Tuesday, June 5

Park Living Is The Life For Me.


Park Life. Even the name is cool. Walking around one of my favorite neighborhoods this weekend, I found this fairly new (it opened last October) small independent, shop-slash-gallery on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond district. Park Life is a fantastic space. You walk in and there's this huge table full of art and design books - oooh, and they even had the Loretta Lux book, one of my favorite photographers, so they had me at hello.



The shop's got a very nice, really friendly vibe, and owner Derek Song was very welcoming. Park Life carries a great inventory of all sorts of unique home decor, accessories, art, as well as great stationary and journals. I loved the silhouette of this black chandelier hanging high above, from the stark white beamed ceiling.





Park Life also has a wonderful gallery space in the rear of the shop, and hosts art openings on a regular basis. It is currently showing the beautiful work of Michelle Blade. Based in San Francisco, they have an amazing circle of creative friends who support the gallery and in turn Park Life supports them. Park Life will also be an avenue for emerging artists to present and sell their artwork.




It's fun to see new life springing up on Clement Street, and yet seem to effortlessly blend in with its traditional Chinese heritage. I love shopping at my local Chinese fruit and vegetable stands, and picking up dim sum along my way. But now I can catch some new art, or peruse my favorite kind of books and home wares while picking up my bok choy. Living a wonderful Park Life, indeed.



16 comments:

christina@pmv said...

Oh! I love that glass bear jar, and I was hoping they sell it on their site, but no such luck. Do you have any more information on it?

Linda O'Neill said...

That looks like a great store...although that baby head candle holder scares the heck outta me! :0

girl meets glamour said...

What a cute store, I love the chandelier esp. I'm wondering if they have a website, or maybe put on my list of stores to visit!

Another Shade of Grey said...

Yes, the baby head reminds me of Chuckie. :)

Anonymous said...

I really like the candelabrum in the last photo. I don't see it on the store website. Do you know anything about it? Thanks. - Lisa in Phoenix

Anonymous said...

Oops- found it on the website. - Lisa

Anonymous said...

Wow! So great - I love seeing that Clement Street is getting a slight bit more...what's the word, shop-able? Apart from Satin Moon, Green Apple, the dim sum, and Irish bars! That's my old neighborhood - there isn't a coffee house on Clement that I didn't write poetry in during high school.
I will definitely visit Park Life soon!

Anonymous said...

so glad i found this site. SF's ode to creative ingenuity is inspirational.

p.s. dig the chandelier look.

margaret lee said...

OMG. SO visiting this store next time i go to the bay area.

by the way, i received the print and i LOVE it!n :) thanks so much!

Shona~ LALA dex press said...

hay, it's the title of a Blur album! + it looks like a super nifty shop.

Anonymous said...

Park Life is my absolute favorite store in San Francisco. I go at least once a month. I recently bought "The age of feminine drawing" which is an amazing and inspiring book. Oh and the Michelle Blade work there now - Swoony!

This year on my birthday, my husband asked me what I wanted to do, and I decided I wanted to go to Park Life and buy some books and then meet friends in Ireland's 32 for pints of Guinness. Best birthday ever!

kelly rae said...

thank you for the introduction to this find!!

Natalie said...

i {heart} this store and totally have the helvetica pouch! speaking of, there's a helvetica screening the 13th here in the city (yes, i really am that big a nerd).

72 and sunny said...

so much great stuff. sheesh. a trove!

72 and sunny said...

wait, is this in the old busvan's for bargains space?

Anonymous said...

This *is* in the old Busvans place! Also, I wanted to point out that the "traditional Chinese heritage" is really only in the last couple of decades. Before that, the neighborhood was working class Irish--hence all the Irish bars. And while you're visiting Satin Moon, Park Life, George, et al, be sure to walk a couple blocks up to the 540 Club for a drink afterwards. It's on the same block as Green Apple, and they feature constantly rotating art shows on their walls (a lot of graffiti and tattoo inspired stuff, plus amazing photographers) and really great, friendly bartenders. And finally, I'd like to formally announce that I LOVE THIS SITE. That is all.