This is how I picture it. Am I wrong?
“For about three years, I lived alone in a century-old 8-by-10 hotel room above a radical feminist bookstore, a cluttered storefront that sold sequined negligees and a massage parlor called Healing Winds that never seemed to be open. Had I not, I’d probably be a completely different person.”
Utterly tragic. What the hell happened to the women in this country?
In 1974-1975, I occasionally used a “guest house” on Sacramento St at Van Ness when I was in SF. It was a step up from SRO, but same idea. You got a private room, shared bath, and community breakfast. I had a traveling field engineering job and didn’t want to waste money on an apartment in my home base city since I was out on field assignment about 97% of the time. It wasn’t luxurious, but it sufficed. The “guest houses” weren’t full of druggies and winos back then. I always wondered what happened to that place.
This was a well written and somehow satisfying article to read. If Ariana Bindman has written any novels or a bio, I would be interested in taking a peek.
I have my own story about living in that neighborhood in the late 60s early 70s. The Hotel Virginia on OFarrell. That was my spot. I didn’t choose it but I ended up there for a while and it was quite interesting. A memory I can’t believe I had. I think it’s still there.
In Japan, SRO is called a capsule hotel or a hostel. Although they are much better maintained, cleaner, and have more facilities for guests.
Nice article and the picture shows an apartment much nicer than my thought processes allowed for.
But my BS meter went crazy on her comment;
“and I still wish I had remembered everyone’s names. Like old friends, the neighborhoods we know and love change and move on”
I am 62 years old and my “old friends” from the 70’s and early 80’s are still in my heart and head, I remember their names and still can tell stories. Just ask my kids.
She didn’t care a bit, and once she was gone, they were gone. But now she can make money by writing about the good times in the Tenderloin. I would wager she didn’t think they were too good then, because she left as soon as some ‘boyfriend’ would support her lifestyle.
I’m intrigued by “Healing Winds” and what that might imply...
This is how I picture it. Am I wrong?