Dogpatch

San Francisco's economy has been booming for a couple of years and this has caused a scarcity of housing, but now a number of new projects that were delayed by the endless permit process or stalled by the recession are being built. Almost all of the 4000 units of housing under construction are on the east side of the city. Many are being built on industrial properties that have lain fallow since the 60s or 70s. Thirty years ago the bureau chief worked on "The Right Stuff" in makeshift cutting rooms in recently abandoned industrial space along Third St. Now that street has very stylish looking light rail running down the center of it. (Please click.)

The city commissioned some rather Jetsons-esque public art to adorn the platforms.

When I worked on the "The Right Stuff", I was not aware that the neighborhood adjoining that part of Third St. was called Dogpatch.

It has now become one of the new hip neighborhoods. One way to tell that is the appearance of cultural institutions and large type.

Some of the institutions stand next to the older housing in the neighborhood.

Actually the old and the new seem to get along together.

Don't tell the Republicans but there are French signs in the neighborhood.

Some of the old gems have been preserved. I love the juxtaposition of the fire hydrant and the happy doggie.

A Sea Wind

Last Sunday (4/14/13) Mme Le Chef and I went out to Ocean Beach where an amazingly strong wind was attempting to blow the beach into the parking lot. You couldn't get out of the car without being sand blasted so we decamped and went up to nearby Sutro Heights where it was still ridiculously windy but we were above the airborne sand. You can see a long ways down the coast from the top of the hill.

We also had a birds-eye view of an intrepid (clearly deranged) wind surfer below us. Please click.

We actually had a higher than birds-eye view.

In honor of Otis Redding we watched a ship roll in.

And keep on rolling.

Alien Vessel in San Francisco

Apparently the trans-galactic overlords are already here.

Is this a cruise ship or a Transformer?

Spring Snow

On Sunday March 24, 2013 received weather wisdom in Richmond VA was that there would be snow flurries but nothing would stick. This turned out to be overly optimistic. (Please click.)

It was the first time the bureau chief had driven in the snow in many years.

It looked pretty once one was inside.

By the next day the streets were clear but the snow lingered in places.

It wasn't completely gone until it rained.