It may be tough to find a true Bay Area native these days. That’s not the case with the things that come from here, though.
This has been a center of innovation almost as long as people have lived here. And whether that innovation has come from necessity, inspiration or pure accident, some amazing and essential things have their roots in the Bay Area:
Popsicles – Both SF and Oakland get credit for this one, invented in 1905 when a kid left his drink outside and it froze. The Oakland hills are slightly more prone to occasional freezing temps than the City, though, so…
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Cable Cars – Born on Nob Hill in the 1870s, these rolling symbols of City innovation found their way to cities all over the world, replaced later by electric streetcars.
Fantasy Football – First played in Oakland in 1962 by Raiders’ partner Bill Winkenbach, PR manager Bill Tunnell and reporter Scotty Stirling. Now played by…errbody.
The Wave – While we are in the Coliseum, Oakland is where Krazy George Henderson first incited A’s fans to take this equally loved and maligned stand for their team.
Mountain Biking – It started on the trails of Mt. Tam in Marin County, and has been evolving ever since. Even in places without mountains.
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The Jukebox – The coin-operated phonograph first appeared in 1889 in a San Francisco saloon, offering plays for a nickel. Reportedly, some are still waiting for their song to be played to this day.
Wetsuits – Ask anybody who has ever dared to venture into the surf here why wetsuits exist. One look at the chilly but awesome waves breaking down the Peninsula is all it took.
Of course, the Bay Area is also home to a huge number of local food items and trends that have swept the world, from fortune cookies, sourdough bread, burritos and Cioppino in the City to the origin of California cuisine and the farm-to-table movement in the East Bay and Central Valley.
Not the least of these are Gilroy Garlic Fries, which are among the most coveted treats at baseball games across California and the country. They got their start in San Francisco, with garlic from the Garlic Capital of the World, Gilroy, California. Now, they’re coming to your local McDonald’s.