a d v e rt i s e m e n t 1 0 Issue #181 • Fall 2007
Remembering the Place By Mark Schwartz & Art Peterson Walking on Upper Grant Avenue today it would be easy to overlook the seemingly abandoned storefront at No. 1546, just two doors shy of the Filbert Steps where Dan Maccharini’s bronze seal for poets lies embossed at the corner, and next door to where Lawrence Ferlinghetti once had his print shop. But between 1955 and 1959, this presently dilapidated building was at the center of San Francisco’s Beat culture. That’s because this was the location of <strong>The</strong> Place, a bohemian bar managed by two recent Black Mountain College alumni, Knute Stiles and Leo Krekorian. In a 1986 interview published in North Beach Magazine, Krekorian, who became known as the “Grandfather of the Beats,” explained to writer continued on page 29 North Beach Citizen continued from page 8 convened to discuss the lack of clean-up services in North Beach. What started as a discussion of additional ways to clean up the neighborhood quickly turned into a neighborhood clean-up service and a transitional employment program for the neighborhood’s homeless with the involvement of North Beach Citizens (NBC). Throughout its existence, the NBP has relied on NBC’s storefront as its home base and NBC’s homeless clients for its participants. All participants are responsible for maintaining their assigned routes and are trained to be spokespersons for the program. Beyond the tangible benefits of the NBP lie a host of intangible benefits. <strong>The</strong> NBP promotes a sense of community within the participants by involving these men and women in a public community-improvement effort. It debunks the myth of able-bodied and able-minded homeless men and women not wanting to work and helps to instill a sense of pride in the individuals who participate. Equally as important is the benefit to the North Beach merchants and the City of San Francisco. <strong>The</strong> Partnership provides the merchants with an additional, flexible clean-up service able to respond to weekend emergencies and the City with a low-cost clean-up service, reducing the cost of the City’s maintenance in North Beach. Tom O’Connor, former Washington Square Park gardener and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department employee, has been a long time supporter of the NBP: “As someone who is out in the neighborhood everyday (and doing the same type of clean-up work), I can certainly see and appreciate the hard work and results that North Beach Partnership has achieved.” <strong>The</strong> North Beach Partnership addresses neighborhood cleanliness, environmental issues, and community well-being. It connects the homeless of North Beach to their neighbors and the merchants who directly benefit from their work. <strong>The</strong> NBP is an invaluable service to all involved and all who benefit. Funding is limited for the North Beach Partnership; donations to North Beach Citizens specifically designated for the NBP will allow our community to continue to benefit from this program and will be greatly appreciated. North Beach Citizens, 720 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133, www.northbeachcitizens.org. Upcoming Events: North Beach Citizens’ Fourth Annual Community Recognition Awards Dinner, Sunday, November 4, will begin at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails, dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m., and the program honoring Denise McCarthy will begin shortly thereafter. <strong>The</strong> ticket prices are $150 for a McCarthy Supporter, $250 for a McCarthy Patron, $350 for a McCarthy Benefactor, and $3,500 for a McCarthy Benefactor table of 10. Issue #181 • Fall 2007 1 1
Change language