These Are the People in My Neighborhood

I live on Bluxome Street in the SOMA district of San Francisco. Bluxome Street stretches for just two blocks between Fourth and Sixth Streets and is sandwiched between Brannan and Townsend Streets. This tiny little ‘hood contains a mix of both new and old converted warehouse buildings hosting mostly high-density residential apartments and lofts. But tucked here and there among them is an ecclectic mix of businesses and services.

One of them is a winery that just opened up. Yes, a winery. On my mostly residential block. Pinch me, please!

We talked to the owner of Bluxome Street Winery the week before they opened. He said their first wines will be ready in the spring of 2011. You’ll find me outside with my empty wine glass waiting for the tasting room to open.

Beatle by the Bay

We did not intend to go to the concert last Saturday night. We didn’t even remember that Paul McCartney was playing until someone reminded us. But we live just a few blocks from AT&T Park, so we walked over there Saturday afternoon to see all the setup activities.

At 1:00 the t-shirt vendors were already doing business, and people were starting to mill about the stadium. We also heard the band warming up, and they were playing Let It Be. Let It Be! By the Beatles!

I’ve never been a big Beatles fan, but their songs are permanently interwoven into the fabric of my life. My older brother was a huge fan and had all their albums when we were growing up in the 70’s. Truth be told, I was a little frightened as a young teen by some of their more psychedelic songs, like I Am the Walrus. But I love some of their gentler songs, like Golden Slumbers, and one of the most beautiful songs ever written, Yesterday.