Day Three

Civic Center • Downtown

African American history, art and cuisine are a rich part of the city’s downtown neighborhoods. Start your day at the Civic Center. The street in front of the beautifully renovated City Hall is named for the late African American civic leader Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett, publisher of the Sun Reporter newspaper.

On the third floor of the 27 Main Public Library (Larkin and Grove) is the 400-square-foot African American Center (557-4400), featuring selections from the library’s extensive collection of books, periodicals, videos and recordings on African American history, education and the arts.

Head downtown to San Francisco’s avenue of art, Sutter Street, and visit the 28 Meridian Gallery (535 Powell; 398-7229), which maintains a slide registry of Bay Area African American artists. A third of Meridian’s collection showcases contemporary African American art.

African American performing arts are alive and kicking in San Francisco. For evening entertainment, check out these theater and dance companies: The contemporary music, dance and theater of Rhodessa Jones and Idris Ackamoor’s Cultural Odyssey is rooted in African American traditions (292-1850). LINES Contemporary Ballet Company founder Alonzo King’s multilayered choreography redefines classical ballet technique (863-3040). ZACCHO Dance Theater adds to those art disciplines trapeze and aerial work (822-6744). Robert Moses Kin’s dance company (252-8384) is often at 29 Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center. Award-winning Lorraine Hansberry Theatre (474-8800) presents African American writers and actors, September to June, in a variety of venues. The late jazz dean Phil Elwood called 30 Biscuits & Blues (401 Mason St.; 292-2583) “a real city joint . . . [with] top-of-the-line blues.” The music’s served up nightly with Southern fare.

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