Stairways are Heaven
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Stairways are Heaven

Hunting for Oldies

4/27/2012

1 Comment

 

My last few urban excursions sought to find NOW versions of buildings from the 1970s that I took back then (the old pix now scanned onto CDs). Google Maps has helped me search for some so as not to spend too much time hanging around studying houses. Recently someone was coming out her front door, noticed me standing on the sidewalk, and asked if she could help me. As in, why have you stopped on the sidewalk and are just standing there staring at houses? So with Google Maps I can explore the streets mostly at home until I pinpoint exactly where the target house is, or once was. 

Those who walk may discover microparks, new little gardens, and other interesting stuff that those in cars might not notice at all, including places that invite one to stop for a while. Where there used to be spaces bare of trees, plants, and color, now increasingly people are beautifying their neighborhoods and creating miniparks. On Russian Hill, Hyde between Green and Vallejo (Hyde Street cable car line), is the Hyde/Vallejo Minipark between two buildings: flowers, benches, trees: first two pics.

Over to Priest's 57 steps on Nob Hill. Up from Washington, it's a dead-end stairway/walk with an old wood railing on one side. Unfortunately for many years there's been a massive apt. building blocking the view east. Cable cars run on Washington at the foot of this stairway: cables singing and birds chirping. 

Announced in the Park E-ventures online newsletter for the Presidio for May 2012: " …By mid-May, you’ll be able to experience the new trails and overlooks for yourself, without having to wear a fluorescent construction vest or hard hat…" Two new Overlooks, new dedicated bike lanes, new trails, and the Golden Gate Bridge's 75th anniversary happen in May. Check out:

http://www.parksconservancy.org

And tomorrow, Saturday, the 28th, is the opening celebration for the new Lands End Lookout.

The last pix are from a recent hike: Twin Peaks Park over to Mount Sutro and down Forest Knolls' Oakhurst stairway:

First: Trail along Twin Peaks Blvd. (up the steps from Crestline)
Second: East Ridge Trailhead, Mount Sutro
Third: Quarry Road Trail, Mount Sutro
Picture
Hyde/Vallejo Minipark, Russian Hill
Picture
Hyde/Vallejo Minipark, Russian Hill
Picture
Trail next to Twin Peaks Blvd. - steps up from Crestline
Picture
East Ridge Trail climbs to the summit, Mount Sutro
Picture
Quarry Road Trail, Mount Sutro
1 Comment
Daphne
4/28/2012 02:37:20 pm

Thanks for sharing your pics. Those mini-parks are the urban version of a secret garden. How nice to be able to find a peaceful oasis in a cement jungle.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.