Jack Kerouac Alley
Jack Kerouac Alley (formerly Adler Alley or Adler Place) is a one-way alleyway in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, that connects Grant Avenue and Columbus Avenue.[1]
The alley is named after Jack Kerouac, a Beat Generation writer who used to frequent the pub and bookstore adjacent to the alley.[2]
The alley was a common place for garbage dumping and a shortcut for trucks. In 1988, poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who is the co-founder of City Lights Bookstore, presented his idea to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to transform the alleyway. The project involved repaving the alley, banning motor vehicles from entering, and installing new street lights.[1] The new look alley was reopened to the public in March 2007. The alley is now known for its engraved Western and Chinese poems, including poets such as John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, and Kerouac himself. A ceremony was held in April 2007 to celebrate the reopening of the alley.[2]
Gallery
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Plaque with a quote from Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poem in Jack Kerouac Alley
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Plaque with Jack Kerouac's name
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Plaque with Jack Kerouac's quote
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Plaque with John Steinbeck's quote
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A street sign of Jack Kerouac Alley
References
- 1 2 Carl Nolte (March 30, 2007). "Kerouac Alley has face-lift". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
- 1 2 Carl Nolte (April 1, 2007). "Kerouac Alley is restored with cheer". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jack Kerouac Alley. |
Coordinates: 37°47′51″N 122°24′24″W / 37.7975°N 122.4067°W
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