San Francisco Theater District

[PatrickDC]

There have been other posts discussing San Francisco theater. Usually, the sketchy neighborhood around the Golden Gate and Orpheum Theater is noted. I don't see a thread specifically about the issue, so wanted to start a new one, based on the article in today's Chronicle. Arts groups are amping up their voices about the city not doing more to clean up the area and make it safer for patrons -- and visitors and residents in general. 

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Arts-groups-decry-miserable-state-of-Mid-Market-12724787.php?t=65223a91e3

[morosco]

San Francisco's downtown area is more contaminated with drug needles, garbage, and feces than some of the world's poorest slums

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/SHN+Orpheum+Theatre/@37.7793674,-122.4168659,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x8085808e5211a1ef:0x2572614e49e2c2af!8m2!3d37.7793632!4d-122.4146772?hl=en

When I visited San Francisco for the first time in July 2001 (to see Patti LuPone in Sweeney Todd), I booked a hotel close to the Davies Symphony Hall on Market Street.  I certainly noticed the riff raff, the homeless people who would ask for money.  I never really felt unsafe, just annoyed.  I may have been a first timer, but I knew better than to go to the streets west of Market, around the Orpheum.  Since then, I have visited the city about seven times.  I usually walked past that area and never encountered the problems as stated in the article.  

[markypoo]

The last time I visited was in 1988.
I passed right in front of the Orpheum or the Golden Gate; don't remember which, but Chita Rivera in Can Can was playing there then.
I was really taken aback by the situation way back when.
In 1988.

[trpguyy]

The Tenderloin is easily one of the worst places in the United States.

[Theater3232]

While unsavory during the daytime, the area is downright terrifying after 10pm when theater shows let out. Very few people walking down wide Market Street at that time except for numerous unsavory characters, with gunshots ringing out at any time. Just a couple of recent reports are shown below.  Whistles are now being handed out further south in the Castro in 2018 due to the upticks in crime there too. 

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Police-Activity-Shuts-Down-Part-of-Market-Street-in-San-Francisco-444536813.html

https://hoodline.com/2017/05/market-street-closed-after-reported-shooting-near-powell-station-updating

http://www.sfexaminer.com/man-seriously-injured-market-street-attack/

[broadwaysfguy]

i wish i was more optimistic about some change occuring. our board of supervisors is completely spineless in addressing this issue and the leading candidate for mayor (pres of bd of sup) has paid little more than lip service.
if broadway of the 1980s can be cleaned up so can mid market area (one would assume) except sf is the city where political courage comes to die....

my strategy is take lyft or cab to and from theatre
i made the mistake of walking several blocks from golden gate theatre to my friends car in parking garage in tenderloin and it was truly frightening....

we still have great shows in town and there are ways to safely walk to act, curran and even the orpheum
you just need to plan your route and avoid the bad blocks

[BIG BALONEY]

Near the Civic Center is a rough area and seeing people taking their young children to shows there is cringe worthy. You just don't feel safe with so many loud crazy acting people around. The city needs to get it's act together.The hotels are expensive and so are the shows but after awhile people will stop coming. I've spoken to many foreign tourist and they can't believe what thery see around them. Like in New York City many tourists take thr E train to and from JFK airport and what do they see and smell ? That's what they remember. Have a good expensive meal or see a show,then experience the E train and the entire evening turns ugly.