44th Ave

I took a walk to confirm the location of yesterday's cactus. I ended up walking a fair bit on 44th Ave. There was no shortage of stencil letters the day this was poured.



Wow, that's a bright house.

Cactus

Have you ever been driving down the street in the Outer Sunset and seen something sparkling on the corner of a house?


Your eyes do not deceive you. It's a tile cactus.

This is at 48th and Noriega.

Shapes & Shadows

Builders

We have all heard of Doelger and Rousseau homes.

I saw this house on 25th Avenue and Noriega come up on the MLS. It is described as Costello-built in 1938. A quick search at the Western Neighborhoods Project and I find that Lawrence Costello built good quality homes, mainly north of Noriega Street.

Bogie, can I borrow some flour?

Round windows, metal rails, glass blocks, I love them all.


Whenever I look at this house, built in 1940 according to the City, I expect Humphrey Bogart to come down the stairs.


On a foggy day like this it feels even more like I'm in a black and white movie.



Added March 2011: I got to see the inside.

Kirkham Apartments

These apartments on Kirkham and 18th Ave are un-named as far as I can tell. I would name them something Italian and colorful.

According to City records they were built in 1929.


I only regret that I could not impart the little burst of color the entrance provides.

Dinosaur Island

Have you seen this house on 30th Ave between Judah and Kirkham?


Not only are there lovely murals:



But also a "Friendship Bench"


And "Dinosaur Island"


I always enjoy walking by. It's a cheerful spot in the fog.

I Heart Flamingos and Reader Tips

I finally made it over to 21st Ave at Noriega. Wow, when reader Tim said there were geegaws he was right. Click on the picture to see it bigger.


Helmets, plastic horseys, hubcaps, signs, and flamingos!




What is actually creepiest is the sound. Kind of like hundreds of low-note wind chimes.

Windsor Terrace

Do you know where this is?

It is Windsor Terrace, a little area of big houses on 8th Ave and the east side of 9th Avenue between Lawton and Moraga.

This is looking up 8th Ave:


Here's a link to the only historical photo I found (coincidentally a person was asking about this topic on the Western Neighborhood Project site). It is the same spot and dated 1914, you can see a shadow of the brick "gate" at the bottom left.

I always admired this enormous house at 8th and Lawton.

I haven't been able to find any further information about the development.

Random

I'm out of town at the moment, hence the light posting of late.  Here are a few random photos from around the neighborhood.

1970's (I actually don't know what to call this, decorative wall tile, raised pattern tile, ugly?) on 10th Ave.


This is for Al_Pal.  We were talking about those pieces of metal that (I think) are supposed to help keep the garage walls from getting bashed.  Here's another example on Funston at Irving.

And finally, from the makers of "2th Ave", another tongue-twister.  Thirty-Oneth?  Thirty-Firsth?

Styles of Homes

There's a great new article on the Western Neighborhoods site about different styles of Doelger homes. Go check it out and read about the four styles identified to date.

Now, this isn't a Doelger, but an interesting specimen nonetheless.


The top is modern.


But this entryway is colonial.

Fast Food Confessions

Since it is Sunday, I have decided today will be a day of confessions. I confess I have patronized chain stores and eaten crappy food.

Confession #1. I kind of like this bright paint job. It brings out the details on this old bank.
Confession #2. I bought a bean burrito here within the past few months.


Confession #3: As I child I often ate food from this corner. Back then there was a Kentucky Fried Chicken and an H. Salt nearby. I loved H. Salt and it's funky English Newspaper decor and packaging. Sometimes we would sit in H. Salt. Sometimes we would get take out from one, the other, or both. I credit KFC in large part for my becoming a vegetarian later in life.

Confession #4: I can't remember. Where exactly was H. Salt? And wasn't what is now Taco Bell a Radio Shack?

Confession #5: I can't remember a lot about the Silver Spur (next to Taco Bell), although I have been there several times.

Confession #6: I went to Starbucks shortly after these photos were taken.

Forgive me for all my sins against my stomach, my arteries, my brain, and the neighborhood.

Lincoln Ways

Poor Lincoln Way, how your name has been altered. Let me count the ways:

First, a "7" in place of a real second "l".

Then they turn your "n" around"

Lincoln "Ave"? No such street exists, and yet it is labeled as such twice:


Okay, getting closer, but ome on, could they not find another "A"? How about the one used in "Ave"?


Ah, finally, here's a correct one:

Hello Panda

It is hard, especially with my limited photography skills, to show just how bright green this house on Sloat is. But trust me, it is neon green a foggy day like today.



And the panda? I think it is a clever use of a filled in window.

Own A Firehouse

As reported in the July Sunset Beacon, the former Engine Company 22 Building is for sale, with a listing price of $1.495 million (McGuire's listing). The Historic Landmark was built in 1898 and decommissioned in 1969.

The fire pole is still intact (see the photos on the listing). This is visible from the front window: