My Changing Neighborhood(s): July 2014

Thursday, July 24, 2014

THINGS THAT ANNOY ME (#2 in a series) – THIS SAYING

Blackboard at Moka Coffee, 1605 Polk

It's not certain Al actually said this. I hope not, because this has to be one of the dumbest statements ever made.

Doing the same thing over and over again, blah blah blah, is not insanity. It’s either stubborn, stupid, or both.

Insanity is: hearing voices, hallucinating, bi-polar disorder, homeless hoarders, schizophrenics, etc.

Einstein didn’t live in 2014 San Francisco.

Monday, July 21, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS (#4 in a series)

Even though it's a shadow of what it once (it was originally painted in the fall of 2011 by Ezra Li Eismont, I’ve always liked this mural in Hemlock Alley.

To see what it originally looked like, click here: https://ezrali.wordpress.com/category/murals/

Thursday, July 17, 2014

CONTEMPORARY SIGNS OF DISCONTENT (#6 in a series)

Monday, July 14, 2014

WEEKEND BRUNCH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

This is a typical weekend brunch crowd at some of the restaurants in my neighborhood.

My-My Coffee Shop, 1500 California at Larkin

This is the new generation of young tech workers that have come to live in the city on the waves of tech-wealth that are so much resented and disliked by many San Franciscans. (I don't, but I’m fortunate in that regard – rarely am I envious of what other people have or their success.)

Toast Eatery, 1601 Polk at Sacramento

A lot of the new generation have children, so presumably their children’s welfare will be their main concern for the next 15-20 years.

Dunya, 1609 Polk

A friend of mine thinks that many of them are put-off by the numerous languages and cultures of this polyglot city. Coming from mono-lingual/racial environment myself, I know San Francisco can take some getting used to.

Olea, 1494 California at Larkin

These people have also been labelled the most self-absorbed, navel-gazing generation in history of mankind. That rings a bell…I've heard that before...now I remember! That was how my generation, the 60s’, was described – the most self-absorbed generation in the history of mankind! Where will this country be 50 years from now? Hell-in-a-handbasket, that’s where! Just you wait! ...

And here we are.

May this label be as pointless to your generation as it was to mine.

Friday, July 11, 2014

STATING THE OBVIOUS

Advertisement for Pacific Terraces apartments, 1595 Polk at Pacific

Homeless people, Fern Alley

No shit, Sherlock.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

UPCOMING NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ON JULY 9

There are two meetings happening this evening of local interest.

The first is the 1^st meeting of the Lower Polk Business Collaborative. It will be taking place from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Playland Bar, 1351 Polk Street at Pine.

The second is about the proposed relocation of the behavioral health outpatient clinic of Hyde Street Community Services to 815 Hyde Street.

The meeting takes place from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at the Old First Presbyterian church, 1751 Sacramento Street at Van Ness.

Monday, July 7, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS 2014 (#7 in a series)

Green Apple Market and Deli has opened at the corner of Post and Polk in the lower Polk area, offering fresh meat, vegetables, and other foods.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Friday, July 4, 2014

NEIGHBORHOOD 4TH OF JULY DECORATIONS

Terrasol, 1742 Polk

Fashion Exchange, 1446 Polk

Out of the Closet, 1498 Polk

Sign outside Tia Piacerra, 1507 Polk

Costume Party, 1058 Hyde

Soda Popinski's, 1548 California

Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO OLD AND NEW (#2 in a series)

925 Larkin Street

Zubelda Cigarettes – the Double Package and Jane on Larkin (and a black-painted building, too).

The following information about Zubelda Cigarettes comes from Kasey Smith and this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kaseysmith/6046551553/

" 'You can't describe her, sighs the Khedive, because there was never anything like her. She's a poem, a little mountain brook, a rose garden, a ---

from a 1912 print ad

The P. Lorillard Company named their new Turkish blend cigarette Zubelda, in honor of the Khedive of Egypt's wife. Lorillard felt that their Zubelda was just like the lady, and claimed 'They taste like shooting stars. And their fragrance is like the Garden of Eden. They're as gracious and welcome as a long-absent sweetheart.' "

Zubelda cigarettes debuted in October 1912 which would place this sign from around that period.”