San Francisco is a strange, beautiful place full of fog, burritos, people saying hella, and a ravenous appetite for kale. There's no doubt that some of the city's eccentricities really puzzle East Coasters visiting for the first time. 

A few friends from the East Coast recently paid me a visit, and their facial expressions and running commentary really reminded me how lucky I am to live here. No, this isn't a post comparing Brooklyn and the Mission — it's simply a beginner's list of what East Coasters notice when they first visit the city (a.k.a more reasons to love San Francisco).

1. The city is obsessed with kale and it's damn right offensive.

Why kale and not avocados? Look, kale doesn't belong in everything, but you can't say that in SF without inviting serious shade. Guys, cobb salad is great too.

2. On any given day you'll see someone in a costume.

Your visit could be one day or five days, it doesn't matter — you'll pass someone who decided to dress like Polly Pocket for the day just because life is that good. 

3. People here smile at you.

Probably because they're stoned and don't know any better, but it's like walking around Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. Sure, not everyone smiles — and some of the smiles are a tad creepy — but there are enough genuinely nice people that the city sometimes feels like it's running on fairy dust.

4. People here are way too fit and make your East Coast, winter hibernation body feel shamed.

Over on the other coast, temps regularly drop below freezing, which is enough reason to stay home and drink yourself stupid. But taking a vacation out here might give you some much needed Vitamin D, plus you'll want to start jogging up all those hills just to feel like a true SFer.

5. Regular, everyday people play the "human or dog poop?" game with no concern.

After you learn to tell the difference, you can learn to estimate the freshness. The fun never stops.

6. The city is a fast food wasteland (where the f is Dunkin' Donuts?)

Fast food is terrible, and a Mission burrito is better than Chipotle, blah blah blah...but how do people in this city deal with hangovers?! If you're visiting, budget at least an hour to wait in line for an organic, cage-free brunch that will barely soak up that fifth shot of tequila. 

7. People complain about the weather being too nice.

Another 70 degree day in the middle of March...the world is a cruel mistress. 

8. It feels like everyone in a friend group has hooked up with each other.

Lovers become friends, friends become exes, exes become casual hookups — and the city's Syphillis rank stays #1.

9. Only 1 out of every 20 people you meet will be from San Francisco.

And by "from San Francisco" they probably mean from Hayward or Daly City. That doesn't make them any less knowledgable, though, so heed their advice.

10. The minute it drops below 60 degrees, you're in danger of hypothermia.

The key to staying warm in SF is dressing like a Tinder date: start out light and casual, then lay it on thick.

11. People here want to be quirky and are slightly awkward.

Not necessarily a bad thing. Just saying.

Top photo courtesy of Mario Bollini/Flickr.

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