It is 10:05 a.m. and these photos were taken earlier. It is now 57˚ and expected to rise into the 69˚. Details for the next ten days here.
Today’s Block: Linda to Valencia, 19th to 20th
This is one of my favorite blocks of all time because it strikes me as architecturally both noble and quaint. It is home to some of the Mission’s most treasured gems (826 Valencia! Paxton! Borderlands! City Art!) as well as some lesser known sights and murals on Linda Street.
It also contains some of the Mission’s best kept secrets (“What? There’s an outdoor pool in the mission?”). Did you know it’s the only outdoor public pool in the whole city? And just behind that, you’ll find the beloved alleyway of Linda Street at 19th.
Almost too much to photograph. Almost.
I walked in a big circle, which I do at least once every day anyways, through the jagged little Mission Pool & Playground park that occupies much of this “block.” Usually I look down at all the cute dogs running around, but today I looked up at the buildings and sky.
The Mission public pool is what is through the doors of this gorgeous mural. It’s an outdoor pool closed this time of year so I couldn’t get in to take a picture – was just redone and is well worth a visit when it reopens in March!
Depending on the time of day, this playground is either completely full of hollering kids, soccer players, and ice cream carts – or completely empty as the fog rolls in from the barely visible Sutro Tower in the background. Sometimes, it just threatens to roll in for hours at a time, like today.
This whole mini-park, with entrances on both Valencia and on 19th, is a great, recently remodeled secret that most people walking up and down Valencia somehow don’t notice. Dolores Park’s younger sister?
Now we walk over to the iconic trifecta: 826 Valencia, City Art, and Paxton Gate. I would have lumped Borderlands Books in too if it fit the frame. Magically it will remain in business for at least another year.
Before taking these shots, I hadn’t realized how awesome and intricately designed the top part of the 826 building is – if someone knows the history behind this, I’d love to hear it in the comments!
Continuing the loop, we turn off Valencia onto 19th, walk past the pool building, then left again onto Linda: the best part! Linda contains all sorts of charm and hints of a longer ago Mission. Cute, but not so fancy.
This spectacular blue Ford Falcon tends to live on Linda – when it can find a parking spot anyways.
You won’t see much laundry hanging on Valencia street, though…
And last but not least, it’s hilarious to see a house like this exist, nestled in between a bunch of multistory Victorian-ish homes. Are those electrical wires precarious or is it just me?
Can you spot the snowman on the roof?
With the light good early on, so much the better to sign on to document your block. Don’t wait! Let us know what day and block you would like at info@missionlocal.com.
You can see a map of all of the blocks here. The blocks in grey are being saved for others who have signed up. Let us save a block for you as well.
