To the City by the Bay – Part I

In late February, friend and fellow tattooer Nick Wasko and I ventured south to San Francisco for a safari of sorts; we planned to drop in to some noteworthy tattoo shops, visit a few notorious seasoned tattooers, and eat our weight in Mission burritos.

After a long day's travels, and prior to beginning a tattoo pilgrimage, the proper thing to do is visit a classy drinking establishment to enjoy one of San Francisco's finest creations, a pint of Anchor Steam. Anyone recognize the interior of this bar? (Hint: it's just steps from Union Square).

Now, besides being a picturesque and lovable city, San Francisco is home to some of the planet's most outstanding tattooers. It's obvious from the moment you walk in the door that the many hard-working folks here have invested much in creating rock-solid shops reflecting the talent within.

One of our first stops was Henry Goldfield's. Great place with a long history. As we quietly drank in all the vintage flash posted floor to ceiling throughout, tattooer Rob Merrill gave us a hearty, friendly hello and an invite to sit and hang out for a minute.

No sooner had I settled into a chair across from Rob when Henry Goldfield himself popped his head around the corner and joined us to chat. For almost an hour, Goldfield selflessly shared great tales of his experiences tattooing in SF over the years. Impressed with this legendary personality being such a down-to-earth and welcoming man, we left with huge smiles on our faces and gratefulness for the humble and genuine characters that have seen tattooing through its good and bad times.

In Part II - SF Adventures continue: Blackheart, Idle Hand & Everlasting.