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Clarion Alley
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35 reviews for Clarion Alley
Murals are cool. FREE & in SF I love it. I've been to Balmy Alley and now Clarion Alley - both are good, but different.
Clarion Alley is wild & everything goes.
Balmy Alley more ethnic.
Go check out both since they are in the Mission.
Clarion Alley is close to 16th St Bart. Go to 17th St, then turn Left on Clarion Alley. It's so colorful!
Great photo ops. Just don't take pics of the people sitting there, smoking or drinking - too scared they might jump me.
I stopped by the Clarion Alley block party last weekend and felt like the lamest, most unhip person in the world. 3 stars.
But the murals are totally badass. 5 stars.
We live right by this alley and every October the Clarion Alley
festival is held. Loud garage bands, lots of hipsters, crust punks,
and b-boys. If you don't like it, just plan not to be home.
Let the people have this one day, once a year.
One year we invited over a few folks and bbq'd and watched
the madness from our deck, fun times.
I love the fact that small celebrations like this exist even though
most of the Mission has been gentrified and has no soul. . . .
My friends live on this alley so I've been exposed to the good and the bad that it has to offer.
Good: Once or twice a year they have festivals that bring out a ton of people and flood the place with music. The murals are excellent and really spruce up the whole vibe of the area.
Bad: On most nights there are random people that flood the place with good cheer and by good cheer I mean drugs, sex, drinking and urination. Fist fights and people rummaging through the recycle bins at 4 AM. will put damper on your sleep, but you get used to it. It kinda becomes like one of those wave radios that lulls you to sleep with the sounds of the ocean. With this sound track instead of occasionally hearing a wave crash you hear, "DO YOU WANT TO GO TO JAIL OR DO YOU WANT TO GO HOME?"
I'd totally forgotten about this area. Back in the day when I used to teach photography, film and video we took some of my students here to see what an artist in residence project/commune looked like. It seems like most people only see the murals and what not and dont realize what goes on behind the scenes. Definitely good for seeing the local art flavor of SF but if you want an in depth perspective, speak to some of the artists that live there!
I read about this in a local's guide and had to check it out. I haven't seen anything like this in any other city.
A lot of times you can watch the artists work.
Occasionally there will be music show along the backgroup of the art, which is cool.
Neat spot worth checking out if you are in the neighborhood.
But I agree- places like this is what makes San Francisco such a cool city to live in.
According to Urban Dictionary:
GRAFFITI: An element of the Hip Hop culture misinterpreted and misrepresented by the mainstream media, and most especially hated by affluent (usually white) businessmen who don't understand the roots or meaning of the writing on the walls.
TAGGING: Unlike graffiti, tagging usually takes less time and skill as it is done in one color with a single can of spray paint or thick marker.
Tagging is nothing more than an aesthetic shit stain on public and private property... whereas graffiti brings to life a surface that would otherwise be dying a slow and miserable death (beat up train, abandoned building, dilapidated commuter tunnel, etc...). There's a huge difference, and I'm a huge geek for artists that make the world their canvas.
Clarion Alley is filled with cool looking bombs from artists all around San Francisco. It's a shame that some folks feel the need to vandalize some of the better looking pieces with their names written in Sharpie marker... but I suppose it's unavoidable.
Take your visiting friends here for photo ops galore.
Places like this is what makes San Francisco so cool. There is some really gorgeous artwork here and it's all free for you to enjoy.
Great stop for visitors. But don't go at night - the area gets a bit shady after dusk.
If you ever venture into the Mission district... I am telling you, you gotta check out the murals in clarion Valley. My favorite mural would have to be the hearts of gold mural. Definitely reminded me of what kind of woman I want to become. Strength from a vulnerable perspective. Also, these murals speak of the community in the mission district. THEY really SPEAK. and taking a stand towards social injustice through these beautiful murals, from the oppression of women to the oppression of cultures/ethnicities, is truly inspiring. You gotta see... sit... and ponder.
a truly san franciscan gem. an alley full of interesting huge murals, covering walls, houses, fences. stopped by the block party last night for some live music and crowds. would like to learn more about the history here...if in sf, definitely stop by.
Yup... Still dope.
Tip: Bring a camera.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/7/2007
Simply beautiful! To call this an alley with interesting graffiti would not do it justice...
The… Read more »
It stinks of piss and it's got great art.
If you want a sterile environment void of anima and ammonia, go to MOMA.
This is Real.
This is The City encapsulated. Your eyes roll across images of hope, protest, mirth and wit while your feet flirt with extreme filth and urban squalor. This is a space where artists come to realize visions and junkies step into for a quick fix or to take a dump.
I've been coming here to photodocument for about 4 years and no matter what there is always something new, something in process and something I recognize from before. It is exciting.
For instance. I went there today for the first time in about 6 months and the first thing I saw was a pig's head in a bag on the curb. Was it random or artistically placed? I don't know but the word "head" was in a mural right next to it and another mural had a skull gazing down upon it. Down the way there was an artist putting up a new piece, his friends stopping by to see how it was going and the occasional photographer moving through. At the end of the alley, ominous, is Mission Street, up to no good.
San Francisco is a schizophrenic town, repulsive and frighteningly disfunctional and if you keep your eyes open you'll see an inspiring, ongoing rebellion against fear, despair and powerlessness. There is no place easier to see it than Clarion.
It is true, some of the best things in life are free.
Street art at it's finest. This is a must-go-to spot.
Super awesome. Minus 1 star for the urine stink.
All the stars go towards the art and my friend Lauren's photography project in this alley!
I love walking down this alley after a few hours of thrifting in Mission. It's perfect! However, I wish someone would clean up the Mission St end, it's so yucky. I always hold my breath and walk super fast when I get to the end.
One of these days I dream to venture down the alley with my BFF from LBC stoned and chill and see how much more cooler this place actually is. *Chham get your ass up here*
Anyways, it's a definite must see for tourist and perfect place to reconnectand appreciate SF.
STINKY, but worth the occasional dry heave.
Beautiful colours and punchy.
Even the tourists flock here!
Walk, it's good for your health. Enjoy this beautiful city (Clarion Alley) for it's unique culture, look straight ahead in awe!
I am a local photographer and this is a great spot to take portraits. It's about a block long and full of fantastic murals on both sides...
Street art in the mission is pretty fantastic and this just happens to be a super awesomely condensed area of it.
Wow, this a great collection of urban art!
here are my pics:
http://www.flickr.com/...
Yes, it smells like pee but it's worth it!
Every one who walks through this alley stops in their tracks to admire the art. It's sooo kool!! Best alley I've seen in SF! It's not even scary walking through it if you do it in the daytime. :)
Also, I wish some people would stop doing graffiti tags over the beautiful artwork already on the walls! It's beginning to ruin them!
How could you NOT rate this five stars?
I mean, yeah....it starts to smell like piss once you get closer to Mission Street...but, dude....even my MOM from MISSOURI liked it!
Politically-charged, completely talented, absolutely unique, must-see-it-here-to-see-it-at-all.
And they throw one HELL of a block party.
I live behind this alley (my deck borders it).
Clarion Alley is another one of SF's hidden gems. It is covered in public art by local artists. Murals cover every subject imaginable but have a dominant theme of social justice. Just type in "Clarion Alley" on Flickr for a sample of some of the badass murals covering this street.
Precita Eyes (http://www.precitaeyes...) also does mural tours.
[Minus one star only because the alley gets occasionally overrun by crack addicts who use it for a bathroom!]
My best buddy from college was in town.
He's a stay-at-home dad with two kids, lives in the suburbs of Seattle. Doesn't get out much, so I set up some regression therapy comprising drinking, playing Xbox 360, eating, and more drinking. On the fringes of this brutal regimen, I tried to ensure that he got some culture.
Clarion Alley was the last stop on an afternoon walk we'd taken from my apartment in Twin Peaks which included Dolores Park, lunch at Tartine, X21, Borderlands Bookstore ( sigh - no Ripley), and the Pirate Store. It was a beautiful day, and the alleyway was crowded with people checking out some new work on the walls. As we sauntered East toward Mission, I noticed some furtive movement on the right side of the alley about 25 yards in front of us. There was a guy pressed up against the fence, slightly stooped, looking for all the world like he was either stuck to, or merging with, the boards.
Turns out both were true. There was a little hole in the fence that he was trying to cram 'himself' into.
Now I have seen a lot of things in my 43 years on this planet. But I have never seen anyone work so desparately to achieve carnal bliss with a FENCE in broad daylight, and with an audience.
I mean -- there is just no protocol that I know of that provides any helpful guidance on dealing with a situation like this. It's a bit of a conversation killer.
So we walked along in silence, both appalled and maybe a little amused, and tried to give this guy his privacy. However our friend -- let's just call him Woody Woodpecker -- wasn't having ANY of that . I guess he hadn't quite worked that knot out of the wood (if you know what I'm saying), because he stopped in mid-saw and began to berate us for, all jokes aside, "interrupting my nut". He yanked his pants up and strode purposefully up Balmy Street in the direction of the Mission police station.
Ah, San Francisco, city of art and culture. And carpentry!
We were glad to get back to the relative calm and sanity of the Castro.
Three words: Urban art gallery.
I won't even lie: I'd rather walk down alleys all day long than step inside the DeYoung, MOMA or Legion of honor.
I can appreciate museums, but I love grassroots art.
These are my pictures from the alley:
http://flickr.com/phot...
I had been to a couple of other alleys (Balmy) but this is by far my favorite.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend going out there alone with expensive Dslr gear as there are tons of drug deals and transient people on the Mission side of the alley. You're safe on the Valencia side since the Mission police station is there.
Anyone interested in urban art owes it to themselves to check out Clarion alley.
Balmy street and Clarion alley are by far the best place for street art in San Francisco and maybe even US. Balmy st is the older site and you can find guided tours from Precita Eyes.
Clarion is newer and the art has more anger in it. Don't be put off by the stink. And don't be scared. It is safe - at the end of the road is the local police station.
For a link to some high quality photos of the murals and more local flavor of these two streets:
http://locomotoring.ne...
You will be happy to note that SFO is one of the best cities for mural art. Even Diego Rivera (http://diegorivera.com...) painted murals here.
Sometimes my out of town guests do get put off by the down to earth Mission district but for locals this is the place to go. So if you are an adventurous visitor, want to do what the local do, please visit Mission after the more obvious piers, north beach, china town and the union square. And if you are at Mission, you can't but not see the murals.
For a more complete trip of the Mission area, read on :
http://locomotoring.ne...
I love clarion alley. I can't really say anything that hasn't been said in other reviews, so fuck it. That's all you get.
Who can justify paying $12 for a museum entrance fee when you can see the best art in SF for freezy?! I recently inherited the bfs castaway DSLR when he upgraded so I needed a quick lesson and some tips. What a great place for a self-guided photography walking tour! And yes it is worth it to hold your breath for a couple seconds when you crouch down right next to the dooodoo to capture the perfect shot. Granted Balmy Alley is less smelly....but Clarion is 2 blocks from Birite Creamery....the best way to purge your nose from all offending odors.
I accidentally found Clarion Alley one day while biking around the Mission District in SF. I felt like I stumbled into the best alley in all of San Francisco. And most people I tell have never heard of this place.
It's a small alley that connects Mission and Valencia, between 17th and 18th. Unlike most alleys in SF, however, it does not smell like urine. Oh and it has some of the most colorful and beautiful modern graffiti/murals in the city.
Apparently the city commissioned local street artists to take wall plots and turn then into something wonderful. The best part is that most of them are pristine (i.e. no defacing).
Check it out. It's better than an art gallery.
Posted up on a palm tree. Smoking a cigarette. Hop on my cruiser and start rolling from 17th St. down Mission, southwise.
Take a right at Clarion Alley. Enjoy the treat that hits your eyes. It is the representation of Mission in Graffiti form. Trust me, once you come here, you want to LIVE in the Mission. It worked for me. I live across the street now.
Five friggin' stars!
Clarion Alley is the best public bathroom in the Mission!
If you are easily susceptible to Stendhal Syndrome, then I recommend that you don't visit Clarion Alley.
Clarion has the freshness. It's good that Balmy Alley doesn't change, even as the plants start growing over and covering the murals, I wouldn't want them to paint over with anything new, but we do also always need new art. and Clarion is bigger.
but Trey F. yes it does too smell like urine! I've seen presumably homeless ppl pee there but yesterday I saw a hipster walking with his friends stop and pee there... why?! why not hold it until you get to the next alley that's not the most beautiful collection of art !? the smell is much worse on the Mission side than the Valencia side, almost unbearable most of the time just in that small part of it, yuk
This is one of my favorite mural alleyways in the mission. One of my dear friends did a mural in this alley and I even shot his brother's CD cover in front of the mural. I use it alot as an interesting backdrop for portraits. The only thing is that I would not wear open toe shoes and don't be surprised if you see some shady activity here.
cool local art, all different styles, always changing, and totally free!
good for a taste of real SF culture, and a smell of real human urine.
definitely only go during the day and enter from the valencia street end. turn around and walk back when the smell of piss gets too thick for normal breathing... and viola!
