Our friend Woody at the Western Neighborhoods Project posted a new “History Minute”. This time it’s about a scrawled “BIRD” in the sidewalk on 11th Avenue near Clement. What does it mean? Watch the video to find out.
After you’re done watching, find out more about it on outsidelands.org. You just never know what you’re walking over in this neighborhood… 🙂
Sarah B.
When I wrote the piece about Johnny-the-birdman in 2006, you could still read “Johnny-the-bird” in the sidewalk on the property line between 350 and 354 Eleventh Avenue. What is scratched in the newer concrete now is more recent and looks nothing like the deep impressed letters that were once there. But it is still great to have even a scratched reminder of one of the great characters of the past from the Richmond District.
Our neighborhood has quite a few fun (and funny) notes in the sidewalk, such as the “Hello!!” near Pho Garden, and “wet cement” near 18th (and slightly further on, a geographically correct outline of the state of Georgia on Sacramento near Laurel Village). I actually make it a habit of looking down every now and again to find such things and wonder about their meanings.
I’m still curious about the “Wos on Matt where’s my check” from in front of Kamei Housewares! That’s still my favorite one in the area. 😀
I like these videos, but there’s something about the lyrics “In the Sunset, in the Richmond too, guess I ain’t that cool” which really irritates me.
So that’s my useless comment of the day.