HOW TO CITY

HOW TO CITY - Summer in San Francisco means an influx of tourists. Here’s a little guide I like to call “how to city”. And, you’re welcome.

1.       Don’t suddenly stop or walk in groups abreast in the middle of the sidewalk.

2.       Look down, AKA don’t step in poop.

http://mochimachine.org/wasteland/

3.       Don’t complain about parking. If you’re driving, plan ahead to park in a lot.

4.       Make a mental note of public bathrooms and don’t pee in alleys.

5.       If you’re taking the subway, plan to stick close to Market Street. Carry single bills and change in your pocket not your wallet.

6.       Look up from your damn phone. We don't care to hear your loud phone conversations in crowded places.

7.       Carry some convenient crap in a small bag AKA the man purse.

8.       Don’t be obnoxious at public festivals and parades. Newsflash – Public nudity is not legal in San Francisco.

9.       Newly rich and newly living the city life? We don’t care.

10.   In the summer don’t wear shorts and carry a light jacket. 

I HEART SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO AT NIGHT

Perspective | 4K from Carbon Studios on Vimeo.

#ChadSchimke #SanFrancisco  #VidClip

WORLD’S FAIR 1915

WORLD’S FAIR 1915 - Reemerging like a phoenix from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake, the 1915 World’s Fair Pan Pacific Exposition, hosted visitors from around the world. Today’s blog post features postcards from the festival, including the Palace of Fine Arts, the only structure that survives to this day (then and now). The public library link takes you to a map, click on the locations to open period photos, of the original exposition. The fair’s centennial begins now and includes events such as lighting the Palace of Fine Arts/ Ferry Building along with events at the de Young and California Historical Society museums.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/5-top-events-in-Pan-Pacific-International-6080578.php

http://sfpl.org/html/libraries/main/sfphotos/ppie/ppiemap.htm

 #ChadSchimke #SanFrancisco  #PanPacific #Museum #PalaceofFineArts

THE SAN FRANCISCO DUNGEON

THE SAN FRANCISCO DUNGEON - Modeled after the London Dungeon, which features Jack the Ripper and the murderous King Henry VIII, The Dungeon at Fisherman's Wharf has a dark sinister feel. Halloween funhouse meets interactive theater in a series of mazes, hallways and gory scenes from San Francisco’s colorful Gold Rush past. The speakeasy saloon, a gang of thieves, an underground boat ride, a bloody backalley surgery, a Chinatown slum and a haunted Alcatraz cell are a few of the features contained therein. One vignette is based on a real criminal, James "Shanghai" Kelly, who drugged unsuspecting young men and threw them aboard understaffed ships. The Fisherman's Wharf attraction is located between Madame Tussaud’s wax museum and the Rainforest Café on Jefferson Street.

http://sanfrancisco.thedungeons.com

BURRITT ALLEY

Burritt Alley - San Francisco has been the setting for numerous books, TV shows and movies. In many cases she is little more than set dressing. But in Dashiell Hammett’s 1929 novel, The Maltese Falcon, Burritt Alley plays a major role in the novel, a specific street where the novel accelerates. He is the undisputed master of the hard-boiled private detective genre. Protagonist Sam Spade, in his ruthless quest for justice, sees his partner shot dead in the alley in the opening scenes of the book. Near Union Square, close to Stockton and Bush, there’s a plaque that reads: "On approximately this spot MILES ARCHER, PARTNER OF SAM SPADE, was done in by BRIGID O'SHAUGHNESSY." Sure, you’ve seen the Golden Gate Bridge, walked along the Embarcadero and looked down on the city atop Twin Peaks. If you’re a book lover (like me) then take a literary excursion to a lesser known corner of The City. Don your zoot suit with fedora ensemble, to visit Burritt Alley with a copy of Hammett’s noir novel. Read a couple of pages, then stop by Burritt Room Tavern. 

Alabama Street Writer’s Group

The page for my writer's group meeting here in San Francisco since 2012 is now live. We are pleased to announce we will be on the program for the Litquake Festival here in San Francisco at City Art Gallery 828 Valencia Street. Come check it out! 

http://www.alabamastreetwritersgroup.wordpress.com

GETTING AROUND SF

GETTING AROUND SF- The recent Muni “sick-out” pretty much caused the city to grind to a halt. Sure, it’s only 7 by 7 square miles. But, I challenge you to walk up and down unforgiving hills after a long workday. So, in the spirit of get-up-and-go, here are a few ways to navigate the hellish nightmare that we just lived through. 

1. Bike share- Members electronically unlock bikes with a smart card/ credit card and there’s a lot of stations along Market Street.
2. Zipcar/ van - Wheels by the hour or day with gas and insurance included.
3. Walk - Just be careful to use crosswalks, pedestrians become roadkill in SF, all too often. I’ve had my share of close calls! Seriously, walking in a city this small is often practical. 
4. BART - Impractical for many due to limited stops, but if you’re lucky, it’s the fastest way to get around the bay. Hence the name rapid transit. 
5. Yellow Cab - It’s hard to beat! Make a one minute phone call, then a car pulls up to your door, and takes you wherever you want. 

HAIGHT STREET

HAIGHT STREET - In 1967, Hunter S. Thompson immortalized the Summer of Love, in the Haight Asbury district of San Francisco, in his sensational article (The Hashbury Is the Capital Of the Hippies) from the NYT. Also, the notable song named for The City sung by Scott McKenzie (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) endures to this day as an anthem of a generation. At one end, the Upper Haight features rows of remodeled Victorians with intricate color schemes. Buena Vista Park connects to the Castro on one side and the Haight on the other. There are many colorful murals along the way for aficionados of street art. The Red Victorian Hotel is a bed and breakfast near the Red Vic Theater which has an indie movie vibe. Recently, much to the chagrin of SF purists, a number of chain merchants (such as the Gap) have established themselves along the Haight. However, clothing re-sellers such as Wasteland appear to be alive-and-well, along with many other business models. There are very few remaining record stores to be found, having met their demise due to the internet, yet check out Amoeba Records. Finally, at the foot of Haight Street, there is the entrance to Golden Gate Park which is also quite near the Cole Valley neighborhood. In 2014, it’s easy to find plenty to do here. But, don’t expect to see any long-haired hippies dressed in paisley tunics and bell bottom pants.

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E16FD345C14738DDDAD0994DD405B878AF1D3&scp=1&sq=&st=p

BAY BRIDGE LIGHT SHOW

BAY BRIDGE LIGHT SHOW – To many, the Bay Bridge is the lesser known and less glamorous sibling, of the Golden Gate Bridge. Watch today’s post, which includes a vid clip of a LED light show, marking the bridge’s 75th anniversary. The light display amplifies the upcoming America's Cup as well as the opening of the new Eastern span.