Once a gritty urban hub, today’s Hayes Valley offers an eclectic mix of architectural styles, shops and restaurants, and a wonderfully diverse group of neighbors. Where the Central Freeway once roared into San Francisco, there is now a wide, tree-lined boulevard and little park called Patricia’s Green, which offers a peaceful respite in the midst of a very vibrant street scene. Neighboring Duboce Park is a magnet for dogs and people. Hayes Valley can feel like two neighborhoods in one. Davies Symphony Hall and the War Memorial Opera House sit at the eastern edge of the neighborhood and attract well-heeled visitors from all over the world. The tony shopping and dining along Hayes Street can be decidedly upscale, while a few blocks north, Haight Street’s dive bars and funky shops attract hip locals and curious tourists. The neighborhood offers all the transit options one would expect for such a centrally located area, and freeway access could not be easier. Flat streets and proximity to Market Street make the area especially appealing to cyclists. Victorian, Queen Anne, and Edwardian townhouses are bountiful here, along with the occasional new development. Urban explorers delight in finding hidden treasures in the quaintly named alleys that crisscross Hayes Valley, like Lily, Ivy, and Rose Streets. Like the neighborhood itself, they offer a glimpse of old fashioned charm in the heart of our booming metropolis.