Retro-fitting

After brunch at Harvey's yesterday (appropriately enough), I spent some time checking out the cosmetic changes to Castro Street for the filming of the Harvey Milk biopic Milk. (Note that I did not say shooting.)

As it has been for far too many days, it was ass cold and pouring down rain. I took a lot of shots yesterday, both to share memorialize this experience, and to share with those of you who remember when— or remember what SF is like now, and want to see what they have done with it for the purposes of period filming.

Unfortunately, with all the rain the shots aren't as bright as one would like. However, I did duck out to the post office during lunch today and the sun was shining and the crew was filming and I managed to get some more, better-lit shots.

All photos, with annotations, are in a set over at Flickr.

Necessarily, they have to obscure "Harvey Milk Plaza" (also the entrance to the Castro MUNI station)

Some folks are likely to be confused, or even lost, by the alterations. But everyone is open for business.

Bar 440/Daddy's returns to the splendor that was Toad Hall. Which makes the odd stone/shingled façade make more sense. And am I the only one finding a gay bar named Toad Hall creepy? Who wants to pick up a toad? And are those 'shrooms psychedelic?


US Bank becomes Eureka Federal Savings (on the outside)

The Castro Theater is getting a major facelift.

The Castro Theater, now in COLOR.

Long-time Castro resident Bobby Waymack remarked that it is the first time since he's lived in the neighborhood that all of the neon on the Castro Theater sign worked.

This is not for trash. This is for show.
(God. In the Castro even the trash is posing.)

Hot Cookie has changed back to local ice cream maker Double Rainbow.

An awning covers the Wells Fargo signage. The downhill side of the upper sign is unaltered. The reverse has been covered with a retro-looking "Castro Flowers" sign. Note the added foliage to hide the ATMs, and the period cars on the street. And the parking. Available parking spots in the Castro is so 1970s.

view from uphill-- Wells Fargo becomes Castro Flowers

The pet accessories store gets a vintage shoe repair sign.

This is Harvey Milk's camera shop (usually the high-end gift shop Given). The security guy tried to shoo me away saying that "they" won't allow any photographs. I made the argument that it's a public street and "they" do not have that authority. Apparently "they" had already "chewed" him "out" for "letting" people take pictures. It was fine by him if I took the photos from across the street. This sort of crap is common downtown and really annoys me. I said thank you, and said that "they" were welcome to discuss their position with me if "they" liked, but I'll just be exercising my rights and taking my photo now.

I also went across the street.

Here is the same shop on the next day (today). Window dressing has been replaced with a "for rent" sign.

Swirl, the chic wine shop across the street has been remodeled for some liquor store scenes (they were fliming inside/outside today)

Swirl's new look

Eye Gotcha is entirely glass-fronted, now obscured by a garage façade.

There was a scene earlier of people selling things in the street. A sort of flea market Castro Street Fair. These are the left over props. I loved the 8-track tapes.

New look for Castro and 19th.

Aquarius Records, before my time.

And the Thai place is back to a Chinese restaurant.

More vintage cars.

Look out! It's a Gremlin!
Love it.