Best Place for a Garden Party

A delightfully green and lovely place in the center of the Sunset, only a heartbeat from the congestion that is 19th Avenue, Stern Grove is a pleasant surprise in the urban landscape. The interior of the grove, home to summer concerts and croquet, is a meandering grassy meadow shaped by rock outcroppings here and there. The clubhouse, located roughly in the center of this escape, is sort of an indoor-outdoor building, with lots of openings to create the effect of sitting in the grove, with the benefit of a hardwood floor and roof. As an added bonus, there's a good supply of both parking and bathrooms. But the best part of this quaint little green spot is that it's ours. Stern Grove is under the care of the city's Recreation and Park Department and can be rented for, say, a Saturday afternoon tea. We suggest you book early, however.