What a crazy time!
Here are a few pics and observations from the second full week of the lockdown in San Francisco to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Looking down the middle of California Street from Kearny midday Tuesday. Usually this scene would be full of cars, trucks and people out on their lunch breaks. The lack of traffic makes lying down in the middle of the street (just kidding!) to get these types of shots that much easier.
Another shot of the Financial District midday during the week. This is at Sansome and Sacramento. Without all the traffic, the terrible condition of our city streets becomes that much more apparent.
All playgrounds in the city are closed. Poor kids! This is the playground in Portsmouth Square.
Construction throughout town continues uninterrupted. Workers are wearing masks. It must be much easier to transport equipment and materials through town without all the traffic. This is part of the never-ending SFMTA Van Ness Corridor Improvement project.
Spring also continues uninterrupted at Peace Plaza in Japantown.
Chinatown now has a new name: Ghost Town.
Empty alleyway in Chinatown.
This is Ross Alley in Chinatown. I love walking through the side streets in Chinatown and hearing the click, clack of mahjong tiles coming from the Chinese Neighborhood Associations. This day, it was eerily quiet.
Hang Ah Tea Room in Chinatown opened in 1920 and is reportedly the oldest Dim Sum restaurant in the United States. Now its offerings are only available to go or through the many ubiquitous restaurant delivery companies. I hope and pray that many small businesses are able to make it through this difficult time.
I noticed this San Francisco History Center display in Mechanics Monument Plaza and it made me wonder how history would remember this moment in time.
Looking up California Street late Monday afternoon. Bus shuttles have replaced Cable Cars. There are still a few cars and people about, but not many.
A mostly empty San Francisco Transbay Terminal continues to operate despite few commuters.
I really liked the signs and cute takeout window at this little Japanese restaurant on 2nd Street.
A long lens compresses the view looking up O’Farrell Street towards the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption. I’ve been trying to get this shot for years.
The evening light in San Francisco is often quite magical. Empty streets and the long lines of a bus lane on Geary Street make the effect surreal.
Shadowy figures walking down Post Street at the end of the day.