(Note to readers: This visit took place shortly before the recent fire at Original Joe’s. We’re innocent.) The 100 block of Taylor, between Eddy and Turk, is not for the faint of heart. Spend some time taking in its considerable distress, and at some point you’re certain to gauge your own capacity for urban America’s torn and frayed seams. Voices here speak in all sorts of timbres. Some holler, while others just mumble incomprehensibly. Nearly all of them sound raspy. The common thread is desperation, and it’s not a pretty sound. more ›

Route Pier, the ferryboat fleet, and lastly the Bridge Railway into downtown San Francisco. The Key System initially was part of businessman “Borax” Smith’s method to attract San Francisco workers to live in the cities of Berkeley, Oakland, and Piedmont, where he dealt in real estate. ... Key System’s bridge rail would be converted to bus (1958). Key itself would be taken over by AC Transit (1960). more ›

Some organization we've never heard of and could probably care the less about, the American Institute of Architects, put together a list of the Top 25 Bestest Buildings in San Francisco. Look for attendant show on VH-1 featuring snarky comments from Hal Sparks, Ian Michael Black, and Rachel Harris. more ›