1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94133 View Map
Standing at 210 feet, the art deco, reinforced concrete tower sits atop Telegraph Hill and was erected in 1933. Designed by architects Arthur Brown Jr. and Henry Howard, Coit Tower was commissioned by the estate of Lillie Hitchcock Coit for the purpose of adding beauty to the city she lived in and loved. Rescued from a severe fire as a child, Coit wanted to pay tribute to the city’s firefighters, which could help explain the fire hose-like shape of the structure. Murals by 26 artists can be found inside the tower and were completed during the Public Works of Art Project, the first Federally funded employment program for artists during the New Deal.
151 3rd Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 357-4000 View Map
Nestled between much taller buildings (the St Regis and the W Hotel), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s minimalist brick exterior and striped circular skylight, still make a dramatic statement. This |Mario Botta| designed structure, completed in 1995, feels right at home amongst the tall buildings that dot this part of the city.
Founded in 1935, the SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast completely dedicated to modern and contemporary art. The museum now boasts a collection of more than 26,000 pieces of artwork in various mediums. For a quick meal between exhibits, try |Caffe Musseo| near the front entrance or the the new rooftop coffee bar that pours |Blue Bottle Coffee|. Best of all, admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month.
The gallery below has some of my favorite pieces from a recent visit to the museum, copyright credits and more information on all of the SFMOMA’s permanent collection can be found here: |SFMOMA Art Scope|SFMOMA Museum Site|
Museum Hours of Operation: Mon-Tue: 11am-5:45pm Wed: Closed Thurs: 11am-8:45pm Fri-Sun: 11am-5:45pm
Background scenery for the music video features geometric shapes of some notable architecture in San Francisco. The black and white film adds to the drama. My first |Tortoise| experience was watching them perform at the |Barrel House| back in May. The small intimate venue of hipsters gathered in the historical exposed brick commercial space in SoMa was a well-suited compliment to their synthesized instrumentals.
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 750-3600 View Map
Erected on the site of the 1895 original that was demolished following the ’89 earthquake, the rebuilt M. H. de Young Museum is a great example of modern architecture that enhances its natural surrounding landscape. Clad in perforated copper plates that patina over time, the long, dramatic lines and sharp edges of the exterior exude an industrial feel that create beautiful outdoor spaces, perfect for enjoying a sunny afternoon.
The de Young is a great place for that daytime date, tickets are only $10 for general admission, and the special exhibits, while additional, have featured some amazing art pieces like Chihuly’s massive glass installations (seen below). Current special exhibits include the work of the late fashion designer |Yves Saint Laurent|, currently on display until April 5th, and Andy Warhol Live, on display until May 17th.
When a moment to relax is needed, the expansive outdoor patio at the de Young Café is a great place to enjoy the landscape, accompanied by a hot espresso. |de Young| |Dale Chihuly Glassworks|
1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard
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