San Francisco Shelter-In-Place 2020: Week Twelve

Week twelve of the San Francisco lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19 was a weird week. On one hand, the shelter-in-place order was working. By June 2, San Francisco had officially recorded 2,717 cases and 45 deaths. The Mayor announced the city would move to phase 2a; opening up child care, botanical gardens, outdoor museums and historical sites, and curbside retail pickup.

At the same time, Black Lives Matter protests continued daily throughout the city. Most businesses downtown were completely boarded up to prevent looting. Traffic barriers blocked all entry points into Union Square. There was a city-wide curfew from 8pm to 5am through June 4. In some ways, San Francisco seemed quieter and stranger than ever.

But things were also slowly shifting back towards a new normal. Car and foot traffic during the daytime was increasing. More and more boarded up businesses were given artistic paint jobs. I got a COVID-19 test (negative) and went to the dentist for an exam and teeth cleaning (lots of PPE involved in that). The weather continued to be splendidly beautiful with deep blue skies and crystal clean air.

Here are a few images from my camera from that week.

Say their names / Black lives matter sign on the window of Center for New Music.

A mindful message on a boarded up business South of Market.

Traffic barriers blocked all access points to Union Square so the streets were free of cars. This guy took advantage of the situation and practiced baseball pitching in the middle of O’Farrell Street.

The basketball guy on top of the Tap Room sign on Powell Street is wearing a mask now.

Bicyclists in front of a mural outside Trader Joe’s on 4th Street.

Mural by street artist Seibot outside Emperor Norton’s Boozeland in the Tenderloin.

“Equality” mural by @funguyfick on Mission Street.

Mural by Messy Beck in front of Good Vibrations on Mission Street.

Enlightenment mural by Geary and Hyde Design in front of an art gallery.

The Transamerica Pyramid shines brightly in the midday sun.

This little kiosk on Nob Hill at California and Powell Streets is usually manned by someone giving the cable car operators a signal that it is safe to cross the top of the hill where the two cable car lines cross. It’s been empty for months.

Light reflecting off the Transbay Terminal onto 1st Street.

Black and white bricks in front of the Salesforce Tower.

Plants are growing through the glass wall at Salesforce Park.

Looking up at the giant skylight in the Transbay Terminal.

Proper Food on Market Street decided not to cover their windows in plywood. Instead they emptied the restaurant and put up this sign.

These painted doors on Market Street are another way of protecting property.

The Crocker Galleria is currently closed but the atrium is as cool as ever.

This mural by Matley Hurd is outside the closed Rambler restaurant in the Zeppelin hotel.