San Francisco is Unusual, Odd or Just Eccentric

San Francisco is defined by its famous landmarks. The Golden Gate Bridge is the subject of more postcard photos than any other structure in the world, save (maybe) the Eiffel Tower. And then there are the other icons of the city: cable cars, picturesque hills, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Castro and all those other neighborhoods that ooze culture and mystique.

But there is more to San Francisco than these easily recognizable aspects. The city is filled to the brim with unusual things. Some of this weirdness is based on legend; some of it is quite tangible.

Here are twenty strange/unusual things to be found in the Golden Gate City.

1. How Weird Street Faire: What could be weirder than an event that celebrates its strangeness in its title. This annual fete is mostly for people who are not uncomfortable with wearing crazy outfits and dancing unselfconsciously. Admission is half-priced for those in costume. Think of it as an urban "Burning Man" festival. But The Faire is about more than strange garb; there are multiple music stages and exhibits about environmentalism and peace movements.

2. Vampires of Nob Hill: Vampires were supposedly part of the history of San Francisco's famed Nob Hill neighborhood. Today, their urban legend is celebrated by some residents and tourists. A tour leaves from Huntington Park on weekend nights. It is led by a local "expert" who is intimately familiar with the vampire history of the area.

3. Chinatown's Ghost Tour: A ninety minute walking tour of San Francisco's Chinatown takes full advantage of the narrow alleyways and Chinese folklore to dramatic effect. Chinatown is supposedly haunted (only at night, I guess) by the ghosts of past residents. Also somewhere in the shadows is the neighborhood's revered and feared spirit, Kwan Yin.

4. Vertigo Sites: Hitchcock's classic film was set in San Francisco and the great director used many local sites for filming. Some are still easily recognizable to fans of the film. Mission Dolores is where the tormented Madeline went to visit a graveyard. A spot called Fort Pointe, near the Golden Gate Bridge, was where she jumped into the Bay.

5. Noc Noc: This Haight area bar caters to the neighborhood's Goth/hipster set. Unlike most nightspots, there is no hard liquor or cocktails served here. There are tables, but they are usually full, so many people choose to sit on cushions on the floor. It's like an authentic Japanese teahouse, except everyone is wearing black eyeliner and the lighting is quite dim.

6. Botanica Yoruba: You don't have to be a practitioner of Santeria to browse this former corner drugstore (998 Valencia St). The "Day of the Dead" pictures, displayed at the front of the store, set the tone. Those wanting to try out a potion can choose from the myriad of oils that are supposed to be helpful for everything from romance to traffic jams. The staff is a bit cold to curiosity seekers, but is reportedly always willing to talk to those with genuine questions about Santeria.

7. SupperClub: Everyone has heard of enjoying a leisurely breakfast in your own bed. But what about enjoying dinner and a cocktail in bed…at a restaurant. SupperClub features French influenced cuisine, cool neon lighting, and mattresses instead of a table and chairs. But it's not just about reclining while dining. The kitchen is located at the center of the restaurant and the staff sometimes breaks into dance.

8. Rosalie's New Looks: This salon is a San Francisco institution. It first opened its doors in 1957. The shop (at 782 Columbus Ave) offers typical services like hair coloring, perms, and trims. However, Rosalie's is most known for its wigs. They rent, fix, and restyle false hair. Some of these wigs are typical, some quite unique. If you are looking for a pastel colored Afro or a highly styled hairpiece befitting of a diva, look no further than Rosalie's.

9. Butter: Can Twinkies, "wife beater" tank tops, and trailer park décor be hip? The jury is still out, but the people at the restaurant Butter (354 11th St) are sure doing their best. The self-described "white trash diner" blends kitschy trailer park décor with acid jazz and funky, funny specials like Twinkies and spaghettios. Drink specials include strawberry milk and "Latchkey" tea.

10. Dark Dining: Dining by candlelight is romantic. But how about dining in complete darkness. Each dish on the tasting menu is paired with a specially chosen wine. Wearing a blindfold (according to the restaurant's web site, a "9 ½ Weeks"-style blindfold) is supposed to enhance the experience by forcing diners to focus on their sense of taste. The only question: how do you stab the food with your fork and then put it into your mouth without being able to see? I hope there are lots of napkins on hand.

11. Mr. Toad's Vintage Car Tours: These hour-and-a-half long tours pass by San Francisco's greatest sites. There is nothing odd about that. What is strange about the journey is that it takes place in a replica of a 1930's station wagon, like the one used by Mr. Toad of Wind in the Willows fame.

12. Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia: Located in suburban San Francisco, this museum pays homage to one of the most famous cultural oddities of America, the Pez dispenser. The exhibits include old school cartoon favorites like Olive Oyl and Fred Flintstone, and newer icons like Bart Simpson and Shrek. There is also a Mister Potato Head display. There is a seven-foot high, working dispenser that holds the Guinness Book record for world's largest Pez dispenser.

13. The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf: Ok, so there is nothing weird about Fisherman's Wharf, except the fact that there are few real fishermen there. But the Wax Museum makes this list, if only because museums filled with human likenesses made of wax are a bit strange in and of themselves. The eerily lifelike models of political figures, movie characters, and sports heroes are a trip to see.

14. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory: This hard to find shop makes, bakes, and shapes fortune cookies before your very eyes. It's a bit hard to find (56 Ross Alley, Chinatown), but worth it, especially since the people who work there don't mind curiosity seekers stopping by. Where else in the world can you get this Chinese American novelty fresh out of the oven instead of inedible stale?

15. Woo at the Zoo: Sadly, The San Francisco Zoo is only known for its man-eating tigers these days. But the adults-only Woo at the Zoo tour features a behind the scenes look at the mating habits of zoo residents. The tour actually features a glut of information on the not-so-sexy subjects of population control and artificial breeding techniques. The extras are romantic though: a full meal including sushi, champagne, and strawberries covered with chocolate.

16. Musee Mecanique: This one is probably one of the oddest in town. It is a private collection (owned and collected by eccentric Edward Galland Zelinsky) of mechanical toys and ancient arcade games. The exhibit includes everything from the old, hand cranked Jack-in-the-Box to an eerie assortment of mechanical figures to (relatively) modern arcade video games.

17. Pet Cemetery at the Presidio: This cemetery holds the remains of many a beloved pet. Most of the animals buried here lived during the time when the Presidio was a military base. It is an odd way to get a glimpse of the area's history, but not as odd as if the cemetery contained the graves of people.

18. Paxton Gate: This "gift" shop (824 Valencia St) has some downright crazy knick-knacks. If you think your significant other would want a stuffed mouse dressed up as a princess or a raccoon skeleton, Paxton is the place to go. For the rest of us, the shop holds an afternoon's worth of oddities, as well as a fine assortment of exotic plants and a butterfly collection.

19. Tattoo Art Museum: Ok, so since Miami Ink began broadcasting, this one (at 841 Columbus Avenue) isn't as weird as it used to be. But, the venue's photo collection shows the extreme some people go to with the whole tattoo thing. There is also a display of antique and exotic tattooing equipment, some of which seems to be designed more for torture than for art.

20. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: Not so much a strange thing in and of itself, but with all the press and politics surrounding them, the parrots have become one of the city's most unusual attractions. Originally romanticized in a book and on film, the parrots became popular and then became the subject of intense debate. Should it be legal to feed them? Should people be kept away? Definitely one of the strangest ongoing stories in San Francisco.

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