So city tour

I managed to take a few pics on my morning walk to peets coffee shop on Grand Ave this morning. My walking buddy from the past few days had NONO duties so I was on my own. South City had a lot of older houses built by probably just a small number of Italian builders. Most of our friends and family lived in these houses growing up. There were lots of Common features in these houses. they were two story with the top story as the living space. sometimes there was a story above the main one as well. The houses all had stairs going to the front door and often bog feature windows at the front, bowed or arched or even very elaborate bay windows. the bottom story was a full basement that was mostly finished with perhaps one room that was less finished and might be used as a workshop or, as in the case of my grandmothers house, a wine making and storage area. The basement was often kitted out with a complete second kitchen and a big open area for parties or large dinners. As a child if we went to a big gathering at someone's house it was always in the basement.
The picture of the houses going up the hilly street is magnolia ave and it and palm Ave next to it were where all the coolest kids lived, the majority
italian catholic. The house on the corner was where our closest cousins lived. Also you will see one example of the So City prunning style for shrubs, this is an art in its own right.
So city was also the home of bethelem Steel and lots of the SO City men worked at the Steel mill. There are a few photos of front yard walls made with clinker bricks brought home from the steel works.
Today the demographic of the town and the downtown area is radically changed, with many of the shops owned by Mexicans or Asians, mostly Chinese. There is a great Mexican grocery store and a bunch of Taquierias and cantinas. At La Tapatia I found 3 varieties of tortilla presses and I bought the lightest one for $10.99. I am excited.