#TBT The Marina: Beautiful Sights and Youthful Life
#tbt Blog Post by Ceili Smaw, Caleb Hsu, and Claire Hansen
The Ground View
Before San Francisco’s major earthquake in 1906, the Marina was used as landfill along with other areas near the Bay. The Marina began residential development after the Panama–Pacific International Exposition in 1915. When talking about the neighborhood’s past and present condition, one witty resident said, “You know the people who live there really love it since they’re willing to pay that much rent to live on landfill.”
During the 80’s, the Marina saw a shift in its demographic from primarily middle class to over half of the residents being professionals in their 20s and 30s.
That is exactly what you see there today. If you were to walk down Chestnut street or Marina Avenue, you would see joggers, yacht owners, and young professionals all enjoying the open spaces and quiet views found in the Marina.
The open spaces in the Marina welcome many different kinds of community events. Whether at the Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, or Fort Mason, you can find people gathering to support local business and causes.
One event held at Fort Mason occurs weekly on Friday nights. Off The Grid has become a local favorite. It is a food truck event where people from the neighborhood can hang out in one place and eat food from every place. It’s a family friendly outing that made one dad call it his “favorite part of Friday nights.”
The Marina is known for its nightlife. Chestnut street is full of restaurants and bars that young people from all over the city come to enjoy. A neighborhood favorite is The Tipsy Pig, where you can expect a full house almost every night.
Unforgettable are the views found near the waterfront. From the Marina Green and the boat docs, you can see both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Island of Alcatraz at once.
Despite the chilly winds coming off of the Bay, tourists and residents alike are crawling along Marina Boulevard taking in the historic sights and youthful energy of the Marina.
Who can resist such a fun and beautiful combination?