San Francisco Garage Mahal: Much More Than A Place To Park
From time immemorial, men have needed a refuge of their own--a place where they can be themselves and in their own elements. Their homes may be shared with wives and daughters who, try as they may, just can't quite fully see the male perspective. Men need the comforts and pleasures that make life worth living, and the freedom to share it all with like-minded buddies. Primitive man had his cave, and today's guy has his garage to create his own man cave--just as he sees fit.
Billiard Pool Table
Billiards is the all-time guy game. Having your own pool table raises your cool factor several notches. This is a big investment, and a reason why buying a used table is the way to go. Check out Bay Area Billiard Service in San Francisco for used tables or to service your existing one, such as replacing worn felt with new fabric for a cleaner look.
Bay Area Billiard Service
San Francisco, CA 95111
(408) 930-2585 or (925) 449-1140
sanfranciscobilliardpooltables.com
Call for information and service
Oversized Flat-Screen TV
Even before moving one stick of furniture into his man cave, a man must have a large flat-screen TV, the dominating focus of the space. You might have tickets to the Giants home games, but when they play on other turf, that big screen really brings the game home.
Audio Symphony
1525 Van Ness Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 292-3300
www.audiosymphony.com
Call for appointment
Installing necessary wires and cables, not to mention mounting the flatscreen on concrete walls that usually adorn garage interiors, can be quite the hassle. Let Audio Syphmony's professional team do the grunt work (and more importantly, the electrical wiring) for you. Yes, you're handy and could probably figure it out yourself, but think of the time you could spend on other things, like practicing your angle shot.
Furniture
Contrary to general opinion, men do care about decorating, just not in the traditional sense. Some men may not care about drapes or throw pillows, but they do care about comfort, as in a cozy couch and a place to store cold beer and favorite foods. A big cushy couch for a man and his buddies is a crucial component in a man cave. Ideally, a secondhand sofa will do, but since comfort is of optimum importance, don't be cheap and skimp on this vital purchase. Your reputation may depend on it. If money is an issue, checking out the clearance stores is an option.
Sofa Outlet
25 W. 43rd St.
San Mateo, CA 94403
(415) 570-5534
sofaoutlet.com
Hours: Mon - Closed, Tues to Sat - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun - noon to 5 p.m.
Sofa Outlet is located just outside San Francisco in San Mateo, and while dedicated to sofas, the place carries other furnishings, too. Here you can find new tables and chairs at fairly good prices, and all of the store's frames have lifetime warranties.
Refrigerator
A refrigerator is another mega-essential piece in a man cave. Why spend more for a huge new model when a quality used or rebuilt fridge, big enough to hold enough beer and cold snacks, will do? Think of it as a green investment.
Rancho Grande Appliances
2890 Bryant St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 641-5139
usedappliancerepairsf.com
Hours: Mon to Sat 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sun - Closed
Rancho Grande Appliances is known for its rebuilt appliances, with prices at 40 to 60 percent less than new ones would cost. The store carries many leading brands, and as the store's slogan says, "Rebuilt Appliances – The Other Way of Recycling."
Locks
Face it, a man cave is an exclusive domain and with all of that new equipment in there, you don't want to chance someone breaking in. Since they're normally either attached to the part of the house that's more distant from the living space or detached all together, garages can prove the prefect point of entry for burglars. Protect your investments and your family by installing locks for safety and peace of mind.
San Francisco Locksmiths
3881 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 329-0830
san-francisco-locks.com
San Francisco Locksmiths has been in business for over 20 years and will do the job right. Available 24 hours a day, the installers can help with every lock and key job a man cave could need.
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Sports Memorabilia
Now is your chance to finally haul all of those sports treasures out of public storage and hang them on your man cave walls. You always knew they were the perfect room décor, but in what room? Tape the posters on your walls, drink out of those '49er mugs, and pin the playoff schedules up there where you can see them, just like they do at Kezar Pub. It's your space. You don't have to hide anymore.
Related: San Francisco 49ers Shop
Melanie Graysmith is a freelance writer and educator living in San Francisco. She often writes about adult education, culture and lifestyle topics. She enjoys writing short stories, poetry, and scriptwriting, and is also a member of an independent film making group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
