Latest news with #PaintedLadies
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Interior of iconic San Francisco 'Painted Lady' house
The Painted Ladies - a row of seven pastel colored homes in San Francisco - have long been an iconic staple in California, but one of them has a drab interior thanks to a new art exhibit. People from all across the world venture out to the Bay Area's Alamo Square Park to get a glimpse at the stunning properties , which were famously featured in the 1987 sitcom Full House. And now, tourists can walk into the Pink Painted Lady home to tour an art exhibit hosted by fnnch Museum - but the inside is far from what the exterior looks like. Behind the doors, the pop-up event, which opened to the public on July 23, features a unique display of Honey Bear paintings along colorless, bland walls. A total of 116 Honey Bear paintings, created by local artist fnnch, are on display in the house. Keen art observers don't have to pay to go, but they do have to register to get inside. The tour is around until October and is open seven days a week from 12pm to 8pm. The artist, a Missouri native who describes himself as an 'anonymous American street artist,' is excited to have his paintings on public display. 'I am thrilled to finally reveal the "fnnch Museum," a project I have been working on all year,' he said in a social media post. 'It is a retrospective of 10 years of Honey Bear paintings, and it is being hosted in one of the famous Painted Ladies of Alamo Square.' Others who have made their way to the exhibit or plan to do so have also shared their elation. 'Went today and the show is FANTASTIC!!! Also, the woman at the front desk was awesome,' one wrote. 'I had accidentally registered for the wrong date and she sorted it so quickly and seamlessly,' an Instagram user wrote on fnnch's post,' they added. 'Looking forward to checking out this exhibit by @fnnch,' said another. While some are thrilled about the display, others are not at all happy about it. In 2021, he was called out in a petition with people demanding his artwork be removed from the city's LGBT center because it is 'inappropriate.' Specifically, the page said it was wrong for him to paint there because he is a 'cis, straight, white, male gentrifier' who is 'taking up space in what should literally be a LGBT location.' 'The local street art and queer community are already blighting out his mural regularly and have vowed to keep it up until it is removed and replaced for good,' it continued. The page also shared an image of a person standing in front of the graffiti-filled mural with their middle fingers in the air. Daily Mail contacted fnnch for comment. The Pink Painted Ladies home is not the first to open its doors, as there is also a Blue Painted Lady House Tour. People can explore the home for 90 minutes daily at 4pm for $35 a person, according to its social media page.
Daily Mail
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Iconic San Francisco 'Painted Lady' house's shocking drab interior revealed in public art exhibit
The Painted Ladies - a row of seven pastel colored homes in San Francisco - have long been an iconic staple in California, but one of them has a drab interior thanks to a new art exhibit. People from all across the world venture out to the Bay Area's Alamo Square Park to get a glimpse at the stunning properties, which were famously featured in the 1987 sitcom Full House. And now, tourists can walk into the Pink Painted Lady home to tour an art exhibit hosted by fnnch Museum - but the inside is far from what the exterior looks like. Behind the doors, the pop-up event, which opened to the public on July 23, features a unique display of Honey Bear paintings along colorless, bland walls. A total of 116 Honey Bear paintings, created by local artist fnnch, are on display in the house. Keen art observers don't have to pay to go, but they do have to register to get inside. The tour is around until October and is open seven days a week from 12pm to 8pm. The artist, a Missouri native who describes himself as an 'anonymous American street artist,' is excited to have his paintings on public display. 'I am thrilled to finally reveal the "fnnch Museum," a project I have been working on all year,' he said in a social media post. 'It is a retrospective of 10 years of Honey Bear paintings, and it is being hosted in one of the famous Painted Ladies of Alamo Square.' Others who have made their way to the exhibit or plan to do so have also shared their elation. 'Went today and the show is FANTASTIC!!! Also, the woman at the front desk was awesome,' one wrote. 'I had accidentally registered for the wrong date and she sorted it so quickly and seamlessly,' an Instagram user wrote on fnnch's post,' they added. 'Looking forward to checking out this exhibit by @fnnch,' said another. While some are thrilled about the display, others are not at all happy about it. 'Remember the time he called himself an immigrant from Missouri? Wild times,' one wrote. 'Lovely home. Hard pass on the 'artist',' wrote another. Someone else labeled his artwork 'Gentrified graffiti.' 'But…he sucks,' a user wrote. Fnnch, who has only been pictured with face masks on, is no stranger to controversy as he was previously blasted by critics who appear to be tired of seeing his Honey Bears plastered across San Francisco. In 2021, he was called out in a petition with people demanding his artwork be removed from the city's LGBT center because it is 'inappropriate.' Specifically, the page said it was wrong for him to paint there because he is a 'cis, straight, white, male gentrifier' who is 'taking up space in what should literally be a LGBT location.' 'The local street art and queer community are already blighting out his mural regularly and have vowed to keep it up until it is removed and replaced for good,' it continued. The page also shared an image of a person standing in front of the graffiti-filled mural with their middle fingers in the air. Daily Mail contacted fnnch for comment. The Pink Painted Ladies home is not the first to open its doors, as there is also a Blue Painted Lady House Tour. People can explore the home for 90 minutes daily at 4pm for $35 a person, according to its social media page.
CBS News
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
One of San Francisco's "Painted Ladies" open as museum for fnnch's honey bear art
Art and history enthusiasts are being offered a rare chance to see inside one of San Francisco's iconic "Painted Ladies" across from Alamo Square. The interior of the "Pink Lady" has been transformed into a temporary art museum showcasing the work of its owner, San Francisco street artist fnnch. "The way we think about it is, we are just inviting you into our home, to see an art collection," fnnch said. The conversion into an art gallery marks a new chapter for both the artist and the historic home. fnnch explained the property's journey after he and his wife bought it in 2020. "My wife and I attempted to remodel that house for our family, and we spent two years trying to get permits and were unable to. So, we put the house on the market, thought it was a bad time, 2022. So, we took it off the market, and it sat empty ever since." Now, the house is far from empty. The exhibit features all 116 Honey Bear paintings from across fnnch's career, giving visitors a rare opportunity to step inside a Painted Lady. Speaking at his San Francisco studio, fnnch described the inspiration behind the now-famous Honey Bear. "To me, the honey bear is positive, nostalgic, and inclusive, so it's something positive for people to enjoy, and it hearkens back to a childhood where you want sugar, frankly. But it's got like positive vibes. And it's inclusive because it doesn't require a lot of cultural knowledge. You see it, you can understand it right away. You don't have to have, you know, studied art history to get what it means and to enjoy it," fnnch said. The free exhibit welcomes both locals and tourists. Luciana Hernandez, visiting from Mexico, said she was drawn by her love for fnnch's work and the home's "Full House" nostalgia. "Well, it's amazing as a tourist, it's fun to come here. Now they opened it up as a museum. So it's amazing to just come here, get inside, and now, you know, seeing all these little bears we have here that became so famous, it's amazing," Hernandez said. Despite the honey bears' playful appearance, they require painstaking, hand-crafted work. In addition to his creations on wood panels, fnnch's murals, many commissioned across the city, have become a recognizable symbol of San Francisco. However, not everyone embraces the artwork. Some critics argue that the honey bear has become commercialized and represents gentrification. fnnch, however, remains committed to the city he says he loves. "I still think SF is the best city in the world to live in. To me, it's really a culture of makers. You know, you're not judged here by what shoes you're wearing or what handbag you're holding. But, kind of like, what you're doing with your time," he said. Each honey bear reflects a different community or theme, and fnnch said his mission is simple: to spread joy through art. "To me, if like, you're having a bad day, and you see like a happy painting, maybe your day gets a little better. So, I say, life is hard enough without sad art. So, I'm just trying to bring some positivity. And I like seeing that myself, and I hope to do that with my own art for other people," he said. The exhibit combines positivity, artistry, and a rare glimpse inside one of San Francisco's most famous Victorian homes.
San Francisco Chronicle
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
One of S.F.'s most famous houses is hosting a free pop-up museum
The artist behind San Francisco's iconic Honey Bear paintings has opened his own pop-up museum in Alamo Square. A total of 116 pieces by the painter known as fnnch are on view through October in one of the city's famous Painted Ladies. The works, borrowed from collectors across the country, chronicle the past 10 years of his work. 'Never before have all the bears been in one space,' fnnch wrote on Instagram, announcing the opening of the pop-up on July 23. 'I guarantee there are some you have never seen.' Fnnch's paintings of bear-shaped honey bottles have become a familiar sight to locals and visitors over the years, plastered on San Francisco storefronts, featured in murals and even emblazoned on Bay Area sports teams merchandise. The Fnnch Museum includes a timeline of the Honey Bears, photos and more than 250 placards made by the artists about his works. Fnnch reported on social media that more than 800 people visited the space during its opening week. The museum, located in the pink-hued Painted Lady house, is open Wednesdays through Sundays. It is unclear when in October the pop-up will close. Admission is free, but advance online appointments are required. There is a maximum of two guests per registration. Fnnch previously told the Chronicle that he began painting the Honey Bears in 2015 'because they make me happy,' and continued 'because they make other people happy.' Despite his intentions, however, the artist has stirred some controversy. While fnnch has intentionally remained anonymous, he is widely believed to be a straight white man who works in the tech industry — a status that provoked backlash from the Bay Area arts community. Critics argue his Honey Bear murals, which proliferated during the COVID pandemic, are emblematic of privilege and have displaced marginalized local BIPOC artists. Fnnch contends that his mission is to bring art within reach for a broader audience. 'I believe art is for everyone,' he wrote on Instagram last month. 'These artworks are my attempt to make quality paintings more accessible.'
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Travel + Leisure
21-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This City Was Just Named California's Most Expensive Tourist Destination—but Here's How to Visit on a Budget
San Francisco has long enchanted visitors with its historic cable cars, fog-draped Golden Gate Bridge, and pastel-painted Victorian homes—but now it holds a new, less flattering distinction: the most expensive tourist destination in California. According to a recent GOBankingRates study, the City by the Bay is the most expensive tourist destination in California, surpassing cities like Laguna Beach and Malibu. San Francisco had an overall cost of living index of 245.5, which is more than double the national average baseline of 100 and accounts for the cost of things like groceries, healthcare, housing, utilities, and transportation. But while San Francisco's soaring prices might send budget-conscious travelers into sticker shock, there are plenty of ways to soak up the city's charm without emptying your wallet. From free live music to the sweeping views from Twin Peaks, the city remains, at its core, a world-class destination—on any budget. Most of the city's most iconic sights, from the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park to Fisherman's Wharf and the Painted Ladies (the pastel homes) are free to visit and explore. (If you go to the wharf, don't miss a visit to Pier 39, which overlooks colonies of California sea lions.) It doesn't cost a cent to walk around the Mission District and see the neighborhood's famous murals and street art or cruise through Chinatown and North Beach, which are known for their Chinese and Italian heritage, respectively. If you want a dose of nature, head to Lands End and walk the scenic Coastal Trail or hike to the top of Twin Peaks, which offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding bay area. Beyond exploring neighborhoods and surrounding nature, many of the city's best museums are either free or have free admission days. On the first Tuesday of every month, admission is free to the fine art museums of de Young and Legion of Honor, and on the first Sunday of every month, entrance to the Asian Art Museum is free. Other museums, like the kid-friendly Randall Museum, which offers free, hands-on science and arts exhibits, and the Cable Car Museum are always free. The MoMA is free for visitors ages 18 and under and has 45,000 square feet of art-filled public spaces that are always free and open to the public. In addition, there are plenty of annual festivals that are free and open to the public—including the music of People in Plazas, which runs through the summer, and the Stern Grove Festival, which offers free concerts every Sunday from mid-June through mid-August. There is also free Shakespeare in the Park theater in August and September. In addition to free to-dos spread across the city, there are a few activities that are so affordable it's hard to complain. For example, you can hop aboard one of the city's iconic cable cars, which are National Historic Landmarks, for just $8. While exploring Chinatown, you can pick up a selection of dim sum or pastries for well under $15, or visit a North Beach cafe or retro-Italian bar for a quick (and affordable) espresso or negroni. With so many low-cost experiences woven into every corner of the city, you don't need a big budget to enjoy California's most expensive tourist destination.
