Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Hello,

In 1967, one of our first forays up into the coastal areas of San Francisco was to stop for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean built on a cliff. Talk about a romantic place for dinner. I was prepared to pay for the privilege of being in that location since our dad took us there many years earlier. The view from the dinner tables is pretty outstanding just before dark on a clear day. Yes, we were lucky as the time our dad took the whole family there, it was a great sunset into the great served dinner.

Now, the location was many years later and it was one of those days of clarity all along the coast leading into the big city on the peninsula. The weather gods played a great day into an excellent dinner at sunset and it was an impressive site. Otherwise, at night, we all know the ocean is out there, but it is absolutely pitch black from the shoreline in a Western direction.

So, why is/was it called the Cliff House? Well could it be that originally, it was built as part of a complex of attractions at the far end of land in San Francisco, overlooking a rough Pacific Ocean, high above a cliff?

Sadly, the Cliff House after plenty of negotiations is/was permanently closed during the height of the pandemic and the sign is no longer there. The building is set to be remodeled and is looking for the next company to take over the location. But the barriers to the cost of refurbishing the whole complex, the monthy rent and revamping for safety reasons may preclude ownership from anyone, let alone a huge corporation. The original owners have trademarked the name and could allow the new vendors if there is one, the use of the iconic name. “A restaurant overlooking the ocean high on a cliff…”

Jnaki
Vnak Photo 1967
It felt as if we were still young with an urge to see the world before it got a crazy as it did during our fun 20 something days of the mid to late 60s. It is still a beautiful experience, even in our latest (as of 2019) road trips and a nice coastal stop for a great view lunch respite.

On our early photographic road trips up to the San Francisco Bay Area, we always saw something different, despite driving up the same coastline, but, staying in a different hotel/cabins during our trips. We could explore the whole coast many times over, still find something interesting to see and photograph, besides cars/motorcycles.

The Cliff House was one of the first places my wife and I had a great dinner overlooking the ocean back in 1967. It was a great way to start off our Northern California vacation/photo shoot journeys. Besides, the coastline heading out of Los Angeles is on the left for the ocean, all the way up from Malibu to points North.

On separate journeys up the coast for more concerts, vacation drives and photo shoots, we headed across the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito for a different feel to the bay area

Every time I see this photo in our photo archives, I get a huge chill. Not only was it an excellent sunset day, but after crossing the bridge in our El Camino to have dinner in Sausalito, the fog rolled in and made everything a dull grey. If you have seen San Francisco fog, then you know that I mean.

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Hello,
This curve on Highway 1 along the Southern border of the city of San Francisco is well known, but the views created a lot of traffic hazards. Not only was the parking a problem for the restaurant, coming around the corner and the big sedans backing out was the major hazard.

By the time we drove up here back and forth along the coastline from 66-69, there were at least two lanes on both sides and parking was limited. Also, the huge waves and storms destroyed the pier. It was taken out and off of the beach.

Since that time and road change, the city has gone back to a single lane with bicycle preferential lanes next to the diagonal parking. Instead of parallel parking and two lanes, the maximum amount of cars in diagonal spaces helps with the tourism and dining at the Cliff House.

Jnaki

The food and views anywhere from the Cliff House Restaurant are outstanding. It is a must stop as the Cliff House is the farthest West the City of SF extends out into the Pacific Ocean.
The Cliff House from 1956 to the present.



Currently: It is closed until further notice.

 

There is a group over here that sang about this very lady it is called " Baggy Trousers "

 

Hello,

The era of wide leg pants started in the 1966-67 era on the Westcoast of the USA. My wife had a ton of them to fit every occasion, during this 20 something era. Then as the years rolled on, the height of the wide legs got larger and larger. The waist and rear area were still relatively snug and fitting well, but the legs went to town. They got wider and wider. For men, the "flare" was about it.

The wide legs were called "elephant leg pants." Most of the commercial pants looked like colorful elephant legs, big wide and straight.

Jnaki

Good old Levis and Levi Cord pants that were relative straight leg, were ok for men. But, several of the pants my wife wore had 14" wide legs. They were not sweat pants like material, but flimsy silky style construction. Sometimes it was difficult to walk close by as those wide leg pants swayed with each step. Standing still, they were usually dragging on the ground covering the sandals and shoes.

The rise of wide leg pants is still going on with some teenagers. The skinny jeans, as nice as they are, are not the most comfortable to lounge around when at home or off site work place activities. So, wide loose jeans are more into the mode for most. Our granddaughter has the requisite skinny jeans, but has changed over to vintage wide and straight leg jeans for comfort and new era teenage vintage style. She and her friends look like the old teens from the late 60s-early 70s era, in 2023!!! YRMV

 

The whole Burke family…

 

This looks like a Hot Rod to me.

 

Note that the rear of the body looks like they used a touring car rear body section.