Windows into the Tenderloin

While meandering down Golden Gate toward Market on this sunny Friday afternoon, I finally stopped to look closely at something I had mindlessly passed countless times before. That would be Mona Caron’s beautiful mural “Windows into the Tenderloin” on the northeast corner of Golden Gate and Jones, across the street from the original Dining Room.

Caron’s mural depicts the Tenderloin landscape with some added whimsical touches. Before beginning to paint the mural, Caron did extensive research in the neighborhood, meeting with community leaders and organizations as well as around 280 Tenderloin residents. On her website, Caron writes that the figures that appear running errands, socializing on the sidewalk, or sitting in the park all depict actual people from the neighborhood whom she got to know while working on the project.

Learn more about the story behind the mural and the artist here, and most importantly, skip passing by one day and stop to enjoy the mural for yourself.