The Sun Shines Only in the Embarcadero (Week 12)

Down on flat land and low altitude passed SOMA is the Embarcadero. Its landscape is much different than your typical hilly san francisco side walk, in fact the area looks a great deal like San Diego. If the Bay Bridge wasn't signifying that I was in San Fran I am sure I would have mistaken my location for San Diego.

There are many reasons that the embarcadero reminds me of San Diego. Firstly the sun is shining and it is much hotter than any other part of the city. Second the land is flat and just by the ocean not hundreds of meters above sea level. There are palm trees that trace the outline of the streets reminding you that you are in California, just incase the foggy weather confuses you.

The representation of the signage is also very different from other neighborhoods in the city. In the embarcadero signs for advertising are placed high on the lampposts neat and uniformly. There is no art painted on the walls and on the sidewalk sending a thoughtful message to the people. Instead it is just advertising and direction, a very serious tone.

North "Attention to Detail" Beach (Week 10)

North Beach is San Francisco's version of "little italy".
In this side of the city not directly at the water is a small neighborhood where the Italian Americans have formed a community. Families have opened restaurants and little cafes making some of the best food you can find in San Francisco.
To mark its location the community has plastered the Italian flag on many buildings and poles to help the people recognize that this area is associated with Italy. There were even moments where I would spot colors of red and green (flag colors) on different art displays on the wall. Or even candid shots of the contrasting colors together in a neighborhood where together they have a meaning. If this was in any other part of the city it wouldn't have mattered as much. Formal signs of directions are in English however names on stores and art on the wall is found in Italian. North beach is a cute neighborhood with landscape similar to that of any other San Franciscan neighborhood but just with different colors and art that act as signage to show you that you are in a significant neighborhood.

The American Dream Starts With The Neighborhoods. (Week 09)

Lower Haight/Cole Valley:
Prior to this visit I had never been to this neighborhood and I can now say that is where I want my next apartment to be. Unlike any other part of San Francisco this neighborhood is so quiet and I think that is a blessing. The colors of the small houses and the way they are built looks like it came out of a television series. The signs are clean, literally they are spotless. The streets are wide and inviting and felt like an area for a family.


Castro:
To talk about the castro I need to address the core part of it that allows you to recognize where you are without reading words on a sign, but instead by reading the landscape. The huge pride flag resting in the middle of the Castro screams LOOK AT ME. The castro is an area with signs that are loud and kinky, there is a lot of sexual references throughout the signs in this neighborhood.

Dolores:
The park sits at the edge of the Castro and is a place of relaxation. The park has two sections, one where there is a play area for children and the other a play area for young adults. In the adult section there tends to be drug sale and consumption but interestingly enough nothing that put any of the children at harm. Dolores park is a peaceful area where people of all ages go to play or just relax and the landscape helps you determine which section you want to be in.

China Town R.E.D (Week 09)

Among the diverse population of San Francisco is a large percentage of Chinese people. Like in any other major city there is a "China Town" in San Francisco, but this little snippet of China in hilly San Francisco has a little more character. Laying near the financial district and close to North beach China Town rests in the narrowest streets of hilly San Francisco.

There is an obvious transition when walking from Downtown into China Town and I am not referring to the large gateway entrance and the sign the says "China Town". I am talking about the signage and the visual presentations of the two parts of the same street. In the regular Down Town shopping area you have very neat signs that are in English. The stores have a very specific and neat presentation in which the clothes and shoes are sold. The finishing of the walls and signs are very clean and bland in color. Lastly there are spacious streets where cars buses and cabs drive on in many directions comfortably.

Then you walk into China Town and the first thing you notice that indicates you are somewhere new is the language on the signs. Below the English letters on a sign are Mandrin characters translating the phrase. The other notifier is the color red, it is everywhere and it is a loud color that isn't as prominent in the Down Town area. Lastly, in the stores of the red town the inventory is displayed in a cluttered manner with everything piled on top of each other overwhelming you with its bold colors. typical this wouldn't be odd but when comparing it to the American display it stands out.

There are many signs that can help you know that you are somewhere new. It could be obvious like a street name or it could be in the form of architecture and color. Signs come in different forms but convey the same message.