Alamo Square

Posted by Cindy on August 7, 2011

Aug 072011

Alamo Square – San Francisco

Alamo Square is surrounded by Victorian Houses, and the famous “painted ladies” photograph that is quintessentially San Francisco, to say nothing of the fact that it’s image is probably the number one selling postcard. I see no point in posting that picture, you have seen it. I even hesitate to discuss victorians on this blog, because frankly there are so many experts and so many people out there that know so much more than I that I feel completely inadequate in even approaching this subject.

One of my dearest and oldest friends Beach Alexander has written the ultimate book San Francisco, Building the Dream City It took Beach well over 20 years to finish the book, only about 5 years before he passed away. This is why I hesitate to even begin this subject here.

I am doing this because I want you to know that the entire area is filled with wonderful old victorians, not just those 5 in the postcard, and should you get to our fair city, and have the time to do more than drive by and point and shoot, I encourage you to park the car, get off the bus, get out of the taxi, and stroll, stroll, stroll.

Chateau Tivoli Bed and Breakfast

Oddities in San Francisco

Posted by Cindy on May 27, 2011

May 272011

915 Fulton Street

This is Ron Henggeler’s Tower at 915 Fulton Street in San Francisco. Ron is a collector, he started building this 45 foot tower after the Loma Prieta Earthquake. He wandered down to where they were tearing up the Fell Street Freeway exit and scavenged the rebar, the tower grew from there. Ron may seem like a nut, and in fact he is a major scavenger, but he is also an amazing artist, and quite the historian. He is a very good photographer, and I have seen his scavenged items turned into some pretty neat things. He is a waiter at the Big Four restaurant on the top of Nob Hill. He has always been a waiter and has collected the one gallon maraschino cherry and olive jars from bartenders, to store his vast collection of stuff. This Queen Anne is five stories tall and Ron lives on the top floor with his collection, there are 11 artists in the building and they have all shared this space for over 35 years. With that many years together, I assume they are used to his quirky habits by now.