A British tourist just got murdered in SF. He was being mugged and tried to hold onto his bag so the P.O.S. Mugger stabbed him in the head and killed him.
It happened two blocks from my old apartment. Where it happened isn't the worst part of the city, but even as a local I wouldn't have been walking there after sunset (he was murdered at 8:30 pm).
The problem is I saw the scenario that lead to this situation a hundred times. For some reason a lot of European tourists stay at the base of Nob Hill (one of the richest part of towns) and just above the Tenderloin (the ghetto). This between spot is affectionately called the Tender Nob. It's gentrified and safe, but it's just a block from drug deals, prostitutes, gangs and muggings. Unfortunately, their maps don't say, "Danger, don't go down this way." In fact if you look at the Map, the tenderloin is often the most direct route to trendy areas.
Also, you will get a lot of misinformation about the tenderloin. If you are a foodie and are looking up fun restaurants, there are tons in the tenderloin in little gentrified pockets. But when I say little, I mean little. Like this corner is safe, but halfway down that block is an alley where people wait for straggling tourists to mug.
Honestly, if you are not a local who knows when and where not to be in the tenderloin, you should not be in the tenderloin.
Here is another thing to watch out for: when you are looking for a hotel, many many many hotels that are in the tenderloin will advertise with the line "walking distance from Union Square" a popular shopping district. If you see that line, then find the cross roads and then type tenderloin on google maps and see if it falls within. You want to be about two blocks away from the tenderloin.
Okay, sorry for the rant. BTW ignore the cool, hipster locals that say the tenderloins not that bad. a) they're trying to sound cool and b) they know where not to go and they don't go there.
It happened two blocks from my old apartment. Where it happened isn't the worst part of the city, but even as a local I wouldn't have been walking there after sunset (he was murdered at 8:30 pm).
The problem is I saw the scenario that lead to this situation a hundred times. For some reason a lot of European tourists stay at the base of Nob Hill (one of the richest part of towns) and just above the Tenderloin (the ghetto). This between spot is affectionately called the Tender Nob. It's gentrified and safe, but it's just a block from drug deals, prostitutes, gangs and muggings. Unfortunately, their maps don't say, "Danger, don't go down this way." In fact if you look at the Map, the tenderloin is often the most direct route to trendy areas.
Also, you will get a lot of misinformation about the tenderloin. If you are a foodie and are looking up fun restaurants, there are tons in the tenderloin in little gentrified pockets. But when I say little, I mean little. Like this corner is safe, but halfway down that block is an alley where people wait for straggling tourists to mug.
Honestly, if you are not a local who knows when and where not to be in the tenderloin, you should not be in the tenderloin.
Here is another thing to watch out for: when you are looking for a hotel, many many many hotels that are in the tenderloin will advertise with the line "walking distance from Union Square" a popular shopping district. If you see that line, then find the cross roads and then type tenderloin on google maps and see if it falls within. You want to be about two blocks away from the tenderloin.
Okay, sorry for the rant. BTW ignore the cool, hipster locals that say the tenderloins not that bad. a) they're trying to sound cool and b) they know where not to go and they don't go there.
