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