

Central Richmond

The Central Richmond runs east/west from Park Presidio Boulevard to 32nd Avenue, and north/south from California Street to Fulton Street. Just as the Inner Richmond is known as "Little Chinatown" for its influx of Asian-American culture, the Central Richmond is often called "Little Russia" because of its prominent Russian community (particularly along Geary Boulevard between 14th and 26th Avenues, which features a high concentration of Russian and Eastern European immigrants). Many Russian shops and eateries are located in this area, as is the Holy Virgin Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church on 26th Avenue and Geary recognized for its prominent gold dome. One block due north, along Clement Street, you'll find a number of fine neighborhood restaurants between Park Presidio and 25th Avenue that are all cozy yet elegant, including Ernesto's, Chapeau, Mescolanza and Pho Garden. Like its cousin the Inner Richmond, the Central Richmond is a mix of traditional flats and cottages and modern family homes. It can be also one of the cooler (in terms of weather) sections of the City, given the fog tends to roll in from Ocean Beach and the San Francisco Bay.