I wondered what reaction I’d get to Wednesday’s pro-San Francisco column following my vacation there. Our suburban Inland Empire is in some respects the opposite of SF, and some people are gleeful when a cosmopolitan city has any hint of dysfunction.
To my surprise, almost everyone who commented by email or social media was positive, with only a few naysayers. And more comments arrived than usual, many of them thoughtful. Let me excerpt them here: the good, the bad and the neutral.
Read them while enjoying an imaginary bowl of clam chowder from a sourdough bread bowl. (It’s imaginary, so no carbs.)
Janet Cerswell: “My husband and I just got back from a road trip up there last week. I had friends actually warn me about how dangerous it was. Phooey! This is a great city, with the urban issues all big cities have. But a lot of those other cities don’t have all the things that make SF special: the architecture, the food, the culture, the parks, the culture, the people.”
Note that Janet mentioned culture twice. That’s how cultured SF is.
Ofelia Valdez-Yeager: “Enjoyed visiting SF vicariously! Thanks for providing a ‘real’ update. You made me feel like I was there.”
Who needs virtual reality goggles when you have a newspaper?
Pamela Gartska: “City Lights is my favorite bookstore! That’s where Beat poets like Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti read their work on the second floor. Climbing the steps to the room where they read their poems is like going to church for me. And I made a purchase at Amoeba Music too! I love San Francisco for all the reasons you mention.”
I like climbing stairs. It’s even better when they’re in bookstores.
Richard Armour: “Ask anyone bashing San Francisco this question: ‘When is the last time you were in San Francisco?’ I do, and 98% of the time the answer is ‘never been there’ or ‘at least 20 years ago.’ I tell them, ‘Yeah, I know, because I go there multiple times every year and all that bull crap about San Francisco is just that, bull crap!’ (My apologies to the Cow Palace!)”
Richard is a man who knows his bull crap.
Linda Trawnik: “Your gift of seeing and writing about the many joys we have available should we choose to see them is such a welcome and refreshing perspective. I want to go back to San Francisco now as I realize it’s been too long. Thank you for a great column!”
Thank you for an above-average comment.
Orlando Davidson, Portland, Oregon: “Great column. Portland gets the same doom-and-gloom treatment, despite wonderful stuff to do mixed in with the real urban troubles.”
I love Portland too. Obviously, urban troubles don’t faze me.
Kevin Sammons: “Articles like this are why I subscribe. Otherwise, so much in the SCNG papers doesn’t just critique but outright bashes California — both north and south — that I often wonder why the current owners bought the company.”
Maybe our California bashing is why others subscribe.
Catherine Brundage: “Just went to San Francisco for a week, staying by Dolores Park, where I lived 40 years ago. The city has its problems, to be sure, but is still breathtakingly beautiful and full of charming little pockets. Golden Gate Park is a treasure. Every restaurant meal I had on this visit was really good, if not outstanding. Wear layers and be prepared to walk. Take it all in.”
Good strategy. Of course, when people in the IE can’t park directly in front of their destination, they start to cry.
John Standiford: “Thank you for a delightful column on your trip to San Francisco. Fox News seems to want to convince everyone that places like Portland, Chicago and New Orleans are under siege, but they really express their enthusiasm in reporting on anything negative when it comes to San Francisco. With that backdrop it is refreshing to read a column that presents an honest portrayal of the location.”
I report, you decide.
Ikaras Jones: “So did it feel different to you? I am going back in September and I do have some trepidation.”
It just feels like SF to me. Also, I may be going back in September myself.
Dot Cosentino-Phillips: “Great column, but I still don’t want to visit the San Francisco of today. I was there four years ago and I just didn’t feel safe.”
Admittedly, urban vacations aren’t for everyone. That just leaves more delicious croissants for the rest of us.
Michael Mentor: “So you’re the one …”
…who likes to travel? Yes. And by the way, 21.9 million people from all over the world visited SF in 2022.
John Phillipps: “I agree with David Allen. No matter how huge the pile of steaming smelly putrid horse manure is, if you keep looking you’re gonna probably find a pony in there somewhere. San (Expletive) isn’t anywhere close to what it used to be when I was there, but the noobs will never know any better.”
Tell us more about the old days, grandpa.
Kit Miller: “I liked your story on San Francisco. I, too, love The City. I swore I would move there ‘when I grew up,’ but the circumstances have never allowed it. I live near Berdoo, and have considered flying up there for lunch and a bit of culture. Your column today has assuaged my fears of what horrors (I hear) I might encounter.”
Good to hear. Also, if you’re going all that way, why not stay for dinner?
For the books
Pat Lambert spent 29 years with the Pomona Public Library, where she was a senior librarian, an advocate for reading and free expression, and an inveterately cheerful presence.
At her retirement party Wednesday, there were cupcakes with the library logo and a number of well-wishers, including myself. Before going home after her last shift, what did Lambert do? Why, she checked out some books.
brIEfly
A tribute band, Who Generation, performed Wednesday night at Chino Hills’ Concerts in the Park. I’m imagining some naive Who fan showing up in hopes of seeing the real Who, learning the performers were imitators and yelling, “Won’t get fooled again.”
David Allen (who?) writes Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Email [email protected], phone 909-483-9339, like davidallencolumnist on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on Twitter.
