what to do in San Francisco

[Elliott Swanson <elliott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have not read all the posts on this topic, but there is, or was, a 
giant camera obscura located at the Cliff House, which is at the Pacific 
Ocean end of Golden Gate Park. In the lower level of a nearby 
building, there were a large number of operational vintage arcade 
machines, and there were some stereo coin op viewers.

Also, if it's still there, just off the highway that runs along the coast
highway south of the Cliff House is one of the greatest bars on earth,
nestled amidst wind bent Cypress and Eucalyptus trees. Funky, run-down,
lots of windows... Spent a pleasant afternoon there drinking, talking with
strangers, and watching sundogs shimmer on the horizon. It's probably 
condos by now, which is what happened to Playland At The Beach-- a long 
gone San Francisco photo op...

The nearby Fleishaker (sp?) zoo is also worth a visit for photographers. 
Some modernization, but there are still pockets of seediness San Francisco
is famous for.  As a boy, I would walk down Vicente Street from the
Parkside District thru the Sunset District to the beach and the zoo, and
then ride the streetcar back up Taravel. 

Near the Parkside District is Sigmund Stern Grove, which is probably 
still a city sanctioned park, and is,  or was, a pleasant place to walk 
and meditate.

Then, if it's slice of life you're after, you can always head downtown to 
Turk street and take in the freak show.

--Elliott  


------------------------------