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Union Square is a focal point of downtown San Francisco. You'll find a bunch of upscale shops and hotels right around the square as well a major transportation hub for the city. In the center is a nearly 100 foot Corinthian column dedicated to Admiral Dewey (commander of US Naval during Spanish American War). Leave a Comment
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Where Can You Find A Macy's, Sak's Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus Stores so near each other? Where can you find a Statue Comemorating the Exploits of Admiral George Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay (and Sadly the US-Philippine war, the first Iraq, due to Theodore Roosevelt's Manifest Destiny of "Christianising" Filipinos who were already Christians and Catholics since the 1500's!). The answer is in Union Square in Downtown. Union Square was built and dedicated by San Francisco's first American mayor John Geary in 1850 and is so named for the pro-Union rallies that happened there before and during the United States Civil War and later became a memorial to the Spanish American War and presently is one of the largest collection of department stores, upscale boutiques, tourist trinket shops, art galleries, and salons in the Western United States. Address: Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton streetsPhone: (415) 781-7880Directions: Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton streets, San Francisco, CA 94108Website: www.unionsquaresf.net
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The heart of San Francisco's downtown since 1850, the 2½-acre square takes its name from the violent pro-union demonstrations staged here before the Civil War. It was named to show San Francisco's support for Lincoln's army. The square's palm trees were planted about the same time. At center stage is a 97-foot Corinthian column, the Victory Monument. This winged female victory symbol was modeled after sugar heiress Anna Spreckles and dedicated was dedicated by Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 to Admiral George Dewey's Philippine victory during the Spanish-American War. The area is also home to San Francisco's poshest hotels, its small but vibrant theater district, and some of the city's finest restaurants
After the earthquake and fire of 1906, the square was dubbed Little St. Francis because of the temporary shelter erected for residents of the St. Francis Hotel. Actor John Barrymore, the grandfather of actress Drew Barrymore and a notorious carouser, was among the guests pressed into volunteering to stack bricks in the square. His uncle, thespian John Drew, remarked, "It took an act of God to get John out of bed and the United States Army to get him to work."
In July 2002, after 18 months and $25 million a new Union Square's was unveiled. What remains of the old square are the palm trees and an underground parking structure. Almost everything else is clean and new, designed to discourage sleepers and skateboarders and encourage a bit of relaxation. Flowering trees and hedges intersperse with benches, making the entire square a pleasant, sunny place for an outdoor lunch. An open-air stage (large enough to comfortably fit an orchestra), a café, gardens, and a visitor information booth draw visitors to the square. On the eastern edge, TIX Bay Area provides half-price day-of-performance tickets to all types of performing-arts events, as well as regular full-price box-office services. Leave a Comment Directions: Bordered by Powell, Stockton, Post, and Geary Streets
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Where can you find a Statue Comemorating the Exploits of Admiral George Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay (and Sadly the US-Philippine war, the first Iraq, due to Theodore Roosevelt's Manifest Destiny of "Christianising" Filipinos who were already Christians and Catholics since the 1500's! way before the North Americans). The answer is in Union Square in Downtown. Union Square was built and dedicated by San Francisco's first American mayor John Geary in 1850 and is so named for the pro-Union rallies that happened there before and during the United States Civil War and later became a memorial to the Spanish American War.
Presently this is the center of Luxury Shopping in the West Coast where you can find all the prestigous brands. Inside Union Square itself in an underground parking, A See's Candy Shop, Emporio Rulli Coffeeshop, Free Concerts and TIX Half-Price Theater Tickets. Address: Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton streetsPhone: (415) 781-7880Directions: Geary, Powell, Post and Stockton streets, San Francisco, CA 94108Website: www.unionsquaresf.net
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Union Square is the heart of the city's shopping district. Many of San Francisco's largest department stores can be found here, names like Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Levis. On the west side lies the famous Westin St. Francis hotel. The square is named after the big pro-Union rallies that were held here during the Civil War of 1861-1865. In the center of the square there is a statue of Victory, on top of a tall column. It's called the Dewey Monument, which commemorates Admiral Dewey's victory at Manilla during the Spanish-American war of 1898. The square has been redesigned recently; now it's almost only concrete and stone, with a few green touches. There is one caffe in the square where you can buy a coffe and sip it in the sun while enjoying the display of architecture around you and the people going by. On weekends local artists display their paintings here. Leave a Comment Address: Bordered by Sutter, Taylor, Kearny and O'Farrell
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"The city that knows how." William Howard Taft
Union Square is hotbed of activity in San Francisco. Famed for it's luxurious shopping facilites, restaurants and cafés, amateur dance performances and musicians take center stage here, with throngs of revellers onlooking. Around the square, you can find big American retail names such as Macy's, Ralph Lauren, Gap and Levi's. Close by is the three level Crocker Galleria on Post Street, where more exclusive brands can be found. In both these areas, I found staff to be friendly and welcoming, my favourite store being Levi's, where the very camp staff bent over backwards to help you - and what an awesome, cheerfull bunch they were. If you're into your denim goods, I suggest you check out the downstairs customising section, if like me you are desperate for a really good, uniquely fitted pair of jeans! This area is also home to the cultural and artistic side of San Francisco - with Geary, Post and Sutter Street being the main three. Along here, you can find a variety of art galleries, accomodating for both old classic and more contemporary works. Take a look in a few as they really capture the essence of San Francisco's laid-back, artsy culture. Another recommendation for furniture or antique buyers is Gump's, a San Francisco institution selling beautiful items, in my eyes definetely worth looking around. If you're looking for more quirky goods, head to Maiden Lane, a little alley where you can find a wider variety of boutiques and bistros. Plus perhaps the best thing about Union Square...no hills!! Directions: Often referred to as Union Square, it is in fact the park boardered by Geary, Post, Powell and Stockton Streets and the surrounding area.
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If you have not visited San Francisco in a few years, you will be surprised by the newly redone Union Square. Leave a Comment Directions: Downtown San Francisco. One of the most popular areas to visit and to shop. Large departments stores like Macy's as well as smaller upscale boutiques are all around the area. It you want to experience an "urban feeling", it's the place to go :-)
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Here's Union Square, in the center of San Francisco. You'll find lots of places to shop there. The big store is Macy's-one of their biggest stores, in the background-but there's lots more too. It's also got a Disney Store-they were promoting a Disney TV show last time I was there. Union Square can be quite crowded-it not only has lots of stores, but several theaters are a block or two away, plus plenty of restaurants and bars.
If you're in town during the holidays, stop by to see the Christmas tree. One night right before Christmas, a teen chorus sang some Christmas carols there-it really got me in the holiday spirit.
Union Square is one of the more touristy areas of San Francisco. I found it doesn't really give that "local feel". Still, there's so much to do there that you can't avoid it. Leave a Comment
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San Francisco's upscale shopping mecca. Surrounding Union Square are the finest hotels, restaurants and stores. Gucci, Louis Vitton, Coach, Cartier, Disney Store, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and much more. Shop till you drop or until your wallet is empty. Artisans usually ply their ware in the square on weekends. Leave a Comment Address: Geary and StocktonDirections: Downtown San Francisco
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Union Square is a shopping mecca that has a little something for every price range from free outdoor movies on select summer nights, half price ticket booth, to Tiffany’s. Since free is a great price, check out free MP3 tours of Union Square (www.geogad.com) that you can download. They point out the interesting attractions and historic trivia that is all around this area. You can find some great, inexpensive restaurants and cafes. For the best views and people watching, try Emporio Rulli. It is a very European style cafe that sits on an exclusive corner of the Union Square park itself. On a beautiful sunny day, it does not get much better than this. If you want to continue the European cafe theme, try Cafe de la Press right outside the Chinatown gate on Grant and Bush. It is pricey, but it has international newspapers that can make ex-pats feel at home. Of course, when you are in Union Square, you are right next to scenic cable cars that can take you from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf. While in Union Square, visit the pricey hotels around the square and the surrounding blocks to see how the upper crust live, which can be mighty entertaining all by itself. Locals know that one of the best places to kick back and enjoy some peaceful surfing on the Net while downing some quality coffee is on the second floor of the Borders at 400 Post St. Google has a free WiFi hot spot that covers the Border’s upstairs cafe. Bring your laptop and flip through a stack of books and magazines.
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- Harbor Court Hotel - A Kimpton Hotel
165 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA - Club Quarters, San Francisco
424 Clay Street, San Francisco, CA - Grant Hotel
753 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA - Hotel Cosmo
761 Post Street (formerly the Clarion Bedford Hotel), San Francisco, CA - Touchstone Hotel
480 Geary Street Between Mason Street and Taylor, San Francisco, CA - Cathedral Hill Hotel
1101 Van Ness Avenue Corner of Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA - Hotel Triton - A Kimpton Hotel
342 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA - Hotel Vitale-Embarcadero
8 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA - Howard Johnson Express San Francisco
385 9th Street, San Francisco, CA - Hotel Aida
1087 Market Street, San Francisco, CA - Stanyan Park Hotel
750 Stanyan Street, San Francisco, CA - Hilton San Francisco Financial District
750 Kearny Street (Formerly "Holiday Inn"), San Francisco, CA - Hotel Fusion
140 Ellis Street (Formerly Gate Hotel San Francisco), San Francisco, CA - Cornell Hotel de France
715 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA - Vintage Court Executive
650 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA
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