Fitting In

This development, which encompasses a whole block at Sloat and The Great Highway, was built in 1997. I remember at the time being skeptical.

The main view I've looked at over the years was from the Great Highway at these four buildings. Not so inspiring.

Now I go to the Zoo often and appreciate the colors and style of the buildings. There’s nothing like a bit of color on a foggy day. And the buildings really fit into the neighborhood. The round windows, glass blocks, and other elements are found in the homes from the 1930's and '40's.

They also really encompass the spirit of the Sunset, being similar, yet not identical.

For the curious I walked all the way around. Here's Sloat & 47th:

Wawona:

Sloat:

Never realized there was an alleyway on 47th Ave.

Reader Sidewalk Typo Tips

Based on Pahavit's tip I wandered down to 2nd & Lincoln yesterday. I love that part of the Inner Sunset. I used to ride my bike on Hugo Street coming home from downtown.

I found this, not sure how to even pronounce it!


And the upside down seven "L".

I would love to get more tips about buildings you love or love to hate; or anything else in the neighborhood. Email me at vikingprincess100ATgmail.com.

The Phone Company

I grew up with Pacific Bell. Since then the phone company has been known as SBC and AT&T. Here is a Wikipedia article about PacBell, and AT&T's own history page. I'll admit this is one of my nerdier projects.

First, what I think are really pretty manhole covers:


Next, in chronological order of their existence (I think) are telephone vault covers.



A hybrid "Bell System" and Pacific Telephone:




The more recent and scarce SBC:

And finally, the most recent, AT&T:

A Differnt Piece of History

I was out taking photos today and stopped at a garage sale. This cool old card table caught my eye and I asked the owner if I could take a photo.


She thought it was New York, but I was pretty sure it was San Francisco, with the two bridges. I couldn't place the tower, though, definitely not Coit Tower. Couldn't be the Panama Pacific Exhibition because the bridges weren't built yet.

I searched a bit and this appears to be the Sun Tower at the Golden Gate International Exposition held on Treasure Island in 1939.

Supermarket Tile

A reader provided some history in the comments on the post about the market at 31st and Judah.

One of the things I love about old storefronts is the tile. And this one has a lot of it.



This vent cover is really neat.









And there is quite a variation in them around the neighborhood.








The bumped out header, for lack of a better term is kind of unique.


I just noticed the other day that the same red tile is on the residential/commercial building next door.


Here is the entryway for the residential/commercial:


And the little storefront:

Mystery Building

I've ridden by this building a million times on the "N" and wonder what it is. It is on Judah at 32nd Avenue.
That sign is illegible. The City records show it is an RH-2 two unit, one story building, with two bathrooms and no baths, built in 1948. Hmmm. However the mailing address is 25 Van Ness Avenue, which is City government offices.

Any ideas?

(Edited June 14th, 2008: This is simply a substation.)

Concerte Contractors

A few weeks ago I realized I was wrong about the location of this concrete imprint. You will also remember I was lamenting the fact that they aren't as plentiful as I remembered.

Well, I hit the jackpot on the 1400 block of 33rd Avenue. I found both the location of my mis-labeled mark and quite a few others.

On the west side of the street I found these two "?. SARTORIO 1938 S.F.". Or is the second one 1920-something? I can't tell.

Also on the west side were are at least two "D.C. McCABE & SON CONTRACTORS"

Over on the east side of the block D.C. McCabe or his son went a little crazy:


This is the only one I've seen imprinted at an angle: