Hayes Valley came to prominence when film director Erich von Stroheim chose the corner of Hayes and Laguna for the filming of his 1924 film “Greed.” His affections were for a 19th-century Victorian that had been built in the early 1880s by Col. Michael Hayes as an amusement pavilion, though word has it Hayes constructed the building to lure an extension of the streetcar line to Hayes Valley. The building survived the 1906 earthquake and fire and at the time of filming was occupied only on the ground floor, by a French laundry and the Hayes Valley Pharmacy, which remained in business until the 1960s. Stroheim created signs for a dentist’s office and a photographer’s workplace for the movie, which fooled some locals into believing they were real. The film included numerous shots from the top floor of the building looking down on Hayes Valley. He also used 595-597 Hayes, a building that acted as a storeroom in the 1920s, as the site of the saloon in the film.
In the 1950’s the Central Freeway was built over the top of the neighborhood and Hayes Valley quickly descended into a rough neighborhood that remained a spot for ladies and gentlemen of the night well into the 1990’s. The 1989 earthquake brought so much destruction to the Central Freeway that they tore it down. What evolved was a neighborhood, replete with wonderful individual (read non-chain) stores and lots and lots of excellent restaurants. Wikipedia even calls it a “fashionable” neighborhood.
In the heart of the area is Patricia’s Green (in memory of neighborhood activist Patricia Walkup), also called Hayes Green. It runs the length of Octavia, between Hayes and Fell.
The Green is the sight of ever rotating art installations. I ran into the little impromptu piece on the sidewalk of the Green.
It was tagged Nik Larsen 7/7/11. I took the photo on the 22nd of July. It is chalk, and I was amazed it still was in such good shape. It is titled Violet Eclipse Mechanics. What a wonderful ethereal piece of art, that proves you must always keep your eyes open.
Nik writes a blog Chalkvisions if you want to check out other things he has done around town.
Just off the green is this piece by Ben Eine of London, a fun interview with him can be read here.
The first picture looks like a rangoli (colourful designs) that we make in front of our houses here in India.
We discovered Hayes Valley a few years ago and love the vibe there. The Green always has interesting art installations. Thanks for the backgound info.