Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
195
Walk north to Jackson Street, take a left and another
left onto:
!
Stockton Street
Grant Street appeals to tourists, but Stock-
ton S treet is wher e Chinato wn locals do
their shopping. I n gr ocery stor es, pigs
hang from hooks and crates overflow with
exotic v egetables and fr uits. S ome kids
may be transfixed by the live frogs, turtles,
eels, and other sea creatures on offer, but it
could be too much for squeamish chil-
dren. Also on this str eet, herb shops sell
dried plants and animal par ts, which ar e
weighed out using old-fashioned balance
scales, follo wing pr escriptions written b y
traditional Chinese healers. O ther stor es
sell ceremonial “money” and paper goods
to be burnt as offerings to ancestors. E ven
paper DVD players and washing machines
are for sale, as no one kno
photographs, such as clothing fr om the
earliest immigrants, traditional herbs, and
the original Chinato wn telephone book.
(For open hours and admission, see p . 166.)
Now walk east on Clay Street past Grant Avenue. On
your left you'll find:
#
Portsmouth Square
Captain John B. Montgomery of the USS
Portsmouth
raised a flag her e in 1846 to
declare S an Francisco par t of the U nited
States. A year later California's first public
school was opened on the plaza, and just a
year after that S am B rannan announced
the discovery of gold in the state. Today,
the squar e is an impor tant communal
center for Chinatown residents, who prac-
tice tai chi, gamble o ver car ds, or bring
children to fr olic her e. G rab a seat on a
bench and let the kids run around to work
up an appetite.
Walk down Clay Street to Kearny Street and make a
right. Go to 631 Kearney St., where you can:
ws for sur e
what's needed in the afterlife.
Walk down to Clay Street and turn right. Go to 965
Clay St., to the:
@
Chinese Historical Society of
America
Founded in 1963, the purpose of the soci-
ety is to r ecord and disseminate informa-
tion about the histor y and contributions
of Chinese immigrants in America. H ere
you'll find ar
7
TAKE A BREAK
If you're ready for a substantial
meal, tr y
The R&G L ounge,
which f eatures mor e authentic menu
items than you find in man y Chinese res-
taurants. See p. 120.
tifacts, documents, and
THE
EMBARCADERO &
WALKING TOUR 2
FISHERMAN'S WHARF
Start: A
T&T Park.
Finish: A
quatic Park.
Time:
Half a day.
Best Time:
Any warm weekday.
Worst Time:
Any summer Saturday when PIER 39 is packed with tourists.
This is an easy, flat 3-mile str oll that's meant to take a good half day with stops to play
and eat.
