San Francisco: Day 3

So many wonderful bakeries. So few mornings. Today we started at b. patisserie, where I once celebrated my birthday years ago. We didn’t realize there were two locations, so we missed the one that smells like angels baking and has a case filled with such beautiful works of art it’s impossible to choose just one. Still, the Union Square annex turned out to be pretty great.

Notice Tiffany’s in the background…also Saks and Louis Vuitton, among others.
Jim had a pain suisse (with yummy crème pâtissière and chocolate chips) an I had an almond banana croissant because I always like to eat something I’ve never eaten before

At Coit Tower, the view made the straight uphill walk worth it. I’d seen the murals before, but having them explained in depth was fascinating. They were painted around the same time as the post office mural in Ventura, using New Deal funding. It was striking to see how many different artists, working together, created such a unified whole—and how they subtly expressed their leftist, pro-labor politics.

So many stairs!!
The murals depict life in San Francisco—from the rural agricultural, to the manufacturing sector, to the wealthy businesses

Because the tower existed first and then the fresco murals were added, they had to incorporate windows, vents, light fixtures, and more in their paintings. Look at this light switch as the door to the planetarium.

Light switch made into a door

The general public does not usually get to see these beautiful stairway murals.

San Francisco was 90% white at this time, so this little girl with a Black doll is interesting

Later we joined our good friends Rick and Diane for the Downtown Deco tour. Exploring the financial district’s skyscrapers was eye-opening. Art Deco flourished after World War I, when people were drawn to opulence and luxury. The architecture emphasized symmetry and featured modern materials such as black granite and molded terra cotta.

The Pacific Telegraph and Telephone building—so beautiful 🤩
The office buildings were anything but plain
Inside they were even more opulent—this is an office building

Another office building—this one reminded me of a Gothic cathedral. I can’t imagine going to a dentist or accountant in a building like this, but that’s exactly what happens.
Even the elevator doors and vents were ornate
Dinner later at Sam’s Grill with our good friends. The tables were very private cubicles.
A little strawberry-covered crème brûlée to celebrate my birthday

One thought on “San Francisco: Day 3”

  1. Not exactly sure how I missed these. Wow, you are right around the corner from me. Our recent excursions into SanFran have not been as pleasant. They cleaned up the City a lot for the Super Bowl and you may be experiencing some of that effect. Regardless, I am just excited that you got to spend you BDay with your Hubby in a place you love. Happy Birthday Marsh.

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