The Saloon

No yuppies allowed.

The Saloon on Grant Street in San Francisco’s North Beach lays claim to being the oldest bar in the city, having survived the 1906 earthquake and ensuing fire. Built in 1861 it’s definitely a down at heels, drinker’s blues bar, and the locals look askance at strangers. I swear the temperature dropped ten degrees when yours truly stepped inside for a look around. I attribute this climatic change to my newly acquired black felt cap allied with a somewhat less than new Belstaff biker jacket which gives me a real Bad A look.

My best guess was that a candid snap or two might find me leaving with my teeth in my hand, so I asked the pretty radical barkeep if it was OK. The English accent immediately consigns one to the cadre of nutty eccentrics, with condescending acquiescence following, and the man grudgingly agreed.


Sign heaven.


We are all essentially alone.

Nikon D3x, 35mm AF-S f/1.4 Nikkor at f/2.