Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ina Coolbrith Park (Vallejo & Taylor Sts; Powell-Mason) is a fitting honor: romantic and
flowery, with exclamation-inspiring vistas.
Discover Mysterious Macondray Lane
The scenic route down from Ina Coolbrith Park - via steep stairs, past gravity-defy-
ing wooden cottages - is so charming, it could be a scene from a novel. And so it is:
Armistead Maupin used Macondray Lane (btwn Jones & Leavenworth Sts) as the model for
Barbary Lane in his Tales of the City mysteries.
Spot Kerouac's Love Shack
This modest house (29 Russell St; 41, 45, Powell-Hyde) on a quiet alley witnessed ma-
jor drama in 1951-52, when Jack Kerouac shacked up with Neal and Carolyn Cas-
sady to pound out his 120ft-long scroll draft of On the Road . Jack and Carolyn be-
came lovers at Neal's suggestion, but Carolyn frequently kicked them both out. Neal
moved back for the birth of John Allen Cassady (named for Jack and Allen Gins-
berg).
Find Unexpected Graces at Grace Cathedral
Hop the Powell-Hyde cable car to Nob Hill's crest, graced by Gothic Grace Cathed-
ral ( 415-749-6300; www.gracecathedral.org ; 1100 California St; suggested donation adult/child $3/2, Sun
services free; 8am-6pm, services 8:30am & 11am Sun; 1, California St) . Meditative
labyrinths outside and indoors set a contemplative mood, while stained-glass win-
dows celebrate religious dissidents and scientists. Grace's commitment to social is-
sues is embodied in Keith Haring's AIDS Memorial Chapel cartoon-angel altarpiece.
Drink up a Storm at the Tonga Room
Tonight's Nob Hill weather: partly foggy, with 100% chance of tropical rainstorms
every 20 minutes inside the Tonga Room ( www.tongaroom.com ; Fairmont San Francisco, 950
Mason St; cover $5-7;
5-11:30pm Sun, Wed & Thu, 5:30pm-12:30am Fri & Sat;
1,
California St,
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