LOL."What becomes of the broken hearted? They buy shoes."
-Mimi Pond
Shoes. GOD I love shoes. Most of the time when I meet someone I notice their eyes first, but next comes the shoes! I have to admit right here, at one time I owned 214 pairs of shoes. High heels, tennis shoes, ballet slippers, bunny slippers, boots, slides, loafers and even flip flops. Who hasn't owned a pair of flip-flops? I love shoes. Yes. Shoes. So, how could I not love this challenge? It was suggested by Vicki, author of the blog, "Maracas" and it puts a pep in our step, while challenging our creativity at the same time!
Alamo Square Park...
For this entry, I decided to pay a visit to one of my favorite parks in the Bay Area, Alamo Square Park, in San Francisco. You have probably seen it numerous times in movies and on TV. The Tanner family, from the old ABC series, Full House, lived just across the street, in one of the famous Six Sisters, which are a series of lovely Victorian houses just off the park, and in the movie, "So I Married An Axe Murderer," it was in the scene where Charlie breaks up with Harriet.Weep... such a sad moment. LOL. Alamo Square is one of the most beautiful places in the city, with a stunning view of the high rises, including City Hall downtown. And at the very top of the park, nestled between some amazingly beautiful trees, is the Shoe Garden. Yes, a Shoe Garden.
I have written about this place before, but I just had to share it again. The garden gains new shoes all the time, but if you look very closely, it isn't just shoes that are left as a memorial. There are light switches, sun glasses, bottle caps, small bird houses, it is just a neat, quirky little spot in the middle of a large, fun, quirky city, that I am hopelessly in love with. I love the sun. The people. The individuality. The friendliness. The surreal mixture of time and culture. And this park, and the Shoe Garden, holds all of those things in one tiny spot. You can probably find shoes here from all different eras, retired, and holding tiny plants. It's just fun. If you ever visit San Francisco, take my advice, grab a lunch to go, and eat it right here in Alamo Square Park. I can't imagine a more peaceful way to spend an afternoon!
Hey, did you ever hear that song, "Men Are Like Shoes" by Shania Twain?
Men Are Like Shoes
By Shania Twain
Ooh! Men! Have you ever tried to figure them out?
Huh, me too, but I ain't got no clue
How 'bout you?
Men are like shoes, made to confuse
Yeah, there's so many of 'em
I don't know which ones to choose
(yeah, yeah, yeah)
Ah, sing it with me, if you agree
There's the kind made for runnin'
The sneakers and low down heels
The kind that will keep you up on your toes
And every girl knows how that feels
(yeah, yeah, yeah)
Ouch, oh, sing it with me
You got your kickers and your ropers
Your everyday loafers, and some you can never find
You've got your slippers and your zippers
Your grabbers and your grippers
Man, don't you hate that kind?
Some you wear in and some you wear out
And some you want to leave behind
Sometimes you hate 'em and sometimes you love 'em
I guess it all depends on which way you rub e'm
But a girl can never have too many of 'em
It's amazing what a little polish will do!
Men are like shoes...
LOL. Ahem... Who wouldn't love a shoe garden? ;)
Be sure to visit Vicki, and all the other participating Robins. Just follow the links below! Thank you Vicki... this was soooo much fun! Just like buying shoes. :)
Linking List
*Welcome New Members
1.Vicki... Maracas
POSTED!
2. Carly... Ellipsis
POSTED!
3. Lisa... Lisa's Chaos
POSTED!
4. Jill (See Comments Section On The RR Blog)
POSTED!
5. Karen... Outpost Mavarin
POSTED!
6. Martha... Perception
POSTED!
7. Annie... Pictures Of Craziness
8. Momma... Sandcastle Momma
POSTED!
9. *Sahvvy... Instantaneous Existence Of Me
POSTED!
10. Sandra... Strong Chemistry
POSTED!
11. Janet... Fond Of Snape
POSTED!
12. Nancy... Nancy Luvs Pix
POSTED!
13. Suzanne R... Living... Suzanne R's Life
POSTED!
14. Nan... Life is Like a Lunchbox
POSTED!
15. Robinella... Robin's Nest
POSTED!
15. TJ... T.J's Photo Expressions
POSTED!
16. Chrissea (See Comments Section On The RR Blog)
17. Jan... The Prytz Family
POSTED!
*18. Old Dog... Wise Old Dog
POSTED!
19. Kim... Nekked Lizard Adventures
POSTED!
*20. Celeste... Ragracers
POSTED!
21. Sarah... Charish
POSTED!
23. Sandy (See Comments Section on The RR Blog)
POSTED
24. Shorty (See Comments Section on The RR Blog)
POSTED
25. Carlo (See Comments Section on The RR Blog)
POSTED
Jan AKA Whammy... The Ellis Family
POSTED!
Note: There is a forecast for a severe storm here in the Bay Area later today. If I can't get by your blog to leave a comment, I will be by on Sunday. :)
-OndineMonet
Shoe Garden
Alamo Square Park
San Francisco, California
February, 2008
Afternoon
19 comments:
WOW! What a cool garden. Figures it would be in San Francisco. I lived in the Bay Area for 5 years....I loved the place, but was glad to leave the congestion. I hope the storm isn't too bad (they must have to rearrange the garden after bad storms, or are those shoes tacked down?).
Cool pictures!
I'm so very impressed, not only by your large quantities of shoes, but by the creative way you have shot them. Absolutely beautiful pictures of beautiful shoes. I hope the storm passes you by and you stay safe and warm.
Wow, a garden of shoes. We're in SoCal and don't visit SF, often. But I'm putting this on my next agenda
Never a disappointement! Never...
Loved it!
TJ
What a great idea. A shoe garden. I had never thought of anything like that.
I love your pictures! And those shoes are incredible. The park is beautiful and your idea is awesome. Very creative and definitely makes me want a shoe garden too!
Carly, thanks for stopping by my blog. Here's my rely to your thoughtful comments: Carly, of course you're entitled to you views on war, any war. War or anti-war is not what makes me angry, at all. It's disrespect for our troops, our sons, daughters, husbands, fathers, brothers who serve, so we are safe at home, and don't have to serve. I remember Nam, and I wasn't behind that war either, but I always supported our troops, doing the job they were told to do.
You say, "I am no one special..." and I reply of course you are, you sound very special.
Those are great! A shoe garden. How funny! LOL Lived in the Bay Area all my life and never knew.... you'd think I lived in a shoe! ;^P
I grew up in the Bay Area (Marin) and I never knew about the shoe garden! Thank you so much for sharing this. If my mom had just let me cross that bridge....
Thanks for the in-depth visit to a place that's intrigued me ever since I first read about it here. I didn't realize before that the shoes became planters. And such a variety of really interesting shoes, photographed just perfectly! Love it!
Those shoes are fascinating and some a little bit wild! What a fun subject to photograph, too. Love your pictures and the Shania Twain song (you can tell I'm not much into country -- I've never heard it before).
Sorry I'm slow getting around today. I went into Urgent Care due to an ear problem and it's still a bit sore, so I'm probably going to have to take my time in visiting everyone.
looks like another destination the next time we get to the CITY. thanks for stopping by.
Awesome photographs! Sounds like an awesome place to go, the Shoe Garden does.
What a wonderful and special place ! I would have loved to visit it when I have been in San Francisco for 3 days. But of course this is not a place which is mentioned to tourists ! I have seen all the classical things in the tourist brochures but not this. It should be mentioned in a tourist guide ! It's really a pity that I missed it !
That is one cool garden! Thank you for sharing that with us!
Hope you're doing ok with all that nasty hurricane looking weather!
214 pair of shoes?! That's hilarious!
Great funky pix!
Thanks for stopping by mine :)
Next time I'm up in SF, I'm going there. Your shots are gorgeous!
Sometimes I feel that if my closet got some sunlight thats what my shoes would be doing! May incorporate this shoe garden idea into my next garden!
Not so much into country music, so I don't know that song, but I DO love those ladybug shoes!!!
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