My Changing Neighborhood(s): 2015

Thursday, December 31, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD HOLIDAY DECORATIONS – PART 3 of 3

Apartment Building, Larkin Street, Day

Apartment Building, Larkin Street, Night

Brownie's Hardware, Polk Street

Eyebrows Anonymous, California Street

Nob Hill Cat Clinic, California Street

Perfection Nails Spa, Hyde Street

Soda Popinski's, California Street

Terrasol, Polk Street

Wags, Polk Street

You Say Tomato, California Street

The Treatment Room, Sutter Street

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD HOLIDAY DECORATIONS – PART 2 of 3

The computer problem I was worried about on Sunday turned out to be nothing.

Apartment Building, Bush Street

St. Francis Mem. Hospital parking lot

Luscious Wear, Polk Street

Hair on Hyde, Hyde Street

Victor's Pizza, Polk Street

Stl Clare Hotel, Van Ness Avenue

Lobby, St. Clare Hotel

Lobby Wall, St. Clare Hotel

Sunday, December 27, 2015

COMPUTER PROBLEMS BUMMER

My computer is down at the moment (it happened on Christmas).

from examiner.com

As soon as this problem is resolved (hopefully before the New Year), this blog will resume.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD HOLIDAY DECORATIONS, PART 1 of 3

Dawydiak Cars, Pine Street

Maneframe Hairdooz, Polk Street

Mayes Oyster House, Polk Street

McTeague's, Polk Street

Out of the Closet, Polk Street

Playland Bar, Polk Street

Recharge Spa, California Street

Sunset Jewels, California Street

Thai Thai Noodle, California Street

Monday, December 21, 2015

CHRISTMAS PRAYER TREE

The tree outside the church at 1300 Bush Street has been designated a Christmas prayer tree.

Ribbons with cards attached to them have been hung from the branches. On the cards are the wishes and prayers that people have written on them.

I haven't yet found out which one of the two denominations currently occupying the church (First Congregational and Metropolitan Community) made the decision to make a prayer tree, or if it was both.

You can get cards to write on in the church lobby. Unfortunately, both churches are only open on Wednesday evening and Sunday morning and evening, which makes it difficult to leave wishes and prayers.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

FRANK NORRIS APARTMENTS – UNVEILED!

The remodeling of the Frank Norris Apartments, begun in November 2014 and last written about in this blog on July 7, 2015, has finally been completed.

It was actually finished some weeks more earlier. I was hoping that the BMI Silo System and the fence surrounding it would be gone for an unobstructed photograph of the front, but construction is continuing elsewhere in the building for awhile longer.

Although it took over a year, the remodelers, whoever they were, (BMI?) did a nice job.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

LOSS OF A GREAT MURAL

Earlier, on May 18 of this year I blogged about the incredibly striking mural

created by artist John Vochatzer covering the southern wall of the Mitchell Bros. theater.

It quickly became a favorite of myself and many others.

Then, last week, as the 19 Polk passed the theater, I was thunderstruck to see that the four Hindu goddesses were peeling off.

I have no idea what caused this to happen -- perhaps the recent rains?

In any event, it's a terrible loss. considering all the time and effort that was spent creating it.

Monday, December 14, 2015

POLK STREET SANTA CON 2015

Saturday, December 12 was the now-annual Santa Con.

Crowds along Polk Street

All the bars and restaurants along Polk Street from Post to California and beyond were busy with happy customers.

Everyone looked like they were having a good time, although

Larkin Street traffic

I doubt the same can be said for the people sitting in the surrounding traffic jams.

Not all the revelers were rich young techies.

While waiting on a corner for a light to change, I overheard one santa-woman ask a santa-man what he did for a living. “I install custom glass," he said, "for all the places I can't afford to live in,” which brought nods and sounds agreement from many others.

Pop-up outdoor santa seating, Bush Street

Pop-up outdoor santa seating the following day

Saturday, December 12, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS – STRIKE MVMNT (#18 in a series)

Friday, December 11, 2015

DISPLACING SF – A PHOTO CONTEST

Sign announcing "A Photo Contest Depicting Gentrification in San Francisco", seen in store window at Market and 9th.

The date on the sign says entries are being accepted until December 15, while the website (click here for link: http://displacing-sf.com/) says entries are being accepted until December 11.