Ever notice how every block in the Sunset looks like a variation on the same house? That's not a coincidence — it's the legacy of a 1930s building boom that put up two houses a day. Here's the real story behind the stucco, the narrow lots, and the little style flourishes that make each one unique.

SF is expensive — but the city quietly puts on some genuinely great free events every single month. A block party with the biggest disco ball west of the Mississippi, free admission at the de Young, adults-only nights at the Academy of Sciences, and free zoo days for residents. Here's the cheat sheet.