Our Going Global series has been taking ‘shallow dives’ into some of the countries and cities where Orchid’s Sage Add-ons have taken root. Previous episodes have included such places as Eswatini, Aruba, Saint Lucia, American Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Mauritius, Atlanta, Saigon, and Kuala Lumpur.
This time we look at San Francisco, venue for Sage FUTURE 2026 (where you’ll find the Orchid stand at Booth 218)
Ten (or so) things you may not know about…San Francisco
Fact, fallacy, or urban myth? You be the judge!
- The Not-So-Golden Gate Bridge: While it spans the Golden Gate Strait, the bridge is painted orange. Actually, a special colour called International Orange, chosen because it improves visibility in the city’s frequent fog and complements the natural surroundings. And speaking of fog...
- Introducing Karl – the Fog: San Francisco’s famous fog is affectionately called Karl the Fog, a modern nickname popularised by a humorous social media persona, and inspired by a misunderstood giant called Karl in the 2003 film “Big Fish”.
- Dog Day Afternoon: In recent decades, San Francisco has consistently had more dogs than kids, an unusual demographic fact reflecting its high cost of living and urban lifestyle.
- Cooking up a Fortune: Despite being associated with Chinese cuisine, fortune cookies are widely believed to have been invented in a local San Francisco bakery, possibly Benkyodo, in the early 1900s.
- A City fit for an Emperor: A colourful San Francisco eccentric named Joshua Abraham Norton declared himself “Emperor of the United States” in 1859. Many locals humoured him, and businesses even accepted his self-issued currency. (Might he have been the inspiration for a more contemporary aspirant?)
- City of Hills: Perhaps Emperor Norton was seeking one-upmanship over a legitimate imperial city. Rome may have its famous Seven Hills, but San Francisco has over 50 named hills, meaning a walk out can feel more like a workout.
- The (other) Occupiers of Alcatraz: From 1969 to 1971, Native American activists occupied Alcatraz Island to protest federal policies, an important but often overlooked moment in US civil rights history.
- The (not so) Crookedest Street: Although Lombard Street is famous as the “crookedest street”, another San Francisco road, Vermont Street, actually has more twists and turns.
- A Secret Singing Sidewalk: Near 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, some areas feature art installations that produce sounds or optical illusions, part of the city’s love for public art surprises.
- Sturdy Houses for Shaky Hills: After the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake, many buildings were rebuilt with earthquake-resistant designs, helping pioneer modern seismic safety standards.
Orchid EFT's Global Footprint
Today, Orchid’s EFT Processing supports 800+ bank formats in 80+ countries.
From Newfoundland to Newport, or Perth to Paris, we may already have the format you need. If not, just let us know and we can set it up!
