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Home Resource Center In the News Home Greenbelt Alliance in the News |
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Greenbelt Alliance In the News
December 20, 2007 Urban Outings: San Francisco rooftop gardens, for fresh air or a brown-bag lunch Gail ToddRoof garden at Crocker Galleria: Enter the Crocker Galleria on Post Street between Montgomery and Kearny streets. Modeled after Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, this three-story glass-domed pavilion is filled with shops, cafes and specialty boutiques. If you can, go on a Thursday between 11 and 3, and stop by the farmers' market on the first floor to pick up some fresh fruits and vegetables. Then take the escalator to the top floor and follow the sign to the roof garden. Step out onto the rooftop of the Wells Fargo Banking Hall (formerly the Crocker Bank); this lush open space provides a wonderful place for a brown-bag lunch or for take-out food from one of the many nearby restaurants. Depending on the season, you many be surrounded by blooming marigolds, azaleas, jasmine, bougainvillea, periwinkle or cherry blossoms. Enjoy the medieval astrolabe and make a wish in the lion's-head fountain. Look around at the surrounding architecture, including the whimsical Hobart Building (582-92 Market St.). Like the Crocker Bank, it was designed by Willis Polk after San Francisco's great earthquake and fire. Then look down at bustling Market Street. The roof garden is the best place in San Francisco to watch a Market Street parade. Roof terrace at Crocker Galleria: If you want more solitude than the busy roof garden offers, cross over to the Crocker Galleria's Roof Terrace in the northwest corner on the same level. This little-used outdoor garden provides comfortable benches, potted plants and a mini running track on the perimeter. Delicious smells often waft up from the nearby restaurants. Look across Sutter Street at the glamorous Hallidie Building (130-150 Sutter), the world's first "glass curtain" building, which Polk also designed. 343 Sansome St. roof garden: Walk along Market Street to Sansome Street, then turn left on Sansome until you're just past Halleck Street, to 343 Sansome. This handsome 1908 building, originally designed by John Galen, was completely remodeled in 1930 and again in 1990. To get to the roof garden, take the elevator to the 15th floor. Step out to a gorgeous view of the Transamerica Pyramid. You can relax amid the bougainvillea, potted olive trees, lobelia, rosemary and other flowers in season. Tables, chairs and curved white benches are there for your comfort. The highlight of this rooftop garden is the 1990 sculpture "Four Seasons Obelisk" by artist Joan Brown. A native San Franciscan, Brown was killed in India shortly after completing the sculpture when a concrete turret fell on her while she was installing one of obelisks. Leave the building through the Sacramento Street exit to view the dynamic water sculpture in the lobby. This gleaming stainless steel fountain-sculpture, "L'Octagon," was created by Belgian artist Pol Bury. 100 First St.: For a South of Market outdoor terrace, walk down First Street until you come to 100 First St. just across Mission Street. (Another spectacular SoMa rooftop garden, at Spear Tower, One Market Plaza, is closed for renovation.) Take the elevator up to the second floor. Although not properly a "rooftop" garden, as you are only one flight up, this lovely outdoor area provides a lawn, benches long enough to stretch out on, little silvery tables and chairs and lush agapanthus, bird of paradise and petunias blooming amid the potted palms. A large rippled-glass fountain, "Waterwall," reflects the sunlight. Getting there: Via public transportation, take BART and exit at the Montgomery BART Station. Where's your favorite Urban Outing? To suggest a spot, contact Gail Todd, a longtime Bay Area resident, tour leader for San Francisco City Guides and author of "Lunchtime Walks in Downtown San Francisco." Urban Outings are presented by Greenbelt Alliance, the San Francisco Bay Area's advocate for open spaces and vibrant places -- celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008. For more Urban Outings as well as Greenbelt Outings, visit www.greenbelt.org/outings. ### |
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