Christmas Shopping Trip

[Post Followup] [San Francisco Memories Board]

Posted by Ken Miller on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 17:30:45 :

I remember the excitement of taking a trip from the east bay to San Francisco in the late 1950s for Christmas shopping. We always had to drive on the lower level both ways because I was bothered by the height of the towers. So, I clearly remember the Key trains. I also remember seeing the ferry boats crossing the bay.

Shopping usually started at the White House, where my grandmother worked as a milliner some time after 1900. We would then go down to the City of Paris, I. Magnin, Gumps, and Macys in the Union Square area. And of course Abercrombie and Fitch, back when they were a very different store! We would then head down the hill to Woolworths, then to the Emporium for shopping and the roof rides!

We often ended the trip with a cable car ride up to the Blums in the Fairmont for Gosh-Awful-Gooies, a specialty chocolate sundae. Yum!

My mom always wore a hat and gloves, my dad a hat and tie. If my grandmother was along, she always wore a fur coat. I also wore a coat, tie, and hat, even at age 7!

I remember the elevator operators at I. Magnin - older women with long dresses and long gloves!

So many things to miss!

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Message:	: I remember the excitement of taking a trip from the east bay to San Francisco in the late 1950s for Christmas shopping. We always had to drive on the lower level both ways because I was bothered by the height of the towers. So, I clearly remember the Key trains. I also remember seeing the ferry boats crossing the bay. : Shopping usually started at the White House, where my grandmother worked as a milliner some time after 1900. We would then go down to the City of Paris, I. Magnin, Gumps, and Macys in the Union Square area. And of course Abercrombie and Fitch, back when they were a very different store! We would then head down the hill to Woolworths, then to the Emporium for shopping and the roof rides! : We often ended the trip with a cable car ride up to the Blums in the Fairmont for Gosh-Awful-Gooies, a specialty chocolate sundae. Yum! : My mom always wore a hat and gloves, my dad a hat and tie. If my grandmother was along, she always wore a fur coat. I also wore a coat, tie, and hat, even at age 7! : I remember the elevator operators at I. Magnin - older women with long dresses and long gloves! : So many things to miss!