When I came here, I stumbled upon the carvings in the concrete stones of this plaza with a variety of prominent names of local, influential people. There are no prominent signs naming this plaza so it is not so obviously found. My best description is that it's the open area between the Panda Express and Subway Sandwich.
While walking through here between errands, I noticed writing and inscriptions on the pavement as I made my way to Fillmore Street from the parking lot. I stopped to read one, then another, and, before you knew it, I'd read seven or eight stones before I decided to make a variety of photos of them to read at home.
This is a historic neighborhood that thrived in the early 20th century as a jazz district where there were a variety of clubs and venues. In the past six to eight years, the neighborhood has grown to house two Michelin mentioned restaurants, a revamped local Korean market, a popular local Jewish deli, and popular local boba place. The Korean restaurant at the far corner on Geary was a busy spot too before the pandemic changed the game and evidently is a casualty of the pandemic.
With the help of many community leaders and activists, the change has brought new life here. Which leads me to the names that are written in stone which include religious and government leaders, educators, and media personalities who either grew up or were active in the community. The most striking name for me was described as a voice actor, probably the most famous in Mel Blanc (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=LA-hQ4NHqTUzvFCvalYIsA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q); he's known to be the voice of nearly all Warner Bros. cartoon characters (i.e. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, etc.). Then, of course, there's Da Mayor (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=SaHDEsRHf8-eMTwaZ80aNw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) who continues to proudly live in and roam about our fair city (miss your Sunday paper weekly column).
Under current circumstances, I do not encourage people to tour around or gather in groups right now; if you do visit, I suggest doing so before dark.
However, when things return to normal and, if I'm in the area with visiting friends, I will certainly show them this plaza and those prominent names.
What better way to close than to say, "Well, that's all folks!" read more