Haight Street is famous for being part of the Hippy movement in the 1960’s. Haight Street is crossed by Ashbury Street, and in those tumultuous times this was the center of what was happening. But Haight Street retains a carefree spirit to this day…
There are still lots of bright colors and art painted on the walls.
There are restaurants featuring food from all over the globe, something that San Francisco is famous for.
But this is a true melting pot. Things are all sort of mixed together.
And the architecture in the Bay Area tends to be a little on the whimsical side.
There are stores that cater to all kinds of tastes.
If you want fashionable clothing or a tattoo, they got you covered. Or if you are interested in vintage clothing and hard to find music, they have that too.
And if you are looking for something that you might not find everywhere else, the Bay Area is a good place to look.
We came across this delightful little store called ‘Loved To Death’.
They wouldn’t let me take any pictures inside the store. And I can’t even really explain the kinds of things they sell. But in its own dark way, this store sort of sums up the Bay Area in general and San Francisco in particular.
Because it has a unique, off-beat charm that you just can’t find anyplace else.
Pouring My Art Out 
I hit Haight-Ashbury back around 2000 and was pretty depressed by it. Seemed like the psychedelic meteor that struck it in the ’60’s was left to sad radioactive decay of strung-out, homeless hippies abandoned by the dream.
While I was there, I had to move aside for a bomb squad coming through. Someone said they’d found a pipe bomb. I just said, “Naw, man, naw . . . it was a pipe BONG, man! Big difference, just chill out, man.”
Ha!
It is sort of a sad reminder of older times. A lot of places are like that. They had their time, and now they are either tourist traps or just ghost towns full of lost souls and broken dreams.
Love it, I am gonna enjoy visiting there.
You better.
I haven’t been in San Francisco in 40 years, so it was nice to get a peek at the Haight-Ashbury area I heard so much of in my hippie years.
I was born in S F in 1960…
I am a little older than you.
I didn’t think that was possible…
Just so you know – there was a world before 1960. It may have been primitive, but it was still there.
I have seen the painings… ha!
Wow. What a treat. I used to live at Haight and Cole back in the 60s. In fact, if I remember correctly, that building in your first photo used to house a place called Magnolia Thunderpussy. It was a cafe, music scene, and whatever-you-want kind of place. Thanks for the memories.
I grew up in the Bay Area, so it brings back memories for me too.
looks like so much fun there!
It is crazy fun… even without the snow.
and did someone say tattoo??
Many people have said tattoo.
i can’t wait to get my next one! i’m scheduled for May but have been on a waiting list and i’m hoping for sooner!
You have a waiting list???
no i’m on one
What, is there likem one tattoo joint in the whole province? We have one on every street at least. Like Starbucks.
actually quite few, only one good one. i was actually supposed to get it some time ago but i got stood up by the artist, and she never called me back. she actually ended up doing me a favour since now i’m getting one from the best in town, her teacher.
okay then. better to get a good tattoo than a bad one.
yes!
indeedeedoo.
hey are you switching to a .com blog?
I was thinking of buying my domain name, why?
i know a secret
what??? tell me tell me tell me…
but it’s a secret this is public
Whisper it…
why did you tell me if you can’t tell me>??????
i can email you need email address
brownemonkey@gmail.com
got it 😉