FERRY BUILDING
They say San Francisco was an ancient river valley where creatures who grazed and browsed and stalked their prey, left their bones. Which to me, sounds like every night in the Castro!
So I decided to leave the usual suspects behind and venture in the opposite direction down Market Street towards Ferry Plaza for a new adventure.
My journey began on the corner of Market and Main Street, which may evoke a sense of being the center of town. Although Market Street, cutting across town, is a thoroughfare, Main Street is not the center of San Francisco.
Sometime in the 1860s Charles Main with a business partner purchased several acres of land to form a new company, “The Main & Winchester Saddlery & Harness Company,” which was the first harness company in San Francisco… for horses!!
The Saddlery & Harness Company was the first “premium” company to specialize in leather goods in the West, winning several design awards from institutions and creating the first leather scene in San Francisco. But again, for horses.
Today Main Street is home to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Charles Schwab, Coinbase and other large financial firms.
My adventure began by walking down Main Street, witnessing the future of San Francisco rise with new modern architecture.
Turning left onto Harrison Street, heading towards the water, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge makes an introduction.
The Bay Bridge cost nearly $6.5 billion to construct, representing a 2,500 percent cost overrun of the original estimate of $250 million. Today the bridge accommodates nearly 260,000 vehicles a day.
Crossing the Embarcadero to the waterfront, Pier 24 offers one of the best privately-owned photography collections in San Francisco with seasonal exhibitions. A reservation is required to enter.
Walking down the waterfront towards the Ferry Building, Waterbar and Epic Steak are solid options for cocktails with the best view of the Bay Bridge.
Nearby Rincon Park offers a perfect opportunity to relax and people watch. The park is home to Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s Cupid’s Span.
Cupid’s Span epitomizes San Francisco as the “home port of Eros”. The art evokes “the mythological account of Eros shooting his arrow into the earth to make it fertile,” highlighting San Francisco’s permissive and romantic reputation.
ROUTE MAP
I made my way to the Ferry Building, finally! The landmark was once the world’s busiest ferry terminal, but with the construction of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, the ferry business slowed, leaving the landmark in decline.
Now home to a variety of small locally-owned shops specializing in high-end delicacies like cheese, chocolates, olive oils, meat, produce and French bread, the Ferry Building is the perfect setting for brunch after a late night romp through the Castro. You’ll never find a Grindr date so far away from the scene so early or so late!!
Notable recommendations include Blue Bottle Coffee, Gott’s Soft Serve, Cowgirl Creamery for cheese and Acme Bread for a tough French baguette.
A (pricey) farmers’ market takes place outside on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays until 2 p.m.
