Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
1
City Hall
HISTORICAL BUILDING
Rising from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake, this beaux-arts building has witnessed histor-
ic firsts: America's first sit-in in 1960, protesting red-baiting McCarthy hearings; the 1977
election and 1978 assassination of America's first openly gay official, Supervisor Harvey
Milk; and 4037 same-sex marriages celebrated under the Rotunda in 2004, nine years be-
fore same-sex marriage was legalized statewide. Intriguing basement exhibits showcase
local artists; weekly Board of Supervisors meetings are open to the public (2pm Tuesdays).
(
art exhibit line 415-554-6080, tour info 415-554-6023;
www.ci.sf.ca.us/cityhall
; 400 Van Ness Ave; admission free;
8am-8pm Mon-Fri, tours 10am, noon & 2pm;
;
Civic Center,
Civic Center)
2
Luggage Store Gallery
ART GALLERY
A dandelion pushing through sidewalk cracks, this plucky nonprofit gallery has brought
signs of life to one of the toughest blocks in the Tenderloin for two decades. By giving
street artists a gallery platform, the Luggage Store helped launch graffiti-art-star Barry
McGee, urban folklorist Clare Rojas and muralist Rigo. Look for the graffitied door and
rooftop mural of a firecracker-wielding kid by Brazilian duo Osgemeos.
(
415-255-5971;
www.luggagestoregallery.org
;
1007 Market St;
noon-5pm Wed-Sat;
Civic Center,
Civic Center)
3
Electric Works
Light-bulb moments abound at Electric Works, where David Byrne diagrams bouffant hair-
styles, Talia Greene portrays hipsters with beards of swarming bees, and Sandow Birk re-
imagines Dante's Inferno with traffic-jammed LA as hell and San Francisco as foggy pur-
gatory. The gallery store is what museum stores ought to be, with arty gifts plus limited-
edition prints benefiting nonprofits.
(
ART GALLERY
415-626-5496;
www.sfelectricworks.com
;
1360 Mission St; admis-
sion free;
11am-6pm Tue-Fri, to 5pm Sat;
14,
Van Ness)
