The sketchy center of San Francisco's shopping district is about to sparkle once again.
Hallidie Plaza, a worn-out corner where tourists and commuters are forced to dodge hucksters and the homeless, is getting a face lift.
The Union Square Business Improvement District has announced plans to improve the lighting and landscaping and provide a steady program of entertainers and education on the site.
To mark the announcement, drummers, lion dancers, acrobats and musicians performed in the plaza all day Thursday. The celebration includes aerial dancers from Flyaway Productions who will be suspended from the BART/Powell Street station elevator structure.
The festivities are being emceed by long-time Beach Blanket Babylon star Val Diamond.
Hallidie Plaza is a key corner in San Francisco. The entertainment is supposed to continue throughout the year at the new plaza.
It's the entry to a main Bart station and it's right next to the Powell Street cable car turn-around, one of the busiest tourist attractions in the city.
