Sights and attractions, experience Balmy Alley in San Francisco

Address
btwn 24th & 25th Sts, The Mission
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Transport

underground rail: 24th St Mission
bus: 9, 27, 33, 48

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Lonely Planet review

Inspired by local Diego Rivera and WPA murals and outraged by US foreign policy in Central America, mission activist artists in the 1970s set out to transform the political landscape one alley at a time. Balmy Alley became a site for inquiring minds, with historic early works by muralist groups such as the Mujeres Muralistas (Women Muralists) and Placa (meaning 'mark-making') transforming garage doors into artistic statements.

Today Precita Eyes restores these murals, commissions new ones by rising San Francisco artists and leads muralist-led tours that cover 75 Mission murals within an eight-block radius of Balmy Alley. On November 1, the annual Mission Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) parade begins here.

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After moving to Fes in September 2008, my boyfriend and I went to la Maison Bleue to celebrate my birthday in style. Unlike many reviewed Fassi restaurants, la Maison Bleue really lives up to its name - offering not only a romantic ambience, but terrific food and alcohol included in the 550MAD menu (a cherished commodity, especially during Ramadan). When we walked into the riad, located just off the main road in the Bath'a section of the old medina, a cordial server led us to the main courtyard. On plump couches, we sat for an hour and took in the riad's gradeur over cocktails while snacking on olives, nuts and popcorn. Along with two other couples, we were later led into the dining salon of the riad where an oud player softly serenaded us. Over the next two hours, we feasted on an array of traditional Moroccan salads, juicy chicken tajine with almonds, fluffy couscous with seven vegetables and tender lamb and slowly made our way throught the decadent dessert pastilla. Looking back four months later and still living in Fes, we can both honestly say that la Maison Bleue was the best Moroccan dining experience we've. We just have to stick around for another year to have an excuse to celebrate once again. For more thoughts on life in Morocco, check out: http://vieaumaroc.blogspot.com