Art and commerce blend beautifully in Hayes Valley, possibly the city's best shopping district. Centered on and around Hayes Street, between Franklin west to Laguna, the diminutive neighborhood is crammed with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, wine bars, and design studios. Not one chain store or big-name business sullies the ambiance of artful style. This is the place to find one-of-kind pieces that are undeniably cool yet superbly crafted--a cognac-colored leather club chair, a pair of sleek Costume National boots, a modernist square bean bag chair in shocking orange. The shopkeepers here all seem to have an eye, whether they specialize in old or new merchandise, local or foreign designs. The prices are democratic, too. One could splurge on a folding iron deck chair from a 1920s Russian ocean liner or walk away with a German-made bike bag and pint of lavender ice cream feeling indulged yet financially unscathed. In short, Hayes Valley has a little something for everyone.