Cohen Alley

The above reviewer just wrote a review about her fearful feelings walking in the Tenderloin. Apparently, she got so carried away in her lurid description that she forgot that she was actually reviewing Cohen Alley… Let’s hope she doesn’t set out to visit any of the neighborhood’s other gems, lest fear cloud her judgement & sully another hard earned reputation.
This place is great. It’s beautiful, it’s interactive, and it provides solace to a community that really needs and appreciates a beautiful and relaxing place to visit. Eat pizza! Hear poetry! Enjoy plants! Get your pants fixed!
…Sure, keep your basic street-​smarts walking in the TL, but by all means visit Tenderloin National Park!
Perhaps re-​directing here will help, too:

Inspired by the first (and only) review of this place, I decided «Hey, it’s Monday, all the museums are closed, so for my artsy fix I’ll track down this Cohen Alley place and take pics for Unilocal.» Note that this plan details nothing like aspirations to get raped, mugged, killed, or even harassed. Now, if you are familiar with the Tenderloin yet do not understand why I’m explicit about these exclusions, then you are doubtless on the giving and not receiving end of these activities. I, for one, felt closer to receiving such violence as I have never in my life felt before; the Tenderloin made me a paranoid white girl as I have prided myself on never, ever, EVER being before (6 ft of height and my standard combat boots generally help). Several extremely unsavory characters on every streetcorner, plus a few crowds of congregated dozens, plus a total lack of anyone who might not mug me, was enough to make my heart pound and feet fly toward Market. Even at night I’ve never been so wary of a neighborhood. Sorry, Tenderloin: you are just as awful as I heard you are. I couldn’t bring myself to stop speed-​walking outta there long enough to even find the Alley. So is this an unfair review? I hope not: I just want to warn other folks who might be uncomfortable with this area that you shouldn’t venture out there, even for a gem of an oasis like this purported Alley.

I never expected something so beautiful to be in the ‘loin, but Cohen Alley (adjacent to The Luggage Store Annex, aka 509 Cultural Center) is truly a gem. This art garden has beautiful plants, sculptures, and murals lining the walls. There is also an obscura that they plan on doing large format pictures with for a show. If you’re ever nearby, be sure to check it out… I’ll go back to take pictures later.