Commentary — All In A Day’s Walk

I used to spend a lot of my time wandering the streets of San Francisco.  My pattern was to pick up the thread of whatever I was writing, plant it firmly in my subconscious and develop it as I walked. My meanderings took me sometimes up and down the nearly secret stairways, short cuts from one neighborhood to another, and often through one of the many parks, where I’d eventually sit and transfer any thoughts about mystery into a small notebook.   Then, I would find my way to the nearest market to pick up dinner.

I always took my camera. San Francisco is endlessly photographable; but one of my favorite things to find was what the street artists had done since I last traveled those parts.  You could and can find their work almost anywhere in the city, but the Mission and Haight Street were genuine goldmines.

When my walk was done, I’d settle into my small, dusty apartment, have dinner, some wine, watch a film and sleep. In the morning I would take out the notebook.  If I had been lucky, the next few pages of my mystery would begin to flow.   When the muse had given its all, I would start the afternoon walk all over again, loving every minute of it.

I’ve put together a slide show of some of the street artists’ work. Some of the images are gone now, many of them painted over by newer exciting images — the way of the world for artists — and writers.

Opinion — My Little Movie, A Very, Very Subtle Self Promotion

A couple of years ago I finally felt that I had enough San Francisco in my soul to use it as the setting, even a character, in a new private eye series.  So far, there have been two books and two novellas featuring Paladino & Lang Investigations. The office is inhabited by Carly Paladino, a fourth generation San Franciscan whose PI background comes from an executive position in a high-toned security firm; Noah Lang, a somewhat lazy, street-wise P.I. who just wants to get by; over the hill Harry Brinkman, an old-school kind of guy who just wants keep his hand in and have a place to go; and Thanh, a gender-bending, multi-talented, part-time operative who keeps everyone on their toes and in their places.

Over the last few years, in my meanderings throughout the city, I’ve taken photographs of the city, and its diverse neighborhoods. And I’ve recorded some of the incredible art that local muralists have given to the public to view.  So I thought I’d put a few of those photographs together to give you an idea of the San Francisco I see and the city where my fiction occurs.  This snippet is roughly three minutes long, including some sneaky shots of book covers from the series.  Let me know what you think.

P.S.  To read them in order, get Mascara, Death in the Tenderloin, Death in Pacific Heights, Death in North Beach and Death in the Haight.

Observations — A Different Kind Of San Francisco Street Art

The photographs were taken at a Chinese Market on San Francisco's Clement Street:

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, Detail

These close-up images (detail) are taken from the stripes in a large rainbow mural in the Haight.

Observations — San Francisco Art From A Haight Street Alley

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, Dark Fantasies

Observations — San Francisco Alleys

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, More From The Mission's Clarion Alley

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, Faces On The Walls

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, Plus One

Observations — Aging Street Art, Hayes Valley And Lower Haight, San Francisco

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, The Mission Neighborhood

Observations — Faces, More Street Art From The Mission

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, Lower Haight

Most of the world knows Haight Ashbury, or “The Haight,” as it is called here.  It’s several blocks starting roughly at Central and going out to Stanyan at the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park. This Haight Street is a magnet for tourists and residents alike with more than a little attention paid to its Hippie past.  There are head shops and Medical marijuana centers amidst the shoe shops and tee-shirt stores.  However, there is another Haight — Lower Haight.  It is the continuation of Haight street east of Divisadero and down to Market.  It too is interesting.  Unusual shops, a variety of restaurants and great residential neighborhoods. My favorite spot in this area inhabited by a few serious anarchists is a saloon called “Molotov’s Cocktails.”  Most tourists don’t know about Lower Haight, so it is a place for those who live in the neighborhood and other city locals aware of its charm.  Here is a sampling of some of its street art.

Observations — San Francisco Street Art, Murals On Balmy Alley

I would bet a good sum of money that there are more murals in San Francisco’s Mission area than any other.  Perhaps the most famous alley for murals is just off Valencia in Clarion Alley.  However, there are other spots farther into the Mission neighborhood with some highly creative work, including Balmy alley off 24th.  Here are four of them: