As an eternal tourist, I'm always intrigued by all that's happening around me, and I imagine that, like me, tourists fall in love with San Francisco without a hitch. What the lucky ones will realize is that in the heart of this urban forest is a beating, glorious enclave of culture that defies the laws of traditional thinking and continues to stretch the boundaries between reality and imagination.

Since we started Asterisk San Francisco, our focus has always been and will always be about love. We support the places, people, and philosophies that promote positivity, social responsibility, and what we love about the city we live in. We've covered small business startups, entrepreneurial-minded pioneers, and amazing epicurean destinations that are unquestionably parallel to some of the world's best. What better way to continue that tradition than to involve our readers and ask, what is it that San Francisco loves? Our survey is modest, unlike other "best-ofs," and is a humble catalog of local favorites representing a diverse group of local interests that are adding to the exciting culture here that remains to be unlike any other. You shared with us your favorites and as we congratulate all of the winners and invite our readers to explore the businesses highlighted in the issue.