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City Hall
Rating Details »
Category: Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 701-2311
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
143 reviews for City Hall
The most beautiful City Hall in the USA, I can say.
Man, I feel like I am in Paris when I am around here.
I was there for my former co-worker's wedding.
She and her "now" husband live in L.A. but she hated LA city Hall.
"I cannot marry in that building like that!"
So they drove up from L.A. and married happily.
She was gorgeous and the city hall enhanced her beauty.
BTW, I saw the statue of Harvey Milk.
He is smiling forever there.
I haven't any reason to go to City Hall yet now that I'm a SF resident, but I have been there once, that time I went a Menlo College mystery dance my freshman year of college (I went to UCSC by the way, so I don't know how I got convinced to go to this shindig).
The mystery part of it was that you got on the bus at Menlo and they drove you all to some unknown location for the dance. They took us to SF City Hall. Not very exciting, but it was probably more the crowd of private college kids that I was not amused by.
Pretty building yes...but other than that, what's really going for this place?
You can't fight city hall.
Believe me, I tried. I tried. I walked right in, said I'm gonna fight city hall. City hall best throw down, lest city hall come off like a BITCH. Oh, it was ON. Like Donkey Kong.
I threw one wild roundhouse into some nearby stony pillars and immediately cracked every bone in my fist. Security attempted to restrain me. Valiantly I escaped, I became a dervish of constant assault, wide-kicking walls, high-kicking pedestals and body-slamming the stairs. I threw manly lefts and rugged rights again and again into the unyeilding concrete! I tackled immovable objects and head-butted alcoves. I jump-kicked building edges and choke-holded statueheads. Oh, it was a brutal battle.
Ultimately this ended with me having a lot of bruises and nearly fracturing all the bones in both of my hands, and very strict warnings from the security guards.
Apparently it wasn't all just a metaphor.
Well. Live and learn...
As a civic building City Hall is spectacular. The renovations that have been done to restore and enhance the structure is outstanding. Yet the politics and the antics inside at times is less than inspiring.
Walking through the main hall to view the interior of the dome is awesome. Take the time to look and yes, walk up or down those grand stairs. Just be sure to keep your balance. They are very wide and marble can be slippery.
On the main floor there is always some kind of display or exhibit, at the main lobby or in either the North or South Light Court.
Presently at the grand staircase there is a sound exhibit, displaying all the sounds of the city, such as cable car bells, birds, water, etc. Yeah, it's kind of different. But as a new form of art it is rather unique.
I guess this is when its appropriate to say, "only in San Francisco!" Ha!
All visitors must go through a security check so at busy times be patient. It is all part of the routine. Since City Hall is also open to tourists, dress code is casual.
Yet if attending a hearing or meeting with officials it is always best to dress up a bit, like business casual style.
When attending a hearing or one of those long meetings it is important to try to be on time, otherwise you will not get a seat. Staff and protocol is very strict about that. No one is allowed to stand.
Yet, when there is an overflow, the staff opens up a room with a large TV screen monitor to accommodate the extra people.
Actually, sometimes that is much better. Because you can really see all the officials presiding as they speak. And, with a place to sit that is much less stress. Try standing and taking notes in an over crowded room with little or no air conditioning, no fun!
The view from the upper floors is impressive, especially from an architecture point of view. City Hall is classic in all its details. Well worth a visit.
I came into City Hall to get some government-related business done. I'm used to ultra-functional, often dilapidated suburban municipal buildings and the concrete towers of hell that are LA's municipal buildings, so walking into this perfectly preserved architectural gem, which is just as nice on the inside as it is on the outside, was a total shock.
At 9 AM on a Wednesday, the place was pretty empty, which meant that I could enjoy the grandeur of the space on my own. The light rooms are amazing. Why they're there, I don't understand, but hey--they're beautiful.
The bathrooms are ultra-clean, which was another big shock. Seeing as it's nearly impossible to find clean public bathrooms in the Civic Center/Tenderloin area, you might want to wait a while to get through security just to come here to do your thing.
Looks better than the Capitol building!
I live in NYC and been to Boston and DC, and I think the City Hall in SF is the first one that I been inside. After checking your bags and walking through a metal detector, you're pretty much free to roam where ever your heart desires. The inside looks as good as the outside, and one of the few places that you can find mail boxes (which is hard to do in SF). A great place to check out if you're like me and don't always do the most touristy thing (although there're tourists here, but tons of Franciscans that also come here.
OMG! It looks so much better than the Capitol building, the Capitol Hall, the New York City Hall, the Los Angeles City Hall and any other city halls I have ever seen!
Wow! I'm nuts for details and boy there are a lot of details! Even on the ciel!
Also I saw a lot of people getting married in the city hall, so it's a good and cheap wedding! Wow! and it's conviently located near the Civic Center Station!
Have you ever been inside City Hall? Gorgeous gorgeous space. The dome is higher than the Capitol Building's in DC.
There is a soundscape "exhibit" going on...not sure when it ends. If you stand anywhere within the rotunda area you hear sounds representative of SF. You will hear various sounds depending on where you stand. Go up to the highest balcony and look down....unless you are afraid of heights.
There is also a small museum in a large room off the rotunda with SF historical artifacts.
Stopped by here on accident. Got off the bus to make a transfer and was like whoa, what's this gold building?
Oh...It's city hall!!!
Must be nice to be in a city where gold was found, everything is blinging!
My wife and I were married here in the Rotunda. Why wouldn't I love this place. City Hall will always have a special place in my heart.
I just hope the California Supreme Court will give us back our constitutional right and keep SF City Hall a reminder of our special day.
Stop the H8!
I went to City Hall to pay a license fee for work. I've been to City Hall many times before, but I never realized how nice of a building it actually is. I was there right before closing and I caught the light from the entrance and as I was standing there in the rotunda, I just stopped and couldn't help but notice how beautiful it is. It's funny that City Hall could look beautiful, but it really did. The grand steps leading upstairs, the ceiling above, the marble floors, it just felt really nice.
There was a bride and groom taking pictures at the steps and I took a minute to watch as the bride was absolutely gushing and gorgeous and they looked so happy.
I've never been to City Hall for an actual event, but I'll have to catch one here next time. I can only imagine how nice of a venue it would be for an event.
Everyone has stopped to admire the rotunda with its fantastic lights while strolling down a street in the evening. It's no secret of the beauty of the building itself from the outside, but the inside is so much better! Another San Francisco landmark!
I attended an after part last night at City Hall and it was the first time I had been inside (I try to stay clear of government buildings). The floors and ceilings are equally magnificent and balance each other with an array of colors and stones. The space is huge with two large rooms on the ground floor, directly behind the foyer.
A really neat and historical venue if you are looking for a place in the heart of San Francisco with plenty of room. Hopefully I will find myself at City Hall more often (only for benefits and parties of course ).
An intimate day ceremony on the steps of the Rotunda is as stunning as an extravagant evening wedding in the Rotunda. And you'll be able to put that $100K towards your new home together.
"Some love stories aren't epic novels, some are short stories. But, that doesn't make them any less filled with love." - Carrie Bradshaw
We got married here, and had a fabulous experience. Everyone we dealt with, from top to bottom, was so wonderful and easy to work with during the entire experience. It goes without saying that the venue was beautiful. A must see if you come to San Francisco.
a conversation between GurE and me at the wedding ceremony of Jeff and Tiffinie.
GurE said, " Jeff's brother looks just like Jeff's brother."
I was like, ".....Hell?"
GurE, ' My brother doesn't look like me at all."
I said, " Urrrrr, you know, there is nothing wrong with adaption."
GurE, "No No, he is my real natural brother but we just don't look like each other."
I said, " I thought Fong is his brother. Btw, I always wanted to ask. How many turbans you have? You wear Red at the yelp party 2 days ago."
GurE, " hahahahaha! Yeah, well, I am selling turbans, I have my own website for that. So I have about 80."
I was like, "uh-huh, so now I know where to get a turban! I think i might need one for just in case."
Btw,
Actually, this is my 1st time being inside of the City Hall, I used to come here to pick up my son because he was a member of SF skate board park project. But I've never been inside.
So after the ceremony, my GF and I walked around.
We just watched the movie MILK, so we were looking for his statue.
it was on the 2nd floor with his famous quote on it, " I ask for the movement to continue because my election gave young people out there hope. You gotta give 'em hope,"
When I saw the statue, I felt my eyes a bit watered.
I took bow to the statue to pay my respect to the really strong man.
It was a great Friday morning to attend wedding and I've never know the City Hall is that clean and beautiful.
We run into Rob Roth, a reporter of KTVU, He was a tall well dressed old guy was making a phone call like a drama queen.
http://www.ktvu.com/st...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/20/2007
Gavin, My Man!
That's all right. No body is perfect!
But just don't drink and drive.
By the way,
I… Read more »
Never mind the crooked politicking that goes on around here. This building is a true gem in a nation otherwise marred with exceedingly hideous buildings. It's facade is stately, uniform, and highly refined but not overly grandiose or gaudy. The rows of trees in the front of the building just frame this gorgeous beauty in such a way that it moves me deeply because it's just so beautiful. It's a crying shame that they don't build city halls like this anymore, let alone any type of building anymore. The more modern city halls in this nation tend to be prison-like modules of utility with no character and a lot of ugliness. With the rate of entropy occurring at an exponential rate in this nation, it's nice to know that I can look at this building and take solace in its sheer beauty.
I used to dream about having a destination wedding in Maldives or Fiji, but after seeing Jeff and Tiff get married under the Rotunda, I'm dreaming no more. This place is BEAUTIFUL!
Too bad I couldn't convince Eugy to get married that day. We could have done it side by side! I think he wanted to faint when I suggested that we get married that day. Boys... Such pansies sometimes... hah..
I love to intern here twice a week in the John Avalos office. It's a lot of fun, and they have some sound exhibition which also love because it really gives life to the building.
I can't wait to be married here one day. =D
When I was in high school, my family hosted an Australian exchange student for a semester. The first time we met, she could not stop gushing about City Hall.
Aussie: I just want you to know that I have been all over the world and your town hall is the loveliest I've ever seen.
Kerry P. (Age 15): Cool. My parents keep vodka in the basement freezer. Wanna make screwdrivers?
I thought of her today as I walked across Carlton B. Goodlett Place, ballot in hand. This magnificent structure really IS remarkable, topped with the one of the largest domes outside of Europe and beautiful detailing which will stun onlookers during the day or night hours.
I came to City Hall today for early voting, just so I could feel amongst 'em and not have my ballot sit in a room somewhere until votes get close. People, things are getting EXCITING! You can feel the energy and power among everyone in attendance. Two voters skipped away from the polls giggling and exclaimed, "I just voted for the first time!" A scene like that might even melt the cold, impotent heart of Karl Rove. Or not.
After my voting adventure I watched two men wed atop the grand staircase. Anyone who claims marrying at City Hall is boring or tacky clearly hasn't been inside. Today civic duty could not have seemed or felt more wonderful.
"Reading directions?!? pft....whatever, I'll just connect the arrow fletching to the arrow heads and Angelo Voteing 08 is done!"
"Wrong!!!!!"
I get the call from my parents (guess I listed them as an alternate #) that I forgot to sign my ballot. (arg!)
So on 11/3/08 in the pouring rain, I'm trecking to City Hall to sign my ballot.
I walk right up to the guard and tell him my intentions. He says he can't let anyone in trying to do anything related to voteing. OMG OMG OMG does that mean I did all that...wasted my whole 15 minutes of paperwork?!?! But he told me that if I go around the corner to the back, I might be able to get in the building by talking to some guy. "If this ordeal will involve a reach around and a blindfold, then count me out. Barack will have to take his chances w/out my support." I think to myself. But surprisingly, I just run into another guard, who tells me to go to room 38.
I'm greeted there by some cute chicks who quickly find my ballot and have me sign, print, date, address and I'm out the door w/ my "I voted" sticker. Painless as could be.
God Bless America, Barack the vote!
Classy for our city.
I thought it fitting that my 900th review would be about City Hall. Not to mention, my viewing of Gavin handing out his usual perfect smiles and inducing speech with matching fluid hands and perfectly slicked back hair. Sigh. What can I say, he's good looking and extremely charismatic. And he looks even better delivering all of this from the grand staircase; image consultants contracted to him, doing a good job.
A fantastic venue thanks to the neoclassical columns with an interior stabilized with massive granite and marble finishes. No chintz here since I personally think anything gilded fake gold is cheesy but marble usually equates to a bit of class. This definitely adds a bit of renaissance (and reminds me of the cherry wood tables with marble tops that my mum had all over the house, blah) and the stairs makes for a grand entrance to any speech, event, setup, foundation for the presenters. The added skylights let in enough light during the day for a soft finish to any picture.
Further information found here: http://www.sfgov.org/s.... Wonder why the buildings situated around City Hall seem to flow with one another in terms of architectural parallels? Excerpt from the site state "The architect was Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed San Francisco's Opera House, Veterans Building, Temple Emanuel, Coit Tower and 50 United Nations Plaza." Hence no breaks to the visual eye.
I've been here for several venues and each time, they were methodically planned and the spaces efficiently utilized for maximum exposure. It has a large capacity and the layout makes for easy mingling, although the hard rock surfaces carry laughter to the other side and heels echo continuously throughout the halls.
Hands down, a lovely building during the day and even more so at night with the lights radiating the dome. Take a seat across the street and let the perfectly lined trees channel your view for a perspective.
A true SF landmark.
Beautiful architecture and an overwhelming feeling of warmth as soon as you step in. I went to my cousins wedding today and it made me feel a little happy to see people in love, hugging, kissing, and celebrating a wonderful future to come.
Plus Gavin is teh HotZors
We have one hell of a City Hall, I must say.
I love City Hall.
It was at its front steps that I watch my friend get married when Gavin allowed gay marriages and I've never seen so many gay couples, except maybe Pride...or Holloween...or Folsom, um, let's start over. I've never seen so many loving gay couples wanting to get married in my life. On that fateful day, I clasped my hands together praying that one day I was going to meet the man of my dreams. And, I swear, it was at that moment a black tinted car drove up the curb and out pops Gavin, our mayor! Under the beautiful, sunny sky and gleaming City Hall dome, he flashes his charismatic smile and shakes my hand (he had hands as soft as Chinese silk, btw). I was stunned by the moment and all I could stutter was, 'Thank you, Mr Mayor, for allowing love to prevail.' I'll never forget that day - it was a perfect day, even if I didn't get hitched!
Inside is the grand staircase where I witnessed the SF Boys Chorus sing like angels at the Mayor's inauguration, before being whisked off to sing for Prez Obama. Well, I guess if you can sing like angels the Heavens will open...or something like that.
On the 4th floor are hearing rooms where the different Commissions go about their business and the public gets their opportunity to voice their issues on public record (cameras are pointed at the podium and the Commissioners' bench which can be viewed on SFgov TV, Channel 26). I love the balconies on the 4th floor with the giant arched windows to let the sun flow in and the giant French-style urns that ornate the rail. This is the location for the filming of 'Milk' with Sean Penn as Harvey Milk.
On the 2nd floor, you can find the individual Supervisor's office with their names emblazoned on the doors. I like passing by Supe Bevan Dufty's door - such a nice guy and I think, overall, he is good for City gov't. The top of the grand staircase leads you to the double doors into the Board of Supervisor's hearing chambers; the walls are made of a rare Manchurian oak. On the opposite end is Rm 200, the Mayor's office.
The first floor you'll find the Tax Collector, Neighborhood Services, Assessor-Recorder's offices. I've seen some amazing transformations of City Hall for parties with golden trumpeting angels, luxe velvet draperies, dramatic lightings, in like 3 hours flat. And there are tons of newly wed couples and their friends in some snappy clothes. I love seeing their beaming faces, one of which was Marilyn's, decades ago. Maybe one day I'll even see Toni Collette having her 'Muriel's Wedding' moment, or some version of it, with the quintessential ABBA music running through my head.
Don't forget the basement. It's not what you think. They actually treat their walls here like a gallery and display incredible things like Billy Graham's concert collection of photos (Madonna, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Cure) and various other up-and-coming artists - provocative. Currently, they have these giant photos of offices with office workers. I won't bore you with my interpretations, but it does have visual impact.
I believe City Hall is most beautiful at night, with its dome and columns all lit up - a very stately building. The dome is an echo of Les Invalides in Paris (Napoleon's burial site). The exterior is Sierra granite and much of the interior is California marble and Indiana sandstone. The building is in the Beaux Arts ('fine art') style, similar to the other buildings that collectively make up the Civic Center Historic District with the park in the center (they now have outdoor cafes to enjoy the sun). Across the park is the Asian Art Museum and the Main Library, and along McAllister is the California Supreme Court, where they ruled the validity of Prop 8.
5 stars to City Hall for being a significant part of a world-class city!
I came here a few weeks ago for the Seventh Annual Monte Carlo Casino charity auction hosted by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This place was soooo packed! The lower level where the lobby is was where they had most of their food. They had food from local favorites such as Yoshi's and a bunch of other places I could not for the life of me remember. They had a lot of different types of food including Japanese, Italian, American, Indian, Thai, Mediterranean, and probably something I'm forgetting to mention. There were bars everywhere you turned mixing cocktails and pouring beer. Because we had VIP bracelets, we were allowed to go upstairs to the second floor where we had a private bar and this awesome sushi that totally kicked Yoshi's ass downstairs. We were munching on these all night and even got to do lots of exploring around City Hall after hours. I think this was the coolest part. We took loads of pictures and went up and down the elevators and hallways. We probably weren't supposed to be up there, but nobody stopped us! I must say I will never forget this experience. The City Hall looks awesome at night, btw!
Final Verdict: I was lucky enough to be able to attend this event, the invitation must be heaven sent! We ran up and down the city hall stairs, we had been drinking all night so we didn't care.
My husband and I tied the know here two years ago! I Love him more now than the day we married. City Hall's the way to go. I'm a laid back kinda chick and enjoyed every moment of my wedding day thanks to City Hall! Plus, it saved me the thousands of dollars on a big wedding day and we were able to spend the money saved on other things...
It was cheap, fast and easy! Nothing like my marriage which is more memorable with each passing day.
We got married there on March 23, 2007. There were no protests
scheduled or weird holiday scheduled either. The newly remodeled rotunda is amazing. I loved it because while we were giving our vows there were field trips of children all around and got to watch us get married. So my husband and I will be in the memories of countless children and their idea of getting married at city hall. My profile photo was taken at the bottom of the stairs in the rotunda. We couldnt have chosen a better place to get married or a better day.
Just a quick history lesson, Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio got married there and that is why I chose SF City Hall. We kept it small like they did and it was perfect.
I cant look at a photo of the building without getting all gitty inside. Thats why I love all the coverage of all the gay marriages that have been happening there. I get to see the same place I stood on the news almost every night.
You couldnt ask for a better place to be married.
Last spring, when Mr. H. and I decided to get married, we knew we did not want a big ceremony. Just something simple. Just the two of us. We were planning a trip to San Francisco in the summer, and, as this is one of our favorite cities in the world, decided that is where we would like to be wed.
Little did we realize when we made this decision that:
-- We would be being married at one of the most beautiful places in the world. SF City Hall is magnificent, grand old building. We are both fans of extraordinary architecture and SF City Hall more than fills that bill. Everyone knows the dome and rotunda and grand staircase, but, beyond those, there are magnificent nooks and crannies that make every inch of this building something special.
-- Everyone we encountered at SF City Hall, from the folks in the clerk's office to the JP who married us to the other visitors we met in-between getting licensed and getting married would be so friendly and helpful.
-- We'd now have something in common with Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.
-- There would be such a feeling of love and hope and excitement in the air. This was during the days, that I certainly hope return, when ALL couples were legally allowed to wed in California. That we were being wed in a jurisdiction that welcomed and included all certainly contributed to making our day special. I read one man's opinion that it was a whole new "summer of love" in San Francisco and we'll forever feel blessed for having been a part of that.
For all this and more, SF City Hall will always be a very special and important place to us both.
The California Supreme Court has posted on its walls a lot of pictures of other cities' City Halls and I've got to say that San Francisco's is the most beautiful of them all. When you stand in the rotunda and look up, you're looking up at some amazing work in the dome.
I also had the opportunity to go inside the Mayor's Office when he was out of town one week, and the wood paneling, his desk, the entire office was just gorgeous. The other offices and rooms there are pretty nice, too.
The only reason why I can't give it five stars is because I had my prom here and I attended another banquet here, and the acoustics are just awful. Seriously, do not rent this place if you ever hold an event that requires audio. Oh, and I like how City Hall's exterior can be lit up in different colors, but I hate it when they do red. When the outside is lit up in the red, it truly looks like City Hall is the doorway to hell.
We got married here on August 8, 2008, and it was awesome. Although there were tons of couples getting hitched that day, everything was streamlined and went very smoothly. We got a very private, lovely spot on the mezzanine overlooking the great hall. The civil ceremony was perfect for us, and our families and photographer were there to enjoy it as well.
This place was beautiful and I married the most self-less & loving man in the world here.
Our ceremony was at the top of the grand staircase. We were warned that the Chamber of Commerce was right behind us and that sometimes a meeting would end and some clueless people would walk right in between a couple during their ceremony. Thank goodness that didn't happen to us!
The judge was very direct but at the same time seemed genuinely happy to marry us. She told us beforehand that we would probably laugh, cry and talk to each other throughout the ceremony; that sometimes the rings don't fit right away and to not take that as a sign of bad luck, that we might be too shy all of a sudden to look directly at each other during the ceremony and that she didn't mind if we stared at her instead.
All those things happened and damn right, I bawled. To be married to someone you love so much, in such a beautiful place ... ya can't help but let your emotions get the best of you (and your eye make up!).
I would not have done it any other way. Although, my mother keeps saying that there now needs to be a "real" wedding. I don't know, this was pretty real to me!
Just a note: Please be respectful to those having a ceremony performed. We were beginning our ceremony when the next couple to be married came out of the elevators with their huge party. They didn't seem to give a damn that there was a ceremony going on and the judge had to stop and tell them to shut up. Yes, it is a public space but show some class and refrain from loud conversation.
I am basing my review SOLELY on their passport service. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PLACE!! If you need to get a passport, definitely come HERE. Initially, I was planning to get my passport at a post office. However, everytime I went, they gave me some sort of B.S. reason for not being able to do it for me (timing was off, or they wouldn't even pick up the phone, or or or... the one in Daly City had a busy phone line 9am-10am yet insisted this to be the ONLY time I could schedule an appointment). Fed up with running in circles and being sent somewhere else, I decided to just go to City Hall. It was BEAUTIFUL in here, and the wait was about 30-40 minutes which isn't too bad (bring a magazine?). Also, make sure to feed your meters, I just put in an hour worth of quarters, just in case. Come HERE, seriously, the LEAST amount of hassle for a passport.
How can I not be an amazing fan of city hall as it is where I got married to my wonderful wife!
I'd like to send a big shout out to San Francisco's City Hall. It was a blast running for mayor of the City, in 2007.
Please check one:
[ ] Same sex marriage
[ X ] Opposite sex marriage
*clicky*
http://static.px.yelp....
When I was a child, my parents used to drive my brother and I absolutely m.f.ing crazy when we were on vacation.
"It's so PREEEEEEETYYYYY!!" was the constant refrain from the front seat.
I'm surprised Brother and I even still have functioning eyeballs, due to the mass quantities of eyerolling that occurred in the backseats of family vehicles between the years of 1989 and 1996.
Do you know what I think about City Hall?
It's so pretty.
About three months ago I got married at city hall during lunch time. The ceremony was about four minutes, emotions ran high, and a couple of close friends showed up to stand witness. It was beautiful, wonderful, overwhelming, loving, and after wards I went back to work. Now what type of person goes back to work after they get married?
I spent a whole year planning my first wedding. It was a lot of work but it helped to completely mask the underlying catastrophic issues in the relationship. So that was good. Like any first marriage/wedding expectations were set high, the guest list went from 50 to 100 to 150 to who the fuck are these people? We had 16 people in our wedding party. That was just plain ridiculous. I wanted my two best friends and my brother-in-law on my side but here is what happened. The ex launched into the following monologue -
"Ok so I'm thinking my sisters, your sister, Katie, Colleen, and Amy. But If I have Katie then I'm going to have to have Laurie because Katie had Laurie and I in her wedding. But Amy and Laurie are still fighting because Amy didn't have Laurie in her wedding. Then maybe my cousin Kara too but Colleen doesn't like Kara because she had sex with her little brother like two years ago on the 4th of July. "
This continued on and I realized that our wedding party was essentially going to be junior high school lunch room dynamics playing themselves out on the alter. This actually proved to be a larger theme throughout the relationship. Anyway, I was calling my 2nd and 3rd cousins to be like Hey! cousin (looks at phone list) Dave! I know we haven't talked in 23 years but want to be in my wedding party? And so on and so forth.
So me, my two friends, my brother in-law, and five strangers stood on my side and waited for Frederick High School to come down the aisle. It was at that moment that the all knowing voice in all of our heads that we rarely listen to said to me - "This is a bad decision". So I did what any insightful 20 something does who has spent 6 years in a lack luster relationship does - I got married. And then two years later I did what any 29 year old does when they wake up one morning and realize their wife is still decorating the apartment like a college dorm room - I got divorced.
This year I stood at the top of the stairs of city hall, shaking a little bit, so happy that my unborn child was not going to be sent directly to hell, with a woman who I adored and was truly in love with and that all knowing voice spoke to me again and said, "I'm kind of pissed there is no open bar at this wedding." Yeah - my inner voice has got its priorities straight.
The most architecturally stunning City Hall in all the land.
Their County Clerk's office (marriage license central) is also filled with friendly folks.
We lucked out, SF.
Being the supportive friend i am, i accompanied the BF to city hall to obtain permits for his company's development project. (ok, maybe it helped that he promised me an awesome day was to follow).
I took this opportunity to fully explore city hall. I've been here a few times but never really took the time to walk around. i've always known there's more than offices here.
I was invited to take a peek and witness the few same sex marriages that were happening. Oh so beautiful! The BF's eye's got big when he saw me try to catch a bouquet.
You MUST stand in the center and look up at the dome. No you won't look like an idiot since there were tourist doing the same thing. Ahhh and the grand staircase, I asked the BF if he could have one of these added to one of his projects, don't think it's gonna happen.
I waltzed downstairs to look at the photo gallery that lined the hallways leading to the "official offices." pretty interesting art work. i know they get changes every other month or so.
didn't see Mayor Newsom, maybe next time. DARN!
For the first time ever in the history of the United States, people of the same gender who love one another came here and got married...and were issued marriage licenses and certificates, and married by persons with the capacity to marry them. It lasted only as long as it took to have it shut down by people who still support inequality and favoritism for straight people. But it was the catalyst for movements nationwide---and worldwide---to bring long overdue civil rights to gay people everywhere. I mean, really, for Christ's sake, who believes that allowing homosexual people to sanctify their unions in the traditional official manner will really jeopardize....well, ANY FUCKING THING??!!
But it happened right here, at the same City Hall where Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone were assassinated.
The building is lovely, and it's colorful history is fascinating. When justice and equality finally prevail, I will come here to get married to the man of my dreams.
