San Francisco has been a very special place for me as long as I can remember. My Grandparents first took me to “The City” when I was a little boy living in the Oakland hills. San Francisco is my favorite city on the planet; gorgeous, diverse, vibrant with energy, and…complicated! In this post, Marla and I will be taking you on a little tour,…..”LOOKING UP!” The image above is of the iconic “Ferry Building” which first opened in 1898. It survived both the 1906 and the 1989 earthquake! We love going to the Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building on Saturdays!

Even though this tour is “looking up” I promise we won’t run into anything or get in the way of a cable car on this journey! This photo is the famous “Garden Court” at the famous Palace Hotel. The “New Palace Hotel” opened in 1909 and is an iconic landmark attracting discriminating guests from around the world. Look at the beautiful stained glass and the amazing chandeliers!

Well, we must “look down” for a moment and admire the fabulous interior of the Garden Court. My Mother loved to have Saturday Tea here.

The entry facade of the Hearst Building at Third and Market Street has an interesting history. It was owned by the infamous William Randolph Hearst and opened in 1911. (The movie “Citizen Kane” is loosely based on the life of William Randolph Hearst.) In 1938 the important architect Julia Morgan was hired to redesign the entry. She is most famous for working on Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

This is a view I always love! The Hobart Building built in 1914 sits next to a gleaming modern office tower at 2nd and Market. The old and the new!

When most people hear the name “De Young” they usually think of the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. M.H. De Young was the publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle and a competitor of the Hearst Newspaper, The Examiner. The De Young building at 690 Market Street was completed in 1889 and was The City’s tallest building and first skyscraper. It survived the 1906 earthquake. Today it is part of the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences.

This statue was commissioned in 1897 to commemorate California’s admission to the Union in 1850.

Look up at this sign! Tadich Grill on California Street is the third oldest continually operated restaurant in the U.S.! Their “Cosmopolitan Salad” is amazing with Dungeness crab, bay shrimps, and prawns! “Yumm!” And their sourdough bread is fantastic!

“Ah, John’s Grill!”

John’s Grill is one of San Francisco’s most celebrated restaurants serving patrons around the world. It was famous, in part to Dashiell Hammet’s novel “The Maltese Falcon.” On the climactic final night of the novel’s plot, detective Sam Spade (played by Humphrey Bogart in the movie) dines on chops, potatoes, and tomato at John’s Grill after coming into the possession of the falcon.

Union Square.

The statue in the middle of Union Square is the Dewey Monument. The figure on the top represents Nike, the ancient Greek goddess of victory. It is dedicated to Admiral George Dewey and commemorates his victory in the “Battle of Manila Bay” during the Spanish-American War.

Powell Street is one of my favorite streets for more than just being a famous cable car route. The tall building on the left is the Kimpton Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Marla and I used to go for cocktails and a dance or two at the “Starlight Room” on the top floor.

Looking up outside of Yank Sing Restaurant on Stevenson Street you can see “Escalita”, a statue by Manuel Neri. Looming high above is the omnipresent “Salesforce Tower”, the tallest building in San Francisco. Yank Sing is my very favorite dim sum restaurant!

The “Dragon Gate” entrance to Chinatown on Grant Avenue is famous for locals and tourists. The writing on the sign above says, “All under heaven is for the good of the people.” It is a motto attributed to Dr. Sun Yat-sen.

Marla looks up in Chinatown.

She noticed fish drying in the window.

Fascinating architectural view!

555 California Street, formerly known as the Bank Of America Building, rises mightily. Marla and I took my Mom and close friends for dinner at the Carnelian Room at the top. The restaurant is now closed.

Marla and I used to love having dinner at the old “Empress Of China” on Grant Avenue which is also now closed. A new Hong Kong-style dim sum restaurant is going into the space.

Our grandson, Vaughan, cranes his neck LOOKING UP at the “Sears Fine Food” sign on Powell street. This has been a family favorite for many years and features famous dollar-size pancakes. “I can almost taste them now!”

I hope I didn’t give you a sore neck during our “LOOK UP!” A LOFTY WALKABOUT IN SAN FRANCISCO!

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.