Absolutely Alabaster.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I spent a leisurely Sunday morning having brunch and doing a little browsing in the fun shops in Hayes Valley. As promised, here's a peek into one of the shops along Hayes Street, Alabaster. I'll be featuring a few more Hayes Valley shops to come later this week, as a lot of you seem to be making San Francisco a destination in your near future and often ask me where to go while you're here. I highly recommend making this neighborhood one of your must sees.


Alabaster is one of those beautiful shops where you're almost too intimidated to enter, but I can tell you the atmosphere inside is friendly, and the prices aren't nearly as expensive as the things are beautiful. They aren't inexpensive, but they are definitely classic, collectible beauties, and of exquisite quality. Even if you're not in a spendy mood, the trip is well worth it, if just to take in all that loveliness in one little place. That has got to be good for us, right?

The display cases are nearly as beautiful as the items inside, like vintage collectibles, scented candles, jewelry, exotic insects and butterflies, silk scarves, and beautiful coffee table books.

Beautiful lighting fixtures and ornate, gilded chandeliers.

I love their vintage collection of dog figurines, some under pretty glass domes.

An entire wall, and table full, of alabaster lamps (thus, the name of the shop).