A 1938 photo colorized by Christopher Dydyk
Here are some local links to kick off your week!
- The above photo was colorized by Christopher Dydyk, a fine art photographer here in SF. The original black and white photo was featured in an older article here on the blog. It’s a photo from 1938 of the MUNI streetcar passing in front of the Safeway at 2900 Fulton at 5th Avenue.
- The Academy of Sciences is holding their Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover for Grownups event on September 21. Enjoy an evening of activities with other 21+ at the Academy, then bunk down for the night next to the penguins, Claude the albino alligator, or the giant California Coast tank. $99 per person for non-members, $79 for members.
- Olympic fever has hit the Legion of Honor. Their new exhibit “Gifts from the Gods: Art and the Olympic Ideal” features ancient Greek and Roman coinage, contemporary work from artists including Robert Mapplethorpe, Diane Arbus and Alex Katz, advertising labels, and a variety of sculptures, works on paper, antiquities, and textiles – all celebrating the Olympic ideal. So if you can get up off the couch, head out there to soak in some artistic Olympic homage.
- Lover of chai tea? Then don’t miss “The Art of Chai with Pawaan Kothari” program at the Conservatory of Flowers on Thursday, August 9. Kothari runs the well-known Chai Cart in San Francisco. “This class provides a deeper understanding of chai – its history and cultural roots, methods of preparation, and how to choose its main components: tea, spices, milk. You will also learn more about what constitutes chatt, Indian street food, as you enjoy a sampling of Kothari’s signature Masala Chai, Rose Chai and a variety of street snacks.” You’ll go home with some ingredients so you can blend at home too. $35 per person; info and registration here
- In food news last week, Men Oh Tokushima Ramen opened at 5120 Geary and Camp BBQ opened at 4014 Geary, offering diners a chance to grill up their selections. “The idea here is to order small plates of veggies (Asian greens, buttered corn), meat (Kalbi shortrib, ox tongue), chicken, or seafood (scallop, shrimp) ($4-13) to cook in the center of your table.” Oh and s’mores for dessert. EaterSF also reports that Pretty Please Bakeshop will be opening in a former boutique space at 291 3rd Avenue.
- The 9 hole, par-3 Golden Gate Park golf course may be taken over by new management, if Rec & Park can get the Board of Supervisors to approve a new vendor this fall. But The Examiner reports that long-timers there aren’t thrilled with the potential change. “But the entire situation has its skeptics. Many golfers worry the course will be overrun by beginners, maintenance will suffer and regulars will be pushed out.”
2900 Fulton is now that fancy new condo building. The former building (a closed laundromat) was demolished to make way for the condos. As a only 20 year SF resident I had no idea it used to be the Safeway. A little history sure goes a long way to understanding the history of the Richmond District.
Astonishing how little things change. Mainly the loss of the streetcar and the addition of a whole lot of other cars.
I wonder what the cage was on the top of the apartment house. A chicken coop?
Chicken Coop? Good laugh! In the days 50 – 90 years ago, before Laundromats every few blocks or stacking washer/dryer in a small apartment, washing was done in either the kitchen sink or the bath tub, then hung on the roof clothes line to dry. Front apartments would definitely hang the wash on the roof, where rear apartments, if the lot was deep enough, hung the wash on a moving clothes line out the back window. The buildings at 6th Ave. & Fulton had no yard space, so tenants hung the wash on the roof or visited the neighborhood hand laundry or dry cleaner. Every few blocks of the Richmond was like a little village with all the independent services you needed.
I remember shopping at that Safeway and riding the streetcars on Fulton. CalTrain should take a good look at the people-catcher on the front bumper.
The cage atop the apartment building was likely built to keep people away from the incinerator, especially when it was in use. Everyone used to burn their trash back then. Incinerators have since been replaced by shredders. You notice the laundry line poles are away from the cage.
Most single-family residences had the pulley-laundry line on the landing outside the kitchen door, extending out to what resembled a flagpole deep into the back yard. By the time this photo was taken, my grandmother had a wringer-washer under the breakfast room and had to carry the wet laundry up the back stairs to the line. One thing I really miss from the original kitchen is the built-in ironing board with the electrical outlet andiron storage in the cubby. When closed it looked like a flush to the wall cabinet.