I'm not quite sure why I like the Mission so much. Maybe it's the Burritos - Buen Sabor and Cancun are my favorites. Or it could be Dolores Park - there's no better place to spend a sunny weekend day. And yes the restaurants and nighlife are outstanding... most of my favorite bars happen to be in the Mission - Elbo Room, 500 Club, Dalva, and Kilowatt. The latin aspect definitely adds a cool flavor as well - if you happen to be walking past any of the grade or high schools when the last bell rings, you will see just how Latin this neighborhood is. I also like the way Mission Street feels like a different country (specifically, Mexico City, Mexico), and just one block away on Valencia you are in the middle of urban hip. Yes there is urban blight here, with projects and gangs and drugs, but the other hand, this neighborhood represents one of the last bastions of urban blight in the city. It's almost (but not quite) quaint.
