Sad about Union Square but the “internet” can be assigned some blame. Amazon et al have pulled billions (and billions… Carl Sagan?) out of local in person retail. And I don’t see that slowing down readily…
It’s actually dry up here in PostPortlandia today. So far.
You write like I think ( without famous friends or anecdotes anyone would actually pay to hear. ) love stream of conscientiousness when there is a point to be made.
Boy, Oh, Boy! You sure walked me down Memory Lane! I worked an event at the Hilton in Portland. Joe Biden’s sister Valerie was in town to stump for Joe during the ‘88 presidential cycle. Earl Blumenauer who was still a city commissioner was there-bow tie and all-and Paul Linnman hosted. Then who should show up but David Broder!!!
Wow! That was pulled from the dusty recesses of my mind by your story!”
I never really hung out at Union Square but my folks lived in a REALLY cool apartment for 50 years on Union Street off Steiner. They’re gone now.
My father's family often claimed that we were related to Estes Kefauver. I never understood why they would admit to that. Thanks for a hopeful story about The City, my hometown.
What a great SF visit. As for Union Square, my Norwegian grandmother was a maid at the St. Francis during the 1906 quake. She ran out into Union Square. A sad SF fact: the Hilton, my fantastic client in the late 90s- WTF? Bankruptcy? Not my fault: I’ve always worked too cheap.
My friend in SF I met while living in the Dominican Republic in the 90's, used to build big houses on Knob Hill and he would tell me the rich dotcom kids would crank the offers to double!!
Man, that was a bit of a tear-jerker here, Jack! Happy tears for the wonderful memories that you can treasure for always! It's also a hope-filled motivator that we can and will prevail by making the era so famous for creating great times, return with its core values that you so nostalgically reminded us of!!! Thanks for today and more of your colourful wisdom to come!!:)
Thanks for your story, Jack! That takes me back a bit. I, too, was born in 1960. I lived in SF from 1983 to 1998 and in other parts of the Bay Area till 2007. My ex-wife worked at a law office near Union Square, so we used to go to various restaurants there for lunch. Nice place to hang out on sunny days. Her mother was employed by Willie Brown as a legal secretary in the 60s and 70s. By all accounts, he wasn't the easiest person to work for, but definitely a brilliant and colorful character. I remember the huge street party when we was first elected Mayor. And yes, SF is going to have to brace itself; I'm sure Orange Julius Caesar has the city in his crosshairs. Ugh!!!!!
Great stories.
Sad about Union Square but the “internet” can be assigned some blame. Amazon et al have pulled billions (and billions… Carl Sagan?) out of local in person retail. And I don’t see that slowing down readily…
It’s actually dry up here in PostPortlandia today. So far.
Dry???;-)
Not where I’m sitting!!! Not even Prohibition Dry!
Walmart helped lead the charge!!
You write like I think ( without famous friends or anecdotes anyone would actually pay to hear. ) love stream of conscientiousness when there is a point to be made.
Boy, Oh, Boy! You sure walked me down Memory Lane! I worked an event at the Hilton in Portland. Joe Biden’s sister Valerie was in town to stump for Joe during the ‘88 presidential cycle. Earl Blumenauer who was still a city commissioner was there-bow tie and all-and Paul Linnman hosted. Then who should show up but David Broder!!!
Wow! That was pulled from the dusty recesses of my mind by your story!”
I never really hung out at Union Square but my folks lived in a REALLY cool apartment for 50 years on Union Street off Steiner. They’re gone now.
Thanks, Jack. You are on the side of the Angels!
My wife used to be a pastor. So she gave me angel coaching.
I knew they put little pitchforks in some Swiss Army knives!!:)
My father's family often claimed that we were related to Estes Kefauver. I never understood why they would admit to that. Thanks for a hopeful story about The City, my hometown.
I’ll ask his son-in-law to dig out their genealogy.
Thanks for letting us be the fly on the wall this morning. My little wings are flappin' like crazy.
My pleasure sir!
What a great SF visit. As for Union Square, my Norwegian grandmother was a maid at the St. Francis during the 1906 quake. She ran out into Union Square. A sad SF fact: the Hilton, my fantastic client in the late 90s- WTF? Bankruptcy? Not my fault: I’ve always worked too cheap.
My friend in SF I met while living in the Dominican Republic in the 90's, used to build big houses on Knob Hill and he would tell me the rich dotcom kids would crank the offers to double!!
St. Henry of Kaiser; patron saint of steelworkers and boat builders.
Man, that was a bit of a tear-jerker here, Jack! Happy tears for the wonderful memories that you can treasure for always! It's also a hope-filled motivator that we can and will prevail by making the era so famous for creating great times, return with its core values that you so nostalgically reminded us of!!! Thanks for today and more of your colourful wisdom to come!!:)
Thanks for your story, Jack! That takes me back a bit. I, too, was born in 1960. I lived in SF from 1983 to 1998 and in other parts of the Bay Area till 2007. My ex-wife worked at a law office near Union Square, so we used to go to various restaurants there for lunch. Nice place to hang out on sunny days. Her mother was employed by Willie Brown as a legal secretary in the 60s and 70s. By all accounts, he wasn't the easiest person to work for, but definitely a brilliant and colorful character. I remember the huge street party when we was first elected Mayor. And yes, SF is going to have to brace itself; I'm sure Orange Julius Caesar has the city in his crosshairs. Ugh!!!!!