Neptune Landing

Driving in San Francisco as a canine chauffeur is actually quite satisfying. My co-worker, Kristian, and I get to listen to music like Massive Attack, T-Rex and a new band (for me) called Mew. This is a position with loads of sunshine, exercise and a soundtrack at will. Dogwalker is such an appropriate first-year-in-new-city-job as I'm becoming intimate with the geography of neighborhoods and the habits of other drivers. I'll attempt to comment on the latter without cursing. Getting to know Bernal Heights, Diamond Heights, the Castro, the Mission, Noe Valley, Potrero Hill and Excelsior are some of my small victories over the last two weeks. These mid-central to outer neighborhoods utilize the stop sign at every corner. The Mission, Noe Valley and Potrero Hill are all designed on the grid pattern while Bernal Heights, Diamond Heights and the Castro (more of less) have slender, curvy, hilly streets. I'm becoming privy to secret shortcuts and freeway entrances. Everyday...

Confession: When I had first arrived in San Francisco in 1999 I remember leading a cadre of college friends with a faulty map and an Aries pace. We had hoofed to Haight Street from Powell Street BART station and once we hit Fillmore I announced to the group that we had arrived at last at this pinnacle of hippie-loving civilization. My friend, Sonji, told us we had about another mile left uphill to Upper Haight, the real groovy stretch before Golden Gate Park quietly begins. But Lower Haight is not without its charms. A bit more subdued than the infamous Ashbury Crossing, Lower Haight hosts about two dozen businesses between Webster and Pierce, little grocery and record stores and a smattering of Ethiopian, Thai, Indian and pizza joints. Salon Way (an original term) is a stretch of barbers and hair stylists on Fillmore between Hermann and Waller. Does it look like a fun neighborhood to you? Hedonism:              ...

On the 4th, Mauricio and I took the 28 to Fort Point, the portal of the Golden Gate Bridge. We then hiked over the cliffs of the Presidio towards Baker Beach. The Presidio is a national park within city limits. I'm feeling inarticulate so I'll let the photos speak for themselves. These are the first original photos courtesy on my blog, courtesy of my new smartphone. xo