My Changing Neighborhood(s): November 2014

Thursday, November 27, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD THANKSGIVING DECORATIONS 2014S

You rarely see Thanksgiving decorations anymore, so these stood out.

Hotel Essex, 684 Ellis Street

Arnett Watson Apartments, 650 Eddy Street

Hotel Iroquois, 835 O'Farrell Street

Not surprisingly, they’re all from SROs and low-cost apartments.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD REMODELING UPDATE: 1401 POLK

The remodeling at 1401 Polk continues apace. The new business, a restaurant, will be called Spinnerie and will not be an offshoot of Lefty O’Doul’s, as had been previously reported.

Their advertisement says they are changing the way the world eats chicken. This is interesting. Like so many people, I’ve just been using my mouth and hands all these years. I’m anxious to see what new method Spinnerie has come up with (milkshakes? inhalable chicken?)

Time will tell.

Friday, November 21, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD REMODELINGS CONTINUED: CREPE HOUSE

I hadn’t been to the northern end of mid-Polk (Jackson St.) since knee surgery in September, so I was surprised to see that the outside of the Crepe House, longtime restaurant on Polk Street, had been remodeled

along with the inside as well.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS (#7 in a series)

This mural isn’t in my neighborhood, but when I saw it, I knew I had to feature it. It’s located on the wall of the Hotel Potter at 1288 Mission and 9^th St. My only regret is I wasn't able to photograph it without the shadow.

Monday, November 17, 2014

SIDEWALK SAYINGS – A PRESCIENT SCRIBBLING (6 in a series)

I saw this recently in the sidewalk on 18^th at Mission. It was obviously written years ago but it's only grown more relevant and descriptive of working life in this city (and maybe this country). I guess how you feel about it depends on your own personal economic situation/future.

Monday, November 10, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD REMODELINGS UPDATE – HOLIDAY INN

The remodeling of the corner Holiday Inn at Van Ness and Pine has been completed, with the ROH Bar and Restaurant taking over that corner.

While the new design is certainly an improvement over the previous one (which I remember as a drab, semi-windowless affair), I'm not a particular fan of the new one, either.

The open windows remind me of a car dealership. Also, the restaurant could benefit from some drapes or large green plants. Except for the bar, the interior of it reminded me of a large institutional lunchroom.

Friday, November 7, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS – LAUNDRY LOCKER (#11 in a series)

Laundry Locker has opened their latest kiosk at 1339 Polk Street.

Normally, this is where I write ‘Welcome to the neighborhood!’ but not in this case. It’s too weird.

Laundry Locker is a locker room where people drop off their laundry to be picked up, done elsewhere, and returned. Saying ‘Welcome to the neighborhood’ here is like saying it to a new street lamp.

So, Laundry Locker is now open 24/7/365 at 1339 Polk between Bush and Pine.