The new Bohemians

Typical Chronicle sentimentality today in a feature about the Fillmore St. building that once housed the Six Gallery -- the site of birth of all Beatnikism. The news hook is that the rug merchant who has owned the building for the last 25 years has sold it; the writer spends a good amount of time on the ruggist and his immigrant tale and attempts to draw parallels between the merchant and the Beat forerunners. What the article doesn't say is that the neighborhood, known as Cow Hollow, is known as one of the rich neighborhoods of the city now. Wealthy heterosexuals live down there, with Union St. the cruising spot of choice for rich, young, drunken youths living out "Ally McBeal" fantasies. I doubt Allen Ginsburg et al. would recognize it -- but they probably wouldn't recognize most of SF now, 50 years later.