Little Italy

Little Italy San Francisco

Originally, the city’s northeast shoreline extended only to what is today Taylor and Francisco streets. The area largely known today as North Beach was an actual beach, filled in with land fill around the late 19th century. Warehouses, fishing wharves, and docks were then built on the newly formed shoreline. Due to the proximity of the docks, the southern half of the neighborhood south of Broadway was home of the infamous Barbary Coast.[6]

Following its reconstruction after the 1906 earthquake, a large number of Italian immigrants created the Italian character of the neighborhood that still exists. Prominent Italian Americans that came from the neighborhood include baseball legend Joe DiMaggio who grew up in the neighborhood and briefly returned to live there with his wife Marilyn Monroe during the 1950s, as well as former San Francisco mayor and politician Joseph Alioto plus others from the prominent Alioto family.

During the 1950s, many of the neighborhood’s cafes and bars became the home and epicenter of the Beat Generation and gave rise to the San Francisco Renaissance. The term “beatnik” originated from the scene here and was coined in a derogatory fashion by famed San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen. Many of that generation’s most famous writers and personalities such as Jack KerouacAllen GinsbergGregory CorsoNeal Cassady lived in the neighborhood. Another poet from this generation, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, founded the City Lights Bookstore that still exists today on the corner of Broadway and Columbus as an official historic landmark and serves as one of the main focal points of this generation.

During the 1960s a notable night spot was The Committee, an improvisational theatre group founded by alumni of The Second City in Chicago. The Committee opened April 10, 1963 at 622 Broadway in a 300-seat cabaret theater.

The Broadway area also created innovations for the strip club industry. The Condor Club, on the corner of Columbus and Broadway, was opened in 1964 as America’s first topless bar, which it is again today. The Lusty Lady was the first striptease club to be structured as a worker cooperative, which meant that it was managed by the dancers who worked at that peep-show establishment. Broadway strip clubs owe their legacy to the Barbary Coast, which was located just one block south on Pacific Street during the late 19th-century.[citation needed]

In the 1970s and 1980s Broadway was the location of many live music clubs, like the Stone, and a punk rock club called the Mabuhay Gardens.[citation needed]

Since the 1980s, and much like Manhattan’s Little Italy, due to a decrease in emigration from Italy and gentrification, the neighborhood has seen its native Italian American population rapidly shrink, while neighboring Chinatown has been rapidly expanding north into the neighborhood south of Broadway and along Stockton Street causing a major demographic shift to a mix of mostly Chinese and young professional population, although some, albeit very few, Italian Americans remain.[citation needed]

Paul Kantner was living in North Beach in an apartment unit above Al’s Attire at the corner of Grant Avenue and Vallejo Street at the time of his death, and was often a patron of nearby Caffe Trieste.[7]

North Beach was home to the first lesbian bar in San Francisco, Mona’s 440 Club. Mona Sargeant and her husband Jimmie opened Mona’s in 1936 in a North Beach basement as a small underground bar celebrating the end of Prohibition. Once Mona’s gained enough popularity between the gay community and tourists, the club moved to a much larger location at 440 Broadway Street. The club remained Mona’s 440 until the mid 1950s.

Wikipedia

Little Italy in New York goes back to the late 1800’s .  Rather than go into a all that history here, I will give you some links to articles and some books on the subject, written by people who write better than I.  Also, there are some great Youtube videos that you can watch.

San Francisco’s Italians – SFGenealogy

Where to Find Italy In America – Italy Magazine

Italian Americans in California – Berkley

Some great videos of Little Italy in San Francisco

1970's

Molinari's

North Beach

Gino and Carlo

Things to do

Reviving Italian Folk Music: A Journey with Allaboara

In this conversation, Bob Sorrentino interviews Anthony Taddeo from the Italian musical group Allaboara. They discuss Anthony’s Italian heritage, family roots, and the traditions that shaped his identity. The conversation delves into the discovery of Italian folk music, the formation of Allaboara, and the cultural impact of their performances. They explore regional variations in Italian folk music, the instruments used, and the evolution of the genre. The discussion highlights the importance of preserving cultural practices

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The Journey Home — Day 6 — Torre del Greco and Boscotrecase

Click here to join out Facebook group The original plan for today was to make a quick late morning stop to the cemetery in Cercola to see where my great-grandfather, Nicola Piromallo was buried. However, at the lunch on June 4th my Zio Nicola (more about that later) told me that he wanted us to visit family in Torre del Greco. So we were able to work that into the schedule. Cercola is about 30

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Wine By The Class – What are the types of wine?

In this conversation, Anthony Verdoni introduces the world of Italian wines, sharing his extensive experience in the wine business since 1971. He discusses the significance of Italian wines, the various types, and provides insights into wine production statistics. The conversation transitions into a detailed exploration of fortified and aromatized wines, focusing on Marsala and vermouth. Anthony shares insights into the history, production, and types of Marsala, a fortified wine from Sicily, and explores the characteristics

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The American Italian Heritage Museum

In this conversation, Bob Sorrentino interviews Phil DiNovo, the founder and executive director of the American Italian Heritage Museum. They discuss Phil’s Italian background, the journey of Italian immigrants, the values and traditions that have been passed down through generations, and the importance of preserving Italian heritage. Phil shares insights about the establishment of the museum, community engagement, and the significance of collecting and preserving artifacts that represent Italian culture. The conversation highlights the contributions

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Tuscany Tresures

In this engaging conversation, Bob Sorrentino speaks with Ilene and Gary Modica, authors of ‘Tuscany Treasures.’ They share their journey of obtaining dual citizenship through Gary’s grandfather, their experiences living in Lucca, and the process of selecting the perfect Italian town. The Modicas discuss their unique approach to writing a guidebook focused on local festivals and traditions, as well as the importance of experiencing the authentic Italian culture found in smaller towns. They also provide

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Uncovering Italian Roots in Calabria and Campania

In this conversation, Bob Sorrentino interviews Lisa Gagliardo about her Italian roots and family history. Lisa shares her family’s immigration story, cultural traditions, and the challenges faced by her ancestors. The discussion highlights the importance of ancestry research and the connection to Italian heritage, as well as the experiences of growing up Italian American. Lisa reflects on her discoveries and aspirations to visit her family’s hometown in Italy, emphasizing the significance of maintaining cultural identity

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Recent Posts

Reviving Italian Folk Music: A Journey with Allaboara

In this conversation, Bob Sorrentino interviews Anthony Taddeo from the Italian musical group Allaboara. They…

2 weeks ago

The Journey Home — Day 6 — Torre del Greco and Boscotrecase

Click here to join out Facebook group The original plan for today was to make…

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https://youtu.be/PCNuOE0Hxrk In this conversation, Anthony Verdoni introduces the world of Italian wines, sharing his extensive…

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