Here’s a summary and write-up of the recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle about Glen Park — followed by a ready-to-post version for my blogs.
Summary of the article
The article reports that Glen Park has been named one of the “coolest neighbourhoods in the world” by the London-based travel publication Time Out, ranking #35 in its 2025 list. San Francisco Chronicle+2SFGATE+2
What stands out: Glen Park is small (about 8,000 residents) and tucked away in San Francisco’s San Miguel Hills, yet offers a unique mix of “village” feel + city access. San Francisco Chronicle+2San Francisco Chronicle+2
Key features highlighted include:
The 60+-acre (or ~70-acre) green space of Glen Canyon Park with wild hills, creek, trail access and wildlife. San Francisco Chronicle+1
A commercial node of independent, longstanding community businesses: an indie bookstore & jazz venue (Bird & Beckett Books & Records), small cafés, local shops, no high-rise condos or big-chain feel. SFGATE+1
Strong transit access (BART + several MUNI lines) plus the sense of being a small-town enclave within a big city. SFGATE+1
Locals’ reaction is mixed: delight and pride at the recognition, but also some anxiety about what increased attention might mean (rising home prices, gentrification risk, losing the “under the radar” character). San Francisco Chronicle+1
The article contrasts Glen Park’s modest, authentic vibe — “quietly cool, not flashy” — with other more trendy or hyped neighborhoods. “Cool” here is seen as not being “in-your-face.” San Francisco Chronicle+1
Historic dimension: The article mentions Glen Park’s development after the 1906 quake, its “village” origins, and how the area has maintained a restrained development footprint. San Francisco Chronicle+1
On the housing front: median listing prices are significantly above Bay Area median, and locals note the ever-present pressure of housing costs. San Francisco Chronicle
Meanwhile, here's a write-up ready for posting in my blogs:
Why Glen Park Just Earned Its Place Among the World’s Coolest Neighborhoods
Tucked into the hills of San Francisco, the neighborhood of Glen Park has long existed as one of the city’s best-kept secrets. But thanks to being named #35 in Time Out’s 2025 list of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, its moment in the spotlight has finally arrived.
What makes Glen Park special:
Village feel within the city: With only around 8,000 residents, Glen Park offers tree-lined streets, victorian/early-20th-century homes, and a tightly-knit community that feels worlds away from the city’s hustle.
Nature on your doorstep: The neighbourhood sits beside Glen Canyon Park — a dramatic 60-plus-acre canyon with creeks, wildflowers, hawks overhead and trails that take you out of the urban grid and into something more serene.
Independent spirit: Rather than big chain stores or high-end showrooms, Glen Park’s commercial heart is modest and local: an independent bookstore & jazz venue, cozy cafés, artisan shops. The kind of places where shop-owners recognise neighbours by name.
Easy city access: Despite the calm, you’re still in San Francisco. With a BART station and several MUNI lines close by, Glen Park blends the convenience of the city with the respite of a small town.
“Quietly cool” energy: As the Time Out write-up put it: “Quietly cool, Glen Park might not be as in-your-face as other San Francisco neighbourhoods, but that’s what gives the place its charm.”
Why the recognition matters (and why locals are both happy and cautious):
For years Glen Park has flown under the radar, and its ranking is validation of what longtime residents already knew: this is a place of character, community and authenticity. But with recognition comes change. Rising home prices, greater interest from outsiders and the risk of losing the neighbourhood’s relaxed, tucked-away character are real concerns. The key challenge: how to remain special without becoming so well-known that it loses what made it special in the first place.
For visitors or new neighbours:
If you’re looking to experience Glen Park, take a stroll down the commercial core around Diamond & Chenery streets, stop into Bird & Beckett for a book or a jazz night, pause at a café, then wander into the Greenway or hike the trails of Glen Canyon. The charm lies in the small details: a mural on a staircase, a block-party vibe, a shop-owner who knows your name.
Closing:
Glen Park proves that “cool” doesn’t always mean loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, community-driven, authentic. Sometimes it’s the neighbourhood most people haven’t heard of—yet. And perhaps that’s exactly what makes it one of the coolest in the world.
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