Want to snap a few photos of San Francisco? Well, we've got you covered. We're talking amazing street art, delicious food, even an antique vibrator museum - to name a few. Say what?! Now, if we could only find some Rice-A-Roni.
LessHow does a little boutique compete for attention in a city with loads of attention-grabbing sights? Piedmont Boutique’s answer: hang a pair of giant fishnet-stockinged gams out of your upper-story window. Done.
The arts have always been meant to bring communities together. The CAMP fulfills this mission by making art a publicly interactive event. With this project, a nondescript and bland alleyway is being turned into a bright and colorful happiness-inducing world. The project has included over 500 international artists and draws 200,000 visitors annually.
One of the best Chinatowns in America is San Francisco Chinatown so where better to set up a fortune cookie factory? Wander through alleyways until you can smell the aroma of sweet, almond in the air. Then you know you've reached your destination. Upon entering, you'll be plied with samples of the crispy, delicate bicuits, freshly warm. You'll observe the workers griddling away but photos of them in action will cost you a buck or two.
Made out of cement, this double slide is deceptively smooth. So smooth, in fact, that you are warned not to try it out after rain. The parallel dual-slide was constructed in 1973 from a design created by a 14-year-old girl. It's suggested that you bring a large piece of cardboard to sit on - it will provide some protection between the cement and your derriere and you will go much faster with the decreased friction.
If Tony Bennett really did leave his heart in San Francisco, then maybe that’s what Cupid’s giant arrow is targeting. Created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje an Bruggen in 2002 and situated along the Embarcadero Waterfront, this massive public art piece has raised many questions among residents as to what its purpose truly is. According to the artists, it was inspired by the city’s reputation as the homeport of Eros.
Sure, this row of Victorian beauties are featured on more San Francisco postcards than anyone could possibly count. It’s not just that the color-coordinated houses are pristinely kept, there’s something about their perfect uphill incline and their stunning cityscape backdrop that just gets folks itching to snap some shots. Don’t hate them because they’re beautiful.
In 1890, Adolph Sutro wanted to build something that everyone, rich and poor, could enjoy. So, seven salt-water pools fed by the tides were constructed under a glass roof. He even showcased artifacts he picked up during his travels including mummies and stuffed exotic animals. A tram took people from the city to the baths. The cost of the tram ride and the visit to the pools was so cheap that it fell into financial ruin and then burned down under suspicious circumstances in 1966.
Not only do you get a workout but you also get some cultural enrichment when climbing the Moraga Steps. Each of the 163 steps is inlaid with tiles to create a mosaic that can be seen when you are at the bottom. You may want to save your workout for the evening when the tiles glisten in the moonlight.
Not only will you get an eyeful of vibrators past, but you’ll learn some rather titillating facts about them at the Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum. Trivia question: when did the first vibrator hit the market? Answer: 1902. Shocking, given that the western world was still reeling from the super-repressive Victorian Era. But, doctors at the time touted them as a legit medical cure for female “hysteria.”
Isn’t it cool when nature and science meet art? One awesome piece that perfectly fits the bill is the Wave Organ — an acoustic sculpture by Peter Richards and George Gonzalez. Built on a jetty in San Francisco’s Marina district, the work consists of 25 PVC organ pipes and concrete, and creates “music” when hit by waves and water flows in and out of the pipes. Visit at high tide for the full musical effect.