Years ago I was a denizen of San Francisco's notorious 6th Street, living in squalid hotels and living the life of a poor artist. I had shown up w/ $200, my portfolio, and a suitcase filled w/ shorts and short sleeve shirts, thinking that all of California was one big beach I suppose. It was hell, and it was beautiful. I miss all the hustle and energy, and the people you would never, ever meet anywhere else. I don't miss the crazies screaming in the hallways, the freezing cold, depressing hotel rooms, and the always constant crime and danger.
I was web crawling and stumbled onto this photographer named Mark Ellinger who documented his stay in the area, and it's an excellent read w/ great images. I should contact him, as I lived in many of the hotels that he did (The Alder, The Chronicle, the infamous Senaca, etc), and I also ate my daily meal at St. Anthony's dining room, one of the best charity organizations on earth, and totally supported by private donations. But maybe I should just leave him alone. He's been through it, I've been through it, and the past is just that. His photos and writing sure brought me back in time though. It's been maybe 10 years since the wife and I visited 'frisco, and the 6th Street area still looked pretty much as it did decades ago when I lived there.
http://upfromthedeep.com/sixth-street/
I was web crawling and stumbled onto this photographer named Mark Ellinger who documented his stay in the area, and it's an excellent read w/ great images. I should contact him, as I lived in many of the hotels that he did (The Alder, The Chronicle, the infamous Senaca, etc), and I also ate my daily meal at St. Anthony's dining room, one of the best charity organizations on earth, and totally supported by private donations. But maybe I should just leave him alone. He's been through it, I've been through it, and the past is just that. His photos and writing sure brought me back in time though. It's been maybe 10 years since the wife and I visited 'frisco, and the 6th Street area still looked pretty much as it did decades ago when I lived there.
http://upfromthedeep.com/sixth-street/
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