I’ve been writing political news stories since I started my blog. It’s about dang time to step back from the wall street roller coaster mess and election campaign mudslinging and delve into more interesting or entertaining activities like a couple of free events in the city. Note: I identify San Francisco as “the city” though there are technically larger cities like San Jose and Sacramento. These cities are more suburban and less cosmopolitan, although San Jose has been making a name for itself for about the last ten years, but I digress…
So I’ve listed from what I’ve heard in the media and on the street. Now there’s always something going on in the “Baghdad by the Bay” (Thank you Herb Caen) but these activities stood out to me because they’re all firsts and there’s been a lot of commotion about them. Got your pen and pad? Listed in no order of importance:
The Red Bull’s Soapbox Race * Saturday 10/18 * 1pm * Dolores Park
http://www.redbullsoapboxusa.com/SanFrancisco-2008/default.aspx
Red Bull has been sponsoring the races worldwide since 2000. The requirements are that the homemade go-carts maintain the Fred Flinstone caveman technology of manpower and gravity with 21st century engineering, design, creativity and of course humor and silliness. The starting line is at Dolores and 21st street. Now that’s a sizable hill and the 2 blocks down to the finish line are pretty long. I lose my breath just walking up that beat and I can’t think of a more logistically convenient and picturesque place for the race. Palm trees divide the middle of the Dolores street. Victorians and Edwardians mixed in with some 20th century buildings line the other side of the street. The expansive grassy playgrounds of Dolores Park border the other side cornered by the historic Mission High school. The park itself is known for its protests, soccer tournaments, free movie nights and plain ‘ol picnicking and people watching - San Francisco charm and fun at its best. Check it out! Who knows if and when Red Bull will return? I strongly recommend public transportation. If you gotta gas it, then anticipate parking at least 5-10 blocks away as parking is normally difficult during the weekends anyhoo.
Trolly Dances * Saturday, 10/18 - Sunday 10/19 * Guided 2 hr tours from 11am-2:45pm
Start at New Mission Bay Library. Free if you have a MUNI Fast Pass, otherwise it’s $1.50 (still dirt cheap!)
http://www.epiphanydance.org/
This truly is an “only in San Francisco” event. The city has various has various dance performance venues but a MUNI train as a dance troupe’s main stage and backdrop? In this week’s SFWeekly, there’s a photo of girl doing a headstand and the splits right on the train track! Her head planted firmly on the boarding platform as if it was her concrete-metal pillow and her outstretched foot above a track. The city is known for its brazen and fearless (yes foolish), jaywalking pedestrians but train frolicking dancers? Her smiling face doesn’t cry suicide. Instead, she was giving a dancing tour via the train line. No boring walking tour guides here. Four dance companies guide the curious through a 2 hour trip along four different sites on the new T-Third line. If you get into the spirit, maybe you can do the hustle or cha-cha-cha down the Embarcadero overlooking the Bay Bridge with them?
A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City * now-Sun 10/19 * Little Marina Green Park * 9am-5pm. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
On a serious note, life of poor and malnourished Ethiopian refugees are on realistic display in the Marina. After treating hundreds of dying children organizers the Doctors Without Borders, wanted Americans to truly see and feel the life of a struggling Ethiopian refugee. To replicate the environment, tents, water stations and other mere basic necessities are more than just display items at the park. Guides will bring visitors inside the camp, moderating refugees’ footsteps a continent away. From what I’ve read and heard about this experience, visitors walk away with their eyes wide open. On KTVU-Fox 2 Morning news yesterday, the event organizer showed very creative yet crude toy figures that the refugee children made since store toys are obviously a luxury beyond their reach. The toys looked like they were made of used metal parts and natural materials. This reality puts in perspective during this road to recession, just how lucky we are.
So I’ve listed from what I’ve heard in the media and on the street. Now there’s always something going on in the “Baghdad by the Bay” (Thank you Herb Caen) but these activities stood out to me because they’re all firsts and there’s been a lot of commotion about them. Got your pen and pad? Listed in no order of importance:
The Red Bull’s Soapbox Race * Saturday 10/18 * 1pm * Dolores Park
http://www.redbullsoapboxusa.com/SanFrancisco-2008/default.aspx
Red Bull has been sponsoring the races worldwide since 2000. The requirements are that the homemade go-carts maintain the Fred Flinstone caveman technology of manpower and gravity with 21st century engineering, design, creativity and of course humor and silliness. The starting line is at Dolores and 21st street. Now that’s a sizable hill and the 2 blocks down to the finish line are pretty long. I lose my breath just walking up that beat and I can’t think of a more logistically convenient and picturesque place for the race. Palm trees divide the middle of the Dolores street. Victorians and Edwardians mixed in with some 20th century buildings line the other side of the street. The expansive grassy playgrounds of Dolores Park border the other side cornered by the historic Mission High school. The park itself is known for its protests, soccer tournaments, free movie nights and plain ‘ol picnicking and people watching - San Francisco charm and fun at its best. Check it out! Who knows if and when Red Bull will return? I strongly recommend public transportation. If you gotta gas it, then anticipate parking at least 5-10 blocks away as parking is normally difficult during the weekends anyhoo.
Trolly Dances * Saturday, 10/18 - Sunday 10/19 * Guided 2 hr tours from 11am-2:45pm
Start at New Mission Bay Library. Free if you have a MUNI Fast Pass, otherwise it’s $1.50 (still dirt cheap!)
http://www.epiphanydance.org/
This truly is an “only in San Francisco” event. The city has various has various dance performance venues but a MUNI train as a dance troupe’s main stage and backdrop? In this week’s SFWeekly, there’s a photo of girl doing a headstand and the splits right on the train track! Her head planted firmly on the boarding platform as if it was her concrete-metal pillow and her outstretched foot above a track. The city is known for its brazen and fearless (yes foolish), jaywalking pedestrians but train frolicking dancers? Her smiling face doesn’t cry suicide. Instead, she was giving a dancing tour via the train line. No boring walking tour guides here. Four dance companies guide the curious through a 2 hour trip along four different sites on the new T-Third line. If you get into the spirit, maybe you can do the hustle or cha-cha-cha down the Embarcadero overlooking the Bay Bridge with them?
A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City * now-Sun 10/19 * Little Marina Green Park * 9am-5pm. http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
On a serious note, life of poor and malnourished Ethiopian refugees are on realistic display in the Marina. After treating hundreds of dying children organizers the Doctors Without Borders, wanted Americans to truly see and feel the life of a struggling Ethiopian refugee. To replicate the environment, tents, water stations and other mere basic necessities are more than just display items at the park. Guides will bring visitors inside the camp, moderating refugees’ footsteps a continent away. From what I’ve read and heard about this experience, visitors walk away with their eyes wide open. On KTVU-Fox 2 Morning news yesterday, the event organizer showed very creative yet crude toy figures that the refugee children made since store toys are obviously a luxury beyond their reach. The toys looked like they were made of used metal parts and natural materials. This reality puts in perspective during this road to recession, just how lucky we are.
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