SIDEWALK SAYINGS (#4 in a series)

Polk Street between California and Sacramento, west side

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/26/14

SAYINGS OF KAHN & KEVILLE 2014 (#1 in a series)

 I’ve live in San Franciso for over 30 years. At some point after I moved here, I began noticing the Kahn & Keville sign at Turk & Larkin. It didn’t say ‘Tires Here’ or ‘Sale Now – 50% Off!’ – no, this sign displayed pithy sayings, observations of current events, quotes, etc., that changed constantly.

And they’re still at it over 30 years later. Here’s their latest:

May they continue for another 30.

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/24/14

CONTEMPORARY SIGNS OF DISCONTENT (#3 in a series)

Poster on lamppost at corner of Turk and Larkin. 

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/23/14

NOTHING SAYS NEW MONEY LIKE: THE MARLOW (#1 in a series)

This is The Marlow (no relation to Philip)

a cluster of 98 one-to-three-bedroom townhouses just opened at the corner of Clay and Van Ness.

Prices of these townhouses start at $1,000,000 and go up from there (I’m basing this statement on the price list given to me by one of the nice salespeople when I stopped by The Marlow’s sales office at 1649 Polk).

They also gave me a copy of the floor plan for Residence 404.

The website of The Marlow (http://www.themarlow.com/) has a musical virtual-reality video tour of what living at The Marlow will be like, showing what you're getting for your million dollars.

The video also pans about the neighborhood – which, for The Marlow, starts at Sacramento & Polk and then turns straight north into Russian Hill. The video recommends a number of neighborhood businesses, most of which are high-end restaurants and watering holes. The only business The Marlow recognizes south of Sacramento Street is a high-end bar, Bitters Bock and Rye at Post and Polk (apparently, The Marlow doesn't think places like Sliders, et al., are good enough for its residents).

Sliders, Polk and Sutter Streets

All of the 98 townhouses at this The Marlow have been sold. I passed by the now-closed sales office recently 

and saw this sign in the window:

letting all those who just missed out know that they still have an opportunity to live the The Marlow life in The City.

As for what the new townhouse residents of this particular The Marlow will be like, time will tell (hopefully, they won't be as snooty as The Marlow). I also hope they tip well – at least 15% or more. There’s nothing worse than cheapskate millionaires.

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/20/14

TRUCK WITH ATTITUDE

  

(All photographs taken on Pine Street between Polk and Van Ness)

Keep on truckin’.

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/16/14

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS ( #4 in a series)

Recently opened on Polk Street (right between New Village Café and Polk Street Gym) Jacobs features sandwiches, salads, smoothies and health food. Welcome to the neighborhood!

  

Copyright © by Chris Enquist xx/15/14

SAN FRANCISCO OLD AND NEW (#1 in a series)

I took these photos last October while walking up Larkin Street. It was just past the old Methodist Church between Clay and Jackson when the grey building in the center of the photograph caught my eye:

It was obviously new (it was built in 1984). Whoever designed it took care to make sure the building blended in with its surroundings.

When I turned around, this caught my eye:

 It wasn't the architecture.

It was all those clothes on hanging on a back stairway to dry in the October morning sun.

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/9/14

BLOG UPDATES – IDEAL AUTO REBUILDERS, NARA SUSHI, HOMELESS HEART

Ideal Auto Rebuilders (1/11/14 blog) may be gone but they have clearly not been forgotten –

Sign on former garage of Ideal Auto Rebuilders, 1355 Larkin

so much so that Al & Jorge had to put up a sign telling everyone of their retirement and referring customers now to Cars Dawydiak, another black-painted neighborhood building.

Cars Dawydiak, 1540 Pine Street

Nara Sushi (1/6/14 blog) 

no longer accepts bitcoin.

Nara Sushi, 1515 Polk Street

The Homeless Heart (2/15/14 blog)

has been battered and lost its color, but its outline and intent remain visible.

Homeless Heart, April 2014, corner of Market and Van Ness

A man, upon looking at it and realizing it was a heart, remarked to his friend that he had some old locks at home and maybe he'd remember to bring one or two to add to the Heart.

Copyright © by Chris Enquist 4/2/14