My Changing Neighborhood(s): February 2015

Friday, February 27, 2015

HEARING ON POLK STREETSCAPE PROJECT NEXT TUESDAY

I first wrote about the proposed parking ban on Polk Street on March 26, 2014. I still like the explanation a friend of mine gave at that time for the repeated attempts to decimate parking on Polk:

‘Do you really think the [san francisco] bike coalition has the money or the clout to ban parking on Polk Street? No way!’ she snorted. ‘They’re just pawns, a means to an end, which is to get rid of parking and drive a lot of local businesses under so high-end shops can move in instead.’

Don't let it happen.

The hearing for final approval of the project is this Tuesday, March 3 at 3:00 p.m. in Room 400 at City Hall.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD MAKEOVERS 2015 – Music City, Olea, Playland (#2 in a series)

Remodeling in the neighborhood continues.

Music City at 1353 Bush is readying a café to open later this year serving wine and beer.

Popular weekend breakfast/brunch restaurant Olea remains closed

Olea, 1494 California Steet

from a car crashing into it in January of this year. According to their Facebook page, they are hoping to re-open in March.

Playland Bar, under suspension until March 5 for selling drugs, is taking that time to re-model as well. Maybe when it re-opens the bartenders (all women) can wear something other than tarty-looking white-t-shirts, black suspenders and hot pants.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS 2015 – FLEETWOOD, THE LOIN (#7 in a series)

FleetWood has recently opened a store and workshop at 839 Larkin Street. For more information about them, click on the following link: http://sf.funcheap.com/fleet-wood-grand-opening-goods-free-tshirts-sf/

Also opened just up the block at 914 Larkin is The Loin, another maker of custom t-shirts, hoodies and clothing.

Welcome!

Monday, February 23, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS – LEO (#12 in series)

Painted within the last month on the wall of House of Thai Restaurant at 901 Larkin. I don't know if Leo is the artist's name or the name of the painting.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS 2015 – THIS LOVE IS SILENT (#11 in a series)

Around 940-944 Geary between Larkin and Polk

Artist: Tarek Benaoum, 2014.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

CONTEMPORARY SIGNS OF DISCONTENT (#13 in a series)

Friday, February 13, 2015

HOMELESS HEART UPDATE – VALENTINE’S DAY, 2015

I last wrote about the homeless heart at the northwest corner of Market and Van Ness in April, 2014. At that time it was looking pretty ragged.

I overheard the man looking at it say to his companion that he had some old locks at home, and perhaps he'd bring one down and add it.

Since then, people have been adding locks to it until, by the end of January, it looked like this:

Then, last week, someone or someones began making it look like this:

and they weren't finished until it looked like this:

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD JOB CREATION, PART TWO – JOB FAIR!

Taking applications for Rangoon Ruby restaurant, Sacramento & Polk

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS 2015 – METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH (#6 in a series)

The Metropolitan Community Church has moved from its longtime home at 150 Eureka Street to its new location at 1300 Polk Street.

Welcome!

Monday, February 9, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD JOB CREATION

(The following photos were all taken between February 1– 8. 2015.)

Elven O One Sandwich Shop, 1101 Polk Street

Cafe Zitouna, 1201 Sutter at Polk

Grubstake, 1525 Pine

Trader Joe's 1095 Hyde

Spinnerie, 1401 Polk Street

Kasa Indian Eatery, 1356 Polk

Pancho's Salsa Bar & Grill, 1639 Polk Street

Nara Sushi, 1515 Polk Street

Mark Morris Tires, 1200 Larkin Street

Friday, February 6, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSINGS 2015 – FRENCHY’S ADULT BOOKSTORE (#2 in a series)

Before OneTaste, before Good Vibrations, before everyone began making their own pornography and the internet, there was Frenchy’s Adult Bookstore.

Opened at Post and Polk over 35 years ago, when that part of the City was much seedier than now, it was just where an adult bookstore should be.

Times have changed and while this Frenchy’s has bit the dust, the business model is still good and continues at three other locations in the City.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

CONTEMPORARY SIGNS OF DISCONTENT (#12 in a series)

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS– MARINE LAYER (#10 in a series)

Marine Layer Workshop, 1572 California

This mural was recently completed by 1:AMSF.com. They’ve done other work around the City, which I plan to feature in a separate blog.

For more information about the group, (which seems very interesting) click here: http://1amsf.com/

Monday, February 2, 2015

CITY MURALS I LIKE (#1 in a series)

This mural isn’t in my neighborhood. It’s in the Tenderloin, on a fairly gritty block of Hyde Street between Turk and Golden Gate.

I see it whenever I take the 19 Polk to Market, and I’ve always liked the two happy, non-white teenagers smiling optimistically in a not-very-optimistic environment.

(The lower half had to be re-done after being recently defaced.)