San Francisco: Architecture

Modern buildings in San Francisco’s Financial District, with the city’s new-largest building, the Salesforce Tower, under construction in March of 2017

Modern cities can be a hodgepodge of old and new buildings. In London, for example, the Leadenhall Market, dating from the 14^th Century, sits adjacent to the ultra-modern “High-tech” Lloyd’s Building, completed in 1986. Planned poorly, the combination of styles can be jarring and unattractive. However with well-planned and attractive architecture, the combination of old and new can be striking.

San Francisco: Streetcars

Painted in Cincinnati’s colors 1057 is a PCC design streetcar. This picture is from January of 2017. The car is currently back in restoration.

In 1982 San Francisco faced a dilemma. The city’s famous cable car system needed a major rebuild. With the cable cars projected to be out of operation for 18 months the city would lose one of its major tourist attractions. San Francisco needed something else to appeal to tourists.

San Francisco: The Embarcadero

Looking back at the Embarcadero waterfront: Perhaps the best thing that happened as a consequence of the Loma Prieta Earthquake was the demise of the freeway that once dominated this area.

San Francisco has a storied freeway history. There were once grand plans to build a web of cross-city freeways. These plans fell to the determined opposition from the city’s residents. In the end, only the stubs of the planned highways were built. San Francisco remains to this day without a through freeway link between the US Highway 101 to the north and south of the City. Though it is less convenient for drivers, there is little doubt blocking the construction of the cross-city freeways preserved the character of many San Franciscan neighborhoods.

San Francisco: Dogpatch

Abandoned buildings on San Francisco’s waterfront

Dogpatch is a mixed-use neighborhood on the bayside of San Francisco. Its location is cutoff from much of the City by the two main freeway arteries that run north south through the eastern side of San Francisco. The freeways make the neighborhood convenient for those who need to commute down the peninsula. But at the same time, the location makes Dogpatch less convenient to the City’s services and attractions.

San Francisco: Conservatory of Flowers

A water lily blooms inside the Conservatory of Flowers.

Construction of San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers was completed in 1879. It is the oldest building in Golden Gate Park. The conservatory is worth a visit not just for the collection of rare and exotic plants but also for the building itself. As an added bonus in 2017, when we visited, there was a special exhibition, “Butterflies and Blooms,” featuring an assortment of North American butterflies and moths.

San Francisco: San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art

“Furrow” by Carl Andre

I must admit having an affinity for modern art museums like San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. Sure, I only really like about 10% or so of the pieces of art on display. In most modern art museums I don’t “get” many of the pieces. But for me that is part of the appeal. When I look at many pieces on display the nagging question that often comes to mind: “Is that art?” It’s a question that leads me down the deep rabbit hole of the eternal debate about what defines art.

San Francisco: A Tourist in One’s Hometown?

The Embarcadero at twilight

More than 30 years of my life have been spent in the San Francisco Bay Area. When asked by people overseas where I’m from, I usually say San Francisco. But that’s not really the case. Living on the San Francisco peninsula or in Berkeley for 30 years is not quite the same thing as living in the City.