Articles by

kate shay

i am a Creative Director and iPhoneographer living in SF. i have a small addiction to my bicycle and traveling...and you can usually find me cruising around the city on my motorcycle with my iPhone readily at hand. follow me on twitter and instagram @justthegritty, or take a look at my website www.kateshayphotography.com

 
Website
Newsstand
Architecture
09/20/12 11:43am

Just the Gritty: Behind the Scenes Gardening on Alcatraz with Atlas Obscura

by

Have you ever had the urge to push aside the “Do Not Enter” signs and explore the unknown? I do pretty much every day. It’s almost like a dare -the best stuff is beyond this sign…do you dare break the rules to discover it? Perhaps that’s just me, but somehow I doubt it. On my last assignment I got to do just that, but legally! That’s right, Just the Gritty is on the straight and narrow. Apparently all I had to do was join up with Atlas Obscura, a “compendium of amazing places that aren’t found in your average guidebook.”

So one weekend a little while ago, fellow Untapped Cities writer Faern and I hit up Alcatraz Island with this awesome group of guides. What a day it was! I’m ever-curious about the unknown, and that day was full of exploration and discovery. The day was all about the gardens of Alcatraz, both public and secret.

From the very beginning we got to go in the opposite direction of the main tour groups. Number one, that means fewer people (tourists) to deal with. Number two, we got all sorts of well-deserved jealous looks.

Our first stop was with our guest tour guide of the day from The Garden Conservancy. She took us aside and gave us a brief history on the gardens of Alcatraz, complete with photos from the island’s ‘glory’ days. I had no idea how many uses the island has had – it wasn’t just a prison. We then moved up the hill to get our work gloves for the day. That right, this wasn’t a passive tour. Instead, half our day was going to be spent volunteering in one of the gardens.

We walked all over the grounds – from the hidden gardens (unseen from the public roads), to the large prisoner’s gardens on the far side of the island. We stopped at about 8 different points for brief history lessons and were given ample time to roam and, in my case, take all sorts of photos. So here you have them, a smattering of images from my day on the Rock. Seriously, look up the Obscura Society and get involved with them. The guides were all awesome, and the day will go down in history for me. What an opportunity; not just to go beyond the usual public reach, but to actually dig and volunteer in the beautiful historic gardens. This girl is still smiling.

Get in touch with the author @justthegritty.

, , , ,
Architecture
07/06/12 3:59pm

Just the Gritty: Mission District Architecture

by

yellow building in the misstion district

You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate architecture.  I’m going to be frank with you right now: I am not an architect. Nor am I some sort of architecture buff or historian.  I simply love the buildings in my neighborhood – the bright colors and ornate facades just beg me to capture them, and fit perfectly with my style of high saturation and dreamy light blurs.

blue building in the mission district

It’s actually very rare for me to walk down a Mission district block and not stop at least twice to snap a photo (or five). It’s rather entertaining to watch my dog roll her eyes at me because I stop more than she does. How could I not? I’m surrounded by bright beacons of color with the sun bouncing off the plentiful windows.

One of the interesting things is that this neighborhood actually gets a pretty bad rap. It hasn’t had the nicest of histories, and most recently was well-known as a squatter’s district. Since it is shielded by hills and protected from the cold fog that plagues most of the rest of the city, the Mission is the city’s warmest district, attracting those without proper housing. Today families of Latino descent hold the majority – since the ’50s, the Latino population in the Mission has doubled every 10 years – providing much of the current flavor. Recently, however, Silicon Valley insta-millionaires decided it was chic to live in the Mission, and the largely Latino community is slowly being displaced.

victorian house

I hope that this article will inspire you a bit – perhaps open your eyes to a new neighborhood. I took the photos you see here over the last year or so, just imagine all the ones I’m not showing. Get out there, snap some photos, and share them with me on Instagram! @justthegritty and with Untapped Cities using #untappedcities hashtag.

,
Architecture
06/18/12 3:07pm

Just the Gritty: Mission Dolores Park

by

One of the most accurate descriptions of Dolores Park that I’ve heard is that it’s basically just an outside bar. It’s two full city blocks of hipsters with their beloved bikes, hoola hoops and slacklines and endless amounts of skin. This hub of lenient sexuality is the epitome of the Mission, and its epicenter in the summer. Bottom line: it’s the best people watching anywhere.

To the outsider it may seem like utter mayhem. On the hottest of days every single patch of green is covered in blankets, coolers, bikes, Bi-Rite shopping bags and tiny dogs. There’s a food truck parked in the middle of the park, and people are everywhere. Everywhere. To the Dolo connoisseur, however, you could map it out like a high school cafeteria. You can accurately describe to your friends where you’re sitting not based on landmarks, but what “section” you’re in…but I’m not telling you what they are. They’re better learned by experience.

Personally, I recommend that you get there before 1 pm. Get yourself a primo spot, set up shop with your blanket, beverages and snacks, and watch all the hungover people roll in wearing their skinny jeans and neon sunglasses. You’ll get to see the random band(s) set up full drum kits, slacklines strung up between palm trees and whatever else people brought to show off.

The park is located between 18th and 20th streets on Dolores. Keep in mind that parking is at a premium so I encourage you to ride your bicycle or vintage Vespa or whatever.

A few words of wisdom for the Dolores Park novice: 1) No matter how hot it is at 1pm, it will always be cold when the sun goes down. Bring a hoodie. 2) Bring something to sit on – Dolores is also a dog park. Just saying. 3) Don’t forget sunblock. And 4) Bring more snacks and drinks than you think you’ll need; sharing is caring.

Dolores Park [Map]
Between 18th and 20th streets on Dolores
San Francisco

Follow Untapped Cities on  Twitter  and  Facebook. Get in touch with the author @justthegritty.

, , ,
Events
05/29/12 6:30pm

Just the Gritty: Long Beach Pride

by

As an SF dweller for the last eight years, people find it rather amazing that I’ve never gone down to Long Beach Pride. I’ve always thought to myself, well, I’m in SF, how can this one be beat? This year I was invited down to celebrate with a friend of mine, and after figuring out the feasibility of going with a broken foot, I decided to give it a go. Thus, not only was this my first time to Long Beach, but it was also my first time in a wheelchair. The wheelchair experience alone was enough for an article in and of itself, but I’ll spare you that story and stick to Pride.

long beach pride, stands

First of all, trying to compare the two Pride celebrations really doesn’t work. They’re just too different to exist in the same conversation”¦one is downtown and crammed with people, big names and multiple parades. The other is at the beach, on one site, and spread out in a more digestible fashion. So what it comes down to is what you’re looking for. I enjoy both scenes, and having a broken foot I was glad I was at the slower of the two.

Don’t get me wrong-Long Beach Pride is still chock full of partying, people watching and general mayhem. The floats are a little less enterprise and more Mom & Pop, which is a bit refreshing. Personally, I get a bit sick of seeing Bank of America Pride floats. I mean, I love the support, but I’m here to see some happy gender-ambiguous party people, not a blow-up ATM.

This year the main stage headliner was Queen Latifah, and I must admit I’m a bit sad I missed her. Unfortunately the wheelchair antics totally wore me out and I didn’t last after a long day in the sun and (more than) a few beverages. I was happy to hear it was her and not a boy band, though.

One of my favorite places was the house tent. The crew and I pretty much perched here for the duration of the festival. Find yourself a patch of grass here and the people-watching rivals that of Dolores Park”¦with more dancing. And believe it or not, more skin.

Anyway, I’m not going to go on and on about my personal LB Pride experience. It won’t do you any good anyway, since everyone has their own story to tell. But! I will say that I’m a true convert now-LB Pride is rad, and I’ll be going back for sure.

Follow Untapped Cities on  Twitter  and  Facebook. Get in touch with the author @justthegritty.

, , ,
Architecture
05/14/12 1:58pm

Just the Gritty: Bernal Heights Park

by

Yes, it’s true. I’m sharing another piece about a dog park. But! Please keep in mind, this poor fool has been living with a broken foot since January. During these long months of recovery one of my only outdoor activities is sitting in a park and leaving my dog to romp about on her own.

As it turns out, dog parks in San Francisco are pretty awesome. I guess it makes sense, seeing as dogs outnumber babies by quite a large number around these parts. I found this excerpt from the SF Gate, which I find rather amusing:

“There are an estimated 120,000 dogs in San Francisco, according to the city’s Animal Care and Control department. There are anywhere from 108,000 to 113,000 children…” 

The article is a bit outdated, but I’m sure the general takeaway hasn’t changed: Dogs rule in SF.

Anyone who has a dog and lives in my part of the city knows about Bernal Heights Park. Those of you who don’t, now’s the time. From the Mission District just head up Folsom Street, past Cesar Chavez, and climb the unimaginably steep hill spread out before you. At the very top you will find the base of yet another large hill – and you’ve made it. Now you can let the pup off leash and stroll up the paved road that wraps around the hill, stopping one bench at a time to take in the magnificent city views. Don’t take so long that you don’t make it to the top, though-those are truly the best. From there you can get panoramic views from the Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate bridge (when it’s relatively clear out), all the way across downtown and into the East Bay.

Bernal Heights Park actually started out as a rock quarry, so it’s pretty lacking in vegetation. I wouldn’t recommend you head there if you’re looking to have a quiet picnic in the sun; the hills are very steep so you’s probably tumble down them if you tried to set up a blanket. And forget having food within eyesight…the dogs in SF are seriously sneaky. They’re probably smart enough to set up a decoy and snag your sandwich and all natural sea salt chips from Bi-Rite. I mean, I would.

A few notes you might want to consider:

  • There are hawks flying around up there, and I have personally witnessed one pick off a small rodent from the rubble. If you have a tiny dog that might be mistaken for one, you might want to reconsider the off-leash thing.
  • You will likely find plastic bags already there at one of the two entrances, but you still probably BYOPBs. Keep it clean, people.
  • Remember layers, it can get pretty windy up there.

Follow Untapped Cities on  Twitter  and  Facebook. Get in touch with the author @justthegritty.

, , ,
Architecture
04/17/12 7:29am

Just the Gritty: Fort Funston Views

by

pacific ocean view

For those of you that don’t know, I was hit by a car about 4 months ago. This means that most of my outdoor adventures have been temporarily put on hold while my (many) bones heal. Luckily, however, there are a few spots even someone on a crutch can access…if you can get a ride to them.

One of the most accessible places I’ve found is Fort Funston. It’s an off-leash dog park that runs along the Pacific Ocean at the southwest edge of the city. This, of course, also makes my dog, Maybe, very, very happy. On a weekend day you’ll easily see 200 dogs romping about, digging in the sand and chasing each other through the waves. Sadly I haven’t been able to get down to the beach itself, as the only way down is a 200-foot, rather steep hill of sand (which is not very crutch-friendly). But at the top of the hill you’ll find some of the best views in the city. Look left or right down the coast, turn around and look out over the hills of SF, or just sit and take in the Pacific Ocean sprawled out in front of you. There are also plenty of walkways and dunes to explore up there, so Maybe is more than satisfied.

cliffs

One of the best parts about Fort Funston is that it’s huge. The trails loop around further than you expect; around each corner there’s another fork in the road, each furnished with water fountains for humans and dogs alike.

Fort Funston is not just a dog park, however, it’s also a great spot for hang gliding. It’s a Hang-III site, which is “intermediate” to us land-folk. The best gliding times of the   year are in March and October (according to the  Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy), and there is even a wheelchair-accessible viewing deck. You’ll also see lots of kites and remote-control airplanes, so this is seriously not the time to forget to look up.

Everywhere you walk there are hidden are pieces of art, well-maintained trails, beautiful stretches of beach and flourishing foliage. You can almost completely miss the fact that it’s all surrounding an old military fort (which you can also explore parts of).

Lastly, my friends, if you have gotten this far, perhaps you will stay for the sunset. I promise it’s one you’ll never forget. My only warning: beware the windy day, as the sand in your eyes might make the ocean views a bit painful.

Fort Funston [Map]
Skyline Boulevard
San Francisco, CA

Follow Untapped Cities on  Twitter  and  Facebook. Get in touch with the author @justthegritty.

, , ,
Next Page »