Matchy Matchy

I like it when people keep their old garage doors, which quite often match the side door into the garage.

This house matches even more, it even has matching shutters.

Decades Apart...

...yet right next door.

These caught my eye because, well, you know how I feel about 1970's architecture. Then I realized that there are few 1970's single family homes, they are mostly apartments.

These four houses encompass a wide range of decades. From the right: 1906, 1978, 1978, 1919.

On just the next block is another range of building dates. The house on the left was built in 1908. The one on the right in 1919, and remodeled in the 1970's, I'm guessing by the shingled mansard. And to the right of that, just an edge shown, 1924.

Tile on Lawton

The tile on this storefront at 25th and Lawton is amazing.

And notice that the walls aren't smooth, they undulate which adds even more movement to the tile design.


It was built in 1936.


I've heard there was a Sun Valley Market at 25th and Lawton. Does anyone know if it was here?

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.