The Western Neighborhoods Project turned us onto this fun clip from 1930 that features footage from Ocean Beach and the Cliff House. It’s very San Francisco – you see a woman in a full length heavy coat walking along the roadway, and it then cuts to children in swimsuits on the beach. Microclimates, people!

In the footage you’ll also notice a pier that runs out from Ocean Beach. It was known as both the Olympic Pier and the Lurline Pier, because it served as the intake for two downtown saltwater pools: the Olympic Club and the Lurline Baths. Yes, you read that right – a pipe carried seawater from Ocean Beach all the way to downtown.

The Lurline Baths were public salt water baths built in 1894 at the corner of Bush and Larkin streets, and closed in 1936. The pier remained on Ocean Beach until about 1966. [Wikipedia]

The clip also has footage of Market Street and the ferry that used to carry people to Marin and back, before the Golden Gate Bridge was built.

Sarah B.

[Via Cliffhouseproject.com]

From Saturday, March 30. Thanks to Paul M. for sharing!

Sarah B.

KRON TV’s Stanley Roberts captured some very entertaining footage of drivers “behaving badly” and having problems with the new traffic circle at 23rd and Anza.

We reported on its installation earlier this year, and despite the circle having been finished, landscaped, and signed with instructions, drivers clearly are not quite “getting it”.

As Roberts points out in the video, some of the confusion lies with it not being a standard traffic circle in that there are stop signs (which many drivers simply ignore and roll through). Usually, a traffic circle is installed at an intersection without stop signs to help slow drivers down, as they’re required to navigate around it. But in this case, drivers seem to interpret the circle as a sign that they don’t need to stop.

SFMTA better rethink these traffic circles, especially since their Central Richmond District calming project calls for more of them on Lake Street at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 17th, 21st, and 24th Avenues.

Thanks to reader Kim for sending in the video.

Sarah B.

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

Local nature photographer David Cruz had his fifth whale sighting on Sunday while out on a walk at Lands End. The gray whale breached and stayed for a bit near Seal Rocks. Maybe he was communicating with Sutro Sam?

Thanks to David for sharing his find!

Sarah B.

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

It’s been 40 years since Playland at the Beach closed down, but many of the colorful artifacts from the amusement park often resurface around the neighborhood.

Several weeks ago, this Playland clown head appeared, eerily lit, in the window of the old Busvan for Bargains store on Clement Street near 4th Avenue, with this sign accompanying it:

One of the nine heads suspended from the ceiling of the main building in San Francisco’s Playland at the Beach, this clown reflects the Fun House’s theme and admonition: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you; cry – and you cry alone”. It was removed when Playland was demolished in 1972 to make room for progress. We are still waiting.* In the 1980′s, the mechanism and detailing of the figure was restored. This is the first time since Playland’s closing that it is again able to enjoy distressing children in the Richmond.

The distressing part may be that the clown’s eyes actually move back and forth (watch the quick clip below). I can almost hear Laughing Sal in the background…

Sarah B.

*I find this statement a little rich considering that the Busvan for Bargains space has been empty for how many years now? 10? 15? How about making some progress to find a tenant…

In case you were wondering what actually goes on inside the new Tata Massage face-slapping salon on Geary at 14th Avenue, ABC News stopped by to see what all the slapping is about.

A face-slapping session will set you back $350 but is supposed to make you look younger, more vital and sexy (“So beautiful that your beauty will charm everyone”). The video is worth watching just for the decor alone.

Forget face-slapping, we’ve got some great swamp land in Florida we want to show you…

Thanks to reader Jean B. for the tip.

Sarah B.

Our neighborhood nature photog David Cruz is at it again, this time happening upon a wild otter who stopped by Sutro Baths this morning for a little R&R. He makes the most of the morning sun.

Adorable!

Sarah B.

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

Photo by Natures Lantern – David Cruz

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.