Alley #35 -- October 10, 2012

Looking down Maiden Lane on 12-January-2009, toward Union Square and the Dewey Monument, topped with a statue of Alma de Bretteville, later Alma Spreckels. Before the 18-April-1906 Earthquake and Fire, this was Morton Street, a red light district.  Now it is lined with genteel restaurants and art galleries.  Beyond the Dewey Monument is the Saint Francis Hotel. 

The Giants beat the Reds in Cincinnati. The series is tied at 2.  Barry Zito started but didn't go very far.  Tim Lincecum relieved and did great.  

Alley #34 -- September 13, 2012

New Orleans Square in Disneyland.  I took the photo during our visit in July this year.   

Alley #33 -- August 13, 2012

This alley in Disneyland, which branches off from Main Street, probably has a name.  I took the photo during our visit in July this year.   

Alley #32 -- July 10, 2012

Looking down Stevenson Street from Third.  Dave's Bar is hidden by the truck on the right.  Beyond it is the back of the Monadnock Building.  The Palace Hotel is in the background, across Annie Street.  The Hearst Garage is on the right. I took the photo on 19-June-2012.

The National League won the All Star Game in Kansas City 8-0.  Matt Cain started and pitched two scoreless innings.  Melky Cabrera got a single in the first and scored a run.  Pablo Sandoval hit a bases-loaded triple in the first and scored.  Buster Posey caught Cain, walked in the first, and scored.  In the fourth, Cabrera hit a two-run home run.  Cabrera was chosen as MVP.  Good game. 

Alley #31 -- June 12, 2012

Security Pacific Place must have had a different name before the building at the right was a branch of Security Pacific, before it was taken over by Bank of America.  It is currently a men's clothing store.

Alley #30 -- April 20, 2012

Looking down Ambrose Bierce, formerly Aldrich, Alley. On the left is the former Call Building. Bierce wrote for the San Francisco Call. I like the scooters.

Bierce served with distinction in the Civil War. He worked for many years as a journalist. He wrote short stories, many influenced by his terrible experiences in the war, but my favorite work is his Devil's Dictionary, a collection of cynical definitions. In late 1913, he went to Mexico, which was torn by a revolution, and eventually disappeared. No one has been able to determine what happened to him.

It was very warm yesterday and today.  I went out at lunchtime without my coat.  

Alley #29 - March 12, 2012

I took this photo of Annie Street today, looking towards Market from Jessie Street.  The Hearst Garage is on the left.  Beyond that, across Stevenson, is the back corner of the Monadnock Building.  On the corner is the door that leads to the underground space that once contained the Dawn Club, home of Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band.  Across Market is the De Young Building.  On the right in the Palace Hotel.

Today was the first full day of Daylight Savings.  It was very dark and cold this morning.

Alley #28 -- February 10, 2012

Sproule Lane runs from Sacramento Street to Clay Street, between Mason and Taylor streets. On the other side of Sacramento, Cushman Street runs towards California Street:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2011/12/alley-26-december-12-2011.html

I don't know why the two parts of what is apparently the same street have different names.  I wonder if it started out as one street and part of it got renamed after a famous resident. 

I took this photo from Sacramento Street on 14-September-2011.

Alley #27 -- January 13, 2012

Looking south across Jackson Street at Marcy Place and the back of the Cable Car Barn.

Happy Friday the 13th.

Alley #26 -- December 12, 2011

Cushman Street runs from Sacramento Street to California Street, between Mason and Taylor streets. The Flood Mansion, housing the Pacific Union Club, is on the left. Huntington Park is on the right. The Huntington Hotel is the red building across California.

 I took this photo looking across Sacramento Street on 14-September-2011.

Alley #25 -- November 14, 2011

Auburn Street runs from Pacific Avenue to Jackson Street, between Mason and Taylor streets, across from the Cable Car Barn. I took this photo looking across Jackson Street on 14-September-2011. I don't know if the street is named after the town in the gold country.

 It was very cold today.

Alley #24 -- October 17, 2011

Pleasant Street runs from Taylor to Jones between Sacramento and Clay Streets.  I took this photo looking up from Taylor Street on 14-September-2011.  The street is named after Mary Ellen Pleasant, who was born into slavery, but freed herself and became involved in the Underground Railroad.  She moved to San Francisco and passed for white.  She became wealthy by helping a clerk, Thom Bell, at the Bank of California with investment advice.  She used her connections and money to help the black community, which knew her true identity.  At some point, she went east and became involved with the network that helped John Brown.  After his capture, she came back to San Francisco.

After the Civil War, she declared her true racial identity and pushed for Civil Rights.  After she was thrown off a horse car, she filed a suit, Pleasant v. North Beach & Mission Railroad Company, which established that public conveyances in San Francisco could not be segregated.   

In later years, various elements, including Thom Bell's wife, began to smear Mary Ellen.  They began calling her "Mammy," which she did not like.  She lost her fortune and died in poverty in 1904.

There is a small park named after her in Pacific Heights.

Alley #23 -- September 20, 2011

Looking down John Street from Mason.  My mother's family lived on John Street when she was born.  I took the photo on 14-September-2011.

Update 21-September-2011.  This was the 1100th post on this blog.

Alley #22 - August 11, 2011

Douglas Alley, shown here from South Virginia Street, was the site of many of Reno's earliest clubs when Nevada legalized gambling in 1931. I took the photo during our visit in July.

Alley #21 -- July 11, 2011

Shepard Place extends east from Mason between Clay and Washington Streets. I like the little house at the end. I took the photo on 11-December-2010.

Alley #20 -- June 15, 2011

Dawson Place extends east from Mason on a steep block between Sacramento and Clay Streets. I took the photo on 11-December-2010.

The weather was warm today.

Alley #19 -- May 17, 2011

Malvina Place extends west from Mason on a steep block between Sacramento and Clay Streets. I took the photo on 11-December-2010.

Alley #18 -- April 13, 2011

Ewer Place extends west from Mason on a steep block between Sacramento and Clay Streets.

We had a brief burst of heavy rain this morning. Then it cleared up.

Alley #17 -- March 13, 2011

Chelsea Place is up Bush Street from Burritt Street, where Sam Spade's partner was killed. I like the bricks on the building on the right.

It rained today. We took a quick trip to Half Moon Bay to buy some presents at Bay Books.

Alley #16 -- February 16, 2011

Dashiell Hammett lived at 20 Monroe Street, the brick-faced building, in 1926. The street is now named after him. Across Pine Street is Burritt Street, where Sam Spade's partner Miles Archer would be killed early in The Maltese Falcon.

There was heavy hail this morning about 8:45. Then sunlight. Then violent rain around 12:30.