Hayes Valley Adventure

Savannah Armer

November 11, 2012

Signage in SF

Stacy Asher

Hayes Valley, Castro, and the Mission

            When walking around the streets of San Francisco, one will find a new culture in every area they go to. On Monday, my class and I were presented with a challenge, walking from our area in the Richmond to Dolores Park. The directions were simple, but they gave no details on all the different unique culture we would be enjoying along the way.

We started the adventure working on way down Stayan towards Golden Gate Park. We arrive at the opening of Haight street and take in all the way down to a street called Scott. It seemed as if we had walked from another world. Instead of the lively bums on Haight and the creative artwork on storefronts, it was calm, simple liquor stores, bigger houses, a generally much quieter area. We had officially arrived to Hayes Valley. We arrive at the Harvey Milk Center, a place that provides crocheting classes, dance class, theatre, and even a darkroom. The audience in Hayes valley seems to be the artsy types, people who enjoy music and theatre. There are not bums on the streets so it is a more calm affluent area in the city.

            Next we continued down to Market street where we were confronted by a much different cultural area. Along the tops of the street lights two rainbow flags hung down, very well functioning signage to let you know you have arrived in the Castro. A wall mural presents all the values and the morals of the people in the castro conveying a utopia of people of all sexual orientations. As we arrive at the corner of market and Castro, suddenly a giant rainbow flag blows in the air, the most beautiful signage in the area. The streets here are busy, constant foot traffic, lots of delightful shops line the streets. We now run into a more residential area going up and down the hills of San Francisco until we get over a concrete bridge and arrive to the park overlooking the whole thing and the beautiful Dolores Mission. A lively atmosphere surrounded by tons of people bathing in the sunshine.

            Each area, Hayes Valley, Castro, and the Mission all had very different kinds of vibes and atmospheres. Starting with Hayes Valley, it was a quieter area more affluent, families and elders probably lived dominantly in that part of the city. The Castro has a different kindof vibe, a loving gay-friendly zone for everyone to come and enjoy equality. Very busy lots of clothing shops, a very dense alive part of the city. The Mission is a little different very lively, nice, lots of diversities of people in the area.