Flashback Friday: That Dapper Swagger on Pine Street, By Fred Lyon
I didn’t know who Fred Lyon was when I first saw this photo, I just knew it hit me. It’s one of those black-and-white masterpieces—Nob Hill, Pine Street—with a dapper Joe mid-step, hat at the right, The swagger is undeniable. The backdrop? Cars parked at an impossible angle, clinging to the hillside like they might slide off into oblivion at any moment. (If you know the stress of getting in our out, parked at than angle, you know!) .I just knew it hit me. The City’s hills, the parked cars hanging on for dear life, that guy striding down the stairs like he owns the block—it all felt so familiar, like a memory I never actually lived but somehow still knew.
So I looked the photographer up. I saw the rest of his photos. And suddenly, it all made sense.
Flashback Friday: The Holy City Zoo, Robin Williams, and the Magic of San Francisco
Welcome back to Flashback Friday—a series where I share some of my favorite weird, wonderful, and occasionally hidden stories from San Francisco’s past. This City is full of history, but beyond the landmarks and famous addresses, it’s the people who have made it truly special.
Lately, everyone’s been buzzing about the recent sale of Robin Williams’ former home at 540 El Camino Del Mar in Sea Cliff for $18 million. But while the headlines focus on the price tag, I can’t help but think about the man himself—his legacy, his impact, and the magic he brought to San Francisco. Long before he became a household name, Robin Williams was just another comedian trying to make people laugh. And he did that in one of the most legendary, yet under-appreciated, spots in San Francisco history—The Holy City Zoo.
Flashback Friday: Streetcars, Surf, and Carville’s Hidden Secrets
Welcome back to Flashback Friday - a series where I share some of my favorite weird, wonderful, and occasionally hidden, stories from San Francisco’s past. If there’s one person who loves San Francisco history more than I do (and trust me, that’s hard to beat), it’s Woody LaBounty. This guy lives and breathes SF’s past—and his storytelling skills are second to none. One of my absolute favorite topics he’s tackled is the story of Carville-by-the-Sea, a delightfully quirky neighborhood in the Outer Sunset that was literally made of repurposed streetcars.
Snapshots of San Francisco's Past: Fort Point
If you’re at Fort Point today, you’re probably a tourist or you’re wearing a wetsuit! This photo from 1890 is from the Golden Gate Recreation area from Above Fort Point – but if you notice, something is missing. It’s big, it’s red, and it’s being retrofitted right now! (Yes, it’s the Golden Gate Bridge if you hadn’t guessed.)