October 10, 2003
La Rondalla was a well-known Mexican restaurant and cantina at 901 Valencia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. The restaurant was famous for its distinct interior, which was decorated year-round with Christmas lights. For decades, it was a cherished local spot, known for its strong margaritas and as a gathering place for the LGBT Latino community from the 1960s to the 1980s. The restaurant permanently closed in July 2016.
October 10, 2003
The city of Ghent is a treasure of Belgian history and culture. With its charming canal houses, medieval castles, and vibrant street art scene, it offers a fascinating blend of old and new. It’s a city best explored on foot, getting lost in its quaint, picturesque streets.
The storefront was a prop for the 2006 Belgian crime thriller ‘The Treatment’ (original title: ‘De Behandeling’), directed by Hans Herbots. The film’s crew transformed Koningin Elisabethlaan in Ghent, Belgium, to resemble a scene from the 1970s, and the “Radio Astra” sign was part of the set dressing for the film.
October 5, 2003
Located at Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20 in the heart of Amsterdam, Café de Jaren has been a city staple since 1990. This bright and spacious grand café is famous for its beautiful first-floor balcony and sunny terrace right on the Amstel river. With its own jetty, it’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, whether arriving by foot or by boat.
September 27, 2003
Dalva, located at 3121 16th Street, is a long-standing classic bar in the Mission District, situated next to the historic Roxie Theater. Known for its long, narrow space and unpretentious vibe, it has been a neighborhood fixture for years, serving as a go-to spot for drinks before or after a movie. It’s a quintessential Mission bar that has hosted countless locals and conversations over the decades. The bar is still open as of August 29, 2025.
September 27, 2003
Yo’s Sushi Club Voodoo Lounge, at 2937 Mission Street, San Francisco, was a unique Mission District spot that fused Japanese cuisine with a mystical, voodoo-themed ambiance. It was part of a wave of creative, hybrid concept restaurants and bars that added to the neighborhood’s eclectic character in the early 2000s, offering a dining experience that was as much about the atmosphere as the food. The lounge has since permanently closed.
September 27, 2003
Chick-N-Deli was a local corner delicatessen at 5392 Mission Street, serving the neighborhood with simple, everyday fare. Its hand-painted signage and unassuming storefront were typical of the small, independent businesses that defined the character of San Francisco’s commercial corridors. The deli permanently closed on March 31, 2017.
August 29, 2003
Charlie’s Club, located at what is now 1499 Valencia Street at the corner of 26th, was a local bar that served the Mission neighborhood. Like many classic neighborhood spots, it was a simple, unassuming place for locals to gather and unwind. The location has since changed hands, with Charlie’s Club closing sometime before 2006.