Union Square

Union Square was named on the eve of the Civil War as a demonstration of support for the Union Army. Nowadays on any sunny weekday it’s a union of a different sort: a union of downtown office workers taking a sanity break to read the paper on the lawn, suburbanites taking a shopping break to sip an espresso at Il Caffe Rulli’s outdoors tables and tourists taking a sightseeing break to admire the paintings that often fill the Square on dozens of easels.

Officially it’s Union Square Park, a city-block-sized square with only two small buildings: the café and Tix Bay Area, where discounted tickets for theatre, dance and music performances are sold. Otherwise it’s a place to sit on a bench or repose on a patch of lawn while admiring the mix of modern and century-old buildings that surround the Square.

These are predominantly upscale department stores and specialty retailers that make the Square a Bay Area shoppers’ paradise: Macy’s, Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Tiffany, Niketown, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and many more nearby.

Most of the city’s major hotels, nightclubs and playhouse theatres—and dozens of its best restaurants—are also found near the Square, just as Times Square is the cultural, commercial and tourist hub of Manhattan. Tourists are also treated to the sound of cable car bells jingling along Powell Street on the west rim of the Square.

Union Square is the site of many events throughout the year. In a typical week, there are two art exhibits and three “Jewels in the Square” free performances—ranging from music to dance to theatre on the symphony-sized stage. An ice rink magically appears from early November to mid-January. And events from fundraisers to political rallies are routinely staged in the Square.

HelloSanFrancisco Tip: The best time to visit is mid-day, when there’s usually no fog and the people watching is at its finest.

- by Bob Cooper, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Bob Cooper

Bob Cooper is a full-time freelance writer (www.bob-cooper.com) who writes about travel, outdoor sports and health. He is a monthly contributor to Runner's World and has written recent articles for other national magazines such as Continental, Ladies' Home Journal and Inc.