SF Hotel Stories

San Francisco hotels have been part of the fabric of the city since the Gold Rush of 1849.   In the early days, flop houses for sailors...

San Francisco's theater tradition dates back to the days when this was still a frontier town.  A bygone era when Lotta Crabtree began her...

Although it's not really mentioned, San Francisco is named for Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.  San Franciscans...

Coit Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the TransAmerica Pyramid are well known iconic structures.  Seen from not only San Francisco, but...

When the Covid 19 pandemic sucker punched the world in general, but hotels specifically, no one could have predicted how it would have...

Cotton is a small town on the Iron Range in northern Minnesota and has a population of 437.  San Francisco has a population of a little...

At 49 square miles, and population density of 18,832 persons per square mile, San Francisco is one of the most densely populated cities...

The Sir Francis Drake was one of the grand dames of classic San Francisco hotels, like the Fairmont and Palace Hotel.  This lesser-known...

Like the skin of an onion, San Francisco has many different layers to unveil.  There are some benefits to living in this city which are...

As well-known as the city of San Francisco is, many visitors don't just come to, as former president William Howard Taft proclaimed, "The...

At the apex of the city, where California and Market Streets meet, stands the lone practitioner of a dying art: the shoeshine man.  It is...

Everyone knows famous architects like Mike Brady and Howard Roark designed many buildings in San Francisco.   Stop anyone on the street...

I have highlighted concerns in my previous blogs about the post-pandemic drop in tourism for San Francisco.  Despite the pandemic, the...

Roger Corman died on May 9th, at the age of 98. As a filmmaker, he is not particularly associated with San Francisco like Francis Ford...

It’s summertime now, and that means the kids are out of school and families are on vacation.  When considering family-friendly vacation...

Since June is not only Pride month but also Juneteenth, two culturally different yet equally notable events for different reasons.  For...

Legendary minister, activist, community organizer, and civic institution Cecil Williams left this mortal coil on April 22nd.  Originally...

Before there was the internet, there was the hotel concierge. He (or she) was the one you saw to make that hard-to-get dinner...

San Francisco is known for its 47 hills.  Even bad neighborhoods may have classic Victorian homes with commanding views.  Visitor and...

The year 2023 roared in like a lion and out like a lamb.  Thanks to terms I've never heard of before (like, Bomb Cyclone and Atmospheric...