Thought Paper #10

     Signage plays a major role in drawing us towards or away from specific places or areas. If you were to walk down a sidewalk with no sign leading you in a specific direction, you would likely walk for a very long time without stopping. There would be nothing to grab your attention and lead you astray. However, on the contrary, if you happened to spot a sign for Pier 39 or Fisherman’s Wharf, you would be much more inclined to make these tourist attractions your destination.

     It seems silly that signage can play such a major role in our every day lives, but the truth of this remains consistent. I know from my own personal experience that a captivating sign posted on a lamppost or store window can easily lead me astray. Signage attracting people to tourist attractions tends to be extremely effective. Not only does it have a purpose, but it also strives to pull people into already desirable places. Many of us visit tourist attractions on our own without ever being drawn in by signage. However, if we see an especially vibrant or unique piece of signage dealing with an awesome tourist attraction, we will be much more likely to visit. Signage also provides for society an additional way in which information is passed from one person to another. When many people view the same signs, they begin to talk about what they have seen. Their curiosity often drives them to follow these signs to wherever they may lead.

     Before signage, and before places were deemed as “tourist attractions,” things were much different. In 1906, Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf were much different places to visit. After the massive earthquake on April 18th, much of the city was decimated, the wharf area included. I assume that visiting a place of destruction and ruins would have a much different feel to it than a tourist location. Any and all signage that had previously been in and around the area were likely gone. It wasn't just that people weren't attracted to the area due to a lack of signage, but people were probably steered away from it. Seeing your city crumble before your eyes wouldn't be the most pleasant of sights. Avoiding as much of the aftermath as possible was a likely goal of most people. 

     San Francisco residents and visitors found the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939 by word of mouth and signage components. The exposition took place on Treasure Island, so it wasn’t exactly in a directly and easily accessible location. However, by advertising on a global level, this international exposition caught wind and became a huge success. This proves the influence that signage can have on an event, even in the most random of places.

Thought Paper #9

     I had never been to North Beach before this experience with the class. I immediately knew I would like it when I heard that the phrase “Little Italy” was associated with it. I’m not sure exactly why, but I have always been drawn to the Italian culture. It might have something to do with the fact that before nearly every sporting event that I partook in growing up, we would have pasta and homemade pizza for dinner.

     I’m not sure if it’s just because I am a big fan of Italian food or if the signage was particularly effective, but I found myself drawn to many restaurants and cafes. Madeline and I were so eager to experience some of the food and culture that we wound up visiting three separate little eatery joints. The first one we popped into is famous for its focaccia bread. It’s the only thing that they sell, but they sure do a good job at it. I found it quite interesting though, based on the bakery’s appearance on the inside and outside. From the outside, it didn’t really look like anything special. In fact, if Stacy hadn’t recommended we go there, I doubt that Madeline and would have been drawn to it solely by its outward looks. In a way, it had a somewhat grungy feel to it. The inside was quite similar. It was very empty looking, and there weren’t very many captivating visuals. However, the focaccia spoke for itself, and I would certainly revisit for the beauty of the bread.

     After treating ourselves to the delightful bread, we decided it would be worthwhile to trek up to Coit Tower. I certainly did not regret this decision. Not only was the view breathtaking from up there, but the murals and art work inside was definitely a sight to see as well. The murals along the walls on the inside of the tower were part of a WPA project like the murals inside of the Beach Chalet. Although they had a similar feel to them, the murals inside of Coit Tower are much less well preserved than those in the Beach Chalet. This could partly be because the Beach Chalet has turned into a little museum and restaurant as well. Since more people visit and are drawn to the Beach Chalet, people probably thought it more prominent to preserve these murals.  It was a little saddening to see that nothing is being done to preserve the murals in Coit Tower as they should be. Even with the weathering, they were still beautiful and quite effective.

     After making our down from the tower, we decided it would only make sense to look around for gelato and a pastry or two. After wandering up and down the streets a bit, we came across a very interesting little business. We were drawn into it because of its uniqueness. It had signs on the outside for cigarettes, ice cream, and sandwiches. It seemed like a strange combination to us. Sure enough, upon entering we discovered that it was indeed a smoke shop, deli, and gelato/ice cream shop all in one. Despite the strange smells and vibes of the place, the gelato proved to be quite delicious all the same. I tried the mango sorbet, and Madeline went for the raspberry cheesecake. Both were recommendable choices.

     As we were walking about with our gelato, it seemed only right that we find a cute a little café to finish off our little “tour of Italy.” We happened upon a very cute café that drew us in because of the classy looks on the outside and inside. This is where it differed from the previous two places we had visited. Rather than being slightly underwhelmed by the atmosphere, we found it to be quite lovely and suave all at the same time. Our taste buds were telling us to order something savory, so we went with the ham quiche and a basil pesto tart. We walked back to Washington Square Park to eat our little treats in the sun.

     North Beach is well known for its red light district and lively nightlife scene. Although it is surely more prominent during the nighttime, the signage was still visible during the day. Since North Beach use to be home to the infamous Barbary Coast due to the close proximity of the docks, it makes sense that this is now the red light district. When you get a chance to get a good look at the signage, the history and relevance of everything in the North Beach area becomes clear. Although much has changed over the years, the basic culture and purpose has remained the same.