Outer Sunset Shops

Outer Sunset is many things: a beachy neighborhood in San Francisco, home to many excellent surf shops (looking at you, Mollusk and Woodshop), and the place to come for Black Bird. The independent bookstore, curated by local owner (and voracious reader) Kathryn Grantham, is equal parts community hangout and retailer. Black Bird is unlike so many bookstores—and we love that about it. In lieu of traditional spine-out shelving, for example, books are displayed with the covers facing forward—like artwork. Because under Grantham’s pioneering eye, there are no bad choices. Each title is selected to propel new voices forward and to commemorate the fascinating history of San Francisco. Make it a first stop in the city—and bring nothing but time.

This by-appointment-only workspace and showroom is like a playground for the grown-up surfer dude with scratch to spend. It's a collaborative effort between four artisans: one designs the reclaimed wooden furniture, one builds crazy cool-looking, high-performance surf boards, one specializes in re-making old chairs, and one is an artist and sign designer.