Take A TownCar to San Francisco's Historic Beach Chalet

The Beach Chalet is a gem located on the WesternThe Chalet had a colorful history. According to Carroll,
edge of San Francisco where Golden Gate Park"The Beach Chalet was remote enough from the rest
meets the Pacific Ocean. Have your Quicksilverof San Francisco that it could seem to be operating
TownCar driver stop at on your way San Franciscounder different laws. A 1932 police raid netted a dozen
International Airport. Look at the murals on t he firstmen who were charged with sponsoring lewd shows
floor. Have a handcrafted beer in the upstairsand gambling parties."
restaurant, catch the surf in your toes and if you haveDuring World War II the Chalet served as a coastal
time before your TownCar whisks you to the airport,defense headquarters.
watch the sun set over the pacific.After the war big city shenanigans took over as the
The building or Chalet was designed by noted localcity leased the Beach Chalet to the Veterans of
architect Willis Polk, opened in 1925 with a lounge andForeign Wars for $50 a month. Soon it became San
changing rooms on the first floor and a restaurant onFrancisco westernmost den of inequity. In 1952 smoker
the second.was reported to police. The agenda included gambling,
The wall murals, mosaics and wood carvings portraystrippers and lewd films. The SFPD were called when
an outstanding San Francisco panorama, they werea crowd of rowdy teenagers wanted to participate.
completed in 1936 as part of a federal works program.Alas, they were not veterans and so were barred.
Both murals and structure are listed in the NationalIn the early 70's when Quicksilver Messenger Service
Register as Landmark 179.was founded, the Chalet was a bikers bar attracting a
In the 1930s the Works Progress Administrationcrowd of, bike messengers and original hippies from
commissioned artist Lucien Labaudt to createthe Family Dog rock shows at Playland just down the
frescoes on the downstairs walls. Labaudt's 1,500beach.
square feet of frescoes, according to ChronicleAfter a decade under padlock the building was
reporter Jerry Carroll, "Show well-fed people takingrestored with a restaurant on the second floor and a
their ease with waxy looks of placid contentment."one-of-a-kind City of San Francisco gift shop on the
Just north, a Dutch windmill peeks above the cypressfirst floor which features a line of unique San Francisco
trees. Quicksilver, 800.486.9622, can take you there onBeach and Surfing T-shirts and old city street signs for
your way into town or on the way out.sale. Today gift shop is closed. The view of the sea at
Restored in the 90's to their original colors, the scenesthis beachside eatery is incredible, especially if your
include a Baker Beach barbecue with the Golden Gatedining room doesn't overlook the Pacific Ocean.
Bridge under construction in the background. TheyAfter your exotic and historic break at the Beach
show pigeon-feeding at Union Square, longshoremenChalet, your Quicksilver driver can have you at San
at Pier 26, Seal Rock, and the ethnic neighborhoods ofFrancisco International airport is a half hour for your
Chinatown, the Mission and Fisherman's Wharf.flight home.